To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2004, Official Report, columns 206–07W, on the Crown Prosecution Service, what progress has been made with the planned review of interaction between prosecutors and the police in the process from arrest to charge. [217649]

A review of the charging arrangements in Nottinghamshire took place during December 2004. An action plan setting out a number of recommendations for improvement was provided to the Area after the review. Work on these actions has commenced and is being taken forward by the joint charging team.

A follow up visit to the Area, by the joint Crown Prosecution Service and police charging team to assess progress against the action plan, will be made in the spring.

To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on reform of the Crown Prosecution Service. [217650]

The CPS reform programme aims to put prosecutors at the heart of the Criminal Justice System, providing a prosecuting service that meets the needs of victims and communities. This means prosecutors having a bigger role at each stage of the criminal justice process from charge through to sentence and working in co-operation with others in the criminal justice process while maintaining that independence of decision-making which is the hallmark of British prosecutors.

To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Crown Prosecution Service takes to prevent trauma suffered by children serving as witnesses at trials. [217652]

Crown Prosecutors work closely with the police and other agencies to ensure that children, receive the help and support they need to cope with the court process and to assist them to give their best evidence through a range of special measures, including the use of screens, giving evidence in private, video recorded evidence in chief, live TV links, and the removal of wigs and gowns.

The introduction of witness care units across the country will further improve the experience for children. These will offer a single point of contact for witnesses, parents and carers, and a detailed needs assessment will be carried out to identify a witness's specific support requirements. A tailored support system can then be provided to them.

In relation, to child witnesses, witness care units can be expected to support children by, for example, arranging pre-trial court visits, providing an explanation as to what will happen in court, arranging a home visit, providing safe and easy access to court on the day of trial and also making contact with the local, school if there are difficulties in that regard.

To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the use of information technology to improve efficiency of working between the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. [217653]

Information technology has a key role to play in delivering a modernised, joined-up criminal justice system. The Crown Prosecution Service is working with the courts and other criminal justice system colleagues to secure more efficient use of information technology.

Examples of current initiatives are the use of secure e-mail between criminal justice practitioners, which will facilitate the effective trials management programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to involve parents in assessing the quality and nutritional value of school meals. [217634]

Parents will be the front line of the drive to improve school meals, with an independent school food trust and tougher standards on processed food introduced in the new school year. Many schools already ensure that children eat healthy school meals. However, parents need to work with schools to improve the quality and nutritional value of their child's school meal. Further information on this initiative will be available in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the take-up of vocational training in schools and colleges. [217636]

On 23 February I placed before the House the Command Paper "14 to 19 Education and Skills". This should lead directly to an increase in the numbers undertaking vocational education and training in schools and colleges. Diplomas and better training facilities will make vocational education an attractive choice offering real opportunities. These proposals build on the success of our Apprenticeship and Increasing Flexibility programmes which have already provided a high quality vocational education for over 1 million young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects schools in Northumberland to benefit in the building schools for the future programme. [217642]

Building Schools for the Future aims to transform secondary schools in 15 waves of investment from 2005–06, subject to future public spending decisions. We recently announced over £40 million capital for Northumberland over the next three years. Further, by 2011, we aim to support at least one secondary school of the future in the county. Its northern and central areas should join Building Schools for the Future between 2014 and 2017, followed by its western and south-eastern areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to announce the next stage of funding under the Building Schools for the Future Programme. [217644]

We aim to announce the prioritisation of waves four and five of Building Schools for the Future, which will access funding in 2008–09 and 2009–10, in the autumn of 2006 following the settlement of the 2006 Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of special schools in Gloucestershire. [217643]

Under arrangements introduced in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the consideration of proposals for establishing, altering, or discontinuing maintained special schools are a matter for local decision making. It is for the local School Organisation Committee to consider any objections received when they make their decision on proposals. If the School Organisation Committee cannot reach a unanimous decision, it will pass the case to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator for determination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the recent report of the Education Select Committee on Public Expenditure on Education and Skills. [217645]

We welcome the report on Public Expenditure from the Education and Skills Select Committee.

We are compiling a reply to the recommendations and will shortly be sending our reply to the Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on progress in implementing the music manifesto. [217640]

We are making good progress. A Manifesto Champion and Steering Group are in place and drawing up plans for future shared activities.

More than 180 organisations and individuals have signed up to the Music Manifesto. Together they have made more than 100 pledges of programmes and resources to support the key aims—including one from Lloyds TSB who pledged £10 million for musical instruments earlier this month. DfES pledges alone amount to more than £220 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Leicester, South and (ii) England have broadband internet access. [217983]

My Department does not hold information specifically for Leicester South. As at the end of December 2004, 43 per cent. of primary schools and 100 per cent. of secondary schools in Leicester City had broadband connections, and 43 per cent. of primary schools and 98 per cent. of secondary schools in Leicestershire had broadband connections. This compares to 69 per cent. of primary schools, 99 per cent. of secondary schools and 72 per cent. of all schools in England with high speed broadband connections. We are on track to connect all schools by 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in Leicester, South are receiving education maintenance allowance. [217980]

On 1 February 2005, the number of students who had received one or more EMA payments for the academic year 2004/05 in the Leicestershire area was 6,232. This is the total figure, comprised of 3,984 students in the Leicester City local education authority area and 2,248 students in the Leicestershire local education authority area. We do not break this data down further into constituency and ward areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the programme establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural co-operation (Culture 2000) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217246]

I have been asked to reply.

Between 1 July 2003 and 31 December 2004, the Culture 2000 Management Committee met in Brussels on: 7 July 2003, 17 November 2003 (Italian presidency), 29 March 2004 (Irish presidency) and 9 November 2004 (Dutch presidency). DCMS officials attended all the meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total costs of promotion of the learndirect scheme have been since the scheme's inception. [217482]

Since its launch in 2000 learndirect has enrolled over 1.5 million learners and handled over 21 million inquiries through its National Advice Line. On the basis of information provided by Ufi, learndirect has spent £93.74 million to 31 July 2004 promoting these services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have completed learndirect courses. [217596]

In just five years learndirect has firmly established itself as one of the biggest e-learning networks in the world, and is successfully making learning more accessible to individuals and businesses. On the basis of information provided by Ufi, over 1.5 million learners have enrolled on learndirect courses and over 920,000 of these learners have completed their course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how her Department will tailor the curriculum to stretch academically able pupils. [217440]

Our White Paper published on 23 February includes a range of proposals for ensuring stretch for all pupils across the 11 to 19 phase of secondary education. These include freeing up time at Key Stage 3 to introduce scope for greater breadth, depth and pace for gifted and talented pupils; the opportunity to provide some higher education courses in maintained schools; and building on the strengths of the existing GCSE and A-level qualifications in order to increase stretch and challenge for all pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice the Learning and Skills Council gave Plater College, Oxford, following the report on the College of 20 October 2004 by the Adult Learning Inspectorate. [217944]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether (a) her Department and (b) the Learning and Skills Council have a claim on any part of the assets of Plater College, Oxford, should its closure go ahead. [217945]

Plater College, Oxford, is a Roman Catholic College operating in the FE sector. The college trustees have taken the decision to close the college in July 2005. It is not known, at this stage, whether the Department or the LSC will have any claim on the college's assets. This will be one of the issues to resolve as the college nears closure and will be dependent upon the terms of its memorandum and articles of association and its contractual arrangements with the LSC, which funds some of its activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of Plater College, Oxford. [217946]

Plater College, Oxford, is a Roman Catholic college operating in the FE sector. The College Trustees have decided to close the college in July 2005. The LSC is working closely with the college to ensure that the interests of current students and other learners in the area are safeguarded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is of setting up a new pupil referral unit; and what the average running costs were for pupil referral units in the last year for which figures are available. [216864]

We do not hold information on the cost of setting up new pupil referral units (PRUs). The cost will depend on the size of the accommodation required, the number of pupils and the particular needs to be met.

All PRUs are very different, and as a result the average running cost will vary widely depending on the individual characteristics of the PRU. However dividing the total planned expenditure on the provision of education at PRUs in England in 2004–05 (as recorded on local authorities 2004–05 section 52 budget statement) by the total number of PRUs in England as at January 2004 gives an estimated average planned running cost of around £466,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support the Government are giving to school playground schemes. [218004]

Government support for capital investment in schools has risen to £4.9 billion this year, will be £5.5 billion next year, £5.8 billion in 2006–07 and will reach £6.3 billion by 2007–08. All schools and local authorities will benefit from this programme, which includes flexibility for local authorities and schools to prioritise expenditure on the areas they consider most important, including playgrounds.

The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) is providing around £81 million, through the New Opportunities for Physical Education and Sport programme, towards playground improvements in England. This includes playground markings, improvements to drainage and refurbishing existing facilities. We are also working with the BLF to ensure that these facilities will fully complement the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This programme aims to renew the secondary school estate (including playgrounds) in 15 waves starting from 2005–06. Schools, local authorities and their partners are encouraged to look as widely as possible at all educational needs, both inside and outside the classroom.

Furthermore, the Sporting Playgrounds programme is supporting £10 million of capital investment between April 2003 and March 2005. This will enhance around 600 primary school playgrounds to increase physical/sporting activities and improve behaviour.

For the past three years the Department has also provided £250,000 a year to Learning through Landscape, which has encouraged schools to improve and develop their grounds for curriculum-related use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children played truant in the last year for which figures are available. [217633]

In the school year 2003/04, 567,503 primary pupils and 696,600 secondary pupils recorded at least one half day's unauthorised absence. Unauthorised absence includes absence due to lateness or family holidays taken during term time without the school's permission, as well as truancy. Recent research in to pupil absence suggests that around 2 per cent. of secondary school pupils are persistent truants, responsible for almost half of all unauthorised absence in secondary schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will next visit a further education college in the south-east to assess the provision of vocational training places. [217664]

I currently have no plans to visit further education colleges in the south-east. I would consider any such invitations, depending on diary commitments.

To ask the Prime Minister whether the decision by the Metropolitan police to interview hon. Members as part of an on-going Official Secrets Act investigation into the disclosure of Iraq-related material was (a) authorised by and (b) communicated to (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Government. [218035]

The Metropolitan police have kept officials in the Cabinet Office informed of the progress of their inquiry, which was initiated at the request of the Cabinet Office. Decisions about the handling of the inquiry are a matter for the police.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he has used a signing machine for official correspondence. [216625]

No. My office does, however, use an electronic version of my signature on some letters and messages.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the UK has given to democracy-building in Iraq; what the cost of that support has been; and what proportion of the budget was allocated to support for women. [217433]

Democracy building is a strategic priority of the UK's support to Iraq, as set out in DFID's Iraq Country Assistance Plan (February 2004). DFID works closely with the FCO to support and encourage a stable, united and law abiding state that provides effective and representative government, sustainable economic growth and rising living standards for all Iraqi citizens.

DFID has funded a number of initiatives to support democracy-building activities in Iraq. These have included $10 million in support of the Independent Elections Commission of Iraq (IECI) for the recent elections; and funding for two advisers to the UN team supporting the IECI. DFID's £5 million Political Participation Fund (PPF) supports initiatives which aim to increase opportunities for political representation and participation in the political process. Projects funded so far include voter education and media and monitors' training for the recent elections. There is no specific allocation to support for women, but the project has a particular focus on supporting women's participation in the political process. So far nine projects amounting to over £300,000 have been specifically targeted at women.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the UK has given to democracy-building measures in Kosovo, including training of local and national legislators; what the budget was for that support; and what proportion of that budget was allocated to support for women. [217432]

DFID has provided the following funding to democracy-building measures in Kosovo:

In addition, the FCO has provided the following assistance under the Western Balkans Global Conflict Prevention Pool, which is a joint strategy between DFID, the FCO, and MoD:

The bulk of the UK's assistance to the region is contributed through the European Union's Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) programme. The UK contributes approximately 19 per cent. of CARDS funding which provided €291.18 million to Kosovo in the years 2002–04. The European Commission has funded democracy related projects in Kosovo including:

None of these projects had specific allocations for women, although women have benefited from many of the activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the funds from the new six-year health programme for Malawi, announced in December 2004, is earmarked for salaries of health workers in Malawi. [217544]

The salary component of the new six-year health programme in Malawi will cost $100 million including a 50 per cent. increase in salary for existing health workers and the salaries of additional health workers. This salary component represents about half of the total cost of the Emergency Human Resources Programme, which also includes training of Malawian health workers and the provision of expatriate volunteer specialists. DFID is contributing £55 million towards that programme or about half the total cost. Other smaller contributions will come from the Global Fund, UN agencies and bilateral donors. In addition, DFID is contributing £45 million towards the separate Essential Health Package component, making a total contribution of £100 million to the Malawi's health programme over the next six years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development aid has been provided by the UK to Swaziland in each year since 1997; and what assessment his Department has made of its effectiveness. [218180]

Total UK assistance to Swaziland since 1997 is set out in the following table:

DFID projects are subject to annual reviews of effectiveness. The results of the reviews are recorded on a central project review data-base which provides for reporting of portfolio performance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on (a) tea and (b) biscuits in the Department in each year since 1997. [215007]

Since July 2002, meeting refreshments for the Treasury have been supplied by the PFI contractor, Exchequer Partnerships. Meeting refreshments include tea, coffee, mineral water and biscuits. The costs for 2002–03 (July to 31 March) were £121,000, and the costs for 2003–04 were £188,000. It is not possible to identify separate costs for tea or biscuits, and information in respect of the earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to accept registration of charities in Scotland by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as providing proof of eligibility for tax relief for the bodies concerned. [217498]

Wherever possible the Inland Revenue will accept registration as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as proof of eligibility for charitable tax reliefs. However, taxation is not a devolved matter. The Revenue is required to apply the Taxes Acts consistently across the UK. In doing so, case law has established that the Revenue should apply its understanding of English law in relation to the definition of a charity where Scottish law differs from English law.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries in Africa have had their debts cancelled in each year since 1997. [217490]

Since 1997, 15 countries have reached completion point in the HIPC initiative. All of these countries are now receiving irrevocable debt relief (October 2004—Madagascar; July 2004—Ghana; April 2004—Niger, Ethiopia, Senegal; January 2004—Nicaragua; December 2003—Guyana; March 2003—Benin, Mali; June 2002—Mauritania; April 2002— Burkina Faso; November 2001—Tanzania; September 2001—Mozambique; June 2001—Bolivia; May 2000—Uganda).

A further 12 countries are at decision point and are receiving interim debt relief (July 2003—Democratic Republic of Congo; March 2002—Sierra Leone; May 2001—Chad; December 2000—Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia; October 2000—Cameroon; June 2000—Honduras).

In addition to those countries currently benefiting from the HIPC Initiative, the following African countries received treatments from the Paris Club involving an element of debt cancellation: 2004—Republic of Congo, Burundi; 2002—Cote d'Ivoire; 1998—Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire.

However, many countries are still having to choose between servicing their debt and investing in health, education, infrastructure and other areas necessary to allow them to attain the Millennium Development Goals. That is why the UK is proposing that we match bilateral debt relief of up to 100 per cent. with multilateral debt relief of up to 100 per cent. The UK will provide its share, approximately 10 per cent., of multilateral debt owed by eligible countries to the International Development Association and African Development Bank, and will continue to call on others to join us in this initiative.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug-related deaths there were in people aged under (a) 21, (b) 30 and (c) 40 years in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in the last five years for which figures are available. [217548]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Sarah Teather, dated 24 February 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many drug-related deaths there were in people aged under(a) 21, (b) 30, (c) 40 in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London Borough in the last five years for which figures are available. (217548)

Figures are readily available from death certification on deaths due to drug poisoning, not the total number that were drug-related. The most recent year for which figures are available is 2002. Numbers of deaths certified as due to drug poisoning for each London Borough and the London Government Office Region in the five years 1998 to 2002 are given in the attached table. There were too few deaths at ages under 21 in all London Boroughs to release figures without risk of disclosure.

Figures are not readily available where death was indirectly related to the use of drugs as the direct cause is generally selected as the underlying cause of death (e.g. HIV infection).

Deaths related to drug poisoning, at ages under 30 and 40 by London borough, 1998–2002^(1)(2)(3)(4)

⁽¹⁾ Defined using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision for 2001 and 2002: F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, Y10-Y14, X85 and the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision for 1998–2000: 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5

⁽²⁾ Data are for persons aged between 0 and 29 and 0 and 39.

⁽³⁾ Usual residence of the deceased by London Borough.

⁽⁴⁾ Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

⁽⁵⁾ The numbers in these cells have been suppressed to protect confidentiality.

Source:

Office for National Statistics.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) male, (b) female and (c) all workers in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough the (A) weekly median earnings and (B) distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed. [217546]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Sarah Teather, dated 24 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to list for(a) males, (b) females and (c) all workers in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough the (A) weekly median earnings and (B) distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed. (217546).

Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.

These data are available on the national statistics web site: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/ASHE 2004_inc/tab?_la.xls

We recommend that you use data for full time employees.

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent. sample of all employees.

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings publication criteria ensures that all estimates are undisclosive. A number of estimates have been removed from the published tables for these reasons.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Contact Committee on Certain Schemes for Collective Investment in Securities met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [217891]

The Contact Committee on Certain Schemes for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities met in Brussels on 18 July 2003, 22 October 2003, 19 December 2003 and 14 April 2004. Officials from HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority attended the meetings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the European Securities Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [217892]

Information on the composition of this committee and a summary record of the meetings held is available from the European Union website at http://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Insurance Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [217908]

Information on the composition of this Committee and a record of the meetings held is available from the European Union website at http://europa. eu.int/index_en.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department in each year since 1997. [213645]

The Treasury's estimated costs for the production of the in-house staff magazine, were as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his actions and policies on the constituency since 1997. [217301]

The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, the economic performance of the Rochdale constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 38 per cent., while long-term unemployment and long-term youth unemployment have both fallen by 76 and 74 per cent. respectively.

The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at local area 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 Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Ministry of Defence's SR 2004 settlement letter. [217943]

The Ministry of Defence's SR 2004 settlement is set out in Chapter 13 of the 2004 Spending Review document (Cm 6237).

Further detail on forward defence plans are set out in "Delivering Security in a Changing World—Future Capabilities" (Cm 6269).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by his Department to investigate tax credit fraud (a) in total and (b) per 100,000 recipients of tax credits; and what his latest estimate is of the total level of tax credit fraud. [218002]

The total number of staff employed by Inland Revenue to look at claimant error in tax credits is around 1,350. The number of families in receipt of tax credits in December 2004 was 5.04 million, which equates to approximately 27 members of staff per 100,000 families in receipt of tax credits.

Inland Revenue are currently reviewing a random sample of finalised 2003–04 awards to monitor the level of claimant error. However the Department will only be in a position to give an indication of the level of error later in 2005–06 once awards are finalised for the whole tax credit population and the exercise is completed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reports of computer failure the Inland Revenue has received since the introduction of new tax credits in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [216657]

None.

There were some well-publicised problems in the early days when the system did not perform as expected. However, the system has worked throughout the entire period since tax credits were introduced and has been performing robustly for some considerable time now.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his definition of a windfall receipt is. [217942]

A windfall receipt is not a term used either in Budget documents or the National Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been made available to improve disabled access to transport services in the Chorley constituency. [217589]

Regulations introduced under part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) require that all new public service vehicles used on local and scheduled service with a carrying capacity of more than 22 passengers, and all new rail vehicles, have to be accessible to disabled people. In addition, duties under part 3 of the DDA require service providers to take reasonable steps to provide access to transport infrastructure such as bus station and railway stations.

On funding the Government provide funding to improve access to public transport through the local transport plan (LTP) process. Local transport authorities in England outside London produce five-year LTPs, and report on progress against these plans in annual progress reports (APRs). The first five-year plans were submitted in 2000. The following table details the relevant funding categories allocated to the Lancashire local transport plan area, which includes Chorley.

Decisions on how to target funding towards specific projects and initiatives such as those to improve public transport accessibility are made at local level.

On access to the rail network, the SRA intend to consult on their disability strategy at the end of March. This will include priorities for improving accessibility at stations.

Chorley (Lancashire) local authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how application forms for disabled badges are made available to the public; and what the cost to public funds is of each method. [217479]

Application forms are available, on request, from local authorities. which are responsible for the administration of the Blue Badge Scheme. There is no statutory procedure that they are required to follow for the production or distribution of the forms.

It is for individual local authorities to allocate appropriate resources to administer the Blue Badge Scheme. Under existing regulations they are able to charge up to £2 for each badge they issue, to contribute towards these costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tins of beans have been distributed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as part of its recent campaign; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [217074]

DVLA distributed 36 tins of baked beans as part of an advertising campaign aimed at road tax evaders in the London area during January 2005. The cost of this was £305, which includes design and printing of labels and purchase of tins of beans.

These tins were distributed to a number of radio stations in London, in order to generate on-air discussion about road tax evasion, and the disposal by crushing of untaxed vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of congestion on the M5 between junctions 23 and 25. [217408]

The level of congestion on the M5 between Junctions 23 and 25 was considered as part of the London to South West and Wales Multi Modal Study (SWARMMS) commissioned by the Government office for the south-west. The final report in May 2002 stated that the motorway's operation was generally satisfactory at this location.

The Highways Agency records traffic flows and continually monitors the operation of the motorway. Although there has been an increase in traffic flows since the SWARMMS report this has not had a significant impact on the operation of the motorway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the remit is of the study commissioned by the Strategic Rail Authority into the respecification of the Northern Trains franchise; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) full remit and (b) final report when completed. [214469]

The contractors are being commissioned to provide advice to the Strategic Rail Authority for the review of the services in the Northern franchise. The review, which has always been part of the franchise specification, is required as the franchise has been derived from a complex merger of others and has a service pattern which has not been substantially reviewed for at least 10 years.

I will place a copy of the specification to contractors for the review of the Northern franchise in the Library of the House once the contracts have been finalised. I will also publish a summary of the findings of the contractor when available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations have (a) opened and (b) been re-opened since 1 May 1997. [211851]

pursuant to the reply, 1 February 2005, c. 763W

The information provided should have been that since 1 May 1997 13 new stations have opened and 18 stations have re-opened.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change in the relative costs of travelling by (a) car, (b) train and (c) bus has been in each year since 1975, taking 1975 as a base figure of 100, and discounting inflation. [216421]

holding answer 21 February 2005

The following table shows the information requested on real changes in the cost of transport as indices based on 1975 = 100.

⁽⁶⁾ "All motoring" includes the cost of purchase, maintenance, fuel tax and insurance.

Note:

The overall cost of motoring has fallen in real terms by 11 per cent. between 1975 and 2004. Over the same period, rail fares and bus fares have risen by 70 per cent. and 66 per cent. respectively.

Source:

Retail Prices Index, Office for National Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has been approached by Newcastle city council for (a) a 50 mph speed limit and (b) additional (i) accesses and (ii) slip roads on the A1 Newcastle Western By Pass between the Ponteland Road and Kingston Park Road interchanges. [216493]

Newcastle city council has not approached the Highways Agency for a 50 mph speed limit or additional accesses and slip roads on the A1 Newcastle Western Bypass between Ponteland Road and Kingston Park Road interchanges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to discourage train operating companies from introducing car parking charges where none currently exist. [217998]

The charging for car parking facilities, is a matter for individual train operating companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about mismanagement of EU regional development grants; and if he will make a statement. [217278]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that EU regional development grants are used in accordance with European Commission rules. [217280]

The Wales Office does not administer the European Structural Funds in Wales. The Managing Authority for European Structural Funds in Wales is the Welsh Assembly. It operates a management and control system that the Commission has agreed fully meets its regulatory requirements. This is underlined by the performance award worth £65.4 million given to the Assembly by the European Commission last year for their management of the programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of his latest meeting with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board. [217516]

I last met the Chair, Meri Huws, and the Chief Executive, Meirion Prys Jones, on 24 January.

We discussed a number of matters concerning the promotion of the Welsh language. The Government remain committed to the principle of treating Welsh and English on a basis of equality in the conduct of public business in Wales.

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

(1) whether the United Kingdom will seek to ensure that it remains mandatory for member states to support measures to improve animal welfare standards in negotiations in Council on the European Commission proposal for a Council Regulation on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (COM(2004) 490); and if she will make a statement; [217181]

(2) whether her Department is representing the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) Welsh Assembly in negotiations in Council on the European Commission proposal for a Council Regulation on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (COM(2004) 490); [217182]

(3) how many officials from the Animal Welfare Division of her Department have been involved in the discussions with representatives of the European Commission and other member states about the European Commission proposal for a Council Regulation on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (COM(2004) 490). [217183]

The negotiations on the rural development regulation are continuing and throughout discussions the UK has been pushing for the necessary flexibility for member states to implement rural development programmes which reflect each countries priorities and circumstances and deliver the maximum public benefits. In accordance with this the UK has supported the inclusion of a measure to allow support for farmers who voluntarily meet higher animal welfare standards but have asked the Commission for clarification on their reasons for it being compulsory.

Defra officials represent the UK position in EU negotiations on the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and argue in accordance with a negotiating line agreed by Ministers. The Ministers of the devolved Administrations are fully involved in discussions regarding the formulation of the UK policy position and we benefit from the support of their officials. Devolved officials generally deal direct with the Commission on issues relating to devolved rural development programmes. Within Defra officials from across the Department, including animal welfare division, and Ministers have been fully involved in agreeing the UK negotiating line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on congestion (a) charges and (b) penalty charge notices by the Department since the commencement of the congestion charging scheme. [213818]

The information requested is as follows:

(a) Since the commencement of the congestion charging scheme a total of £3,620 has been paid as at January 2005.

(b) During the same period the total paid in penalty charges is £240.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of dairy farming in Lancashire. [216196]

The UK dairy sector has a sustainable future and, in line with its "Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food", the Government will work with the industry to facilitate and support its development. The UK has a comparative advantage in terms of climate, farm efficiency and size over many of its competitors. If those involved in the dairy supply chain can work together to maximise this potential and address some of the difficulties it faces, then there is no reason why it should not succeed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [213619]

The Department was created in June 2001. There are 12 sites which have a catering facility to which Defra makes a contribution towards running costs. The total costs are:

Note:

£15,600 additional contribution towards staffing costs in London restaurants

The Department regrets it is unable to split the costs as required. There is a bar and social club at one of the sites, all running costs are met by the Sports and Social Club.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants her Department makes available to farmers in Chorley. [216199]

The England Rural Delivery Programme (ERDP) contributes to the delivery of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food by helping farmers and foresters to respond better to consumer requirements and become more competitive, diverse, flexible and environmentally responsible. It also provides help to rural businesses and communities which need to adapt and develop.

The ERDP provides a framework for the operation of 10 separate but integrated schemes which provide new opportunities to protect and improve the countryside, to develop sustainable enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive. A total of £1.6 billion of EU and Government money is being made available under these schemes in England during the seven years (2000–06) of the Programme. Within Lancashire there a re nine ERPD funded schemes available of which the Rural Development Service administers seven. These are, Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Rural Enterprise Scheme, Process and Marketing Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme, Energy Crop Scheme, Organic Farm Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme.

The Rural Payments Agency and Forestry Commission administer the Hill Farm Allowance and Woodland Grant Scheme respectively.

To date, within Lancashire, the ERDP has funded (through RDS administered schemes) £3 million of projects and training as well as annual payments of £2.5 million to CSS agreement holders.

The Forestry Commission as yet does not currently make specific allocations to counties, but it is moving towards regional allocations through the Regional Forestry Framework and it is envisaged that this will in turn lead to county allocations. During 2004 the Woodland Grant Scheme paid out £300,000 towards new planting and woodland management plans. Within the constituency of Chorley, the total ERDP payments for 2004 were £152,000.

Defra will shortly launch a new scheme called Environmental Stewardship (ES). ES will be launched in England early 2005 to replace the existing agri-environment schemes (Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Countryside Stewardship and Organic Farming Schemes). ES has been developed with a high level of public consultation and a significant and much appreciated contribution from stakeholder organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many footpaths have been temporarily closed for over five years; for what reasons in each case; and when she expects each to be re-opened. [217441]

Local highway authorities are responsible for the management of footpaths and therefore all information relating to temporary closures is held by them and not central Government. The information could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) of 8 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1363–364W, on free trade, which items are included in the basket of food on which the Government bases the estimate that the cost of the Common Agricultural Policy to a family of four in the UK is in the range of £4.50 to £5.00. [216878]

We estimate the consumer cost of the Common Agricultural Policy by assessing the difference between the domestic price of agricultural products and the world price of agricultural products, generally measured at the farm-gate level. This price difference is multiplied by the volume of consumption in the UK. The calculation is made for the following commodities: cereals, oilseeds, rice, sugar, milk, beef, sheep meat, pigment, poultry meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables, wine, olive oil, and tobacco.

The cost for a notional family of four is derived from the total cost for the UK using population data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to support proposals at the World Trade Organisation for a review of the Green Box. [217419]

As part of the World Trade Organisation negotiations for the current Doha Development Round, a Framework Agreement was reached in August of last year. Under this Framework agreement, all WTO members agreed that Green Box criteria should be

"reviewed and clarified with a view to ensuring that Green Box measures have no, or at most minimal, trade-distorting effects or effects on production. Such a review and clarification will need to ensure that the basic concepts, principles and effectiveness of the Green Box remain and take due account of non-trade concerns."

The UK Government fully supports a review on this basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horse passports have been issued in London. [217528]

There are no Passport Issuing Organisations based in London. Horse owners residing in London can apply to any Passport Issuing Organisation in the United Kingdom for their passports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [213835]

The Department was created in June 2001.

(a) A number of buildings across the Departments estate do offer on-site car parking for civil servants and visitors as per the tenancy and rental agreement for each site. No specific records are kept that identify the cost of providing car parking.

(b) The Department does not meet the cost of parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants. Civil servants are personally responsible for meeting the costs of any such fines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year. [207654]

Since Defra came into existence in May 2001, the pay television subscription costs for each financial year are as follows:

⁽⁷⁾ Figures not available. Most installations are now free view.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards modernising rural delivery within the Department's strategy. [214713]

Since announcing the Rural Strategy in July 2004 we have made excellent progress. Our reforms are aimed at delivering services more efficiently, through a smaller number of organisations with clearer and more accountable roles. We are devolving delivery to give a better deal for the environment and the taxpayer and the overarching principle is sustainable development.

Work is now under way to identify clear priorities and simple processes in each region of England. In order to explore better ways of supporting rural communities we have identified a local "rural pathfinder" for each region. We are working with these rural pathfinders to test innovative ways of improving local delivery and they are currently developing their plans. From this April, rural socio-economic funding will be mainstreamed through Rural Development Agencies with an increase of £27 million in their single pot allocation to £72 million from Defra. Rural community councils will be funded directly by Defra and some further social and community funds will be channelled through Government Offices.

Everyone will benefit from our radical simplification of funding streams. Rural businesses are being helped by an additional £2 million that Defra has provided to Business Links this financial year.

We are establishing a smaller, more focused body to act as a strong voice for rural people and communities, especially those facing disadvantage.

Dr. Stuart Burgess has been appointed as the Chair of the Countryside Agency and Rural Advocate. By April 2005 the new organisation—the Commission for Rural Communities—will have been established as a distinct body, initially within the existing legal framework. It will use its statutory independent voice to hold to account those who deliver to the countryside and rural communities.

In order to conserve and enhance the resource of nature and realise the economic benefits of so doing, we are establishing an Integrated Agency consisting of English Nature, most of the Rural Development Service and parts of the Countryside Agency. We have already initiated closer working at the regional level between these three organisations, as part of preparing for the establishment of the new Agency. We are moving the Rural Development Service out of the policy core of Defra and providing it with greater autonomy and devolved authority for decision-making and delivery, and, in order to pave the way for the Service to move into being part of the new Integrated Agency, we have appointed Poul Christensen to chair a small non executive board. From April 2005 the bodies that will make up the Integrated Agency will have begun working as a confederation of partners as a precursor to the full establishment of the Integrated Agency by legislation.

On Thursday 10 February, we published (in draft) a Bill to implement those elements of the Rural Strategy that require primary legislation—including full establishment of the Integrated Agency and the Commission for Rural Communities.

By April we will also have begun delivering benefits to taxpayers through beginning the process of delivering around £21 million of efficiency gains per year by 2009–10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [215798]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 February 2005, by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.Official Report, column 75W

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which (a) countries and (b) regions affected by the tsunami removal of failed asylum seekers has been suspended; for how long suspensions will last in each case; and if he will make a statement. [214987]

The UK is currently not enforcing the removal of failed asylum applicants to the following countries, or parts of countries:

Sri Lanka—coastal areas of the north, east, south and south west;

Indonesia—the province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra;

The Maldives—affected islands;

India—coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh and the

Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

This approach is in line with the UNHCR's recommendations for south-east Asia of 12 January 2005. Proposals to conduct removals to non-affected areas immediately outside of those identified above, are being reviewed sensitively and on a case by case basis. The Government do not attach a time scale to their policy to temporarily suspend enforced returns on the basis that this is being monitored and kept under active review in light of the ongoing assessment and development of the country conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) professions allied to medicine from Commonwealth countries are working in the UK on two-year visas under the Commonwealth Working Holiday Scheme; and what assessment he has made of the effects of changing the scheme to one-year visas on recruitment in the national health service. [217500]

Working Holidaymakers are required to obtain entry clearance prior to coming to the United Kingdom. This allows them to take relevant employment, including as doctors, nurses and in other healthcare professions. No central record is kept by the Home Office of the numbers of working holidaymakers in each part of the workforce, including medicine and healthcare, because they do not need separate permission to work after arrival.

After 12 months in the United Kingdom working holidaymakers are eligible for work permit employment in any of the occupations on the list of designated shortage occupations maintained by Work Permits (UK). These include doctors, nurses and other healthcare professions. Working holidaymakers were eligible to switch into these occupations after 12 months in the United Kingdom before the changes announced on 7 February. The effect of these changes on recruitment in the national health service is therefore neutral.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to answer the Crime Line in London was in the last period for which figures are available. [216468]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Department's answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1182W, on police divisions, what progress he has made in ensuring that (a) Trafford police division and (b) other police divisions have a suitable place of safety as defined by the Mental Health Act 1983. [213537]

Further to my reply to the hon. Member's question of 15 December 2004, Trafford police division advises that they are meeting with representatives of the local primary health care trust on 22 February to discuss the provision of a designated place of safety in the division. The appropriate provision and location of a place of safety is a matter for local agreement between the police and the local trust.

Home Office are continuing discussions with colleagues in the Department of Health on the potential content of codes of practice proposed under the draft Mental Health Bill. The Bill was published on 8 September 2004 by the Department of Health and is currently under scrutiny by the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill. As indicated in my previous answer, we are looking to establish the statutory position whereby police stations can be used as places of safety only as a last resort and, if used for that purpose, for a limited time period only before transfer to a more appropriate environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what family details are recorded on police charge sheets; and what guidance is issued to police officers on how charge sheets should be completed. [215545]

Only the detainee's name and address, and the address to which he or she will be bailed (if granted) are recorded on the charge sheet.

The charge sheet (form MG 4) is part of the process used by members of the prosecution team, police officers and Crown Prosecutors concerned with the preparation, processing and submission of prosecution files. A copy of the form and guidance on its completion is contained in the Prosecution Team Manual of Guidance. The Manual of Guidance Editorial Board, which consists of representatives from the Home Office, ACPO, the CPS and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, is responsible for the contents of the contents of the manual. The 2004–05 edition can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/justice/legalprocess/courts/manualofguidance.html.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the Essex Constabulary about plans to review police divisional boundaries in Essex; and if he will make a statement. [217154]

holding answer 21 February 2005

Deployment of police resources and the structural configuration to support policing issues is an operational matter and therefore falls firmly within the remit of the Chief Constable. This is not therefore an issue which the Secretary of State would normally involve himself.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police driving schools there were in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years; and how many police officers took (a) a standard driving course and (b) an advanced driving course in each year. [213250]

Each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales has a police driving school. It is for individual chief constables to determine which officers should undertake driving courses according to the nature of their role. Under internal police procedures and policies, officers may not operate warning equipment (e.g. blue lights) or exceed the speed limit in responding to 999 calls unless they have achieved the requisite driving standards. Police drivers may not undertake pursuits unless they have successfully completed the advanced driving course.

Association of Chief Police Officers policy is that driving skills should be re-assessed every three to five years. In addition, line managers should review driving standards as part of the annual appraisal process.

The available information on numbers of police officers who took a standard driving course and an advanced driving course is shown in the following table.