To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the public consultation on Article 8.2 of Council Directive (EU) 338/97. [270]

The Government plan to go out to public consultation on their proposals regarding the use of the powers under Article 8.2 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 by the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her timetable is for public consultation on Article 8.2 of Council Directive (EU) 338/97, with particular reference to the (a) conservation and (b) animal welfare implications of the trade in primates as pets in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [338]

The Government plan to go out to public consultation on their proposals regarding the use of the powers under Article 8.2 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 by the end of July. The Regulation is essentially a conservation measure and its powers cannot be used to address animal welfare issues. Although we shall certainly consider whether it would be appropriate to use these powers to restrict the keeping of primates, the purpose of the consultation exercise is to seek views on how these powers should be used, rather than presenting a detailed list of protected species at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to provide licence fee evasion rates on a local authority area basis. [352]

The BBC is responsible for the administration of the television licensing system and maintains the statistical model used to estimate licence evasion. As explained in response to previous Questions from the hon. Member on this subject including 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 1053W, the BBC has indicated that the data required to produce accurate evasion estimates includes external sources which are unavailable at local levels. The BBC has also indicated that information on evasion rates by local authority area is in any case not required for the efficient and effective enforcement of the licensing system. The Government have no plans to collect such information separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from sporting clubs about the changes to licensing fees in relation to serving alcohol; and if she will make a statement. [160]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and my Department, have received many representations on this subject from amateur sports clubs, the organisations which represent their interests, and Members of this House.

As has been demonstrated by the tax and other financial benefits introduced over recent years for Community Amateur Sports Clubs, and the significant sums in Lottery support for them which is channelled through sport's governing bodies, the Government continues to support the estimated 140,000 amateur clubs across England and Wales. In introducing the new licensing regime, there is no intention to penalise those involved in running clubs, or to affect the important roles such clubs play in local communities. This was made clear during the passage of the Act, and thereafter.

My Department is working closely with the Central Council of Physical Recreation, and other sports bodies, as implementation continues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made a commitment to an independent review of fee levels and associated costs, within a reasonable period after the new framework is fully introduced. The results of that review will inform any necessary adjustments to the levels of fees introduced under the Act.

To ask the Prime Minister whether the Deputy Prime Minister has responsibilities in Government for matters other than those for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible. [526]

I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued on 6 May 2005, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the comprehensive press briefing on the content of the Queen's Speech was not made available to hon. Members in the Vote Office at the start of the debate on 17 May. [388]

Information relating to the Queen's Speech was made available almost immediately at the website of the Leader of the House of Commons, www.commonsleader.gov.uk. However, I have noted Mr. Speaker's comments and copies of the information referred to have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. I shall ensure that this is the practice in future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the likely impact on academic standards of the academic boycott on Israel proposed by the Association of University Teachers; and if she will make a statement. [418]

The Government have made clear that they are opposed to academic boycotts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount spent per pupil in (a) secondary and (b) primary schools in Cheshire was in each year between 2001 and 2005. [120]

The information requested for the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 is given in the table.

The information for 2004–05 is not due to be collected until October 2005.

School based expenditure per pupil in Cheshire LEA since 2001 -- £^(1)(2)(3)(4)

⁽¹⁾ School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.

⁽²⁾ 2002–03 saw a break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the Section 52 Outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank row. For 2002–03 and 2003–04, school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table A Schools Net Current Expenditure. For 2001–02 the expenditure is calculated as lines one to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37 of Section 52 Outturn Table 3.

⁽³⁾ The 2001–02 calculation is broadly similar to the calculation in subsequent years. However, 2001–02 includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses, while in 2002–03 and 2003–04 only the schools element of these categories is included. Also, for some LEAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors in 2001–02 was reported within the LEA part of the form in 2002–03 and 2003–04 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.

⁽⁴⁾ Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 in cash terms as reported by Cheshire LEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils from Wales attended schools in Cheshire in each year since 2001. [122]

The information requested is shown in the following table:

Number of pupils, aged five to 15, attending maintained primary and secondary schools in Cheshire LEA who are resident in Wales

Notes:

1. The data is derived from the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC).

2. The first year in which PLASC data was collected was 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the time scale for publication of the arrangements for the Review of Staffing Structure Regulations; and if she will delay the start of the consultation period for schools. [186]

The Education (Review of Staffing Structure) (England) Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 May. They require that the staffing structures of all maintained schools and pupil referral units in England should be reviewed by the end of this year with a view to implementing any resulting changes to staffing arrangements by the end of 2008. Guidance to schools and local authorities on the review process will be published later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of Sure Start in Everton, Liverpool; and if she will make a statement. [415]

Everton in Liverpool has benefited from both the Sure Start West Everton and Breckfield local programme approved in 1999 and the Everton Early Childhood Centre (EEC) approved in February 2001 which are based on the same site. The building was developed with local and national Government funding including both the Sure Start and Early Excellence programmes.

The Sure Start local programme supports around 1,212 young local children and their families living in Everton. Through a multidisciplinary team, a highly trained volunteer force and committed partners they are delivering a range of services including: outreach and home visiting; support for families and parents; access to good quality play, learning and childcare experiences for children; primary care and health, including advice about child health and development; and support for children and families with special needs, including access to specialised services such as the paediatrician and child and adolescent mental health team.

The Sure Start local programme has strong parental participation reflected in the management board membership with seven of the 20 places taken by parents. Parents have also been trained as researchers for the local evaluation of the programme and have been encouraged to use the findings to improve the way the programme is being developed.

The Everton Early Childhood Centre provides health, education and family support services to around 188 0–5 year olds. The services include baby clinic drop in sessions, eye clinic, outdoor play and environmental education, and reading support.

The Sure Start local programme and the EEC were brought together and designated as one of the first integrated children's centres in June 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is of the tunnelled section of the A3 at the Devil's Punchbowl near Hindhead in Surrey. [112]

The approved budget for the A3 Hindhead improvement is £240 million, which includes an estimated £93.2 million for the costs of the two bored tunnels to take the A3 under the Devils Punchbowl.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on providing support for the construction of energy points for the refuelling of alternatively fuelled road vehicles. [456]

The Department have given £469,947 in grant aid in the last two years to assist the construction of natural gas refuelling stations, bringing the number of these stations built in the last decade to 30. In the same period 13 electricity recharging points have been installed and 1,202 LPG and 106 biodiesel fuelling points have been installed on forecourts, all without Government support.

That earlier grant programme ended on 31 March. A new programme that would extend grant funding for construction in relation to natural gas, electric, bio-ethanol and hydrogen refueling is under consideration and has been notified to the European Commission in accordance with the state aid rules. The time scale for introducing a new programme will be dependent on the process of review and clearance by the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of the completion of the channel tunnel rail link for (a) London Bridge and (b) Waterloo stations. [110]

Completion of the channel tunnel rail link (CTRL) will have two significant effects on the rail network in the south. First, it will allow the operation of high speed domestic services from Kent to St. Pancras. This will provide some relief to existing capacity constraints at London Bridge. The new service pattern proposed in the specification for the Integrated Kent Franchise will improve operational performance at London Bridge, delivering improved reliability and punctuality for passengers. The high speed domestic services from Kent are expected to begin operation in 2009.

Second, international services will no longer require access to the domestic network, except for access to Ashford International, so existing international facilities at Waterloo and at North Pole depot will become available for alternative use. The Strategic Rail Authority, in conjunction with the Department for Transport, has commissioned the first phase of a study to examine the best alternative uses for these facilities. The study is examining the potential impact of options on London Bridge Station, as well as Waterloo station. The phase 1 report, which will be completed this summer, will identify the most promising options for further detailed evaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 7 April 2005 with regard to Mr. Michael Addie. [197]

A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 15 April 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles are registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, broken down by category. [463]

The numbers of vehicles currently registered at DVLA as of December 2004 in the main categories are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on further planned changes to the driving test. [488]

Driving Standards Agency (DSA) issued a report in August 2002 outlining the implementation of Commission Directive 2000/56/EC (Implementing European Changes to the Driving Test). The changes are:

(i) higher test vehicle specifications for lorries, buses and vehicle-trailer combinations (from 2007);

(ii) additional specific manoeuvres in the practical motorcycle test (from 2008); and

(iii) an actual weight requirement for lorry and vehicle-trailer tests (from 2010).

DSA continues to meet its Road Safety Strategy commitment by annually reviewing the theory test question bank and updating the hazard perception film clips on a regular basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library (a) a list of the members of the EU Transport Directorate's Driver Licensing Committee and their official contact details and (b) a list of the members of the European Working Group on Eyesight indicating (i) official contact details, (ii) credentials experience and (iii) at what stage they are at with their revision of Annex III of the 2nd Directive on Driving Licensure. [413]

Membership of the European Commission's Regulatory Committee on the Driving Licence and its working group on eyesight is a matter for the European Commission, to whom inquiries about membership should be directed.

The United Kingdom provides a member of the Committee on the Driving Licence in the person of a senior policy official in the Department for Transport, and is providing input to the working group on eyesight in the person of a senior medical expert from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

No decisions have yet been taken about any revisions to the medical standards set out in Annex III to Directive 91/439/EEC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of the recent works by the Highways Agency to Junction 14 on the M5; at what times of day the newly-installed traffic lights will be in service; and if he will make a statement. [648]

The current cost of the works to Junction 14 on the M5 is £698,869. The lights were installed because of concerns over accidents. They are in service all day apart from between 07.30 and 09.00 Monday to Friday when they are switched off to reduce traffic queuing on the B4509. Monitoring of traffic queues will continue on a regular basis and, if found to be appropriate, the Highways Agency will adjust the timing of the lights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of an increase in the speed limit on motorways. [476]

The last assessment of the possible effects of raising the motorway speed limit was conducted in 2001. This concluded that to raise the motorway speed limit would run too great a risk of increasing accidents and casualties. However, the Department will continue to keep the motorway speed limit under review to ensure it remains appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on the development of aesthetics in the design of motorways and flyovers. [491]

The Department for Transport and the Highways Agency's policy and guidance on the development of aesthetics in the design of motorways and flyovers is set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.

Advice specifically for designers of structures is found in Volume 1 in a guidance document titled "The Design and Appearance of Bridges". Volume 10, The Good Roads Guide, is a series of advice notes that encourages the design team to seek to integrate the highway and its structures and earthworks with the landscape and to respect the special character of each individual location.

Complimentary to these volumes is the Highways Agency publication 'The Appearance of Bridges and Other Highway Structures'. This book provides guidance that helps to ensure that all aspects of visual excellence are considered and achieved in bridge building as well as in the design and provision of tunnels, retaining walls and associated lighting and signs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the schedule for completion is for the Northern Distributor Road around Sittingbourne. [417]

You will be aware that in December 2004 Kent county council was given provisional approval for the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road. The provisional approval, of £29 million towards the total scheme cost of £43 million, is subject to a number of provisions. Those provisions are:

That the gross and net costs of the scheme remain unchanged.

That the scheme design and value for money it offers remain significantly unchanged.

Satisfactory completion of statutory procedures.

Satisfactory securing of other contributions.

Suitable consultation with the relevant statutory environmental bodies.

Subject to these conditions being met, final approval will be determined at ministerial level in due course.

Subject to such approval, Kent county council intends that work would begin on the scheme in the financial year 2007–08, with completion scheduled for 2009–10.

In line with the requirement for the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures, Kent county council's planning committee will consider a planning application associated this scheme on 14 June 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce his decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into the Potters Bar derailment. [108]

The Secretary of State expects to be in a position to decide whether to hold a public inquiry into the Potters Bar derailment once the Crown Prosecution Service has decided whether to bring prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on through services between London Paddington and all stations west of Maidenhead of the loss of two lines to Crossrail services. [211]

During normal hours of operation Crossrail will operate on the northern pair of lines, known as the relief lines. This will not affect the southern pair of lines, known as the main lines, on which longer distance services operate to destinations such as Cheltenham, Worcester, Hereford, Bristol, Swansea and Penzance.

Crossrail services will start and terminate at Maidenhead. There will be capacity for other operators to provide services from Paddington Main Line station to local stations west of Maidenhead.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place over the last 12 months with EU countries on design and effectiveness of road humps. [408]

There have been no discussions with EU countries over the last 12 months about the design and effectiveness of road humps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the merits of the design of the cushion road hump last underwent scientific testing; and what the conclusions of those tests were. [518]

A speed cushion was one of the hump types tested in recent research into the impact of road humps on vehicles and their occupants. The results, published in 2004, found:

no evidence of vehicle damage from repeated traverses, although some small changes in steering geometry were noted;

peak vertical accelerations (which strongly correlate to discomfort ratings) for all vehicles (including an ambulance, bus and minibus) were lower when traversing cushions than when traversing other types of hump;

no evidence that alternative hump dimensions to those currently recommended could remove any unnecessary discomfort and maintain safety objectives;

predicted spinal ligament forces were almost an order of magnitude smaller than the damage threshold for such ligaments and predicted forces transmitted through the spine were at least a factor of four smaller than those generated in discs by heavy lifting. Therefore, although it is not possible to predict the effect of such forces on people with pre-existing spinal conditions, it was considered that vehicle occupants with healthy spines were very unlikely to be injured as a result of single or repeated traversing of road humps (including cushions) constructed to recommended dimensions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many sets of cushion road humps have been installed in England and Wales. [519]

Local authorities have the power to introduce speed cushions without approval from the Department. As such there are no central records which contain this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads were affected by major roadworks on 18 May. [466]

The Highways Agency publishes a list of major roadworks on its website which is updated weekly. A list of those planned roadworks affecting motorways and all-purpose trunk roads on the 18 May has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the estimated end of life of the UK's suspension bridges. [457]

The design life for bridges, including suspension bridges, in the United Kingdom is 120 years, based on the assumption of regular maintenance and inspections being carried out at frequent intervals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's (a) policy on and (b) funding commitment for the Thameslink Rail project is. [113]

Network Rail has submitted a revised application for a Transport and Works Act Order, and a resumed public inquiry is scheduled to start on 6 September. As with other major railway projects, commitment to funding and implementation cannot be made unless and until powers to construct the project have been secured. However, the Government has long recognised the need to increase the capacity of Thameslink, and we remain satisfied that the project meets our criteria for investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what feedback has been received from (a) fire services, (b) providers of bus services, (c) funeral directors, (d) the police and (e) ambulance services about the design of traffic calming measures, with particular reference to cushion road humps. [521]

The Department has received no specific feedback from the emergency services, bus provides or funeral directors concerning the design of speed cushions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations are planned with (a) fire services, (b) providers of bus services, (c) funeral directors, (d) the police and (e) ambulance services about the design of traffic calming measures, with particular reference to the cushion road hump. [520]

Local authorities are responsible for the introduction of traffic calming measures, such as speed cushions, on their roads. The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 place an obligation on local authorities to consult the emergency services whenever road humps are proposed. Although not a specific requirement, the Department strongly recommend that bus operators and any other organisation likely to be effected are consulted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to improve the transport network in Essex. [311]

Over the first five year local transport plan period Essex has been allocated £154 million to support locally determined transport requirements. In addition, the two Essex unitary authorities have been allocated a further £64.8 million making a total allocation of £218.8 million over the period county wide.

The transport authorities of Essex are currently drafting local transport plans for the next five years. These plans will need to reflect the transport priorities for the county in the context of its economic, social and environmental policies. How the authorities determine their requirements will reflect the levels of funding to improve the transport network.

Looking ahead, the Highways Agency has the widening of the M25 between junctions 27 and 31 in its targeted programme of improvements. This work, which is planned to start in 2010–11 and open two years later, will further enhance transport connections in Essex. The Government investment in the whole M25 programme will be £1.6 billion.

A hybrid Bill has been brought forward to authorise the construction of Crossrail, a major new rail link providing fast, efficient and convenient rail access through central London between Shenfield and the Thames Gateway in the east and Maidenhead and Heathrow airport in the west.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in each health board area are awaiting treatment with beta interferon. [316]

The number of people, in each Health and Social Services Board, who were awaiting treatment with beta interferon, at 30 April 2005, is detailed in the following table:

Note:

Patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been made available by his Department for beta interferon treatment for 2005–06. [318]

The Department has not allocated funding specifically for beta interferon treatment in 2005–06. Health and Social Services Boards have been allocated an additional £5 million this year for a range of specialist hospital medicines. It is for the boards to determine how they will allocate this funding, taking into account local circumstances and competing service pressures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what commitment the British Government made in the Joint Declaration on the unemployment differential. [620]

The Joint Declaration of April 2003 made the following commitment in relation to the unemployment differential:

"The British Government reaffirms the commitment in the Agreement to a range of measures aimed at combating unemployment and progressively eliminating the differential in unemployment rates between the two communities by targeting objective need. It will encourage funding to be made available for research for this purpose. It will also encourage the devolved administration to explore, including in the context of the evaluation of new TSN¹ which is currently under way, how best work on this issue can be accelerated and what further measurement techniques including indicators and targets may be used in order to assess progress."

¹ New Targeting Social Need

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date Freedom Passes will be available to all pensioners. [296]

The Freedom Pass is the London-wide concessionary travel scheme which entitles London residents over 60 free off-peak travel on London's public transport, including the tube, bus, DLR, Tramlink and National Rail within London. This scheme is funded by the London boroughs and administered by the Association of London Government in conjunction with Transport for London. There is no intention to extend this scheme to all pensioners in England.

The Government announced in the Budget that they would be extending concessionary off-peak, local bus travel for elderly and disabled people from the current statutory half fare to full fare. This means that from April 2006 all people over 60 and disabled people (as defined by the Transport Act 2000 and assessed by the local authority) will be entitled to travel for free, off-peak (after 9.30 am) on buses in their local area.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what plans he has for infrastructure investment in Mid-Sussex; [178]

(2) what assessment he has made of the public sector infrastructure deficit in Mid-Sussex; [138]

(3) if he will carry out an audit of public sector infrastructure investment in Mid-Sussex. [139]

The local development framework for Mid-Sussex considered together with the south east regional spatial strategy and regional economic strategy will provide information on infrastructure priorities in Mid-Sussex and the south east region more generally.

In March 2005 the Government office for the south east published "Infrastructure in the South East" setting out the Government's thinking on infrastructure and how to unlock the investment necessary for growth to be successfully delivered. A copy of the report is available on the Government office's website: www.gose.gov.uk.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a Minister last visited the Inland Revenue office in Preston to see how tax credit applications are handled. [105]

No Treasury Minister has recently visited the Tax Credits Office in Preston.

I visited the Tax Credits Programme Office in London in spring 2004 and visited the Tax Credits Helpline Office in Newcastle in August 2004.

In addition I hold regular meetings with senior officials responsible for the delivery of tax credits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to increase the staff in the Inland Revenue office in Preston to deal with tax credit applications and queries. [106]

The Department keeps its staffing levels under constant review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the process of collecting data for the national census. [132]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 23 May 2005

As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking what plans there are to review the process of collecting data for the national census. (132)

The Office for National Statistics published in March 2004 an information paper which set out the proposed design for the 2011 census. This document can be found on our website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=10790

Included in the design are proposals to have flexibility in data collection by providing various ways in which the public might respond. Alternative collection methods offer opportunities for increased coverage and allow investigation of suitable completion methods for disadvantaged groups such as the visually impaired. Advances in technology may present further alternatives but the present design covers collection via paper, internet and telephone.

At this stage we see the internet as having the possibility of quite radically changing the range of languages we could use for the census, and the timing and quality of response, although this depends on our processes for effectively developing a register of households, which is in hand elsewhere in Government.

The proposed design will be evaluated in a major field test in 2007.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the death rate has been among people aged over 75 years in each of the last 24 months, broken down by major cause of death. [257]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Lansley, dated 23 May 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the death rate has been among people aged over 75 years in each of the last 24 months, broken down by major cause of death. (257)

The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. The attached table shows the crude annual death rate at ages 75 and over and the number of deaths in each month in 2002 and 2003 at this age. Figures are given for five major cause groups, based on chapters of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

Crude annual death rate and number of deaths occurring in each month for the five most common cause groups, in persons aged 75 and over, England and Wales, 2002 and 2003^(5)(6)(7)

⁽⁵⁾ Rate per 100,000 persons aged 75 and over, based on mid-year population estimate for 2002 and 2003, published in October 2004. In 2002 and 2003, there were 4,004,700 and 4,034,000 persons at ages 75 and over, respectively.

⁽⁶⁾ The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

The codes used are listed:

Diseases of the circulatory system—I00-I99;

Neoplasms—C00-D48;

Diseases of the respiratory system—J00-J99;

Diseases of the digestive system—K00-K93;

Mental and behavioural disorders—F00-F99.

⁽⁷⁾ Figures are based on deaths occurring in each month and calendar year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to improve productivity in the public sector. [175]

By implementing the recommendations of the Gershon review of public sector efficiency, the Government will achieve £21 billion of annual efficiency gains by 2007–08 and a gross reduction of 84,000 civil service and administrative posts. The Government have already achieved efficiency gains exceeding £2 billion and a reduction of 12,500 posts. By implementing the Lyons review of public sector relocation over 4,300 posts have already been moved out of London and the south east. These efficiency gains will help to drive increases in Government output and productivity. The Government have previously welcomed the Atkinson review as the first step to improve the measurement of Government output and productivity and to ensure that measures of the impact of increased investment in our schools, hospitals and other public services are informative and robust. In the year to October 2004, measured public sector output grew by just over 5 per cent. nearly twice as fast as during the previous 12 months.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average amount that will be paid to a primary school in respect of the extra payments announced in the Budget for 2005–06. [347]

Details of the Budget package for England's primary schools can be found in chapter 6 of Budget 2005 'Investing in our Future'.

Budget 2005 announced increases in the Schools Standards Grant payment to headteachers of £100 million for 2006–07 and £150 million for 2007–08. These increases were additional to increases already promised for 2005–06. As a result, direct payments to the headteacher of a typical primary school in England will increase from around £30,000 in 2004–05 to £31,000 in 2005–06, rising to around £34,000 in 2006–07 and around £36,000 in 2007–08. Barnett consequentials arising from these resources have been allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the usual fashion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the death rate from intentional self-harm and injury of undetermined extent has been in each year since 1975. [245]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Lansley, dated 23 May 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the death rate from intentional self-harm and injury of undetermined intent has been in each year since 1975. (245)

The most recent available figures on intentional self-harm and injury of undetermined intent are for the calendar year 2003. The figures in the attached table show the age-standardised mortality rate for intentional self-harm and injury of undetermined intent by sex and for all persons for the calendar years 1975 to 2003.

Age-standardised mortality rate from intentional self-harm and injury of undetermined intent, by sex, England and Wales, 1975 to 2003^{(8)(9)(10)(11)}

⁽⁸⁾ Directly age-standardised to the European standard population.

⁽⁹⁾ The cause of death for intentional self harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Eighth Revision (ICD-8) codes E950-E959 for the years 1975 to 1978, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959for the years 1986 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84.

⁽¹⁰⁾ The cause of death for injury of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Eighth Revision (ICD-8) codes E980-E989for the years 1975 to 1978, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1986 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes YJO-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.

⁽¹¹⁾ Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year from 1975 to 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 onwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Royal Mail offices in Northern Ireland have initiated affirmative action measures as a result of an under-representation of a section of the community; what the religious breakdown was in each case; and what change there has been in composition in each case since affirmative action was undertaken. [351]

This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. The Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the use of alternative energy sources. [308]

The Government have a target of 10 per cent. of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010. The increase in the use of renewable energy will contribute to reducing the UK's carbon emissions as well as ensuring a diverse fuel mix.

The Government's key policy mechanism for encouraging renewable generation is the Renewables Obligation that requires electricity supply companies to source a specific, and annually increasing, percentage of their electricity sales from renewable sources. The Renewables Obligation is supported by just over £500 million of Government spending between 2002 and 2008 on emerging renewable and other low carbon technologies, such as hydrogen and fuel cells, in the form of capital grants and R&D.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings took place between the Department, the Law Society and fraud squad police during April. [46]

The Department had one meeting with them in April 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his estimate is of the UK's gas reserves; and how many months' supply was available as at 17 May. [42]

Each year the Department compiles estimates of the discovered gas reserves and undiscovered gas resources on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). These estimates are published on the DTI's Oil and Gas website [at http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/information/bb_updates/chapters/reserves_index.html]. The latest published estimates relate to the position as at the end of 2003; estimates as at the end of 2004 are due to be released in June. The published figures are given as ranges depending on the degree of certainty attaching to the estimates. The number of months' supply represented by these resources would depend on the month in question, since gas production (like gas demand) is not flat through the year (being lower in summer and higher in winter) or from year to year (production is now generally falling while demand is flat or rising slowly). Gas production from the UKCS is expected to continue for many years to come but already it no longer meets UK demand on an annual basis though it does still in summer months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will urge the European Commission to undertake an investigation into the operation of the UK wholesale gas market; and if he will make a statement. [337]

The European Commission has announced that it will undertake a sectoral inquiry into European gas and electricity markets which will cover the whole of the EU, including the UK. We have long been urging the Commission to carry out such an inquiry.

Recent studies by Ofgem, the energy regulator, and independent consultants have highlighted the impact that EU gas markets have on the UK wholesale market and the importance of accelerated liberalisation of EU gas markets. We therefore welcome the Commission's inquiry which should identify obstacles to well functioning and competitive EU energy markets and lead to appropriate remedial measures being taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public expenditure on matters relating to the nuclear industry there has been since 1 May 1997; and what estimate he has made of future identified public liabilities in respect of existing activities. [169]

The following documents, which are in the public domain, provide information on the outturn of the Department's expenditure on matters relating to the nuclear industry from 1 April 1997:

Trade and Industry Government Expenditure Plans from 1998–99 to 2003–04;

Trade and Industry Departmental Report for 2003 and 2004;

Department of Trade and Industry Consolidated Resource Accounts from 1999–2000 to 2003–04.

As part of the Government's Spending Review 2004 the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority received a budget of approximately £2.2 billion for 2005–06 about half of which depends on receipts from commercial activities.

The 2002 Energy White Paper 'Managing the Nuclear Legacy: A Strategy for Action' set the public liability estimate for the nuclear legacy at £50 billion (undiscounted) while acknowledging that there was considerable uncertainty around the figure. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which assumed responsibility from 1 April 2005 for discharging the nuclear legacy accepted that figure in its first Annual Plan. A key task now for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is to review that estimate carefully to reduce uncertainty and work on that is now under way with a view to publication in December. In the short run, better estimating will almost certainly mean that the estimate will rise. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority maintain the most recent estimate on their website (nda.gov.uk).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who from the Department attended the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power for the 21st Century in Paris on 21 and 22 March; what line they took on behalf of the Department; and if he will make a statement. [127]

DTI did not attend this event.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any licences for the export of military vehicles to Sudan have been issued since 1 January. [70]

The Government publishes Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls which contain summary information on the goods it has licensed for export, by destination. The Government expects to publish the first Quarterly Report for 2005 covering licensing decisions taken between 1 January and 31 March 2005, at the end of June 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether licences for the brokerage of the sale of military vehicles to Sudan from a third country have been granted. [185]

Summary information on the goods licensed under Open or Standard Individual Trade Control Licence will be published, by destination, in the 2004 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which the Government expects to make available in the Libraries of the House by June 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to close permanently the Thorp reprocessing plant. [172]

Our policy remains as set out in the 2002 White Paper "Managing the Nuclear Legacy".

The recent leak of liquid at Thorp, where neither the environment nor people were threatened, has led to Thorp being closed while the situation is assessed.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and regulators are still looking at how best to proceed. We are going to wait for advice from them before taking a decision on the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure to date on the Thorp reprocessing plant has been; and how much income has been generated by the plant during that period. [173]

BNFL has never separated the accounts for the Thorp plant from other areas. The data in the form requested cannot be provided. However for the 2004 accounts period the business segment BNFL ALFA, which includes Thorp, had total sales of £1,449 million. In addition the NDA, which from 1 April 2005 became responsible for this asset anticipates in the Annual Plan receipts in 2005–06 for reprocessing and overseas transport of nuclear materials of £635.1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve the quality of initial decision-making on social fund Community Care Grant application. [649]

We are committed to improving the quality of initial social fund decision making. For example, we are introducing a Standard Operating Model for the social fund to further improve quality and consistency of decision making and provide better management controls. We are developing standardised training products to improve accuracy.

We are currently revising the Community Care Grant application form (SF300) to make it more effective in eliciting, at the earliest stage, information necessary to enable good quality decision making and are considering reforms to the social fund that will simplify the scheme for staff and customers.

In April 2004 we expanded the social fund Key Management Indicator (KMI) from the original KMI of a single area of performance (Community Care Grant clearance) to include seven separate measures, including accuracy (quality) of decision making—we are also reviewing our checking arrangements with a view to achieving greater consistency between the approach taken by local and national checkers.

We also established the national Social Fund Focus Group to drive up social fund performance and all regions now have network groups to support the national group and provide a more direct means of tackling issues such as improving decision making and sharing good practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for ordering the new aircraft carriers. [176]

The Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) project is in the Assessment Phase. Work continues to develop the detailed plans to take the project through to delivery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces were registered to vote at the General Election. [207]

There is no way of knowing how many service personnel were registered to vote. As well as registering as service voters, military personnel may also choose to register as ordinary or overseas voters. If they choose one of these alternatives they cannot be distinguished from other voters on the electoral register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of members of the armed forces who voted at the General Election; and if he will make a statement. [208]

It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of armed forces personnel who voted at the General Election. Voting is an entirely private matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to ensure that (a) members of the armed forces are registered on the electoral roll and (b) arrangements are made for armed forces personnel to apply for postal or proxy votes. [328]

We are working with the Electoral Commission to consider what changes can be made to existing procedures to help service personnel register to vote and in particular whether arrangements can be made to issue an electoral registration form to all members of the services. Service personnel already have the option to choose to vote by post or proxy when they register to vote.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Home Service part-time officers and soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment are not eligible for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [346]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the different types of boots supplied to the Army; what the source of manufacture of each type of boot was; what the cost is of each type of boot; and what the life-expectancy of each type is. [385]

Boots supplied to the Army are split into the following types of use: Combat, Parade/Ceremonial and Safety Footwear. Most boots are sourced through a prime contract placed for footwear, although some boots are procured on other contracts. Manufacture of boots is carried out world-wide, including the UK. Costs for each type of boot vary from item to item and fall within the following price ranges: Combat £15–£120, Parade/Ceremonial £45-£85 (although for Riding boots this varies from £150-£1,300) and Safety Footwear £8–£45. Life expectancy varies from boot to boot depending on their use and conditions, although in broad terms life expectancy is: Combat one year up to a shelf-life of five years (although Jungle Boots and Desert Boots may only have a life of six weeks or six months respectively); Parade/Ceremonial these boots are repairable and can last from one year up to five years plus; Safety Footwear six months to two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) whether the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq referred to in a letter from the former Minister of State to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr submitted regular reports to his British superiors; [235]

(2) what the remit was of the British Deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq in relation to (a) detainees and (b) operational matters; [237]

(3) for what reasons and in what capacity Colonel Chris Terrington saw a version of the CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance policy document in December 2003; [238]

(4) which (a) sections and (b) drafts of the interrogation and counter-resistance policy document were seen by the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq; and what comments he made; [239]

(5) whether the UK officer acting as Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq advised (a) the US authorities and (b) his supervisors in the chain of command that some of the interrogation techniques in the CJIF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy Document (i) were inhumane under UK case law and (ii) constituted a potential breach of the Geneva Conventions in the view of the Government; [271]

(6) whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq asked Major George O'Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib; [273]

(7) whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq saw the International Committee of the Red Cross working paper based on a visit to Abu Ghraib in October 2003. [274]

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the air accident inquiry into the RAF Hercules crash near Baghdad will be completed; and if he will publish the report. [403]

The Board of Inquiry continues to work to determine the cause of this tragic event. Once the report has concluded, we will make available as much information as we can.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the first squadron of the Joint Strike Fighter to be declared operational. [177]

The first squadron of Joint Combat Aircraft is currently expected to be operational in 2014, but like other equipment projects the In Service Date will not be fixed until the main investment decision is taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value of (a) beef and (b) lamb supply contracts for his Department was in each year since 1997, broken down by contracts with (i) Welsh suppliers, (ii) suppliers in the rest of the UK and (iii) suppliers outside the UK. [240]

The Ministry of Defence's food supply contractor (3663) is mandated to purchase British products whenever they are competitive within the constraints of Article 30 of the EC Treaty of Rome, and where they meet the armed forces food specifications.

For beef supplied to the armed forces in the UK from 1997 to 2004 the average annual value was £6 million. Annually, between 1997 and 2001—£3.1 million was of UK origin, with approximately £1.9 million from Welsh and English sources, and £1.2 million from Scottish sources. The remaining £2.9 million was non-UK. Annually, between 2002 and 2004, £2.2 million was of UK origin, with approximately £0.7 million from Welsh and English sources, and £1.5 million from Scottish sources. The remaining £3.8 million was non-UK.

For lamb supplied to the armed forces in the UK, from 1997 to 2004 the average annual value was £1.61 million. Annually, between 1997 and 2004—£0.07 million was of UK origins. The remaining £1.54 million was non-UK.

No further breakdown is available on beef and lamb as suppliers do not maintain detailed statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in each of HM Dockyard on repairs and refits of warships and auxiliaries in each year since 1997. [339]

A record of the Department's expenditure in each financial year (FY) since 1997 is set out in the table.

£ million

n/a = Not available

The comparatively low figures for Portsmouth reflect the decision taken in 1992 that it would concentrate on repairs and support to surface ships based there. Devonport and Rosyth retained full dockyard capability to undertake major refits and repairs, and following a decision in 1993, submarine refit work is now concentrated at Devonport.

The data relating to FYs 1997–98 to 2001–02 has been taken from the Statements of Ship Refitting and Repair Activity, which were produced annually. These statements were discontinued when the Warship Support Agency was formed in 2002, as key elements of the Agency's performance were published in its audited Annual Report and Accounts.

The figures for FY 2002–03 and beyond, which are not held centrally, include the cost of work specified in the contract; work that cannot be specified with any certainty at the start of a contract (emergent work); and equipment which has been upgraded to improve capability and performance. They exclude costs relating to materials supplied by the Department and to the overhaul of any spares that can be repaired and re-used in other vessels. Costs directly attributable to the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative (WSMI) contracts at the naval bases have also been excluded.

In FY 2001–02 the Department moved from a cash accounting system to resource-based accounting. This means that figures for the years up to and including FY 2001–02 reflect cash payments made in each of those years. However, from FY 2002–03 onwards, the figures reflect the value of the work completed in each year, rather than the year in which payment was made, which may be different.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the (a) physical, (b) environmental and (c) health impacts of the detonation of a single trident nuclear warhead in an urban area. [272]

The impacts of the detonation of a nuclear weapon would depend on a wide range of variable factors. These include the yield and design of the weapon; the accuracy of the delivery system; the nature and construction of the target; the geographical characteristics of the surrounding terrain; geological conditions in the target area; the height of weapon burst; and the weather conditions at the target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Innsworth. [68]

RAF Innsworth is the Headquarters of RAF Personnel and Training Command and it is currently being considered as part of the Process and Organisation Review into the collocation of the two RAF Headquarters. An announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recruitment targets were established for each of the Scottish infantry regiments for (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) each month since January 2003; and what the level of recruitment was in each case. [348]

Recruitment targets are not set for individual Infantry regiments.

The Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA), which is responsible for the recruitment and training of soldiers, recruits Infantry soldiers to the three Infantry Career Employment Groups (CEGs). These are: Line (which includes all the regiments in the Scottish Division), Parachute and the Guards.

The following table shows the number of soldiers enlisted and the annual enlistment target for the three Infantry CEGs for each financial year since 2001–02. Monthly targets are not set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received concerning explosions emanating from Shoeburyness and Foulness Island between 13.45 and 14.00 on Monday, 16 May; and if he will make a statement. [101]

Three batteries were active at Shoeburyness during the time in question. One was conducting a trial involving repetitive gun firings. The other two were engaged in the destruction of life-expired ordnance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have held with (a) the Russian Government and (b) the Chinese Government regarding the placing of the situation in Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. [651]

The British Government have not had any recent discussions on Burma with the Russian Government. We regularly raise our concerns with China about the situation in Burma, most recently as part of the EU-China Ministerial Troika held in Beijing on 11–12 May 2005. At present there is no consensus for bringing Burma before the United Nations Security Council. But there is occasional informal discussion of the situation in Burma among Security Council members, and we will remain in close touch with these partners and other interested UN member states. We are also in close and frequent contact with the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for Burma and his staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which events to be held during the UK presidency of the EU Scottish Executive Ministers have been invited to attend. [349]

Ministerial participation at events being held during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union has not yet been finalised. Each Government Department will decide whom to invite to the UK presidency events they are organising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which events to be held during the UK presidency of the EU will be held in Scotland. [350]

At present there are 30 confirmed events taking place in Scotland during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union. A list of these events can be found on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/Europe/Page10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will institute a departmental inquiry into the Iraq Oil Programme for Food (a) to examine whether there was British involvement and (b) to assess the likely impact on relations with (i) Russia, (ii) France and (iii) China. [58]

There are no plans to institute a departmental inquiry into the Iraq Oil for Food Programme. We are following closely the work of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) established by the UN Secretary-General in April 2004 to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the UN's Iraq Oil for Food Programme. We support the inquiry and are co-operating fully with it. So far, the IIC has published two interim reports and we expect a final report this summer. Once the IIC has completed its investigations the Government will judge what further action might be appropriate as a result of any findings against British nationals or entities.

We have no evidence to suggest that any findings relating to the role of the British Government at the UN Security Council, or the involvement of British nationals or entities in the Oil for Food Programme, will impact significantly on UK relations with Russia, France or China.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council we worked closely with the Governments of Russia, France and China during the lifetime of the Oil for Food Programme and continue to do so on a wide range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish Government concerning its recent decision to supply tanks to the Government of Morocco. [143]

There are currently no plans to discuss with the Spanish Government its policy on military exports to Morocco.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made on North Korea to each of the six constituent countries of the current talks; and whether he has been briefed on the re-opening of talks between North and South Korea. [59]

We are in close contact with all the countries involved in the six party talks through our embassies overseas and through their missions in London. We have made our concerns on the nuclear issue known to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at both ministerial and official level, and have urged them to engage constructively in a fourth round of talks at an early stage. We fully support the inter-Korean reconciliation process, and welcomed the reopening of talks recently. We hope that further rounds of talks will lead to significant progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the negotiating stance of the UK will be in the current nuclear non-proliferation talks as regards (a) restraining the extension of the number of states in possession of nuclear weapons and (b) persuading those states in possession of nuclear weapons to reduce their stockpiles of such weapons. [76]

The United Kingdom will seek an outcome to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) review conference which strengthens all three pillars of the treaty: non-proliferation, the peaceful use of nuclear technology, and disarmament. I am placing in the Library of the House the UK's statement to all NPT states parties on 5 May, which set out in full our priorities for the review conference, including those areas raised by my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UN regarding recent military activities by (a) Morocco and (b) the Polisario Front in the disputed countries of the Western Sahara. [142]

UK officials hold regular discussions about Western Sahara with UN officials. These focus on ensuring that the UN process leads to a fair and lasting solution to this dispute that provides the people of the Western Sahara with an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination.

The UN Secretary-General's report on Western Sahara published in April 2005 highlighted increased occurrences, by both parties to the dispute, of non-compliance with military agreements reached with the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The UK supported UN Security Council resolution 1598 adopted on the 28 April 2005, which affirms the need for all parties to respect fully the military agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each health authority area in England are awaiting treatment with beta interferon. [317]

The Department does not collect this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the arm's length NHS bodies covered by the recent review, indicating in each case their 2005–06 budget, the date on which they were established and what has been decided about their future. [480]

A list of arm's length bodies covered by the recent review is shown in the table.