To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance relating to the application of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. [14025]

holding answer 21 July 2005

The Joint Service Publication 765 "The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for Injury, Illness and Death due to Service (AFCS)" issued on 6 April 2005 will be placed in the Library. This document provides guidance on the AFCS, offering further explanation of the rules of the scheme as set out in Statutory Instrument 439 of 2005, including providing examples of how the rules are applied and how benefits are calculated. JSP 765 can also be found on the internet at www.mod.uk/issues/pensions and select heading "JSP 765 The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for Injury, Illness or death due to Service".

A Veterans Agency operational guide supporting the full IT-lead decision-making process which is due to be introduced later this year is currently being produced and will also be provided when complete by December 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength of the (a) sea cadets, (b) air cadets and (c) army cadets in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley is. [13009]

The information requested is shown in the table:

There are no members of the Combined Cadet Force in Chorley.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) financial assistance, (b) technical assistance and (c) personnel his Department is contributing to the clearing of mines in Iraq. [14988]

The United Kingdom Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group provides mentoring for the Iraqi Army 70 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company, which, when it reaches full operational capability, will have the ability to conduct large scale mine clearing operations.

UK Royal Engineers based in southern Iraq clear mines when necessary for operational purposes. The UK plays a much greater role in dealing with the large scale problem of abandoned unexploded ordnance in southern Iraq. To date more than 880,000 items of unexploded ordnance have been recovered or destroyed by UK forces in MND(SE).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medals have been awarded to soldiers who have served or are serving in Iraq, broken down by medal designation. [14517]

As at 26 August 2005, the following medals had been issued to military personnel who have served or are serving in Iraq.

⁽¹⁾ This figure is based on the statistics for the total applications assessed, minus 2–3 per cent. which is the estimated percentage for those applications rejected as not meeting the eligibility criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year. [14678]

Ministry of Defence expenditure on external assistance, of which consultants or companies employed to manage media relations is part, is available in the Libraries of both Houses for the years 1995–96 to 2003–04. Although this is broken down by various categories, the MOD does not centrally record expenditure on external media consultants. This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the (a) inks, (b) dyes, (c) bleach and (d) chemicals used in the printing of camouflage under the cut and sew contract have been tested for reaction on skin. [5154]

There is no requirement in our fabric specifications for these tests to be carried out. The camouflage items supplied by our contractor to date have met the required specification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of those countries in which UK armed forces are deployed how much military explosive was unaccounted for in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005. [13272]

The Ministry of Defence does not have any recorded losses of military explosive from overseas deployments in the period 2002–05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which regiments are based in each region. [12467]

I have assumed that my hon. Friend is referring to the locations of the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) of major Regular Army Units, which can be found in the following tables. Major units are defined as those regional and deployable units with over 320 personnel and do not include Regular Army training establishments.

Royal Armoured Corps

Infantry

Royal Regiment of Artillery

Royal Engineers

Army Air Corps

Royal Logistics Corps

Royal Military Police

Royal Signals

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Army Medical Services

Intelligence Corps

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what computerisation or IT failures have occurred in projects managed by the Cabinet Office in each year since 1997; what the contracted cost of the project was in each case; and what estimate he has made of the direct and indirect costs of failure in each case. [14369]

There are two cases of information technology (IT) failures in projects managed by the former Office of the e-Envoy within the Cabinet Office, since 1997.

The first project, which was terminated in 2000, was the contract with IT supplier Compaq for provision of consultancy services and IT asset purchases, for the development of the Government Gateway. The contracted cost was £6.7 million, under an Instruction to Proceed notices which would have led to a multi year contract.

The direct cost of termination was £5.6 million, which was payment for assets relating to work completed. There were no indirect costs for the termination. The cost of the replacement, including the £5.6 million, was within the original budget.

The second IT failure was with the data centre and hosting management service to be provided by ITNET whose contract was terminated in 2004. The original contract value was £84 million. A total of £5 million was paid up to the point of termination of the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total spending by the Learning and Skills Council was on the promotion of apprenticeships in each of the last 10 years. [14839]

The Learning and Skills Council has been responsible for promoting apprenticeships since it came into existence in April 2001. The council's chief executive Mr. Mark Haysom will write to the hon. Member with the information he requires and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. Before April 2001 promotion of apprenticeships was the responsibility of the Department and the Training and Enterprise Councils. It is not possible to estimate the total amount spent on promotional activities in this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14693]

My Department operates a Welsh Language Act Scheme in accordance with section 21(3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993. Under this scheme if someone writes to us in Welsh we will issue any reply in Welsh. If someone writes to us in either—Scots Gaelic or Irish Gaelic we will endeavour to issue any reply in the same language but are under no statutory obligation to do so. Our target time for replying will be the same as for replying to letters written in English.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many learning and skills councils have rationalised the number of training providers for the training of dental nurses; how many no longer include practising dentists as training providers; and if she will make a statement. [13184]

My Department and the Learning and Skills Council are working together to ensure that colleges and providers deliver high quality provision which meets the needs of learners and employers. The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for the planning and funding of post-16 learning outside Higher Education. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested for the training of dental nurses. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was allocated to the Department for each year since 1975. [11520]

From 1975 to 1997, allocations made in the Public Expenditure Survey were reported in the Autumn Statements with detailed breakdowns in the Expenditure Plans White Papers. Since 1997, allocations made in the Spending Review rounds are reported in Spending Review White Papers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students aged 16 to 18 years are in receipt of education maintenance allowance in each institution in (a) North East Somerset, (b) South Gloucestershire and (c) Wansdyke. [12514]

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate education maintenance allowances for the DfES and hold the information about take-up of the scheme. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Rob Wye to Dan Norris dated: 25 July 2005

I am writing on Mark Haysom's behalf due to him currently being on annual leave, in response to your recent Parliamentary Question in which you asked the Secretary of State for Education and Skills "how many students aged 16 to 18 years are in receipt of education maintenance allowance in each institution in(a) North East Somerset, (b) South Gloucestershire and (c) Wansdyke."

Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received EMA is available at Local Education Authority level, but not at constituency level. Attached is a breakdown by school/college of 16, 17, 18 and 19 year old students who have received EMA during the academic year 2004/2005 in the Local Education Authorities of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, City of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. If a young person attended and received payment from more than one institute then they will be counted more than once in this report.

During the Academic year 2004/2005 EMA was available to all 16 years olds across England who met the eligibility criteria and also to those 17, 18 and 19 years olds who reside in former EMA pilot areas (and meet eligibility criteria).

Although there were no pilot areas in Gloucestershire, West of England and Somerset Local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) areas the attached data shows some 17 and 18 years olds having received EMA payments. This is because either the young person travels across area borders to attend school/college (assessment is based upon residence of young person) or they have moved residence from a non-pilot area during the academic year.

I hope this information is helpful and addresses your question. If you would like further details please contact Chris Bradley at the LSC National Office on 0114 207 4512 or christopher. bradley@lsc.gov.uk

Take-up in Gloucestershire, west of England and Somerset LLSCs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of educational maintenance allowances has been in each year since their introduction. [10769]

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the level of funding for (a) 19 years plus students and (b) students with disabilities in East Hertfordshire. [10924]

Funding for further education, including adult learners and those with disabilities, is increasing and will rise by over £1 billion in 2005–06 compared to 2002–03—a 25 per cent. cash increase in three years. Funding increases for individual colleges will depend on a number of factors including the extent to which college activities align with our key priorities. As the allocation of funding in local areas relates to the LSC's operational responsibilities I have asked the LSC's chief executive, Mark Haysom, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the change in numbers of places for (a) construction, (b) engineering and (c) catering courses offered by Hertford Regional College in 2005–06. [10925]

The Government have been clear about its priorities for education. Changes in the numbers of places available for individual courses in particular colleges will depend on a number of factors, including Government priorities. As decisions about the mix of provision to be funded in local areas relates to the LSC's operational responsibilities, I have asked the LSC's chief executive, Mark Haysom, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what computerisation or IT failures have occurred in public sector projects managed by her Department in each year since 1997; what the contracted cost of the project was in each case; and what estimate she has made of the direct and indirect costs of failure or breakdown in each case. [14366]

I can confirm that no computerisation or IT failures have occurred in public sector projects managed by the Department for Education and Skills in the years since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many village schools have closed since January 2000. [14785]

Rural village schools play an important part in maintaining the viability of the countryside. That is why we introduced a presumption against the closure of rural schools in 1998. The presumption does not mean that no rural school should ever close, but the case for closure should be strong and the proposals clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area.

The number of rural schools approved for closure since 2000 is shown as follows.

Rural schools approved for closure since 2000

In 2003 we introduced a broader definition for rural areas which increased the proportion of schools in England classified as rural.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate (a) Skills for Care and (b) the Children, Young People and Families Workforce Development Council has made of the number of (i) domiciliary care workers, (ii) outreach workers, (iii) residential child workers, (iv) social care managers and (v) staff responsible for recruitment and supervision of social care staff who would be covered by future requirements for registration with the General Social Care Council. [14438]

I have been asked to reply.

I refer hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 July 2005, Official Report, columns 725–26W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what facilities her Department has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14694]

My Department operates a Welsh Language Act Scheme in accordance with section 21(3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993. Where a telephone helpline forms part of a campaign that is applicable to a Welsh speaking audience, a Welsh language service is offered. We have no facilities to deal with telephone inquiries in Scots Gaelic or Irish Gaelic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 to 16-year-olds undertook work experience in (a) the public sector, (b) a small or medium sized enterprise, (c) a large enterprise and (d) a trade union in each year between 2000 and 2004. [10042]

There is a 95 per cent. take up of work experience among Key Stage 4 pupils. However, the breakdown of numbers participating is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, chief executive of the LSC, will write to my hon. Friend, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total spending by his Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in the (i) Moray constituency and (ii) Highland Region was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [14846]

The Scotland Office occupies premises in Edinburgh and London, with a very small presence in Glasgow and does not incur any direct expenditure outwith these areas. Information on regional distribution of staff at 1 April 2004 is available in the libraries of both Houses, and also at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/contents_for_civil_service_statistics_2004_ report/index.asp

Table D shows the numbers of staff by regional distribution. Figures relating to 1 April 2005 will be published next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total spending by his Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Dundee, East constituency, (ii) Tayside and (iii) the City of Dundee was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [14876]

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total spending by his Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Banff and Buchan and (ii) the North East of Scotland was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [14884]

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total spending by his Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in Perth and North Perthshire was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14917]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [14659]

Staff of the Scotland Office are on loan from the Department for Constitutional Affairs or the Scottish Executive; both Departments continue to provide a full programme of training and development opportunities for such staff. Initiatives specific to equality and diversity include running diversity and equality events, supporting internal staff networks and providing support on corporate diversity programmes. To underpin this, diversity training is mandatory for all Scotland Office staff. Separate figures on costs are, however, not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department in the last 12 months; if he will place copies of the results of each survey in the library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid. [14812]

The Scotland Office has not undertaken any opinion surveys in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much (a) money and (b) property has been seized in Paisley and Renfrewshire, North as a consequence of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. [14150]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Hamilton) on 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 591W. As I indicated, this is a devolved matter and the information requested is not broken down by constituency or local authority area. Neither is it available in terms of money or property seized except in relation to the particular individuals involved.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many letters to his Department from hon. Members in session (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old. [13860]

As at 31 August, there are no unanswered letters from hon. Members for the 2004–05 session. For the current session 52 letters remain unanswered that are more than one month old, of which three letters are more than two months old.

The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 137–40WS.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 298W, on council tax, whether he has a personal council tax liability on his official residences at (a) Admiralty House and (b) Dorneywood. [12084]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister does not have a personal council tax liability on his official residence at Admiralty House. In line with established Cabinet Office policy on official residences, council tax liability in respect of my right hon. Friend's residence at Admiralty House is paid by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

In relation to Dorneywood I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 298W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Valuation Office Agency's most recent estimate is of the number of (a) empty homes and (b) second homes in England. [5570]

The number of empty homes and second homes in England, as reported by local authorities on the CTB(1) and CTB(1)S forms submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for 2005–06, are 714,000 and 229,000 respectively. No data on second homes were received from Hart or Wandsworth; the total for second homes excludes estimates for these authorities.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the net cost to each fire authority of the proposed regionalisation of fire control centres; and what methodology will be used for precepting. [14608]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that there may some net additional costs to FRAs during the transition from the existing to the new arrangements and is committed to the new burdens principles whereby it will meet net additional costs to FRAs arising from the project. From the point when the last centre goes live, the new control centres are expected to achieve, on average, a steady state saving of some 30 per cent. over existing arrangements, which will result in net savings to each fire and rescue authority. However, figures are not yet available for each authority, as the FiReControl business case only exists at national level. We are working closely with fire and rescue authorities through the FiReControl Finance Working Group to give them the information they need for budgeting at local level.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria are used to determine allocation of funding for the key worker living initiative (a) to individual housing associations and (b) to geographical areas; and how the requirement for key worker housing in an area is assessed. [12758]

The programme operates in London, the east and south east of England. Housing associations in these regions were invited to bid for funds in autumn 2003 as part of the Approved Development Programme competitive process. The Housing Corporation assessed bids using criteria of association capacity, deliverability, value for money and quality of schemes.

Funding has been allocated to schemes offering best value, rather than being ring- fenced to specific areas.

Evaluation of key worker housing need at a local level generally has included consultation with relevant employers and analysis of available labour and housing market data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs were lost in each county in each year since 1997. [14761]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Peter Bone, dated 22 September 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of manufacturing jobs lost in each county in each year since 1997. (14761)

While statistics of jobs lost are not available, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs from year to year.

I am placing in the House of Commons Library a table giving information for each year from 1997 to 2003, the latest year for which information is available.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her Department's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14703]

Under the Department for Constitutional Affairs' draft Welsh Language Scheme we aim to respond in Welsh to any correspondence sent to us in Welsh within the same timescale as other correspondence.

In recognition of its operational role and its delivery of services direct to the public in Wales, Her Majesty's Court Service, an executive agency of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, has its own Welsh Language Scheme. A public consultation on the Scheme finished at the end of June and it has now been approved by the Welsh Language Board and came into effect on 19 July 2005. The text of the Scheme can be found at: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/3437.htm The aim as set out in the Scheme is to respond in Welsh to correspondence sent in Welsh within the same timescale as other correspondence.

There are no similar Schemes in place for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in Scots Gaelic or Irish Gaelic.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will place in the Library the reports provided by the Coroner of Teesside to the Lord Chancellor on his performance since his severe reprimand. [15639]

The reports referred to by my hon. and learned Friend have been provided by the Coroner for Teesside to the Lord Chancellor on a confidential basis as part of an ongoing disciplinary matter, and it is not appropriate for them to be made available in the way requested. The annual coronial statistics for 2004 will shortly be published. I will send a copy to my hon. Friend as soon as they are available.