To ask the Leader of the House how much public money has been paid to Sinn Fein hon. Members in (a) salaries, (b) incidental expenses provision, (c) additional costs allowance, (d) staffing allowance, (e) Members' travel, (f) Members' staff travel, (g) centrally purchased stationery, (h) centrally provided computer equipment and (i) other associated costs since June 2001. [211524]

I refer the hon. Member to the details of Members' allowances for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 which were published on 21 October last. They are available on the website www.parliament.uk. We intend to publish 2004–05 figures in the autumn of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list organisations in receipt of Environmental Action Fund payments in each year since 2002; which organisations she expects will be awarded grants in the period 2005–08; and what the annual funding is expected to be in each case. [211407]

Information on these grant awards will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the size of the Environmental Action Fund (a) was for 2002–05 and (b) will be in 2005–08; what funds were available to bidders in 2002–05; and what funds will be available to bidders in 2005–08. [211408]

The planned level of programme resources for the Environmental Action Fund (EAF) was £4.19 million per year for the three financial years from 2002–03 to 2004–05. In 2002–03 a total of £4.48 million was actually offered to groups, but this included some funding for groups in their third and final year of funding from a previous grant round. Groups were then required to reapply for funding at the start of each financial year. Following those applications, £4.26 million was offered to groups in 2003–04 and £4.12 million in 2004–05.

The planned level of EAF programme resources for projects relating to sustainable consumption and production is £2.25 million per year for the financial years from 2005–06 to 2007–08. Offers of grant totalling £2.25 million have been made for 2005–06, with provisional offers of £2.4 million for both 2006–07 and 2007–08 (reflecting the likelihood of some slippage or scaling-down of projects as they develop their work plans in the first year and then reapply for funding for the second and third years).

In addition, £1.95 million of EAF grant is being rolled over in 2005–06 to existing recipients undertaking biodiversity projects. Arrangements for supporting biodiversity and natural resource protection in 2006–07 are being considered and will be announced in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many groups have bid for funding from the Environmental Action Fund in 2005–08; and how many of the unsuccessful bids are associated with increasing awareness and understanding of sustainable development. [211409]

We received 250 bids for funding from the Environmental Action Fund (EAF) in 2005–08. I have announced today that 36 projects were successful in the competition and are being offered grant funding.

The large majority of bids, both successful and unsuccessful, included elements of increasing awareness and understanding of sustainable development. It is not possible to quantify these elements, as the criteria for the 2005–08 grant competition sought applications for projects that would focus on moving beyond raising awareness and towards action for influencing and delivering more sustainable consumption behaviours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on funding for environmental education projects following the wind-up of the landfill tax credit scheme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that there is no shortfall in funding. [211398]

The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme was reformed in 2003, as a result of which waste projects with an education component (categories C and CC) are no longer eligible for funding. Only a small proportion of that funding was used to support projects with a formal education basis. Certain environmental educational projects remain eligible for funding under the current scheme, for example in the biodiversity category. There was no direct replacement of the LTCS funding stream to support projects that might previously have been eligible. Projects with an environmental education component are supported by the Environmental Action Fund. Several other Defra programmes contribute to more informal modes of environmental education and awareness raising, for example £30 million over three years has been allocated to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) for national and local waste awareness campaigns.

Government are striving to ensure that education for sustainable development is recognised as part of the core education agenda across all education and skills sectors. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Sustainable Development Commission have recruited a senior adviser on sustainable development to liaise effectively with non-governmental organisations and other Government Departments to develop partnerships and coordinate action to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Action Plan. DfES, with Forum for the Future and professional organisations, has also set up the Sustainability Implementation Group to make it easier for colleges and universities to raise the profile of sustainability literacy in all curricula for post-16 professional education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many car parking spaces are provided for those working (a) in and (b) visiting her Department. [208927]

The total number of people employed in Defra and its agencies is 13,710¹ and the number of parking spaces provided is 5,683. This number includes an apportionment of spaces on sites which are shared with other Departments where parking is available on a first come, first served" basis.

¹ Headcount—ie includes part-time staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which months during 2004 Regular Army recruitment was stopped for (a) the whole Regular Army and (b) sections of the Regular Army. [211252]

There was no cessation of recruiting to either the whole Regular Army or sections of the Regular Army in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to ensure that details of service men and women who have been convicted under a court martial are passed on to the civilian police and recorded on their database. [209132]

Each of the Services has a system in place to ensure that details of civil and some military offences, following conviction at courts martial or at summary level, are recorded on the Police National Computer. The Royal Military Police process this information on behalf of the Army and Naval Service; the RAF Provost and Security Service carries out the same function for the RAF.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effect of the application of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2237/2004 of 29 December 2004, OJ L393 of volume 47 of 31 December 2004, on the manner in which the Government estimates decommissioning costs of (a) former Ministry of Defence property, (b) airfields, (c) nuclear sites and (d) sites at risk from contamination of asbestos and other substances. [211361]

HM Treasury requires Government Departments to account for decommissioning liabilities in accordance with the Treasury Resource Accounting Manual (RAM) which is based on UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The RAM does not require Departments to comply with International Accounting Standards (IAS) and, in particular, IAS 37 on this subject. Instead, the RAM requires Departments to follow the UK Standard, Financial Reporting Standard 12, that was developed in parallel to IAS 37 and is substantially the same.

The Ministry of Defence continues to account for its decommissioning liabilities in accordance with requirements set by the Treasury which accord with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Therefore, under the current requirements there will be no effect from the application of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2237/2004 of 29 December 2004, OJ L393 of Volume 47 of 31 December 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) if he will make a statement concerning his agreement with Odyssey Marine Exploration over the recovery of the wreck HMS Sussex and treasure contained in it; [210907]

(2) what steps will be taken properly to record archaeologically the wreck of HMS Sussex and finds from the wreck; and if he will make a statement; [210909]

(3) what steps he will take to preserve the archaeological integrity of the site of HMS Sussex; and if he will make a statement; [210913]

(4) what the Government's share of the proceeds of sale of any finds from the wreck of HMS Sussex will be; and if he will make a statement; [210911]

(5) if he will publish the project plan for the proposed operation by Odyssey Marine Exploration on the site of HMS Sussex before work starts; and if he will make a statement. [210914]

On 27 September 2002, Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Agency (DSA), on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, signed a Licence Agreement with the United States firm Odyssey Marine Exploration for the archaeological excavation and recoveries from the wreck of what is believed to be the wreck of the Sussex, a British warship lost in 1694.

A copy of the Partnering Agreement Memorandum, setting out the main provisions of the Licence Agreement, and a copy of a Synopsis of the Archaeological Requirements contained within the Licence Agreement were placed in the Library of the House on 25 November 2002.

It is intended that the Project Plan will be published before any intrusive work begins on the site.

Details of the Project and Frequently Asked Questions have been published on the DSA's website www.edisposals.com.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 73W, on infantry battalions, which nationalities make up the strength of each regiment at the date shown. [209175]

It is not possible to publish the details of this answer so I intend to write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter and attachments in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether detainees initially detained in Iraq in connection with weapons of mass destruction have been moved outside Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [210660]

Never.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions in the last two years a Minister has made an official visit to (a) an injured soldier and (b) bereaved families of soldiers; and who the Minister concerned was in each case. [212225]

Over the last two years, Ministers have made frequent official visits to injured personnel.

Secretary of State for Defence

April 2003—Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham

December 2003—Shaibah Field Hospital, Iraq

June 2004—Shaibah Field Hospital, Iraq

Minister for Armed Forces

May 2003—Shaibah Field Hospital, Iraq

October 2003—Shaibah Field Hospital, Iraq

Minister for Defence Procurement

April 2004—visit to Shaibah Field Hospital

Under-Secretary of State for Defence

February 2004—Chilwell Rehabilitation Centre

March 2004—Shaibah Field Hospital in Iraq

March 2004—Cyprus

October 2004—JHQ Medical Centre, Germany.

Ministers have also visited units in Iraq or when personnel have returned from Iraq. On some of these occasions they met injured personnel. As this was not the main focus of the visits, the exact details have not been recorded.

Ministers have also met the families of personnel killed in Iraq on numerous occasions. Between 29 March 2003 and 2 July 2003 eight repatriation ceremonies, to mark the return of soldiers killed in Iraq were conducted at Brize Norton. Each minister attended two of these ceremonies, where they met the bereaved families.

The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister for Armed Forces, the Minister for Defence Procurement and the Under-Secretary of State for Defence met bereaved families at the Remembrance Ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in October 2003.

Ministers have also held over 20 private meetings with bereaved families of personnel killed in Iraq and elsewhere. These are arranged at a family's request. To ensure that the wishes and privacy of the family are respected, full details of such meetings remain confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps towards compliance with the UK's commitment to pursue disarmament negotiations in good faith under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty have been taken with regard to entering the Trident system into nuclear disarmament treaties. [211436]

The United Kingdom is committed to all its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including under Article VI, and has a good record on disarmament. For example, we have reduced the total explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the Cold War and in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review we announced that only one Trident submarine would be on deterrent patrol at any one time. That submarine would normally be on several days notice to fire with its missiles de-targeted.

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) based at the United Nations in Geneva, is the designated permanent multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. The priorities for nuclear disarmament were agreed at the 2000 NPT Review Conference and were the negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) at the CD and signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The First Plenary Session of the 2005 Conference on Disarmament opened on 27 January, but the CD has been unable to agree a programme of work since 1997. The UK continues to support the entry into force of the CTBT, and negotiation of a FMCT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action the Government have taken to investigate the claims of national servicemen who volunteered for experiments at Porton Down and who believe that they have suffered damage to their health. [208868]

Although there is no scientific evidence of a pattern of unusual illness or disease occurring as a result of exposure to agents at Porton Down, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) nevertheless recognises that some former Porton Down volunteers have concerns about their health. In order to address these concerns the MOD is funding an independently-run epidemiological study, overseen by the Medical Research Council, to assess the incidence of cancer and mortality among former Porton Down volunteers. The study is expected to report in 2006 and it is intended that the results will be published soon after.

In addition, any former volunteer concerned that their health has been affected by participation in the Porton Down Service Volunteer Programme can be referred by their GP to the Medical Assessment Programme (MAP), based at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. There they will have a thorough clinical examination with a consultant physician; tests and investigations if appropriate; and the opportunity to discuss symptoms or conditions and their possible linkage, if any, to the particular trials in which they took part.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held with the Director of Infantry on the proposal to cut one of the Fusilier battalions of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. [204871]

holding answer 16 December 2004

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 1795.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to move the Royal School of Engineering from Chatham; and if he will make a statement. [211474]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK forces personnel are serving in Germany; and if he will make a statement. [210303]

Around 23,000 Service personnel are permanently based in Germany. Of these, around 4,000 are currently deployed on operations outside the Federal Republic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what bilateral relations exist between his Department and its Ukranian counterpart; and if he will make a statement. [213277]

The Ministry of Defence has good bilateral relations with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence which are promoted through a direct programme of bilateral contacts and activities under the auspices of Partnership for Peace. These include the provision of a civilian defence adviser to the Ukrainian MOD and other assistance with defence reform. We also provide officer and non-commissioned officer, English language and peace support operations training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) implications and (b) consequences of the changes sought in the Ministry of Defence's winter supplementary estimate are; what the reasons for the changes are; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the revised spending plans on (i) budgets and (ii) departmental targets. [202265]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 December 2004, Official Report, columns 338–39W in which he asked a very similar question.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last met President George Bush; and what matters were discussed. [211898]

I last met President Bush in Washington on 12 November 2004. We discussed a wide range of issues including Iraq, EU/US relations and my priorities for the UK Presidency of G8. I refer my hon. Friend to the press conference I held with President Bush after our meeting, a transcript of which is available on the No. 10 website.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what procedures will be used to amend the Legal Aid Funding Code. [213168]

Sections 8 and 9 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 set out the procedures relating to the Funding Code. The Legal Services Commission may from time to time prepare a revised version of the code which must be subject to appropriate consultation. The Funding Code is in two parts: Part I contains the Criteria, and Part II contains the Procedures. Amendments to both Parts must be approved by the Lord Chancellor before the relevant Parliamentary process. Revised Funding Code Criteria must normally be approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament before coming into force, although the Act allows urgent amendments to come into force in certain circumstances in advance of that approval. Revised Funding Code Procedures must be laid before Parliament.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the magistrates courts which operate within the Greater London area. [213382]

The Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority (GLMCA) has responsibility for the provision of magistrates courts in the Greater London region until the 31 March 2005. There are currently 38 magistrates courts within the GLMCA area and this figure includes the family court at Wells Street, youth and the satellite courts. They are listed in the following table:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii)1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08. [211680]

Since its inception in June 2003, my Department, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, has conducted two advertising campaigns:

(i) A national regional poster advertising campaign on buses to promote recruitment to the magistracy;

(ii) radio, press and ambient media targeting court fine defaulters (under the title Operation Payback).

My Department has also conducted one campaign comprising leaflets and posters to raise awareness of the Freedom of Information Act among public sector bodies and the general public.

The Public Guardianship Office, one of our two executive agencies, plans to run a campaign in 2005–06 to raise awareness of its services.

All details are set out in the following table.

£

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was added to the council tax rate of a band D council tax payer by each (a) parish and (b) town council in the last year for which figures are available in respect of each such council. [213337]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what square footage is planned for the Community and Arts facility on the Ropetackle site in Shoreham-by-Sea. [213174]

The Deed of Agreement (Pursuant to Section 106 Town and Country Planning Act 1990) dated 10 December 2002 states the Community Facilities should be

measuring approximately but no more than 1,000 square metres or such smaller size as shall be agreed between the Developers and the District Council."

Discussions are ongoing to establish a subsequent agreement between South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Adur district council. This agreement will allow for part of the Community Facilities to be incorporated into a development for an Enterprise Centre, which will provide premises for new and growing businesses in Shoreham. In return SEEDA will contribute towards the fitting-out of the remaining Community Facilities which is estimated to be in the order of 630 square metres plus mezzanine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change in the level of rail usage has been since 2000. [212096]

Passenger usage, measured by passenger kilometres was 38.2 billion in 2000–01 (financial year) and 40.9 billion in 2003–04, so increasing over the period by 2.7 billion passenger kilometres. People are using railways more than at any other time since 1947.

Freight moved was 18.1 billion tonne kilometres in 2000–01 and 18.9 billion tonne kilometres in 2003–04, so increasing by 0.8 billion tonne kilometres.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the survival rates for the common forms of cancer were in each year since 1990, broken down by (a) social class and (b) English region. [213142]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Andrew Murrison, dated 2 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what the survival rates for the common forms of cancer were in each year since 1990, broken down by(a) social class and (b) English region.

Cancer survival rates are not available by individual year of diagnosis.

Survival rates by socio-economic deprivation, and trends in the rates, for 20 of the major cancer sites for adult patients (15–99 years) diagnosed during 1986–99 in England and Wales were published in 2004 in the British Journal of Cancer: Coleman MP, Rachet B, Woods LM, et al. (2004). Trends and socio-economic inequalities in cancer survival in England and Wales up to 2001. Br J Cancer 2004; 90: 1367–1373.

Information on cancer survival rates for English regions for adult patients diagnosed since 1990 have been published for three time periods (based on regions at the time of publication). These are:

For patients diagnosed during 1992–94 and followed up to the end of 1999, by former health regions (and health authorities) in England. These can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D4878.xls http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5388.xls

For patients diagnosed during 1993–95 and followed up to the end of 2000, by former health regions (and health authorities) in England. These can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5389.xls http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5392.xls

For patients diagnosed during 1994–96 and followed up to 31 December 2001, by government office regions (and strategic health authorities) in England. These can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D8028.xls

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the level of the available (a) annually managed expenditure margin and (b) departmental expenditure reserve for capital and resource budgets for (i) 2005–06, (ii) 2006–07 and (iii)2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [213233]

The latest forecast of the level of the Annually Managed Expenditure margin for 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 was published in Table B16 of the 2004 pre-Budget report (Cm 6408). Latest plans for the resource and capital Reserves in these years were published in Table B18. These figures will be updated in the 2005 Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the civil service job reductions recommended by the Gershon Review were in (a) London, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Scotland, broken down by Department. [213274]

The Gershon Review made no recommendations on the geographical locations of civil service work force reductions in UK Government Departments. These are a matter for individual Departments to consider in line with their business and service delivery needs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997. [213774]

These costs are not separately identifiable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997. [213628]

The Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road has one staff restaurant and one coffee shop. There is no bar. Information broken down in the form requested is not available. For total costs of restaurant and associated facilities since 1997, I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 107W and on 20 December 2004, Official Report, column 1405W, to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the expected rate of economic growth within the Greater London area over the next three years. [213384]

HM Treasury does not produce economic forecasts for individual regions of the United Kingdom. However, I can report that since 1997, the Government Office Region (GOR) of London has enjoyed above average growth in GVA per capita and the highest employment and lowest unemployment since records began. At the same time, the regional policies this Government has put in place to level up the performance of all regions to that of the best has seen some of the traditionally weaker performing regions enjoying above UK average growth of GVA per capita in recent years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings he has had with the Chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland since 1997. [210754]

Treasury Ministers regularly meet senior representatives from the banking sector, including the Royal Bank of Scotland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of planned real growth of total managed expenditure between (a) 2007–08 and 2008–09 and (b) 2008–09 and 2009–10; and if he will make a statement. [213232]

The 2004 pre-Budget report set out the Government's latest expenditure projections through to 2009–10. These projections will be updated as normal in the forthcoming Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the number of income tax payers with incomes in excess of £100,000 for (i) 2004–05 and (ii) each year from 2005–06 to 2009–10 and (b) the percentage of income tax payers with incomes in excess of £100,000 as a percentage of (A) all income tax payers and (B) all individuals in employment. [213189]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to table 3.3 Distribution of total income before and after tax, 1998–99 to 2004–05" on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income distribution/tables 3_december04.xls

The table shows the number of income taxpayers with a total income of £100,000 or more and the proportion of all income taxpayers they represent. The number of income taxpayers in 2004–05 with employment income, whose total income is £100,000 or more, as a proportion of all income taxpayers with employment income, is 1 per cent. Information for future years is unavailable.

Note:

Figures are based on the 2002–03 Survey of Personal Incomes and are in line with December 2004 pre Budget report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been collected in inheritance tax in each of the last three years. [213383]

Information on inheritance tax collected and other tax receipts is available at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/table1–2.xls

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place the review of prescription charges undertaken in 1998 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in the Library. [203066]

I have been asked to reply.

An internal review of prescription charges was undertaken by departmental officials in conjunction with Her Majesty's Treasury as part of the formulation of Government policy for the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review. This work fed into the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which was published by Her Majesty's Treasury and is available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total estimated take-up rates were of research and development tax credits by eligible firms in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) size of company and (b) industrial sector. [211928]

R&D tax credits were introduced for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in April 2000 and for other companies in April 2002. The estimated take-up rates for the two schemes are given in the table.

The figures relate to claims made in Corporation Tax returns received on or before 12 October 2004. Figures, particularly for later periods, are likely to rise as more claims are received.

Take-up for R&D tax credits

⁽¹⁾Estimate of number of eligible companies published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, March 2000.

⁽²⁾Estimate of number of eligible companies published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, April 2002.

Information is not available by industrial sector.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of research and development tax credits has been since 2000, broken down by (a) size of company and (b) industrial sector; and what the estimated value to 2014 is in each case. [211929]

R&D tax credits were introduced for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in April 2000. The estimated value of support claimed through the SME scheme is published as National Statistics on the Inland Revenue's website (http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/index.htm).

In April 2002, R&D tax credits were extended to other companies. The latest monitoring data show that £160 million of support has so far been claimed through this large company scheme.

Figures on the forecast cost of R&D tax credits were provided in the Paymaster General's written answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 816W. The table breaks these figures down by scheme.

£ million

Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million

Information on R&D tax credits is not available by industry sector.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue implication of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales so as to charge marginal rates of (a) 0 per cent. on property sales of £60,000 or less, 2 per cent. on sales revenue between £60,000 and £249,999, 5 per cent. on sales revenue between £250,000 and £499,999, 7 per cent. on sales revenue of £500,000 and above, (b) 0 per cent. on property sales of £60,000 or less, 2 per cent. on sales revenue between £60,000 and £249,999, 5 per cent. on sales revenue between £250,000 and £499,999, 8 percent. on sales revenue of £500,000 and above, (c) 0 per cent. on property sales of £60,000 or less, 2 percent. on sales revenue between £60,000 and £249,999, 4 per cent. on sales revenue between £250,000 and £499,999, 8 per cent. on sales revenue of £500,000 and above and (d) 0 per cent. on property sales of £60,000 or less, 2 per cent. on sales revenue between £60,000 and £249,999, 4 per cent. on sales revenue between £250,000 and £499,999 and 7 per cent. on sales revenue of £500,000 and above. [212062]

The estimated Exchequer effect, in 2005–06 terms, of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales according to the four schemes described in the question is given in the table. This does not include any allowance for behavioural changes or changes to reliefs.

Marginal rates of SDLT on residential property and Exchequer effect of restructuring

⁽³⁾In 2005–06 accruals terms; negative indicates a cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) England were overpaid tax credits in 2004; and of these how many are being pursued for repayment. [213390]

For the number of tax credits overpayments, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 946–48W. Details of how overpayments are recovered are provided in the Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit." Wherever practical overpayments are recovered out of future tax credit payments. Where an award of tax credits has ceased and there remains an overpayment to be recovered, the Inland Revenue issues claimants with a Notice to Pay". The claimant has the option to choose to pay back an overpayment over 12months.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are being charged interest on tax credits overpaid to them in 2004 through no fault of their own. [213391]

None that I am aware of.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are being used to determine whether to write off tax credits overpaid to people during 2004. [213393]

The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 (What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?") sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.

A claimant will not be asked to pay back an overpayment where it was caused by a mistake by the Inland Revenue and it was reasonable for the claimant to think their award was right.

The Inland Revenue may also decide that a claimant should not be asked to pay back all or part of an overpayment, if this would cause hardship to the claimant and his/her family.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of unallocated departmental spending in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07, and (c) 2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [213265]

Plan figures for departmental unallocated provision in 2005–06 were published in Central Government Supply Estimates 2004–05, Supplementary Budget Information (Cm 6133). Plan figures for 2006–07 and 2007–08 will be published in Central Government Supply Estimates 2005–06, Supplementary Budget Information.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the terms of the employment of contracted cleaners in the House. [214178]

Most cleaning in both Houses of Parliament is carried out by external contractors. The main cleaning contract was awarded in September 2003 following a competitive procurement exercise. The cleaners who work in the Palace are not therefore employed by the parliamentary authorities but by the contractors who are, in the first instance, responsible for their terms and conditions.

The contractor has kept the parliamentary authorities informed since issues of pay rates and other terms and conditions were first raised by the representatives of the cleaners. We understand that the contractor and the representatives of their employees are actively involved in discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on programmes to tackle AIDS in Africa. [212233]

Last year, I attended a series of meetings with my EU counterparts and Foreign Ministers to discuss ways of addressing reproductive health and HIV in Africa and future EC action on AIDS and other poverty related diseases. My PUSS also met with the European Commission representatives from Directorate-General (DG) Development and DG Research to discuss the need to focus on funding for new prevention technologies for HIV.

DFID officials are engaging with the European Commission on the revision of their framework for tackling diseases of poverty called The Programme of Action to Confront HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through External Action".

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on food rationing in Iraq. [212234]

Iraq's Public Distribution System, established during the period of sanctions against Saddam Hussein, provides food virtually free of charge to the entire population regardless of need. The Iraqi Government have recognised that reform is now needed to move to a cash payment system targeted at the poor and unemployed. This should help Iraqi agriculture, encourage private trade and remove price distortions, at the same time as ensuring that families in need are properly provided for. The details will be a matter for the new Transitional Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's activities in Iraq. [212238]

Since March 2003, DFID has committed £333 million for humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Iraq, and disbursed approximately £250 million.

DFID's main objectives for reconstruction assistance in Iraq are: rapid, sustainable and equitable economic growth; effective and accountable governance; and social and political cohesion and stability. DFID has offices alongside the British embassy Baghdad and in Basra, helping to deliver and monitor our programme of assistance.

Current DFID bilateral assistance in Iraq includes: employment generation and infrastructure repair in southern Iraq; building capacity within Iraq's public administration system; strengthening Iraqi civil society groups and encouraging broad political participation; capacity-building across the four southern governorates in both the public and private sector; and support to the justice and media sectors.

More detailed information on DFID programmes in Iraq can be found at www.dfid.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on the merits of free trade in relieving poverty. [212235]

We believe that fairer and freer trade rules will contribute significantly to tackling poverty.

Developing countries are heavily punished by the trade barriers that rich countries maintain.

It is for this reason that my right hon. Friend and I are working with other colleagues across Government for continued progress in the Doha Development Round of the WTO process.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on developing continuing relationships between communities in the United Kingdom and those in disaster relief areas. [212237]

DFID supports disaster prone countries around the world with disaster risk reduction programmes at the regional, country and community level and is always ready to provide immediate humanitarian assistance when disasters strike, and support subsequent recovery and reconstruction efforts. Many UK communities have existing links with communities in disaster prone areas, and in such cases it makes good sense to build on that relationship by offering support to the overseas community. Where no such relationship exists, there may well be further scope for developing twinning arrangements with the aim of providing practical support. A first step for those wishing to establish such community links would be to consult the relevant UK embassies and high commissions, and UK-based community organisations of the relevant countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on reconstruction in countries affected by the Indian ocean tsunami. [212240]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on reconstruction in countries affected by the Indian ocean tsunami. [212239]

In addition to the £75 million that DFID has already committed for immediate relief in the aftermath of the tsunami, we will also make a contribution to the longer-term rehabilitation of the regions affected. This is likely to focus on providing support to rebuilding livelihoods and services for poor people.

The governments of the countries affected by the tsunami are completing needs assessments with the support of the World Bank and others. DFID's plans for longer-term reconstruction will be formulated in response to these assessments in order to ensure that our assistance forms part of a properly co-ordinated reconstruction plan.

To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development how much aid has been received by Zimbabwe in the 2004–05 financial year; and if he will make a statement. [212241]

DFID expects to spend £25 million in Zimbabwe during 2004–05 compared with £34 million in 2003–04. DFID assistance has given priority to tackling HIV and AIDS, which affects some 25 per cent. of the adult population. We also continue to provide food, seeds, fertilisers and other practical forms of relief to some 1.5 million of the poorest people in Zimbabwe through international NGOs and the UN. The Government of Zimbabwe claim there was a bumper harvest last year and have therefore sharply scaled back international food aid. This claim has been contradicted by independent surveys, UN agencies and other agencies are monitoring food needs closely.

To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what steps he is taking to help to secure sustainable forestry in Africa. [212242]

DFID is currently helping to develop forest policy, implement reforms, and strengthen forest governance in Ghana, Cameroon, Malawi, Kenya and South Africa. DFID recently designed a new £12 million programme of work on forest governance and trade in west and central Africa. This will continue to focus on reforms in Ghana and Cameroon, where EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) partnership agreements offer the opportunity to bring EU consumer market forces into play. We are also supporting civil society strengthening and dialogue between governments, the private sector and NGOs in the Congo Basin region. Later this year we will begin a programme that supports links between the private sector in four African countries and European trade federations. Our aim is to increase the awareness of African companies to new market requirements and opportunities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact on (a) the amount of food donated by international donors and (b) the amount of food available to the population of Angola of the law which came into effect in December 2004 in Angola prohibiting the import and use of genetically modified crops; and if he will make a statement. [212160]

Over the past year the international community in Angola has steadily reduced food aid contributions in line with the country's decreasing humanitarian needs and increasing crop production. As most donors provide cash funding to the World Food Programme (WFP), there has been no direct link between the reduction of food aid and the new law banning the introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods. When the new law was announced in March 2004, the USA replaced a food aid shipment of 19,000 tonnes of GM maize with 14,000 tonnes of non-GM sorghum. WFP uses donor funds to buy non-GM maize, beans and other food items in the southern Africa region. WFP has sufficient food in its warehouses to help Angola's 900,000 most vulnerable people until the end of March.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the tendering process under the law implemented in December 2004 for contracts to mill food aid entering Angola; and if he will make a statement. [212163]

No tendering processes have yet been established by the Government of Angola as there are no plans to introduce genetically modified (GM) foods for milling into Angola. Angola has limited capacity to mill any cereals and is unable to do so on an industrial scale. The World Food Programme (WFP) runs two small mills, one in Luanda and another in Lobito, which it uses to mill maize. Until now, WFP has not received any genetically modified (GM) products for milling, although they do have restricted capacity to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the findings of the Commission for Africa will be presented to Parliament. [211167]

The members of the Commission for Africa are still working on their report and have not yet set a date for publication. Subject to discussion at the next full meeting of the Commission on 24 February, a decision would be made on the presentation of the report due to be published around the middle of March.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i)2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv)2007–08. [211659]

DFID Expenditure on external consultants was as follows:

We do not forecast future spending on this item but all costs will be contained within agreed contractual limits.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK aid to Darfur during recent months. [212236]

UK aid is delivered to Darfur through UN agencies, NGOs, and international organisations, the effectiveness of which is monitored through regular field visits by the British Embassy in Khartoum and the Sudan Unit, and UN reports and evaluations. I am satisfied that we are doing all that we can under difficult circumstances. For example, the joint DFID-UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) evaluation of December 2004, said the response by UN agencies, NGOs and donors was inadequate through to early 2004, but that humanitarian assistance is now getting through. It described the situation since October 2004 as stabilising".

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) EDS and Fujitsu jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much, and over what period of time; and if he will make a statement. [211613]

No contracts have been awarded to EDS in the last two years. Fujitsu were awarded one contract to maintain Video Conference facilities for one year from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, at a cost of £152,098. The contract was awarded under a competitive Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Framework Agreement.

DFID has also purchased equipment from Fujitsu using the OGC Framework Agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the economic effects on developing countries of allowing free trade in agricultural products. [212132]

DFID has supported a range of research examining the economic effects on developing countries of allowing free trade in agricultural products.

This includes work on the impact of EU Dairy reform on developing countries and on Food Security, Trade and Livelihoods Links. DFID also funds the World Bank Trade Policy Development Project (TPDP) that includes analysis of agricultural liberalisation, as well as work at the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation on impacts of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) agricultural policies on developing countries.

The general results of such research are that in the short term, costs and benefits are estimated to vary across producers and consumers and net exporters and importers. However, in the long term, developing countries will gain from freer world trade in agricultural products.

In the short term it is estimated that developing countries that are net importers of food may see price rises when export subsidies are removed. Countries that benefit from the current distortions in global agricultural trade would also lose out (for example those that export products to the EU, receiving the same distorted higher price that EU producers receive).

However, in the long term producers should benefit from higher prices and take advantage of lower tariffs to increase their exports. Studies have shown that liberalisation of all OECD farm policies would boost global agricultural trade volume by over 50 per cent. Also, following liberalisation, higher exports have boosted the agricultural component of economic growth in countries like Vietnam and Uganda at 4.6 per cent. and 4.4 per cent. per year respectively. This has also led to an increase in agricultural incomes and significant reductions in rural poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI) in each of the last five years. [213079]

DFID has supported the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) since its inception in 2000. We provided an initial grant of £3 million in 2000 and from 2001 to date we have pledged some £35 million of which £28 million has already been disbursed. A further £7 million will be contributed in 2005–06. DFID's total contribution represents 5 per cent. of the total grants to GAVI.

The figures are broken down as follows:

£ million

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of EU aid in each of the last five years was spent in heavily indebted poor countries. [210308]

The proportion of European Union aid going to countries eligible to receive relief through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative is listed in the following tables. The tables show the percentage of Official Development Assistance (ODA) going to HIPC eligible countries, and also the percentage of both ODA and Official Assistance (OA)¹ combined. Table 1 contains data on EU member states aid only, while Table 2 provides the same information for European Commission aid. In 2003, 56 per cent. of allocated EC ODA went to low-income countries, an increase on 51 per cent. in 2002.

Table 1

Table 2

Source:

Development Assistance Committee (DAC)

¹ As defined by the DAC, ODA is donor assistance to developing countries, while OA is donor assistance to countries in transition.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to ensure that civil society, including faith-based organisations, in developing countries are able to access resources for meeting the needs of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and Aids. [210999]

We fully recognise the key contribution that civil society organisations (CSO) have to play in tackling HIV and AIDS. We are therefore actively working to promote CSO involvement in national AIDS responses. We are, for example, working to find ways to help the flow of resources from National AIDS Commissions to NGOs and CSOs. These, including faith-based organisations, have an important role in helping to meet the needs of children affected by AIDS—orphans and vulnerable children—in terms of protection, care and support.

At the Global Partners' Forum on orphans and vulnerable children held in Washington DC in December 2004, I announced how the UK would meet our target of spending at least £150 million over the next three years to meet the needs of orphans and vulnerable children. Most of this will be spent in Africa where the impacts of AIDS on children are most severe. We will mainly be providing funds though our country programmes to support national responses. We are already providing funds through NGOs to support vulnerable children in Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In a number of countries, such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, we are supporting the rapid assessment, analysis and action plan processes which have been led by UNICEF; effective civil society involvement in their implementation is an important issue for us. We are also in the process of developing support to UNICEF to work at both country level and in the case of southern Africa at sub-regional level to develop and implement national OVC action plans. We will be working with UNICEF to ensure that civil society organisations are appropriately included in these programmes.

An additional means of ensuring that civil society organisations are appropriately involved in responding to the needs of children affected by AIDS will be provided as we renew our agreements with key UK NGOs such as HelpAge International and Save the Children to include relevant AIDS-related work as a key objective. Out of the 18 partnership agreements we have with UK-based NGOs, 14 have specific objectives on HIV and AIDS. We will also increase our Civil Society Challenge Fund from £10 million to £14 million in 2005 and encourage proposals from NGOs wanting to provide support in this field.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government will take during its G8 and EU presidencies to fulfill the commitment to champion the needs of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and Aids set out in the strategy for tackling HIV and Aids. [211001]

We will use our Presidencies of the G8 and the EU to increase action on AIDS. This will include attention to the situation of children affected by the pandemic, the orphans and vulnerable children. Committing resources to implement the Framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) living in a world with HIV and AIDS", which is the global guidance developed by UNICEF and partners and widely endorsed by the international community, including DFID, is key. The framework is being translated into national OVC action plans—16 have been developed in Sub-Saharan Africa and more are being planned.

DFID has announced a commitment to spend at least £150 million over three years on OVCs (of which £44 million will go to UNICEF for the development and implementation of national OVC action plans). We will be encouraging other G8 and EU member states to increase their support to national programmes. The USA has, like us, already earmarked funding and endorsed the framework as have Germany and Denmark. Canada and France also see OVCs as a priority issue, yet others have not yet followed this line.

Along with other member states we are engaging in the consultation process towards a new Programme for Action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which the EC expects to adopt in 2006. The current Programme for Action does not address orphans and vulnerable children and we will consider how best to address this gap in the forthcoming consultations. Discussions on the new EU Development Policy have only just started. The Commission has produced a Consultation on the future of EU Development Policy Issues Paper", which includes consideration of the broad themes of Development of human resources and citizens' rights' and Combating inequality and promoting social cohesion", both of which are likely to include consideration of orphans and vulnerable children. Consultations with members of the European Parliament and other member states will take place in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development

(1) what the average (a) income levels, (b) life expectancy, (c) per capita funding for education and (d) unemployment rate for (i) Israelis, (ii) Palestinians and (iii) Bedouins within Israel were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [211758]

(2) what the average (a) income levels, (b) life expectancy, (c) per capita funding for education and (d) unemployment rate for (i) Syrians, (ii) Kurds and (iii) Armenians within Syria were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [211759]

(3) what the average (a) income levels, (b) life expectancy, (c) per capita funding for education and (d) unemployment rate for (i) Persians, (ii) Azeris and (iii) Kurds within Iran were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [211760]

Statistics for the four countries requested are shown below. Breakdown by ethnic group in Israel, Syria and Iran is not readily available. DFID does not have a programme of assistance in any of these three countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact of microenterprises on the economic development of developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [212161]

A very large proportion of poor households own or work in microenterprises in the informal economy. In Africa, informal work is estimated to have accounted for almost 80 per cent. of non-agricultural employment and over 90 per cent. of new jobs. For women in Sub-Saharan Africa, the informal economy represents 92 per cent. of job opportunities outside agriculture.

DFID has supported microenterprise development directly through financial services, skills, technology and buyers, and indirectly through an improved policy and legal operating environment for microenterprises. DFID's current commitments to microfinance development projects in Asia and Africa total approximately £50 million. DFID supports country investment climate assessments, and contributed to the World Development Report 2005: A Better Investment Climate for Everyone" that highlights how governments can promote investment, productivity and job growth.

Most microenterprises operate informally, making collecting reliable data on their impact very difficult. However, microenterprises clearly play an important role in developing economies. The average share of the informal enterprise sector in non-agricultural official GDP varies from 27 per cent. in Northern Africa to 41 per cent. in Sub-Saharan Africa. We do know however that many poor individuals would much prefer less risky employment in larger enterprises or the public sector, than self employment in microenterprises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many courses in the adult and continuing education sector were offered in each of the last 10 years. [208068]

There is no centrally held information on the number of courses offered. I have set out separately the numbers of learners in (i) adult and community learning and adult education courses run through local education authorities; (ii) LearnDirect; and (iii) Skills for Life, in the following tables.

Adult education enrolments at 1 November 1993 to 2002 by accreditation, England -- Thousand

Source:

Local education authorities

The table covers adult enrolments on courses offered by local education authorities (LEAs). In April 2001, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) assumed funding responsibility for both LEA-secured adult and community learning and for former Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) funded provision. For 2003/04, the LSC introduced a new approach to collecting data on adult and community learning. The new data collection is more harmonised with other LSC funded learning (for example further education) and allows more flexible analysis. However, it is not possible to form a consistent historical series from the old and new data collections. Using the new data and methods, in 2003/04, a total of 842,000 learners were enrolled on Adult and Community Learning programmes.

The figures in the following table show the numbers of learners on LearnDirect provision in England in each year since 2000/01, the earliest year for which figures are available.

Learners on LearnDirect provision, England -- Thousand

Source:

LearnDirect

The final table shows the number of enrolments on Skills for Life courses in England since 2000/01—the earliest year for which figures are available.

Enrolments on skills for life courses, England -- Thousand

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in Hartlepool have been in receipt of education maintenance allowances in each year since the scheme was introduced. [213288]

The following figures give the number of students aged 16–18 years who were resident in Hartlepool LEA and who received an education maintenance allowance. The pilot began operating in Hartlepool in September 2000.

By 31 December 2005, 944 young people who are resident in Hartlepool had received an education maintenance allowance as part of the first year of the National scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 18-year-olds resident in Burnley entered higher education in the academic year 2002//03. [210966]

The recent HEFCE publication Young participation in higher education" (HEFCE 2005/03) looks at the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency. A discussion of the participation divisions and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report (sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1).

In addition, participation rates for parliamentary constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar). These indicate that, for the cohorts reaching 18 between 1997 and 1999, 23 per cent. of young people living in Burnley constituency entered higher education at age 18or 19 (the English average for these cohorts is 29 per cent.).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entrants has there been to higher education establishments from schools within the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years. [211059]

The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers 18-year-old applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HMD courses. Figures for Wandsworth are given in the table.

18-year-old applicants, domiciled in Wandsworth LEA, accepted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) onto full-time undergraduate courses at UK HE institutions

Source:

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effect on the UK's ability to recruit international students by increased charges for visa extensions as proposed by the Home Office. [213308]

In September 2004 a joint project team—comprising representatives from the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and the British Council—was asked to improve the evidence base around international students, and to undertake an assessment of the likely impact of increased leave to remain fees to attract more international students to the UK.

The outcomes of this work will be made available, alongside a regulatory impact assessment for the education sector, when the Government announce their response to the Home Office Consultation on Review of Charges for Immigration Applications".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the attractiveness of studying in the UK to international students. [213309]

We recognise the importance of international students to the UK and this is reflected in the DfES International Strategy. We are considering a range of options for the future recruitment of international students in consultation with our funding partners and other stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total expenditure by her Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B)2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08. [211674]

Expenditure on the Department's central advertising and publicity budget is set out as follows.

In addition to expenditure from this central budget, expenditure from budgets allocated to individual programmes will also include spend on publicity related activity. It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to separately identify all such publicity related expenditure.

It is, however, possible to identify separately the Department's total expenditure on advertising, and this is set out as follows.

Advertising and publicity budget

⁽⁴⁾The figure for 2004–05 is the estimate of expenditure for the current financial year.

Total departmental spend on advertising

n/a = costs not available at this point.

⁽⁵⁾These figures include spend on advertising from the central advertising and publicity budget.

Financial information for years beyond 2004–05 is yet to be formally agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in the Coventry area have specialist college status. [211985]

Of the 19 maintained secondary schools in Coventry LEA, 12 are designated specialist schools. This includes two which were successful in the latest application round, announced on 26 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth clubs were available for young people to use in (a) England, (b) Kirklees and (c) Huddersfield in each of the last 10years. [211622]

Youth clubs are delivered locally by local authority youth services and National and local Voluntary youth organisations. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth clubs run by each individual local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was available for youth services in (a) England and (b) Kirklees in each of the last 10 years. [211699]

The main source of funding for the Youth Service in the past has been within the local government finance settlement and part of the Education Standard Spending Assessment/Formula Spending Shares. Until 2003–04 there was no separately identifiable funding for the Youth Service. From 2003–04 and the introduction of Formula Spending Shares, there has been a Youth and Community sub-block containing unhypothecated resources for the Youth Service, among other items. The figures for England and Kirklees for the Youth and Community sub-block are in the following table. The local authority decides how much of this is spent on the Youth Service.

£ million

The Transforming Youth Work Development Fund (TYWDF) provided the following levels of public funding for youth services in England and Kirklees during the years 2002–05

£ million

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) Fund provided the following levels of public funding for youth services in England and Kirklees during the years 2002–05

£ million

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many former crown servants including defence personnel are in receipt of state pensions; and how many of those are payable (a) within the United Kingdom, (b) outside the United Kingdom and (c) in Zimbabwe. [213336]

Information on crown servants who are in receipt of pensions is not collected centrally. However, the civil service pension arrangements provide pensions to people who were formerly employed by Government Departments and agencies. The arrangements also provide pensions to people who were formerly employed as office holders or who worked for certain non-Crown bodies such as non-departmental public bodies. Pensions for the armed forces are the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.

As at 31 December 2004, 534,932 pensions were payable under the civil service pension arrangements to people resident in the United Kingdom. A further 14,301 were payable to non-UK residents, of whom 13 were resident in Zimbabwe. These figures include pensions payable to widows and widowers.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year. [207637]