To ask the Prime Minister from what budget the helicopter he used for his official engagements on 11 February was paid for. [217711]

There was no cost to public funds.

To ask the Prime Minister how many recipients of each category of award in the honours system there were in each local authority area in each of the last five years. [216591]

The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain the information would incurdisproportionate costs. Details of awards made byregions over the last five years were published in SirHayden Phillips' Review of the Honours System (2004), copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral answer of 9 February 2005, Official Report, column 1496 to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn), what diplomatic means of engagement he has pursued with the Government of Iran since 9 February in respect of (a) the security of Iran, (b) the Iranian perception of the security of Iran, (c) Iran's relations with the United States and (d) the alleged development of nuclear weapons by Iran. [217029]

Our policy towards Iran is one of critical and conditional engagement. The UK, France and Germany (the E3"), with European Union representatives, are engaged in a dialogue with Iran aimed at agreeing long-term arrangements for Iran's nuclear programme. These are intended to provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. Working groups on political/security issues and nuclear issues met in Geneva on 9 February and 10–11 February respectively. A working group on technology/co-operation met on 8 February. Relations between Iran and the United States are a matter for those two countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the devolved assembly to re-convene. [216997]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to make announcements regarding cultural arrangements, appointments and other equality measures regarding Ulster Scots. [216998]

The Government fully recognises the importance of cultural identity in Northern Ireland and has in hand a significant programme of work aimed at recognising it. The wide range of issues involved means that announcements are made as and when it is appropriate to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the prospects for restoring devolved Government in Northern Ireland. [216999]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact of the suspension of the Assembly on the democratic process in Northern Ireland. [217000]

The Belfast Agreement envisaged a Northern Ireland Assembly and a power-sharing Executive, both made up of locally-elected representatives. The Government continues to believe that this represents the best long-term guarantee of peace and stability in Northern Ireland and I regret that current circumstances make it impossible to restore those institutions at present.

However, this does not erode the democratic process altogether in Northern Ireland. This House—including those Members with Northern Ireland constituencies—continue to hold myself and my ministerial colleagues to account for our administration of Northern Ireland under Direct Rule.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the financial position of the education boards in Northern Ireland; and what steps are being taken to improve that position. [217001]

Between 1999–2000 and 2005–06 total spending on education has increased by 56 per cent. Total funding per pupil has increased by 64 per cent. In the budget for 2005–06 I have increased the allocation to the ELB centre budgets by £19 million over the previous year; that is almost 6 per cent.—from £333 to £352 million at a time when inflation is running at 2.5 per cent. and pupil numbers are declining.

The priority now for all ELBs is to develop plans that reflect Government education policy and ensure that services are managed and delivered within budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cross-border trade in second-hand motor vehicles. [217002]

The number of second hand vehicles imported into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland has reduced considerably over the last five years, from a figure of 2,889 in 2000 to 959 in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [217003]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer Igave earlier to the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Northern Ireland peace process. [217004]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the economic impact in Northern Ireland of the peace process. [217005]

The Northern Ireland economy has performed remarkably well over the past decade with high levels of economic growth, a strong labour market and increasing visitor numbers. I believe this can be attributed in part to the increased stability and confidence provided by the peace process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been paid to the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety by the Home Office and National Asylum Support Service in respect of asylum seeker support in each year since 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [217125]

The following table details the monies paid to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety by the Home Office and the National Asylum Support Service as reimbursement for asylum seeker support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the penalties are for refusing to complete a decennial population census form for Northern Ireland; how many successful prosecutions there were for that offence in connection with the censuses for (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [216852]

The current maximum penalty for refusing to complete a census form or answer any question in the census is £1,000. No prosecutions were brought in 1981, while there were five and two successful prosecutions in 1991 and 2001 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the penalties are for unlawfully disclosing personal information from closed decennial population censuses for Northern Ireland; how many successful prosecutions there have been for that offence since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [216853]

The current maximum penalty for unlawful disclosure of personal information supplied in the census is, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both. On conviction on indictment, an individual is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both. There have been no prosecutions since 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requests his Department has received from members of the public who do not want their personal census details to be released before the Northern Ireland records are 100 years old. [216854]

Records from Northern Ireland censuses conducted under the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 are currently closed indefinitely. There have been no requests of the nature described.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if consideration has been given to commissioning an independent survey to discover whether the people of Northern Ireland are in favour of the re-establishment of 49 or 59-year confidentiality periods which applied to Northern Ireland decennial population census records for 1901 and 1911; and if he will make a statement. [216855]

Records from Northern Ireland censuses conducted under the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 are currently closed indefinitely. In due course, consideration will be given to introducing legislation to open records after 100 years in line with the rest of the UK. No consideration has been given to commissioning a survey of the nature described.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assurances of confidentiality were given on the decennial population census for Northern Ireland in 2001. [216856]

The following statement appeared on the cover of the 2001 census form.

The information you provide is protected by law and treated in strict confidence. The information is only used for statistical purposes, and anyone using or disclosing census information improperly will be liable to prosecution. Census forms will be held securely under the terms of the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923."

Publicity material for the 2001 Census also stated that

by law the census form and the information it contains is kept secret and cannot be divulged to anyone."

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the years when the householders' forms for the 1928 to 2001 population censuses for Northern Ireland were destroyed. [216857]

Since 1928 there have been censuses in 1937 and 1951 and decennially thereafter with an additional mid-term census in 1966.

The Public Record Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) is the custodian of all Northern Ireland census returns from all censuses with the exception of the 2001 census. None of these forms have been destroyed. Images of the 2001 census forms have been taken and will shortly be delivered to PRONI.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether all projects established under the Children's Fund will continue to receive funding. [217600]

All projects funded under the current three year Children's Fund cycle will receive their full allocation from existing Children's Fund monies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources are being committed to funding education action zones in North and West Belfast; and from what sources. [217416]

Some £6 million is expected to be available over the next three financial years for the implementation of the Education Action Zone (EAZ) initiative across Northern Ireland. The bids presently being developed include proposals from the BELB for EAZ provision in North and West Belfast.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that EU regional development grants are used in accordance with the European Commission rules. [217282]

In Northern Ireland EU structural funds expenditure must comply with the requirements of the procedural guide Government Accounting in Northern Ireland" (GANI) and EU regulations guidance on European Commission rules contained in the EU structural funds operating manual for Northern Ireland.

Compliance is ensured through a system of both management (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No. 438/2001) checks that must be carried out on all projects and a system of a minimum of a 5 per cent. sample check (Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 438/2001). Certifying bodies must satisfy themselves that these checks have been carried out before making claims to the Commission (Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 438/2001). EU expenditure is also subject to internal audit and the Northern Ireland Audit Office reviews.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed by each of the health trusts covering (a) North Belfast and (b) West Belfast, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) religion and community background. [217415]

Information requested is provided in the following tables.

Staff employed by each of the health and social services trusts covering North and West Belfast by (i) gender as atFebruary 2005 -- Headcount

Staff employed by each of the health and social services trusts covering (a) North Belfast and (b) West Belfast by (ii) religion and community background as at February 2005 -- Headcount

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many episodes of physical abuse occurred against nurses in hospitals in Northern Ireland in the last year. [217302]

The information is not available in the form requested for the last year and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, during the first 6 months of the financial year for which figures are available (1 April 2004–30 September 2004) a total of 1176 incidents were recorded of physical abuse against nurses in hospitals in Northern Ireland, out of a total of 1977 recorded incidents of physical abuse against HPSS staff during the same period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997. [213811]

The information is not held in the format requested by the hon. Member.

The Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and NDPBs) has spent the following on:

(a) Provision of parking spaces for civil servants

Between 1997–98 and 1999–2000 the cost of parking spaces was captured under the expense code property rental" and is not separately identifiable.

In 2000–01 the expense codes were amended so that the cost of parking spaces could be identified separately. The costs from 2000–01 to 2003–04 are provided as follows.

£

(b) Parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants

The amount spent on parking tickets and penalties cannot be identified separately as these costs are all captured under other travel costs".

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage change in the regional rate in Northern Ireland was in each of the last five years. [211877]

The following table gives the percentage increase in the domestic and the non-domestic regional rates from the 2000–01 financial year.

Between 2000–01 and 2004–05 the average household rate bill increased from £394 to £509, an increase of £115. The average increase for England for this period was £270.

Regional rate percentage increases -- Percentage

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what strategy is in place in north Belfast to tackle suicides, with particular reference to young people. [216418]

The North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust's Strategy for the Prevention of Suicide includes gender specific health education campaigns and education tools for schools aimed at promoting positive mental health and raising awareness of suicide, support for primary care, home-based early intervention on a 24-hour 7-days a week basis, the provision of support and training for community based counselling services and support for those affected by suicidal behaviour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been spent on tackling suicides in north Belfast in each year since 2000. [216419]

The information requested is not available, as it is not possible to disaggregate the amounts spent specifically on tackling suicide from the services that are involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people normally resident in Northern Ireland have been assessed and accepted for (a) heart, (b) lung and (c) heart and lung transplant waiting lists in each of the last three years; how many have received transplants; and how many have died whilst waiting for transplantation. [216666]

Information on the number of people normally resident in Northern Ireland who have been assessed and accepted for heart, lung and heart and lung transplant waiting lists and the number of people who have died whilst waiting for heart, lung and heart and lung transplantation in each of the last three years is not available.

Information on the number of people normally resident in Northern Ireland who have received heart, lung and heart and lung transplants in each of the last three years is provided in the following table:

Number who received transplants

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what he is doing to tackle the number of trolley waits in hospitals in Northern Ireland. [217303]

A regional programme of work is being taken forward to examine and improve the flow of emergency admissions through hospitals and to reduce the numbers of trolley waits. All trusts were required as part of this regional programme to undertake a snapshot survey to identify delays in the hospital system. A regional workshop will be held later this month to examine the results of these surveys and consider how best to address the issues arising from them. All of this work is being overseen and monitored by a regional steering group comprising representatives from health and social services boards and trusts.

In preparation for the extra demands that would be made on services during the winter months, an additional £2 million recurrent and £6 million non-recurrent funding was made available to the Northern Ireland health service in 2004–05. This money has been used to provide a range of services, including additional acute and community nursing staff, enhanced primary and community care provision, and additional hospital capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy on agricultural markets in Africa. [217420]

The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), in its current form, impacts on agricultural markets in Africa by increasing world supply, thus lowering world prices; by artificially raising EU prices; by heavily subsidising exports; by undermining world price stability and by limiting access to our markets through the use of high import tariffs.

This imposes high costs on developing countries. Empirical research has shown that amongst rich countries, the EU is responsible for the biggest costs to developing country farmers. Reform of the CAP could increase developing countries' food and farming income by $7.5 billion per year, which could significantly reduce poverty for those producers in Africa.

DFID and the UK are committed to reform of the CAP in order to facilitate freer and fairer agricultural trade between developing countries, including in Africa, and the EU. This issue is being analysed in theCommission for Africa Report, expected in March2005.

DFID will continue to press for reforms on the EU side including by weakening the link between EU farm support and domestic production to discourage over production (which lowers the world market price), and providing better market access by reducing tariffs andwill also continue to build supply-side capacity of agricultural producers including infrastructure and technological development to improve quality andcompetitiveness of African products.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many targets have been set in each year since 1997 by the Department; and, of these, which have been (a) met, (b) nearly met, (c) not met, (d) changed and (e) dropped. [215799]

I refer the member for Tatton to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to HM Treasury (Mr. Timms), on Monday 21 February 2005, Official Report, column. 75W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) what the average number of pupils in a pupil referral unit was in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available; [216865]

(2) how many places were (a) filled and (b) available in pupil referral units in (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each local education authority on the latest date for which figures are available. [216867]

Information on the number of pupils in Pupil Referral Units is shown in the following table.

Information on the number of places available in Pupil Referral Units is not collected centrally.

Pupil referral units: number of pupils January 2004—by local education authority area

Source:

Annual Schools Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average pupil-to-teacher ratio in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in York was in each year since 1996–97. [217624]

The following table provides pupil and staff information for maintained primary and secondary schools in the City of York constituency in each January from 1997 to 2004, the latest information available.

⁽¹⁾Includes middle schools as deemed.

2Based on the full-time equivalent of qualified teachers.

3Based on the full-time equivalent of all teaching and support staff (excluding administration and clerical staff).

Source:

Annual School Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to (a) encourage environmental protection and (b) reduce the UK's contribution to climate change. [216796]

holding answer 21 February 2005

Defra's five year strategy, Delivering the Essentials of Life" was published in December 2004 and sets out the Department's approach to environmental protection and sustainable development.

The UK remains on course to achieve its Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below base year levels by 2008–12.

The Government recognises that measures in addition to those contained in the UK Climate Change Programme published in 2000 will be needed to achieve the domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.

The current review of the UK Climate Change Programme will give the opportunity for the Government to look carefully at whether to introduce new policies and measures, and/or strengthen existing ones. The review will also consider the action that the UK will need to take to ensure it is on course to makereal progress by 2020" towards the ambitious longer-term goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2050, as set out in the Energy White Paper (2003).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was raised by the climate change levy in the last year for which figures are available; and how this income was spent. [217070]

holding answer 21 February 2005

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the Climate Change Levy Bulletin for November 2004 published by HM Customs and Excise which is available at www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=climate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking in the West Midlands to protect the environment. [216797]

holding answer 21 February 2005

A wide range of regional activities on the environment are co-ordinated and prioritised through the West Midlands Regional Assembly's Regional Environmental Partnership, to which many of Defra's agencies actively contribute. Although only formed recently, it is currently considering a number of sectors, including waste, energy, biodiversity, urban design, Water Framework Directive, area-based approaches, etc. This group also contributes to the implementation and review of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

The work of individual agencies is very varied, but includes the following:

Environment Agency

The priorities of the Environment Agency are set out in its corporate strategy, entitled Making it happen". They are as follows:

An enhanced environment for wildlife

Cleaner air for everyone

Improved and protected inland and coastal waters

Restored, protected land with healthier soils

A greener" business world

Wiser, sustainable use of natural resources

Limiting and adapting to climate change

Reducing flood risk

English Nature

(i) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): There are 439 SSSI in the West Midlands region and currently 65 per cent. are either in favourable or recovering management condition. Only around 5 per cent. have been classified as declining in management condition. In some cases improvements in management condition are secured by English Nature through management agreements under its Wildlife Enhancement Scheme and in others by the Rural Development Service through agri-environment schemes. On other sites improved management has been achieved with support from the Heritage Lottery fund, for example at Cannock Chase and Sutton Park under the Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage initiative.

One major outstanding issue which relates to the condition of river and other wetland SSSIs is diffuse pollution, invariably from agricultural sources. Under the Modernising Rural Delivery Programme a specific pilot scheme is now underway to tackle diffuse pollution issues on the river Teme through collaborative working among both relevant agencies including the Integrated Agency confederation and the Environment Agency together with local individuals and groups.

(ii) Biodiversity: The Government is supporting the co-ordination the of six Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) Partnerships operating in the West Midlands and the delivery of specific nature conservation actions for a selection of each area's most threatened habitats and species. This ranges from restoration of lowland heathland in Staffordshire and Worcestershire to the survival of water voles in Birmingham and Herefordshire. The region's Biodiversity Strategy (to be launched March 2005), and the associated regional biodiversity audit and regional habitats targets work, has derived from strong Government engagement with and facilitation of partnership outputs. The ODPM's Regional Planning Guidance (June 2004) incorporates policy intent to achieve effective protection and measurable gains in the conservation status of 23 priority habitats by 2010.

England Rural Development Programme (ERDP)

The Rural Development Service, through its West Midlands offices, operates a range of agri-environment schemes as part of the ERDP. Expenditure under these in 2003–04 was as follows:

The new Environmental Stewardship scheme will shortly be introduced, and will replace the above schemes. It will address these issues:

biodiversity

maintenance, enhancement and protection of landscape quality and character

protection of the historic environment

natural resource protection

promotion of public access (HLS only)

genetic conservation

flood protection

Protected landscapes

There are five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty wholly or partly within the region:

Cannock Chase

Cotswold Hills (part)

Malvern Hills

Shropshire Hills

Wye Valley (part).

The Peak District National Park lies partly within the West Midlands but is administered from the East Midlands.

These organisations co-ordinate their activity through the West Midlands Protected Landscape Forum, led by the Countryside Agency.

Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission recently led a partnership to produce a Regional Forestry Framework. An action plan for the region is currently being developed.

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 adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on water intended for human consumption met; when and where these meetings took place; what UKGovernment expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [216258]

The Committee did not meet between 1 July 2003 and 31 December 2004.

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 (i) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Directive on bathing water, (ii) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Directive on the quality of fresh water needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life and (iii) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Decision establishing a common procedure for the exchange of information on the quality of surface fresh water in the Community met; when and where each meeting took place; what UKGovernment expert was present at each meeting; and if she will make a statement. [216719]

None of these Committees met during these three presidencies.

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 adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217242]

The information requested is as follows:

Italian Presidency—July to December 2003

The Committee met on 7 November 2003 when three delegates from the UK attended.

Irish Presidency—January to June 2004

The Committee met on 23rd June 2004 when four delegates from the UK attended.

Dutch Presidency—July to December 2004

The Committee met on 2 December 2004 when four delegates from the UK attended.

All the meetings were held in Brussels.

The meetings present opportunities for the UK to discuss and promote a UK perspective on aspects of implementation of the Directive, for example, promotion of current UK scientific knowledge and thinking.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects that the European Commission will accept the revised UK National Allocation Plan in order to allow British business to participate in the European emissions trading scheme. [217212]

We recognise that UK operators wish to begin full participation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as soon as possible. The Government are continuing their dialogue with the Commission with a view to finding a solution which addresses the concerns of both sides and which will enable allocation as soon as possible.

The monitoring and reporting aspects of the scheme commenced on 1 January 2005. UK operators are already able to participate in the forward market. The Government have published the provisional list of installation-level allowances in order to give industry as much certainty as possible about how many allowances they will receive. However, we recognise that operators can only begin trading on the spot market after allowances have actually been issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the most recent communication from the European Commission on the status of the revised UK National Allocation Plan. [217213]

Discussions with the European Commission on the proposed amendments to the UK National Allocation Plan for phase 1 of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (2005–07) are still continuing, with a view to finding a solution which addresses the concerns of both sides as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured on the A39 in each of the last five years. [217406]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Fatal and seriously injured casualties on the A39: 1999–2003

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of congestion on the A39 in Bridgwater. [217407]

The A39 through Bridgwater is not part of the Trunk Road network, and consequently my Department has not undertaken an assessment of the level of congestion in Bridgwater.

The road in question is the responsibility of Somerset county council, the local highway authority. It is understood that journey speeds on the A39 in Bridgwater have been monitored twice, in 2001 and 2004. The results showed a 7 per cent. and 11 per cent. decrease in peak and off-peak speeds respectively. However, partly as a result of the completion in January 2003 of the Bridgwater Northern Relief Road, these decreases were considerably lower than on other routes in the town.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement with regard to the outstanding planning issues related to the Leigh Guided Busway. [217060]

My Department has just finished exchanging written representations between Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and interested parties on the extensive additional environmental information provided by the GMPTE last October. GMPTE have also recently provided clarification of some detailed drafting points on their proposed Transport and Works Act Order. We have concluded in the light of all this further information that it is not necessary to re-open the earlier public inquiry into this scheme. We are now considering the substantial amount of new information that has been submitted since the inquiry, in the light of the earlier Inspector's report, and intend to decide this application as soon as we reasonably can.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much City of York Council has received in (a) block grant and (b) specific grants for transport purposes in each year since it became a unitary authority; and if he will make a statement on investment in public transport in York. [217622]

The Department has approved nearly £34 million of block grant to City of York council for transport capital between April 1996 and March 2005. Of this £34 million, £7.724 million was for maintenance and £26.151 million for integrated transport improvements. Also £3.239 million was provided for the B1228 Peasholme Bridge scheme, along with a further £1.06 million in targeted bus grants. The annual amounts of funding are listed in the following table.

The investment in public transport made in York has contributed towards a substantial increase in bus patronage—up by nearly a quarter in three years—and the development of a high quality set of park and ride services. The Department designated the council as a centre of excellence for transport planning (specifically for cycling and park and ride) back in 2001. It has recently invited the council to apply to be a centre of excellence for local transport delivery. This recognises the council's proven track record in delivering transport improvements on the ground.

£ million

£ million

n/a=Not available.

⁽²⁾Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, and Bus Challenge funding.

⁽³⁾Funding for Major Scheme B1228 Peasholme Green Bridge

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in discovering the reasons for flooding on the M60 between Denton and Hollingwood, Oldham. [216516]

The surface water problems that occur at specific areas on the M60 result from a combination of wide carriageways and the road alignment and crossfall. These cause rainwater to have a long and slow path off the carriageway to the drains, resulting in the formation of a continuous water film on the road surface in heavy rain.

The design of the motorway complied with the Highways Agency's standards current at the time of its design. Changes in drainage design guidance to deal with wide carriageways were subsequently issued by the Agency in 1999.

Remedial overnight works to reduce surface water on the section of the motorway between Junction 24 at Denton and the Medlock River, south of Junction 22, are planned for spring/summer 2005. Further assessment is being carried out on the section between the Medlock River and Junction 19, following which the necessary remedial works will be undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held concerning the future use of the Meridian trains built for Midland Mainline which have now been declared surplus to requirements. [217114]

holding answer 21 February 2005

I understand that sixteen four-car Meridian trains have been successfully introduced into service on Midland Mainline and will continue to operate throughout the life of the franchise. There are also seven nine-car Meridians which are not yet in service. Discussions about them continue between the owning Rolling Stock Company and Midland Mainline. Careful consideration will be given to any proposal for their possible future use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997. [213838]

The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002.

The cost of providing parking for DfT civil servants in the Department's agencies in 2002–03 was £86,291 and in 2003–04 was £92,733. These costs represent the cost of any additional parking provided for staff over any spaces that may be provided as part of the lease of a building where identifying these figures would involve disproportionate cost. DfT Central did not incur any expenditure on providing parking spaces in either year.

It is departmental policy that staff are personally responsible for meeting the costs of parking tickets or penalties and these details would not be separately recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives his Department is taking to reduce the numbers of sick days taken by staff in the Department. [216641]

The Department and its Agencies are committed to managing sickness absence effectively and are taking action on the recommendations made in the Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector" report published in November 2004.

Initiatives that are being pursued include more robust recording and monitoring of absence levels and reasons for absence, better provision of management information and training for managers, earlier involvement of occupational health advisers and a review of current policies and procedures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many properties there were in each council tax band in the Chorley borough council area in 2003–04. [217601]

The number of dwellings in each council tax band for properties, in Chorley borough council area, at 7 April 2003 was:

The council tax list, maintained by the listing officer of the Valuation Office Agency, is updated at regular intervals throughout the financial year. At 7 April 2004, the number of properties in each band were:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement, using statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, on the effects on Huddersfield of the working and child tax credits; and what the average change in level of income has been for those receiving the credits in Huddersfield since their introduction. [217460]

Information on the total number of families that benefit from tax credits is only available for the United Kingdom as a whole. This information can be found in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics".

Information on the number of in-work families receiving tax credits in each constituency appear in Child and Working Tax Credits. Geographical analyses".

Both these publications can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

Information on the average change in income for those families that receive tax credits is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU theCustoms Section of the Joint Committee (EEC-Switzerland-Liechtenstein) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement; [217923]

(2) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Customs Co-operation Sub-committee EEC-Canada met; when and where these meetings took place; what UKGovernment expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [217925]

The committees are the responsibility of the European Commission. Member states are not involved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has held with the Department of Health regarding the potential health implications of tax and national insurance benefits available to employers who supply mobile phone and associated contracts to employees and their families. [217705]

The Treasury and the Department of Health have regular and on-going discussions on a wide variety of topics.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost for 2005–06 of stamp duty relief in designated disadvantaged wards. [217483]

The latest estimate of the amount of disadvantaged area relief forecast to be given in 2004–05 is published at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1–5.pdf.

This estimate will be updated in the Budget 2005 report. An initial forecast for 2005–06 will be published at PBR in the autumn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases of tax credit overpayments the Inland Revenue has decided in accordance with page 9 of the Code of Practice 26, What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' not to collect (a) all and (b) part of the overpayment to avoid causing hardship in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [215780]

holding answer 10 February 2005

None. However, there are a number of measures to protect against hardship being caused by the recovery of an overpayment.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum increase in business rates allowed in a Business Improvement District is. [216297]

There is no statutory upper limit on the size of the BID levy. It is for those developing BID proposals to agree the amount payable with those liable to pay the BID levy within a BID area. The legislation provides for all those liable to contribute towards BID schemes to be able to vote on BID proposals and they will be able to judge for themselves whether or not the proposal and its financial implications offers value for money.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Warrington south constituency, the effects on Warrington South of his Department's policies and actions since it was established. [213762]

Along with other Government Departments, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to improving the lives of people across the whole of the United Kingdom. For example, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is determined that everyone should have the opportunity to have a decent home, and since 1997 we have reduced the number of non-decent homes nationally by one million.

Warrington borough council was awarded a place on Round 3 of the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) programme in July 2003, with initial funding of £18.3 million for 2004–05 and 2005–06, to help improve council stock to the decent homes standard. In November 2004 the Arms Length Management Organisation, Golden Gates Housing, qualified to access this funding by achieving a two star (good) rating from the Housing Inspectorate.

Since April 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also provided £16 million of Supporting People grant to Warrington metropolitan borough council, to enable it to deliver housing related support services to vulnerable people in the area. Currently this provides over 3900 dwellings of support to a range of people-including homeless families, older people, people with learning disabilities and young people at risk.

More broadly, since May 2002 (when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established) we have been able to increase the total amount of Government grant given to local authorities by £11.1 billion. This is a 22 per cent. increase in real terms. Warrington has received average annual increases in formula grant of 6.5 per cent.

The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that EU regional development grants are used in accordance with European Commission rules. [217279]

European Structural Funds programmes are required to operate in accordance with European Commission Regulations. As Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund programmes in England, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister operates a management and control system which the Commission has agreed fully meets its regulatory requirements.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on mismanagement of EU regional development grants; and if he will make a statement. [217394]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware that there have been representations on any specific cases in relation to mismanagement of the European Regional Development Fund within England, for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is the Managing Authority. If the hon. Member has a particular concern perhaps he will write to me.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from fire and rescue service regional management boards regarding regional control rooms; and what proportion of such representations has indicated support for the project. [216613]

All the Chairs of fire and rescue service regional management boards (RMBs) wrote last year to express support for the FiReControl project, in some cases subject to reassurance on financial issues. All the RMBs have commented on the Outline Business Case and responded to the recent consultation paper on FiReControl finance and governance. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering those comments and will publish the response shortly. The South West RMB has also requested an independent inquiry into the provision of a regional control centre for the South West, which has been refused.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated market value is of the public sector land holdings identified by him for the construction of housing under the Homes for All initiative. [217335]

It is too early to estimate the market value of the public sector land holdings since negotiations are still in progress about the size and scope of the various land holdings which will be used as one of the delivery mechanisms for the creation of further sustainable communities as set out in our Homes for All document.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact on house prices of withdrawing previously identified surplus land sites from open market sale for use in the Homes for All initiative. [217336]

Surplus land is not being withdrawn from sale. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's recently published Five Year strategy Homes for All" makes it clear that much of the surplus public sector land will be used for housing development and to tackle housing shortages including the provision of affordable and key worker homes.

There are effective arrangements in place to continue to dispose of surplus sites for housing and other uses. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that not all sites will be suitable for housing development.

English Partnerships will handle a proportion of the public sector sites. Where residential development is proposed they will ensure that the land is sold in the open market with a planning framework which will deliver the balance of market and affordable homes that meets Government the local planning requirements. That means ensuring higher design and quality standards are being delivered alongside higher housing numbers bringing a mixture of tenure and prices to the market. This will be delivered through private sector developers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether developments of housing constructed on public sector land under the Homes for All initiative will be exempt from the requirements of existing local plans (a) to provide social rented housing and (b) to provide financial contributions for off-site infrastructure re-enforcement. [217337]

Housing development constructed on public sector land under the Homes for All initiative will not be exempt from local plan requirements for social rented housing or financial contributions for off-site infrastructure works.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give financial assistance towards additional rented housing in South Lancashire. [216558]

The North West Regional Housing Board is currently consulting on priorities for housing investment throughout the North West, for the next Regional Housing Strategy. This will influence decisions on spending on affordable housing in South Lancashire.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met trade union representatives to discuss proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme. [214395]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and I have had a number of meetings with the trades unions and others to discuss the amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2004 due to come into force on 1 April. The last occasion was on 17 February 2005 with senior representatives from UNISON, the T&G, the GMB, UCATT and AMICUS, along with representatives of the Local Government Association and the Employers' Organisation.

In addition, officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have had, and continue to have, regular contact in person and via correspondence with the trades unions, local authority representatives and other key Local Government Pension Scheme stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Normanton of 8 November 2004 and 17 December 2004. [216133]

Response was sent out at the beginning of the week commencing 14 February. Due to an administrative error this case was not responded to earlier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government sought legal advice regarding the impact of the Charter of Fundamental Rights within the EU Constitution on industrial relations law in the UK. [214352]

It would not be appropriate for me to comment on whether legal advice has or has not been sought by the Government with regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights within the EU Constitution on UK industrial relations law. This is a position that is covered by the Exemption contained in Section 35(l) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Fireworks Act 2003 on the number of firework-related accidents in Hartlepool [213289]

The fireworks injury statistics for the 2004 period are as yet not available. My Department expects to be in a position to publish the figures in early March 2005.

With regard to the number of injuries sustained by the use of fireworks in Hartlepool, it should be noted that the figures collected are not broken down by parliamentary constituency, but rather in terms of UK region and NHS Trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the rate of referrals of businesses from Business Links to the Manufacturing Advisory Service was in 2003–04, broken down by region. [217180]

Based on figures provided by INBIS Ltd., MAS National Network Managers, the rate of referrals of businesses from Business Links to the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004 are as follows:

Note that the structure of business support in Wales is significantly different from that in England and that as a result the statistics for Wales are not comparable. We have therefore not included Wales in these statistics.

As indicated above these figures have been provided to us by INBIS Ltd. Although some of the regions have not kept statistics on the rate of referrals from Business Links to MAS for the whole of the period indicated they do provide a good representation of the rate of referrals for each of the regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what strategy her Department is using to promote an increase in manufacturing investment. [216242]

holding answer 21 February 2005

Encouraging high value added investment is a priority in the Government's manufacturing strategy action plan. We are seeking to achieve this through a range of measures including; tax incentives such as enhanced capital allowances and R and D tax credits; and business support schemes such as the Grant for Research and Development and Selective Finance for Investment. We are also putting £320 million into the Technology Strategy Programme which supports collaborative R and D and technology transfer and have established the Manufacturing Advisory Service which has provided manufacturing businesses with £108 million of added value and is showing companies the value of investing in lean manufacturing best practice.

More fundamentally we are seeking to maintain the stable macroeconomic environment we have achieved in recent years and within which business can invest with confidence in new products, processes and skills.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are made on the payment of the minimum wage within the Greater London area to ensure that the proper rates are paid. [209257]

The Inland Revenue, who enforce the minimum wage on behalf of the DTI, respond to all complaints about underpaying of the minimum wage.

The Revenue also make use of their own data to make proactive visits on employers throughout the UK to check whether they are paying their workers the minimum wage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to review the penalties imposed on companies found paying their employees below the minimum wage. [215883]

Since the minimum wage was introduced in April 1999 the Inland Revenue have imposed 133 penalty notices on employers who they found were not paying their workers the minimum wage.

A penalty notice imposes a financial payment equal to twice the hourly amount of the adult minimum wage per worker for each day of continuing non-payment of the minimum wage.

The Government keeps their enforcement strategy under regular review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the papers on nuclear power which officials of her Department prepared as part of the contribution to the Energy White Paper 2003; and if she will place copies in the Library. [199660]

The following papers on keeping the nuclear option open (KNOO) were prepared for the DTIs Energy Advisory Panel and contributed to the work on the Energy White Paper:

KNOO Scoping Paper (EAP 11.06.02-P3)

KNOO Summary Paper (EAP 01.10.02-P3)

KNOO Miniprojects

These papers are now over two years old and some of the information that they contain will be out of date. Nevertheless it is hoped that their release will contribute to the continuing debate on nuclear power as a future energy source in the UK. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

In addition, the long-term costs of nuclear power were covered in the work commissioned by DTI on options for a low carbon economy. The resulting paper DTI Economics Paper No. 4: Options for a Low Carbon Future—Phase 2" can be viewed on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/phase2.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence she has collated on availability of JIB-PMES assessors related to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme within the plumbing industry in the Black Country; and if she will make a statement. [216032]

I would like to confirm that it is not the responsibility of my Department to collate this information.

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme is owned and managed by Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd., representing construction employers, trade unions and clients. The Government has no responsibility for this scheme and its decision-making.

To ask the Solicitor-General on what date the Director of Public Prosecutions received papers prepared by Sir John Stevens arising from her investigation into collusion between Crown forces and loyalist paramilitaries; what further action was recommended; and what action has been taken in respect of prosecutions of these cases. [215699]

There have to date been three investigations by Sir John Stevens into allegations of collusion, the most recent investigation having commenced in 1999.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is currently considering the product of the Stevens III investigation in two distinct but linked parts.

In respect of the first part, an investigation file was received by the DPP on 23 April 2002. Police inquiries were not complete at that stage and further information and investigations were requested by the DPP. Police recommendations as to prosecution were received by the DPP in June 2004. The advices of Senior Counsel were sought at an early stage and were obtained in March 2004.

In respect of the second part of the investigation files containing over 12,500 pages were received by the DPP in April 2003. Further information and investigations were required by the DPP and a final report was received on 27 April 2004. Police recommendations as to prosecution were received in November 2004. The advices of Senior Counsel were sought at an early stage and were obtained in December 2004.

The issues arising for consideration are complex and detailed and involved an examination of a substantial volume of documentation produced during the Stevens I and II investigations.

Final consideration is now being given to both parts of the investigation.