To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with countries affected by the Asian tsunami regarding the sexual exploitation of children left (a) orphaned and (b) otherwise vulnerable, by the disaster; and what assistance the Government have given to help combat sexual exploitation of vulnerable children. [219717]

DFID has talked at length with affected governments and humanitarian agencies operating on the ground to ensure that the needs of all vulnerable groups are adequately met. In particular, DFID is supporting programmes through the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). This includes £2,250,000 to UNICEF's Child Protection programmes in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. This programme includes assessments of the needs of children, the monitoring of vulnerable groups and advocacy on behalf of children with the relevant government bodies. DFID has also provided £400,000 to the Save the Children Fund's programme in Sri Lanka that includes child protection activities.

DFID continues to monitor the situation, and its country offices are retaining strong links to non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies as we move into the recovery phase.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received from the Malawi Government on the time scale for commencement of funds for the six-year health programme. [218045]

DFID has been clear that UK aid under the new six-year programme will be available from the beginning of the UK 2005–06 financial year. No representations have been received about the time scale for the commencement of payments. DFID spending on health in Malawi in financial year 2004–05 on existing commitments to Government and NGO programmes will be £11 million and is expected to increase by 50 per cent. with the new programme in 2005–06 and subsequent years.

DFID signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health and other collaborating partners, Norway/SIDA and the World Bank on 29 October 2004, and an exchange of letters on DFID's health sector support on 9 December 2005. An initial disbursement of funds into the Donor Pool to support the Sector Wide Approach was made in December by Norway/SIDA. DFID is due to add its disbursement into this pool on 1 April 2005, once agreement is reached on a plan of action to reform Central Medical Stores.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will determine the bid for the upgrading of phases 1 and 2 of Manchester's Metrolink. [220394]

We are discussing the bid in detail with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and will make a decision as soon as we are able to.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what major transport projects have been approved in the last year, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [215839]

The major local authority schemes (outside London) listed in Table 1 were approved fully during the course of 2004:

Table 1: Full approval

The major local authority schemes (outside London) listed in Table 2 were provisionally approved during the course of 2004. These schemes are approved with conditions, the main ones being that costs do not increase, statutory and consultative procedures are completed satisfactorily and their designs and appraisal do not change significantly.

Table 2: Provisional Approval

The schemes listed in Table 3 were added to the Highway Agency's targeted programme of improvements during 2004.

Table 3

Decisions on road projects in London have been devolved to the London Mayor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (a) how many and (b) what types of unmanned aerial vehicles have been licensed to operate over land in civilian airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority in each of the last five years. [220167]

To date, the Civil Aviation Authority has not issued any Certificates of Airworthiness to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to review the cost of regulation to businesses. [217347]

Previous budgets have taken measures to reduce the costs of regulation to business. For instance our flat rate VAT scheme has helped cut payments for up to 700,000 businesses.

Our raising the mandatory audit threshold has helped up to 219,000 businesses save up to £270 million per annum. Our abolition of automatic fines for VAT have helped too—in 1996–97 this cost business £99 million.

Future budgets can be expected to provide further help.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) she and (b) a representative from her Department will be meeting the Russian Federation's Minister of Energy and Industry during his visit to London to address the Russian Economic Forum in London on 10 to 12 April. [219500]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, met Viktor Khristenko, the Russian Federation's Minister of Energy and Industry, in June during a visit to Moscow. Also, the Director-General Energy met Mr. Khristenko in Moscow in November. The Department is hoping that a further meeting can be arranged with the Secretary of State the next time Mr. Khristenko visits London. This could be during the Russian Economic Forum in London on 10 to 12 April but there could be an earlier meeting. The general position is that DTI Ministers are happy to meet Ministers from the Russian Federation on matters of mutual interest whenever opportunities arise and diaries permit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in which industries the UK enjoys a significant comparative advantage relative to (a) the US, (b) China, (c) India and (d) EU accession countries. [219440]

I am not aware of any analysis that would show in which industries all these countries enjoy a significant comparative advantage relative to each other. However estimates of revealed comparative advantage suggest that the following countries especially specialise in the following sectors:

UK: Financial and insurance, creative and media, aerospace and pharmaceuticals

USA: Aerospace

China: Clothing, textiles, household goods especially brown and white electronic goods, accessories such as suitcases, watches, jewellery, tableware.

I am not aware of an analysis for India and the EU accession countries.

To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to publish the Government's Annual Report. [220504]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 12 July 2001, Official Report, column 638W.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 23 February, Official Report, column 302, on intercept evidence, when he saw the advice received by the Leader of the Opposition when he was Home Secretary. [220241]

It is a matter of public record that there have been a number of reviews of intercept as evidence, including under the previous administration. None of these recommended a change in the law.

To ask the Prime Minister whether minutes were made of each meeting his special advisers held with the Attorney-General in March 2003 on the preparation of legal advice on the legality of engaging in military action against Iraq. [219448]

The meeting which the Attorney-General held with Lord Falconer and Baroness Morgan on 13 March 2003 did not discuss the preparation of legal advice on the legality of engaging in military action against Iraq. I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my noble Friend the Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith) to Baroness Hanham on 28 February 2005, Official Report, column WA1 and the answer given by my noble Friend the Leader of the House of Lords (Baroness Amos) to Earl Attlee on 7 September 2004, Official Report, columns WA96–97.

To ask the Prime Minister which members of the Cabinet were shown the full text of the Attorney-General's legal advice on the legality of the war of 7 March 2003. [212314]

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he used in making his decision on whether to show the full advice from the Attorney-General on military action in Iraq to every member of his Cabinet. [219512]

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 28 February 2005, Official Report, column 923W.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he is required under the Ministerial Code of Conduct to show full legal advice received from the Attorney-General relating to matters before the Cabinet to each member of the Cabinet. [219511]

Section 1 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers on the conduct of Cabinet Business, and advice received from the Law Officers.

To ask the Prime Minister

(1) what representations he has received from the families of British victims of September 11 2001 concerning the investigation of (a) the events that took place in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania on that day and (b) the circumstances leading to those events; and if he will make a statement; [220254]

(2) what representations he has made to President Bush concerning the investigation of the events of September 11 2001; and if he will make a statement. [220255]

I received over 7,000 letters following the September 11 terrorist attacks, including some from the families of British victims. A number of these raised the US Government investigation into those attacks and the circumstances leading to them. The Government have had extensive discussions with the US Government, at many levels, about circumstances surrounding the events of 11 September 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact termination of the EU Life Nature Fund would have on her Department's ability to meet its public service agreement target of achieving favourable conditions for 95 per cent. of sites of special interest in England by 2010. [200579]

It has not yet been possible to make an assessment of the impact because the European Commission has yet to provide member states with answers to detailed questions about their proposals, including the scope of the proposed LIFE+ Regulation to replace the LIFE Nature Regulation.

Moreover, applications for funding under Life Nature are made by a variety of organisations. I am unable to say which among those with responsibility for aspects of SSSI condition have been expecting to rely on a Life Nature contribution in taking this forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the transitional arrangements which will be put in place when section 53 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is implemented will require surveying authorities to process to a conclusion all applications for definitive map modification orders on their registers at the cut-off date. [216913]

There is provision for regulations in section 56(2) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to allow the making of transitional provisions and savings in respect of applications outstanding at the time of the cut-off date.

It is our intention that the regulations under section 56 will provide that all applications entered on the register at the cut-off date will be processed to their conclusion by the surveying authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of possible benefits arising from global warming in respect of (a) lower energy costs and (b) higher crop yield. [218965]

holding answer 2 March 2005

The information is as follows:

(a) The UK's energy projections take account of the effect of increasing temperatures on energy demand, although we have not identified the impact separately. We are not aware of any detailed studies of the potential for higher temperatures to reduce energy usage globally, although space heating and cooling are both key users of energy, so rising temperatures, whilst reducing winter heating requirements, will lead to increased use of air conditioning, which will counteract and possibly outweigh any gains.

(b) A study entitled Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture was carried out for Defra in 2004 by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER). Among its findings, the study demonstrated that warmer temperatures resulting from climate change will increase the potential growing season of arable and other crops, earlier sowings will be possible, and crops will grow and ripen faster. In particular, maize will have a higher yield potential in an extended growing season.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the final results of the winter oilseed rape field scale evaluations will be published; in what form they will be published; and whether her Department will consult stakeholders before responding to the results. [219527]

holding answer 3 March 2005

The results from the farm-scale evaluations of winter oilseed rape are expected to be published in the journal The Proceedings of the Royal Society" on 21 March 2005. On that day the Scientific Steering Committee, which oversaw the evaluations, and members of the research consortium, who undertook the research, will present the results at an open meeting at the Royal Institution in London. Details of the event are available through the Defra website. The committee is also arranging for a non-technical summary to be published on the same day; this will be available both as a free publication and to download from Defra's website.

The Government intend to refer the results to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment for advice on their implications. ACRE is proposing to hold an open meeting on 25 May 2005 at which it will take evidence to assist it with formulating the advice required for our response to the results. Details of this event will be finalised shortly and placed on Defra's website. There will also be provision on the web for stakeholders to submit evidence for ACRE's consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effects of EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No. 148/04/COL of 30 June 2004, 2004/C 319/08, OJ C319 of 23 December 2004, on the ability of EU states to adjust green taxes under single market competition provisions. [215238]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government support effective control of distortive state aids within the Single Market. The Government have been active in using environmental taxes, along with other approaches, to achieve environmental outcomes and do not believe that the EFTA Surveillance Authority decision alters the ability of the UK and other EU member states to make changes to their environmental taxes within the scope of the EU state aid rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the consistency guidelines produced by the Planning Inspectorate that relate to rights of way and definition map orders; how they may be amended; and who monitors their accuracy. [220471]

The Planning Inspectorate has produced a document entitled Definitive Map Orders: Consistency Guidelines". These guidelines were developed in consultation with rights of way inspectors and Defra's rights of way policy division. The Rights of Way Review Committee and, more recently, various rights of way user groups have been consulted over the content of the guidelines. The Inspectorate, in conjunction with Defra, continues to monitor and update the guidelines as changes in legislation and case law make this necessary. Any individual or group that considers that a change to the guidelines is necessary can alert the Planning Inspectorate or Defra's rights of way policy division to this need.

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

(1) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to protect society from the impact of animal diseases; [219978]

(2) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the health and welfare of kept animals; [219979]

(3) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the spread of bovine TB to new parishes to below the incremental trend of 17.5 confirmed new instances per annum by the end of 2008 will be met; [219980]

(4) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to eradicate BSE by 2010 will be met; [219981]

(5) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the prevalence of scrapie infection by 40 per cent. from 0.33 per cent. to 0.20 per cent. by 2010 will be met; [219982]

(6) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to eliminate fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England by 2010 will be met; [219983]

(7) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to care for the natural heritage; [219984]

(8) what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target of moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010; [219985]

(9) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 will be met; [219986]

(10) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase the use of energy saving technologies; [219987]

(11) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to lead the integration of environment policies across Government and internationally; [219988]

(12) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement targets to protect and improve the (a) rural, (b) urban, (c) marine and (d) global environment; [219989]

(13) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement targets to deliver more customer-focused farming; [219990]

(14) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote sustainable, diverse, modern and adaptable farming through domestic and international action; [219991]

(15) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote a sustainable, competitive and safe food supply chain; [219992]

(16) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the accessibility of services for rural people; [219993]

(17) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to deliver the UK's World Summit on Sustainable Development commitments in the areas of (a) sustainable consumption, (b) sustainable production, (c) biodiversity, (d) oceans, (e) fisheries and (f) agriculture; [219994]

(18) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to increase the electronic service delivery capability to Common Agricultural Policy payments to 95 per cent. by 31 March will be met; [219995]

(19) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the unit cost of administering Common Agricultural Policy payments by 10 per cent. by 2004–05 will be met; [219996]

(20) whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the time taken to clear up cases of poor welfare infarmed animals by 5 per cent. by March 2004 was met; [219997]

(21) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the annual incidence of BSE to less than 30 cases by 2006 will be met; [219998]

(22) what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to improve air quality by meeting the National Air Quality strategy objectives for carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles, sulphur dioxide, benzene and 1–3 butadiene; [219999]

(23) what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to protect the public's interest in relation to environmental impacts and health; [220000]

(24) whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce fuel poverty among vulnerable households by improving the energy efficiency of 600,000 homes between 2001 and 2004 was met; [220001]

(25) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to enable 25 per cent. of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2005–06 will be met; [220002]

(26) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement targets to promote (a) sustainable management and (b) the prudent use of natural resources domestically and internationally. [220003]

(27) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to enable enhanced EU funding for rural development; [220004]

(28) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to enable enhanced EU funding for environmental conservation; [220005]

(29) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to secure Common Agricultural Policy reforms; [220006]

(30) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase agriculture's gross value added per person; [220007]

(31) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to deliver more competitive and sustainable farming; [220008]

(32) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the gap in productivity between the least well performing quartile of rural areas and the English median by 2006 will be met; [220009]

(33) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to enhance opportunity in rural areas; [220010]

(34) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to tackle social exclusion in rural areas; [220011]

(35) what recent assessment she has made towards the Public Service Agreement target to open up public access to mountain, moor, heath and down by the end of 2005 will be met; [220012]

(36) what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring 95 per cent. of all nationally important wildlife sites into favourable condition by 2010 will be met; [220013]

(37) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to reverse the long-term decline in the number of farmland birds by 2020; [220014]

(38) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to preserve biological diversity; [220015]

(39) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote sustainable development across Government and the country; [220016]

(40) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to make the countryside attractive and enjoyable for all; [220017]

(41) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to deliver thriving economies and communities in rural areas; [220018]

(42) what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote economic prosperity through sustainable farming, fishing, food, water and other industries that meet consumers' requirements. [220019]

The Department provides regular performance updates against its outstanding Public Service Agreement targets through its annual Departmental Report and its Autumn Performance Report published in spring and autumn respectively. The 2004 versions, which are the most recently published, are available in the House Libraries and online at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htm

A short summary of progress against our 2002 Spending Review targets can be found in Appendix 4 of the reports, with more detailed information available in Chapter 2.

The Department also gives regular updates on its performance via HM Treasury's website at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/performance/DEFRA.cfm

Defra's 2005 Departmental Report is due for publication late spring/early summer 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding streams are available for village hall facility improvements; and if she will make a statement. [218609]

Funding for village halls has traditionally come from local and charitable sources, with only a relatively small amount of support from central Government. Indeed, the amount of central funding assisting village halls now is very much higher than it was in the seventies, eighties and nineties. Since its inception in 1995, the Community Fund of the National Lottery has provided grants to the value of more than £138 million to around 4,500 village hall projects and the Millennium Fund supported over 500 village halls and urban community centres to the value of nearly £100 million. National funding sources including the Big Lottery Fund will continue to make an important contribution; but this must supplement and not be seen as a substitute for local leadership and fund-raising.

The variety of public funding includes the following:

Defra: Rural Enterprise Scheme; Village Halls Loan Fund; Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund; Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.

National Lottery Funds: Big Lottery Fund; Awards for All.

Local authorities provide grants in addition to the Parish Council precept and the access available from Parish Council to the Public Works Loan Board.

The above information refers only to the public funding which is available to supplement local fund-raising and donations which have always been the main source of finance for village halls.

Indirect sources of public funds to supplement private donations include Gift Aid, and some limited VAT reduction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) what legal advice the Government have received on the legality of fixed odds betting terminals in high street locations; [220194]

(2) what legal advice the Gaming Board has received on the legality of fixed odds betting terminals in high street locations. [220195]

Legal advice given to the Department on this matter will be subject to legal professional privilege, and confidential as a result. I believe the same would be true for any advice received by the Gaming Board.

I would, however, refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 1.24–1.25 of the Board's Report for 2003–04, which noted the uncertainty about the legal status of fixed odds betting terminals, as a matter of public record. The Report was laid in the House on 14 July 2004 and copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate (a) the number of fixed odds betting terminals in operation and (b) the number of locations in town centres where fixed odds betting terminals are operating. [220196]

We estimate that there are currently about 24,000 fixed odds betting terminals in operation, but are not in a position to estimate the number of betting shops located in town centres rather than elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the average amount of money lost per head on fixed odds betting terminals each week. [220197]

We have made no such estimate. The only information available is included in the draft report prepared for the Association of British Bookmakers by Europe Economics, which indicates, on the basis of interviews with a sample of betting shop customers, that their average weekly spend on all forms of gambling (including using fixed odds betting terminals) is between £50 and £60.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the total amount spent in the last week for which figures are available on (a) fixed odds betting terminals and (b) the national lottery. [220198]

Information about total weekly spend on fixed odds betting terminals is not available. National lottery sales for the week 20–26 February were £93,135,739.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the percentage of problem gamblers who attribute their problems mainly to fixed odds betting terminals. [220199]

The information so far available on the relationship between problem gambling and use of fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) is contained in the draft of an independent report undertaken for the Association of British Bookmakers by Europe Economics, who are currently considering comments on it by two independent experts who reviewed it at the Department's request. The report does not provide a firm basis for estimating the percentage sought, but it indicates that, on the basis of a sample of 7,845 people who bet or gamed (excluding bingo) at least once a month, 48 used FOBTs at least once a month. It also notes that 29 people (0.4 per cent. of the total sample) could be classified as problem gamblers, but concludes that while nearly all participated in more than one form of gambling the numbers involved were too small to permit meaningful further analysis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Coventry, South constituency, the effects in the constituency of changes to her Department's policies since 1997. [219820]

The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Coventry, South since 2 May 1997.

In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. One school sport partnership involving three School Sport Co-ordinators and 15 Primary Link teachers is based in Coventry, South. It has received a Sport England grant of £327,310. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Coventry, South have benefited from two Sport England Community Capital Lottery grants totalling £562,787, two Sport England Active Sports Lottery grants totalling £1,665,612 and a further two awards worth £905,655 in total from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme.

We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 funding to Arts Council England, West Midlands increased from £5.6 million to £32.5 million, including from 1 April 2003, funding to major national arts organisations in the West Midlands.

In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England, West Midlands investment in regularly funded organisations will be £35.4 million. Coventry, South has benefited from grants to arts organisations and individuals, including the Belgrade Theatre and Arts and Media Training which is based in Coventry.

Since September 2004, schools in Coventry, South have been included in the second phase of the Creative Partnerships programme which began in 2002. Creative Partnerships aims to give school children and their teachers the opportunity to explore their creativity by working on sustained projects with creative organisations and individuals, including artists, theatre companies, dance studios, museums, orchestras, film-makers and historic buildings. Funding of £65 million was allocated for the period 2002–05 to develop Creative Partnerships, and the programme will receive at least a further £86 million in 2005–08.

Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Coventry, South will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.

Coventry, South also benefits in the museum sector from Renaissance in the Regions.

Coventry Arts and Heritage is a partner in the West Midlands regional hub, which, as a Phase 1 hub, received priority funding; it received £0.8 million in the 2003–04 financial year for Renaissance, with a further £0.62 million from the Education Strategy Fund. The total grant for the period 2003–06 will be £7.11 million from Renaissance and £3.14 million from the Education Strategy Fund, totalling £10.25 million. Of this money, Coventry Arts and Heritage has been allocated £1,068,075 to deliver Coventry's contribution to the West Midlands Hub's two-year plan.

In addition, the collections of the Coventry Transport Museum have been designated by Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as being a pre-eminent collection of national or international importance. The museum has received £445,000 through the Designated Challenge Fund, which is financed by DCMS, to improve interpretation and displays levering a substantial amount of investment from European funds and a huge commitment from the council to support the museum's work.

Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.

Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in the Coventry, South area. Screen West Midlands has provided lottery funding to a number of film-related activities in the constituency including the Warwick Arts Centre and the Blink Film Festival Coventry.

In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in the Coventry, South constituency with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,715.

We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.

The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Coventry, South, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.

Tourism in Coventry, South has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including Advantage West Midlands. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Coventry, South.

English Heritage has awarded grants worth £265,168 to Coventry, South since May 1997, including £100,000 to 119–123 Spon Street and £97,414 to 123a/123b Upper Spon Street in 2001.

In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Coventry, South are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.

The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. Councils within the West Midlands area including Coventry city council have recognised this value and as part of a consortium took part in an initiative called Multinet, the result of which was to enable the participating public library authorities to enjoy the benefits of high bandwidth networking technology. Coventry's central library, which resides in the Coventry, South constituency, was one of the beneficiaries of the project's overall award of £324,439 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1999–2000.

The DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund has also supplied an award of £124,761 in 2001–02 towards the Caring with Books initiative in the West Midlands. This entailed building relationships with books and reading between foster families, public care institutes and many of the 7,000 children currently in public care across the West Midlands, including the Coventry area.

Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Coventry, South has benefited from over 347 awards totalling over £55 million. Of these, 43 awards worth just under £5 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency, the effect of her Department's policies and actions on the constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [219786]

The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Blackpool, North and Fleetwood since 2 May 1997.

In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. One school sport partnership involving eight School Sport Co-ordinators and 35 Primary Link teachers is based in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood. It has received a Sport England grant of £327,570. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities since 1997. Sports facilities in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood have benefited from two Sport England Community Capital Lottery grants totalling £514,330.

We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £67 million in 2004–50. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 funding to Arts Council England, North West increased from £7.6 million to £19.6 million including from 1 April 2003, funding to major national arts organisations in the North West. In 2005–06, the total Arts Council England North West investment in the region will be £28.4 million. Blackpool, North and Fleetwood has benefited from grants to arts organisations and individuals in the North West, including the Blackpool Grand and the North West Disability Arts Forum.

Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.

Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.

Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood area. A considerable amount of television has been filmed in and around Blackpool since 1997, including the forthcoming television drama Blackpool" and the comedy series Max and Paddy". The film Frozen" was filmed in Fleetwood at the end of 2003 and beginning of 2004. This film was launched at the London Film Festival last November and has just won the prize for best cinematography and the Audience Award at the Slamdance Film Festival in the US.

In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 7,800.

We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.

The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.

Tourism across the country has benefited from Government-funded marketing and development activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and its successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Blackpool and Fleetwood. In April 2003, the Regional Development Agencies were given strategic responsibility for tourism in the regions, from which Blackpool and Fleetwood have benefited. In 2003, Blackpool borough council was one of six local authorities to participate in a pilot scheme to promote the Fitness for Purpose initiative to help drive up tourism accommodation standards.

English Heritage has awarded grants worth £505,500 to Blackpool, North and Fleetwood since 2 May 1997, including £379,000 to North Shore Methodist Church, Blackpool from 2002 to 2004 and £126,500 to Wyre borough council for the Fleetwood Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme from 2002 to 2004.

In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million Lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.

The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. Councils in the Northwest area including Blackpool borough council have recognised this value and took part in an initiative called Blackpool Community Network, the result of which was to enable the participating public library service to give public access to a large range of IT facilities in 12 libraries, including Internet Access and MS Office applications. Public libraries in Blackpool North and Fleetwood constituency were among those benefiting from the overall project award of £52,000.

The DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund has also supplied an award of £178,297 in 2001–02, towards the Smile initiative in Lancashire. This entailed setting up reader development activities aimed at children and young people who have learning difficulties and their families. These activities were supported by the development of 15 multi-media collections and a specially designed website. A proportion of this award was of benefit to the library service in Fleetwood.

Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Blackpool, North and Fleetwood has benefited from 177 awards totalling over £5.2 million. Of these, 45 awards worth over £2 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) how many representations the Department has received on the proposed increase in licensing fees for amateur sports clubs; and what response the Department has made; [219521]

(2) what representations she has received from the Central Council for Physical Recreation on the proposed increases in licensing fees for amateur sports clubs. [219522]

holding answer 3 March 2005

There were 97 responses to the consultation on fee levels to be set by the Secretary of State under the Licensing Act 2003 from sports clubs and their representative bodies, including the Central Council for Physical Recreation. We considered the views expressed to us by all respondents including those of sports clubs. On balance we concluded from the evidence that we had underestimated costs of the new regime and that it would be necessary to increase the fee levels generally. We set out our reasons for increasing the fee levels in detail most recently during the debate in the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation on 23 February 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list (a) the budgets and (b) the operating costs for each of the Regional Sports Boards in the last year for which figures are available. [219520]

holding answer 3 March 2005

Details of the 2004–05 budget for the public expenditure (Exchequer and lottery) of Sport England's regional offices are given in the table.

£000

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list reviews of sport which are in progress (a) which she has initiated and (b) to which the Department is contributing; and when she expects each to report. [219523]

holding answer 3 March 2005

In July 2004, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked Lord Carter to undertake an independent review of funding for sport. The report is expected to be published shortly.

In 2004, the Football Association (FA) commissioned a structural review of the organisation. The Department expects to be consulted as part of the review. The review's Independent Chairman, Lord Burns, is expected to report to the FA in summer 2005.

The Cabinet Office's Regulatory Impact Unit is carrying out a review—of which the Department is co-sponsor—of funding of school and community sport. The report is expected to be published later this month.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the transfer of resources to Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise to reflect transfers of office assets from the Treasury in central London will require additional cost savings to be made by those Departments. [220379]

The annual efficiency savings target of £507 million, to be achieved by 2007–08, was set in the 2004 Spending Review and applies to the integrated Revenue and Customs department. The changes to bring the Eastern end of the Government Offices Great George Street onto the Revenue and Customs balance sheets, as set out in the 2004–05 Spring Supplementary Estimates, do not affect this target.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many separate items of literature have been sent to parents of children entitled to child trust funds; how many parents have received these to date; how many more are expected to receive them by 5 May; and what the planned cost is of the production and postage of all items of literature about child trust funds to 5 May. [219797]

Three items of literature have been issued to parents of children eligible for the Child Trust Fund. A letter was sent in November 2004 to let parents know they would be contacted shortly about the Child Trust Fund and that there would be no need to make a claim. Detailed information packs and vouchers to open a Child Trust Fund account started to be sent out in January 2005.

The Inland Revenue will have sent these items to around 1.6 million parents of eligible children by the beginning of May 2005.

The planned cost of production and postage of these items is approximately £2,200,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the cost to date and (b) the planned cost to May of the Government's advertising campaign for child trust funds is. [219868]

Total media spend on advertising the Child Trust Fund including any related media buying fees and VAT for the period January to March 2005 inclusive is approximately £3.75 million.

Plans for April are currently being worked on and have not yet been finalised.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the quarterly growth rates were for each of the last 17 years. [219895]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 4 March 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting quarterly growth rates for each of the last 17 years. (219895)

The quarterly growth rates for the chained volume measure of GDP at market prices and GDP at current market prices for each of the last 17 years are shown in the attached table, which I am also placing in the House of Commons Library.

Quarterly growth rates for chained volume measure of GDP at market prices and GDP at current market prices, 1988–2004

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of (a) unemployment, (b) long-term unemployment and (c) youth unemployment in each borough of London has been in each year since 1997; and how many individuals this represented in each case. [212371]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Sarah Teather, dated 7 March 2005

As National Statistician, 1 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (212371)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. The attached three tables show the levels and rates for the unemployed, long-term unemployed, and youth unemployment for each of the Greater London boroughs.

These estimates from the LFS are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. The attached three tables show the annual average number of JSA claimants resident in each of the London boroughs for each year from 1997 to 2004. This table also shows corresponding figures for JSA claimants aged 18–24 years and the total claiming for over 12 months.

Since the information in these tables is so extensive, copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average percentage change in lone parent employment was between (a) 1992 and 1997 and (b) 1998 and 2003. [219552]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 7 March 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about lone parents in employment. (219552)

The attached table shows the information requested, based on estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

These estimates from the LFS are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

Lone parents in employment 1992 to 2003⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾Defined as people who are not married or cohabiting with dependent children aged 0–15 or 16–18 and in full-time education.

⁽²⁾Annual average percentage changes calculated as annualised percentage increases over the relevant periods.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list partnership projects with the institutions of the EU for which UK Government provided funding in the past two financial years. [218786]

A large number of lines within the European Communities' Budget support activities that are co-financed by member states. Examples include projects supported by the Union's Structural Funds, Trans-European Networks, and Police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters (AGIS) programmes. Individual Government departments are responsible for projects undertaken with EC Budget co-financing and the Government do not keep a centralised record of those which take place in the UK.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what percentage of the savings identified by the Gershon Report relate to (a) UK-wide expenditure, (b) Great Britain-wide expenditure, (c) Scotland only expenditure, (d) England only expenditure, (e) Wales only expenditure, (f) Northern Ireland only expenditure, (g) England and Wales expenditure and (h) other spending; and if he will make a statement. [212354]

The remit for Sir Peter Gershon's reviewdid not include the spending of the devolved Administrations. Where spending is not devolved, SirPeter's report does not allocate savings to specific areas of the country.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of income tax liabilities in the latest financial year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) gender and (b) 10-year age bands. [220438]

I refer the hon. Member to table 3.2 Distribution of median and mean income by age range and sex, 2002–03" on the Inland Revenue website http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/tables3_2.pdf

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate is; and what assessment he has made of the trend in the level of job creation in the last five years. [220296]

The current working age employment rate in the UK is 74.9 per cent. Over the last five years, employment levels have grown by 315,000 jobs a year on average, a growth rate of 1 per cent., and UK employment levels are at a record high.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the payment of national insurance by sub-postmasters. [220374]

The remuneration of a sub-postmaster is liable to Class 1 NICs as earnings from an office. When he or she runs a business in addition to the post office, they are also self-employed and therefore liable to pay Class 2 and Class 4 contributions up to an annual maximum. Changes, effective from April 2003, provide that where sub-postmasters include their salary in the profits from the retail business they will no longer pay Class 4 NICs on their earnings from the post office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role his Department is taking in international attempts to facilitate economic regeneration in Palestine. [219693]

The Chancellor takes a keen interest in the economic aspects of the Middle East Peace Process and the economic regeneration of the Palestinian Territories. The Chancellor has held meetings with the Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority and Israel, the World Bank and key private sector participants. The Treasury works closely with DFID and the FCO and the International Financial Institutions on the economic aspects of the regeneration of the Palestinian Territories.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population changed residence in each year since 1979. [219557]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 7 March 2005

As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what percentage of the population changed residence in each year since 1979. (219557)

The Census obtains information about address changes in the year before the Census. The percentages of people who were listed as having changed address in the 1981, 1991 and 2001 Censuses are given in the table below.

All people—England and Wales

Sources:

Table 2 in Census 1981 National Migration Great Britain part 2 (10% Tables), table 2 in 1991 Census Migration Great Britain part2 (10% Tables) and Table KS24 Census 2001 National report for England and Wales part 2

The 1981 data has been taken from Table 2 in Census 1981 National Migration Great Britain Part 2 (10% Tables)". The 1991 data has been taken from Table 2 in 1991 Census Migration Great Britain Part 2 (10% Tables)". The 2001 data has been taken from KS24 in the Census 2001 National Report for England and Wales Part 2". All of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

Data are not available for the other years requested. While ONS produces estimates for internal migration, the main data source used only records the number of moves based on patients moving across Former Health Service Authority boundaries, patients changing their doctor and re-registering. Therefore many local moves are not recorded in this administrative source. This reason means that the percentage of the population moving cannot be calculated from these data.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue impact for each of the next five years of raising the stamp duty threshold in Scotland to (a) £100,000, (b) £120,000 and (c) £150,000. [212355]

A reliable estimate of the revenue impact of raising the stamp duty threshold is not available for countries and regions within the UK.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why people are being advised not to contact their hon. Member if they have sought the adjudication route to deal with a tax credit query. [219785]

The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 1 'Putting things right' explains their procedure for handling complaints. It is neither their policy nor practice to advise claimants not to contact their MP.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of the child tax credit on the income levels of the poorest 20 per cent. of families. [220177]

Chart 5.1 of the Pre Budget Report 2004 (Cm 6408) shows that as a result of tax credits the average gains to families with children in the bottom two deciles of the overall income distribution will be about £37 per week by 2005. It would not be particularly meaningful to separate the impact of child tax credit from working tax credit, as together they form an integrated system of financial support.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many of the cases in 2004–05 where the Inland Revenue contacted child care providers to verify the details that had been provided by the claimant, the child care element of child tax credit was (a) reduced and (b) stopped. [220242]

The information requested will not be available until later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a specific tax credit for volunteers during the year of the volunteer. [220085]

The Home Secretary and the Chancellor have asked Ian Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Power plc, to propose a new national framework for youth volunteering. His review is due to report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary shortly. The issue of financial support for volunteers is being tackled as part of that review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis his Department estimated the cost of increasing the subsidy rate in the child care element of the working tax credit from 70 per cent. to 80 per cent. in the pre-Budget report 2004. [219803]

The cost of increasing the proportion of eligible childcare costs covered from 70 per cent. to 80 per cent. was derived using the Department's tax-benefit model, which uses 2002–03 Family Resources Survey calibrated to tax credits administrative data. The figures are consistent with our latest December 2004 administrative data.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely increase in the population of the UK as a result of immigration in all forms over the next 30 years. [219750]

The latest (2003-based) population projections by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) were published in September 2004. A note detailing the impact of the assumed level of net migration on projected population growth over the 28year period from 2003 to 2031 is available from the GAD website at http://www.gad.gov.uk/Population/2003/methodology/mignote.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost was of the working group on 14–19 reform chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson; and how much was spent on (a) research and (b) administration costs. [219800]

The cost of the working group on 14–19 reform, chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson, was some £1.3 million over the period of 18 months. This figure includes the cost of research, much of which was undertaken by members themselves. In addition, the running costs of the departmental staff supporting the working group amounted to some £400,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Coventry South have broadband internet access. [218969]

holding answer 3 March 2005

By the end of December 2004, 100 per cent. of primary and secondary schools had broadband connections in Coventry LEA. This compares to 69 per cent. primary schools, 99 per cent. secondary schools and 72 per cent. 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 what the average class size in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools was in 2004 in (i) Greater London and (ii) each Greater London borough. [220176]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Maintained primary and secondary schools: Average class size taught by one teacher—January 2004 by London local education authorities⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾

⁽³⁾Includes middle schools as deemed.

⁽⁴⁾A sample of classes being taught at a particular point in the school timetable on the day of the Census in January.

⁽⁵⁾Not applicable. No schools of this type.

Source:

Annual Schools' Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time classroom assistants were (i) recruited and (ii) employed in each London borough in 2004. [220183]

Information on the number of teaching assistants recruited annually is not collected centrally.

The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in each London local education authority in January 2004. (Separate totals for full and part-time teachers are not available).

Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants in maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special and pupil referral units—January 2004

Note:

Information is rounded to the nearest 10.

Source:

Annual School Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what cross-border tracking of children in education takes place between English and Welsh local education authorities. [220231]

holding answer 4 March 2005

My Department has developed a secure data transfer site for schools and local education authorities, called 'School to School'. In co-operation with the Department for Training and Education in Wales, this facility has been available to Welsh schools and local education authorities since May 2004, thus enabling them to track cross-border movements of pupils. My Department does not itself track such movements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Coventry South constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes to her Department's policies since 1997. [219821]

The Coventry South constituency lies within Coventry local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Coventry South are given in the following tables.

Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Coventry South constituency—Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above

⁽⁶⁾Pupils attending schools in Coventry South constituency.

⁽⁷⁾The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).

GCSE and equivalents Achievement of 15-year-old pupils attending schools in the Coventry South Constituency⁽⁸⁾⁽⁹⁾

⁽⁸⁾For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.

31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.⁽⁹⁾As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e.

At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.

Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's In Your Area";website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.

This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority and Government Office region. England figures are also provided.

The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.

Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997, with particular reference to (a) exam results, (b) university applications, (c) teaching staff numbers and (d) school funding. [216877]

The Huddersfield constituency lies within Kirklees local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Huddersfield are given in the following tables:

(a) Examination results

Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Huddersfield constituency

⁽¹⁰⁾Pupils attending schools in Huddersfield constituency.

⁽¹¹⁾The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).

GCSE and equivalents achievement of 15-year-old pupils attending schools in the Huddersfield constituency^(12)(13)

⁽¹²⁾For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.

31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.⁽¹³⁾As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e.

(b) University applications:

Applications are not held at constituency level. The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers 18 to 20-year-old applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses.

18 to 20-year-old applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time undergraduate courses at UK institutions

Source:

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

(c) Teaching staff:

FTE of regular qualified teachers in primary and secondary schools in England^(14)(15)

⁽¹⁴⁾FTE—Full Time Equivalent is the total number of full-time teachers plus the equivalent number of part-time teachers based on the proportion of the full-time rate that they are employed.

⁽¹⁵⁾The position at January of each year, includes Middle Schools as deemed.

⁽¹⁶⁾Source : Annual School Census.

⁽¹⁷⁾Source: DfES 618G survey.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

Number of teaching assistant in maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units in England^(18)(19)

⁽¹⁸⁾Teaching assistants includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff.

⁽¹⁹⁾The position at January of each year.

⁽²⁰⁾Source: Annual School Census.

⁽²¹⁾Source: DfES 618G survey.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

(d) School funding:

Real terms funding per pupil aged 3 to 19⁽²²⁾

⁽²²⁾Real terms figures are based on GDP deflators as at 30 June 2004 (2003–04 prices).

Notes:

1.2004–05 and 2003–04 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. Updates will be available in the autumn.

2.Figures reflect education Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending settlement (all sub-blocks) plus revenue grants in DfES departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EFS pupils aged 3 to 19.

3.Figures exclude Education Maintenance Allowance and grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EFS and Learning and Skills Council for 2003–04 and 2004–05.

4.The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3yos maintained pupils, estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.

5.1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to local government reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.

6.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 so may not sum.

At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.

Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's 'In Your Area' website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.

This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are Parliamentary constituency, Ward, Local Authority District, Local Education Authority and Government Office Region. England figures are also provided.

The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.

Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to increase the number of teachers in state schools in Battersea. [218523]

We are committed to improving recruitment and retention of teachers. Nationally, there are around 29,000 more qualified teachers working in schools than there were in 1997. In Wandsworth, the latest statistics show that teacher vacancies have fallen from 3.8 per cent. in 2002 to 2.1 per cent. in 2004.

We have put in place a number of measures nationally to improve recruitment and retention. For example, graduates training to teach receive bursaries of up to £6,000; and new teachers of shortage subjects receive golden hellos of up to £4,000 on starting teaching.

In London, the London Challenge seeks to make London a world leader for secondary education, including making London one of the most attractive places to teach. Significant changes have been made, including the introduction of a new inner London pay scale. For example, an experienced classroom teacher at the start of the upper pay scale in London now earns £34,851, compared to £29,385 outside London. From April 2004, teachers working in London have been able to apply for interest-free equity loans of up to £100,000, through the London Challenge Key Teacher Homebuy scheme, in order to be able to afford a home in London.

The Chartered London Teacher status is now available to teachers working in London. It rewards the skills and expertise of London teachers and provides a one-off payment of £1,000 for those who achieve the status, and provides recognition of professional achievement that teachers will carry with them throughout their careers. And a new 'Preferred Supply Agency' list has been established to make it easier for Headteachers to access agencies which endeavour to provide better trained teachers and better value for money.

Furthermore, London Challenge is funding a teacher recruitment project, to offer a free teacher recruitment service to London schools in challenging circumstances for September 2005. Through this project, GOL are working with Battersea Technology College. GOL has already met with the head teacher to discuss staffing needs and is creating a pool of candidates for vacant posts. Currently, the staffing picture across Battersea in both primary and secondary schools is stable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget was for the Brighton and Hove local education authority in each year since 1997–98. [220109]

The information requested is only available from 2000–01 onwards and is contained within the following table.

Brighton and Hove LEA's total net revenue education budget since 2000–01 -- Total Education Revenue^(23)(24)

⁽²³⁾Financial data is drawn from the net column of the Total Education Revenue Expenditure line of the Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 1) submitted by Brighton and Hove LEA to the department

⁽²⁴⁾Section 52 budget data has only been collected since financial year 2000–01.

⁽²⁵⁾Figures are as reported by the LEA in cash terms rounded to the nearest £1,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were in classes of 31 or more in infant schools and infant classes in primary schools in Brighton and Hove in each year since 1996–97. [220110]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Maintained primary schools : number of pupils in key stage 1 classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher—1997 to 2004 -- Position in January each year⁽²⁶⁾

⁽²⁶⁾Includes middle schools as deemed.

⁽²⁷⁾Percentage of pupils in those classes expressed as a percentage of pupils in all classes taught by one teacher.

⁽²⁸⁾Before Local Government Reorganisation (was East Sussex LEA).

Source:

Annual Schools' Census