To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 2000–01. [220942]

No.

To ask the Leader of the House what the value of sales of surplus assets from his Office was in each year since 2000–01. [220960]

This Office has not sold any surplus assets since 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government intends to respond to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's Report entitled Aircraft in Flight; and if he will make a statement. [221400]

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's (RCEP) report The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight" was their response to the Government's 2002 consultation on the future development of air transport in the UK. The Secretary of State for Transport met the chairman of the RCEP, Sir Tom Blundell, in March 2003 to discuss the report. The report was one of over 500,000 responses to the consultation, which informed decisions on The Future of Air Transport" White Paper published in December 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when an evaluation was last carried out of the need for traffic light controls at Junction 14 on the M5; who was consulted on the results; and whether the results were published. [220902]

The last evaluation of the need for traffic light controls at Junction 14 on the M5 was undertaken by the Highways Agency in October 2004. The agency consulted South Gloucestershire council, who are the highway authority for the B4509 at Junction 14.

The traffic light controls will prevent traffic queuing back onto the motorway and improve safety for right turning traffic from the B4509 onto the M5, which has been the cause of a number of collisions. In accordance with normal practice, the results of the evaluation were not published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transportif he will make a statement on the operation of the newly installed traffic lights at Junction 14 on the M5. [220903]

The lights at this junction have been installed to help improve safety for all road users by reducing the number of personal injury accidents and decreasing congestion. The Highways Agency and its contractor are currently working to rectify a component problem and the lights should be operational by the end of March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's motor cycling strategy, with particular reference to the proposal to amend the Government's guidance on bus lanes, on levels of use of powered two wheelers; and what assessment he has made of the consequent effects of any changes in levels on (a) the Government's objectives to encourage increased walking, cycling and public transport use, (b) the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, (c) overall road safety, (d) pollutant emissions and (e) noise emissions. [220851]

The National Motorcycling Strategy is a framework for developing policy and action to ensure that motorcycling is fully recognised as a mode of transport. The Department has published research by consultants Halcrow and Rand Europe and WSP into factors affecting the level of use of motorcycles, which included preliminary assessments of environmental effects of greater use, although not specifically in the context of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes. The Government is aware of a number of concerns relating to motorcycling in bus lanes which is why we are working with local authorities to evaluate the safety and other effects of this before revising our guidance. We will consult widely on any resulting changes to the guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where responsibility will lie for the collection of penalty payments from train operating companies once the Railways Bill comes into force. [221005]

Penalty payment provisions are contained in some, though not all, passenger rail franchise agreements. Under the Railways Bill, responsibility for passenger rail franchises would pass to the Secretaries of State for Transport and Scotland as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the timescale for UK compliance with (a) MARPOL, (b) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, (c) the Protocol of 1978 and (d) associated regulations. [221132]

The United Kingdom has ratified the MARPOL Convention and the protocols to the Convention. The United Kingdom has already implemented Annexes I, II, III and V to MARPOL in national law, and is in the process of implementing Annexes IV and VI. I have received no representations regarding the timescale for UK compliance with MARPOL.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include the introduction of new rolling stock as part of the negotiations for the new East Coast Mainline contract. [220348]

Bidders for the franchise have been allowed to propose their own rolling stock solutions for the provision of the service within the specifications laid out in the Invitation to Tender. This does not exclude new rolling stock as a potential option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on increases in rail fares for 2005–06; and what action he plans to take to invest in the rail network and improve services. [220355]

Following the Strategic Rail Authority Fares Review in 2003 we announced that regulated fares would in future rise by RPI plus 1 per cent. from January 2004. This would help redress the balance of funding between the taxpayer and the fare payer. Increases in unregulated fares are a commercial matter for the train operating companies.

Government funding and investment in the rail network continues to run at unprecedented levels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, made a detailed statement on this matter on 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 93WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) Executive agencies within the remit of his Department have regional offices based on the Government offices for the regions' regional structure; and when the regional offices were established in each case. [219885]

None of the non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies within the remit of this Department have regional offices based on the Government offices for the regions' regional structure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether there were (a) chemicals and (b) biological weapons or component parts on board the SS Richard Montgomery when it sank in the Thames Estuary. [220435]

The cargo manifest for the SS Richard Montgomery does not list any chemical or biological weapons, or component parts. However, I have recently commissioned work to examine the current risks posed by the ordnance that remains on board. The results of this study will inform consideration of possible future management options for the wreck.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the reliability of Thameslink services from Mill Hill and Hendon. [220522]

Reliability problems with the train fleet used by Thameslink during the CTRL blockade affected the performance of its services in the run up to Christmas. Action has been taken to address these problems and performance has since improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid, and on which dates, through the Strategic Rail Authority to train operating companies in respect of compensation for loss of revenue during industrial disputes in each of the last three years. [221003]

The arrangements under which the Strategic Rail Authority is able, at its discretion, to compensate train operators for loss of revenue in these circumstances have existed only since March 2003. Since then, payments have been made in March 2003 (£12.65 million); June 2003 (£3 million); January 2004 (£6.8 million); July 2004 (£143,000); and November 2004 (£701,000).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he has set aside to compensate train operating companies in the event of industrial disputes on the railways in the 2004–05 financial year. [221004]

None. Payments of this sort are made entirely at the discretion of the Strategic Rail Authority and there may well be years in which none is made. No specific provision is therefore made and any payment would have to be funded from within the SRA's existing budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the 29 March deadline for the introduction of the Working Time Directive regulations applicable to road haulage operators will be met. [218634]

I have laid the implementing regulations for this directive before Parliament today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she plans to issue to the police on criteria to be used in deciding whether non-lethal methods of control under General Licence WLF18 are ineffective or unpracticable. [221095]

holding answer 10 March 2005

There is no requirement for the police to decide whether non-lethal methods of control are either ineffective or impracticable. There are, therefore, no plans to issue guidance to the police on criteria to be used in making such an assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average rental price of farmland in each (a) Welsh and (b) English county was in each of the last five years. [221327]

Farmland rental prices are collected through the Tenanted Land Survey (TLS), previously called the Annual Survey of Tenanted Land (ASTL). We do not produce results on a regional basis for two reasons.

Firstly, analysis has shown that most of the variation in rental prices is between farm types, with rental consistent across regions within this—i.e. rental prices for a cereal holding are similar no matter where the holding is located.

Secondly, the relatively small sample size means that data would not be sufficiently robust to make valid and precise conclusions on a county level basis.

Instead we publish data by farm type. Results, by farm type, for the each of last five years for Full Agricultural Tenancies (FATs) and Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs) are shown as follows:

England -- Average rent (£/ha)

All FATs -- Average rent (£/ha)

All FBTs of one year or more -- Average rent (£/ha)

Wales -- Average rent (£/ha)

All FATs -- Average rent (£/ha)

All FBTs of one year or more -- Average rent (£/ha)

A full set of results for England and Wales are available on the web at the following locations:

http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/statnot/astl.pdf

http://www.wales.gov.uk/keypubstatisticsforwales/content/publication/agriculture/2002/sdr71–2001.xls

Please note that the survey was not run in England in 2003. This is because we moved from the annual survey (ASTL) in 2002 to the biennial one (TLS) in 2004. No results for Wales are available since 2000.

Please note also that agriculture in Wales is a devolved matter and so falls under the remit of the National Assembly for Wales. The statistics are publicly available and so are quoted here with references.

The survey will next be run in England in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses have been exported live from the UK in the last 10 years. [220687]

According to the Department's system for issuing export health certificates, the number of equines exported from the United Kingdom are as follows:

The above figures were produced from data obtained from an electronic export health certificate issuing system which became operational towards the end of 1996.

These figures include the temporary export of equines as well as the re-export of imported animals.

These data do not include equines exported in accordance with the tripartite agreement, under which export health certificates are not required for the movement of horses to the Republic of Ireland or registered horses to France.

The tripartite agreement was suspended during the foot and mouth outbreak which led to exports of equines to the Republic of Ireland and France requiring export health certificates.

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

(1) what sub-groups have been set up to the Soil Guideline Values Task Force; when she expects them to report to the Task Force; and if she will make a statement; [220900]

(2) what the aims of the Soil Guideline Values Task Force are; and if she will make a statement; [220901]

(3) what discussions she has had with local councils regarding contaminated land and the Soil Guideline Values Task Force; and if she will make a statement; [220914]

(4) what guidance she has given local councils regarding dealing with (a) contaminated land and (b) contaminated residential land with regard to the Soil Guideline Values Task Force; and if she will make a statement; [220915]

(5) when she expects the Soil Guidelines Values Task Force to report; whether its report will be publicly available; and if she will make a statement. [220916]

The Soil Guideline Values Task Force is an initiative of the Cabinet Office Business Regulation team and the Government Departments and Agencies most involved in the publication of the Defra/Environment Agency soil guideline values and related materials. This technical guidance helps in assessing risk to human health in connection with land contamination, for example when considering regulatory action or proposals for development of land. Two subgroups have recently been set up to explore training and possible additional guidance. The Local Authority Standing Conference on Land Contamination is represented on the Task Force, and all local authorities in England were notified about the initiative earlier this year. No other guidance has been given to local authorities in respect of the Task Force. We currently expect proposals from the Task Force later in the year, and that these will be made publicly available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional resources she plans to commit to the Sustainable Development Commission in support of the new role of evaluating and reporting progress made by Government in delivering their sustainable development commitments, as announced in the recent report on sustainability. [221443]

Work is ongoing to define and address specific requirements of the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) in meeting its enhanced role as watchdog for sustainable development. That role is still being developed along with other changes to the way the SDC works and is managed which will ensure that the SDC continues to be viewed as making a valuable contribution.

Once we have a firmer view of these requirements Defra will provide the resources necessary for the SDC to carry out its enhanced remit effectively and efficiently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) what the budget for Education Business Link in Kent is for 2004–05; and what she expects it to be in 2005–06; [221122]

(2) how much Business Link Kent has charged for administering the Education Business links in the county in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05. [221121]

Funding to support Education Business Link activities is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom the LSC's Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the private and voluntary organisations to which her Department has made direct grants since April 2004. [221215]

The information in the form requested is not held by the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department is developing a more comprehensive management information system and has data from April 2004 onwards for voluntary sector organisations, but does not yet hold data centrally about grants to other organisations. The following list sets out those voluntary organisations that have received direct grants from the Department since April 2004.

Action for Prisoners Families

Advisory Centre for Education

African Families Support Services

Agency for Culture and Change Management

Anyadwe Children and Family Welfare Association

ARC

BAPS Care 4 Children

Barnardo's

Bradford Family Service Unit

British Refugee Council

Calderdale Women's Centre

Care for the Family

Centre for Fun and Families

Chance UK

Change

Children's Legal Centre

Children's Society

Childrens Foundation

Circles Network

Coalition for the Removal of Pimping

ContinYou (CEDC)

Coram Family

Crime Concern

Dawson Films Exposure Partners

Eating Disorders Association

Families Need Fathers

Family Matters Institute

Family Nurturing Network

Family Rights Group

Fathers Direct

Forum on Prisoner Education

Good Shepherd Charities for Children

Henshaws Society for Blind People

Inclusive Play Opportunities Project

Island Volunteers

Kith & Kids

Lambeth Mencap

Learning Partnerships

Leeds Animation Workshop

Local NE Community Foundation

Lubavitch Youth

Mancroft Advice Project

Medway Ethnic Minority Forum

NACCC

Nacro (Sheffield)

National Autistic Society

National Children's Centre

National Deaf Children's Society

National Society (C of E)

National Tenants' Resource Centre

NCH South West

NCOPF

New Forest & Romsey Mobile Com.

NFPI

One Plus One

Oxfordshire Parenting Forum

Paces Sheffield

Parentline Plus

Parents First

Parenting Education and Support Forum

Pippin

Place to be

Positive Parenting Publications

Prader Willi Syndrome Association

Relate South Essex

Race Equality Unit

RNIB

SCOPE

Single Parent Action Network

South London Tamil Welfare Group

Springboard Family Project

Student Force for Sustainability

Talking Matters Association

The Warren

Trust for the Study of Adolescence

UNLOCK

Wai Yin Chinese Women Society

Yemeni Economic and Training Centre

YMCA England

Young Minds

YWCA England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money the Government allocated per child in (a) primary, (b) middle and (c) upper schools in each constituency in (i) Norfolk and (ii) Suffolk in 2004–05. [221320]

Funding is allocated to local education authorities by age rather than phase and cannot be broken down by constituency. The following figures show funding provided by the Government for pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15 in 2004–05:

£

Notes:

1.The government allocates funds to LEAs via Education Formula Spending and grants. These funds are then distributed by the LEA to schools within their area according to their own local formulae. Education Formula Spending is part of the wider local government finance system and is supported by council tax as well as central government grant.

2.Total funding includes funding via Education Formula Spending and revenue grants. These figures include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council, and are in cash terms.

3.Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education EFS settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC.

4.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.

5.The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.

6.Figures are reported in cash terms and rounded to the nearest 10 as reported by the LEA.

To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills what the level of funding per pupil in North Tyneside was in each year from 1996 to 2001. [221276]

As a result of data changes and changes to the funding system, comparable figures are not available for 1996–97. The following table shows total funding per pupil aged 3 to 19 in North Tyneside from 1997–98 to 2001–02 in real terms.

North Tyneside LEA

Notes:

1.Price base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004.

2.Figures include formula funding and grants within the DfES Departmental Expenditure Limit.

3.They exclude Education Maintenance Allowances and grants not allocated at LEA level.

4.The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA settlement calculations plus PLASC 3 -year-old maintained pupils and 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.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges in Tunbridge Wells to be closed. [221446]

The Department does not have information on what the funding gap is between school sixth forms and further education colleges in Tunbridge Wells specifically.

However, we have brought up funding levels for Further Education as we said we would, without penalising schools. The Learning and Skills Council's funding rates per course in FE have been rising faster than school sixth forms and the gap has narrowed.

Our policy has been to raise the level of funding for colleges, as and when we are able to secure the resources to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entrants graded A*, A and B at GCSE level in (a) mathematics, (b) chemistry and (c) physics were from (i) independent, (ii) grammar and (iii) maintained schools in (A) 2003 and (B) 2004; and what percentage of each cohort this was in each case. [221216]

The tables show for (A) 2003 and (B) 2004 the numbers of entrants and those achieving grades A*-B at GCSE(a) mathematics, (b) chemistry and (c) physics by type of institution, together with the proportions of the whole cohort that these numbers represent.

(A) 2003

(A) 2004

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entrants graded A*, A and B at GCSE level in (a) French, (b) German and (c) Spanish were from (i) independent, (ii) grammar and (iii) maintained schools in (A) 2003 and (B) 2004; and what percentage of each cohort this was in each case. [221218]

The following tables show for (A)2003 and (B) 2004 the numbers of entrants and thoseachieving grades A*-B at GCSE(a) French, (b) German and (c) Spanish by type of institution, together with the proportions of the whole cohort that these pupil numbers represent:

(A) 2003

(B) 2004

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has provided to the Liverpool local education authorityin each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [221190]

The information requested is contained within the following table:

Notes:

1.Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004.

2.Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC in 2003–04 and 2004–05.

3.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3–19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.

4.Total funding figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million and funding per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10 as reported by the LEA.

5.2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will undertake an inquiry into the management of the London Metropolitan University. [220259]

My right hon. Friend will not be undertaking such an inquiry as universities are autonomous, independent bodies that are responsible for determining their own management practice.

However, a condition of funding by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is that institutions must have effective governance and internal control. HEFCE monitors how institutions are meeting these requirements and reviews institutional systems of risk management.

Any individual who has concerns about an institution's governance and control, can raise these through HEFCE's public interest policy and procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take-up representations urging her to seek a resolution of the industrial dispute at London Metropolitan University. [220260]

As universities are autonomous, independent bodies they are responsible for determining their own academic and administrative affairs, including terms and conditions for their staff. The Government play no part in setting conditions of service for higher education staff, and as such is unable to intervene in this matter. This dispute can only be resolved by the university, as the employer, in negotiation with the relevant trade union body, in this case, NATFHE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was provided to support the new Oxford Dictionary of National Biography project; at what stage; and through what channels. [220501]

holding answer 7 March 2005

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography project received £3.7 million in public funding between 1992 and 2004. Funding was in the form of an annual grant from the British Academy, via Oxford University, to the Oxford University Press (OUP), and supplemented OUP's own investment in the project of over £22 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total per pupil funding in the Plymouth local education authority area was in (a) 1999 and (b) 2004–05. [221607]

In Plymouth LEA the total funding per pupil aged 3 to 19 was £3,000 for 1999–2000 and £3,640 for 2004–05.

Notes

1.This figure includes funding via Education Formula Spending and grants allocated at an LEA level. It excludes the pensions transfer to EPS and the Learning and Skills Council, and is in real terms. 2.Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004 and rounded to the nearest 10. 3.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3 to 19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4.The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department issues to schools on the provision of sex and relationship education. [221221]

The Department issues to all maintained schools our sex and relationship guidance which we have provided since July 2000.

The responsibility for determining a school policy on sex and relationship education rests with governing bodies and head teachers. Copies of the guidance can be downloaded at www.dfes.gov.uk/sreguidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department has issued to local education authorities on reporting of expenditure under section 52 on special educational needs. [221212]

My Department issues detailed instructions and guidance on the reporting of expenditure under section 52 on special educational needs to every local education authority in England. Ihave placed a full copy of those instructions and guidance on section 52 in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department has taken to ensure the (a) descriptors and (b) guidance for the section 52 special educational needs (SEN) lines reflect practice in SEN provision. [221213]

My Department undertakes an annual consultation with every local education authority on the contents of the section 52 instructions and guidance notes. As part of this process, my Department also consults with practitioners responsible for the development and implementation of the SEN framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on interaction between local education authorities and the Learning and Skills Council in funding post-16 education for children with special educational needs. [221272]

In addition to the normal communications concerning funding matters, I expect the Learning and Skills Council and local education authorities to liaise and to plan their activities to best meet the needs of all learners including those with special educational needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has conducted on the accuracy and consistency of reporting by local education authorities, under section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, of expenditure on provision for special educational needs; and if she will make a statement. [221273]

My Department undertakes a detailed and robust data checking process of all the section 52 data, submitted by local education authorities including that provided for expenditure on special educational needs. In addition, my Department analyses the validated data and discusses any inconsistencies found in the time series with the relevant LEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list companies involved in the collection of student loan repayments. [221243]

Mortgage-style student loans are collected by the Student Loans Company (SLC) on behalf of the Government and the Royal Bank of Scotland (the owner of a portfolio of loans sold in 1998). The SLC advises that it also uses the following companies as agencies for arrears collection, although some work might be further outsourced: Allied International Credit; Financial Trace and Collections; JB Debt Recovery; Lewis Group; Logic Group; NCO Financial Services (UK) Ltd.; and Wescot Credit Services.

A further portfolio of loans, sold to Honours Trustee Limited in 1999, is administered and collected by Ventura (Club 24 Limited), trading as Honours Student Loans. Ventura advises that it also uses the following companies as agents for arrears collection: Clarity Credit Management Solutions Ltd. and Dryden's.

Income-contingent student loans are collected by the Inland Revenue, mainly through deduction at source by employers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent in 2004 on keeping graduates informed of changes in collection arrangements for student loan repayments. [221244]

The Department and the Student Loans Company (SLC) regularly keep students and graduates informed of the latest arrangements for student finance, and these communications have been updated to reflect the rise in the repayment threshold for income contingent student loans, to take effect from April 2005, and the annual change in the repayment threshold for mortgage-style loans. The Department and the SLC incurred no specific additional expenditure in 2004 for these changes to the collection arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas students requiring visas to study in the UK are studying in (a) higher education, (b) further education and (c) other education sectors in the academic year 2004–05. [218422]

The latest available figures are for 2003/04 and are given in the table. Corresponding figures for other education sectors are not held centrally.

Number of students from overseas requiring visas in HE and FE institutions

⁽¹⁾Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency. Covers students on HE and FE courses in HEIs in the UK.

⁽²⁾Source: Learning and Skills Council. Covers students in HE and FE courses in FE colleges in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants were employed in (i) Dartford primary and secondary schools and (ii) the Kent local education authority area in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [221100]

The following table shows the full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants in maintained schools, pupil referral units and other non-school provision in Dartford constituency and Kent local education authority in January 2000 to January 2004.

⁽³⁾0 or less than 5.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Source:

Annual School Census, (teaching assistants) and Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher vacancies (teacher numbers). Figures are as at January of each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of teenage mothers aged under 18 years were in paid employment or full-time education in each year since 1997. [221444]

Between 1997–99 and 2002–04 there has been an increase in the proportion of teenage mothers in education, employment or training (EET), from 23.1 per cent. in 1997–99 to 29.7 per cent. in 2002–04.

Data on the proportion of teenage mothers in EET are derived from the Labour Force Survey and are presented as three year averages to smooth out annual fluctuations that can occur due to the small sample size from which the data are derived. Data for 2003–05 will be available in August 2005. EET figures include those in part-time as well as full-time EET.

To ask the Secretary of State for Educationand Skills what steps the Government are taking to assist under-achieving pupils in schools in England. [221600]

The Primary National Strategy and the KS3 National Strategy (which is developing into a secondary strategy covering the whole 11–16 stage) are designed to raise standards for all pupils by spreading effective teaching and learning to every classroom. Through the national strategies we have provided teachers with a suite of age specific intervention materials which allow children who are struggling to catch up with their peers. Specific programmes, such as the Strategies' English as an Additional Language (EAL) pilot and Aiming High Raising the Achievement of Minority Ethnic Pupils", also address the needs of particular groups of under-achieving pupils which include African-Caribbean pupils, Gypsy and Traveller pupils, pupils from mainly Muslim backgrounds and isolated minority ethnic pupils. In addition, schools now have access to better data on individual pupils and comparative performance than ever before which enables them to identify underperformance and set appropriately challenging pupil targets.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Honours and Decorations Committee concerning a medal for veterans of the Arctic convoys. [221282]

I have received advice from the Chairman of the Honours and Decorations Committee on this matter. Such advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has held with President George W. Bush on relations with Iran. [221280]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 193W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force staff have been involved in delivering humanitarian aid and support equipment to Indonesia after the tsunami. [221305]

I begin by paying tribute on behalf of the whole House to all those civilian and military personnel from the United Kingdom who were involved in the tsunami relief effort in December and January.

The RAF's main contribution has been the airlift of both aid and equipment. Eleven C17 Globemaster loads were delivered to Banda Aceh in Indonesia.

Several hundred RAF personnel have been involved in the operation, in one way or another, most notably from RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to Defence Intelligence in the last two years, with particular reference to quality, methods of gathering and relevant onward transmission. [221308]

The mission of the Defence Intelligence Staff is to provide timely and highly valued intelligence that will guide departmental decisions on Defence policy and the commitment and employment of the United Kingdom's armed forces; inform decisions on the generation and maintenance of operational military capability, including through the equipment programme; and contribute to wider national intelligence collection and assessment. The Defence Intelligence Staff is continually striving to improve working methods and capabilities to meet both current and future demands. The Butler Review made a number of recommendations, which were accepted by the PM, and we are working to address those specific to Defence Intelligence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on changes in the number of trained personnel in the Army since 1997. [221309]

In April 1997 the number of trained service personnel in the Army was 101,360. In January 2005, the latest period for which figures are available, the number was 103,560.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conduct of the Future Infantry Structure Review. [221311]

Work to restructure the Infantry has been an important part of our effort to reshape the Army's structure to ensure that it evolves to meet the challenges of current and future operations. The Infantry work was led by the Army itself and involved a consultation period to allow the Infantry divisions to express their views on constructing the future Infantry structure. The results were considered by the Executive Committee of the Army Board, which were then passed to me. Iaccepted this advice and announced the outcome to the House on 16 December last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) regular and (b) territorial infantry battalions were in service in the British Army (i)in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available. [221312]

On 1 April 1997 there were 40 regular and 33 territorial infantry battalions in service in the British Army. Today there are 40 regular and 15 territorial infantry battalions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the first new aircraft carriers to become fully operational; and if he will make a statement. [221314]

Full operating capability will be determined by both air group and ship readiness. The target date for the full operating capability will not be set before the main investment decision is taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's aircraft carrier programme. [221307]

The Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme remains in the Assessment Phase. Following the recent announcement of the selection of Kellogg Brown and Root UK Ltd. as the preferred Physical Integrator, the company has joined the Department, BAE SYSTEMS and Thales UK as a participant in the CVF Alliance. Work is continuing to discuss and agree the detailed alliancing arrangements, including the role and responsibilities of the participants, in preparation for taking the major investment decision for the Demonstration and Manufacture Phases, currently targeted for the latter half of 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the gross weight is of the Panther armoured reconnaissance vehicle; and which aircraft type can airlift such a vehicle. [208299]

The current gross vehicle weight of a Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle is 7.1 tonnes. The vehicle is to be air transportable, underslung beneath a Chinook helicopter or carried inside C130, C17 and A400M aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which nations (a) manufactured and (b) developed the Panther armoured reconnaissance vehicle. [208300]

The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle is based upon an Italian designed IVECO Multi-role Light Vehicle which is due to enter service with the Italian Army. BAE Systems Land Systems is responsible for converting the vehicle to meet UK specification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had with his EU counterparts regarding the EU proposals for lifting the ban on arms sales to China; and if he will make a statement. [220928]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government supported the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU Arms Embargo on China. This review is on-going.

Member states discussed the embargo at the European Council in December 2004. The Council invited the Luxembourg presidency of the EU to take forward work on the review. The Government could envisage embargo lift subject to satisfaction on the issues laid out in the Conclusions of that Council.

Until the review process is complete, the Government continues to implement the Arms Embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240–41.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department's officials had with US Department of Defense officials regarding the EU proposals for lifting the ban on arms sales to China; and if he will make a statement. [220929]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government recognises that the US has a legitimate and understandable interest both in the effectiveness of the EU's system of arms control and in the stability of the East Asian region. Representatives of the UK and US governments, at all levels, have therefore discussed the issue. Such discussions will continue, as they will also between the US and our EU partners. Although the EU will take all relevant factors into account in its review of the EU Arms Embargo, any decisions arising from it are for the EU alone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for the disposal of sewage from British military camps in Iraq; what environmental assessment has been conducted in respect of such arrangements; and what liaison has taken place with the local environmental management authorities on these arrangements. [217605]

Private contractors undertake the disposal of sewage from British military camps in Iraq. There are no central Government or regional government environmental management authorities in Iraq but UK standards are applied where it is reasonable to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants were (a) suspended and (b) sacked from employment by his Department in each year since 2001 under suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act 1989. [220236]

holding answer 7 March 2005

Information on the number of civil servants suspended while under suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act is not held centrally, and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain the data from individual units or business areas. Civil servants are not sacked while suspended under suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants were (a) suspended and (b) sacked from employment by his Department in each year since 2001 for gross professional misconduct. [220239]

holding answer 7 March 2005

Information is not held centrally on the number of MOD civil servants that have been suspended from employment for possible acts of gross misconduct, and it would incur disproportionate cost to collate the data. The number of MOD civil servants that have subsequently been dismissed from the Department in each year since 2001 for gross misconduct offences is as follows:

⁽⁴⁾To date

To ask the Secretary of State for Defencehow many samples produced in China for battle dress under the cut and sew contract have been tested. [221039]

All of the samples produced in China were tested at independent accredited test houses in China and the United Kingdom. All tests confirmed that Ministry of Defence specification requirements had been met. The Ministry of Defence requires proof that its specifications are being met and it is the responsibility of the prime contractor to ensure that sufficient samples are submitted for testing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what figure he recognises as representing the total number of personnel from each of the armed services that have died in or in connection with operations in Northern Ireland since 1969; and how many of those deaths were deemed to have been (a) accidental, (b) self-inflicted and (c) from natural causes. [217800]

I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of its personnel budget for financial years (a) 2001–02, (b) 2000–01, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 1998–99 and (e) 1997–98 the Defence Export Services Organisation spent in Scotland in (i) monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total personnel budget for that year; how many personnel were employed in Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement. [216283]

From 1997–98 to 2001–02, the Defence Export Services Organisation employed no staff permanently based in Scotland other than those working in the Disposal Services Agency (DSA) in respect of which I have undertaken to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department in each year since 1997. [213636]

Detailed expenditure on the many in-house magazines produced within the Ministry of Defence is not available and could be provided only by incurring disproportionate cost. However, details of production costs (excluding staff costs) of the principal MOD-wide publication, FOCUS, for each year since 1998–99 are as follows:

Information for 1997–98 is no longer available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) what the cashable savings attributable to his Department's efficiency programme are for the (a) Disposal Services Agency, (b) Duke of York's Royal Military School, (c) Medical Supply Agency, (d) Ministry of Defence and Guarding Agency and (e) Naval Recruiting and Training Agency for financial years (i) 2006–07 and (ii) 2007–08; [209336]

(2) what the planned cashable savings attributable to his Department's efficiency programme are for the (a) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (b) Army Training and Recruiting Agency, (c) British Forces Post Office, (d) Defence Analytical Services Agency and (e) Defence Bills Agency for financial years (i) 2006–07 and (ii) 2007–08; [209340]

(3) what the planned cashable savings attributable to his Department's efficiency programme are for the (a) Defence Communication Services Agency, (b) Defence Dental Agency, (c) Defence Estates, (d) Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency and (e) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre for financial years (i) 2006–07 and (ii) 2007–08; [209341]

(4) what the planned cashable savings attributable to his Department's efficiency programme are for the (a) Pay and Personnel Agency, (b) Queen Victoria School, (c) RAF Training Group Defence Agency, (d) Service Children's Education, (e) Veterans Agency and (f) Warship Support Agency for financial years (i)2006–07 and (ii) 2007–08. [209330]

holding answer 18 January 2005

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 January 2005, Official Report, column 242W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which equipment programmes have been (a) reassigned, (b) moved and (c) removed from (i)EP04 and (ii) EP05. [220547]

The broad impact of the outcome of the 2004 equipment planning round (EP04) was described in the Defence White Paper supplement 'Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities' (Cm6269), published in July 2004. However, changes to planning assumptions arising during our annual planning round form part of internal advice to Ministers on the overall affordability of the defence programme. Announcements will continue to be made as appropriate when decisions are taken on specific projects.