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

(1) when the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB will publish its fourth report; [213287]

(2) when she plans to publish the fourth Independent Scientific Group report on Bovine TB. [213125]

holding answer 1 February 2005

The fourth report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB is being finalised. Publication is expected in early February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has conducted on whether species of wildlife other than the badger are a significant reservoir for bovine tuberculosis. [214114]

Defra-funded research carried out by the Central Science Laboratory, on the risk to cattle from wildlife species other than badgers in areas of high herd breakdown risk, was published on 9 July 2004. Researchers isolatedMycobacterium bovis (the prime causative agent for TB in cattle) in a number of mammalian species, some for first time e.g. muntjac deer. Infection was also found in foxes, stoats, polecats, common shrews, yellow-necked mice, wood mice, field voles, grey squirrels, roe deer, red deer and fallow deer. While isolations from deer are a concern, it is not clear what, if any, contribution any of the species examined in the study make to the problem of TB in cattle.

Further research into the role of wild deer in the perpetuation of TB in cattle is planned.

Defra has also funded a study of bovine tuberculosis in small mammals at Oxford University.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the availability of rapid assay methods for bovine tuberculosis would assist in the detection of infection in badgers. [214118]

A rapid assay method for detection of bovine tuberculosis (TB) infection in badgers is not likely to be available for field use in the short term.

The current TB diagnostic test for badgers, the indirect ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test, is not sufficiently sensitive to provide reliable estimates of TB prevalence in badgers. The sensitivity of the test is 40.7 per cent. and the specificity is 94.3 per cent. when used as a single test.

Defra is funding research into the development of immunological assays for the detection ofMycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in badgers at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. The project aims to provide Defra with both improved and new diagnostic tools for the identification of M. bovis in badgers. Research is due to end in March 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of tuberculosis outbreaks in cattle over the past five years has been attributed by her officials to badger-to-cattle transmission; and what the percentage was in the previous 10 years. [214119]

It is not possible at present to give a valid estimate. Research designed to inform the Government on the relative importance of cattle and badgers as vectors of the disease is continuing.

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

(1) what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the loss of tuberculosis-free status in the UK on (a) intra-Community trade, (b) trade with Russia and (c) trade with the rest of the world in all UK cattle products, including milk and dairy products; [214128]

(2) whether the change in the number of tuberculosis outbreaks continues at the rate experienced over the last five years; and whether she expects the tuberculosis-free status of the national herd to be lost. [214129]

The increasing rate in the number of tuberculosis (TB) breakdowns (an average increase of 18 per cent. per annum over the period 1986–2003) will not affect the status of the national herd, because Great Britain, as a whole, does not qualify for officially TB free status according to the criteria set by the EC and the Organisation Internationale des Epizooties. However, individual herds not subjected to TB movement restrictions can be considered Officially TB Free (OTB) for the purposes of international trade in cattle products, including milk and dairy products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the results of the four counties study on bovine tuberculosis in Ireland are consistent with results recorded from the study at East Offaly. [214138]

In the East Offaly study the evidence of cattle infection was measured by reactor animals per 1,000 tests, whereas the main method in the Four Area Study was the odds of new herd restrictions. There was a marked decline over time in the badger removal areas compared to the reference areas in both studies. By the nature of both studies, however, it is difficult to ascribe this reduction definitely to badger removal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) meetings and (b) communications her Department has had with officials of the Irish Agriculture Ministry concerning the four counties study on bovine tuberculosis in Ireland. [214160]

Defra officials met with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food, and scientists, at University College Dublin, in October last year. This meeting preceded the publication of the Irish Four Area Trial results and the discussion was limited to the expected date of publication.

I met with Irish officials on 25 January to discuss the trial results. The Chief Veterinary Officer and officials were also in attendance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of whether it is possible for farmers to apply biosecurity measures to their cattle herds which are sufficiently stringent to prevent any cattle-to-badger contact. [214165]

Complete biosecurity is seldom possible where wildlife is concerned, but farmers are advised to minimise contact between their cattle and wildlife.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the carbon dioxide emissions levels of each economic sector in the UK have been in each year since 1997. [211025]

holding answer 25 January 2005

The following table shows UK carbon dioxide emissions in million tonnes of carbon per year CO₂ emissions by economic sector since 1997, consistent with the most recent published information which is contained in the Consultation Paper published in December 2004 for the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme. We have not yet received a full set of sectoral data for 2003 and we hope to do so shortly and will publish as soon as we can.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the annual cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in her Department and its agencies, for each year from 1997–98 to 2007–08; and if she will make a statement. [211595]

The cost of enhanced early retirements in Defra and its agencies was £6,109,000 in 2003–04 and £9,400,000 in 2004–05.

The Department did not exist prior to June 2001. Figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Estimates are not yet available for future financial years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee for the fisheries and aquaculture sector met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [214317]

The EU Committee for the fisheries and aquaculture sector routinely meets in Brussels at one of the Commission's meeting facilities. The dates of the meetings during the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidencies of the EU are as in the following list. Representatives from the UK Fisheries Departments were present at all of these meetings. The exact nature and number of representatives depended on the subjects under discussion, with experts on control and enforcement, fleet policy and statistics being present as necessary.

Italian Presidency

15 July 2003

1 October 2003

20 October 2003

19 November 2003

9 December 2003

Irish Presidency

14 January 2004

11 February 2004

10 March 2004

20 April 2004

Dutch Presidency

6 and 7 July 2004

9 September 2004

13 October 2004

17 November 2004

14 December 2004

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the activity of the European Food Safety Authority in the UK in the last 12 months; and if she will list the publications and newsletters published by the authority over that period. [215275]

The European Food Safety Authority has not undertaken any activity in the UK in the last 12 months in the fields of animal health and welfare or plant health. Any activity it may have undertaken in the field of food safety is a matter for the Food Standards Agency.

A list of its publications can be found on its website http://www.efsa.eu.int/.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to support the development of farmers markets (a) in the North West region and (b) elsewhere in England. [213101]

The information is as follows:

(a) In the North West region support for the development of farmers markets is being taken forward by the North West Fantastic Food Partnership. This partnership is made up of a group of organisations from across the region whose role is to assist food producers to develop their business and market their products. The partnership is pursuing a five-year project (from November 2002 to March 2007) covering a range of activities including support for farmers markets. Funding for these activities (totalling some £5.3 million) comes from the North West Regional Development Agency, Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme and from the Merseyside Objective One programme. Specific initiatives relating to farmers' markets include the improvement of existing farmers' markets, the creation of new markets and the promotion of the markets to consumers.

(b) More generally, the Government welcome the establishment of farmers markets. They offer an excellent outlet for farmers to sell their produce direct to consumers and the Department is keen to encourage their development. That is why we have made provision under the England Rural Development Programme for grants to projects promoting farmers markets.

Defra officials met representatives from the National Farmers Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) last July to explore how Defra could work with FARMA on the common goals of reconnecting farmers to their markets and helping them to add value. The meeting included a discussion on FARMA's priorities and how these might be supported under various grant schemes—in particular the Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) and the Agriculture Development Scheme (ADS). Farmers markets at both regional and national level have received funding under those schemes in the past. The meeting also covered how FARMA could raise its profile with the regional development agencies (RDAs). As a result, representatives from FARMA gave a presentation to Defra's Regional Food Cross-Cutting Group, which includes representatives from the RDAs, the Countryside Agency and the Food Standards Agency, in September 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997. [213637]

Since Defra was formed in June 2001 the costs of producing the in-house magazine are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's IT projects in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) amount spent, (b) purpose, (c) cost of overrun and (d) time of overrun. [205780]

Providing the level of detail the hon. Member has requested would breach the disproportionate cost threshold. However, lists of IT projects undertaken by the Department between 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003 October 2004 (when Defra's IT services were outsourced to IBM) and a separate list of projects undertaken since October 2004 are attached. These lists will be made available in the library of the House.

Lists of IT projects undertaken by the Department for the period June 2001 to July 2003 were made available in response in the answer given on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 239W. These lists will be made available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been brought by her Department for animal abuse in the course of movement of animals to member states of the European Union. [214371]

Prosecution action is usually taken by local authorities as primary enforcement agents for animal welfare in transport rules. Information on the number of prosecutions is published in the annual Return of Expenditure Incurred and Prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981, and Incidences of Disease in Imported Animals" which are available in the Library of the House. This information does not distinguish action taken in respect of animals intended for export.

Information on checks carried out by this Department on the welfare of animals for export is made available each month on the Defra website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the installations within England and Wales where materials contaminated with radioactivity may be incinerated; and what quantities of (a) materials and (b) radioactivity are involved. [215187]

The premises in England and Wales which are authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to dispose of radioactive wastes by incineration are listed. Each authorisation includes limits on the quantity of radioactivity that can be incinerated, as this determines the public radiological impact. Copies of the authorisations are placed on the Environment Agency's public registers and are sent to local authorities so that they may be made available for public access. The authorisations generally do not specify the associated quantities of material (in terms of the volume or weight of the waste), and records of those quantities are not collated centrally. Details of releases of radioactivity from authorised premises in England and Wales, including sites where radioactive waste may be incinerated, are published in the Pollution Inventory section of the Environment Agency's website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

List of premises in England and Wales which are authorised to incinerate radioactive wastes

Nuclear sites

BNFL Sellafield

BNFL Capenhurst

Hartlepool Power Station

Heysham 1 Power Station

Heysham 2 Power Station

Hinkley Point B Power Station

Sizewell B Power Station

Berkeley Power Station

Bradwell Power Station

Dungeness A Power Station

Oldbury Power Station

Trawsfynydd Power Station

Wylfa Power Station

Non-nuclear premises

Addenbrookes NHS Trust Hospital, Cambridge

Nottingham City Hospital

White Rose Environmental Ltd., Nottingham

University of Nottingham

New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton

White Rose Environmental Ltd., Leeds

Royal Preston Hospital, Preston

Viridor Waste Management Ltd., Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

National Blood Service, Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, Bristol

White Rose Environmental Ltd., Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth

Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth

Royal Hospital Haslar, Gosport

Shanks Chemical Services Ltd., Hythe, Southampton

Pfizer Ltd., Sandwich

White Rose Environmental Ltd., Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup

White Rose Environmental Ltd., William Harvey Hospital, Ashford

Tesla Engineering Ltd., Pulborough

BFH Incineration Ltd., Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge

Queen Mary and Westfield College, London

Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd., Harlow

Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow

Glaxosmithkline Research and Development Ltd., Harlow

St. Albans City Hospital

University of Westminster, London

Glaxosmithkline Research and Development Ltd., Welwyn

S. Grundon (Waste) Ltd., Slough

Glaxosmithkline Research and Development Ltd., Stevenage

Institute for Animal Health, Woking

Shanks Chemical Services Ltd., Pontypool

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the relationship between the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management and Nirex. [212136]

holding answer 31 January 2005

The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) is the independent advisory committee set up by UK Government and the devolved Administrations under the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme to provide recommendations on the best option, or combination of options, for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste. CoRWM has been asked to deliver its recommendations by July 2006.

Nirex is a company originally set up by the UK nuclear industry in 1982 to provide radioactive waste disposal services to the industry and others. Current work includes: scientific, engineering and social science research into options for dealing with radioactive waste in the long term; specifications and standards for the treatment and packaging of radioactive waste; and compiling the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory in conjunction with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

CoRWM and Nirex are separate and distinct bodies. Nirex will contribute to the CoRWM review as part of its work. Nirex is to be made independent of the nuclear industry and under greater Government control, through a Defra/DTI holding company, from 1 April 2005 for the period of CoRWM's work, following which these arrangements will be reviewed and a decision made on the future.

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

(1) how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997; [213666]

(2) what the cost of staff surveys in the Department and its predecessors was in each year since 1997. [213674]

Defra uses staff surveys to examine staff opinions on a wide range of issues, including working practices, satisfaction and leadership. The results help the Management Board to identify areas of strength (which can be shared with other Government Departments as good practice) and areas for improvement, on which action can be taken.

Since 2004, key measures in the Department's Corporate Balanced Scorecard have been informed by staff survey results. They are also used to measure progress against meeting Defra's Performance Partnership Agreement.

MAFF carried out one census (all staff) survey in 2000. Defra was formed in June 2001 and has since run two census staff surveys and four sample (25 per cent. of staff) surveys.

A breakdown of expenditure on staff surveys since 1997:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on community amateur sports clubs. [214835]

I welcome the fact that over 2,000 Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) have now registered with the Inland Revenue and received an estimated total of £5 million in tax reliefs as a result of doing so.

Last month my Department published Growing Community Sport", a leaflet publicising the CASC scheme. I have sent copies to many hon. Members and hope that they will make use of this leaflet to tell their constituents about the benefits available to sports clubs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she 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. [210533]

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 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the speeches her special advisers made in an official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004, broken down by date. [210560]

The special advisers at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have not given any speeches during the period between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented. [211328]

DCMS does not have a Welsh Language Scheme approved by the Welsh Language Board. However our good practice policy is to ensure that Welsh versions are available of all reports where DCMS has policy responsibility in Wales.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost was in 2003–04 of dealing with complaints to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards which (a) did and (b) did not lead to the making of a report by the Commissioner; and how many such complaints there were in each case in 2003–04. [214159]

The Commissioner received 96 specific complaints against a named Member in 2003–04, of which six were the subject of reports to the Committee on Standards and Privileges. A detailed analysis of these figures is given in the Commissioner's Annual Report for the year in question (HC 716, Session 2003–04).

The cost of the Commissioner's office in the same period was £335,258, of which £20,153 can be attributed directly to costs (mainly of transcription) arising from a particular inquiry. It is not possible to attribute the bulk of the office's costs (which relate to staff) to individual complaints.

To ask the Solicitor-General when she expects to have completed her consideration of the representations she has received about the desirability of allowing prosecutors direct access to witnesses in order to assess their credibility. [214591]

The Report setting out the Attorney-General's conclusions on the issue of whether in principle prosecutors should be able to interview witnesses in criminal trials was published on 20 December 2004. Copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses on that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997. [213781]

The total cost of cleaning all the Department's buildings internally and externally is:

Costs are not available for years prior to FY 2001–02.

All contracts for cleaning are competitively tendered on a regular basis.

Independent benchmarks show our costs at or below the average for equivalent buildings in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out the (a) scope and (b) terms of reference of the study on the Effects of the Renewables Obligation on the wood panel industry; when the study was commissioned; and when she expects it to be published. [214852]

The purpose of the study is to establish the current and likely future impact of the Renewables Obligation on the wood panel industry, relative to other factors affecting the commercial position of the industry.

We have not yet commissioned the study but plan to do so shortly.

We expect the study to take several months to complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what involvement her Department has had in the (a) planning and (b) arrangements for the international conference on nuclear security in London on 16 to 18 March; which Ministers and officials in her Department are planning (i) to attend and (ii) to give a presentation at the event; what estimate she has made of the likely cost of hosting the event; and which officials of non-departmental public bodies responsible to her Department are expected to attend. [214248]

The UK is hosting this international conference on nuclear security on behalf of the IAEA as part of its activities under the G8 Global Partnership during its G8 presidency year. The Department of Trade and Industry has been represented on the programme committee for the conference by an official from the Office of Civil Nuclear Security. In addition, officials from the Energy Group at DTI have been involved in planning the event. FCO conference services have undertaken most of the practical planning elements of the event in liaison with the IAEA's conference services.

I will be hosting a reception on the first evening of the conference, 16 March, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Middle East, Foreign Office will be speaking during the opening session. Senior officials from both DTI and FCO are planning to give presentations at the event. Officials from the DTI's Export Control and Non-proliferation Directorate, Energy Group and Office of Civil Nuclear Security will be attending this conference.

The current estimate of the cost to DTI of holding this event is for between £110,000 and £140,000 depending on the final number of attendees. There will be an additional cost incurred by Government Hospitality for the reception on 16 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer the operators of premium telephone number (a) 0906 124 2692 and (b) 0906 633 7066 to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services. [213589]

ICSTIS tell us they have received no complaints from the hon. Member or anyone else about the services operating on either of these numbers. In order for ICSTIS to take appropriate action it would need a clear explanation of the specifics of the complaints and where possible the submission of supporting information, such as promotions and mailings. If there is a serious issue with these numbers it would be quickest for the hon. Member to pass on the complainant's information to ICSTIS direct for it to take appropriate action rather than use a parliamentary question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer the operators of premium telephone number 0906 633 4228 to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services. [213912]

ICSTIS was notified on 31 January of calls generated by automated calling equipment directing recipients to call the premium rate number in question. Using its emergency procedure powers ICSTIS shut down the number on 1 February 2005 and is taking further enforcement action against the service provider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) when he will announce the start of work to complete the upgrading of the A74 between Carlisle and Guardsmill; [215533]

(2) if he will make a statement on his plans to upgrade the A74 between Carlisle and Guardsmill. [215534]

Draft Orders for the scheme were published on 4 February 2005. The current programme shows start of works in 2006–07, with the road opening by 2008. This is subject to funding and satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries which have occurred on the A74 between Carlisle and Guardsmill in each year since 1996. [215535]

The Highways Agency assesses its routes each year to identify locations where further investigation might be required. Since 1996, the number of incidents resulting in fatalities on the A74 between Carlisle and Guardsmill is slightly above the national average for other similar roads, and the number of incidents resulting in serious injuries is significantly below the average.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who the ministerial design champion for his Department is. [215652]

Tony McNulty MP, Minister of State for Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2005, Official Report, columns 586–87W, on EC legislation, if he will make a statement on the removal of exemptions on drivers' hours; what representations he has received on the subject; what assessment he has made of the consequential financial impact on UK firms; and if he will list the exemptions concerned. [215299]

The Department carried out an extensive public consultation exercise in 2002 on the European Commission's legislative proposal to replace Council Regulation (EEC) 3820/85 on drivers' hours as part of our consideration of the likely impact of this proposal on UK industry. We received 69 responses, which included contributions from the main road transport associations and trade unions. The consultation did not yield sufficient data to allow an assessment of costs to the UK industry.

The Council adopted a Common Position on this proposal in December 2004. If the Common Position is agreed by the European Parliament, the following categories of vehicle would no longer be exempt: specialised breakdown vehicles operating beyond a 100 km radius from base; vehicles over 7.5 tonnes used for the non-commercial carriage of goods; vehicles not owned or hired in with a driver by (i) the armed services, civil defence, fire services, and forces responsible for maintaining public order, and (ii) public authorities; non-specialised vehicles transporting funfair and circus equipment, vehicles used in connection with gas, electricity, telegraph and telephone services, radio and television broadcasting, and the carriage of postal articles in vehicles over 3.5 tonnes operating beyond a 50 km radius of base and those vehicles over 7.5 tonnes operating within this radius; commercial passenger vehicles suitable for carrying between 10 and 17 people; vehicles carrying live animals to markets; vehicles used as shops at local markets or for door-to-door selling, mobile banking or exhibitions; vehicles used for driving instruction if they are being used for the commercial carriage of goods or passengers; gas and electricity-propelled vehicles operating beyond a 50 km radius of base; and tractors operating beyond a 100 km radius of base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget has been allocated for Project Heathrow; and how the costs of the working groups will be apportioned between his Department, the airport operator and other parties that are financially involved. [215492]

Provision of £220,000, £150,000 and £30,000 has been made for the years 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 respectively, mainly for further research and analysis. Parties involved in any working groups meet their own costs, with the exception of consultants working under contract to the Department, and independent technical experts on the air quality panels, whose costs are reimbursed by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department's policy on an additional full-length runway at Heathrow has changed. [215493]

No. An additional runway at Heathrow, if supported following the outcome of the current work on further environmental assessment, would be a short runway as indicated in the Air Transport White Paper and the preceding consultation document.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timescale is for the work being undertaken by each of the planned working groups in Project Heathrow. [215494]

All the work is being carried forward with a view to being able to reach conclusions towards the end of next year. In the case of any proposals for mixed mode, we have given a commitment to consult and would expect to do so next spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reorganise the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. [215843]

We have no plans to reorganise the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists, (c) drivers and (d) car occupants have been (i) injured and (ii) killed in each Greater London borough in each of the last six years for which figures are available. [214572]

A table giving the information requested for the years 1998 to 2003—which is the latest year for which data is available—has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [210548]

The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

All meetings held by special advisers are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current estimated cost is of (a) the Countess roundabout flyover project, on the A303(T), (b) the A303(T) Stonehenge tunnel and Winterbourne Stoke bypass and (c) the A303(T) Chicklade bypass; and if he will make a statement. [214211]

The current approved budget for the A303 Stonehenge project which includes the Countess roundabout flyover, a 2.1 km bored tunnel past Stonehenge and a bypass to the village of Winterbourne Stoke, is £223 million.

The A303 Chicklade Bottom to Mere improvement has not entered the Highway Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements. The scheme, which includes a bypass of Chicklade, would cost in the order of £120 million (at 2001 prices).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the reconstruction of schools in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [214661]

A number of donors are assisting in school reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in Iraq. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is undertaking a countrywide programme which has so far rehabilitated over 2,400 schools. United Nations agencies are also carrying out school rehabilitation projects in Baghdad and southern Iraq. The World Bank has agreed an emergency school construction and rehabilitation project to finance the rehabilitation of about 140 schools and the construction of new buildings for about 110 schools which currently have unsafe or overcrowded facilities. The UN and World Bank projects are being financed through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, to which DFID has contributed £70 million. The UN and the World Bank are also assisting with the provision of essential educational supplies, including textbooks and furniture.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last met President Putin; and what matters were discussed. [214663]

I last met President Putin at the G8 Summit in Georgia on 10 June 2004. We discussed a wide range of international and bilateral issues, including Iraq, the Middle East peace process, Afghanistan and the Kyoto Protocol.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister of Ukraine and (b) other EU members regarding EU membership of Ukraine. [214662]

I have had no discussions with the Prime Minister of Ukraine on EU membership.

The UK is working with EU partners to develop a programme of enhanced co-operation with Ukraine, responding to the priorities set out by President Yushchenko. The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 31 January welcomed President Yushchenko's intentions, stating that commitment to reform opens the way to a strengthening of relations between the EU and Ukraine".

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the implications of ending the EU-China Arms embargo for (a) future UK defence technological capabilities and (b) interoperability with US forces. [211394]

The Government have discussed with the United States Administration the background to the EU's deliberations on the embargo on arms exports to China.

We have emphasised that any decision to lift the embargo would be made only in the context of a continuing commitment by member states strictly to control the export of defence-related items to China. This is consistent with the view of the European Council meeting in December 2004 that the result of any decision to lift the embargo should not be an increase in arms exports to China in either quantitative or qualitative terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's visit to China in connection with the cut and sew contract. [214548]

Ministry of Defence personnel visited sub-contractors in China at the request of and accompanying the prime contractor. This was to assure the Ministry of Defence that finished garments will be supplied to specification and on time.

The visit team also confirmed that there was no cause for concern about the standards that sub-contractors employed. The prime contractor understands its responsibility to manage sub-contractors and ensures a minimum age of employees. The prime contractor also showed that it monitors ethical standards, and environmental considerations.

Under the terms of the contract I cannot comment on sub-contractor details specifically, but I can inform my hon. Friend that evidence was shown that employees were paid more than the minimum wage stipulated by Chinese government legislation. There was also evidence that sub-contractors were maintaining a good and loyal staff, and enjoyed a low labour turnover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement the Royal Navy has in defining the requirements for the CVFs; and what arrangements are in place to ensure a continuing Royal Navy input into the programme. [214222]

The Royal Navy is engaged at all levels of the future carrier (CVF) programme. The programme is overseen at senior level by the Carrier Strike Programme Board, on which the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff sits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on current suppliers of clothing at the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency, Bicester. [214013]

The Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) was disestablished in October 2000. Its clothing procurement function was subsumed into the Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DC IPT) which was established on 1 April 2001 and is based at Caversfield, near Bicester.

The DC IPT has a wide range of suppliers from small companies to larger Prime Contractors who supply operational clothing, personal protection equipment, parade and ceremonial wear and physical and adventurous training equipment.

As part of the Defence Logistics Organisation's procurement reform strategy, DC IPT has been moving towards letting larger term contracts with Prime Contractors for inventory items that have been grouped together in Product Groups, a process known as supplier base optimisation. Contracts for the supply of Tape Seam Garments, Footwear, and Cut and Sewn Products have been let, together with a number of smaller contracts for Ceremonial Headwear and Physical and Adventurous Training equipment which have followed the same principles.

Such methods of contracting are delivering increasing value for money and also enable the more efficient use of resources, while maintaining the quality standards demanded by the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of its personnel budget for financial years (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 the Warship Support Agency spent in Scotland (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total personnel budget; and if he will make a statement. [215430]

The Warship Support Agency (WSA) incurred expenditure on personnel as follows:

£

The personnel spend in Scotland reduced in 2003–04 primarily as a result of the transfer of staff from HMNB Clyde to Babcock Naval Services in September 2002, when partnering arrangements were introduced by the WSA under the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997. [213620]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time, using Greenwich Mean Time, and on what date the United States Navy authorities on Diego Garcia informed (a) British military personnel based on Diego Garcia and (b) his Department that the hydro-acoustic monitoring stations based on Diego Garcia had picked up the movement and direction of the tsunami tidal wave on 26 December 2004; and what action was taken following the receipt of this information. [208790]

United Kingdom military personnel were not warned of the earthquake or tsunami by the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia, but became aware of both from reports on the Internet at about 13:00 local time (07:00 GMT)—around five hours after the earthquake struck. The Commanding Officer contacted the Ministry of Defence to confirm that Diego Garcia was broadly untouched by the tsunami. MOD duty staffs in the UK also became aware of the tsunami via the broadcast media and began discussions with DflD staff about scoping the scale of the disaster at around midday on Boxing day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where Harrier jets returning from Afghanistan will be serviced and repaired. [214392]

RAF Cottesmore.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from his US counterpart regarding the length of deployment of the multinational forces in Iraq. [214014]

The Secretary of State for Defence discusses progress in establishing a free, stable and democratic Iraq, and the role of the multinational force in Iraq in securing that objective, on a regular basis with his US counterpart, Mr. Rumsfeld. The Secretary of State has made it very clear in these discussions that UK armed forces will remain in Iraq for as long as there is a requirement for them to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the US Administration concerning (a) the number of and (b) assistance provided to Iraqi civilians travelling on boats sunk in the Euphrates river during military action by coalition forces in Fallujah. [214509]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) children under 18 years are in British custody in Iraq. [215394]

holding answer 8 February 2005

As at 2 February 2005, there are 30 internees being held in the only British Military Detention Facility in Iraq, none of whom are women and none of whom state they are under 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which regiments came into contact with members of the United States 800th Military Police brigade during their deployment in Iraq; and on what dates and at what locations in each case. [215482]

holding answer 8 February 2005

The United States 800th Military Police brigade has subordinate elements consisting of some 25 units, none of them currently based in the British area of responsibility. Until early 2004, a unit from 800th Brigade was based at Camp Bucca, which is a US camp within MND(SE). It would have been necessary for members of British units regularly to liaise with the US units based at Camp Bucca. It is not possible after this time to give a list of the British regiments, dates and locations in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Major George O'Kane was reporting to a British military lawyer based at Coalition headquarters in Iraq, as stated in the Official Report of the Australian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on 31 May 2004. [210352]

holding answer 24 January 2005

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many police officers there were in the Ministry of Defence police force in each year since 1994; and what projections there are for numbers of officers in the force in future years. [214290]

The following table shows the number of police officers (full-time equivalents) within the Ministry of Defence police in each year since 1994, as at 1 April, and the latest available figure.

The Ministry of Defence police does not produce projections for the number of police officers, so no forecast figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reinstate the free postal packet service to the Iraq theatre of operations. [214845]

In respect of the free postal packet scheme to Iraq which ceased on 8 April 2004, there are no plans to permanently reinstate this service. I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 1155W, and subsequent answers of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1605W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1527W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson), 5 May 2004, Official Report, column 811W, to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), 15 June 2004, , to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike), 1 September 2004, Official Report, column 713W and 4 October 2004, Official Report, column 1882W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mr. Wood) and 25 January 2005, Official Report, column 244W to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the number of Christmas parcels sent to British servicemen in Iraq which have not been delivered. [215384]

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to packets posted under the free mail service arrangements in place from 17 November until 15 December last year. All items received by the British Forces Post Office under that scheme have been delivered into theatre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rank was of the officers of the Army Board who took the decision on the new name for the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, the King's Own Borderers Regiment and the King's Regiment. [214356]

The Executive Committee of the Army Board (ECAB) comprises military officers ranging in rank from Major General to General, and the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. Its recommendations on all aspects of the Future Infantry Structure were forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence by the Chief of the General Staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on the rationalisation programme as part of the Future Defence Supply Chain Initiative; when he expects to make an announcement on that decision; and if he will make a statement. [214611]

A decision on the Future Defence Supply Chain Initiative will be made at the end of the current Assessment Phase, based on four competitive Best and Final Offers received in December 2004. Proposals for the Future Defence Supply Chain from both in-house and industry teams are currently being examined and the findings will form the basis of a Main Gate decision, and announcement, in due course. It is not appropriate to make a statement at this stage in the assessment process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to rationalise DLO Donnington as part of the Future Defence Supply Chain Initiative. [214612]

The Ministry of Defence received four competitive proposals for the Future Defence Supply Chain on 22 December; two in-house, and two from industry consortia. MOD is currently assessing the proposals and it is too early in that analysis to conclude the impacts for Donnington, or other locations in the Defence Logistics Organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 81W, on Swan Hunter, on what date the decision was taken to award Swan Hunter an £84 million contract amendment; on what date Swan Hunter were notified of the additional money; whether any unsuccessful bidder bid within 20 per cent. of the original contract price agreed with Swan Hunter; and if he will make a statement. [213565]

The approval process for the revised Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) programme costs was completed on 8 December 2004 and Swan Hunter were notified formally the following day.

One unsuccessful bidder from the original contract award was within 20 per cent. of the original contract price agreed with Swan Hunter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of terrorist threats to the UK and security threats coming from sovereign states with standing armies; when this assessment was last (a) reviewed and (b) changed; and if he will make a statement. [214379]

The Government published the White Paper Delivering Security in a Changing World" (CM6041) in December 2003. This set out the policy baseline and assessment of risks against which the Ministry of Defence currently plans to carry out its aim to deliver security for the people of the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories by defending them, including against terrorism, and by acting to strengthen international peace and security.

The Ministry of Defence and other departments continually monitor changes in security circumstances around the world. The assessment of the threat of terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom is the responsibility of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which draws on the expertise of a range of departments and agencies including the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the cost to his Department in each year since 1993 of modifications to the shore-based target planning system for Trident; when the last modification took place; what its cost was; and if he will make a statement on the functions of these modifications. [214241]

Modifications to the shore-based target planning system for Trident have cost an average of £250,000 per year (at current prices) since 1993. The last major modification took place in Financial Year 2001–02 and cost around £584,000. The purpose of the modifications has been to update hardware and operating system software in accordance with good industry practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs of the Trident programme have been since it came into service; what the running costs of the Trident programme are in this financial year; what the total lifetime running costs of the Trident programme are expected to be at the end of its service period; and if he will make a statement. [214374]

The combined capital and running costs of Trident, since it was declared operational in 1994, has ranged between 2 and 4 per cent. of the annual defence budget. The total cost of Trident for the current financial year is not yet available. Based on current planning assumptions the costs for its remaining period in service are expected to be between 2 and 4 per cent. of the expected annual defence budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff will be housed at the new Home Office buildings in 2 Marsham street; and to which agencies each of the staff belongs. [205341]

The Private Finance Initiative contract (PFI) for the construction and operation of the new Home Office Headquarters provided for a building occupancy of 3,450 workstations. It is expected that when the building is fully occupied in April 2005, close to this number will be accommodated. The building is designed to be flexible and the numbers occupying will depend on operational factors including the Department's continuous programme of moving posts to the front line. Further staff will be moved in as these changes occur. There are no current plans to accommodate staff from any of the Home Office executive agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body has responsibility for the furnishings of the new Home Office buildings in 2 Marsham street. [205347]

Annes Gate Property plc as part of the 29-year Private Finance Initiative contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the antisocial behaviour measures introduced by his Department since 1997; and if he will give the total figures for take-up for each measure to date by (a) basic command unit and (b) local authority area. [214265]

Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOS) were introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Police Reform Act 2002 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 extended the legislation to allow additional agencies to apply for ASBOs and introduced two new types of ASBO: orders on conviction and interim orders.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 put in place a range of measures to tackle antisocial behaviour and gave local agencies the tools they need to tackle antisocial behaviour on the ground. Key measures in the Act include:

Powers to close premises where drugs are used unlawfully

Powers enabling social landlords to take action against anti-social tenants

A package of support and sanctions to enable parents to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour among children

Powers to allow police officers to disperse groups of people who are causing nuisance or intimidating others

Powers for environmental health officers to close noisy premises

Powers to tackle graffiti and fly-posting.

The Housing Act 2004, introduced by ODPM, also contained important measures to enable landlords to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Data on the take-up of antisocial behaviour measures is not available in the form requested. However, a one-off snapshot survey of the uptake of antisocial behaviour powers was carried out in September 2004 and published in October 2004 in the Together" One- Year On report. This survey of antisocial behaviour co-ordinators in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships provided an estimate of use of powers over a 12-month period. The results of the survey, based on responses from 239 antisocial behaviour co-ordinators, found that:

158 crack house closure orders were made between January and September 2004

418 dispersal orders were made between January and September 2004

824 parenting contracts and orders were made between October 2003 and September 2004

5,383 acceptable behaviour contracts were made between October 2003 and September 2004.

Data showing the number of ASBOs issued by all courts, broken down by local authority area, is shown in the table which has been placed in the Library. We do not collect data on ASBOs by basic command unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 739W, on asylum seekers, if he will list the special and specific grants given to each local authority in Wales to cover the costs of asylum seekers' support in each year since 1996–97; and when information on payments in Wales for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 will be available. [211168]

The Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999, as amended, provide local authorities with the power to support adults and families whose applications for asylum were made prior to the revised system of support administered by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) coming into force in their area. Under this grant local authorities can claim their direct costs of providing support—accommodation and financial assistance—to asylum seekers. The grant is subject to unit cost limits and is calculated on an individual local authority's audited expenditure in 2001–02 uplifted for inflation.

The Home Office also pays grant to local authorities exercising their statutory duties under the Children Act 1989 in respect of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs). Under this grant, which is subject to unit cost limits, local authorities can claim their direct costs of providing support to UASCs.

Local authorities who are unable to live within their grant limit can seek additional payments under the arrangements for special payments. No local authorities in Wales have made special circumstances requests since 1999–2000, suggesting that authorities are able to meet the costs of providing support to asylum seekers from their grant.

It is expected that the grant payments to Wales for 2003–04 and 2004–05 will be published at the end of March 2005. These payments will, however, be subject to audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department show much central Government grant has been paid to local authorities in (a) each Government Office region, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland to cover the cost of asylum seeker support in each year since 1996–97. [211920]

The information is not available in the precise format requested. The Home Office assumed responsibility for the support of adult and family asylum seekers on 1 April 1999. Responsibility for the budget for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children did not transfer to the Home Office until 1 April 2000. Available information for the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02 is in the table and will be placed in the Library.

For Scotland NASS paid the Scottish Executive, who were responsible for reimbursing local authorities. Payments to Northern Ireland were made to the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. That Department is responsible for reimbursing to local authorities their costs of supporting asylum seekers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers resident in Loughborough are in receipt of hard case payments; and if he will make a statement. [213915]

As at 4 February 2005 there were no failed asylum seekers in receipt of support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (hard case support) in Loughborough.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the cost of Criminal Records Bureau checks for new staff in nursing and residential homes. [213994]

holding answer 9 February 2005

There are no plans to reduce the cost of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks for new staff in nursing and residential homes.

However, the CRB will continue to look at ways to improve efficiencies to improve the speed and reduce the overall cost of the disclosure service without compromising the quality and accuracy of their service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Carter Report. [213550]

The Home Office has made significant progress in implementing Lord Carter's recommendations. The National Offender Management Service became operational on 1 April 2004 with Martin Narey as Chief Executive. A National Offender Manager and 10 Regional Offender Managers are now in place. Together they are taking forward work on developing contestability and helping Boards to develop offender management in their areas, drawing on what we have already learnt from the offender management pilots in the North West. A redesign of NOMS headquarters, to reflect these changes, will be in place by 1 April 2005.

The Management of Offenders and Sentencing Bill which was published on 13 January will underpin the creation of a National Offender Management Service as proposed by Lord Carter and establish sentence planning and review as a core offender management function. The Bill will also implement key Carter proposals to rebalance sentencing by making provision for a 'day fines' scheme, reinforcing rigorous and effective community punishments and by targeting resources on the most serious, dangerous and persistent offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers are working in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington, North. [214972]

The available data on the deployment of Community Support Officers (CSOs) within Cheshire police is for Basic Command Units rather than parliamentary constituencies. I am told by the Chief Constable of Cheshire (Mr. Peter Fahy QPM) that the No. 3 Division (Warrington) currently has 14 CSOs.

I announced on 24 November that, under the first phase of the Neighbourhood Policing Fund, the Home Office will support the recruitment of an additional 13 CSOs in Cheshire. This will enable the force to deploy a total of 69 CSOs in Cheshire by 31 March 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to the introduction and operation in Northern Ireland of control orders as announced by the Home Secretary on 26 January; and if he will make a statement. [212035]

I have had no direct discussions with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on this issue. However, my officials have had discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and will continue to liaise closely, through official channels, with the police forces in all three jurisdictions and other relevant stakeholders on the detail of the policy and in preparation for the necessary legislation to come into force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) whether homeless people subject to house arrest without trial under his proposals for the detention of terrorists will receive help in finding accommodation for their detention; [213466]

(2) what plans he has for housing terrorist suspects who are homeless at the time of arrest under his proposals for detention without trial; whether it is his policy to press for priority to be given to such people on waiting lists for council accommodation; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for such people. [213467]

It is not anticipated that the imposition of a control order on an individual (where this is deemed necessary and appropriate) would interfere with access to any benefits (including housing benefit) to which he or she might normally be entitled.

The conditions imposed in any control order will be tailored on a case by case basis to the threat posed by the individual.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 4 January 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Miss Calnette Dele-Charley. [215102]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) whether doormen who have passed their examinations but have not yet received their certification may work as such; [213879]

(2) what the average time has been between doormen being trained and passing their examinations and receiving their certification. [213880]

It is an offence for an individual to work as a door supervisor prior to being licensed as such by the Security Industry Authority once it is a legal requirement to be licensed in their region.

Independent awarding bodies have a contractual obligation to process an assessment within 10 working days from the time an individual sits the exam and has provided all necessary identification and supporting documentation. This assessment provides the applicant with the appropriate reference number with which to make a licence application to the SIA. The SIA aim to process accepted applications within six weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the activity of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in the UK in the last 12 months; and if he will list its publications and newsletters published over that period. [215231]

The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) is based in Vienna and its prime objective is to produce objective, comparable and reliable data at European level on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

It produces regular reports on these issues, including an annual report, which are published on its website at www.eumc.eu.int Its reports cover the whole European Union, customarily including sections relating to each of the member states, including the United Kingdom.

It collects its data on each member state through a contract with a national focal point" based in each member state. The national focal point for the UK is the Commission for Racial Equality.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by the Home Office and each of its agencies (a) in London and (b) in each location outside London. [205344]

The number of staff employed by the Home Office and it agencies in London and in the regions is set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he (a) has taken and (b) plans to introduce, to help homeless people who are addicted to (i) alcohol and (ii) drugs. [206589]

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to her on Wednesday 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 1030W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the work conducted by Consult Hyperion Ltd. on (a) the biometric technology roadmap for person identification within UK policing and (b) the Facial Images National Database. [214935]

Amtec Consulting Group has been contracted to update the 'Identification Roadmap' document.

Copies of the updated paper titled Identification Roadmap", subtitled Biometrics Technology Roadmap for Person Identification within the Police Service" prepared by the Police Information Technology Organisation together with Amtec Consulting Group, will be placed in the Library.

With regards to the Facial Images National Database I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 January 2005, Official Report, column 896W.

The Facial Images National Database paper was produced by the Police Information Technology Organisation. Amtec Consulting Group was not involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) biometric passports and (b) identity cards will contain (i) radio frequency identification chips and (ii) contactless integrated circuits. [214994]

The biometric passport will contain a radio frequency contactless integrated circuit that conforms to ISO 14443 in accordance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) recommendations on biometric travel documents. It will be a close proximity-type chip that can only work within 0–2 cm of a reader.

No decision has yet been made on whether the ID Card will contain a chip capable of being read through a contactless interface. Work is progressing on developing the technical, interoperability, security and business requirements which influence this decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average total cost, including all staff, legal, court and other process costs, of securing (a) an antisocial behaviour order, (b) an injunction and (c) an eviction was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [213527]

holding answer 7 February 2005

We do not hold data on the information requested. We hold data on the average cost to the applicant authority of obtaining an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO). The Campbell Review, published in 2002, provides the latest data on the cost of obtaining an ASBO. It quoted an average cost of £4,800 for an ASBO but this figure was based on a small sample of orders in the early period of their introduction and was skewed by one abnormally complicated and unrepresentative expensive application. Practitioners advise that applications usually cost much less than this and that costs decrease with experience of using the orders. New research, due to be published shortly, shows that costs have reduced significantly since the Campbell Review.

Injunctions are civil orders taken out by landlords or local authorities. We do not hold information on the average cost of an injunction or eviction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were reported to the police as missing from home in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender. [213766]

This information is not collated centrally. The Police National Missing Person Bureau (PNMPB) collates data from police forces on missing persons who have been missing for more than 14 days. Statistics are not produced at a national level. A review into the PNMPB is due to report by the end of February 2005 and we will inform ministers of its findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Albanian nationals Taulant Merdany and Elidon Bregu, sentenced at Sheffield Crown court for the trafficking of women into the United Kingdom for the purposes of prostitution, will be deported from the United Kingdom on the completion of their prison sentences; and if he will make a statement. [208387]

In sentencing Taulant Merdany and Elidon Bregu to terms of imprisonment, the judge recommended that they should be deported at the end of their sentences. The Secretary of State will consider whether deportation remains appropriate on completion of those sentences. When deciding whether or not to deport a person on their release from prison, the nature and seriousness of the offence will be among the factors taken into account.

A deportation order will not normally be revoked earlier than three years after its enforcement. However, the length of time that a deportation order should remain in force after removal will depend on the individual case. For those convicted of serious offences this may be 10 years or more.

The offence of trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation is covered by section 57 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and carries a maximum penalty following conviction on indictment of 14 years' imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future role and strength of special constables in Lancashire. [215465]