To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce the final funding arrangements for Crossrail. [221656]

A hybrid Bill to take powers for the construction of Crossrail was introduced into the House of Commons on 22 February 2005. We intend to bring forward proposals on the funding arrangements for Crossrail during the passage of the Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight casualties suffered by cyclists on (i) urban roads and (ii) rural roads in each year since 2000 resulted from collisions involving (A) at least one motor vehicle, (B) no motor vehicles and (C) powered two-wheel vehicles. [218490]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Pedal cycle casualties by severity, vehicle involved and urban/rural roads -- casualties

⁽¹⁾ Includes accidents involving pedal cycles, ridden horse and other non-motor vehicles.

⁽²⁾ Included in the figure for "at least one motor vehicle".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been made available to improve disabled access transport services in Tamworth. [221927]

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

On funding, the Government provide funding to improve access to public transport through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process. Local transport authorities in England outside London produce five-year LTPs, and report on progress against these plans in Annual Progress Reports (APRs). The first five-year plans were submitted in 2000. The following table details the relevant funding categories allocated to the Staffordshire Local Transport Plan area, which includes Tamworth.

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

On access to the rail network, the SRA intends to consult on its Disability Strategy at the end of March. This will include priorities for improving accessibility at stations.

Tamworth (Staffordshire) local authority -- £ million

⁽³⁾ Includes rural bus subsidy grant and both rural and urban bus challenge funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for companies operating light railways of (a) the new safety regime for light railways proposed by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the European Urban Rail Directive; and what estimate he has made of the cost to light rail operating companies of meeting each of these safety provisions. [221710]

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has consulted publicly on new railway safety regulations and on a supporting regulatory impact assessment (RIA). Comments were invited from all interested parties, including the light rail industry. The Department expects to receive the HSC's final proposals and RIA shortly. The Department is currently considering its response to the European Urban Rail Directive consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight casualties suffered by riders of powered two-wheel vehicles in (i) urban areas and (ii) rural areas occurred (A) at signal-controlled junctions, (B) at other junctions and (C) while overtaking in the last period for which figures are available. [218431]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Proportions of two-wheeled motor vehicle rider casualties:GB 2003 -- Percentage

⁽⁴⁾ Includes junctions controlled by an authorised person, stop sign, give way sign or markings and uncontrolled junctions

It should be noted that a two-wheeled motor vehicle rider may have been injured either at a 'signal-controlled junction' while overtaking or at an 'other junction' while overtaking, since these are not mutually exclusive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the projects being undertaken by his Department in respect of which information cannot be given in answer to parliamentary questions as a result of commercial confidentiality. [216627]

A decision not to release information relating to any project as a result of commercial confidentiality is made on the basis of the specific request made in each parliamentary question.

An assessment of commercial confidentiality may apply to specific elements within a project as well as to an entire project. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrian casualties occurring on a footway in each year since 2000 resulted from a collision with a (a) motor vehicle and (b) pedal cycle. [218488]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Pedestrians injured on the footway or verge: GB 2000–03 -- Casualties

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of road casualties suffered by child (a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists in each year since 2000 occurred within 200 m of a school. [218489]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of providing the transport infrastructure to support the proposed level of housing development for South Hampshire set out in the South East England Regional Assembly's document, The South East Plan. [221751]

holding answer 15 March 2005

The consultation draft of the plan that the South East England Regional Assembly published in January 2005 does not at this stage specify the transport projects in South Hampshire that will be required to implement the plan's objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grants were made to (a) Hampshire county council, (b) Portsmouth city council and (c) Southampton city council for (i) new transport schemes and (ii) road maintenance in each of the last five years. [221753]

holding answer 15 March 2005

The total allocations over the five years, from 2000–01 to 2004–05, follow. Hampshire has been allocated a total of approximately £139.6 million—of which £53.3 million has been provided for capital road maintenance, £77.2 million for new transport schemes and £9.1 million specific grants for bus services. Portsmouth has been allocated a total of approximately £21.4 million—of which £5.7 million has been provided for capital road maintenance and £15.7 million for new transport schemes. Southampton has been allocated a total of approximately £19.4 million—of which £6.8 million has been provided for capital road maintenance, £11.9 million for new transport schemes and £0.7 million specific grants for bus services.

The funding provided directly to the three authorities, including a breakdown by year, is shown in the following table. It has been for Hampshire county, Southampton city and Portsmouth city councils to determine exactly how the allocation should be spent, in line with their local transport plans and their priorities. The funding has been provided through a mixture of direct grants and borrowing approvals supported through revenue support grants.

£ million

⁽⁵⁾ Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and both Rural and Urban Bus Challenge funding

⁽⁶⁾ Includes Urban Bus challenge funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many plants there are in the UK producing biodiesel or bioethanol using UK farmed and produced raw materials as their feedstock; what the production capacity of each is; and what new plants plan to commence production of biofuels in the UK in the next five years. [221341]

holding answer 14 March 2005

We are aware of a number of companies that are either currently producing biofuels from UK farm-sourced raw materials or have plans to do so. The details are set out in the table provided.

Other companies are known to be interested in establishing production facilities in the UK but are awaiting the results of the feasibility study on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and the decision on the UK's 2010 target for the use of biofuels under the Biofuels Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2005, Official Report, column 1169W, on foot and mouth, how any animals vaccinated following a future outbreak would be treated subsequently. [220707]

The Emergency Vaccination Protocol sets down how vaccinated animals and any meat or milk produced from them would be subject to specific restrictions. This document is on the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/pdf/vacprotocol.pdf, and I am also arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the difference in total payments of compensation paid for (a) sheep and (b) cattle in the foot and mouth epidemic would have been if the amount paid per animal had remained the same as the amount paid per animal in February 2001. [221408]

holding answer 14 March 2005

The difference in total payments of compensation paid for sheep would have been £254,005,966, and for cattle £367,455,967 if the amount paid per animal had remained the same as in February 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has earmarked for growth areas to ensure that they have the resources required to meet the demands of a growing population. [218329]

Defra's aim is sustainable development, ensuring that environmental, social and economic considerations are balanced and integrated. As a result most of the Department's activities benefit the locations which fall within the growth areas, either directly or indirectly. As well as Defra's own actions we can achieve a great deal by working with a variety of partners and through exerting influence on Government Departments and others.

The key Defra policy areas which have a direct impact on growth areas include waste and recycling initiatives, flood defence works, our wide-ranging rural development programmes and regulation of the water supply industry. Funding associated with these activities has not been exclusively earmarked for growth areas, and will be part of mainstream business delivery, not specifically as a result of growth area status.

Delivery is carried out on Defra's behalf by a number of delivery agents, including the Environment Agency, the Countryside Agency, Government Offices, local authorities, and the Rural Development Service, all of whom have a strong regional focus. We also provide support to regional development agencies, rural community councils, parish and town councils and the voluntary and community sector.

Turning to specific policy areas, the priority for flood defence is to optimise the protection of people and the reduction in flood risk as measured by net damages from flooding in relation to the funding available. Total Government spend has risen from £312 million in 1997–98 to £478 million in the current year and £570 million for 2005–06 and the following two years. Where growth areas might have a risk of flooding, in many cases they will already have benefited from investment to protect them to a high standard, e.g. in the Thames Gateway. These defences will be subject to a renewal programme. Where further investment is needed, the development partnerships will consider provision in consultation with the Environment Agency, taking account of Planning Policy Guidance Note 25.

The main source of funding for local authority waste management is the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block of the central Government revenue support grant, which is allocated through the Local Government Finance Settlement using a population-based formula. Defra's waste performance and efficiency grant, which totals £255 million over the three years from 2005–06, is also allocated to all authorities using a population-based formula. Defra is currently considering mechanisms other than direct funding to assist authorities in growth areas in addressing the additional challenge they face in meeting their landfill directive obligations as a result of population growth.

The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to secure the proper use of water resources in England and Wales. The Environment Agency's Water Resources Strategy looks some 25 years ahead and considers the needs of public water supply, agriculture, commerce and industry, as well as the environment, examining the uncertainties about future water demand and availability including the potential effects of climate change and different societal values. It takes account of the Sustainable Communities Plan where the numbers and locations of housing have been defined and recognises the impact that the growth areas will have on the water supply infrastructure. It concludes with a series of actions that will provide the right amount of water for people, agriculture, commerce and industry and an improved water-related environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for protecting the marine environment. [221923]

We have announced in the Defra five-year strategy that we will bring forward a Marine Bill some time in the next Parliament to deliver our vision of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. A Marine Bill will provide the framework within which those who regulate marine activities can ensure the sustainable use and protection of our marine resources.

We are introducing regulations later this year to extend the conservation requirements of the EU Habitats and Bird's Directives offshore, and will identify further special areas of conservation and special protection areas as part of that process.

We are committed to having a representative and ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas in the OSPAR region by 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she has received from English Nature about the creation of the new agency for rural delivery; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the advice received. [211148]

I have received, and given due weight to, advice and representations from a number of organisations and individuals about the creation of the 'Integrated Agency' from English Nature, much of the work of the Rural Development Service and the landscape, access and recreation responsibilities of the Countryside Agency. Ministers have received advice from English Nature in the form of letters from the chair and deputy chair of English Nature. As English Nature gave oral evidence to the inquiry into the Rural Strategy 2004 by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee of the House, their position on the creation of the Integrated Agency is already in the public domain. Most recently, they have welcomed the draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill published on Thursday 10 February 2005, to which they made a significant input. I am not minded to disclose the specific advice I have received as I consider to do so would be harmful to future free and frank discussions, and thus inhibit the development of good policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether animal by-product rendering is considered to be a waste process; and if she will make a statement. [221334]

A statement was made on 9 December 2004, Official Report, column 106WS, that the Government had published for consultation the draft Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2005. The consultation paper is available in the Library of the House and on the Department's website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/agwaste-regs/index.htm. The application of the waste framework directive (WFD) to waste animal by-products is discussed in paragraphs 8, 3.24–3.28 and 4.7–4.21 of the consultation paper.

In summary, it is the Department's view that a range of animal by-products are consigned to rendering plant as waste within the meaning of the WFD and that the processing of this waste in rendering plant is a waste management operation subject to control under Articles 9 or 10 of the directive. The animal by-products which the Department has identified as waste include those which Articles 4(2), 5(2) and 6(2) of the EU Animal By-Products Regulation require to be processed in rendering plant and disposed of by incineration, co-incineration or landfilling; or recovered in biogas or composting plants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent developments in waste product marketing by the Waste and Resources Action Programme. [221508]

holding answer 15 March 2005

Defra monitors the performance of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) on the basis of delivery of or progress towards targets which are agreed with Government, and which are published in its business plan. The targets cover its work on market development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the development of recycled wood products by the Waste and Resources Action Programme. [221509]

holding answer 15 March 2005

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has a target to deliver an additional 150,000 tonnes recycling capacity for waste wood into added-value end markets by March 2006. WRAP will do this through: supporting further diversification of waste wood recycling, focusing on higher-value applications; increasing the consumption of waste wood by the panel board manufacturing industry; incentivising demand for recycled wood products by raising awareness and encouraging action among potential buyers in targeted sectors; exploiting the commercial opportunities identified by research on treated timber recycling; and, promoting the increased segregation of wood waste for recycling at household waste recycling centres, in the furniture recycling industry and during construction and demolition activities.

Defra is monitoring WRAP's progress towards achievement of this target and will assess whether it has been met in the course of 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many not-for-profit organisations in the UK benefit from his Department's Civil Society Challenge Fund. [221760]

In the current financial year, 2004–05, DFID is supporting 231 projects with 84 UK-based, not-for-profit organisations through our Civil Society Challenge Fund.

Since its introduction in 2000, we have supported 339 projects with 114 UK-based, not-for-profit organisations through the fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether Ministers in his Department have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections since 1997. [221113]

I refer the hon. Member for Banbury to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 80W.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 55W, on HIV/AIDS,

(1) how the spending of funds for HIV and AIDS orphans and vulnerable children through his Department's African country programmes will be monitored; [221648]

(2) what proportion of the money for HIV and AIDS orphans and vulnerable children spent through his Department's African country programmes will take the form of budget support to Governments; and how it will be monitored. [221639]

The spending target to meet the needs of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS covers the next three financial years: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08. At this stage, in advance of money being spent, we cannot predict with certainty what proportion of the money going through this Department's African country programmes will take the form of budget support to Governments, and what proportion will be spent directly on programmes. Early estimates indicate that spend through budget support will account for a relatively small proportion of the £85 million that will be spent through African Country Programmes out of the £150 million we have committed for OVCs worldwide.

Monitoring of spend against programme, sector and budget support will be through a combination of annual Country Assistance Plan (CAP) reviews and central tracking of expenditure against Policy Information Markers relevant to HIV and AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development

(1) pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1639W, on HIV/AIDS (Children) which sub-Saharan African countries have drawn up national orphans and vulnerable children action plans; [221655]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2005, Official Report, column 623W, which sub-Saharan African countries have developed national action plans for orphans and vulnerable children. [221658]

Last year, UNICEF, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) worked together on an initiative to focus on accelerating responses to the situation of orphans and vulnerable children. They undertook a Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning (RAAAP) exercise in 17 countries in sub-Saharan African countries with high HIV prevalence rates and orphan populations. These countries were: Botswana, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The RAAAP exercise consisted of three basic elements: situation analysis, response analysis, and preparation of two-year costed action plans for scaling up responses. Sixteen countries (all except Botswana) presented country profiles and plans to a UNICEF meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, last September. Uganda and Zimbabwe already had long-term plans of action. Botswana's focus was and remains the evaluation of their Short Term Plan of Action in order to develop a longer term plan in the future.

Independently of the above, Ghana has also produced "National policy guidelines on orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS". We expect to see other plans for orphans and vulnerable children developed—whether under a second wave of the RAAAP process or independently.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will commission research on the impact of the separation barrier in Palestine on availability of (a) water and (b) arable land to Palestinians. [221823]

DFID does not plan to commission research on the impact of the separation barrier. Other donors are already active. A preliminary analysis of the barrier's revised route published by the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in March 2005 identified that some 142,640 acres (10 per cent.) of West Bank land will lie between the completed barrier and the Green Line. This is some of the most fertile land in the West Bank and currently home to 49,400 Palestinians. Thousands more Palestinians living to the east of the barrier will be separated from their land on the west. The OCHA plans to publish a more extensive technical analysis towards the end of this month. Other bodies researching this issue include the DFID-funded Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit (NSU). The NSU's work indicates that the barrier will deny Palestinian access to 25 per cent. of the 20 million cu m of groundwater currently abstracted annually from the Western Aquifer Basin, and that in the Eastern Aquifer Basin estimated losses will be in the order of 3 to 5 million cu m per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what part his Department's aid programmes have played in the effort to reduce poverty in Vietnam. [221761]

The Government of Vietnam have made rapid progress in reducing poverty in recent years and in maintaining a high rate of economic growth. The number of people living in poverty halved from 58 per cent. in 1993 to 29 per cent. in 2002 and economic growth has averaged approximately 7 per cent. per annum over the last 10 years.

This progress is a result of the Government of Vietnam's programme of economic reform and sustained commitment to development and poverty reduction. Recognising that Vietnam is an environment in which aid works, DFID has rapidly increased its programme in Vietnam from £6 million in 2000–01 to an expected spend of £55 million in 2005–06. The DFID programme supports the Government of Vietnam's own poverty reduction and growth strategy. We work very closely with the Government and other donors to support the reform process and ensure that we achieve the maximum impact from the use of our resources. We co-finance the poverty reduction support credit with eight other donors. Key outcomes of our assistance include helping to define methods to target and reach the poor more effectively, and the development of policies in Vietnam that lead to broad-based growth and poverty reduction.

Despite these notable successes, approximately 23 million people still live below the poverty line and an estimated 8.8 million live in hunger. DFID supports rural development programmes in the poorest regions of Vietnam such as the Northern Mountains and Central Highlands. We also support Government targeted poverty reduction programmes that include investments in roads, irrigation, village classrooms, commune health centres and clean water schemes in the poorest communes. In transport, DFID has co-financed a programme that will have built over 2,000 roads linking communes to markets in rural Vietnam by the end of 2005. Evaluations of these road programmes show positive results such as stimulating economic growth and increasing school attendance. In education, we are collaborating with Government and other donors to support the achievement of education for all objectives: 100 per cent. attendance at primary school, and 100 per cent. adult literacy.

DFID also supports poverty reduction in Vietnam through its contributions to the European Commission development budget (currently approximately 18 per cent. of the total budget). The EC spent €28.1 million in Vietnam in 2003 (UK contribution: €5.06 million), and is committed to spend €112 million between 2004 and 2006 (UK contribution: €21.6 million).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the correct protocol was followed for Infantry regiments which have a non-British colonel in chief being downgraded to battalions. [221484]

I am satisfied that all issues surrounding the Future Army Structure were handled correctly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medically trained staff are serving in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [215074]

holding answer 10 February 2005

There are some 335 UK medically trained staff in Iraq. We have defined these as personnel that have medical, nursing or paramedical training and whose primary role when deployed is the co-ordination or delivery of medical care.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his priorities are for the forthcoming Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May. [221640]

The United Kingdom's goals for the Review Conference are to make the case for stronger and more effective counter-proliferation measures and to emphasise the importance of compliance with the Treaty. We will do this in the context of emphasising the UK's good record on nuclear disarmament. The UK will produce for the Review Conference the concluding part of three reports of the studies that MOD and AWE have conducted on the verification of nuclear disarmament since the 2000 Review Conference and those involved in the studies will make a presentation on them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles are available exclusively to transport nuclear materials related to the United Kingdom nuclear weapons programme. [222053]

Ten vehicles are available to transport nuclear materials related to the United Kingdom nuclear weapons programme. This fleet comprises of two types of vehicle: the Truck Cargo Heavy Duty Mk 2, which is used to transport nuclear weapons, and the High Security Vehicle, which is used to transport Special Nuclear Materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the wording is of the oath of allegiance which military personnel swear. [221483]

The wording of the oath of allegiance is as follows:

"I [name] swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second, her heirs and successors and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, in person, crown and dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors and of the generals/air officers [depending on Service] and other officers set over me."

Those who do not believe in God,

"solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm . . . "

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list countries whose armed forces received military training and advice in the United Kingdom during the period 2001 to 2004. [221193]

holding answer 14 March 2005

During the period 2001 to 2004, armed forces of 133 countries received military training and advice from the Ministry of Defence. A complete list of countries is as follow:

Countries whose military forces have been provided with training in the UK: Period 2001–04

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belgium

Belize

Bermuda

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia

Botswana

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia

Croatia

Czech (Republic)

Denmark

Egypt

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Fiji

Finland

France

Gambia

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Honduras

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Ivory Coast

Jamaica

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Korea

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrghistan

Latvia

Lebanon

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Malawi

Malaysia

Malta

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mexico

Moldova

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nigeria

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Romania

Russia

Rwanda

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia and Montenegro

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

St. Christopher/Nevis

St. Vincent

Swaziland

Sweden

Switzerland

Syria

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

Uruguay

USA

Uzbekistan

Venezuela

Vietnam

Yemen

Yugoslavia

Zambia

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the private finance initiative contracts which his Department advertised in 2004, indicating in each case whether the output specification included (a) clauses specifically relating to energy consumption and energy efficiency, (b) a requirement for relevant equipment being purchased to be on the Government's Energy Technology List, (c) a requirement to use whole life costing to assess the energy costs for new buildings or major refurbishments and (d) a requirement that new buildings or major refurbishments should be constructed to a specific energy standard; and what standard was specified in each case. [221883]

holding answer 15 March 2005

No private finance contracts were advertised in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years. [213705]

The number of occasions Defence Ministers have used the aircraft of 32 (The Royal) Squadron in each of the past five financial years is as follows:

Travel by Ministers makes it clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) whether South African nationals who are serving officers in the British Army are eligible to remain in the British Army while applying for a British passport; [205466]

(2) whether South African nationals who are serving officers in the British Army and are married to British citizens are eligible to remain in the British Army while applying for a British passport. [205467]

Regulations allow for citizens of any Commonwealth country to apply to join the British Army. Once serving it would be for the individual to decide whether he or she wished to apply to the Home Office for naturalisation as a British citizen.

On making an application for naturalisation, an officer may continue to serve in the Army for so long as their commission allows. If an officer's commission comes to an end during the process of making an application, this will not influence any decision to extend their service. A commission will only be extended when it is in the Army's interests to do so. Marital status has no bearing on such matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the spearhead regiment is fully equipped (a) at present and (b) for the next regiment to take over. [221485]

I have assumed that the hon. Lady is referring to the Spearhead Land Element (SLE), a Very High Readiness (VHR) Battalion Group (based on a light infantry battalion) whose role is to deploy at short notice to conduct a wide range of demanding, non-warfighting tasks. I can confirm that the current and future nominated SLE battalions are both fully equipped to undertake the task as SLE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2005, Official Report, column 1342W, on near air misses, if he will instruct the Royal Air Force to cease flying over Strensham Heliport until he has had the opportunity to assess the findings of his investigations into the near air misses on 14 December 2004 and 9 February 2005. [221678]

holding answer 14 March 2005

There are at present no grounds on which we feel it appropriate to create an exclusion zone at the Strensham helicopter landing site. The site has, however, been marked as a warning on low flying charts. The position will be reviewed when the results of the UK Airprox Board investigations are known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Medium Versatile Surface Combatant and its relationship to the Future Surface Combatant programme. [220568]

holding answer 7 March 2005

The Future Surface Combatant project is still in its concept phase. Studies continue to develop ideas for the platform solution and no decisions have been taken. Our current assumption for planning purposes is that the Future Surface Combatant requirement will be delivered by a two-class solution. The principal element, now known as the Versatile Surface Combatant, is expected to enter service around 2023, and a 'Military Off The Shelf' variant known as the Medium Sized Vessel Derivative is expected to enter service between 2016–19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken by the Government to comply with the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. [221694]

The United Kingdom is fully committed to and in full compliance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), including under Article VI, and has a good record on disarmament. We have reduced the total explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the Cold War and in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review we announced that only one Trident submarine would be on deterrent patrol at any one time. That submarine would normally be on several days' notice to fire with its missiles de-targeted. We have conducted studies on the verification of nuclear disarmament since the Review Conference in 2000 and will report the concluding part of our findings to the NPT Review Conference this May. The UK has ratified and continues to support the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and the negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty without further delay and without preconditions.

To ask the Solicitor-General whether the document from the Attorney-General considered by the Cabinet on 17 March 2003 relating to the legality of the war in Iraq is a paper under the Ministerial Code of Conduct. [221892]

The Attorney-General attended Cabinet on 17 March 2003 and reported that he had answered a parliamentary question on the authority for the use of force in Iraq. He produced the text of that answer for Cabinet, made an oral presentation and was present throughout to answer questions. Paragraph 23 of the Ministerial Code is not relevant in circumstances where the Law Officer provides his advice in person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from (a) healthcare professionals and (b) other interested parties on the optimal levels of bed occupancy. [218120]

No recent representations have been received from healthcare professionals on the optimum levels of bed occupancy.

I have received written representation from my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe), following the Public Expenditure 2004 Health Committee on 8 December 2004. In addition, right hon. and hon. Members have tabled parliamentary questions on a range of bed occupancy issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in (a) 1979, (b) 1997 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available. [218173]

Data for 1979 is not available. Data from 1996–97 to the third quarter of 2004–05 is available on the Department's website at www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the "Cleanyourhands" programme. [219411]

After the success of the pilot "Cleanyourhands" programme, the Department is providing the National Patient Safety Agency with £490,000 to roll out the programme across the national health service; less than £3,000 per acute NHS trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent NHS dentists there have been per head of population in each year since 1997; and how many were offering NHS treatment in (a) England, (b) each NHS region and (c) each strategic health authority in each year. [217204]

holding answer 23 February 2005

The available information is shown in the following tables.

Table 1: Headcount dentists per head of population by NHS region and strategic health authority

⁽⁷⁾ Population data is 2003 figures as 2004 data is not available yet.

Notes:

1. This is a file containing the numbers of dentists as at 31 December from 1997 to 2004.

2. The figures are based on the numbers of dentists with open general dental service (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) contracts.

3. The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.

4. Prison contracts have not been included in this analysis.

5. The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the specified area.

6. The figures provide a snapshot of the number of individual dentists with an open contract at 31 December.

7. A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the PCT.

8. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.

9. The figures provide an accurate figure taking into account any notifications received up to 31 January 2005.

10. As data is not available by whole time equivalent, headcount has been used to determine the number of national health service dentists per head of population in the table.

11. Areas have been defined using the Office of National Statistics All Fields Postcode Directory—November 2004.

Table 2: Number of dental practices that offer NHS treatments to new patients as at 15 February 2005 by NHS region and strategic health authorities strategic health authorities

Notes:

1. The figures provide an accurate figure taking into account any notifications received up to 31 January 2005.

2. This information relates to dentists offering at least one type of NHS treatment to at least one category of patient.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will permit the Vanguard Project at Derriford hospital to proceed with a single bidder with appropriate financial safeguards; and if he will make a statement. [221825]

holding answer 15 March 2005

The Plymouth hospitals national health service trust is currently considering the options for the Vanguard project. The Department's private finance unit is providing support and working with the trust to discuss the next steps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS per patient is for each contract placed by the NHS with private sector diagnostic and treatment centres; and against what NHS comparator each was assessed. [220339]

holding answer 7 March 2005

Wave 1 independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) providers are paid according to the contracted payment mechanism based on a price per procedure. In 2003–04, it is estimated that procedures purchased under the ISTC programme cost on average 9 per cent. more than the national health service equivalent cost, using NHS tariff as the base for the equivalent cost calculation. We are engaged in independent sector procurement to provide choice, contestability and additional capacity to reduce waiting times.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Northumbria Ambulance Trust about the withdrawal of the Great North Air Ambulance Service based at Blyth. [221285]

holding answer 14 March 2005

The Department has not had any discussion with the Northumbria Ambulance Trust about the withdrawal of the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what arrangements are being made to treat the individuals in English prisons who are infected with hepatitis C; [220482]

(2) what measures are in place to identify the number of individuals in English prisons who are infected with hepatitis C. [220484]

holding answer 10 March 2005

The Hepatitis C Action Plan for England (June 2004) envisages that prisoners, who are one of the priority groups identified within it, should have equal access to the full range of testing, diagnostic, assessment and treatment services that it specifies.

Information about the number of prisoners with hepatitis C is not collected centrally. Prisons and their national health service partners draw up, and regularly review, prison health delivery plans within which prisoners' health care needs are assessed, prioritised resources allocated and delivery monitored.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) how many London acute trusts undertake post-discharge surveillance for hospital acquired infections; [221018]

(2) which London acute trusts have separate budgets for infection control; and what those budgets are, broken down by acute trust; [221019]

(3) what the infection control nurses to bed ratio was in acute trusts in London on the latest date for which figures are available. [221021]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of hospital-acquired MRSA have been reported at (a) Berwick Infirmary, (b) Alnwick Infirmary, (c) Rothbury Community Hospital and (d) Wansbeck General Hospital in the most recent period for which figures are available. [220373]

holding answer 10 March 2005

The information is not available in the format requested. The number of reported methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections for Northumbria Healthcare National Health Service Trust from April to September 2004 was 27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA were found in (a) the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust and (b) in all hospitals in each year since 1996. [220615]

holding answer 8 March 2005

Data for methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias in national health service acute trusts has only been collected on a mandatory basis since 2001. It is published in six-monthly periods (April to September and October to March). The number reported from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust and for all acute trusts in England is shown in the table.

The figures for England for April to September 2004 show a 6.3 per cent. reduction compared with the same period for 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Atos Origin has been paid to date for the development and provision of the full choose and book system; and what monthly payment is currently being made to the company. [220863]

Total payments to date to Atos Origin relating to the development, delivery and maintenance of the core choose and book service total £15,699,795.

A fixed monthly payment of £715,075 is made to the company for ongoing maintenance and management services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meat plants with a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan have been prosecuted for breaching UK Hygiene Regulations in each year between 2000 and 2004. [219009]

The relevant legislation requires all licensed fresh meat and poultry meat plants in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to have hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plans in place. This requirement had to be implemented in large plants by 7 June 2002 in England, Scotland and Wales and by 15 July 2002 in Northern Ireland: and across all small plants by 7 June 2003.

The total number of licensed fresh and poultry meat plants prosecuted under United Kingdom meat hygiene legislation with a HACCP plan in place at the time the offence occurred since this statutory requirement came into force is shown in the table.

⁽⁸⁾ The figure for 2004 is provisional as a number of investigations into offences reported in 2004 have yet to be concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 888W, on NHS expenditure, what information on NHS regional and strategic health authority budgets since 1997 has been validated. [215994]

holding answer 10 February 2005

Expenditure on administration, and total expenditure, by national health service region, at 2003–04 prices (in thousands of pounds), between 1997–98 and 2000–01, is shown in the following tables.

£000

£000

Expenditure on administration, and total expenditure, by strategic health authority (SHA) area, at 2003–04 prices (in thousands of pounds) for 2001–02, is shown in the following table.

£000

Notes:

1. Figures for 2002–03 are not available.

2. Figures for 2003–04 are currently being validated.

3. NHS regions no longer existed from 2001–02. Figures quoted are based on nominal strategic health authority area, even though SHAs did not come into being until the following year.

4. Total expenditure is taken from audited health authority accounts and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant health authorities, and the commissioner costs of the primary care trusts.

5. Total NHS expenditure cannot be identified by regional or health authority area because the majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or primary care trust summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. The majority of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities or primary care trusts.

6. All figures are based on returns submitted by individual NHS organisations. These returns are signed off by the directors of finance of the NHS organisations and audited by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission.

Sources:

Audited accounts of the health authorities 1997–98 to1998–99.

Audited summarisation forms of the health authorities 1999–2000 to 2000–01.

Audited summarisation schedules of the primary care trusts 2000–01, 2001–02.

Audited summarisation schedules of the NHS trusts 1997–98 to 2001–02.

Her Majesty's Treasury gross domestic product deflator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what unplanned financial support is made available to NHS (a) trusts and (b) primary care trusts which are forecasting a year-end deficit. [219391]

The Department's policy is that in-year deficits occurring in national health service bodies because of poor financial performance should not receive unplanned financial support, except in exceptional circumstances.

Exceptionally, the Department has agreed to provide Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust with unplanned financial support of £30 million in the 2004–05 financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses on average were employed in (i) 1997 and (ii) the last period for which figures are available in (A) East Lancashire Acute Trust and (B) Burnley General Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [219496]

The table shows the number of national health service hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) doctors and nurses within specified organisations employed within Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in September 1997 and September 2003.

Number—headcount and full-time equivalent (fte)

n/a = not applicable.

⁽⁹⁾ In 2003 Mental Health Services from Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust merged with Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust (mental health services); Blackpool, Wyre and Fyde Community Health NHS Trust (mental health services); Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust (mental health services); Communicare NHS Trust (psychology and drugs services) Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust; North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust; to form Lancashire Care NHS Trust.

1 April 2003 as a result of the merging of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley and Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust.⁽¹⁰⁾ East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was established on

Source:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have become obese in the Chelmsford primary care trust area in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [219769]

holding answer 4 March 2005

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome has been of negotiations between Multiplex Ltd. and his Department concerning the Paddington Basin Health Campus. [221732]

holding answer 14 March 2005

The Department has not been in negotiations with Multiplex Ltd. in relation to the proposed Paddington Health Campus (PHC) and has no plans to do so.

Multiplex Ltd. has a shareholding in Paddington Development Corporate Ltd. (PDCL), a privately owned consortium, which among other things, owns land in Paddington. PDCL is currently negotiating with Westminster city council and the Paddington Health Campus team for land required for the proposed PHC. Westminster city council has agreed to broker the land deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he expects that the Paddington Development Corporation will play in the NHS Paddington Basin Health Campus project. [221755]

holding answer 14 March 2005

The Royal Brompton and Harefield and St. Mary's national health service trusts are continuing discussions with Westminster city council with regard to the acquisition of land for Paddington Health Campus (PHC). Paddington Development Corporation Ltd. (PDCL) also own land required by PHC.

Westminster city council has agreed to negotiate with PDCL with the aim of trying to acquire their land. This will mean that the PHC team will only have to deal with one party for the acquisition of all the land needed.

It will only be possible to define the PDCL role when, and if, those aforementioned discussions are concluded satisfactorily.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) from whom his Department is purchasing land for the construction of (a) homes for (i) key workers and (ii) relatives of inpatients and (b) hospital facilities at the Paddington Basin Health Campus; and what acreage of land his Department is to acquire in each instance; [222005]

(2) what his estimate is of the cost to his Department of the acquisition of land at Paddington Basin for housing of (a) key workers and (b) relatives of inpatients at the hospital facilities on the Paddington Basin Health Campus. [222009]

holding answer 15 March 2005

The land needed for the Paddington Health Campus has been identified. Terms for its purchase, including costs and ownership, acceptable to the national health service have not yet been agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost to his Department up to 2014 of providing key worker housing for those employed at the Paddington Basin Health Campus. [222007]

holding answer 15 March 2005

The Royal Brompton and Harefield and St. Mary's national health service trusts will require significant accommodation for staff within the locality of the Paddington Health Campus (PHC), which is planned to open in 2013. The trusts propose to locate over 200 units for key workers on the PHC's site and are in discussions with Westminster city council and registered social landlords about the provision of additional accommodation. It is too early in the process for definitive costs to be available.