To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government support for the agriculture industry in the last financial year. [210903]

The latest published figure for UK expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy and on national grants and subsidies for agriculture is £3.1billion for 2002–03¹ . This figure includes direct product subsidies, other subsidies on production, capital grants, transfers, other payments and CAP market support but does not include other expenditure of benefit to farmers and the farming community such as expenditure on animal health, research, advice and education.

¹ Source: Agriculture in the UK 2003 edition"

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the levels of bovine TB in North-West Leicestershire. [211158]

We do not hold bovine TB surveillance data for individual constituencies. However TB data is available for Leicestershire. At the end of November 2004 there were 3,187 registered cattle herds in the county. Of these, 49 herds (1.5 per cent.) were under restriction at some point between 1 January and 30 November 2004. There were 36 new herd TB incidents during this period, of which 13 have been confirmed to date (three remain unclassified). TB surveillance data for Leicestershire is published each month on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/stats/index.htm.

The level of bovine TB in Leicestershire is low in comparison to some other areas of the country, e.g. South West England. We realise the importance of preventing the risk of TB spreading to new areas and that is why we introduced new measures at the end of 2004, e.g. changes to testing frequency and the imposition of movement restrictions immediately a test becomes overdue.

Note

The data above are provisional and subject to change as more information becomes available. Information was downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 17–21 December 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the savings to UK public funds of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy since their introduction in 2003. [213130]

The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole rather than to individual elements, and it is not therefore possible to make precise estimates of savings to UK public funds following the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy. However, increased financial discipline and setting the CAP budget until 2013 will limit the burden that the CAP places on taxpayers. Cross-compliance and modulation of direct payments into agri-environment schemes means that a greater proportion of public funds are now delivering better value for society by buying public goods not readily provided by the market. The Government will continue to press for further reforms which reduce the cost to taxpayers of the Common Agricultural Policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms there were in England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated figure is for 2004–05. [211907]

The following figures show holdings in England where dairy is the predominant activity. Estimates for 2004 are not available.

Note:

Figures prior to 2000 show main holding only. From 2000 onwards minor holdings are included.

Source:

June Agricultural Census.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm workers were employed on dairy farms in England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated number is for 2004–05. [211908]

The figures as follows show the number of workers on holdings in England where dairy is the predominant activity. The figures include casual and family workers but exclude farmers, partners, directors and salaried managers. Estimates for 2004 are not available.

Workers on dairy holdings

Notes:

(a)Figures prior to 2000 show main holdings only. From 2000 onwards minor holdings are included.

(b)Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.

Source:

June Agricultural Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which councils have benefited from support under (a) the Vital Villages Scheme, (b) the Quality Parish Scheme and (c) the Market Towns Initiative since 2001. [213135]

Each of these programmes has directed grants to communities, town and parish councils, service providers and regional partnerships, not to local authorities.

The list (annex 1) sets out the councils whose areas have benefited from support under the Vital Villages Scheme and the Market Town Initiative, and those town and parish councils, which have been supported under the Quality Parish Scheme. The list will be made available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers have registered with the Fallen Stock Disposal Scheme; and if she will make a statement on its (a) introduction and (b) running. [211625]

The National Fallen Stock Company is pleased with the response it has had from farmers to the scheme with over 20,000 members in the UK joining in the first eight weeks.

It is not possible to express this as a percentage of all farmers as only some farmers have livestock and one farm business may cover a number of livestock holdings. Although, as the company expected, there have been some teething problems while the Scheme is bedding in, this is an encouraging start.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have signed up to the National Fallen Stock Company. [211640]

The National Fallen Stock Company has reported that as of the 31 January 2005 some 20,464 members had been registered across the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average level of farm income has been in each year since 1987. [213153]

Information on Total Income from Farming (TIFF) per full-time person equivalent for the years 1987 to 2004 is given in the following table.

Real-terms (2004 prices)

Total Income from Farming (TIFF) is income generated by production within the agriculture industry, including subsidies. It represents business profits plus remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which types of farmers are eligible for single payment scheme hardship payments for agri-environment participants. [211727]

Farmers whose production was adversely affected in the reference period 2000–02 by participation in an agri-environment scheme can apply (up until the deadline of 28 February) to have the affected years for affected subsidy schemes ignored when calculating their entitlements under the single payment scheme.

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

(1) what the status is of the proposals contained in the consultation document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, dated 11 June 1998, headed Fixed Quota Allocations for Domestic Waters (Areas IV, VI and VII); [213883]

(2) whether the Department's policy on the feasibility and desirability of collecting and maintaining at individual vessel level comprehensive data on the catches made by under 10 metre PO members remains as set out in Annex B, section 8 of the consultation document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, dated 11 June 1998, headed Fixed Quota Allocations for Domestic Waters (Areas IV, VI and VII). [213884]

holding answer 3 February 2005

Iwill reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible. The letter of 11 June 1998 communicates the Ministerial decision that a system of fixed quota allocations (FQAs) should be introduced in domestic waters from 1 January 1999. This decision was preceded by extensive consultation with the fishing industry.

The position set out in the letter, regarding the management of under 10 vessels through producer organisations (POs), was changed following a review of the operation of the FQA system in consultation with industry in 2000–02. As a result of that review Fisheries Departments decided that under 10 metre vessels should, for the first time, be permitted to fish against sectoral" quota allocations managed by POs as an alternative to fishing against the pool" quota allocations for the under 10 metre fleet which are managed by Fisheries Departments in consultation with industry. The owners of the small proportion of under 10 metre vessels who elect to fish against PO allocations are required to complete EU logbooks and submit landing declarations in the same way as vessels over 10metres. The new arrangements were communicated to fishermen in August 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many areas in (a) the UK and (b) France, monthly cod quota allocations are imposed on individual vessels operated by under 10 metre PO members; and when those limitations were imposed. [213885]

holding answer 3 February 2005

Within the UK under 10 metre vessels whose owners elect to fish against quota allocations managed by producer organisations (POs) are not subject to monthly catch limits set by Fisheries Departments. Iunderstand that in France, unlike in the UK, all under 10 metre vessels whose owners wish to fish for quota stocks are required to join a PO and to observe any catch restrictions which their PO may set. We do not have details of those restrictions.

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

(1) what legal instruments set out her Department's powers to impose monthly quota allocations in the Channel fishery (ICES area VIId) in respect of and landings by individual vessels in the under 10 metre fishing fleet; when those instruments were promulgated; when they were first published; and when they came into force; [213886]

(2) what the legal basis under (a) Community law and (b) domestic law is for establishing monthly quota allocations in the Channel fishery (ICES area VIId) in respect of cod landings by individual vessels in the under 10-metre fishing fleet. [213882]

holding answer 3 February 2005

Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 provides (Article 20 (3)) that each member state shall decide on the method of allocating fishing opportunities (in the form of portions of its national quotas) to its vessels. Sub-section 4 (6) of The Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84) stipulates that fishing vessel licences may be

... subject to such conditions as appear to the Minister granting the licence to be necessary or expedient for the regulation of sea fishing".

Monthly catch limits for vessels under 10 metres catching cod in ICES area Vlld and other parts of the Channel fishery were first introduced in June 2002. The holders of fishing vessel licences for such vessels were formally notified of the limits by letter of 28 May 2002 enclosing licence variations, following which the catch limits became an enforceable condition of their licences. Subsequent changes to the limits were similarly notified: these included the introduction for 2003, following representations from fishermen, of separate profiled" catch limits for the Eastern and Western Channel, details of which were sent to fishermen on 20 January 2003.

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

(1) what (a) consultation documents and (b) other communications have been published by her Department since 11 June 1998 concerning the collection at individual vessel level of data on the catches made by under 10 metre PO members; [213860]

(2) what representations her Department has received from (a) fishermen and (b) fishermen's representatives since 11 June 1998 in relation to (i) the collection at individual vessel level of data on cod catches made by under 10 metre PO members and (ii) the imposition of monthly quota allocations for individual vessels operated by those members exploiting waters in Area VIId. [213861]

In June 2000, following requests from industry, Ministers announced that arrangements would be considered to enable producer organisations (POs) to manage quota on behalf of under 10 metre vessels in their membership. As part of a wider review of the system of fixed quota allocations (FQAs), a consultation letter was sent to fishermen and other interested parties on 8 October 2001 proposing, among other changes, that the owners of under 10 metre vessels should be permitted to fish against quota allocations managed by POs, and that those vessel owners opting to do so should maintain logbooks and submit landing declarations. This proposal was supported by the majority of those who commented and was accepted by Ministers, whose decision was notified to fishermen in August 2002. Since then correspondence has been received from a relatively small number of under 10metre vessel owners in the form of requests to participate in the new arrangements.

Under 10 metre vessels fishing against quota allocations managed by POs are not subject to monthly catch limits set by Fisheries Departments, but to such restrictions as their POs may determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency about the quality of meat imported from (a) Brazil and (b) Argentina; and if she will make a statement. [211626]

I have not discussed this issue with the Food Standards Agency. All fresh meat imported into the UK must conform to EU rules.

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

(1) what estimate she has made of the percentage of worldwide methane emissions that arise from the (a) processing, (b) transmission, (c) storage and (d) distribution of natural gas in the UK; [211302]

(2) what estimate she has made of the annual level of methane emission in the UK arising from the (a) processing, (b) transmission, (c) storage and (d) distribution of natural gas for each of the last five years; [211304]

(3) what international comparisons she has made of the annual level of methane emissions arising from the (a) processing, (b) transmission, (c) storage and (d) distribution of natural gas. [211305]

holding answer 27 January 2005

These categories of emissions are counted together in the UK greenhouse gas inventory under the entry for Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution. The table shows data for the years 1998 to 2002 inclusive.

UK emissions of methane from natural gas transmission and distribution

These estimates represent around 1.3 per cent. of global anthropogenic methane emissions for these categories of emissions for the years in question, and these emissions in turn are estimated to have been around 10 per cent. of total global anthropogenic methane over the same time period. The international comparisons draw on data compiled by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the evidential basis was of the public statement made by Andus Radford, district fisheries inspector, that the fine imposed on Mr. Paul Joy amounted to a quarter of his income for the month of September 2003. [213859]

No such statement was made. In a radio interview Mr. Radford commented as follows:

During the month we took the offences, there were a number of other species that were available to the fishermen and cod was only one of a number of species they could fish off the beach for in Hastings and in fact it only constituted about one quarter of their income for that particular month."

The month in which the offence occurred was in fact October 2003. Mr. Joy was fined £4,996, of which £1,496 related to the value of the cod which was illegally landed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the guidance issued to the national parks on the encouragement of people from the inner cities to use the parks. [211297]

As part of the funding process for national parks I indicate my priorities to park authorities and I shall be writing to national park authorities about this shortly. We are encouraging them to actively promote understanding and greater use of national parks by all sections of society, especially people with disabilities, people from ethnic minorities, the inner cities and young people. We want our national parks to be appreciated fully by all sections of society as truly national assets. Defra and the Department for Education and Skills are working with national park authorities to develop initiatives to meet this aim. I also emphasised the Government's position on this policy of inclusion at a meeting with national park authorities on sustainable tourism in June 2003 so they have been aware of it for some time. I have also made clear that these ends can be achieved without excluding existing users groups and that we will encourage increased engagement of volunteers in meeting national park purposes.

National park authorities will also benefit from the findings of Defra's Diversity Review which is looking at what can be done to provide more opportunities for people who, for various reasons, have little experience of what the countryside has to offer. An action plan will be published next year. In addition, many park authorities were involved in the Mosaic Project set up by the Council for National Parks and the Black Environment Network in 2001 to enable people from black and ethnic minorities to experience the parks at first hand. The Council for National Parks recently secured lottery funding to develop this project further over the next three years.

The Government are providing adequate resources for the national park authorities. Funding for the authorities in 2005–06 is 51 per cent. above the 2001–02 level. Each authority receives £200,000 each year to run a sustainable development fund, to make grants to projects which aim to change the attitude and behaviour of individuals and communities in ways that enhance understanding of sustainable development and the role of the national park while promoting cooperation and social inclusion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to require national parks to discontinue activities in order to perform the new duties detailed in the guidance recently issued by her Department to national parks. [211298]

Our policy is to expand interest in national parks so that they are understood by all communities, as intended, as a genuinely natural asset. Initiatives like the Mosaic project have successfully engaged members of Asian and Black communities in the attractions of visiting several national parks, but there is a long way to go. From my own experience as a youth worker in Wales and from visits to English national parks in the past nine years, I can testify to the value and impact of such visits on inner city youngsters in particular.

In expanding interest in the national parks to new groups, we have no wish whatsoever to see a reduction in the groups who already make use of these invaluable national assets and I am keen to see the engagement of volunteers expanded rather than reduced.

In order to support the work of the national parks in England we have significantly increased the level of grant—by 51 per cent. since 2001–02—to a sum of £42.13 million in 2005–06. Also each national park has a sustainable development fund of £200,000 per year to encourage innovation with a particular emphasis on linking the concept of sustainable development to the national parks and engaging people—particularly young people—from urban and rural areas in joint projects in the national park.

Even with these additional resources the pressures on each national park is considerable. Each authority has to deal with conflicting pressures, and also identify whether any of their services are already being provided, or could be done better, by others. The introduction, later this year, of a streamlined Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Best Value regime for the national park authorities will help to identify priorities and improve cost-effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she requires to be taken in areas where declared levels of nitrogen in the air exceed accepted levels; and if she will make a statement. [210659]

Actions to reduce exceedences of nitrogen dioxide, as those for many other air pollutants, are required at international, national and local level. The UK is party to a number of international obligations to reduce air pollution that requires reduction in emissions from all sectors. The Government has set out national policies to improve air quality in the Air Quality Strategy for England published in January 2000 and its Addendum published in February 2003. At local level the Government requires local authority to review and assess air quality locally and take actions (such as for example by using their traffic management powers) in cooperation with others if necessary, if they are unlikely to meet air quality objectives such as those for nitrogen dioxide; The Governments Air Quality Strategy and Guidance for Local Authority on Local Air Quality Management, including on local action planning, can be found at www.defra.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact of recent EU liberalisation of sugar production in its member states on (a) relations between the smaller and larger economic powers in the World Trade Organisation and (b) the economies of (i) African and (ii) Caribbean sugar producing economies; and if she will make a statement. [213235]

No recent decisions have been taken on reform of the EU sugar regime. The European Commission published a Communication in July 2004 setting out its preferred approach in the light of discussion of its earlier September 2003 Communication analysing a range of possible options, including their potential impacts on international trade. In addition to providing information on these papers for UK Parliamentary Scrutiny purposes and giving evidence to the Efra Select Committee inquiry on sugar reform, the Government have commissioned and published independent economic research on the implications for the EU's existing preferential suppliers. Further impact assessments will be made available once the Commission comes forward with formal legislative proposals, which are not now expected until May or June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to review the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 with a view to introducing new legislation. [214007]

This Department published its proposals to modernise the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, in a consultation document, in September 2003. We had a positive response from a wide-range of stakeholders. A summary of the responses and an analysis has been published on our website.

We hope to introduce a new Veterinary Surgeons Bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented. [211331]

The Defra Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board on 31 October 2002. As required by the terms of the scheme, Defra's scheme was implemented three months after the date above.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans for a replacement for the Woodland Grant Scheme. [211603]

The Forestry Commission announced in March 2004 that the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) would replace the Woodland Grant Scheme in 2005. The EWGS, which is expected to be fully open for applications from July, comprises six elements which are designed to support the establishment and management of sustainable woodland. These are:

Woodland Creation Grant" to support the creation of properly designed and well located new woodlands.

Woodland Assessment Grant" to support the gathering of specific information to improve management decisions.

Woodland Management Planning Grant" to support the preparation of plans that meet the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.

Woodland Management Grant" to support the basic management activities that underpin woodland sustainability.

Woodland Regeneration Grant" to support desirable changes in the delivery of public benefits from woodland.

Woodland Improvement Grant" to create and sustain an increase in the quality of woodlands.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development

(1) what action his Department has taken to ensure that (a) Dalits and (b) indigenous peoples benefit from the UK aid money to the region affected by the tsunami; and what (i) funds and (ii) programmes are specifically earmarked for (A) the Dalit community and (B) indigenous people in that region; [213216]

(2) what (a) funds and (b) programmes funded by his Department for the region affected by the tsunami have a specific focus on (i) women, (ii) orphans and (iii) older people; [213217]

(3) if he will list the (a) funds and (b) programmes delivered by his Department on a (i) unilateral, (ii) bilateral and (iii) multilateral basis for the region affected by the tsunami which have a specific focus on enabling women to participate fully in the reconstruction of their communities. [213218]

In all its humanitarian responses, DFID works to ensure that the activities of the humanitarian community are informed by a solid analysis of the specific needs of the affected population. This requires assessment of and response to specific vulnerabilities and vulnerable groups, including women, orphans, the elderly, and, in the Asian context, the Dalit community, and indigenous people in the region. In addition, DFID humanitarian funding is often directly targeted at such groups. Following the Indian Ocean disaster, DFID has channelled £400,000 through the Save the Children Fund and £2,250,000 through the United Nations Children Fund to support orphans and other vulnerable children. The activities of the United Nations Children Fund are also targeted towards pregnant and lactating mothers. In addition, DFID has channelled £483,054 through Help Age International.

DFID is aware that social exclusion and discrimination on the grounds of gender, caste, ethnicity or religion constrain access to resources by some of the poorest people in Asia. DFID has made a public commitment in its Asia Director's Delivery Plan and Country Assistance Plans to ensuring that reduction of social exclusion is explicitly addressed in all its Asia programmes. DFID also regards the empowerment of women as an essential precondition for the elimination of poverty and the upholding of human rights.

DFID promotes an inclusive approach to ensure that no groups are excluded from mainstream programmes. DFID seeks to address the causes and consequences of exclusion and encourages disagregation of data by Governments in the region, where possible, to ensure that programmes are in fact reaching the poorest marginalized groups and to identify where programmes are failing.

DFID works with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations in the poorest areas that advocate the rights of excluded groups. In India, DFID is currently supporting the development of a system to assess how well social exclusion is being addressed in the tsunami relief programme. Many NGOs, including some that are not receiving DFID funding have asked to be involved in this auditing scheme.

Experience suggests that real change cannot be imposed by outside agencies. Recipients of aid, whether they are individuals, groups or Governments need to be convinced of the need for social inclusion.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the (a) nature and (b) impact of development projects undertaken in Burma since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [211772]

DFID withdrew its bilateral development support to Burma in 1988 as a response to the military takeover that year. In 2001, when the view of the political situation in Burma took a more optimistic turn, DFID worked towards reviving its programme.

It is clear that progress towards a political settlement in Burma is an essential ingredient for significant pro-poor development and until such progress is made large-scale, sustainable poverty reduction will remain out of reach. However, as is explained in the DFID Burma Country Plan (available at www.dfid.gov.uk) we continue to believe that in certain areas, we can have a valuable impact on poverty in Burma.

In 2003–04, as part of its work to prepare the Country Plan, DFID reviewed its experience of working in Burma and consulted widely with colleagues including FCO, civil society groups inside and outside Burma, the National League for Democracy the UN and other donors. Some key lessons identified by this work included: the need to be realistic about what we seek to achieve; the importance of taking a long-term approach; that it can be possible to influence Government policy in certain areas; and that donors need to, and can, work better together in Burma to share lessons and experience to increase our impact.

Since then DFID has worked with the UN, NGOs and other donors to develop programmes under the Country Plan objectives such as on HIV and AIDS, health, education and livelihoods of poor people.

The first review of progress with implementing the new Country Plan will take place by the end of 2005. This will draw on reports on the progress and impact of the programmes we are funding in Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development

(1) what cash donations for emergency aid the Government have given to Guyana (a) through the EU, (b) through non-governmental organisations and (c) directly, following the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement; [213900]

(2) what technical assistance and advice the Government have given to Guyana following the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement. [213899]

The Department for International Development has given a total of £376,000 to help the victims of the recent floods in Guyana.

This has comprised an immediate £100,000 to the Government of Guyana's own relief effort and to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the delivery of emergency supplies. These funds are providing water purification sachets and water containers, survival items such as blankets and treated mosquito nets to reduce the chances of malarial infection.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has received £120,000 from DFID for a 20-member rapid response unit using six boats to help with the distribution of supplies in areas cut off by the floods. The RNLI team arrived in Georgetown on Wednesday 2 February, and have started their work.

A further £57,000 has been allocated to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) to help improve the quality of drinking water for up to 195,000 people and offer solutions for human waste disposal.

The UK has also made £99,000 available as part of our contribution to the European Commission's Humanitarian (ECHO) assistance. The UK's share of EC assistance is 18 per cent.

ECHO has provided a total of £552,000¹ worth of relief supplies and programme assistance for water and sanitation through the International Federation of the Red Cross, PAHO, and Oxfam.

¹ €800,000 at an exchange rate of 1:£0.69

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) technical assistance, (b) advice and (c) cash donations the Government have given to the Caribbean for disaster management following (i) Hurricane Ivan and (ii) the recent floods in Guyana. [213903]

The events of last year's hurricane season in the Caribbean, has given an added urgency to the Department for International Development's (DFID) work on a Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy. There are best practice lessons to be learnt from within the region, for example in its preparedness for Hurricane Mitch and Cuba demonstrated that lives can be saved with a relatively small amount of resources. DFID's Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, will be ready by autumn 2005, and will feed into our assistance plans for all the countries and regions where we work.

Over the period 2003–08, DFID is providing £3.75 million to the Pan American Health Organisation's Programme for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief (PAHO PED). Of this money approximately a third will be allocated to the countries and territories of the Caribbean. PAHO PED focus on three key activities:

preparing the health sector for disasters

reducing the vulnerability of hospitals

reducing the vulnerability of water and sanitation systems.

PAHO PED have also trained many professionals in the Caribbean region on disaster risk reduction policy and practice.

DFID's Overseas Territories Department (OTD) have a Disaster Management Adviser based in the Caribbean and an ongoing disaster management programme (£350,000 per annum) with an emphasis on strengthening preparedness and risk reduction capabilities in the Caribbean Territories.

The FCO has a £55,000 per annum Good Governance Fund (GGF) disaster management project for the Overseas Territories (OTs) designed to raise the capacities of National Disaster Offices in the Caribbean OTs.

Within these programmes DFID OTD and FCO OTD are providing £80,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency and Response Agency (CDERA) to facilitate national performance evaluations by Caribbean countries affected in the 2004 hurricane season. A high level forum is being organised for 2005 to share experiences, to identify opportunities to improve disaster planning and to agree an action plan. Evaluations are already under way.

The DFID and FCO OT programmes have allocated £30,000 for emergency supplies and capacity building of British Red Cross OT Branches in the Caribbean for 2005.

In a written response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 25 October 2004, , Imentioned that DFID OTD had commenced a study to determine Hurricane Ivan storm characteristics and consequential physical infrastructure damage in the Cayman Islands. The study, to which we have allocated £20,000, will aid the development of planning and preparedness criteria throughout the region.Official Report, column 989W

The disaster management adviser offers direct technical assistance to Caribbean Overseas Territories. He remains engaged and involved in the longer-term recovery and risk reduction programme in the Cayman Islands.

With respect to the ongoing flooding emergency in Guyana, which is estimated to have affected 294,000 people or 39 per cent. of the population of Guyana, DFID immediately gave a total of £100,000 to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the delivery of emergency supplies and the Government of Guyana's own relief effort. This support will provide water purification sachets and water containers, and survival items such as blankets and treated mosquito nets to reduce the chances of malarial infection.

DFID has also made available a 20-member six boat team from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Rapid Response Unit. This team is led by a member of DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, and will help with the distribution of supplies in areas cut off by the floods. The estimated cost of the RNLI initiative is £120,000, which includes the provision of 400 pairs of waders and 50 loudhailers (worth £15,000). The RNLI team and these supplies arrived in Georgetown on 2 February 2005. The RNLI team began work immediately and the supplies have been handed over to the Government of Guyana's Civil Defence Commission.

A further £57,000 has been allocated to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) in Guyana, to help improve the quality of drinking water for up to 195,000 people/35,000 households and offer short-term solutions for human waste disposal.

The UK has also made £95,000 available as part of our contribution to the European Commission's Humanitarian assistance.

Once the immediate emergency has passed, we will work with the Government of Guyana, local and international relief agencies, to review and assess Guyana's disaster preparedness and the lessons learned from these floods.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the objectives of British development and aid policy in Iraq. [213581]

The objectives of DFID's programme in Iraq are: to promote rapid, sustainable and equitable economic growth; to encourage effective and accountable governance, and to promote social and political cohesion and stability.

In meeting these objectives, DFID is:

supporting Iraq's newly emerging public administration in delivering effective government to the people of Iraq; and providing advice and security support to the Iraqi electoral commission;

assisting macro-economic management in Iraq, including the design of effective economic reform measures which safeguard the interests of the country's poorest and most vulnerable citizens;

providing direct assistance in southern Iraq for infrastructure rehabilitation, employment generation, and building up the capacity of local government;

supporting the development of Iraqi community organisations and public participation in the political process;

financing training for the judiciary, and supporting the development of independent media;

supporting the multilateral effort for Iraq through the World Bank and the United Nations in a number of sectors including health, education, power supply and support for returning refugees and their host communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial help has been given to the Iraqi Government by the United Kingdom to help towards the cost of rebuilding the city of Fallujah; and if he will make a statement. [213741]

The United Kingdom is not providing financial assistance for the reconstruction of Fallujah. $100 million has been allocated from the Iraqi budget for reconstruction work in Fallujah, and United States agencies report that they have planned around 100 reconstruction projects in the Fallujah area worth a total of over $84 million. DFID staff and consultants have made assessment visits to Fallujah and provided advice to the Iraqi Government on the management of health, humanitarian and coordination issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was received by Israel for (a) humanitarian and (b) military purposes from (i) the Government of the United Kingdom and (ii) other sources from the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [211761]

No humanitarian or military aid has been given by the UK Government to Israel since 1997, other than to fund the attendance of one Israeli participant annually on a military training course at the Royal College of Defence Studies. We do not track the exact amounts of aid from other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004. [209226]

Details of cancelled ministerial engagements are not recorded, therefore the information requested cannot be provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is his policy to withhold aid from Rwanda if he receives evidence of attacks by Rwandan forces on groups seeking to destabilise the country, with particular reference to the ex-FAR and the Interahamwe. [213099]

The UK Government are Rwanda's major bilateral development partner. Our engagement with the Government of Rwanda is based on the UK/Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU describes the Government of Rwanda's commitments to the Rwandan people on poverty reduction, promoting regional stability, creating a democratic and inclusive state, and progressively securing human rights. The Government of Rwanda's undertakings include commitment to playing a full part in international and regional initiatives to prevent and reduce conflict within and between countries and establish peace in central Africa.

The MoU confirms that the UK's engagement depends on continuing progress in these areas. Should we believe that the Government of Rwanda are not honouring the commitments made in the MoU, the UK's programme of assistance to the Government of Rwanda may be reconfigured or suspended.

DFID is concerned by reports that Rwanda planned to mount a cross-border operation in DRC against elements of the ex-FAR and the Interahamwe (ex-FAR/l). Any military action by Rwanda in DRC would have very serious repercussions for Rwanda, DRC and the region as a whole. DFID has urged all parties to refrain from any actions that would breach international law and undermine regional stability and the work of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). We therefore welcome the recent statements by the Government of Rwanda indicating that they will not pursue cross-border military action and will support international efforts to disarm the ex-FAR/l in eastern DRC.

DFID condemns the attacks made by the ex-FAR/l against Rwandan citizens and territory and also recognises that the disarmament of the ex-FAR/l is a critical requirement that needs to be addressed urgently. We are working actively with the UN and international partners on how this can best be addressed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the role of private companies in the provision of water in developing countries. [213484]

DFID believes that the private sector can play a positive role and contribute to poverty alleviation through bringing gains in productivity, efficiency and quality of service delivery if its involvement is appropriately structured and regulated and includes mechanisms for public consultation. Specific decisions about the use of the private sector are for developing countries to take.

DFID's research in this area has studied the role of non-state service providers and public-private partnerships in order to support developing country governments to strengthen their regulatory structures and institutions to this end.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Government of Ghana about their citizens' access to clean water. [213497]

During my visit to Ghana in March 2004 I visited Nima, a deprived suburb of Accra, and talked to residents and officials of the Government of Ghana about the problems of poor urban water supply and plans to introduce private sector participation. Since then DFID has been in negotiation with the Government of Ghana on a contribution of £7.7 million which we intend to allocate to improvements in urban water networks.

Access to clean water is a key indicator of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Ghana, and measures to increase such access are included in the dialogue about overall performance that informs the release of Poverty Reduction Budget Support by DFID and other donors.

To ask the Solicitor-General what monitoring procedures the Crown Prosecution Service has in place to ensure good quality prosecution by the Bar in rape trials. [207499]

The Crown Prosecution Service instructs experienced and committed advocates to prosecute cases involving allegations of rape. This includes instructing advocates of the necessary skill, competence and sensitivity to prosecute rape cases. In London and the South East advocates are instructed from a specialist list. In other parts of the country, Grade 4 advocates are instructed where possible. CPS Areas have been advised in guidance issued in August 2003 that local monitoring is appropriate. Examples of local monitoring carried out by CPS Areas include the monitoring of the performance of counsel at trial by experienced caseworkers; monitoring by rape specialists for part of the trial and the raising of performance issues with local Heads of Chambers and at Joint Advocates Selection Committee as appropriate.

In 2002, HMCPSI produced a report on the investigation and prosecution of Rape Offences. It made a number of recommendations, which have been followed up in a joint agency rape action plan. HMCPSI keeps the handling of rape cases under review in its inspection of Areas.

HMCPSI does not specifically look at the handling by the Bar of rape cases but it regards rape cases as sensitive and looks at how such cases are prosecuted in each Area.

To ask the Solicitor-General what training the Crown Prosecution Service (a) organises for and (b) delivers to the Bar to ensure that its new code of practice on rape prosecutions is followed at trial. [207501]

The CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape" explains the way in which the CPS deals with cases in which an allegation of rape has been made.

The training the CPS delivers to the Bar on the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape" is determined at a local level. Not all CPS Areas have a local Bar. Seven CPS Areas have offered, organised and trained or provided training materials to their local Bar covering the Sexual Offences Act 2003 of which two Areas gave specific training on the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape". Other Areas have distributed the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape" highlighting the issues raised in the document.

In addition, this document is on the CPS website and available to all barristers.

To ask the Solicitor-General what training is given by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Bar about resisting applications for the admission of previous sexual history in rape trials. [207502]

There is a small number of CPS Areas who have provided training to their local Bar on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which incorporated training on section 41 applications, although generally there is no specific training conducted by the CPS for the Bar on resisting defence applications for the admission of previous sexual history.

The CPS Instructions for Prosecuting Advocates booklet, available on the CPS website, provide that it is essential that advocates are robust in dealing with applications by the defence to cross-examine about previous sexual history and that the correct procedure is followed to ensure that inappropriate questioning does not take place.

The CPS instructs experienced counsel in rape cases ensuring that scrutiny of defence applications to admit evidence of previous sexual history takes place and inappropriate applications are countered robustly.

The CPS and the Bar are in discussions on how counsel might best be able to demonstrate the necessary competencies to prosecute rape cases. An option is for them to have attended and appropriate training course.

To ask the Solicitor-General what instructions are given by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Bar in rape trials about meeting and speaking to the complainant. [207504]

The instructions given by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Bar about meeting and speaking to complainants in all trials are provided in the Crown Prosecution Service's Instructions to Advocates booklet.

The booklet contains the following instructions:

The advocate is reminded that the Code of Conduct permits barristers appearing at court to introduce themselves to witnesses and to explain court procedures. The CPS regards this personal contact as particularly important so far as victims of crime are concerned. The advocate's attention is also drawn to the duty imposed by the Code of Conduct to ensure that those facing unfamiliar court procedures are put at ease. This is particularly important in the case of nervous or vulnerable witnesses."

Instructions to Prosecuting Advocates also remind the Bar that in some cases, the advocate may be expected to attend an early special measures meeting, at which the police and the CPS will discuss special measures in the case. All rape victims are considered prima facie eligible for special measures unless they decline them.

The instructions to Prosecuting Advocates booklet is available on the internet.

Further work is ongoing between the CPS and the Bar to reinforce CPS expectations that prosecuting counsel will communicate appropriately with victims, particularly rape victims, at court.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended, were referred to Essex Crown Prosecution Service in each year from 2000; and in how many of these cases prosecutions were brought. [211056]

Records are not available for the whole period requested and it is not possible to break the figures down into number of cases referred and number prosecuted. For the period February 2004 to December 2004, CPS Essex handled prosecutions in respect of 130 offences under s18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 13 January 2005, Official Report, column 930W, on Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions, what the nature of the offences committed by the defendants being prosecuted by Essex Crown Prosecution Service were; how many defendants were (a) convicted and (b) acquitted; and what the average cost of the prosecution in such cases was in each year since 2000. [211068]

The Crown Prosecution Service only introduced a system for the recording and analysis of principal offence types in September 2004. Atable of the principal offence types and outcomes for the period since September 2004 is as follows.

Average prosecution costs are calculated nationally and so average prosecution costs for Essex are not available. The average cost for a defendant prosecuted for a summary offence in the magistrates court, is £390.80. To prosecute a defendant for an either way offence in the magistrates court, the average cost is £393.

The average cost for a defendant prosecuted in the Crown court following a mixture of guilty and not guilty pleas, is £1,256. For a defendant who pleads not guilty to all charges the average cost of a prosecution is £1,293. A table showing the breakdown of costs by case disposal is as follows.

Principal offence types for defendants prosecuted by CPS Essex 2004

Crown Prosecution Service records include an analysis of the principal offence type for which each defendant was prosecuted and, within that analysis, an indication of the outcome of proceedings. The information from these records is as follows in respect of CPS Essex, including the number of acquittals.

It should be noted that this information is incomplete in two respects:

The record was only introduced in September 2004; and

The analysis of outcomes takes no account of cases which resulted in an administrative finalisation (where the defendant could not be traced by the police, or had died, or been found unfit to plead). The number and proportion of unsuccessful outcomes are therefore understated.

Costs per defendant finalised—National -- £

To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2005, Official Report, columns 345–46W, on Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions (Essex), what the cost to public funds was of prosecutions (a) in each year since 1997 and (b) for the period to September 2004; and if she will make a statement. [213869]

The costs of prosecutions to public funds are divided into two categories. The first is the prosecution cost and the second is administration costs. The Crown Prosecution Service uses financial years for managing budgets and costs.

The table shows prosecution and administrative costs incurred by CPS Essex during each financial year since April 1997. Administration costs include all payroll costs and other non-payroll administration costs.

CPS Essex—Prosecution costs (1997 to September 2004) -- £

To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 663W, on the Court of Justice, if she will make a statement on UK interest in the case; and in how many instances since 1997 the UK has acted as an intervening state. [211459]

The UK supported the Commission in this case as it raised important questions about the operation of the single market. However, after considering the Pleadings the UK felt that that it could add nothing of value to the Commission's case.

The information on the number of instances in which the UK acted as intervening state since 1997 is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the UK participated in 165 cases brought in the European Court between February 2003 and December 2004.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many football banning order cases the Crown Prosecution Service has brought in (a) Essex and (b) England and Wales in each year since 1997; and how many of these resulted in (i) conviction and (ii) acquittal. [210454]

The following table sets out the relevant figures. The figures relate to persons for whom these sentences were for the principal offences for which they were found guilty. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates court and convicted at all courts for offences related to football banning orders. England and Wales and Essex police force area, 1997 to 2003

⁽¹⁾Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Note:

These Data are on a principle offence basis.

Source:

RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform IOS: 039—04

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, columns 669–70W, on the A3, for what reasons Ministers did not inform the right hon. Member for South West Surrey and the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire (Mr. Arbuthnot) (a) about the redesignation of the A3 at Hindhead and (b) that the timetable for the A3 Hindhead Tunnel has been delayed. [213953]

Given the number of schemes covered by the Highways Agency's press announcement issued on 1 December 2004, it was not possible to notify MPs individually about the specific implications for schemes affecting their constituencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) car hire and (b) car breakdown services that are not accessible to disabled people; what proportion this amounts to of the total number of these services in operation in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [214190]

The number of car hire firms in the UK is estimated to be over 500 companies and the numbers of firms that provide breakdown recovery services is estimated to be between 1200 and 1500.

There is currently no legal requirement for these companies to offer a service to disabled people. Some of the car hire companies, especially the larger ones, do offer a basic service to disabled people such as offering portable hand controls and many of the vehicle recovery operators also provide a service for disabled people, but it is not possible to estimate the numbers.

The Government are currently consulting on proposals to bring car hire companies and vehicle breakdown recovery operators within the scope of Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act to extend the rights of disabled people to access these services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce procedures to record the number of fatal car accidents that occur as a result of poor servicing of cars. [214141]

From 1 January 2005, the national system for the collection of data on accidents involving personal injury has included questions on contributory factors to accidents.

This will provide information on whether vehicle defects contributed to an accident, although it will not distinguish whether the defect was a result of poor servicing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices in Swansea do not accept licences issued in Northern Ireland in respect of the Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty Scheme. [211287]

Driver licensing is a devolved matter in NI. While a driving licence issued by either GB or NI authorities is legally recognised by the other, there is at the present time no mutual recognition of endorsable fixed penalties between them.

However, the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 inserted a new section in the Road Traffic Offenders Act allowing a Northern Ireland driving licence holder to be issued with a Great Britain counterpart. This came into effect on 11 October.

Since that date there has been a facility for NI licence holders to obtain a GB counterpart. This allows access to the fixed penalty system in GB.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [213269]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 910W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of entries on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency system where details of an individual's address are not accurate. [208283]

A survey conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2003 established that 75.2 per cent. of the address details held on its driving licence database were correct in every detail. The corresponding figure for its vehicle database was 85.6 per cent. The main cause of error was motorists' failure to notify DVLA that they had changed address and 18 per cent. of driving licence holders and 7 per cent. of vehicle keepers had failed to do so. This means that DVLA's records were sufficiently up-to-date to allow law enforcement agencies to trace vehicle keepers in over 92 per cent. of cases.

Since then, DVLA has mounted a publicity campaign to encourage motorists to update their details. A further survey, to be conducted this year, will measure the effectiveness of that campaign. Major changes have also been introduced to the way that payment of vehicle excise duty is enforced. These are encouraging motorists to notify DVLA promptly when vehicles change hands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the (a) car parking charges imposed by the York council for parking in York at night and (b) closure of the Parkand Ride schemes in York at 8 p.m. at night; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these policies on achieving an integrated transport strategy in York. [214031]

The Department has received no such representations and consequently we have made no assessment of the impact of these policies on achieving an integrated transport strategy in York. These are local issues, to be determined by City of York council as local highway authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the target set in the 10-Year Plan 2000 to increase rail use by 50 per cent. by 2010 is still in force. [212113]

As I have made clear on a number of occasions this target was unrealistic. Last year Britain's railway carried over 1 billion passengers and people are travelling further by rail than in any year since 1946.

New Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets come into effect in April 2005. The current growth target for rail will be replaced by a target to improve punctuality and reliability of rail services to at least 85 per cent. by 2006, with further improvements by 2008". This target better reflects the Government's and passengers' immediate priority of improving performance. Obviously as performance improves more people will want to travel by train and the Government's rail policy is to encourage them to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported road accidents involved drivers who had passed their test within one year of the incident in each of the last five years. [211883]

The information requested is not available. However, we know from research we have undertaken that one in five new drivers has some sort of accident within one year of passing their driving test. A cohort study of new drivers currently under way will refresh this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of a possible link between prominent roadside advertising and road accidents. [213470]

Although there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that advertising alongside motorways can have a detrimental effect on road safety, the results of studies carried out to date have been inconclusive.

To ask the Secretary of State forTransport how many local transport authorities in the Thames Gateway outside Greater London have reported on the six core accessibility indicators as part of their local transport plan. [214654]

Guidance issued to local transport authorities in December 2004 on the next round of local transport plans (LTPs) includes the requirement that authorities set at least one target relating to accessibility, based on one of the six core indicators, a local accessibility indicator or both. This is a new requirement following the recent development of accessibility planning guidance.

Provisional LTPs including this requirement are not due to be submitted until July 2005, with the final LTPS to be completed by March 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships funded by the Learning and Skills Council were begun in eachregion during the six months ending 31 December 2004. [214523]

This is a matter for the Learning andSkills Council. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by her Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case. [200830]

This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she next plans to review the education funding formula for schools in England. [213858]

The five year strategy signalled the Government's intention to introduce a dedicated Schools Budget, guaranteed by national Government and delivered through local authorities. We will be launching a full public consultation on the detailed proposals shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what capital allocations have been made to Leicestershire county council for education purposes in each year since 1996–97. [213754]

The table shows the capital allocations made to Leicestershire county council and its schools for education purposes in each year since 1996–97.

Leicestershire local education authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the amount spent per pupil was in North Durham in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available. [214196]

The information requested is contained within the following table:

Combined LEA and school based expenditure per pupil—cash terms^(2)(3)(4)

⁽²⁾The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA).

⁽³⁾1997–98 financial data are taken from Revenue Outturn spending returns submitted to the ODPM 2001–02 and 2003–04 financial data are taken from Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the Department for Education and Skills. 2003–04 data remains provisional and is subject to change by the LEA.

⁽⁴⁾Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the LEA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LEA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES Annual Schools Census. Private voluntary and independent (FVI) under 5 pupil numbers are taken from the Early Years census but are only included from 1999–2000 onwards. Other LEA maintained pupils includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the Authority for whom the Authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the Authority drawn from the Form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LEA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained mainstream school drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

⁽⁵⁾Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1996–99.

Notes:

1.Financial data are collected at local authority level and not constituency level and as such the figures provided are for Durham LEA.

2.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 as reported the Durham LEA at 3 February 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the oral answer of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 948, on league tables, what assessment her Department has made of the improvement in average results at GCSE that would be achieved if all local education authority areas were to perform at the same level as selective local education authority areas. [210953]

holding answer 25 January 2005

If all local education authority areas returned the same value added as selective local education authority areas, the average results would improve by nine points at GCSE, where a grade C, for example, is equal to 40points and a grade B equal to 46 points.

However, this calculation does not take account of the different characteristics of pupils educated in different LEAs, so it does not give an estimate of the possible impact of making all LEAs selective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many bids Surrey local education authority has made for funding under the New Deal for Schools; what the total monetary value of these bids is; how many grants the authority received under the New Deal for Schools; and what the total monetary value of these grants is. [214184]

Surrey local education authority presented a total of 99 bids for New Deal for Schools between 1997 and 2002. The total monetary value for these bids amounts to £29,905,000. The number ofapproved projects was 69, with a total value of £17,575,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what spending is planned on Ofsted for each year from 2003–04 to 2007–08; and if she will make a statement. [213957]

That is a matter for Ofsted. HM inspector, David Bell will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the capital spend on school extension repairs and classroom upgrades was in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each year since 1997. [214399]

The table shows the capital resources allocated to Lancashire local education authority and its schools, since 1997. Decisions on how resources should be invested in schools are taken locally in accordance with the locally prepared asset management plans. Information on how resources are split between constituencies and capital spend on school extension repairs and classroom upgrades are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Chorley have benefited from new classrooms, school extensions and upgrades since 1997. [214400]

The following table show the capital resources allocated to Lancashire local education authority and its schools, since 1997. We do not hold central information on which schools benefited from new classrooms, school extensions and upgrades. The decisions on how resources should be invested in schools are taken and held locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when Ofsted will take school meals into account during inspections as set out in the White Paper, Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier". [213297]

This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entries there were at A-level in (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biology and (d) mathematics from schools designated as specialist science colleges in each of the last eight years, including entries from such schools before their designation as specialist schools. [213300]

The information requested on GCE A-level entries for 16 to 18-year-olds in specialist science colleges between 1997 and 2004 is given as follows:

The 153 specialist science colleges included are those operational on 1 September 2004 that were published in the 2004 School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on installation of sprinklers in schools; what advice she has given to schools on installation of sprinklers; and if she will make a statement. [213328]

Since April 2001, all new construction work at schools has been subject to the Building Regulations. Projects will not be approved unless they are designed in accordance with the 2000 edition of Approved Document B (Fire Safety), which accompanies the regulations. The Building Regulations do not require the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new school accommodation but that does not mean that local education authorities are prohibited from specifying their use.

My Department's cost guidelines do not include for the cost of installation of sprinklers as standard. Where risk assessment shows that sprinklers are desirable, their costs can be included as an abnormal.

The Department's guide Fire Safety" includes information on fire sprinklers. It states that, though expensive to install, their use may be worthwhile in schools where the risk of arson is high. In these circumstances sprinkler systems can help minimise the loss of valuable course work and teaching materials through fire, and prevent major disruption to the life of a school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reasons teachers accused of assaulting pupils are not granted anonymity. [213552]

It is not appropriate to provide anonymity for people accused of crime for a number of reasons. The principle that criminal trials should take place in open court and be freely reported is one of the key foundations of our criminal justice system. The fact that the system is open and transparent, and that the media is able to report freely what has taken place publicly in court, helps ensure public confidence in the system and helps encourage victims and witnesses to come forward. Also anonymity would raise important principles of the freedom of the press and the public interest. Publicity can work to an accused person's advantage: by helping him or her gather support and bringing to light evidence in his or her behalf. Equally there have been examples of responsible investigative journalism bringing to light cases of serious abuse that might otherwise have gone undetected.

However, someone who is under investigation by the police but who has not been charged with a criminal offence should not be identified in the press. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has issued revised guidance to all police forces, applying to all offences, which makes it clear that anyone under investigation, but not charged, should not be named, or details provided to the press which might lead to their identification before they are charged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was provided for schools to support teachers' pensions in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 in (i) school sixth forms and (ii) further education colleges. [211578]

The Department does not separately allocate funds for school sixth forms or further education (FE) colleges to meet the costs of the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS). We expect schools and colleges to meet staffing costs from funds they receive from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and other sources. The LSC funding includes provision for changes to the TPS in 2003.