To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to her Department. [15450]

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department would need to divert significant resources from day to day operational matters to compare the invoice and billing addresses on its financial systems of those companies with whom it trades, with the registered trading addresses of those companies held at Companies House and then, determine whether any contractors had their primary headquarters based in other EU states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage contribution farming made to the English gross domestic product (a) before and (b) after deduction for subsidies in each of the last three years. [16485]

Farming's contribution to the economy is measured by its contribution to Gross Value Added (GVA).

The following table shows the percentage proportion that agriculture made to GVA for England for the years 2001 to 2003, which are the latest available.

Percentage

The subsidies included (and excluded) here are those that were linked to production, such as the Arable Area Payment Scheme and Sheep Annual Premium Scheme. Payments made to farmers through, for example, agri-environment schemes, which are not linked to production, do not contribute to GVA and are not included in these figures.

The increase in the percentage proportion from 2001 will in part reflect a recovery from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list state aid for national fishing fleets of each EU member state since 1997. [16846]

The Department does not hold information on state aids provided by each EU member state to its fishing fleets. We understand that the EU Commission may hold such information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vessels from countries which joined the EU in 2004 fished within the UK's 200 mile/median line limit in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [16847]

The information as requested is not readily available, and as such what information is available is given as follows.

On joining the EU, the new member states only received very limited allocations of quotas related to any fish stocks involving the waters within British fishery limits. Based on the information reported by these new and the existing member states on the activity by the new member states vessels in 2004, no reported catches of quota stocks involving the areas covered by British fishery limits took place. UK fisheries Departments have details related to activity by such vessels when it results in landings of fish at a UK port. For 2004, these show that while there were landings by some Polish vessels into the UK, they did not involve any activity within British fishery limits.

Information is available from the UK fishing vessel monitoring system, which records observations of UK and fishing vessels registered in other countries while present within British fishery limits. These observations are based on satellite monitoring information for larger vessels and also aerial and naval sightings of vessels. The satellite reporting system does not cover the full fleets of the member states in question, but does cover the larger vessels that are more likely to make the journeys required to fish in UK waters. Similarly the system records the location of vessels but not if they were actually fishing at the time of the report. Based on the overall vessel monitoring reports available, since the accession of the new member states on 1 May 2004, there have been only three vessels from the new member states observed as present within British fishery limits—one each from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.

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

(1) what assessment she has made of the effects of the hazardous waste regulations on the construction industry; [14999]

(2) what the definition of occupy is for the purposes of the hazardous waste regulations, with regard to the mobile services tenure restriction for exemption from notification to the Environment Agency; [15000]

(3) whether construction contractors are considered for the purposes of the hazardous waste regulations to occupy the premises on which they work; [15001]

(4) whether the number of registrations anticipated by the Environment Agency as a result of the hazardous waste regulations includes construction sites. [15002]

The Environment Agency are responsible for enforcing the new regulations and it has confirmed that, in some circumstances, it will consider sub-contractors working at construction sites to be mobile service operators. The agency would normally expect a construction company producing hazardous waste at a construction site to notify those premises. However, where a producer is genuinely carrying out a mobile service at a site, such as a painter and decorator, the mobile service provisions would apply as long as that person produces less than 200kg at those premises in any period of 12 months.

As far as the tenure restriction (i.e. that the operator of the mobile service neither owns nor occupies those related premises) is concerned, the interpretation of the regulations is ultimately a matter for the courts. The term "occupies" is not defined in the regulations and it will therefore carry its ordinary meaning. In the Government's view, it would normally refer to the person in occupation and in many cases that will be the tenant or licensee of the premises. The effect would be that any contractor who is a tenant or a licensee would not satisfy the mobile service tenure restriction and would need to notify the premises. However, a sub-contractor attending a site to carry out a specific task (without occupying the site) would be able to operate under the mobile service provisions as long as they produced less than 200kg of hazardous waste at that site in any period of twelve months.

The final regulatory impact assessment which assessed the impact of the regulations on a range of businesses and industry notes that the Environment Agency estimated that there would be 110,000 notified sites in year one. This estimate is based in part on the number of sites producing and consigning special waste under the previous regime. In so far as construction sites consigned special waste under the special waste regime, they will be included in the estimate of notifications under the hazardous waste regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve public access to rivers in England; and if she will make a statement. [17458]

Defra has put in place a number of measures to increase opportunities for water-based recreation. These include:

commissioning the Countryside Agency to work in partnership with other Government agencies to pilot demonstration projects to develop best practice for access agreements for canoeists on key stretches of water in England;

implementing the findings of this feasibility study by asking the Environment Agency to complete agreements in the four pilot areas; and

agreeing to the development of a strategic approach to recreational access to inland waters, led by the Environment Agency but in collaboration with other key stakeholders including local access forums.

All of this work has been underpinned by extensive discussions with the Countryside Agency, Environment Agency, Sport England, and the British Canoe Union.

Responsibility for promoting recreation in Wales, including access to rivers, lies with the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government rather than with Defra.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much toxic waste was transported through Hemel Hempstead constituency from and to other locations in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [16715]

The Environment Agency's hazardous waste data system on the movement of hazardous waste within England and Wales, which is based on statutory powers, does not record the route or method of transport used.

Separate controls apply to the import and export of hazardous waste from the UK. These controls provide some route details but do not provide a level of detail to establish what, if any, shipments pass through the Hemel Hempstead constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many countries allow the hunting of whales; and how many whales were killed in 2004–05, broken down by species. [7660]

Seven countries are currently involved in whaling operations. Of these, Norway carries out commercial whaling under objection to the International Whaling Commission Moratorium. Japan and Iceland take whales under special permit (so called "scientific" whaling) and the remaining four countries are involved in aboriginal subsistence whaling.

Aboriginal whaling is not affected by the moratorium on commercial whaling and is permitted under IWC rules from Denmark (Greenland, fin and minke whales), the Russian Federation (Siberia, gray whales), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (humpback whales), and the USA (Alaska, bowhead and occasionally off Washington State, gray whales).

In 2004–05 13 fin, one humpback, 1,368 minke, three sperm, 44 bowhead, 11 gray, 100 sei and 51 brydes were killed, as reported to the International Whaling Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has undertaken on the impact of Crossrail construction on building stability in the Spitalfields area. [15918]

The Crossrail environmental statement (ES) and its accompanying technical reports published in February 2005 contained an assessment of potential settlement along the route.

Analysis of settlement is an ongoing activity that will be reviewed and updated as the detailed design of the project is developed. Further assessments will be undertaken for buildings within the zone potentially affected by settlement. Where significant settlement is expected to occur, measures will be taken to mitigate the effects.

Details of the assessment process, surveys, monitoring, protection and remedial work is outlined in the Crossrail policy on Ground Settlement published in February 2005. The policy document, the ES and the technical reports have all been published and can be found atwww.crossrail.co.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Sudan. [16767]

1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Darfur and just under 3.5 million are now dependent on humanitarian assistance. Although the latest UN mortality survey shows that the number of deaths has decreased significantly since last year, banditry and the recent increase in violence are a cause of considerable concern.

In Southern Sudan malnutrition levels are in places, as bad as in Darfur. The situation should improve after the anticipated good harvest, but there will still be areas where food is insufficient. People are now returning home to the South, but the humanitarian and development needs there are enormous.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress was made at the UN World Summit towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. [16771]

The outcome document agreed at the World summit in September consolidates all the achievements on development of the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July. For the first time, there was an unambiguous commitment by the UN's 191 member states to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), acknowledging the special needs of Africa. The need for urgency is underlined. Reflecting the Gleneagles communiqué on Africa, the Document reaffirms the central principle that developing countries must take primary responsibility for their own development. It also welcomes the commitments of the G8 and EU to increase and improve development assistance to contribute to achievement of the MDGs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he is taking to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals to promote gender equality and empower women in the developing world by 2015 are met. [16773]

Eliminating gender inequality and promoting women's empowerment are essential to the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). DFID's strategy for promoting gender equality is set out in the document "Poverty Elimination and the Empowerment of Women", available on DFID's website. DFID also supports specific activities to promote the rights of women and girls, including in the areas of girls' education, maternal mortality and reproductive health.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Niger. [16772]

I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 11 October 2005, , on the food crisis in Niger.Official Report, column 26WS

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he was first informed of the gravity of the famine in Niger; and if he will make a statement. [16775]

DFID has been following events in the Sahel, including Niger, since the locust invasion of last year. We made our first contribution to the humanitarian effort in June of this year when NGO surveys made it clear that emergency feeding programmes and nutritional therapy for malnourished children were required. My statement to Parliament on the food crisis in Niger of 11 October provides the details of our response.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress he is making in implementing the agreements on aid and debt reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles. [16774]

At the UN World summit, the EU statement confirmed that a group of willing countries would implement the international finance facility (IFF) as a component of the EU development financing package consisting also of the new EU oda/GNI target, debt relief and an air ticket levy. On the G8 proposal for 100 per cent. debt stock cancellation, the International Development Association (IDA) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) components of this were agreed by the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF, and the approval process is under way in the African Development Bank. Progress continues on full implementation and financing of the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. As a result of the extended HIPC sunset clause for which the UK lobbied, more countries are likely to become eligible for debt relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on aid for sub-Saharan Africa in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [16776]

Total DFID bilateral aid to sub-Saharan Africa in each of the last five years has been as follows. DFID provided £626 million in 2000–01; £533 million in 2001–02; £700 million in 2002–03; £672 million in 2003–04; and £825 million in 2004–05. Figures for 2004–05 are provisional pending the publication of Statistics on International Development 2005 later this month.

DFID will provide over £1 billion bilateral aid to sub-Saharan Africa during 2005–06.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that aid and assistance given to the Colombian Government is used for the purposes for which it is intended. [16770]

DFID does not provide money directly to the Colombian Government, but does so through its contributions to the European Commission, the Inter America Development Bank and the World Bank. DFID reviews their project proposals through its participation in the bank boards and relevant EC committee. All these institutions have monitoring systems to ensure appropriate use of the aid. We also provide assistance to British NGOs in Colombia to enable them to support local civil society organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support has been offered to (a) the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (b) the United Nations Mission to the Congo to increase the effectiveness of (i) border and customs controls and (ii) airspace monitoring. [16015]

At the request of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) transitional Government in 2004, DFID facilitated a review of the DRC's customs operations by Crown Agents UK. This year, the DRC Government has indicated a willingness to follow up the report in terms of improved border and customs controls. DFID is considering supporting this. We are also considering further options for DFID's engagement in this area, for example through supporting the French and EC on the development of a customs reform programme focused on border points in Katanga and Ituri.

We have encouraged the Mission des Nations Unies au Congo (MONUC) to increase border and airspace monitoring as far as their resources allow given current priorities for MONUC action (supporting the elections, and tackling the Front Democratique pour la Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) in the east and other armed groups in Ituri). The UK's contribution to MONUC through UN assessed contributions in 2005 is estimated to be £48 million, as well as six personnel in key positions. We have regularly lobbied at the UN Security Council for an increase in MONUC's capacity, particularly in the run up to the elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK aid has been given to India in each year since 2000. [16766]

UK development assistance to India has been rising steadily since 2000, in response to the scale of the poverty challenge and the positive environment for poverty reduction and development.

Gross UK development assistance to India (including aid from other UK official sources) in each of the last five financial years was:

£ million

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of locust plagues in West Africa; and what steps his Department has taken to tackle problems caused by locusts in West Africa. [16853]

DFID has not made its own assessment of the 2004 locust infestation, but an independent review of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) regional control operation is being planned and will include an assessment of the appropriateness of the technical response, which will be important for the preparation of future campaigns. DFID provided £1.5 million to the operation, which covered Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Chad.

Fortunately, cold weather in North Africa earlier this year has helped to diminish breeding capacity so there has not been a repeat of the large swarms seen in 2004, but we will of course, continue to monitor the situation carefully. The FAO recently stated that the risk in the Sahel this year is low.

In Southern Africa and the Horn, DFID is pioneering longer-term safety net programmes as a means of combating structural, predictable hunger. We hope that the lessons emerging from these experiences can provide pointers to steps that could be taken in West Africa by Governments and development donors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects a film co-operation agreement with India will be agreed. [16951]

We have secured agreement on the text of the main body of the film co-production agreement with India, and I hope to sign this at the next appropriate opportunity. Further, more detailed, provisions will then have to be agreed, signed and ratified before the agreement can be brought into force; we aim to have this completed in spring 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what projects based in the London borough of Brent have received National Lottery funding; and how much was received in the last 12 months. [16023]

In the borough of Brent there have been 574 Lottery awards made to recipients, some of whom received multiple awards. In 2004, 74 awards, worth a total of £5.9 million, were made in Brent. A list, which has been placed in the Library, has been derived from the Department's Lottery award database, which is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses data supplied by the Lottery distributors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) when he will announce the results of the review of the tax treatment of betting exchanges announced in his Budget of March 2004; and if he will make a statement; [15817]

(2) what the terms of reference are for the review of the tax treatment of betting exchanges announced in his Budget of March 2004; and if he will make a statement. [15818]

As set out in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report published at Budget 2004, we are committed to settling a fair and equitable tax treatment for betting exchanges and their clients and we are working in close consultation with the betting industry. Any further announcements will be made in due course in accordance with the normal Budget process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average income of each decile of earnings has been in each year since 1996–97; and what the real terms annual growth in income of each decile was between 1996–97 and the latest date for which this information is available. [16358]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 12 October 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average income of each decile of earnings has been in each year since 1996–97; and what the real terms annual growth in income of each decile was between 1996–97 and the latest date for which this information is available. (16358)

Currently average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Prior to 1998 average earnings were estimated from the New Earnings Survey (NES), and are provided for full time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period. This is the standard definition used for ASHE and NES tables. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.

Table 1 attached below contains statistics on earnings from the NES from 1986—1998 and from ASHE for the years 1998—2004. In table 2, the figures from table 1 are expressed in 2004 prices by uprating with the Retail Price Index (RPI).

The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes, but because of its sampling frame, it has difficulty capturing data on people with very low pay. It is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold.

Table 1: Weekly pay for full-time employee jobs: United Kingdom, 1996 to 2004 -- Gross (£)⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

⁽²⁾ 1996–98 are estimates supplied from NES.

⁽³⁾ 1998–2004 are estimates supplied from ASHE.

⁽⁴⁾ Figures for 2004 exclude supplementary surveys.

Source:

New Earnings Survey, ONS and Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS.

Table 2: Weekly pay for full-time employee jobs: United Kingdom, 1996 to 2004 -- Gross (£)⁽⁵⁾

⁽⁵⁾ Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

⁽⁶⁾ 1996–98 are estimates supplied using NES uprated using RPI.

⁽⁷⁾ 1998–2004 are estimates supplied using ASHE uprated using RPI.

⁽⁸⁾ Figures for 2004 exclude supplementary surveys.

⁽⁹⁾ Growth rates have been calculated between 1996 and 1998 and between 1998 and 2004, and the sum of these two used.

Source:

New Earnings Survey, ONS and Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what stage his application to the European Commission to increase the tax-free limit on goods brought into the UK from outside the European Union has reached. [17022]

The European Commission has expressed support in principle for the Government's proposal that the limit on goods (excluding wine, spirits, tobacco and perfume) brought into the EU without incurring tax or duty on arrival should be raised. We hope the Commission will soon come forward with draft legislation addressing our request and reducing unnecessary restrictions on travellers bringing goods into the EU for their own use.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the timetable for amending Part G of building regulations for regulating the temperature of bathing water in residential homes; and if he will make a statement. [4310]

The review of Part G of the Building Regulations is in progress and it is expected that a consultation document will be published next year.

Methods for regulating the temperature of bathing water in residential care homes are already the subject of the Care Homes Regulations 2001.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes the Government have made to building regulations in England since 1997; and if he will publish the regulatory impact assessments accompanying those changes to the regulations. [17395]

Consolidated building regulations were issued in 2000 as the Building Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/2531). All earlier Building Regulations were revoked in their entirety. Since that time the following amendments have been made to these Regulations:

The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3335)

The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/0440)

The Building (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2871)

The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2692)

The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/1465)

The Building (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (SI2004/1808)

The Building (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2004 (SI2004/3210).

Prior to the issue of the Building Regulations 2000, the principal regulations were the Building Regulations 1991. Amendments to them since 1997 were as follows:

The Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/1904)

The Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2561)

The Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 199977)

The Building Regulations (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 1999 (SI1999/3410)

The Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/1554).

Regulatory Impact Assessments for those changes where such assessments were required were approved in line with guidance current at the time and are all available in the building regulations section of the ODPM website:

www.odpm.gov.uk

Many of the changes to the Regulations were of a technical or legal nature, not requiring such assessments.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the locations of each development on green belt land for which he or his predecessors have (a) refused and (b) given planning permission since 1 May 1997. [15239]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 October 2005 (ref. 4289), Official Report, c. 440W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) documents and (b) guidance that the Department and its predecessors has published relating to Gypsies and Travellers since 1997. [17400]

The documents and guidance which have been published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessors since 1997 concerning Gypsies and Travellers are summarised as follows:

Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Count figures are published by the Department every six months. The most recently published Count returns includes data collected by local authorities in January 2005.

On the Gypsy Sites Refurbishment Grant (GSRG), bidding guidance and the determinations of winning bids have been published annually since the inception of the grant scheme in 2001, with the successful bids for the last round of funding being announced in July 2005.

Other individual publications which have been produced since 1997 in the Gypsy and Traveller policy area are:

"DETR Research Project—Local Authority Powers for Tackling Unauthorised Camping", published October 1997;

"Guidelines for Residential Caravan Parks for Travellers", published October 1997; "Local Authority Powers for Managing Unauthorised Camping—Research Report", published October 1998;

"Managing Unauthorised Camping—A Good Practice Guide", published October 1998;

"Monitoring the Good Practice Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping", published October 2001;

"The Provision and Condition of Local Authority Gypsy/Traveller Sites in England", report and summary document published October 2002;

"Managing Unauthorised Camping—Operational Guidance—A Consultation Paper", published April 2003;

"Counting Gypsies and Travellers—A Review of the Gypsy Caravan Count System", published January 2004;

"Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Encampments", published March 2004;

"Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites—Consultation Paper", published December 2004;

"Housing Act Fact Sheet 16—Gypsies and Travellers", published December 2004;

"Government Response to the ODPM Select Committee's Report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites", published January 2005;

"Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Encampments" supplementary document, published March 2005; and

"ODPM Circular 02/2005—Temporary Stop Notice", published March 2005.

Gypsy and Traveller issues are also touched on in other documents produced by the Department, however, these are focused on wider policy areas, such as community cohesion and race equality.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice the Government have given to local authorities on the provision of services to residents in unauthorised Traveller sites. [17198]

The joint ODPM/Home Office document, "Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Encampments", provides comprehensive advice to local authorities, the police and other landowners on how such incidents should be dealt with, including the question of providing services to unauthorised campers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure was on Planning Delivery Grant in each year since its inception; and what the planned level is for (a) the forthcoming financial year and (b) future financial years for which figures are available. [17224]

The total expenditure on Planning Delivery Grant in each of the years since its inception, and the planned level for which future figures are available, is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers there are in Southend; what plans there are to change these numbers; and if he will make a statement. [16596]

Information provided by Essex police shows that on 30 June 2005 there were 23 community support officers (CSOs) in the H (Southend) Division . I am told that the Essex police has plans for CSO numbers to grow to around 200 by 31 March 2006. The deployment of CSOs to the territorial divisions of the Essex police is a matter for the chief constable (Mr. Roger Baker).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research to assess the effectiveness of community support officers. [16726]

The Home Office research and development section were commissioned to conduct a national evaluation of community support officers in 2004. The report examines the impact community support officers are having in their communities and looks at issues that impact on their effectiveness. An interim report of the evaluation was published in December 2004 and is available on the Home Office website. The final report is due to be published in December 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14732]

The Department arranges for any item of correspondence that is written in a language other than English to be translated. If the correspondent has written exclusively in Welsh a reply in Welsh will be provided within the usual time limits, in line with the Department's and agencies' Welsh Language schemes. In all other cases the reply will be provided in English.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) if he will make a statement on the work of the Criminal Justice Council; [16473]

(2) what the Criminal Justice Council's responsibilities are. [16468]

The Criminal Justice Council is chaired by the President of the Queen's Bench Division, the right hon. Sir Igor Judge. A full membership list is shown in the table. It held its first meeting in May 2003. It meets quarterly, and the next meeting will be held in October 2005.

The Council discusses issues and initiatives of current interest across the Criminal Justice System. A full description of its responsibilities is contained in the terms of reference in annexe B.

A protocol of its relationship to the National Criminal Justice Board is shown in annexe C.

Annexe A: Criminal Justice Council Members

Secretariat:

Shena Clarke shena.clarke@cjs.gsi.gov.uk / 020 7035 8528

Annexe B: Criminal Justice Council—terms of reference

To keep the criminal justice system under review

To advise the Government on the form and manner of implementation of criminal justice reforms and to make proposals to it for reform

To advise on the framing and implementation of a communication and education strategy for the criminal justice system

Annexe C: Protocol between the national criminal justice board and the criminal justice council

1. The CJC will keep the Criminal Justice System under review and will act in the capacity of an expert advisor to the NCJB, providing advice and guidance on the full range of criminal justice issues. The NCJB may seek the views of the CJC on specific issues.

2. Policy on criminal justice reform is the responsibility of the NCJB. The NCJB will take account of the experience and views of the CJC as appropriate.

3. The Chair of the CJC will have a seat on the NCJB.

4. The Council will have a flexible membership. Members need not attend meetings if they have no specific interest in the topic(s) under discussion. If items on the agenda so require, members may nominate an "expert" to attend the Council. In addition, the Council has the right to co-opt agency representation as required and to invite officials from the criminal justice departments to attend to discuss relevant issues.

5. The Council may establish project boards and/or sub-groups as it sees necessary to fulfil its terms of reference.

6. The Council will meet four times per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) if he will make a statement on the responsibility for costs incurred in relation to the European Enforcement Order as set out in 2005/C 150/01 of Official Journal C150, vol 48, of 21 June; [16095]

(2) if he will make a statement on the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in relation to the European Enforcement Order as set out in 2005/C 150/01 of Official Journal C150, vol 48, of 21 June, Article 7. [16109]

The draft framework decision on the European enforcement order and the transfer of sentenced persons between member states of the European Union is at the early stages of negotiation and is subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny reservation. The draft framework decision is intended to speed up and simplify the existing arrangements for the transfer of prisoners between member states of the EU. It is also intended to facilitate the return of prisoners extradited in accordance with Article 5(3) of the council framework decision of 13 June 2000 on the European Arrest Warrant, where surrender of own nationals or residents was subject to a condition that the person would be returned in order to serve any sentence imposed.

The draft framework decision on the European enforcement order is intended to replace existing transfer arrangements between member states of the EU. Costs will be borne in the same way as now, in that the executing state will bear all costs except those incurred exclusively in the territory of the issuing state.

The draft framework decision deals exclusively with the transfer of prisoners between member states of the EU. There is no link between the draft framework decision and the International Criminal Court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Impact Nominal Index will form part of the planned national information and intelligence sharing programme, IMPACT. [16477]

The IMPACT Nominal Index is the first application that will be delivered by the IMPACT programme. It is planned to introduce the index to the 43 police forces of England and Wales in December 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-prisoners are members of Independent Monitoring Boards. [16361]

This information is not available. Although ex-offenders can apply to become Board members, membership data do not include conviction and custodial history.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what criteria former members of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) are invited to participate in the IMB Secretariat's Leaving Survey Questionnaire; and if he will make a statement. [16374]

Exit questionnaires are sent to all Independent Monitoring Board members who advise the Secretariat that they are resigning from their Board, with the exception of those members who have already informed the Secretariat of the reason for their departure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made against members of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) by (a) prison governors, (b) prison officers, (c) fellow IMB members, (d) inmates and (e) others in each year since 1997; what the average length of time taken investigating such complaints has been; how many disciplinary actions have been taken, broken down by outcome; what the average cost of such investigations has been; and if he will make a statement. [16377]

Records of complaints against members of Independent Monitoring Boards were first collated in 1999 when procedures for handling allegations and/or complaints about conduct were introduced. Full details of complaints dealt with between 1999 and February 2004 are no longer held and while some limited data still exists, an annual breakdown of cases is unavailable.

Of the complaints received since March 2004, most have been dealt with through correspondence and telephone calls; meeting the board; local resolution; or mediation. Only four complaints have required formal investigation. The average length of time taken to investigate these complaints is three and a half months an average cost of £8,000. As yet, disciplinary action has only been taken in one of these cases and the member in question resigned from the board.

⁽¹⁰⁾ No differentiation made between prison governors, prison officers and other members of staff in the prison)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Independent Monitoring Board's secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [16378]

The Independent Monitoring Board Secretariat, like all areas of the Home Office, is working to improve the quality and professionalism of the services it provides and the introduction of performance targets and better use of management information within the Secretariat is key to achieving this. The Secretariat is also subject to management supervision over the content of its annual business plan, including setting objectives and reporting on the achievement of those objectives within a given timeframe, and the effectiveness of its overall performance. In addition, the Secretariat is working closely with the National Council of Independent Monitoring Boards to ensure that boards receive the necessary support to enable them to carry out their monitoring role effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the independence of the Independent Monitoring Board's work; and if he will make a statement. [16383]

Independent Monitoring Boards have an important role to play as the watchdog of the Secretary of State. As non-departmental public bodies, Independent Monitoring Boards are independent of the Home Office, including prisons. Their individual, voluntary and lay character means that they provide an independent view on the standards of fairness and humanity with which those placed in custody by the courts are treated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the business case for the National Offender Management Information System was completed; when a decision is expected on its approval; who will take the decision; and what the timing for implementation of the project is. [10208]

holding answer 7 July 2005

The full business case for the National Offender Management Information System was completed on 10 June 2005 and approved by the Home Office Group Investment Board on 30 June 2005. Implementation is expected to commence in July 2006 and take up to two years to complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police officers outside London have operated a shoot-to-kill policy since 1997, with particular reference to armed officers operating in (a) Hertfordshire and the (b) Hemel Hempstead constituency. [16706]

Specialised operational tactics to deal with the threat of deadly attack are operational matters for the police. The tactical options adopted by forces may differ depending on the Chief Officer's assessment of local need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve retention levels of police officers. [16720]

Levels of wastage of police officers from police forces remain low in comparison to other employment. Police forces have a range of pay and other incentives to retain officers in particular posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase the amount of time spent by police officers on the beat. [16727]

The deployment of officers on the beat and other operational duties is a matter for chief constables. In line with the efficiency strategy for the police service we expect the service to increase time spent on front-line policing to around 72 per cent. by March 2008. This would be a gain equivalent to more than 12,000 extra officers over the next three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent special constables there have been in Bedfordshire Police in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [16614]

Figures for Special Constabulary strength are collected from Police forces and published annually in Home Office Statistical Bulletins. As special constables are volunteers and do not have contracted hours, figures are available only on a headcount basis.

The number of specials in Bedfordshire Police since 1997 are shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are to be observed by police forces in respect of the design of officers' uniforms. [16520]

The design of police officer uniforms is a matter for individual chief constables and their police authorities. A national advisory specification has been provided to forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) how many registered informants there are in the Prison Estate; [16363]

(2) if he will make a statement on informant handling and the use of informers in the Prison Service. [16386]

It would compromise the safety, security and well being of both staff and prisoners to publish these figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the work of prison chaplaincy teams; and if he will make a statement. [16364]

There has been no recent assessment, nationally, of the work of chaplaincy teams.

Chaplaincy teams play an invaluable role in the life of the prison community. They are involved in a wide range of activities including provision of worship, and religious education, courses on restorative justice, bereavement and family issues. Schemes such as community based chaplaincy draw on the link that chaplains have with their faith communities to provide ongoing practical support and encouragement to help ex offenders resettle into their communities on release. All prisons have multi faith chaplaincy teams to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of prisoners and staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the criteria are for the determination of whether (a) a formal and (b) an informal investigation is to be undertaken for disciplinary matters within the Prison Service; how many (i) formal and (ii) informal investigations have been undertaken into (A) prison governors, (B) prison officers and (C) other Prison Service staff in each year since 1997, broken down by allegation type; and if he will make a statement. [16365]

The seriousness of an incident or the alleged misconduct of a member of staff determines whether an informal or formal investigation is carried out. Formal investigation is recommended in instances where an incident has any major consequences e.g. disorder, damage or injury; where there was serious harm to any person; or where misconduct has occurred which may require formal disciplinary action.

Central records on investigations have been maintained since 2000 but do not include information on whether the investigation was conducted into the actions of a prisoner or a member of staff. Data prior to 2000, or an analysis of only those investigations relating to a member of staff, could be obtained only by searching records at each establishment, which would incur disproportionate cost. Information on informal investigations is not retained or held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) if he will list the instances since 2001 when prison governors have been found (a) with drugs and (b) inappropriately using the internet, and for each indicate (i) how long the investigation lasted, (ii) what disciplinary action was taken and (iii) on what basis the investigation was conducted; [16366]

(2) how many prison (a) governors, (b) governor/manager grade staff and (c) prison officers have been (i) found with or (ii) investigated for drugs at each prison since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [16368]

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on staff corruption in the Prison Service. [16384]

Her Majesty's Prison Service does not tolerate corruption by its staff and is totally committed to eradicating this wherever it occurs. A professional standards strategy was introduced in February 2003 in order to promote and support a culture that is hostile to corruption. The strategy includes a system that enables the reporting of wrongdoing and provides support for individuals who do so. It also lays out a policy framework and practical advice for gathering information and developing intelligence on staff suspected of wrongdoing. The Prison Service also has in place robust policies setting out how wrongdoing must be investigated and how staff disciplinary matters are to be dealt with.

In order to ensure that these procedures are effective, two comprehensive reviews are currently being undertaken. The first is a review of current arrangements and performance on professional standards issues. The second is a review of the Code of Discipline with particular focus on improving the quality and timeliness of all of the service's investigations. Both reviews are due to report in December 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to publish the Surveillance Commissioners' report into informant handling and the use of informers prepared for the Prison Service in 2005. [16387]

No. The Surveillance Commissioner's report is for the information and consideration of the Director General of Her Majesty's Prison Service and is not for publication. The Office of the Surveillance Commissioners supports this approach.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of Prison Service area intelligence officers. [16388]

The title of Area Intelligence Officer has recently been changed to that of Area Professional Standards Manager (APSM). This more accurately reflects the office holder's role in dealing with prison staff, professional standards and corruption issues. The main role of the APSM is to assist and support local prison establishments, the Area Manager and the Prison Service's Professional Standards Unit with the development of a wide range of staff related inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs trained to detect drugs are working in prisons. [9013]

There are 216 passive search drug dogs and 236 active search drug dogs.

Passive drug detection dogs are specialist trained search dogs which are deployed to screen people for illegal drugs. These dogs do not make contact with the person and give an indication to the handler usually by sitting in front of the person. Active search dogs are used to search areas, such as prisoners' accommodation and work off the lead.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the annual prison statistics for 2004 will be published. [9060]

The Home Office statistical bulletin "Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004' will be published in November 2005. A copy of the publication will be available in the Library, and supplemented by further tables on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/omcs.html.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of constructing a 2,000-bed prison. [16031]

Large prisons are among the options that have been considered for new accommodation in the prison estate.

The building of such prisons was considered in the report by Patrick Carter "Review of PFI and Market Testing in the Prison Service" in January 2001. Based on Prison Service estimates in 2001, the report indicated that construction costs for a 2,000 place prison built to a category B standard of security would be around £100,000 per place.

No decision to proceed with any such prison has since been made. If the decision is to be made, all factors, including the cost of construction, will be considered at the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners in custody is represented by (a) foreign nationals, (b) those with limited or no command of English, (c) those from ethnic minorities, (d) those classed as vulnerable and (e) those with special needs; and if he will make a statement on provision for those groups. [16529]

As at 30 June 2005, the proportion of the prison population represented by foreign nationals was 13 per cent. The proportion represented by those from ethnic minority groups was 25 per cent. This was as recorded on the Prison Service IT system. The information requested on the other specified categories is not centrally available.

The Prison Service is committed to ensuring that all prisoners irrespective of nationality, race, ethnicity, disability or other circumstance are able, as far as practicable, to participate equally in prison life.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prison staff, (b) prison governors and (c) other prison staff have been disciplined for drugs (i) possession and (ii) usage in each year since 1997. [16550]

The following table details the type of misconduct and the grade of the member of staff disciplined for the possession or use of drugs in each year since 1997.

⁽¹¹⁾ Denotes possession of drugs

⁽¹²⁾ Denotes use of drugs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sanctions are taken against visitors to prison inmates who are found (a) to be in possession of prohibited substances and (b) dealing in prohibited substances; and if he will make a statement. [16551]

In both cases the police are asked to take action against any visitors found in possession of or dealing in prohibited substances. Any such visitors may then be banned from visiting the prison, or subjected to visiting restrictions at the discretion of the governor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the prison population of England and Wales is per 100,000 population. [16586]

The prison population in England and Wales was 142 per 100,000 of the population as at 31 August 2004, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been seized as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (a) in total and (b) from drug-related cases in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex and (iii) the Metropolitan police area of London. [16592]

Information is not available in the form requested. The total value of assets recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and earlier legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was £54.5 million in 2003–04, £84.4 million in 2004–05, and £31.4 million in the five months to the end of August 2005. The total value of receipts from confiscation orders and cash forfeitures related to drug offences obtained by Essex police and the Metropolitan police service under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and earlier legislation is set out in the table. Information on the value of receipts obtained by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is not available by region.

Total value of confiscation order receipts related to drug offences obtained by Essex police and the Metropolitan Police Service

Total value of cash forfeiture receipts related to drug offences obtained by Essex police and the Metropolitan Police Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases a suspect has been released before the maximum 14 days under the Terrorism Act 2000 (schedule 8, as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) and then rearrested once heavily-encrypted computer data connected with the case has been decrypted. [16736]

The Home Office does not hold details of individual cases. The information would only be held by individual police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who have been stopped and searched under the Terrorism Act 2000 have subsequently been (a) arrested, (b) charged with and (c) convicted of terrorist-related offences, broken down by (i) year, (ii) gender, (iii) ethnicity and (iv) religion. [16737]

Statistics on stop and search are available in two annual publications that can be accessed on the research, development and statistics page of the Home Office website.

The Home Office Statistical Bulletin: "Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE; England and Wales", details stop-searches under the Terrorism Act 2000, by police force area over financial years. The bulletin also shows subsequent arrests.

The document "Publications under Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System" details stop-searches under the Terrorism Act 2000 by ethnicity. Figures are collated by police force area over financial years. They also show subsequent arrests under the Terrorism Act and other legislation.

The figures are collated by police force area, rather than each city. Gender and religion statistics for those stop-searched under the Terrorism Act 2000 are not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been re-arrested for a terrorist-related offence having previously been released before the 14 days' expiration under the Terrorism Act 2000 (schedule 8, as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003), broken down by (a) year, (b) gender, (c) ethnicity and (d) religion. [16741]

To answer this question would require details of individual cases, which are not held by the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people detained for more than seven days under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Schedule 8, as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) have been (a) charged and (b) released without charge, broken down by (i) year, (ii) gender, (iii) ethnicity and (iv) religion. [16743]

The maximum period of detention pre-charge was extended to 14 days with effect from 20 January 2004. According to statistics provided by the police, between 20 January 2004 and 4 September 2005, 357 people were arrested of whom 36 have been held for more than seven days. The breakdown of these cases is given in the table. More detailed information is not collated centrally.

Terrorism Act 2000: Detained for more than 7 days

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of young offenders he estimates have (a) alcohol and (b) drugs abuse problems. [5776]

Home Office research published in February 2003 "Substance Use by Young Offenders" found that of 293 young offenders surveyed, over 85 per cent. had used cannabis, alcohol and tobacco but less than 20 per cent. had used heroin and crack cocaine.

The Youth Justice Board (YJB) published a review of the substance misuse needs of young people in custody (2004), a survey of 473 young people. 32 per cent. of this group reported to have used a class A drug in the last year, 72 per cent. used cannabis on a daily basis in the 12 months before arrest, and the following substances were used more than once a week: ecstasy by 26 per cent.; amphetamines by 15 per cent. and solvents by 14.5 per cent. 74 per cent. of the sample drank alcohol more than once a week. The majority of drinkers regularly exceeded six units on a single drinking occasion.

The YJB and National Treatment Agency (NTA) have agreed a joint performance indicator for youth offending teams (YOTs) which requires all young people supervised by YOTs to be screened for substance misuse including alcohol and to access intervention and treatment services without delay. The target is monitored quarterly and data for 2004 to 2005 identified that 11,551 young people supervised by YOTs had a substance misuse need requiring an intervention or treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people claiming (a) state pension, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) incapacity benefit in Forest of Dean constituency; and if he will make a statement. [15842]

The latest available information for the Forest of Dean parliamentary constituency is as follows.

The number of state pension recipients as at September 2004 was 18,800.

The number of jobseeker's allowance claimants as at September 2004 was 687.

As at August 2004, the number of incapacity benefit recipients was 2,400. The number of severe disability allowance recipients was 500.

Notes:

State pension and incapacity benefit

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

2. Figures are based on 5 per cent, sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

3. The incapacity benefit figure includes credit-only cases.

4. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.

Jobseeker's allowance

1. Figures are not rounded and include credit-only cases.

Sources:

State pension and incapacity benefit—IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.

Jobseeker's allowance—100 per cent. claimant count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems including clerically held cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants are employed to administer the state pension scheme and benefits distributed to senior citizens; and what the total cost of employing these civil servants was in the last year for which figures are available. [16666]

Staff in the Pension Service are responsible for administering the state pension and pension credit schemes. The number of staff employed in the Pension Service in 2004–05 was 16,193 at an annual cost of £352,907,000.

It is not possible to identify separately, staff working in other departmental agencies who administer other benefits to senior citizens.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total amount of maintenance payments owed by non-resident parents as determined by the Child Support Agency is; and what proportion of this amount was paid in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [10140]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. Danny Alexander, dated 12 October 2005

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total amount of maintenance payments owed by non-resident parents as determined by the Child Support Agency is; and what proportion of this amount was paid in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Details of the total amount of maintenance payments due and sums received are published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts each year and are set out in the following tables.

Full maintenance assessments and maintenance calculations

Interim maintenance assessments

Total—Full maintenance assessments, maintenance calculations and interim maintenance assessments

⁽¹³⁾ The "amounts due" and "sums received" figures are taken from the general ledger and therefore the "percentage collected" varies slightly from the published cash compliance figures recorded in the Child Support Agency Annual Report and Accounts. This is because the cash compliance figures are derived from a different data source using a slightly different methodology.

⁽¹⁴⁾ Total receipts for 2004–05 were £602 million comprising £586 million of maintenance receipts from non-resident parents and £16 million received in respect of Agency fees and other non maintenance receipts.

I hope that this answer is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Child Support Agency will submit its business transformation programme to the Department; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [14110]

My right hon. friend the Secretary of State has asked the chief executive Stephen Geraghty to conduct a full review of the agency, which will produce a future strategic plan. I will be considering this review shortly, and will report back to the House before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1063, on the Child Support Agency, whether he proposes to amend the time scale under which payments made by those whose CSA cases transferred from the old calculation system to the new calculation system will be amended to bring them to the level due under the new system. [14895]

In most cases, there will be a change in the amount of child maintenance due when a case is transferred from the old scheme to the new scheme. To give non-resident parents and parents with care time to adjust to their new amount, most changes will be phased in by fixed annual steps. These steps are known as the "phasing amount".

Phasing will last for a maximum of five years or until the new amount of maintenance is reached if this is sooner.

The new chief executive is carrying out a strategic review of the agency, including the transfer of cases to the new system. He will be reporting his findings to us over the coming months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in their official capacity in that role; [14535]

(2) what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in their official capacity in that role. [14536]

Following the General Election in May, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G)) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath was appointed as our departmental Sustainable Development Minister in June 2005. In July, the Minister attended a seminar for Sustainable Development Ministers to discuss the Sustainable development strategy and Ministers' role in delivering it. Subsequently he met with officials to agree action to further develop work on Sustainable development within the Department which will be detailed in the Action Plan to be published in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange a Tuesday morning briefing by Ministers and senior officials introducing the work of the Department to new hon. Members. [11028]

I have held a number of introductory meetings with new hon. Members and would obviously be happy to arrange further meetings should they be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform pension entitlement for married women. [11856]

As part of the national pensions debate, we will be hosting an event on 7 November to look specifically at how we can make the pension system work well for women. Prior to this event, we will publish analysis of the pension position of women, and our response to the Pensions Commission will be guided by the principle that reform should give women and carers opportunities to build up security in retirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post consumer waste; [14390]

(2) by what date his Department expects to implement in full the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper brought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post consumer waste. [14392]

The new Department for Work and Pensions contract for office paper (including paper for office printers and photocopiers) has gone live. This contract changes the Department's standard use paper from that manufactured from virgin pulp to recycled paper with a minimum content of 80 per cent. post consumer waste. All virgin papers will be removed from the Department for Work and Pensions bespoke catalogue.

From January 2006 all paper for printed publications will be produced on 100 per cent. recycled paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) what assessment he has made of the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of the estate of his Department. [14534]

(2) what the most significant sustainable development impacts are in relation to the operation of his Department's estate. [14541]

The Department for Work and Pensions currently has an environmental management system in place, in line with the targets within the framework for sustainable development on the Government estate. Within an environmental management system significant sustainable development impacts must be assessed and for the Department these have been identified as the use of energy, paper, waste and travel. Progress is reported in the Department's annual sustainable development report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on his Department's sustainable development strategy. [14540]