To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessments of the facilities and procedures in Parliament have been made in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 2005; and if he will make a statement. [17850]

Improvements in access to the Parliamentary Estate for people with disabilities have been ongoing for many years. A Disability Access Audit Report was produced in April 2004 which set out the then current situation and recommended a continuing programme of improvements. Notable recent projects have included installation of ramps, such as in Star Chamber Court; installation or modification of lifts and the installation of hearing loops in Committee Rooms. There is an ongoing programme of work to improve lifts in and around the Parliamentary Estate to aid access for people with disabilities and access audits have been commissioned for each building comprising the Parliamentary Estate.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the total cost of the installation of the steel barriers on the roadside of the Palace of Westminster was; what estimate has been made of the annual costs of maintaining these barriers; and what the estimated cost of their removal is. [19251]

The cash cost incurred is estimated to be £980,000, to be shared with the House of Lords. Annual maintenance costs are expected to be minimal. Funds have been set aside for a removal contract but these details are yet to be finalised.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what level of security risk was quantified in the advice that led to the replacement of the concrete blocks outside the Palace of Westminster by a steel barrier; and what the reason was for the extension of the new barrier beyond the perimeter marked out by the former concrete blocks. [19252]

This project was approved after full consideration by the Joint Committee on Security, but it is not the practice to provide details of security advice.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many vehicles for which his Office is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres. [17996]

For information on the use of retreaded or recycled tyres in vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October 2005 which he received from the Chief Executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087 and UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

In addition the Department owns and operates two Toyota Prius's. These are not fitted with recycled or retreaded tyres.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those Government Departments and agencies which (a) use Linux OpenSource software and (b) have licensing and service agreements with Microsoft. [19135]

The Cabinet Office and Office of Government Commerce do not hold this information centrally.

It is for individual Departments and agencies to decide which software to purchase, in accordance with the Government's procurement policy of achieving best value for money.

To ask the Prime Minister how many vehicles for which his Office is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres. [17976]

For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr.Hutton) today.

To ask the Prime Minister how many volunteering positions his Office has offered in each of the last five years. [17879]

My Office encourages all staff to take part in voluntary and community activities, and offers one day's special leave a year to do so. In addition, staff have, over the last five years, organised specific volunteering activities, including mentoring children in London schools and working with local communities on other projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's policy is for dealing with correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14697]

When someone writes to, or e-mails, the Scotland Office in Welsh, Scots Gaelic, or Irish Gaelic, we would make every reasonable effort to reply in the corresponding language, as we would with any other language in which the correspondence was written.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres. [17977]

The Scotland Office is not responsible for any vehicles. For information on the use of retread tyres in vehicles provided to the Office by the Government car and despatch agency (GCDA), I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October which he received from the chief executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087 and UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the impact on demand for second homes of allowing self-invested personal pensions to be invested in residential property. [19757]

My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of issues affecting Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his policy to provide statistics relating to Scottish constituencies in terms of (a) Westminster and (b) Scottish Parliament boundaries. [15643]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 313W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities his Department has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14698]

The Scotland Office shares the telephone system with the Scottish Executive who maintain a list of translators. In the event of a call in Welsh, Scots Gaelic or Irish Gaelic, the operator would identify an official on the list who could speak the relevant language; that official would liaise with the appropriate colleagues to ensure an answer was given to the caller.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on levels of recycling in the UK. [19616]

Provisional figures from the Municipal Waste Management Survey show that nearly 23 per cent. of household waste was recycled or composted in England in 2004–05, up from 18 per cent. in 2003–04.

An Environment Agency survey shows that 42 per cent. of commercial and industrial waste was recycled or reused in 2002–03.

A survey in 2001 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimated that about 50 per cent. of construction and demolition waste was recycled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) targets and (b) incentives exist to encourage the recycling of trade waste by shops and commercial premises. [19619]

The Government have set a target to reduce the amount of commercial and industrial waste going to landfill to 85 per cent. of the 1998 levels by 2005. Instruments designed to assist in meeting these targets include the Packaging Waste Regulations and the landfill tax escalator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on avian influenza. [19621]

The Government have taken a number of steps and put in place new arrangements to detect avian influenza and to stop it spreading. We have a well developed contingency plan and controls in place to deal with any outbreak of avian influenza.

We currently assess the risk of AI entering the UK as low. However it is a developing situation and we are monitoring it closely as well as stepping up our work on surveillance , biosecurity and emergency preparedness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish her contingency plans to be implemented in the event of an outbreak of H5NI virus; what research her Department is funding to assess the pathogenicity of avian influenza; and if she will make a statement. [19230]

DEFRA has recently reviewed and updated its contingency plans and, following a period of public consultation, the Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan, which includes a section dealing specifically with an outbreak of avian influenza, was laid before Parliament on 21 July 2005. It is also available on the DEFRA website. In the event of an outbreak in GB the plan would be invoked immediately.

DEFRA supports a wide ranging programme of research on avian influenza (AI), costing approximately £460,000 per annum. The research is undertaken at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency which is the European Union reference laboratory for Al.

The current programme of work includes studies to better understand pathogenesis and transmission of the virus. Some of the work is being taken forward to provide basic information about the virus and how it behaves in poultry; infectious dose, dynamics of transmission between birds and the influence of prior immunity are all being studied.

More fundamental studies are also in place to examine the role of viral genetics, that is how changes in the genetic structure of the virus may allow it to adapt to a new species or cause it to become more pathogenic or virulent. Other areas of study include the development of improved diagnostic tests, and work on viral survival better to inform risk assessments for trade and disease control purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to prevent the spread of avian influenza to the United Kingdom. [19608]

We monitor the global situation in respect of outbreaks of notifiable diseases such as avian influenza. When a new outbreak is confirmed we carry out an assessment of the risk to the UK and liaise closely with the European Commission and other member states to decide what action is necessary to protect the UK. We act promptly in line with Community decisions to ban imports of animals and products from countries or parts of countries that represent a risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Government have commissioned to ascertain whether recent severe weather conditions have been due to climate change as a result of carbon emissions. [19128]

An important part of DEFRA's Climate Prediction Programme at the Hadley Centre is specifically directed towards better understanding of how the frequency and intensity of severe weather events may be changing in response to changes in global climate, as a result of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Recent research by Hadley Centre has shown for example that the European hot summer of 2003 was up to four times more likely to have happened because of the increased levels of greenhouse gases. Studies also suggest that the frequency of droughts and extreme rainfall events may increase overall in response to global warming although there will may well be local and regional variations. The effect of global warming on storminess is less clear but the Hadley Centre has recently published work indicating a significant increase in the number of severe storms over the UK as a whole since the 1950s, which may be at least partly related to global warming.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Contraction and Convergence strategy for combating climate change. [19681]

Certain aspects of Contraction and Convergence are appealing, including the identification of a fixed level for stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations, and comprehensive global participation. However, one key element of any future regime must be its workability and one particular concern with contraction and convergence is the question of how globally acceptable, and in consequence how workable, it would prove to be.

First, we do not yet see evidence that other key Annex I countries are likely to support this approach. The US has already indicated that it is opposed to a per-capita approach, and as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, their inclusion will be vital if we are to solve the problem. Australia, Canada and New Zealand would also need to take on much more stringent targets under this regime. Many of the major developing countries, such as China, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil are approaching, or have passed the level that would be permissible for per-capita emissions, and would be forced to take reductions in the short-term if the scheme were implemented. They would be very unlikely to support the proposal as it would be seen as a curb on their development. Experts from these countries have shown some interest in alternative frameworks including an element of historical responsibility and capacity to act.

Second, the approach requires upfront agreement to a global stabilisation target, but many countries outside the EU are reluctant to discuss this. Logically, it would make sense to agree a stabilisation level and then from this the respective responsibility of each country would flow. However, the complexity of the issues and political reality is such that a sequential approach is unlikely. The UK is therefore pursuing a two-pronged approach—pressing for agreement on a long-term stabilisation limit while simultaneously maintaining pressure on countries to take ambitious short-term action to mitigate emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how the Community Action 2020 programme will be implemented in Oxfordshire. [17582]

Community Action 2020 (CA2020) aims to build on the good work many communities and their local authorities have carried out under the Local Agenda 21 initiative. It is part of the Together we can" programme for communities launched by my right hon. Friend Hazel Blears MP on 28 June this year.

CA2020 will enable and encourage wider community action by improving access to information, advice and assistance. This will enable local community groups to identify ways they can make a difference in delivering sustainable development.

We are exploring the best ways in which the information, advice and assistance given to communities on sustainable development can be improved. We are working closely with experts in the sustainable development and community sectors to explore this. We hope to work jointly with national and local bodies to provide new tools and methods of support for community groups. These will be applied across England and their take up will very much depend on the interest among local organisations.

We are working closely with voluntary and community sector bodies nationally to strengthen support for local communities on sustainable development.

Our website offers helpful information and ideas which community organisations may like to use www.sustainable-development.gov.uk, and further details of the Community Action 2020 programme will be publicised here.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in the (i) Moray constituency and (ii) Highland Region was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14845]

The staff employed in the Highland region¹ , which includes the Moray constituency, are not based in a DEFRA building. The costs of these staff, estimated on a standard cost basis, are shown in the following table, together with an estimate of accommodation overheads are based on a regional specific percentage of the staff costs. It is not possible to isolate procurement costs by constituency.

2004–05 -- £000

⁽¹⁾The Scotland parliamentary constituency map was divided into three regions"; Highlands and Islands, Central Scotland and Borders. The Highlands and Islands region" that was used for this answer covers the following parliamentary constituencies:

Aberdeen North

Aberdeen South

Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine

Angus

Argyll and Bute

Banff and Buchan

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Dundee East

Dundee West

Fife North East

Gordon

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Moray

Na h-Eileannan an Iar

Ochil and Perthshire South

Orkney and Shetland

Perth and Perthshire North

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Stirling

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.

Figures relating to 1 April 2005 will be published next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Banff and Buchan and (ii) the North East of Scotland was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14883]

The Department does not employ any staff in the Banff and Buchan constituency. The staff employed in North East Scotland are not based in a DEFRA building. The costs of these staff, estimated on a standard cost basis, are shown in the table, together with an estimate of accommodation overheads are based on a Regional specific percentage of the staff costs. It is not possible to isolate procurement costs by constituency.

2004–05 -- £000

⁽²⁾The Scotland parliamentary constituency map was divided into three regions"; Highlands and Islands, Central Scotland and Borders. The nearest approximation to NE Scotland was the Highlands and Islands region". This was used for this answer and covers the following parliamentary constituencies.

Aberdeen North

Aberdeen South

Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine

Angus

Argyll and Bute

Banff and Buchan

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Dundee East

Dundee West

Fife North East

Gordon

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Moray

Na h-Eileannan an Iar

Ochil and Perthshire South

Orkney and Shetland

Perth and Perthshire North

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Stirling

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.

Figures relating to 1 April 2005 will be published next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list all sites which have been considered by her Department as possible locations for the storage or disposal of nuclear waste. [17774]

The following is a list of sites, contained in the joint Defra/Nirex document, Radioactive Waste Inventory 2001, that currently store varying quantities of radioactive waste:

Aldermaston

Amersham

Berkeley

Bradwell

Capenhurst

Cardiff

Chapelcross

Clyde

Culham

Devonport

Donnington

Dounreay

Drigg LLW Disposal Facility

Dungeness

Eskmeals

Fort Halstead

Heysham

Hinkley Point

Hartlepool

Harwell

Hunterston

Oldbury

Portsmouth

Rosyth

Sellafield/Calder Hall

Sizewell

Springfields

Stafford

Torness

Trawsfynydd

Vulcan

Windscale

Winfrith

Wylfa

On 10 June 2005, Nirex published details of a historic short-list of sites compiled in the 1980's as possible locations for a radioactive waste repository. This programme was abandoned in 1997.

No further sites are currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the evidence behind the decision to grant licences to cull ruddy ducks. [20762]

The North American ruddy duck was introduced to wildfowl collections in the UK in the 1940s, from where a small number escaped from captivity and began to breed in the wild. As the UK population of wild ruddy ducks increased, so did the number of ruddy ducks on the European mainland. Hybridisation with the Spanish population of the globally threatened white-headed duck, now numbering some 2,600, is recognised as the most significant threat to that species' long-term survival.

Initial research on control methods was carried out by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (Hughes, 1996) and the three year UK Ruddy Duck Control Trial, commissioned by my Department, sought to verify their findings. The report (published in July 2002, copies available in the Library of the House) indicated that eradication of ruddy ducks from the United Kingdom was feasible within 10 years, and that shooting on over wintering sites was the most effective means of control.

In a written ministerial statement on 3 March 2003, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) announced that the Government agreed in principle to the eradication of the ruddy duck in United Kingdom. Since that time DEFRA has been funding additional research to refine the effectiveness of the control strategy, and to investigate the effectiveness of alternative control measures such as egg oiling and pricking. A report of the research undertaken to the end of September 2005 is due to be published imminently, and will be available in the Library of the House in due course.

A bid for funding under the LIFE Nature programme was recently approved by the European Commission, which supports eradication as part of efforts to protect the globally endangered white-headed duck. DEFRA's decision to co-fund the eradication programme was informed by the report of the control trial and by the additional research findings, and a licence has now been issued to the Central Science Laboratory to allow them to commence work. Detailed information about the LIFE project can be found on the Commission's website.

The Government have also issued, in England, a general licence to remove the protection afforded to ruddy ducks by domestic legislation. The licence has been kept under review since it was first issued in July 2003, and has been revised to ensure the licence conditions are appropriate. The current licence was issued in December 2004, and is available on the DEFRA website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of illegally logged timber entering the UK from China, with particular reference to wood products. [19624]

We are unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK from China as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at ports of entry. There is currently no legislation in the UK, or the EU, to prevent the import of such timber, but we are seeking such powers through the EU FLEGT process.

Government are working to raise the issue of illegal logging with the Chinese Government. For example, the Eighth EU-China Summit, held in Beijing on 5 September 2004 agreed that the EU and China would work together to tackle the problem of illegal logging in the Asian region.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list local authorities which have been awarded Beacon Council status for improving urban green spaces. [18617]

The seven authorities who received Beacon status for Improving Urban Green Spaces in April 2002 are as listed:

Halton Borough council

London Borough of Barnet

London Borough of Bexley

London Borough of Brent

London Borough of Enfield

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Northamptonshire county council.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many appeals (a) the Deputy Prime Minister and (b) the Planning Inspectorate have considered on casino developments in the last three years; and what the verdict was in each case. [18191]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the First Secretary of State has decided two called-in planning applications for mixed use developments that have included a casino element in the last three years, with one being granted planning permission and one refused planning permission. Over the same period the Planning Inspectorate have decided seven appeals for developments with a casino element of which four have been allowed and three dismissed.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Minister for Housing will reply to sections 1 and 3 of the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central sent in August on Housing Act 2004 issues. [19268]

I replied to my hon. Friend on 13 October.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been allocated in each year since 1996–97 to (a) Bradford Metropolitan council, (b) Wakefield Metropolitan council and (c) local authorities in England for disabled facilities grants. [17935]

Government funding in support of Bradford Metropolitan council and Wakefield Metropolitan council for Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) since 1996 has been as follows:

£000

Government funding in support of local authorities in England for Disabled Facilities Grant since 1996 has been as follows:

£000

National totals for DFG before 1997 are not available.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister

(1) what requirements exist on local authorities to carry out environmental impact assessments on sites being considered for development; [18292]

(2) what requirements exist to ensure that adequate (a) surveys are conducted and (b) scientific data are collected during environmental impact assessments; [18293]

(3) what (a) guidelines and (b) regulations exist concerning how long before consideration of a planning permission application an environmental impact assessment should be carried out; [18294]

(4) what obligations exist for consideration of ecological surveys in consideration of planning applications; and what requirements there are on the (a) age and (b) accuracy of these surveys. [18295]

The requirements relating to environmental impact assessment of development falling within the planning system are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/293).

For some types of development environmental impact assessment (EIA) is mandatory. For others it is required if the local planning authority considers that the particular development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. Where EIA is required, the developer must provide environmental information (called an Environmental Statement) which includes: a description of the development comprising information on the site, design and size of the development; a description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected including, in particular, population, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, including the architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between all these aspects; a description of the measures envisaged to mitigate any significant adverse effects; an outline of any alternatives considered; and a non-technical summary of the above information. The Environmental Statement is circulated to statutory consultation bodies, and made available to the public, for comment.

The Regulations do not specify when the EIA has to be carried out. However, a planning authority is prohibited from granting planning permission unless an Environmental Statement has been provided. If the authority considers there are deficiencies in the Environmental Statement it can require an applicant to provide further information or produce evidence needed to verify any information in the Statement. In determining an application the planning authority must take account of the Environmental Statement, any further information provided, and any comments or representations made by statutory consultees and the public.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister

(1) what estimate has been made of the revenue from VAT likely to be raised from home information packs; [17441]

(2) whether value added tax will be levied on home information packs. [17445]

I have been asked to reply.

The VAT treatment of home information packs will depend on a number of factors. The exact nature of the packs, and how they will be provided, is still under consideration, and draft regulations are expected to be published shortly. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are discussing the possible VAT treatment of these packs, and suppliers of home information packs, or parts thereof, will be able to contact HMRC for advice as required and separate guidance will be issued if appropriate.

No estimate has been made of the revenue yield from home information packs.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) priority homeless and (b) homeless households were in temporary accommodation in England in each quarter since Q1 1993. [17386]

The number of households accepted by local authorities in England as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need during each quarter since January—March 1993, and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by authorities under homelessness legislation as at the end of each quarter, is tabled.

The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.

Local authority activity on homelessness: England

⁽³⁾All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.

⁽⁴⁾Households in accommodation arranged by local authorities either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.

⁽⁵⁾Provisional data.

Source:

ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly)

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress in the adoption of the homes for life standard in new build. [17609]

The Government expects shortly to provide a response to the Report of the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on Ageing Populations, Recommendation 9.19 which covers the Lifetime Home Standards.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which 25 local authorities in England have (a) the largest number of people on the housing register and (b) the largest waiting lists for processing homeless applications; and if he will make a statement. [18624]

Table A presents the 25 local authorities in England reporting the highest number of households on their housing register as at 1 April this year, and Table B presents the 25 local authorities with the largest number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty, and in temporary accommodation (with their households) arranged by the authority awaiting a settled home as at 30 June.

Local authorities do not hold a waiting list for homeless applications; as soon as they have reason to believe that a person is homeless or threatened with homelessness they must make inquiries to determine whether any duty is owed under the homelessness legislation. Information about the length of time taken by local authorities to process applications is not collected centrally, but The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Homelessness Code of Guidance recommends that wherever possible inquiries should be completed, and the applicant notified, within 33 working days.

The duty owed to an applicant, on behalf of the household, accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation for the applicant and his or her household. In many cases, a settled home is not immediately available, and the local housing authority will secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. In such cases, the applicant household will usually join the housing register for an allocation of housing under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 (although other housing options such as a qualifying offer of an assured shorthold tenancy can also bring the homelessness duty to an end).

The Government's homelessness strategy Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives sets out the challenging aim to halve the number of households in insecure temporary accommodation by 2010.

Table A: Local authorities with the 25 highest figures for numbers of households on their housing registeras at 1 April 2005⁽⁶⁾

⁽⁶⁾Excludes existing tenants awaiting a transfer. Local authorities may maintain a common waiting list with housing associations in their district, but information is not held centrally where a housing association maintains a separate waiting list.

Source:

ODPM Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) (annual)

Table B: Local authorities with the 25 highest figures for numbers of households in temporary accommodation , as at 30 June 2005⁽⁷⁾

⁽⁷⁾Households in accommodation arranged by local authorities awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance of a main homelessness duty.

⁽⁸⁾An estimated figure, based on reported totals (which included but did not distinguish, those in TA pending a decision on their homelessness application), or on other available information.

Source:

ODPM P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly)

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his housing task force is required to ensure tenant involvement after housing transfer. [17860]

The Community Housing Task Force is not required to provide support for local authorities or tenants after the transfer.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities in relation to ward councillors sitting on planning committees considering planning applications from their own ward; and if he will make a statement. [17376]

The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister has issued no guidance specifically in respect of actions by councillors sitting on planning committees. However, in 2001 the Government issued the statutory Model Code of Conduct for local government members, which sets out standards of conduct expected of all members. Guidance on the operation of the code has been issued by the Standards Board for England.

In addition, The Local Government Association issued guidance in January this year Probity in Planning: The Role of Councillors and Officers" and this makes clear that members who take an active stand in supporting or assisting a planning application should not take part in discussions on that application and should withdraw from the planning committee.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister

(1) on what basis the consultation period for planning permission applications is decided; [18285]

(2) under what conditions the consultation period for planning permission applications may be extended; [18286]

(3) how many complaints regarding the consultation process for planning permission have been received by his Department in each year since 1997; [18287]

(4) what obligations there are on local authorities to inform local residents of planning permission applications in their vicinity; [18288]

(5) whether there are regulations relating to the amount of time local authorities must allow for notifying the public before a planning permission application is considered. [18289]

Article 8 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 says that no application may be determined until 21 days have elapsed since notice of the application was displayed or served. This period is to allow people time to comment. Most householder and other minor development must be publicised by notice near the application site, or by letter to those with land adjoining it. Larger schemes should also be publicised by advertisement in local newspapers and on the authority's website. In DoE Circular 15/92, Publicity for Planning Applications", authorities are urged to do more than comply with the legal requirement. Moreover, the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires each authority to prepare Statements of Community Involvement, which should include the authority's policy for community involvement on planning applications.

No statistics are kept on the numbers of complaints about the consultation process for planning permissions. If a planning decision ignores some crucial, relevant consideration, it might be open to challenge through the courts.

An authority sets its own closing date for representations about a proposal. There is nothing in law to prevent it accepting a late comment if appropriate. However, if the matter is to go to committee, the authority will need to make sure it complies with the Local Government Act 1972 as amended, which requires relevant committee papers to be made public at least five days before the committee discusses the case.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who is responsible for the liabilities of England's Regional Chambers. [17148]

The English Regional Assemblies are organisations in their own right and are responsible for their own liabilities.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has asked the Housing Corporation to take to improve tenant involvement in running housing associations. [17933]

The Housing Corporation has a range of policies in place to encourage tenant involvement. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Housing Corporation are looking at ways to strengthen tenant involvement in the future.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the total number of council houses transferred to (a) housing associations and (b) arm's length management organisations (i)before May 1997 and (ii) since May 1997. [17946]

Prior to May 1997, 245,705 council houses were transferred to registered social landlords (RSLs). Since May 1997, a further 683,578 council homes have been transferred to RSLs.

The first Arm's Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) were set up in 2002. They manage local authorities' housing stock but ownership of that stock is not transferred to them. Currently about 682,000 homes owned by local authorities are managed by ALMOs.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will revise his calculations of the amount of social housing necessary over the period to 2010 to take account of the proportion of young people unable to raise the deposit to become first-time buyers. [17955]

Provision of social rented housing to 2010 will be subject to the outcome of the 2007 Spending Review and a variety of policy decisions including our response to the Barker Review. The Government recently announced a number of measures to help households into low cost home ownership.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the Government's target of making all social housing decent by 2010. [19329]

The Government have reduced the number of non-decent social homes by more than one million. Work completed and plans in place take us 90 per cent. of the way to meeting the target. We are now focusing our efforts on dealing with the remaining 10 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department. [15455]

The Department awards all contracts in line with the UK's objective of achieving value for money, and in line with EU treaty obligations on transparency and free movement of goods and services.

The list of contractors based in other EU member states that are currently providing services to the Department comprises:

Seratec GmbH Germany

IBA GmbH Germany

Forensic Tech Ireland

U Cables SpainMegazyne International Ireland

Manthei Mess Systeme Germany

Victoria Scandinavian Sweden

Verlag Information Ambs GmbH

GermanySteintor Verlag GmbH

GermanyChromSword Baltic SIA LatviaEricsson

SwedenGWV Fachverlage Germany

Mehler Vario System GmbH Sweden.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many football supporters in (a) England and (b) Wales are subject to football banning orders preventing travel to football matches outside the UK. [19498]

As of 17 October, the courts have imposed 3,157 football banning orders preventing the subjects from travelling to matches overseas.

There are 2,927 England supporters and 230 Wales supporters subject to football banning orders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests relating to football hooliganism there have been since 2001. [19387]

Details of football-related arrests and football attendances for the seasons 2001–02 to 2003–04 is provided in the table.

A detailed report on the impact of existing football legislation, with supporting statistical information, and details of last season's arrests will be published later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many submissions were received (a) in favour and (b) against the reclassification of magic mushrooms prior to the Drugs Act 2005 being passed. [16481]

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which is a recognised expert body on drug misuse matters, made clear its support for the measure. The Home Office received no submissions in favour of the clarification of the law in respect of magic mushrooms prior to the Drugs Act 2005 being granted Royal Assent on seven April and four submissions against.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications he has received for the post of the head of the National Offender Management Service; and when he expects to make an appointment. [19223]

holding answer 18 October 2005

There were 10 applications for the post of Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service. Interviews have been held, and an announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to combat the trafficking of women into the UK to work as prostitutes. [19381]

The Government are committed to tackling human trafficking. It has a comprehensive strategy encompassing legislation, law enforcement, prevention, international cooperation and support for victims. The Government provides £20 million of funding annually to Reflex, the multi-agency task force which coordinates the law enforcement response to organised immigration crime, including people trafficking.

In the year to March 2005 Reflex carried out 343 operations which led to 149 disruptions, 1,456 arrests and the seizure of over £5.5 million in criminal assets. The UK has made people trafficking a priority during its EU presidency. It is working closely with the Commission in developing an EU plan on preventing and combating trafficking in persons. In March 2003 a small scale Home Office-funded pilot scheme was launched in partnership with Eaves Housing for Women to provide safe accommodation and one-to-one support for adult women who have been trafficked into the UK to work as prostitutes. The Scheme has recently been formally evaluated and overall findings were positive on the model and quality of support provided. A copy of the summary findings from the evaluation can be obtained from:

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html.

The full evaluation report is currently being considered and decisions about the future scope and nature of support will be made in light of its findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of Prison Service staff have been (a) reinstated to posts within the service and (b) compensated but not reinstated following successful industrial tribunal appeals where the appellant has been proved to have been dismissed unfairly since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [16367]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantity of drugs have been seized in each London prison from (a) prisoners, (b) visitors, (c) prison governors, (d) officers and (e) other staff in each month of 2005; what quantity of drugs has been found in each London prison thrown over the wall in each month; and if he will make a statement. [16371]

The information requested is contained in the following table. The information on quantity is not collected routinely and the figures in the table indicate the number of occasions on which drugs were found. In addition, at Holloway prison drugs have been intercepted in mail being sent in to prisoners on six occasions in 2005. In Belmarsh there were six unattributable finds in the prison, once in incoming mail and on five occasions at various locations within the prison.

Drugs finds from January 2005 to September 2005

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison cells in England and Wales have capacity for (a) one inmate, (b) two inmates and (c) three or more inmates. [17789]

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

All prisoner accommodation is certified by Prison Service area managers (as required by s.14 of the Prison Act 1952). Cell capacity may only be increased (for example, when single cells are used to house two prisoners), when the area manager has assessed them to be of adequate size and condition for doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners have been in overcrowded cells in each of the last five years for which records are available. [17790]

The following table shows the percentage of prisoners held in crowded accommodation for the last five full financial years. The data for 2005–06 are the average for this financial year to 30 September 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to legislate against the activity of religious cults, with particular reference to the School of Economic Science. [19843]

The Secretary of State for the Home Department has no plans to legislate against the activity of religious cults.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the full report on the investigation into Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. [17272]

There is no plan to publish the Serious Incident Review report on the death of Gareth Myatt at Rainsbrook while a criminal investigation is in progress. When that investigation has concluded, it will be for the coroner to decide whether the report can be published in advance of the inquest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are employed in each of the four secure training centres. [17273]

The information requested is given in the following table.

Staff employed in secure training centres

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were transferred to the care of the South London and Maudsley Trust for drug rehabilitation and mental health care in the last year for which figures are available. [17576]

32 prisoners were transferred from prison to the South London and Maudsley Hospital between 30 September 2004 and 1 October 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with (a) officials and (b) auditing firms about reform of auditor liability. [19627]

Ministers and officials have had numerous discussions with auditing firms about auditor liability, particularly since the publication of the consultative document Director and auditor liability" in December 2003. We also continue to have discussions on the subject with companies and investors who have an interest as customers of auditors, and with bodies representing companies, investors and accountants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to meet (a) the FA Premier League, (b) the European Commissioner for Competition, (c) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (d) Ofcom and (e) the Office of Fair Trading to discuss the structure of Premier League television broadcasting rights from season 2007–08 onwards. [20316]

I have no such plans to meet to discuss this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role (a) Ofcom and (b) the Office of Fair Trading are playing in implementing European competition law regarding the structure of premier league television broadcasting rights from season 2007–08 onwards. [20338]

These are matters for Ofcom and OFT, as independent regulators. Accordingly, officials have asked the chief executive of both organisations to respond directly the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executives' letters will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had since May with the European Commission on the structure of premier league television broadcasting rights from season 2007–08 onwards. [20339]

Ministers and officials from this Department are in contact with the European Commission and will continue to remain so in order to facilitate an agreement which is good for football and good for the fans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport since May 2005 on the roles of (a) Ofcom and (b) the Office of Fair Trading in the matter of deciding the structure of FA Premier League television broadcasting rights from season 2007–08 onwards. [20340]

Ministers and officials in this Department and from DCMS have stayed in close contact throughout, both through briefing meetings and telephone calls, with Ofcom and OFT and will continue to do so in order to facilitate an agreement which is good for football and good for the fans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity. [17335]

No air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05.

Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Guidance for Ministers on the use of air miles is set out in the Ministerial Code. The guidance makes clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to Ministers donating them to charity if this is permissible under the terms of the airline's scheme and the charity is one chosen by the airline.

Similar rules are in place for officials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

(1) how much the Government have allocated to the motorsport unit since its inception. [19362]

(2) what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the Government motorsport unit; [19363]

(3) what assessment he has made of the suitability of the projects supported to date by the Government motorsport unit; and if he will make a statement; [19364]

(4) what projects have been funded by the Government motorsport unit; and how much each received; [19365]

(5) what procedure his Department has in place to assess those projects which have received funding to date from the Government motorsport unit; [19366]

(6) what assessment he has made of the propriety of Government motorsport unit's (a) formula women and (b) cruisesport projects; [19367]

(7) how much the (a) formula women and (b) cruisesport projects have received in funding from the Government motorsport unit since its creation; [19368]

(8) if he will make a statement on the future of the Government motorsport unit. [19369]

On 11 July 2003 the then Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, announced a Government commitment of £16 million over five years to fund the recommendations of the motorsport competitiveness panel, whose report was published on the same date. The panel was made up of leading figures from the motorsport industry, sport and academia together with officials from relevant departments. Its role was to recommend ways to strengthen the industry and sport from technicians at a grass roots level right up to the Formula 1 drivers and engineers at the top level of motorsport.

The report recommended that a motorsport development board be created to lead, coordinate and prioritise development activities and an RDA-led Government motorsport unit should be formed to coordinate available Government resources towards the motorsport cluster. The board and the RDA-led unit are collectively known as motorsport development UK (MDUK).

The projects now being taken forward by motorsports development UK are based upon the panel's priorities. These have not been revisited and it would be for the organisation itself to recommend any changes, either to the projects or the way in which they are being implemented. Assessment of the propriety and value for money of each project is carried out in line with the established procedures of the funding body concerned and action is taken where necessary to safeguard public funds.

There has been some encouraging progress particularly in the use of bio-fuels in motorsport and also engaging young people to take part in engineering activities with a motorsport theme—the Learning Grid'.

Spending to date on the five projects now being pursued is shown in the following table:

Note:

Formula Woman" is a commercial enterprise owned and organised by Formula Woman International Ltd. No MDUK funding has been granted to this venture.

CruiseSport" is one of the areas of activity within MDUK's project to widen participation and promote social inclusion in motorsport. Spend to date is £120,000. This figure is included within the total for widening participation is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of those entitled to paid paternity leave took advantage of their right during (a) 2005 and (b) 2004. [17310]

The Equal Opportunities Commission's survey Dads and Their Babies: Leave Arrangements and the First Year", published earlier this year and part-funded by DTI, found that nine out of 10 fathers take time off work to spend with a new child and that over two-thirds of fathers currently take up the paternity entitlements available to them. The survey also found that a large percentage of employers are providing support for fathers which goes beyond the statutory provision and that almost three-quarters (72 per cent.) of the surveyed fathers who took paternity leave took at least some of this at full pay. We estimate that around 415,000 working fathers are eligible for statutory paid paternity leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK's compliance with the waste electronic and electrical equipment directive is compatible with other environmental priorities. [19612]

The Government aims to introduce its legislation for the UK implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive to the House shortly; and to publish its accompanying non-statutory guidance at the same time. It intends that the implementation of the WEEE Directive should complement other environmental policy objectives in relation to waste collection, treatment and disposal; that it should discourage fly-tipping; and that it should minimise other potential adverse environmental impacts such as traffic emissions and congestion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commemorate the 450th anniversary of (a) the death of Mary Tudor, (b) the accession of Elizabeth I and (c) the Elizabethan parliamentary settlement of the Church of England. [17085]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the death of Mary Tudor, the accession of Elizabeth I and the Elizabethan parliamentary settlement of the Church of England, but it is possible that some of DCMS's sponsored bodies may choose to do so and will announce their plans closer to the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase the public take-up of broadband internet access in (i)East Sussex and (ii) the UK as a whole. [18714]

holding answer 17 October 2005

I have been asked to reply.

The Government published on 1 April 2005 Connecting the UK: the Digital Strategy". The strategy outlines the policy focus towards stimulating effective take-up and use of ICT. The strategy aims to address the digital divide that currently sees some groups excluded from the benefits to be gained from the internet.

Plans also exist regionally to increase take-up of broadband. Organisations such as Broadband East Sussex Partnership" which includes Access East Sussex, BT, The Education Authority, The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Sussex Enterprise, East Sussex Economic Partnership and the Learning and Skills Council are working with the Sussex Enterprise, local libraries and councils to promote broadband to individuals and businesses. The take-up of broadband in the UK is increasing at 70,000 subscribers a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list for each IT project her Department has undertaken since May 1997 which has incurred a total expenditure of £5 million or more (a) the name of the project, (b) its intended purpose, (c) the principal contractors involved and the payments made to each, (d) the original estimate of the cost of the project, (e) the actual outturn of expenditure on the project, (f) the intended date on which the project was to be fully implemented, (g) the actual date on which it was fully implemented or cancelled, (h) modifications which have been made to the project since it was first commissioned, (i) contractors on the project whose contracts have been cancelled, (j) replacement or additional contractors on the project, (k) the most reliable estimate of public expenditure saved as a result of implementing the project and (l) the most reliable estimates of improved performance of departmental functions as a result of implementing the project. [20625]

My Department has not undertaken any IT projects of that value since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has made representations to the Treasury about the tax revenue from the new Olympic lottery games. [19781]

The taxation of Olympic themed lottery games is a matter for the Chancellor. The Government have made clear that it will apply the same principles that apply to the national lottery to any Olympic themed lottery games. The Secretary of State has not made representations on the taxation of the Olympic themed lottery games.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) pursuant to the written answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 265–66W, on premier league football (TV rights), if she will list the dates of the meetings between (a) the Office of Fair Trading and (b) Ofcom with (i) the European Commissioner for competition and (ii) other persons working at the European Commission which have taken place since 1 June 2004; [19421]

(2) pursuant to the written answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 265–66W, on premier league football (TV rights), if she will list the dates of the meetings between (a) Ofcom and (b) the Office of Fair Trading and the FA premier league which have taken place since 1 June 2004; [19422]

(3) what discussions (a) Ofcom and (b) the Office of Fair Trading have had with the FA premier league since 1 June 2004 on the matter of deciding the structure of FA premier league television broadcasting rights from season 2007–08 onwards; [19423]