To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle have been infected with bovine TB in each of the last three years in (a) Devon, (b) Cornwall, (c) Somerset and (d) Dorset; and how many cattle were destroyed during the foot and mouth epidemic in each county. [5964]

holding answer 21 June 2005

If an animal reacts positively to the skin test it is generally considered to have bovine TB. However, it is not always possible to confirm infection in any particular animal by post-mortem examination at the slaughterhouse, or by culturingMycobacterium bovis in the laboratory. This is because in the early stages of the disease, it is not always possible to see lesions with the naked eye, and, due to the fastidious nature of the organism, it is not possible to culture from samples in every case.

Therefore, the number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures in the four counties requested in the last three years is provided as follows:

The number of cattle destroyed as a result of foot and mouth in each of the counties is as follows:

Notes:

1.The number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures comprises the number of reactors to the TB test and those cattle that have been in direct contact.

2.TB data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 19 May 2005.

3.All data are provisional and subject to change as more data become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in the South West have been affected by bovine TB in each of the last three years; how many cattle in England have been slaughtered due to bovine TB in each year; how much was paid by the Government to farmers in (a) Devon, (b) Cornwall, (c) Somerset and (d) Dorset in compensation for bovine TB in each of the last three years; what steps she has taken to eradicate TB in cattle; and what steps she is proposing to take. [6264]

holding answer 22 June 2005

The information requested is as follows:

Number of farms affected by TB and the cattle slaughtered

The number of holdings affected by bovine TB breakdowns in each of the last three years, as well as the number of cattle slaughtered under TB control measures in England between 2001 and 2004 are detailed in the following tables.

Table 1: Number of holdings affected by TB incident by county

⁽²²⁾Data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 22 June 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.

Table 2: Cattle slaughtered in England

⁽²³⁾TB Reactors plus Direct Contacts

⁽²⁴⁾Data downloaded from State Veterinary Service database on 19 May 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.

⁽²⁵⁾In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, data for 2001 and 2002 are not comparable with other years.

Compensation

The amount of compensation for Bovine TB paid to farmers in the four counties is not collected/available in the format requested, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The amount of compensation paid in Great Britain over the last three years is detailed in the following table.

Table 3: Compensation paid in Great Britain -- £ million

⁽²⁶⁾Forecast.

Action to control TB

The Government are committed to finding the best way to combat bovine TB, backed by available scientific evidence and taking account of all interested parties, including the taxpayer. We published our 10-year strategy for the control of bovine TB in March. This places emphasis on keeping clean areas clean and achieving a sustained and steady reduction of TB in hotspot areas. Specific disease control policies will be tailored to reflect the control of bovine TB in March. This places emphasis on keeping clean areas clean and achieving a sustained and steady reduction of TB in hotspot areas. Specific disease control policies will be tailored to reflect the regional variation in disease and risk, and adjusted to make best use of emerging scientific findings.

We are prepared to cull badgers to control bovine TB if evidence shows it is cost-effective, practicable and sustainable. The strategic framework sets out a process for decision-making on badger culling. However, vaccination for cattle or badgers is still a long-term goal and we have recently approved the first field trial of a TB vaccine for badgers and a new study by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to prepare for similar field trials in cattle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure that British Waterways make available surplus land at less than market value for development of affordable housing. [7136]

The Department looks to British Waterways to provide affordable housing in its developments as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility. The amount is determined by local planning requirements and individual circumstances. As at 31 March 2005, 1,998 units of social housing are planned to be built on BW development sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants. [7021]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) on 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her Department's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East. [6255]

The Department is implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate 390 posts out of London and the South East by 2010. This will not exclude consideration of relocating some posts to relatively deprived areas in the South East. So far, the Department has not identified any posts suitable for transfer to deprived areas in the South East.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the level of penalties that will have been collected after year one of the EU emissions trading scheme. [8608]

All operators of installations that do not surrender sufficient allowances to cover their annual emissions will be liable to a penalty. In the first phase of the scheme (2005–07), the penalty will be €40 for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted by that installation for which the operator has not surrendered allowances. The penalty will rise to €100 per tonne for the second phase. The extent of the penalties for year one of the scheme will only be known after 20 April 2006, once reconciliation has taken place. We expect all installations will comply with the regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances a buyer's licence can be withdrawn from a UK fish merchant. [8557]

Under the terms of the Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers and Designation of Fish Auction Sites Regulations 2005, the Secretary of State may suspend the registration of a buyer where the registered buyer has not:

complied with a condition of registration; or

conducted his business in a manner that complies with the requirements of Article 9 of Council Regulation 2847/93 (the Control Regulation), Article 22 of Council Regulation 2371/2002 (the Common Fisheries Policy) in regard to the submission of sales notes.

In addition, a court may revoke the registration of a buyer either totally or for a specified period upon conviction for the following offences:

where a person knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement for the purposes of an application for registration;

where a registered fish buyer fails to comply with a condition of his registration;

where a registered fish buyer fails to keep, or to produce on request by a British sea fishery officer, the necessary sales records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reported incidents of fly-tipping there were in each (a) local authority and (b) region in the last period for which figures are available; and what costs were incurred in removing fly-tipped waste. [7217]

The number of reported incidents of fly-tipping and the cost of clearance and disposal reported between April 2004 and March 2005 are given by(a) waste collection authority and (b) region in tables made available in the Library of the House.

These data are from the Flycapture database, which records fly-tipping incidents dealt with by waste collection authorities and the Environment Agency. The figures are likely to be an underestimate and should increase as authorities improve their data collection and reporting performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to commence operation. [7176]

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority commenced operation on 1 April 2005. One of the Authority's first tasks will be to establish the conditions to be attached to a licence and the operational aspects of the licensing scheme. These will be set out in rules orders and the Authority will be consulting on these as a matter of urgency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the provisions of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 to other sectors and industries. [7177]

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 applies to gangmasters operating in the agricultural, shellfish gathering and associated food/fish processing and packaging sectors. I have no plans to extend the scope of the Act to other sectors and industries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest assessment is of the number of (a) legally operational and (b) illegal gangmaster organisations in the UK. [7178]

Based on a DEFRA commissioned study, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) expects to issue 1,000 licences to gangmaster organisations operating legitimately in the agricultural, shellfish gathering and associated food and fish processing and packaging sectors in the UK. The GLA anticipates inviting licence applications from spring 2006.

By its very nature, it is very difficult to quantify illegal gangmaster activity. Once the licensing scheme is operational, the GLA's compliance role and enforcement activities undertaken on behalf of DEFRA will generate more accurate data on the numbers of gangmasters engaged in illegal business practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) complaints, (b) court actions and (c) fines against landfill sites for problems related to (i) odours, (ii) water pollutions, (iii) air pollution and (iv) human health impact there were in each year since May 1997, broken down by region. [4603]

I refer the hon. Member to the answergiven on 7 September 2004, Official Report, column 944W which outline the limitations when producing this data. The following sets of data update the figures previously provided.

Complaints

Tables 1, 2 and 3 give information of incidents that were reported to the Environment Agency and were recorded on the National Incident Recording System (NIRS). It is important to note that NIRS records incidents and not complaints.

Table 1: Incidents where the pollutant was recorded as landfill odour (categories 1–3)

Table 2: Incidents which had impact to water (categories 1–3)

Table 3: Incidents which had impact to air (categories 1–3)

The NIRS system has no designated means of recording incidents in terms of their impact on human health. Specific and accurate data concerning complaints against landfill sites for problems related to human health can not therefore be derived from NIRS.

Court actions and fines

Information concerning 1 July 2004 and 31 May 2004.(b) court actions and (c) fines are kept separately, on the National Enforcement Database. The following prosecutions were taken between

Updated figures 1 July 2004 to 31 May 2005 -- WRA 1991 s.85(1)

EPA 1990 s.33(1)(c)

EPA 1990 s.33(6)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will instruct her officials to meet the hon. Member for Hereford and residents and landowners in Llancloudy in Hereford constituency before a decision is made on the route for lorries from the farm in Llancloudy to the main road; and if she will make a statement. [5672]

holding answer 20 June 2005

The hon. Member should be aware that there is ongoing litigation between the current owners and occupiers Mrs. Georgina Hawkins and Mr. Kevin Feakins and the Rural Payments Agency and Defra in connection with (1) sums owed by Mr. Feakins to the RPA in respect of the sheep meat clawback scheme; and (2) Defra's activities on the farm during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak.

My officials are fully aware of the concerns of local residents and they have been in correspondence with the Llancloudy Residents Association over the proposals for the removal of farmyard manure and other seized materials from Hill Farm Llancloudy. The current situation is that Defra has agreed to remove these seized materials and to reinstate the land. However, in order to fulfil this undertaking the Department needs to agree a licence with Mr. Feakins and Mrs. Hawkins, as the owners and occupiers of the land, in order to gain access to the land. This licence will also include detailed method statements for the operations required. Defra's preferred access route is along the main farm access drive, a route which would minimise the impact on the majority of Llancloudy residents—this route has not been agreed by Mr. Feakins and Mrs. Hawkins.

Given the failure to agree access routes, my officials do not believe that an on-site meeting would be helpful, since until the exact access route is agreed, contractors cannot prepare the detailed working protocols and risk assessments that will be required and officials would not be able to address the concerns of residents. However given the understandable concerns of residents, my officials would be pleased to meet with the hon. Member in London, together with a representative of the Llancloudy Residents Association in London to explain the current situation and to outline the steps the Department has taken to agree access and will take to ensure that the impact on residents will be minimised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned on the duration of damage to (a) soil and (b) ground water on land that was used for (i) munitions production and (ii) fireworks production; and if she will make a statement. [6360]

The Environment Agency has published two documents regarding the potential for contamination of land at former explosives manufacturing sites (including fireworks). Both deal with the characteristics of the potential contaminants at such sites. This includes their solubility and biodegradability which can be used to indicate the likelihood of them persisting at the site and the methods required to investigate and remediate such contamination.

These reports are:

R&D Technical Report P5–042/TR/03—Land Contamination: Technical Guidance on Special Sites: Explosives Manufacturing & Processing Sites.

Project Record P5–036/01—Collation of Toxicological Data and Development of Guideline Values for Explosive Substances, Collation of Physicochemical data.

This second document is the first step in the production of Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) Soil Guideline Values.

The agency has also produced general guidance on the assessment of natural attenuation (the dispersion or breakdown) of contaminants in groundwater:

R&D Publication 95—Guidance on the Assessment and Monitoring of Natural Attenuation of Contaminants in Groundwater.

Defra has two publications in its Industry Profiles" series on munitions and firework production. This series provides information on the processes, materials and waste associated with individual industries, with respect to land contamination:

Chemical Works: explosives, propellents and pyrotechnics manufacturing works;

Engineering Works: mechanical engineering and ordnance works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the rat population of England and Wales in (a) 1997 and (b) 2005. [7153]

The most recent estimate of the Norway rat population in England was a minimum of 5,240,000 individuals. This figure was established by a review that assessed the population and conservation status of all British mammals, published in 1995. The only recent objective national survey of rat presence is within the English House Condition Survey (EHCS). The 1996 survey revealed that 0.23 per cent. of properties had rats indoors and 1.6 per cent. had rats present outside. A report on the rodent element of the 2001 EHCS will be published this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) timetable for the establishment, (b) remit and (c) membership will be of the proposed Rural Housing Commission. [7397]

This is a high priority for the Government. I am working closely with Ministerial colleagues to take this plan forward and hope to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria will be used in deciding whether to undertake a Single Payment System inspection. [6826]

The criteria for selection for inspection depends on whether the inspection relates to scheme eligibility or to cross-compliance. Where inspections relate to eligibility criteria, the relevant regulation requires that member states must make a random selection from the population of applicants, and a risk-based selection to highlight cases of irregularity. The latter must take account of:

the amount of aid involved;

the number of agricultural parcels and the area for which aid is requested;

changes from the previous year;

the findings of checks made in past years;

for farmers who had no hectares in the single payment Scheme reference period, compliance with the condition that at least 50 per cent. of the agricultural activity maintained in the reference period expressed in livestock units has been maintained; and

other factors to be defined by the member states.

Where inspections relate to cross-compliance conditions, the relevant regulation requires that member states select all inspections on the basis of a risk analysis appropriate to the cross compliance requirements and standards or to the existing legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tyres were (a) purchased, (b) reused and (c) disposed of by (i) landfill, (ii) incineration, (iii) illegal fly-tipping and (iv) other means in each year since 2001. [4527]

Figures from tyre manufacturers and importers show replacement tyre sales of around 28 million car and truck units in 2003. It is estimated a further 15 million units were introduced on newly registered vehicles.

The information requested, is set out in the following table, and is based on information supplied to the Used Tyre Working Group (UTWG). Figures from the UTWG can be found on www.tyredisposal.co.uk. Full 2004 figures are not yet available.

The ban on the landfill of whole tyres at all existing hazardous waste landfill sites and all new landfill sites on 16 July 2003 passed without significant effect on tyre collection or recovery capacity. The next key date will be 16 July 2006 when shredded tyres will be banned from landfilling. Whole tyres can continue to be used for landfill engineering for both hazardous and non-hazardous landfills. The numbers of tyres disposed to landfill is reducing, and 2004 returns from members of the Tyre Recovery Association, which represents tyre collectors and reprocessors and accounts for a significant proportion of overall used tyre activity, indicate that landfill disposal reduced sharply in 2004.

There are no figures kept on the number of tyres that are flytipped.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling centres there are in each London borough. [7218]

The number of recycling centres in each London borough is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on plans to release white tailed sea eagles in the UK; and what assessment has been made of the likely impact of their releases on (a) other wildlife and (b) livestock. [7279]

Plans to release white-tailed eagles in the UK English Nature is considering plans to reintroduce white-tailed eagles for the following reasons:

The white-tailed eagle is a red listed bird of conservation concern in the UK and has unfavourable conservation status in Europe.

Much needs to be done to restore it to its former global status, including conservation action in the UK

White-tailed eagles are still absent from much of their former range which encompassed all of Europe including the length of Britain, wherever there was suitable habitat, particularly coastal and freshwater wetlands.

Conservation management applied to other species of raptors has demonstrated that population increase and range expansion can be achieved most rapidly by active intervention.

What assessment has been made of the likely impact of their releases on(a) other wildlife and (b) livestock.

The species is considered to be a potentially suitable candidate for a reintroduction programme. However unless a detailed feasibility study demonstrates the likely success of any proposed reintroduction then it will not take place. The feasibility study must include an assessment against IUCN (The World Conservation Union) criteria for species reintroductions.

Plans are at such an early stage that no feasibility study has been completed. This study will need to consider a range of biological and social-economic requirements, including the impact on other wildlife and livestock. Note the following extracts from the IUCN reintroduction criteria:

The species, if any, that has filled the void created by the loss of the species concerned, should be determined; an understanding of the effect the re-introduced species will have on the ecosystem is important for ascertaining the success of the re-introduced population.

Socio-economic studies should be made to assess impacts, costs and benefits of the re-introduction programme to local human populations.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister

(1) when he intends to implement a change in the use class of casinos; and if he will make a statement; [6969]

(2) what consultation his Department has undertaken since 1 November 2004 on the use class of casinos; which organisations were consulted; on what dates that consultation occurred; and if he will make a statement. [6970]

On 1 November 2004, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced that the Government were minded to make a change in the Use Classes Order in respect of casinos.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned consultants to look into the case for changes to the Use Classes Order and the implications of such a change. We are considering the consultants report. No change will be made without full public consultation.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each year since 2001–02; and for each year, on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department. [7182]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002. For ODPM-owned systems instances of hacking, fraud, theft and illegal access recorded in each complete year since that date are as follows:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of local authority employees who have been assaulted at work in each London borough in each year since 1997. [7468]

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether appraisals of priority projects on the reserve list for Objective 2 funding in the West Midlands are continuing following the extraordinary meeting of the West Midlands Objective 2 Programme Monitoring Committee held on 18 May. [7719]

holding answer 28 June 2005

At the Extraordinary meeting of the West Midlands Objective 2 Programme Monitoring Committee on 18 May it was agreed that:

The appraisal of priority projects on the reserve list requiring Advantage West Midlands (the Regional Development Agency) match funding is suspended until a full application is submitted to and accepted by AWM. These projects will then be subject to a joint appraisal approach.

Programme resource will not be committed to priority projects on the reserve list until the MG Rover package of projects has been approved and then subject to resource availability, the confirmation of all match funding and necessary planning approvals being in place.

The Programme Monitoring Committee will monitor the situation, on the basis of progress reports supplied by the European secretariat in the Government Office for the West Midlands.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average response time was to an emergency call to the fire brigade in each London borough in each year since 1997. [7473]

The available information has been supplied by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). This shows the average response time for emergency calls in each London borough averaged over the period April 1999-September 2003.

Average time for first appliance to arrive at an incident

Source:

LFEPA Incident Recording Information System (IRIS) Aril 1999 to September 2003

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire crews have trained for Lancashire fire brigade in each of the last three years; and how many are on the waiting list for training. [7655]

This is a matter for the local fire and rescue service. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation to come into force; and when he expects to announce his decisions on the outcome of the consultation on licensing in the private sector. [8648]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is proposing that the licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) comes into force in October 2005.

Decisions on the key issues arising from the consultation exercise on HMO licensing were announced by my right hon. Friend, the former Minister for Housing and Planning on 6 April. Decisions on the remaining issues will be announced before the summer recess.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many, and what proportion of, (a) privately rented and (b) privately owned homes in each English region do not meet the Decent Homes Standard; and what steps his Department is taking to improve these homes. [7143]

The English House Condition Survey 2001: Regional Report (ODPM, 2003) includes details of the numbers of private sector homes that did not meet the decent homes standard in 2001. Separate data are not available for privately rented and privately owned homes. The report is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website.

We are fully committed to improving the quality of private sector housing stock by encouraging, through financial support and guidance, the development of innovative housing renewal policies by local authorities through the powers made available to them by the Regulatory Reform Order (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002. The Housing Act 2004 contains measures to tackle private sector non-decency through the implementation of the new housing health and safety ratings system, and licensing on homes in multiple occupancy.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure on the Starter Homes Initiative was; and how many people were helped to buy a home in each year of its operation. [7173]

The total expenditure on the Starter Home Initiative was the original budget of £250 million, plus £53 million of extra funding from the ADP in March 2004 to help those key workers whose purchases were in the pipeline when SHI finished.

The numbers of key workers who were helped to buy a home in each year of operation:

There were also 306 cases where a second key worker was assisted in the same household.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure on the Key Worker Living scheme has been in each year since its inception; how many key workers have benefited from the scheme in each year; and what resources have been allocated to the scheme for future years. [7174]

Key Worker Living (KWL) began in April 2004. In 2004–05 expenditure was £265 million and 4,015 key workers benefited from the scheme. £374 million has been allocated for 2005–06 which has so far helped another 930 key workers since April 2005 and £86 million is allocated for 2006–07. The KWL target is to help 16,348 key workers by March 7. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently awaiting recommendations from regional housing boards on future funding levels for key workers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes available for rent through (a) Birmingham city council and (b) registered social landlords in Birmingham have been (i) demolished and (ii) built in each of the last 10 years. [6104]

The information is as follows.

⁽²⁷⁾RSL new build completions data taken from Birmingham city council website Development in Birmingham 2003–04".

⁽²⁸⁾Local authority demolitions data taken from city council's business plan statistical appendix—ODPM database.

⁽²⁹⁾New build/acquisition local authority data provided by Birmingham city council housing department

⁽³⁰⁾No data

⁽³¹⁾2004–05 demolition data taken from the draft HRA business plan, and is the planned demolitions figure, not outturn

The Housing Corporation, the funding and regulatory body for registered social landlords (RSLs) sponsored by the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister, only collects demolition data on a national level and therefore it is not possible to provide the information requested for RSL demolitions in the Birmingham area.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what eligibility criteria will be used to determine access to the Homebuy Joint Shared Equity Loans with Mortgage Lenders scheme. [6455]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on the details of our proposals for a range of new HomeBuy products, as set out in the consultation document 'HomeBuy—Expanding the Opportunity to Own' (a copy of which is available from the Library of the House).

Under our proposals the eligibility criteria for the public/private funded equity loans variant of HomeBuy will remain the same as under our proposals for Open Market HomeBuy. We will receive advice for Regional Housing Boards on eligibility. Subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise the programme will, as at present, be focussed on assisting key public sector workers such as teachers, nurses and police officers. Some social tenants and those on housing registers (iethose waiting for a council or housing association home to rent) may also be eligible.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if he will make a statement. [4122]

The number of laptop computers used by Ministers and special advisers since the creation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 29 May 2002 is as follows:

Number

The information requested on the use of laptop computers by officials, and associated costs, in each year since that date is not available centrally in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental records show the following numbers of lost or stolen laptop computers across the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since 29 May 2002:

⁽³²⁾Recovered

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many choice-based lettings schemes have been established by local authorities in England since 2001, broken down by region. [7270]

The following table shows the number of local authorities which indicated that they operate a choice-based lettings scheme as at April 2004. As some authorities are jointly involved in the same choice-based lettings scheme, the figures more accurately represent the number of local authorities which have adopted a choice based lettings approach rather than the number of choice-based lettings schemes in operation.

Number of local authorities involved in a choice-based letting scheme as at April 2004

Source:

ODPM's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix

Information on choice based letting schemes has been collected since 2002; only the latest figures are shown as previous year's data are not thought to be reliable.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to extend local area agreements to lower-tier authorities. [7438]

Lower-tier authorities are already included in Local Area Agreements (LAAs) in two-tier areas. Whilst county councils lead the development of LAAs, they must work closely with lower-tier authorities in their areas in doing so. Precisely how this engagement takes place is down to local arrangements.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the questionnaire sent to local authorities by his Department on the impact of implementing different variations of local government finance reform. [5589]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made available in the Library of the House copies of a questionnaire issued to a small selection of local authorities about possible practical and timing issues for Local Authorities and IT suppliers related to council tax revaluation in England. We have also provided a summary of the responses which have been submitted to Lyons.

As the questionnaire makes clear, the list of reform scenarios it contains was a way of exploring some of the technical parameters relating to practical implementation of council tax revaluation. It should not be taken in any sense as an indication of likely reform options.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many full-time equivalent employees are employed in relation to the Lyons Review. [4269]

The Lyons Inquiry team comprises 11.9full-time equivalent employees. The efficiency and relocation team, in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, works on both the implications for the Office of the Lyons relocation review as well as the Gershon review. The team has three full-time members of staff and they spend about a third of their time specifically on Lyons relocation review-related work. Other members of staff across the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, including in the regional development group, and in our non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies undertake specific work as necessary.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new homes have been built by each local housing authority that has opted for (a) large scale voluntary transfer, (b) arm's length management organisation and (c) private finance initiative in each year since it did so. [6813]

Most local housing authorities have not built any dwellings following large scale voluntary transfer, except those tabled as follows. Most social housing provision will have been through registered social landlords. Local housing authorities opting for arm length management organisation have reported no subsequent local authority house building. Local authorities with signed Housing Revenue Account private finance initiatives contracts have not reported any subsequent local authority house building.

Local authorities reporting 'local authority' house building following large scale voluntary transfer (dwellings/year)

⁽³³⁾Numbers may include some registered social landlord dwellings due to misclassification.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whatsteps he has taken to ensure that local authorities adopt appropriate practices for delivering home improvements for pensioners to meet their community safety objectives; and what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office on this subject. [7191]

Under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance)(England and Wales) Order 2002 local authorities were given wide ranging new powers to provide financial assistance to home-owners and others to improve living accommodation. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's circular 05/2003 advised local authorities on how they could be used to align housing renewal policies with wider strategic objectives such as the reduction of crime and antisocial behaviour.

Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a duty on named agencies to do all they can to reasonably prevent crime and disorder in their area. The decisions and activities of local bodies and organisations can have an important impact on levels of crime and disorder in communities. In recognition of this, section17 aims to place crime and disorder reduction at the heart of local decision-making and to give it a focus across the wide range of local services that influence and impact on community safety.

Ministers and official in ODPM are in constant touch with colleagues in the Home Office to discuss these important strategic issues and how effective policies can best be delivered.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department has spent on (a) consultancy and (b) other fees relating to the proposed regional fire control centres. [4936]

The FiReControl project commenced in January 2004. To the end of May 2005, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has spent £10,385,447 on consultancy and £2,524,472 on other fees related to the project. Some of these costs relating to building design are eligible to be reclaimed from selected accommodation developers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the budget for the conduct of (a) the Lyons Review and (b) the Balance of Funding Review. [4241]

The Lyons Inquiry spent £239,565 in 2004–05 and has an estimated spend of £731,400 for 2005–06. The team working in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the implications of the Lyon's relocation review and the Gershon efficiency review is projected to cost £110,785 in 2005–06. About £37,000 of this can be attributed to Lyon's relocation review-related work.

For the Balance of Funding Review £118,789 was spent on externally commissioned research. The net cost of producing the report was about £1,000 taking account of sales. Other, administrative costs were not separately identified.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to delay the need for developers to provide a flood risk assessment for each new development until the Thames gateway flood risk assessment is available. [7077]

In line with planning policy guidance note (PPG) 25, those proposing developments in flood risk areas should carry out a flood risk assessment appropriate to the location, scale and nature of the development and should submit this with the application.

The strategic flood risk assessment currently being undertaken by the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership will provide information allowing local authorities in the area to work together to develop land use allocation strategies for managing flood risk. It will not remove the necessity for site-specific flood risk assessments which will still be needed to consider the specific risk of flooding to the development over its expected lifetime and address issues such as surface drainage and rainwater collection and discharge, as well as risks associated from fluvial or tidal flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the case for chess to be recognised as a sport; and if she will make a statement. [8366]

The criteria that the sports councils use to decide whether an activity should be recognised as a sport are derived from their Royal Charters, and ultimately from the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937. Legal advice has stated that chess does not fall within the meaning of the word sport" for the purposes of the Royal Charter, or the meaning of physical training and recreation" in the Act. Recognition of chess would therefore require amendments to the Act.

Sport is now a devolved matter, so a change in the current position would require the unanimous support of both the Devolved Administrations (DAs) and the sports councils, before any progress could be made. It would be necessary to put a case to the DAs and the sports councils for legislative change that would include chess, and if necessary other mind games", within the criteria for recognition as a sport. The case put forward must be able to convince them that chess provides the same benefits to the public, such as improved health and fitness, as recognised sports, in order to merit equal status and the financial support that comes with it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she was first informed that her departmental press officer had disseminated a press release on behalf of her husband; and who authorised the press officer to take this action. [7293]

The press officer, acting on his own initiative, e-mailed a single newspaper with a statement on behalf of Mr. Mills. He was not asked or encouraged to do so, and I was made aware later that day that he had done so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which constituencies have received (a) less than 10 per cent. and (b) less than 15 per cent. of the national average for constituencies of grants to good causes from the national lottery; and if she will make a statement. [8074]

This answer is based on the latest commercially available constituency boundary information, which does not include the boundary changes made in Scotland for the 2005 general election.

The following constituencies have received less than 10 per cent. of the average (mean) amount awarded in each constituency:

Hornchurch

Birmingham, Hall Green

Birmingham, Hodge Hill

Southend West

Romford

Hamilton South

Billericay

Constituencies that have received less than 15 per cent. of the average (mean) amount awarded in each constituency include the seven listed above, and the following eight:

Aberdeen South

Hayes and Harlington

Croydon South

Luton North

Newport East

Birmingham, Erdington

Birmingham, Yardley

Rayleigh

However the mean average of £23.9 million per constituency is distorted because of very large grants in a few constituencies. If the median average of £13.3 million is used, no constituencies have less than 10 per cent. of this and only Hornchurch and Birmingham, Hall Green have received less than 15 per cent.

The two lists of constituencies are derived from the Department's Lottery Awards Database which is based on information supplied by the lottery distributors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many swimming pools there have been in each London borough in each year since 1997. [8209]

The information requested is provided in the following table. The information includes swimming pools provided by public and private operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities in England subsidise the running of bus services. [8603]

The majority of subsidy for bus services outside London is provided by local transport authorities, that is county councils, unitary authorities and in metropolitan areas, passenger transport authorities. In some areas district councils also contribute to funding for bus services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each year since 2001–02; and for each year, on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department. [7186]

The Department and its Agencies recorded no cases of computer hacking in 2001–02, 30 cases in 2002–03, 71 cases in 2003–04, 31 cases in 2004–05 (internal source) and one case to date in 2005–06 (external source). Of these, the number of recorded cases attributed to fraud were 30 in 2002–03, 71 in 2003–04 and 30 in 2004–05.

The Department and its Agencies has recorded six cases of theft in 2001–02, 23 cases in 2002–03, 23 cases in 2003–04, 18 cases in 2004–05 and four cases to date in 2005–06. These cases were perpetrated by persons outside the Department and its Agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the percentage of container traffic which entered the UK through (a) Harwich, (b) Felixstowe and (c) London which had final destinations north of the M62 and which was transported to those destinations by train. [7694]

The Department does not collect information about the destination of containers that enter UK ports and which are transported onwards by train.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the tonnage of container traffic which entered the UK through (a) Harwich, (b) Felixstowe and (c) London which went to destinations north of the M62 by lorry. [7695]

Separate information is not available for individual ports. However, it is estimated that in 2003 about 650,000 tonnes of container traffic entered the UK by lorry through ports in Essex, Greater London or Suffolk and had a final destination north of the M62¹ .

¹ Including Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire Metropolitan Areas.

Source:

Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport 2003"

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Partners Achieving Change Together (PACT) contract was let; and whether PACT work was offered to open competition via a notice in the Official Journal of the European Community prior to being let. [6556]

The PACT contract was let in September 2002. It was tendered under OJEC competitive procurement rules, supported by the OGC gateway review process. Nine respondents were long-listed, three were short-listed and negotiations undertaken with two.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to make an announcement on the proposed Supertram scheme in Leeds; and if he will make a statement. [8382]

The Secretary of State made clear the position on the Supertram scheme in his Oral statement last summer on 20 July 2004, Official Report, column 159. Since then revised proposals have been submitted for consideration and will be decided upon in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many light rail schemes have been completed and opened since 1997. [9016]

The following light rail schemes have been completed and opened since 1997:

Midland Metro—1999

Docklands Light Railway extension to Lewisham—1999

Croydon Tramlink—2000

Manchester Metrolink Phase II (to Eccles)—2000

Tyne and Wear Metro Sunderland extension—2002

Nottingham Express Transit—2004

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers per train there were on the North London line in each year since 1997. [8392]

This information is not held centrally by the Department or the Strategic Rail Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail passengers travelled from Shenfield to Heathrow in each month since 2003. [8537]

This information is not held centrally by the Department or the Strategic Rail Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings have taken place between officials in his Department and officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to discuss arrangements to repatriate UK passengers in the event of a major airline failure. [8395]

The Government have in place contingency plans to deal with crises, including a major airline failure, and officials from this Department have met Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on a number of occasions to discuss these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations there are in Greater London; if he will list those which have been accredited since 1998 under the secure station scheme; and what the (a) date of accreditation, (b) the dates of re-accreditation and (c) when accreditation lapsed was in each case. [8075]

Stations are awarded secure stations status for a two year period once they have met the required accreditation standards on station design, station management, crime management, and passenger perceptions.

There are 615 rail stations in Greater London, including 34 Docklands Light Rail and 257 London Underground stations. Of these stations 131 have been accredited since 1998 under the secure stations scheme, consisting of 55 first time accreditations, 31 re-accreditations and 45 lapsed stations. A list detailing these stations along with their respective accreditation, re-accreditation and lapsed dates has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has held with (a) the Association of British Travel Agents, (b) the Federation of Tour Operators and (c) the Association of Independent Tour Operators on the regulatory burden on the travel industry. [8305]

On 23 June 2005 I met representatives of the Association of Independent Tour Operators to discuss their concerns on the regulatory burden in the travel industry. On 3 May 2005 officials from this Department met representatives of the Association of British Travel Agents and the Federation of Tour Operators to discuss the same issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) total value and (b) percentage of total expected revenue of vehicle excise duty evasionis estimated to have been in each year since 1997–98. [5185]

Estimates of vehicle excise duty (VED) evasion are made by national roadside surveys undertaken by DfT statisticians. Surveys were carried out in 1994, 1999, 2002 and the latest survey took place in June 2004.

To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) asked the Defence Export Services Organisation for (a) information and (b) co-operation in respect of the SFO's investigation into allegations of bribery and false accounting concerning BAE Systems and Saudi Arabian officials. [8129]

The question relates to an ongoing criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate to either confirm or deny whether the SFO has approached a particular individual or entity.

To ask the Solicitor-General how much has been spent on the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last 10 years. [6575]

The following table gives the net expenditure on the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last 10 years. Expenditure is reported in cash terms from 1995–96 to 2000–01 and in resource terms thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to help people with autism find employment; and if he will make a statement. [7740]

holding answer 28 June 2005

Our specialist Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs), who are based in jobcentres, receive training and guidance to help them support people with health conditions and disabilities into employment, including people with autism. The support provided by DEAs includes advice on jobs and training, as well as information on in-work support, and specialist programmes to help overcome barriers to employment associated with disability.

All our Jobcentre Plus advisers have access to a Disability Awareness Open Learning Handbook, which includes information on autistic spectrum disorders; the effects they have on individuals, the implications for work, and the possible types of support an individual might need in employment. This information was approved by the National Autistic Society and is recommended learning for all advisers, and mandatory learning for DEAs. We are currently working with the society on further enhancements.

All Jobcentre Plus staff, including DEAs, also have access to information on a range of disabilities, including autism, through guidance on our Intranet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people declared part-time earnings while claiming incapacity benefit in each of the last five years. [8497]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) what representations he has received about the reduction of staff numbers in local job centres; [7306]

(2) what plans he has to reduce the number of staff at Jobcentre Plus offices. [7307]

holding answer 29 June 2005

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Hugo Swire, dated 30 June 2005

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning what representations he has received about the reduction of staff numbers in local Jobcentres, and what plans he has to reduce the number of staff at Jobcentre Plus offices. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

As announced in the 2004 Spending Review, the Department has plans to reduce overall staff numbers by 30,000 by 31 March 2008. Jobcentre Plus has agreed with the Department that its contribution towards that overall reduction would be a headcount target for March 2008 of 65,672 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff. To provide some context for that figure, at the end of May 2005 Jobcentre Plus employed 72,888 FTE staff.

There have been several representations to the Secretary of State on this subject. In addition, we are consulting closely with our recognised trade unions on the steps we are taking to meet our efficiency challenge. We consulted them whilst developing our Human Resources policies and procedures and reached a formal agreement in November 2004 on avoiding or, if that is not possible, minimising compulsory redundancies.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken to bring appointeeships in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. [7082]

Officials are currently discussing the Act's draft Code of Conduct with officials of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, who are responsible for the implementation of the Act. They will also have discussions with the Making Decisions Alliance in the near future.