To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many respondents to the British Crime Survey believed their assailants were under the influence of alcohol when they were assaulted in each year since the statistics were first compiled. [209247]

The British Crime Survey (BCS) asks respondents whether they believed the offender was under the influence of drink. A table showing the trend for all BCS violence since this question was introduced in the 1996 BCS can be found on the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0203_tables_bvv.html#violent

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who were resident in (a) the City of Manchester, (b) Greater Manchester, (c) the North West of England and (d) England had all financial support from the Government stopped in each of the last 12 months. [211348]

holding answer 27 January 2005

The information requested is in the table. The figures have been compiled from internal management information data sources and show the position as at 26 January 2005. The figures show the number of asylum seekers living in the relevant area at the time support was stopped. The figures do not show how many people have remained in the relevant area since their support stopped.

Number of asylum seekers who had all financial supportstopped in 2004⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾All figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest sum. Figures will not sum due to rounding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the outcome of the consultation and review of in-country leave to remain application charges will be made available. [211890]

Responses to the consultation have been collated and analysed. The outcome of the consultation and the final fee levels will be announced in February 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cash in transit attacks have taken place in the UK in each of the last five years; how much cash has been stolen; and how many people were convicted for these attacks. [213529]

The information requested is not available centrally. The statistics on recorded crime and court proceedings are not broken down to this level of detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) gender and (b) familial relationship to the child victim was of offenders in substantiated child abuse cases in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) physical abuse, (ii) emotional abuse, (iii) sexual abuse and (iv) cases of neglect. [209948]

The information is not collected by the Home Office in the form requested. The available information is taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database and is given in the table. It relates to those found guilty of sexual offences against minors and cruelty to or neglect of children. It is not possible to determine the number of offenders found guilty of physical or emotional abuse against children. Neither isit possible to determine the gender of the child victim or the familial relationships as the individual circumstances of the offences are not collected.

Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for certain offencesEngland and Wales 1999 to 2003⁽²⁾

⁽²⁾These data are on the principal offence basis.

⁽³⁾Excludes those sexual offences where the age of the victim cannot be identified in the wording of the offence.

⁽⁴⁾Offences against the Person Act 1861, sec 26 and the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were killed by their parents or carers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [213114]

Information on homicide is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest available information can be found in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 02/05—Crime in England and Wales 2003/2004: Supplementary Volume l: Homicide and Gun Crime". Table 1.04 gives data on victims under 16 years by relationship of victim to principal suspect. The Home Office does not collect statistics on carers as a separate category.

The website address for the publication is: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Humberside Police Authority regarding the early retirement of the police officer involved in the Christopher Alder case; and if he will make a statement. [209661]

The Home Department has not held discussions with Humberside Police Authority in relation to the retirement arrangements of any officers involved in the Christopher Alder case.

Humberside Police Authority did write to the Home Office on 12 November 2004 about applications for medical retirement they had received in respect of four officers linked to this case. An official from the Home Secretary's Private Office responded on 26 November 2004 stating that the Home Secretary was clear that any decision was entirely a matter for Humberside Police Authority.

The relevant procedures for such decisions are set out in Home Office Circular 3 of 2004 agreed last January by the Police Negotiating Board in the form of Joint Guidance. This guidance came into effect last July and copies are in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment what recent representations his Department has received on the Christopher Alder case; and if he will make a statement. [209662]

During the last three months, the Home Office has received representations in the form of correspondence on three matters.

The first was from the Clerk to Humberside Police Authority regarding the ill health retirement of officers who were present at the death of Christopher Alder. The second, also from the Clerk to Humberside Police Authority, was regarding the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) review of the Christopher Alder case.

The third was from the solicitor's for the son of Christopher Alder regarding the Judicial Review of the Home Secretary's decision not to hold a public inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coroners courts operate within the Greater London area. [209255]

12 dedicated coroners courts operate within the Greater London area, as follows:

East London coroner's district: Walthamstow; Romford

Inner North London coroner's district: St Pancras; Poplar

Inner South London coroner's district: Southwark

Inner West London coroner's district: Westminster

North London coroner's district: Hornsey

South London coroner's district: Croydon

West London coroner's district: Fulham; Uxbridge; Ealing;

Kingston upon Thames.

The City of London coroner also has a dedicated court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer theletter dated 8 December 2004 from the right hon.Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Ayesha Siddiqi. [210840]

I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 3 February 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to correspondence dated 21 December concerning a previous letter dated 21 November regarding a constituent MsChristine Murgwisi, Reference M18542/4. [212049]

holding answer 2 February 2005

I replied to the hon. Member on 27 January 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of possible merits of changing the role played by the custody sergeant in the criminal justice system. [208719]

There are currently no changes proposed in respect of the role played by the custody sergeant as set out under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). We are, however, proposing under Clause 111 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill that chief officers of police should be able to develop a more flexible approach to the staffing of their custody suites by making use of police staff.

The Thematic Inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary published in July 2004 on Workforce Modernisation concluded that the role of police staff could be extended to perform that of the custody officer. The Report recognised the importance of suitable training and transitional arrangements; and identified that the ability to use staff custody officers would enable the release of experienced supervisors to front-line duties and could strengthen the independence of the custody officer role as set out in PACE.

We are proposing to ensure that these benefits can be fully assessed through establishing a programme of pilot sites looking at selection, training and practical application at the police station.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [213267]

Plan figures for the Home Office's 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 Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards the amendments to the proposal to a Council Decision establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2005 to 2010, OJ C 318 volume 47 of 22 December 2004, regarding the inclusion of textual reference to (a) those in need of special medical treatment and (b) repatriation in conditions of dignity; and what his policy is towards the inclusion in the Commission text of measures taking account of gender-related issues. [211380]

The final text of the Council Decision of 2 December 2004 establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2005 to 2010 (2004/904/EC) published in the Official Journal on 28 December 2004 (OJ L 381 28.12.04 p.52) does not contain the words referred to in question, and the Government have expressed no view on their appropriateness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the safety of iris scan enrolment for identity card applicants. [210161]

The Government have not commissioned any research into the safety of equipment used to record iris images. The supplier of the equipment which was used in the UK Passport Service biometric trial was required to certify that it complied with relevant Health and Safety legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items of civil service property within his Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type. [205581]

The information requested is not available centrally in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The table provides a breakdown of reported cash losses within the department by financial year since 2000.

These figures which are disclosed to Parliament under the losses note in the resource accounts, include cash losses due to physical loss of cash and/or equipment as well as losses through fraud and theft and bookkeeping losses. The 2002–03 figure of £4,052 included the write off of a sum of £3.6 million of accrued income relating to Immigration and Nationality Directorate Detention Cost Recovery.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been given to Chief Officers of Probation on the future structure of the probation service after the introduction of the National Offender Management Service. [208684]

The Home Office has been engaged in ongoing discussions with Chief Probation Officers on the proposals for the National Offender Management Service since the publication of the Carter Report in January 2004. Following consultation, it was announced on 20 July 2004 that the 42 Probation Boards were to be retained as an interim step and this was the subject of a special National Probation Service Leadership Forum on 20 July 2004, to which all Chief Officers and Chairs of Probation Boards were invited. Martin Narey, Chief Executive Officer of National Offender Management Service, spoke at the most recent Leadership Forum, (18–19 November) on the appointment of the 10 Regional Offender Managers and the implications of separating offender management from community interventions. This was also the subject of a recent letter from the Director General of the National Probation Service and the National Offender Manager to Chief Officers. There are a series of events planned over the coming months on the emerging structure of National Offender Management Service.

To ask the Prime Minister

(1) 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; [211685]

(2) 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. [211686]

For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Precedent Book. [213591]

The Department's Precedent Book contains internal advice and is therefore not for publication.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 578W, on special advisers, if he will list the complaints made to the Secretary of the Cabinet between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 regarding the conduct of special advisers. [211340]

Complaints relating to the conduct of all civil servants, including special advisers, are handled confidentially.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library the comparison of the Export Credits Guarantee Department revised anti-bribery and corruption procedures with G7 counterparts. [202945]

ECGD is among the leading Export Credit Agencies in the world with regard to its position on bribery and corruption.

ECGD's counterparts agreed to provide details of their anti-bribery and corruption procedures to ECGD in confidence on the understanding that the information would not be made public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much agent's commission the Export Credits Guarantee Department covered on the sale of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles to Indonesia; and what percentage of the contract the commission represented. [206131]

Details of contractual arrangements (including agent's commission) are commercial in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the payments under the Profit Share Agreement with Annington Homes Ltd. were invoked for (a) Gunwharf, Portsmouth, (b) Royal Clarence Yard, Gosport, (c) Peninsular Barracks, Winchester and (d) Ashford Barracks, Kent; and whether the Agreement has ever been invoked more than once on the same site. [213321]

None of the sites listed in the question were included in the 1996 sale of Service Families Accommodation to Annington Homes Ltd. They were disposed of through normal open market procedures. Consequently they did not attract payments under the Profit Share Agreement.

A sale of married quarters in Winchester (close to Peninsular Barracks) was included in the sale and may have attracted payments under the Profit Share Agreement. Details are not immediately available, but I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) for what reasons the Army Prosecuting Authority was not involved in the case of a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in Northern Ireland in November 2003, whose name has been communicated to him; [212044]

(2) for what reasons the Commanding Officer of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders based at Palace Barracks, Holywood between 2002 and 2003 did not refer the case of the private in his regiment who was later convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to the Army Prosecuting Authority. [212048]

holding answer 1 February 2005

The Army Prosecuting Authority only deal with cases that are referred to them by the Army's Chain of Command. If the UK civil authorities are dealing with a case, then the Army Chain of Command will not normally seek to intervene. Queens Regulation 7.007b, which refers to dangerous driving as involving a risk to the general public, points to such a case being dealt with by the civil authorities.

In terms of jurisdiction, Section 70 of the Army Act 1955 applies the range of criminal offences to all personnel subject to military law, rendering a soldier liable for trial by court-martial for an offence contrary to English criminal law. Exceptions to this apply to a number of serious offences, which if they are alleged to have been committed in the UK must be tried by the civil authorities. Other offences alleged to have been committed in the UK may alternatively be tried by the civil authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monthly recruitment figures for the regular Army were during 2004. [211253]

Figures for intake from civilian life" are published monthly in Tri-Service Publication 1 (TSP1), a copy of which is in the Library of the House. TSP1 provides updated annual figures on a monthly basis. The following table gives individual monthly intakes for the 12 months up to 1 December 2004. This is the latest data available.

Figures show all Officer and Soldier intake to the United Kingdom Regular Forces including re-enlistments and rejoined reservists.

All data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in 5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the evidence relating to the compensation claims of the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association. [210689]

A formal Letter of Claim was received on 16 December 2004 from solicitors representing individual veterans of the British nuclear test programme in a potential compensation claim against the Ministry of Defence. An acknowledgement has been sent. A substantive response is now under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 7 December 2004 with regard to (a) Mr. M. Thompson and (b) Mr. J. Laycock; [209861]

(2) when he intends to answer the letter dated7 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. Laycock; [210841]

(3) when he will reply to the letter dated 7 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M Thompson; [212284]

(4) when he will reply to the letter dated 7 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J Laycock. [212285]

I sent replies to my right hon. Friend on 27 January 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the figures were in each case in January 2004; what the personnel costs of the agency are in 2004–05; and what they were in 2003–04. [212153]

The number of people working for the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency and the number are employed in Scotland is published in United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2004, Table 2.6 and Table 2.36 which is available in the Library of the House.

The overall personnel numbers and costs of the agency are published in AFPAA's Annual Report and Accounts. The 2004–05 edition is being prepared and will be available in the Library of the House before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of its personnel budget for financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04 the MOD Police spent in Scotland (a) in monetary terms and (b) as a percentage of the total personnel budget; and if he will make a statement. [212155]

The information requested is shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much and what percentage of its personnel budget for financial years (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03 the Defence Estates Agency spent in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [213083]

The Defence Estates Agency incurred expenditure in Scotland on personnel costs as follows:

(a) 2003–04: £2.332 million representing 4.5 per cent. of the Defence Estates Agency personnel budget;

(b) 2002–03: £4.866 million representing 8.2 per cent. of the Defence Estates Agency personnel budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 215 unidentified smaller commitments referred to in the letter dated 17 November from the Minister for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk are for amounts (a) over £1 million but up to and including £50 million and (b) over £50 million but less than £100 million; and what the estimated aggregate commitment is in each of these two categories. [206601]

There were(a) 127 items between £1 million and £50 million, with an estimated aggregate commitment of £1.214 billion, and (b) eight items between £50 million and £100 million, with an estimated aggregate commitment of £525 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates he has held meetings with the First Minister of the Scottish Executive since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [201075]

Since January 2004, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence has not held any departmental meetings with the First Minister of Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Council for British Archaeology concerning the proposed recovery of HMS Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [210908]

The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) set out their concerns in a letter to the Department on 11 October 2002. My hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) responded initially on 4 November and then in detail on 18 November 2002. Following a further letter from the CBA on 23 January 2003, officials from all the Government Departments involved in the Sussex Project met with the CBA and other interested bodies on 27 May 2003. CBA wrote again on 2 July 2003 and a reply was sent on 23 July 2003. Further briefing was provided to the CBA on 19 October 2004, following which CBA submitted a number of questions in a letter to the Chief Executive of the Disposal Services Agency on 19 November 2004, which were responded to on 26 November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-infantry soldiers in (a) Iraq and (b) Northern Ireland are deployed on infantry tasks. [212099]

There are currently two non-infantry units employed in the infantry role in Iraq: the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, consisting of 400 personnel, and the Royal Dragoon Guards, consisting of 440 personnel.

There are no non-infantry personnel currently based in Northern Ireland in the infantry role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers who have served in Iraq since March 2004 have (a) gone absent without leave and (b) been charged with desertion. [208385]

Information regarding soldiers who have served in Iraq and who have gone absent without leave is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. There are no incidences of soldiers who have deployed to Iraq since March 2004 having been charged with desertion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the objectives of British military policy in Iraq. [213530]

United Kingdom armed forces continue to contribute to the establishment of a stable, free and democratic Iraq though the provision of security, development of Iraq's security forces, and support to the Iraqi Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total financial cost to the United Kingdom of its military involvement in Iraq during 2004 was; and if he will make a statement. [213743]

The costs of operations are calculated on a net additional basis and audited figures are published each year in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts. Costs for financial year 2003–04 were:

Costs for financial year 2004–05 will be published in the MOD's next Annual Report and Accounts in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what health and safety requirements there are for the firing of naval munitions; and whether these requirements prohibit the firing of specific munitions. [206925]

There is a Comprehensive Safety Certification process for all naval munitions and weapon systems which must be completed before they can be used for operations or training. The process renders the risk to equipment and personnel as low as reasonably practical (ALARP), in accordance with statutory Health and Safety requirements. In addition, there is extensive guidance, both general and specific to platforms and to weapon systems, contained in various Royal Navy publications such as BRdl043—Gunnery and Guided Weapon Practices—User Instructions. None of these requirements prohibits the firing of any specific in-service naval munitions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) whether the Panther command liaison vehicle is intended to be from the same family as the Panther armoured reconnaissance vehicle; [211270]

(2) who the lead contractor for the Panther project is; [211269]

(3) how many Panther vehicles have been ordered; and what the cost per unit is; [211267]

(4) what the complement of the Panther vehicle is; [211266]

(5) what the top speed of the Panther vehicle is on (a) tarmac roads and (b) cross country; [211265]

(6) whether the Panther vehicle is a tracked vehicle; what armaments the Panther vehicle will carry; and what armour specification the Panther vehicle will have. [211264]

The only Panther vehicle the Army is receiving is the Panther command and liaison vehicle. This will be used mainly for a variety of command and liaison roles, and is not primarily a reconnaissance vehicle. It will, however, be used in some formations for tasks such as engineer reconnaissance.

Panther is a wheeled vehicle, and its required top speed is 110 km/h on tarmac roads and 30 km/h cross country. It is being procured in two variants, known as Group 2 and Group 3, and depending on the role it will be crewed by between two and four soldiers. Group 2 variants, which are to be used in higher threat roles, will be armed with a General Purpose Machine Gun mounted in an Overhead Weapon Station with a thermal imager, while Group 3 variants will have no vehicle armament. Panther will have suitable armour for its role, but the specification of the armour is classified.

BAE Systems Land Systems is the lead contractor for the project, and 401 Panther vehicles (326 Group 2 and 75 Group 3) have been ordered, at a basic cost (excluding VAT) of £320,000 each for Group 2 and £240,000 each for Group 3. This does not include the cost of Bowman radios and some other equipment. The overall cost of the programme is £193 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) when the Royal Regiment of Scotland will be formed; [212111]

(2) when the Royal Scots and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers will be amalgamated. [212112]

The new infantry structure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced last year will be implemented by 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the decision not to assist Swan Hunter with the overrun in budget to build the Largs Bay and Lyme Bay vessels at its Wallsend yard; and if he will make a statement. [199991]

pursuant to the reply, 10 January 2005, Official Report, c. 81W

I regret that a clerical error in the Ministry of Defence led to an answer being laid which had been overtaken by events. I referred to continuing discussions with Swan Hunter, which had in fact concluded. I now wish to correct the record and confirm that a £84 million amendment was made to the contract with Swan Hunter following value for money considerations and to ensure the delivery of the new Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) capability. This decision followed the programme encountering technical difficulties. The revised contract is not a financial support package for Swan Hunter but one that offers the best value for money to the taxpayer in the delivery of these ships.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people were employed by (a) his Department and (b) the Court Service in each year from 1998–99 to 2003–04; what his estimate is of the number who will be employed by each in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [211490]

Data on staffing levels in the civil service are now collected from Departments and agencies annually, in April each year. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Previously, data were collected twice yearly, in April and October and those for October 2003 were published on 22 April 2004. Data relating to 1 April 2004 were published on 21 October 2004.

A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics. Copies of these documents have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

More detailed information on the civil service is published annually in Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The latest edition, based on April 2003 data, was published on 6 August 2004.

1 April 2005⁽⁵⁾ HMCS WEF

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his oral answer of 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 159, whether magistrates are remunerated in Northern Ireland. [212296]

Resident magistrates in Northern Ireland are remunerated at the rate of £90,760 per annum. Justices of the Peace and members of the Lord Chancellor's Lay Panel in Northern Ireland are paid expenses only.

Upon the creation of the new office of Lay Magistrate in Northern Ireland on 1 April 2005, lay magistrates in Northern Ireland will be paid £80 per half day for attending court sittings.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which Ministers were not present. [210543]

Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented. [211344]

holding answer 27 January 2005

The Department for Constitutional Affairs' Welsh Language Scheme has not been finally approved by the Welsh Language Board. The Department is in close consultation with the board with the aim of producing an agreed draft, which will go out for public consultation in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the key impacts for (a) different regions, (b) different sectors and (c) the world as a whole arising from different predicted levels of climate change. [211755]

The Department has followed the approach of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in supporting the use of climate change scenarios to project future impacts at various levels.

The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) was set up to facilitate an integrated assessment of the impacts of climate change in the UK through the production of a common set of tools, including climate change scenarios, and through shared expertise. This assessment has progressed through regional and sectoral studies led by stakeholder partnerships. A report summarising the results from UKCIP studies will be published later this year, and copies made available in the Libraries of both Houses. Further information about UK regional and sectoral climate change impacts is available from www.ukcip.org.uk.

From time-to-time, I convene a group of UK experts on climate change to produce an academic review of the impacts of climate change in the UK. The last such review was in 1996, prior to the establishment of the UKCIP.

In terms of impacts for the world as a whole, the Department contributes to the definitive assessments of this type, those developed by the IPCC. Specifically, the Department funds the Technical Support Unit for Working Group II (on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability), provides support for the UK co-chair of this working group and also funds the Data Distribution Centre that makes the results from the IPCC available to climate researchers.

Other work that has been conducted or supported by the Department in assessing the impacts of climate change is summarised in Defra's Global Atmosphere Division Research Programme Annual Report (the latest publication was for 2002–03), which is available in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department will be promoting the concept of contraction and convergence at the conference on climate change at Hadley Centre for Climate Research and Prediction on 1 to 3 February. [211753]

The aim of the conference is to advance scientific understanding of and encourage an international scientific debate on the impacts of climate change for different levels of greenhouse gas stabilisation, and the pathways and options to achieve such levels, and to encourage research on these issues. Possible models for emission reduction regimes, such as contraction and convergence, are beyond the remit of the conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets for carbon dioxide emission reductions by 2050 her Department will be promoting at the conference on climate change at Hadley Centre for Climate Research and Prediction on 1 to 3 February. [211754]

The aim of the conference is to advance scientific understanding of and encourage an international scientific debate on the impacts of climate change for different levels of greenhouse gas stabilisation, and the pathways and options to achieve such levels, and to encourage research on these issues. No targets will be promoted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many items of electrical equipment were used by her Department in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) cost and (b) number of each type of item. [205725]

All those purchasing electrical equipment in the Department are required to have regard to economy and sustainability but it is not possible to provide a breakdown in the form requested for the very wide range of office and specialist equipment used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type. [207672]

Electronic devices such as desktop computers, laptops, printers and other IT equipment are no longer owned by the Department. As from 1 October 2004, all of Defra's IT assets were transferred to IBM as part of the IT outsourcing contract (e-nabling Defra).

Details of other electronic office equipment such as fax machines and photocopiers, which are normally leased, are not held centrally.

There are approximately 2,800 mobile telephones owned by the Department. This figure includes core Defra, RDS and SVS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent by her Department on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997. [205605]

Furniture purchases and hirings are not separately identified. However, hired furniture would be a minute fraction of the total number of items.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence. [206478]

The following table shows the expenditure in fiscal years since the Department was formed in 2001, up to 31 October 2004 in the current year. Further analysis of vehicle hire and subsistence (which includes hotel accommodation) would incur disproportionate cost.

£ million

Only one occasion of helicopter hire has been traced in 2003–04 at a cost of £1,796. All travel was in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip. [206648]

We are able to provide the total expenditure recorded since the Department was formed in 2001 whereas in the precise form of the question the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The expenditure can be broken into two sub-headings;

Foreign Travel including flights and internal travel and

Subsistence including hotel accommodation.

These figures exclude Agency figures which are shown in a separate table as follows:

£000

All travel was in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

The expenditure for related Agencies (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Central Science Laboratory, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for greenhouse gas emissions of the absence of an agreed national allocation plan under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [211782]

holding answer 31 January 2005

The UK National Allocation Plan (NAP) was submitted to the Commission in April 2004 and was approved on 7 July. The NAP clearly stated that the figure for the total number of allowances to be allocated was provisional pending finalisation of the emissions projections, the review of Climate Change Agreement targets, and the receipt of verified data from installations.

Although we are still awaiting a formal response from the Commission on the proposed amendments to the NAP (submitted 10 November 2004), the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has commenced operation. Under the terms of their greenhouse gas emissions permits which were issued during the course of last year, operators began monitoring their carbon dioxide emissions on 1 January this year. There has been an active market in contracts for future delivery of emissions allowances for some time. UK operators will be able to trade on the spot" market once allowances have been issued, which is anticipated to be at the end of March. We plan to announce the installation allocations in early February which will provide UK operators with greater certainty about their allocation. The delay in trading will not affect the fact that operators covered by the Scheme will be required to surrender allowances in line with their carbon dioxide emissions for 2005, as the first year of Phase 1 of the Scheme.

Other member states have also found the implementation of the scheme challenging. Denmark is the only country which is currently in a position to spot trade, and a number of other member states expect to be in a position to spot trade by the end of February. Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland and Greece are yet to receive approval of their NAP from the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what rate of change for entitlements within the Emissions Trading Scheme her Department is prepared to accept to ensure its climate change targets are met. [211756]

The UK National Allocation Plan (NAP) was submitted to the European Commission in April 2004, and was approved in July. The total number of allowances to be allocated was set at 0.7 per cent. below the projected UK emissions 2005–07. The NAP clearly stated that this figure (total number of allowances) was provisional and based on interim projections.

Following the finalisation of energy projections, UK emissions 2005–07 are now estimated to be 56 million tonnes CO₂ higher than was estimated in April. The Government have proposed to increase the total number of allowances, but just by 20 million tonnes CO ₂ . The effect of this is to increase the level of effort required from our NAP to 5 per cent. below projected emissions, making the UK NAP a more ambitious plan.

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is one of the measures in place to help us achieve our national goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO₂ on 1990 levels by 2010. We hope to use the Climate Change Programme review to determine the number of allowances to be issued to UK installations in Phase 2 of the Scheme (2008–12).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what visits her officials have made since 1997 to (a) Germany, (b) the Netherlands and (c) other EU member states to investigate measures taken to prevent pollution from oil leakage in areas liable to flooding. [211423]

Defra officials aim to maintain close links with counterparts in Germany, Netherlands and other EU countries on general flood risk management related issues, but are not aware of any meetings attended where oil leakage was a specific topic for discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the co-ordination of contingency planning in the event of major floods. [211860 [0]

Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

holding answer 1 February 2005

We have increased flood defence and coast erosion funding to the Environment Agency and other operating authorities up from £312 million in 1997–98 and set to rise to £570 million next year and for each of the following two years. However, although building and maintaining physical defences will reduce the risk of flooding, that risk can never be completely eliminated. Plans exist at local, regional and central levels to respond to potential and actual flood events.

In addition to building and maintaining defences, the Environment Agency maintains its own local, regional and national level contingency plans to deal with potential or actual flooding. As part of its remit, the Agency also maintains a flood warning system to ensure as high a level of preparedness as possible by the public and the local, regional and central responders.

At the national level, Defra has the lead Department role for flood emergencies and our Lead Department Plan sets out the co-ordination arrangements at local, regional and central levels for flooding from rivers or the sea. Alongside this Plan other Departments and Agencies maintain their own plans in their areas of responsibility to respond to, for example, the consequences of floods. There are also provisions for Government co-ordination when necessary through the arrangements operated by the Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 formalises a number of duties on local authorities, the emergency services and other organisations involved, including the Environment agency, in responding to any emergency. Among these are contingency planning and risk assessment for emergencies at the local level, including flooding: for example, local flood response plans were activated in the case of both the Boscastle flood in August last year and the January 2005 Carlisle flood.

The Government have also set up a Regional Resilience Team in each of the English regions to enhance the co-ordination of planning for wide impact events, such as major flooding, and to improve lines of communication between central Government and local responders during the response to an incident. These arrangements worked successfully in relation to the Boscastle and Carlisle floods.

The Environment Agency, with other responders, also carries out a regular programme of exercises to test its capability at all levels. Last year, EA led a national level exercise—Exercise Triton—to test the preparedness of organisations at all levels, local, regional and national to a simulated national scale event involving flooding of the East Coast from Lincolnshire to Hampshire, with offsets in Gwent and North Wales. A lessons identified report will be published in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response she has made to the recent Royal Society report on GM crops based on the management of GM herbicide tolerant sugar beet. [211602]

A paper reporting the results of studies carried out by scientists at Rothamsted Research Broom's Barn entitled Management of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant sugar beet for spring and autumn environmental benefit" was published on 19 January 2005 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

We have referred this research paper to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and have asked them in particular to consider the implications, if any, for their advice issued on 13 January 2004 on the implications of the farm scale evaluations of herbicide tolerant GM crops.

Currently GM sugar beet is not authorised for cultivation in the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of household waste in West Derbyshire has been recycled in each of the last three years. [211909]

The parliamentary constituency of West Derbyshire is covered by Derbyshire Dales district council.

The proportion of household waste sent for recycling or composting in Derbyshire Dales district council in each of the last three years is presented in the following table:

Household waste sent for recycling or composting inDerbyshire Dales

Source:

Defra's Municipal Waste Management Survey (MWMS)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has sponsored into the effects of oil leakage on land on (a) sources of drinking water, (b) soil conditions and (c) welfare of wildlife. [209501]

Defra has not sponsored any research directly in these areas. However, the Environment Agency, a Defra-sponsored non-departmental public body, has undertaken a number of research projects that have considered the impact and attenuation of oil spills on soil and groundwater. In particular:

The Natural Attenuation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Chlorinated Solvents in Groundwater, report P 305 dated 1999

Guidance on the assessment and monitoring of natural attenuation of contaminants in groundwater, report number 95, dated 2000.

These reports are available from the Environment Agency via the following internet links:

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SPRP2–134– 01-e-p.pdf

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SR-DPUB95 -e-e.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

(1) what action her Department takes against site operators not carrying out a risk assessment at a petrol station as required by her Department's code; [211529]

(2) what action her Department takes against site operators declining or omitting to carry out a risk assessment at a petrol station as required by the DSEAR code; and if she will make a statement. [211530]

The Environment Agency has powers under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 to serve a notice to prohibit, or make subject to conditions, activities, such as operating a petrol station, which might put groundwater at risk. Failure to follow the Groundwater Protection Code, including the provisions on risk assessments, is not an offence in itself but shall be considered, along with individual site circumstances, by the Agency when deciding whether to serve a notice. The Agency will often, particularly where it perceives risks to be low, seek to address issues through dialogue before using these notice powers.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. Enforcement of DSEAR at petrol filling stations is undertaken by the local Petroleum Licensing Authority (PLA). Regulation 5(1) requires that where a dangerous substance is present at the workplace, the employer should make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks. Should the PLA discover that such a risk assessment has not been undertaken, then the full range of regulatory action is available to the enforcing officer, ranging from a verbal request to undertake a risk assessment to, ultimately, prosecution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the people working within her Department on secondment from the private sector, broken down by (a) the organisation or industry they came from and (b) the policy responsibilities they have been given. [208627]

The following annex details the secondees from the private sector currently working in this Department, the organisation they came from and the policy responsibilities they have been given.

The term secondee" refers to a person borrowed" from an organisation outside the civil service for a period of between three months and three years (exceptionally five years), without affecting employment status. During the secondment period the secondee remains an employee of the parent organisation but is expected to abide by the Defra Staff Handbook and the Official Secrets Act. Secondees are expected to undertake the full range of duties attached to the post. At the end of the secondment the secondee normally returns to the parent organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the groups (a) supportive of shooting, (b) critical of shooting and (c) neutral on shooting interviewed by her Department's consultants working on the review of game laws and licences. [211766]

A consultant has been engaged by Defra to undertake a preliminary review of the game licensing system with the specific aim of gathering information to help inform any public consultation. To date, the groups that have been contacted include:

Animal Aid

Association of Local Government

British Association for Shooting and Conservation

British Retail Consortium

Country Land and Business Association

Countryside Agency

The Deer Initiative

English Nature

Federation of Small Businesses

Food Standards Agency

Forestry Commission

Game Conservancy Trust

Joint Nature Conservancy Council

Marks and Spencer

National Farmers Union

National Game Dealers Association

National Trust

Police

Post Office

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Trading Standards Institute

Two consultants who undertake work for a number of different game organisations were also interviewed. The key organisations whose views they put forward were:

British Shooting Sports Council

National Gamekeepers Organisation

Game Farmers Association

The groups were not asked whether they would characterise themselves crudely as for" or against" shooting. Our purpose in consulting them is to ensure that a range of expertise, experience and views are taken into account as we consider how to review and update the game licensing provisions.

There will be a public consultation on proposed changes to the system later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [209583]

During the period in question, the Department had no central record of recruitment advertising so the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defra is centralising its Human Resources Services function and introducing a new integrated IT system. This will enable the Department to provide aggregated information in future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been carried out into the likelihood of the UK being struck by a tidal wave in the foreseeable future. [211886]

We are aware of some research that has been carried out by The British Geological Survey and others, including specific work at the Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College, London into the possibility of tsunami-type events originating in the Canary Islands. Most assessments have suggested that such events have a very low probability but they clearly cannot be completely ruled out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what preparations her Department has made for the possibility of the UK being struck by a tidal wave. [211887]

Contingency plans at the local, regional and national levels for flooding from rivers or the sea and caused by tide and weather events are already in place. In the light of recent events, and subject to current investigations being led by the Office of Science and Technology, we plan to commission a short-term expert overview of the chances of a tsunami-type event affecting coastal areas of the UK. This will provide information on the likelihood of such events impacting on the UK, possible consequences and the potential for effective preparation and warning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of (a) which areas of the UK are likely to be affected and (b) the scale of likely damage which would be caused by a tidal wave. [211888]

The precise scale of likely damage which could be caused by a tsunami type wave is difficult to predict as this would depend on both size and origin. However, the flood maps published on the internet by the Environment Agency now show the potential extent of an extreme flood (estimated at a 0.1 per cent. or 1 in 1,000 annual probability) for all coastal areas of England. While this was never intended to cover tsunami-type events, these maps are clearly indicative of the areas most at risk in such an occurrence. Assessments of such risks for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for the devolved Administrations. However, the Environment Agency Flood maps also cover Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

(1) whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as part of the EU (i)proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/52/702, (B) A/RES/53/189 A and B, (C) A/RES/54/224, (D) A/RES/55/202, (E) A/RES/56/198, (F) A/RES/57/262, (G) A/RES/58/213 A and B, (H) A/RES/52/201, (I) A/RES/53/190, (J) A/RES/54/221, (K) A/RES/55/201, (L) A/RES/56/197, (M) A/RES/57/260, (N)A/RES/58/212, (O) A/RES/52/199, (P) A/RES/52/198, (Q) A/RES/53/191, (R) A/RES/54/223, (S) A/RES/55/204, (T) A/RES/56/196, (U) A/RES/57/259, (V) A/RES/58/242, (w) A/RES/58/211, (X) A/RES/52/29, (Y)A/RES/53/33, (Z) A/RES/55/8 and (AA) A/RES/57/142 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each of these resolutions; [208132]

(2) whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as party of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/56/200, (B) A/RES/58/210, (C)A/RES/57/258, (D) A/RES/57/254, (E) A/RES/58/219, (F) A/RES/58/217 and (G) A/RES/58/216 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each resolution; [208196]

(3) whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as part of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/54/217, (B) A/RES/54/216, (C)A/RES/55/200, (D) A/RES/56/193, (E) A/RES/57/251, (F) A/RES/58/209, (G) A/RES/54/214, (H) A/RES/55/196, (I) A/RES/56/192, (J) A/RES/57/252, (K) A/RES/56/226, (L) A/RES/57/253 and (M) A/RES/58/218 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each of these resolutions; [208197]

(4) whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as part of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/52/28, (B) A/RES/57/143, (C) A/RES/59/25, (D) A/RES/53/77C, (E) A/RES/54/54C, (F)A/RES/53/7, (G) A/RES/54/215, (H) A/RES/55/205, (I) A/RES/54/225, (J) A/RES/55/203, (K) A/RES/57/261, (L) A/RES/54/222, (M) A/RES/56/119, (N) A/RES/57/257 and (O) A/RES/58/243 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each of these resolutions. [208198]

I have been asked to reply.

These UN resolutions relate to a variety of sustainable development and environmental issues considered by the UN General Assembly over the course of the last eight years. The majority are Second Committee resolutions (relating to economic and sustainable development matters), which are traditionally proposed by the Group of 77 countries. With the exception of resolution A/RES/55/8—on which a vote was called (the UK/EU voted in favour)—all of the resolutions were adopted by consensus. So the UK supported the adoption of all of the resolutions referred to in the list.

Co-sponsorship usually reflects a degree of approval beyond mere acceptance of a consensus (the EU often, but not always, co-ordinates on which resolutions merit co-sponsorship by member states, even though co-sponsorship is recorded individually). We do not hold centrally information on those resolutions the UK/EU has co-sponsored or proposed. However, co-sponsorship details can be accessed publicly through the UN documentation centre at www.un.org.documents. Details of the individual countries or groups that proposed, or introduced", a resolution can also be obtained from this source.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effects of the practice of water companies of selling insurance to householders relating to the replacement of water main pipes, with particular reference to leakage. [211764]

The Office of Water Services have not directly assessed the impact of household insurance on supply pipe leakage. However, they have reported that leakage from householders' supply pipes accounted for about 28 per cent. of total water company leakage in 2003–04. The numbers of repairs and replacements of householders' supply pipes and the proportion of leakage attributed to households' supply pipes have been at similar levels over the last five years.

A total of 52,907 repairs and 6,472 replacements of household supply pipes were undertaken in 2003–04. Some 91 per cent. of repairs and 46 per cent. of replacements of household supply pipes were carried out by water companies free of charge. Where charges are made, these may be covered by household insurance policies such as those promoted by some water companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

(1) how many incidents of pollution in the domestic and residential sector there were in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; [211042]

(2) how many water pollution incidents in the domestic and residential sector there were in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [211349]

holding answers 31 January 2005 and 1 February 2005

The number of incidents reported to the Environment Agency under this heading was 2,392 in 2003 and 1,865 in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive about selective door opening at Bromsgrove station. [212076]

None. The Health and Safety Executive advises that rolling stock fitted with selective door opening is permitted to stop at stations with short platforms, provided the train operator sets out how the risks associated with selective door opening usage will be managed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail about the lengthening of Bromsgrove station platforms. [212077]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much; over what period of time; and if he will make a statement. [211617]

The following contracts were awarded to Fujitsu during the last two years by the central department, using an Office of Government Commerce pre-competed framework contract:

The following contracts were awarded to EDS during the last two years by DVLA following competition:

DVLA have also entered into a 10-year partnering contract with International Business Machines (IBM) on 12 September 2002. Under the terms of this contract IBM sub-contracts the ongoing provision of certain computer services for DVLA to Fujitsu.

Fujitsu has retained and extended—for six months until June 2005—a subcontract with EDS to manage certain of the DVLA's communication links with other organisations, until they can be replaced by newer technology.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip. [206655]

The Department for Transport came into existence on 29 May 2002 following machinery of Government changes. The number of overseas trips made by the central Department in 2003–04 was £3,226, and for April–November 2004 was £1,883. The travel costs for 2003–04 were £1,245,285, and for 2004 were £746,303.

Hotel costs were £30,868, and £18,891 respectively, and subsistence and other claimed costs were £453,419.15, and £331,009.64. Information for earlier years, and for any travel booked other than through the Department's central travel contract, can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Total overseas travel and subsistence costs for the Department's Agencies (excluding Highways Agency) were £1,274,317 in 2003–04, and £1,191,088. A more detailed breakdown can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Edinburgh, North and Leith constituency, the effects on Edinburgh, North and Leith of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [211576]

The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Edinburgh, North and Leith constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.

Responsibility for a number of transport functions in Scotland has been devolved to the Scottish Executive, including the Scottish road network, bus policy, air transport, lifeline ferry services and harbour improvements.

Finally, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency, the effects on Preseli Pembrokeshire of his Department's policies and actions since it was established. [211319]

The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–07 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants-nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.

Responsibility for a number of transport functions has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government. For example, it is the Assembly that provides funding to local authorities in Wales in support of their local transport plans. Funds from the Strategic Rail Authority have supported improved passenger facilities and integration at Harverfordwest station in Pembrokeshire.

Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past twenty years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals (a) failed and (b) passed all parts of the driving test in each of the last five years. [211889]

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is unable to supply details of the number of individual candidates to have taken both parts of the driving test during the specified period. Many candidates will have taken either, or both, of the tests on more than one occasion. The following is a summary of the number of test passes and failures in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to renew the prohibition on pedestrian traffic on Footpath No. 10, Dartmouth to Castle Cove; and if he will instruct Devon county council to carry out the necessary works to make the footpath safe. [211584]

Although Footpath No. 10 has been closed for public safety reasons since June 2003, the Secretary of State will not make it his policy not to renew the temporary closure order originally made by Devon county council. If a further renewal request is made, he has a duty to consider it on its merits at the time and will take into account any current and relevant information about the circumstances of the request.

The Secretary of State has no powers issue instructions to Devon CC to carry out the necessary works to make the footpath safe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 Motorway was closed between junctions 27 and 28 on 20 January; how long the closure lasted; at what time northbound lanes re-opened; and upon whose authority the closure took place. [211745]

Approximately 500 m of lanes 1 and 2 of the northbound carriageway of the Ml Motorway just north of junction 27 were closed by the police at about 2120 hours on 20 January as a result of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) overturning and partially blocking the carriageway. After recovery of the HGV and clearance of debris the northbound carriageway was fully re-opened approximately four hours 25 minutes later at 0145 hrs on 21 January. Responsibility for incident management in such circumstances is a matter for the police.

During this period of time the northbound entry slip road at junction 27 was also closed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how effective the ban on the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving has been since its introduction. [213343]

The Department for Transport carries out regular surveys of mobile phone use by drivers. The most recent survey carried out in September 2004 found that 1.1 per cent. of car drivers were using hand-held mobile phones, a 25 per cent. reduction since the survey in September 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned into the suitability of the level of the fine awarded for use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving. [213344]

When the Department consulted on a proposal to introduce new regulations to prohibit the use of a hand-held phone while driving, comments were also invited on the penalty. The majority of responses considered that the offence should be made endorsable. This involves amending the road traffic acts, a proposal in the Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament, making hand-held mobile phone use subject to endorsement of three penalty points, which will automatically raise the fixed penalty fine to £60.

Meantime, using a hand-held mobile phone currently attracts a £30 fixed penalty or a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 for the driver of a goods vehicle, bus or coach), like most other Construction and Use offences.

The Department's consultation document and decision letter of 24 June 2003 were placed in the Library. They are also available on-line at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=10199&l=2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many car parking spaces are provided for (a) those working in and (b) visiting his Department. [208940]

Approximately 10,150 spaces are available across the DfT estate of 1680 properties across the country, a number of which are located remotely from centres of public transport. Also a number of these locations have transport functions that require car parking spaces e.g. Driving Standards Agency, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 958W, on railways, what assessment he has made of the priorities for the expansion of rail freight in the next five years (a) in the UK and (b) in the South East; what account will be taken when decisions are made on supporting such expansion of (i) corridors of need for rail freight services, with particular reference to ports and (ii) the need for transportation of particular products, with particular reference to (A) oil and (B) waste; and when he expects to make an announcement regarding his policy on rail freight. [211478]

Rail freight is a private sector industry and the expansion of the industry should be carried forward through the actions of rail freight operators and their customers. However, the Government have clearly set out their support for encouraging growth in rail freight through measures in the White Paper The Future of Rail".

The Strategic Rail Authority have made ongoing assessments of the demand for freight on the railways, and these market studies were referred to in the answer of 19 January 2005, .Official Report, column 958W

Much of the analysis in these studies is route specific, and therefore allow any regional impacts to be identified.

With particular reference to ports, the studies imply that the demand for the movement of goods through deep sea ports is likely to increase. The SRA's analysis has informed the work carried out on the network, evidenced by the recent completion of the Felixstowe to Nuneaton gauge enhancement project.

The information is also used in planning network use through the Route Utilisation Strategy and Regional Planning Assessment processes, ensuring that provision is made for the needs of the freight industry.

These needs are assessed on a commodity-by-commodity basis, and any need in the network capacity to meet growth in oil and waste movement has been taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to meet the Railfreight Interchange Investment Group. [211485]

It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings with private individuals or companies. However, Ministers regularly meets a wide range of private companies with rail freight investment interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on large-scale railfreight interchanges. [211486]

In March 2004 the Strategic Rail Authority published the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Policy. The document is on the internet at the following address: http://www.sra.gov.uk/publications/strategy/freightinterchange/interchangepolicy and will be made available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) if he will make a statement on the timetable for the distribution of services provided by Central Trains between other train operating companies; [212070]

(2) whether through-rail services between Droitwich Spa and Malvern will be maintained following the distribution of the Central Trains franchise between other train operating companies. [212072]