To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what monitoring is undertaken of the handling by the courts of domestic violence cases. [19497]

Responsibility for inspection of court administration and for CAFCASS passed to the new HM Inspectorate of Court Administration in April 2005.

Following a thematic review of the handling of domestic violence issues by CAFCASS and the administration of family courts, the Inspectorate published its report "Domestic Violence, Safety and Family Proceedings" on 11 October 2005.

My Department posted its "Overall Response" on the HM Courts Service website and is finalising a detailed Action Plan. The primary aim of the Action Plan is to ensure that HMCS procedures reflect safety concerns, so that the experiences and fears of domestic violence survivors are recognised. We will achieve that by, among other things:

mapping, in consultation with key stakeholders, front-line court staff and the judiciary, current provision of information and special facilities and developing a strategy to ensure that vulnerable court users are properly informed of special facilities as early as possible in their case;

reviewing health and safety policies and risk assessment procedures for all courts to ensure appropriate safety measures are taken to protect vulnerable parties as well as staff and judiciary;

reviewing staff training to include awareness-raising of domestic violence to equip staff to deal appropriately with vulnerable victims and witnesses.

A copy of the report have been placed in the Library of both Houses.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place a duty on electoral registration officers to have a complete register. [18481]

The Electoral Administration Bill, introduced on 11 October, includes a new duty on electoral registration officers to take all necessary steps to ensure comprehensive registers. Those steps include the following specific measures:

(a) Sending the canvass form more than once to any address;

(b) Making house to house inquires on more than one occasion;

(c) Making contact by such other means as the registration officer thinks appropriate with persons who do not have an entry in a register;

(d) Inspecting any records held by any person which the registration officer is permitted to inspect; and

(e) Providing training to others carrying out the duty.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what performance standards the Government will put in place on (a) security of and (b) access to the electoral system. [19596]

The Electoral Administration Bill, introduced on 11 October 2005, makes provision for the Electoral Commission to set performance standards for electoral registration officers, returning officers and counting officers at a referendum. The Commission will be required to consult the Secretary of State and others when determining the standards to be set, and must lay a copy of the published standards before both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) district judges and (b) immigration judges are (i) Asian, (ii) black and (iii) women. [18946]

The number of(a) district judges and (b) immigration judges who are (i) Asian, (ii) black and (iii) women can be found in the following tables. The number of judges in post who are of mixed or unknown ethnicity has also been included for clarity. The figures for district judges (which can also be found on the DCA website) and those for the immigration judges, have been obtained from the DCA Judicial Database.

District judges currently in post

Immigration judges currently in post

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many persons applied for the post of Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission. [18947]

48 people applied for the post of Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission. The following table gives the gender and, where known, the ethnicity of the applicants.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the Department's progress in promoting judicial diversity. [18729]

The Lord Chancellor launched the judicial diversity programme in March, following a public consultation. The programme focuses on three main areas: encouraging applications from and raising awareness among groups currently under-represented in the judiciary; removing barriers to appointment; and ensuring that the way the judicial office operates encourages a more diverse judiciary, for example, by increasing opportunities for flexible working.

On 13 July the Lord Chancellor announced his intention to legislate to widen eligibility to apply for judicial appointment and progress on other steps he was taking to increase diversity, 13 July 2005, Official Report, column 26WS. He will make a further announcement shortly.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to remove the upper age bar on jury service. [19218]

The Government agree with Lord Justice Auld's finding in his "Review of the Criminal Courts" that there is no compelling case for changing the present age limit of 70 for jury service.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what was the total cost of jurors' expenses in England between 2001 and 2005. [19318]

Juror expenses which constituted loss of earnings allowance, travel and subsistence amounted to:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will provide guidance in polling stations in languages other than English. [18480]

My Department introduced the Electoral Administration Bill on 11 October. It includes a clause aimed at improving access to voting for all by providing for guidance to voters at polling stations to be made in languages other than English and Welsh, as well as graphical representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2005, Official Report, column 605W, on the British Olympic Association Chairman, which candidate approached her; and which candidate approached the Chair of UK Sport. [20203]

holding answer 20 October 2005

As I stated in my answer of 14 October 2005,Official Report, column 605W, I was approached by a candidate for the post of British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman who asked his opinion on the nature and scope of the role. I can confirm that the identity of that candidate was Mr. David Hemery who was publicly named as one of the two candidates to stand in the election for the new chairman post of the BOA.

It would not be appropriate for me to release the name of the person who approached the Chair of UK Sport, since this person has not been publicly identified as a potential candidate for this post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions took place between Ministers in her Department and UK Sport on the recent election to the chairmanship of the British Olympic Association. [20453]

I can confirm that there were no specific meetings, telephone conversations or exchanges of correspondence between Ministers in the Department and UK Sport on the recent election to the chairmanship of the British Olympic Association. The topic did arise from time to time in general conversation between myself and the chair of UK Sport, as a matter of interest regarding elite sport in this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2005, Official Report, column 605, on BOA Chairman, whether officials discussed the election of the new chairman of the British Olympic Association with (a) candidates for the post, (b) potential candidates and (c) voting members. [20870]

I can confirm that my officials did not discuss the election of the new chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) with either candidates for the post, potential candidates or voting members of the BOA prior to that election.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the proportion of households in Gravesham that have had access to the internet in each of the last 10 years. [19826]

I have been asked to reply.

It is not possible to answer this question as information is not available in the form requested, but the Office for National Statistics stated, in the first quarter of 2005, 60 per cent. of households in the UK (13.1 million)¹ currently have access to the internet from home. Broadband is available to 99.3 per cent. ² of households in the UK and has been taken up by over 8.1 million of them. ³

The UK has made great strides in recent years and now has the most extensive broadband market in the G7 and is third for competitiveness, closing the gap on Canada in second place.⁴

Sources:

¹ Office for National Statistics—Internet Access—August 2005.

² Ovum—UK Broadband Status Report—Q2 2005.

³ Ofcom Communication Market Report—August 2005—Quarterly Update.

⁴ Ovum—International Broadband Market Comparisons—Q1 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total value of National Lottery ticket sales in the Isle of Man has been in each year since 1994. [20468]

Ticket sales for the National Lottery in the Isle of Man did not commence until 1999. Information for the subsequent years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the current balance of Lottery funds held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund on behalf of the Millennium Commission. [20469]

The Millennium Commission's current balance held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund is £83 million, of which £67 million has been committed to existing grant programmes and for operating costs. The Millennium Commission remains in operation, and Commissioners retain discretion to offer further grants where they believe this to be appropriate.

Under the provisions of the National Lottery Bill, the Big Lottery Fund as successor body, would take on any remaining balance and funding commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the public capital investment projects outside the south east which will be made as a result of the UK gaining the 2012 Olympics. [19081]

The bid folder presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in November 2004 set out details of capital investment projects necessary to stage the games. This can be found at

http://www.london2012.org/en/news/publications/Candidatefile/

The majority of investment will take place in the Lower Lea Valley and surrounding areas in keeping with IOC requirements to deliver a compact and cost effective games that builds where possible on existing infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2005, Official Report, columns 265–66W, on premier league football (TV rights), what recent discussions her Department (a) has had and (b) plans to have with (i) Ofcom, (ii) the Office of Fair Trading, (iii) the Department of Trade and Industry and (iv) the premier league on its role in working with the European Commission on the matter of deciding the structure of FA premier league television broadcasting rights from season 2007–08 onwards. [19418]

Ministers and officials from both the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Department for Trade and Industry have remained in close contact with the FA premier league, Ofcom, and OFT over the premier league broadcasting rights issue.

On all occasions the Government have made clear that this is a competition issue in which the Government have no locus to intervene.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 15 years. [19583]

The strength by posted location for UK regular armed forces is given in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 10, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. TSP 10 was reinstated in February 2005, following its suspension due to concerns over data quality which necessitated a review of the source data and computer programs used to produce it. Data prior to this are not comparable due to changes in methodology. As at 1 April 2005 there were 7,060 UK regular forces personnel posted to Northern Ireland. In addition, there were 2,010 full-time and 1,210 part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service deployed in Northern Ireland.

Figures for the number of army personnel deployed in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2005 are given in Table 7.4 of United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2005, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Comparable figures for the naval service and Royal Air Force are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources his Department had made available as of 11 October to India and Pakistan following the Asian earthquake. [18425]

holding answer 17 October 2005

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the lead Government Department for the United Kingdom response to the Pakistan relief effort. The Ministry of Defence is in close consultation with DFID about possible UK military assistance and is scoping a range of potential contributions.

The MOD has offered the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) the use of a C-130 Hercules aircraft based in Afghanistan. The MOD plans to use this aircraft to fly 3,150 MOD Halal ration packs and some bottled water to Islamabad for the World Food Programme, as requested by DFID. The UK currently contributes four C-130s and a Ground Handling Team to the NATO Response Force which may be called upon to support the relief effort. One UK officer travelled to Islamabad on 13 October as part of a six-person Operational Liaison Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) scoping the options for NATO assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has made for the deployment of personnel to the prison estate in the case of an avian influenza epidemic. [19207]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the Eurofighter was in terms of (a) unit cost, (b) support costs and (c) operating costs for (i) 2003, (ii) 2004 and (iii) 2005. [17653]

Unit Production Costs (UPC) for Typhoon are published in the Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report (MPR). The UPCs as at 31 March 2003 (MPR 2003) and 31 March 2004 (MPR 04) were £56.8 million and £49.1 million respectively. The Typhoon UPC for 2005 will be published in MPR 2005 shortly.

Support costs for the Typhoon programme cover the provision of facilities and equipment used to support and maintain the aircraft fleet. Expenditure in financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 was £190 million and £223 million respectively.

Typhoon operating costs relate to Typhoons in service with the RAF and are increasing with the number of aircraft entering into service. Expenditure in financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 was some £33 million and £38 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK will join the European Airlift Transport Co-ordination Cell. [19438]

The UK Ministry of Defence has been a member of a European Airlift organisation since its inception in 2001. It is currently called the European Airlift Centre (EAC). A number of changes are being proposed by various member nations. The UK's position is to re-inforce the effectiveness of the co-ordination function and to add in the co-ordination of other modes of transportation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many AH-64 Apache helicopters have been delivered to the British Army. [18390]

67 Apache AH MK1 helicopters have been delivered to the Ministry of Defence for use by the British Army.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many crews have been trained to operate the AH-64 Apache helicopters. [18392]

The Apache Attack Helicopter (AH) is crewed by two pilots. As at 31 October 2005 some 105 AH-trained pilots are expected to have been assigned to 9 Regt AAC, the School of Army Aviation, the Air Manoeuvres Training and Advisory Team and other organisations within the Army Air Corps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of serviceability of the helicopter fleet. [16710]

The number of helicopters available for use to support a planned force readiness is defined as the number of aircraft that are held in the Unit Operating Fleet (UOF) on Squadrons and flights, and those that are held in storage.

Serviceability is a metric applied to helicopters allocated to the front line as part of the UOF. For the purposes of MOD reporting, a "serviceable" aircraft is defined as one that is used, is capable of being used or could be made ready for a period of two hours flying within a planned flying programme. An aggregated serviceability target level is agreed annually with the Front Line Commands. The target takes account of the expected availability of spares, maintenance personnel and the scheduled maintenance activity.

During the year, aircraft from these fleets may be deployed on operations. The aim is always to exceed the serviceability target for those aircraft, and spares and personnel are prioritised to do so. However, focus on the deployed fleet can mean that the "whole fleet" serviceability target cannot be met.

Serviceability for the operational fleet over the period June-August 2005 has been excellent: the serviceability of Merlin Mk 3 on Op Telic has been over 80 per cent.; the Lynx Mk3 onboard warships has averaged 82 per cent. and the Lynx 7/9 over 70 per cent. This is precisely what our policies are designed to achieve.

Serviceability achievements against the whole year targets for MOD fleets during the period April-June 2005–06 are shown in the following table:

⁽¹⁾ Number of aircraft at 1st Line, held by the Squadrons of FLC.

⁽²⁾ Unit serviceability gradually increases according to length of time operating Apache. 70 per cent. serviceability target will only become applicable to the whole fleet when 4 Regt. AAC is in third year of operating the aircraft. This is due in 2008.

⁽³⁾ Reduced due to focus on deployment and drawdown of aircraft from operations.

⁽⁴⁾ Effects of Fitting of Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR's) and modifications.

⁽⁵⁾ Increase in maintenance and replacement of tail rotor components.

⁽⁶⁾ Sea King 3/3a Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters have a 100 per cent. serviceability target, while standby and training aircraft have lower targets which affects the statistics. SAR tasking is always met.

⁽⁷⁾ Trials and embodiment of UORs have affected levels.

⁽⁸⁾ Levels constrained by the availability of repair staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are in service in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force, broken down by make and model. [18220]

The following table sets out the numbers of aircraft of each type held by the Ministry of Defence and shows the service that operates them, as at 31 July 2005. The fleet sizes quoted cover those aircraft expected to be flown. The fleet size does not include some aircraft that could return to the fleet, but are currently classified as un-repairable or redundant.

In addition to the aircraft above, the Department contracts for commercially owned helicopters and the following table shows them broken down by service as at 31 July 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) how many UK military helicopters have been involved in (a) relief operations and (b) other supporting roles in the earthquake zone in northern Pakistan and Kashmir; [20033]

(2) how many UK military helicopters were based in Afghanistan on 9 October, broken down by type. [20032]

holding answer 20 October 2005

There were no UK military helicopters based in Afghanistan on 9 October 2005.

DfID are the lead Department for co-ordinating the national relief effort in the earthquake zone. No UK military helicopters are currently involved. At DfID's request, however, the MOD intend to deploy three heavy lift CH-47 Chinook Helicopters, with accompanying personnel, for a four week period to support the Pakistan relief effort. A small military team travelled to Islamabad on 19 October 2005 to facilitate the deployment of these aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment was sold to Iran in each of the past five years; and what its value was in each case. [18763]

The Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Agency (DSA) has not sold any surplus military equipment to Iran in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the review of abuse investigations in Iraq announced earlier this year by General Sir Mike Jackson has been completed; and whether a date has been set for its publication. [20523]

Findings will be published when all related legal proceedings have concluded. No date has been set for publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military bases have been closed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998. [20448]

The information requested, which includes military bases, joint PSNI/military bases, communications sites and observation towers is shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original (a) time scale and (b) phasing was of Project D154 at DML; and what progress has been made to date. [18580]

Project D154 involves the upgrade of nuclear facilities at Devonport and consists of three phases. The Phase 1 contract ran from 1993 to 1996 and allowed Devonport Management Ltd. to continue with concept and design development work for the facilities during ongoing negotiations for the Phase 2 prime contract. It was originally envisaged that the construction work would begin in 1996, with completion in 1999, but this was not achieved, primarily due to protracted contract negotiations. The Phase 2 contract was awarded in March 1997 and construction work began in 1998. The estimated date for completion of the contract was April 2004, including an end date for the construction work of January 2002.

During 2001 it became clear that the approved maximum cost for Phase 2 would be exceeded and Treasury approval for an increase in funding was granted in October 2001, allowing the Phase 2 contract to be renegotiated and re-scoped. The existing target date of January 2002, for completion of the key facilities for Vanguard Class submarines, was achieved. Work to complete the Primary Circuit Decontamination Building is expected to be completed in November 2005, in time for use during HMS Victorious's overhaul. In addition, while some of the work required to upgrade the overhaul and refuel facilities in support of attack submarines (Swiftsure and Trafalgar Classes) was completed by March 2002, elements of the work were transferred to the final phase, Phase 3, as part of the contract re-negotiations.

The first stage of Phase 3, primarily to support the overhaul and refuel of HMS Triumph, is expected to complete by the end of 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) what restrictions apply to the hours at which military aircraft at RAF Northolt may (a) arrive and (b) depart; [19429]

(2) what restrictions apply to the hours at which civilian aircraft at RAF Northolt may (a) arrive and (b) depart. [19430]

The standard airfield opening hours for both military and civilian aircraft at RAF Northolt are 0800 to 2000, seven days a week. There is some military and civilian aircraft activity outside of these hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) how many military aircraft (a) arrived at and (b) departed from RAF Northolt in each of the last three years; [19482]

(2) how many civilian aircraft (a) arrived at and (b) departed from RAF Northolt in each of the last three years. [19481]

We do not hold information in the format requested; the following table details the number of aircraft movements, which could be either an arrival or departure, for each of the last three years:

Civil commercial aircraft movements at RAF Northolt are limited to 7,000 per calendar year; the number of civilian movements quoted in the aforementioned table includes non-commercial civilian aircraft movements, for example those transporting visiting royalty and heads of state.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which categories of civilian aircraft are permitted to use RAF Northolt. [19483]

Military and civilian aircraft are permitted to use RAF Northolt. There are no set categories.

RAF Northolt takes into account a number of factors, including the weight and configuration of the aircraft, the number of passengers and the level of fire cover required. This is done on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) why RAF Waddington was used to transport nuclear material while RAF Brize Norton is closed; and if he will make a statement; [19345]

(2) what plans he has to reinstate RAF Brize Norton as the prime airbase from which to transport nuclear material. [19400]

The Ministry of Defence has used a number of airfields in the past for the transportation of nuclear material and will use airheads in the future that meet required safety and security standards, which are the Department's paramount consideration. However, I am unable to comment on specific locations as this would be likely to prejudice national security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the new aircraft carriers will be equipped with the Rafale aircraft. [19447]

There are no plans for this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the bandwidth for Skynet 5. [19436]

The Skynet 5 PFI provides a total bandwidth in the region of 700 MHz. Of this, the assured MOD capacity is in the region of 400 MHz.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers are available to him to intervene in the sub-contracting process of his Department's major suppliers for reasons of (a) technical competence and (b) standards of governance and probity. [17651]

It is a condition of all contracts between the Ministry of Defence and its prime contractors that they are placed in the name of "the Authority" which is defined as the Secretary of State. Thus the procurement powers of the Secretary of State are vested in the terms and conditions of the contract. In normal circumstances, those powers are exercised through the prime contractor as appropriate, because there is no direct contractual relationship between MOD and its sub-contractors. If it were to intervene directly, MOD would undermine the contractual responsibilities of the prime contractor. It is principally the responsibility of the Department's prime contractors to select and manage the performance of their subcontractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been undertaken of the (a) ability and (b) capacity of Alfred McAlpine Business Systems to deliver effective IT systems for submarines against the Department's requirements as a sub-contractor to BAE Systems. [17649]

Alfred McAlpine Business Services do not deliver IT systems for submarines as a sub-contractor to BAE Systems submarines. These are provided under sub-contract by Computer Sciences Corporation. Any decision to find an alternative provider is primarily a matter for BAE Systems Submarines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 17W, on the surface fleet, if he will list the (a) destroyers and (b) frigates he expects to be in active service in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014; and if he will make a statement. [18865]

In 2013 we expect there to be a destroyer and frigate force consisting of four Type 22 Frigates (HMS Cornwall, Cumberland, Chatham and Campbeltown), 13 Type 23 Frigates (HMS Argyll, Lancaster, Iron Duke, Monmouth, Montrose, Westminster, Northumberland, Richmond, Somerset, Sutherland, Kent, Portland and St. Albans), and five Type 45 Destroyers (HMS Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, and Defender). We expect the period 2012–15 to see the withdrawal from service of the last three Type 42 Destroyers, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Nottingham and HMS York, and their replacement by three further Type 45 Destroyers, the first being HMS Duncan. As explained on page 18 of "Delivering Security in a Changing World (Future Capabilities)(Cm 6269)", presented to the House in July 2004, our intention is for the Royal Navy to operate a fleet of 25 destroyers and frigates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military capability the Type 45 destroyer will have other than air defence. [19443]

The Type 45 destroyer will be a versatile platform that is planned to deliver a number of capabilities in addition to air defence, including naval gunfire support and, through its embarked helicopter, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It will be capable of employment in a full range of tasks including maritime force protection, interdiction and peace support operations.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units expected to be built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme in the North West Region in 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 are (a) mixed funded social rented housing, (b) temporary social rented housing, (c) homebuy general market purchase, (d) homebuy general new build, (e) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (f) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (g) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (h) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (i) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (j) right to acquire, (k) voluntary purchase grant, (l) do-it-yourself shared ownership, (m) temporary intermediate and (n) market rent housing; and how much will be spent on each category in each year. [19182]

The tables show the latest estimated completions and expenditure in the North West region for 2005–06 through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme, for categories from(a) to (n) . Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.

Estimated completions in North West Region for 2005–06

Estimated expenditure in North West Region for 2005–06

Note:

Categories (f), (g), (h) and (i) are not counted as completions and figures are provided only for illustrative purposes.

Source:

Housing Corporation Information Management System as at 12 October 2005.

For 2006–07 and 2007–08 Regional Housing Boards have made recommendations to Ministers for the allocation of Regional Housing Pots funds. The North West Regional Housing Board has recommended that from their allocation of £500 million for the two years a total of £224 million should be allocated to the provision of affordable housing. However, the exact distribution of funding between programmes for 2006–08 will not be known until the completion of the Housing Corporation's bidding process.

In August 2005 the Housing Corporation launched the bidding round for the 2006–08 Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This invited both registered social landlords and non-registered bodies to apply for funds to develop affordable housing based on priorities set by the Regional Housing Boards. The outcome of this bidding round will not be known until early in 2006.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units expected to be built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme in the West Midlands Region in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08 are (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii) homebuy general market purchase, (iv) homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x) right to acquire, (xi) voluntary purchase grant, (xii) do-it-yourself shared ownership and (xiii) temporary intermediate and market rent housing; and how much will be spent on each category in each year. [19649]

The following tables show the latest estimated completions and expenditure in the West Midlands region for 2005–06 through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme, for categories from (i) to (xiii). Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.

Estimated completions in West Midlands Region in 2005–06

Estimated expenditure in West Midlands Region in 2005–06

Source:

Housing Corporation Information Management System as at 12 October 2005. Categories vi, vii, viii and ix are not usually counted as completions, and figures are provided for illustrative purposes.

For 2006–07 and 2007–08 Regional Housing Boards have made recommendations to Ministers for the allocation of Regional Housing Pots funds. The West Midlands Regional Housing Board has recommended that from their allocation of £379 million for the two years a total of £198 million should be allocated to the provision of affordable housing. However, the exact distribution of funding between programmes for 2006–08 will not be known until the completion of the Housing Corporation's bidding process.

In August 2005 the Housing Corporation launched the bidding round for the 2006–08 Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This invited both registered social landlords and non-registered bodies to apply for funds to develop affordable housing based on priorities set by the Regional Housing Boards. The outcome of this bidding round will not be known until early in 2006.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what circumstances beacon council status for improving urban spaces would be revoked. [18616]

Beacon status for improving urban green spaces was awarded to seven councils in 2002. Those councils have completed their period of beacon dissemination and many others have learned from their good practice. I am aware of no circumstances under which their 2002–03 beacon status should now be reconsidered.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of his plans to give local authorities the ability to resume building homes. [19841]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 118W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will extend the disabled persons council tax reduction to those who suffer from profound deafness. [20375]

The Disabled Band Reduction (DBR) scheme is specifically designed to ensure that people with disabilities do not pay more council tax because they live in a bigger property than they would otherwise need if it were not for their disability. The scheme does not aim to provide a general discount for those with disabilities irrespective of their accommodation need and we do not have plans to extend it.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's underspend was in 2004–05 (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of departmental budget. [19247]

The requested budget and expenditure information for both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM) main programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) and local government programmes DEL is set out in the table.

Note:

Underspends are denoted by a minus figure.

Figures for(a) and (b) are final outturn figures as reconciled with the published ODPM Resource Accounts for 2004–05.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the WarnTone system on response times for emergency vehicles. [16854]

No impact assessment has been made.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether functions carried out by local fire control centres will not be carried out by the South East Regional Fire Control Centre; and if he will make a statement. [18573]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 October 2005, Official Report, column 609W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the Government's response to consultation on draft FRS National Framework 2004–05 ruled out extending insurance cover for firefighters. [17397]

Government do not provide insurance cover for firefighters. Any personal insurance is a matter of personal choice and should be seen in the context of the compensation scheme for firefighters. Firefighter pay, pension and injury arrangements reflect the nature of the job and the risks that may be incurred. The death in service benefits for firefighters are more generous than those available to any other public sector service worker.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to promote (a) local sustainability, (b) the protection of local environments, (c) local services and facilities, (d) local economies and (e) the local democratic process; and if he will make a statement. [20292]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's aim is to build sustainable communities. As such, promoting local sustainability, the protection of local environments, local services and facilities, local economies and the local democratic process is at the heart of our agenda. All our departmental PSAs contribute in some way to these outcomes.

I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the Department's two five year plans, "Sustainable Communities: Homes for All" (Cm 6424) and "Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity" (Cm 6425). Both are available on the Department's website and in the Library of the House. Together these documents set out the Department's approach to creating sustainable communities, and describe some of the steps already taken to build them.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the material changes were which led to the decision to re-open the public inquiry into a motorway service area between junction 3a and junction 6 of the M42, Solihull, West Midlands. [18781]

A letter informing the relevant parties of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the First Secretary of State's decision to re-open the public inquiry into the proposed motorway service area (MSA) was issued on 6 September. That letter, together with an earlier letter of 21 October 2004, sets out those matters which my right hon. Friend particularly wishes to be informed of in the light of material changes in circumstances since the original public inquiry.

Since my right hon. Friend's interim decision letter of 6 March 2001, the White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" was published on 16 December 2003; Regional Planning Guidance (now the Regional Spatial Strategy) for the West Midlands was published on 15 June 2004; the Review of the Solihull Unitary Development Plan has continued to progress; Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres was published on 21 March 2005; and revised proposals for the re-use of Walford Hall Farmhouse have been put forward.

In view of the significant amount of time which has elapsed since the original inquiry closed in June 2000, my right hon. Friend took the view that it would not be safe to proceed to decision on the appeal without a new inquiry being asked to consider these and any other material changes in circumstances since 2000.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year. [14674]

Over the financial year 2004–05 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has spent £160,320 (£13,360 per month) on external media relations (defined as the employment of external agencies to carry out media relations for or on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). All this spend has been through the Central Office of Information (COI) to help promote fire safety in the home.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in his Department 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. [17321]

The information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

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 Deputy Prime Minister what area of (a) parkland and (b) metropolitan open space there is in each London borough. [18615]

The total area of green space and metropolitan open land in each London borough is shown in the table (these categories are not mutually exclusive). Data relating to "parkland" are not available.

Table 1: Area of green space and metropolitan open land by London borough -- Hectares

Notes:

1. Green space includes almost all natural land, such as the natural parts of parks, allotments, agricultural land, road verges and woodland.

2. Metropolitan open land is a designation unique to London and its function is to protect strategically important open spaces within the built environment.

Source:

Greenspace—Generalised Land Use Database (ODPM).

Metropolitan open land (GLA).

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the regional housing boards will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when they are merged with the regional chambers. [19918]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is still considering a number of points of detail on how merger of Regional Housing Boards and Regional Planning Bodies is best effected, but hope to make a positive announcement shortly.

Regional Housing Boards provide advice to Ministers on the allocation of housing capital investment: final decisions rest with Ministers, as would be the case should Regional Assemblies take over their work.

Regional Assemblies are voluntary bodies and not therefore subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However, "Guidance on the General Principles of Designation of Voluntary Regional Assemblies", issued by my Department in October 2004 states:

"The Assembly should conduct its proceedings as openly and transparently as possible, and should have policies and procedures in place to ensure the integrity of its decisions and activities. Although not subject to the legislation, the Assembly should be mindful of the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and should ensure that its constitution and activities are consistent with the spirit of the legislation".

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total amount of debt written off under his system of writing off debt for those local authorities which agree to large scale voluntary transfers of the housing stock is; and why the debt of authorities which retain the stock may not be written off in the same way. [18434]

To date the Office has made Overhanging Debt payments amounting to £1.565 billion.

Where the net receipt a local authority receives for the sale of its housing stock in a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer is less than its housing debt, the Office will make a one-off payment to meet the outstanding debt. The one-off payment is in lieu of the subsidy that the Office would otherwise be required to pay the authority.

To repay the housing debt of local authorities which retain their housing stock would lead to local authorities borrowing more from the public sector whereas after stock transfer registered social landlords can borrow from the private sector.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the consultees on the draft codes of practice for student hostels drawn up by Universities UK and the Accreditation Network; who responded to the consultation; and if he will place a copy of their replies in the Library. [20767]

The following were formally consulted:

Accreditation Network UK (ANUK)

Asset Skills

Association for Student Residential Accommodation (ASRA)

Association of London Government (ALG)

Association of Managers of Student Services (AMOSSHE)

Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)

Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA)

Association of Tenancy Relations Officers (ATRO)

Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO)

Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE)

Association of University Heads of Administration (AUHA)

British Property Federation (BPF)

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Officers (CIEH)

Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)

Citizens Advice

Conference of University Business Officers (CUBO)

HMO Network

Housing Corporation

Independent Housing Ombudsman (IHO)

Law Commission

Local Government Association (LGA)

National Union of Students (NUS)

National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL)

National Landlords Association (NLA)

Opal Ltd.

Prime Living Group plc

Residential Landlords Association (RLA)

Shelter

Standing Conference of Principals (SCOP)

Unipol Student Homes

Unite plc

Universities UK

University Partnerships Programme (UPP)

University Safety and Health Association (USHA)

Wales: Higher Education Wales

Wales: Society of Directors of Public Protection in Wales

Wales: NUS (Wales)

Wales: National Assembly for Wales

Welsh Local Government Association

We are now considering responses from the following:

Accommodation Services—UCE, Birmingham

Accreditation Network UK (ANUK)

Association of Managers of Student Services (AMOSSHE)

Birmingham City Council

Bournemouth NUS

Bristol Council

Christ Church Canterbury Students Union

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Dartington College of Arts Students Union

De Montfort University NUS

Dr. S. L. Granum (individual)

Guild of Students—University of Birmingham

Higher Education Regulation Review Group—DFES

HMO Network

Islington Council

Kent NUS

King's College, London

Kingston University NUS

Leeds City Council

Leeds NUS

Liberty Living

Liverpool University Guild of Students

Manchester Council

Martineau Johnson Solicitors

National Union of Students (NUS)

Reading NUS

Sheffield Hallam NUS

Sheffield NUS

UCL Union

Unipol Student Homes

Unite plc

Universities UK

University of Greenwich

University of Sussex

A copy of their replies will be placed n the Library of the House.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many vacant homes there are in Kent; and for what average period houses were vacant in each of the last three years. [19799]

There were 23,364 empty homes in Kent as at November 2004, the latest year for which figures are available. The data are as reported on CTB1 & CTB1S forms submitted by billing authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister each year. The figure includes both long and short-term empty properties.

Details of the average period for which houses were vacant in each of the last three years are not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Learning and Skills Council funding allocations for adult education for 2005–06 on future enrolments by over-25s in Level 3 and Level 4 courses. [10741]

The Government's Skills Strategy, reaffirmed in the White Paper published on the 22 March, sets clear priorities for public funding to support adults without a platform of skills for employability. However, we also recognise the importance of higher level skills, and the Skills Strategy White Paper set out measures to strengthen support for provision at Level 3 and above. Given that higher levels of qualifications have higher rates of return for employers and individuals, it is also important that this should be reflected in the relative contributions employers and individuals make to the costs of such training.

We are committed to trialling, in two regions, providing an additional element of subsidy alongside a contribution from the employer for Level 3 training delivered flexibly through NETP. We will invest an additional £20 million per year in 2006–07 and 2007–08 to assess the impact of that way of operating prior to taking final decisions on the routing of public funds for Level 3 training through the National Employer Training Programme.

We are currently working with the LSC and others to identify the regions for the trials and expect to make an announcement shortly.

The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for the funding allocations for 2005/06 and for planning provision which meets Government priorities and local needs. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Friend with an assessment of participation by adults in Level 3 and 4 courses funded by the LSC. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

We are currently working with the LSC and others to identify the regions for the trials and expect to make an announcement shortly.

The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for the funding allocations for 2005/06 and for planning provision which meets Government priorities and local needs. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with an assessment of participation by adults in Level 3 and 4 courses funded by the LSC. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr Gordon Marsden dated 28 July 2005

I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding participation in, and funding allocations for, adult education.

As you will know, adult participation in education and skills development can take many forms. The main LSC-funded programmes are Work Based Learning (WBL), general Further Education (FE) and Adult & Community Learning (ACL). Annex 1 attached shows how much funding has been allocated to each of our local Learning and Skills Councils for these programmes, in total, for the 2003/04 and 2004/05 years. For 2005/06, you will see that in some regions (where monetary amounts appear against the Regional Office) the details are not yet finalised. We aim to publish final information on our web site as soon as we can.

We also allocate funding for other types of adult provision:

employer-based provision through the Employer Training Pilots (ETP), soon to be rolled-out across the country as a National Employer Training Programme and the Workforce Development programme. Taken together, approximate funding levels for these programmes over the 3 years are 2003–04 £84 million, 2004–05 £140 million, 2005–06 £196 million;

learning specifically aimed at people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD). For adults, spend figures over the 3 years are approximately £50 million in 2003/04, £66 million in 04/05 and we expect around £67 million in 05/06;

programmes arranged by the University for Industry (UfI), where budgets for the 3 years are in the region of £164 million, £164 million and £141 million;

School 6th Form provision for students aged 19+ at approximately £3.6 million in 03/04 and £4.5 million in 04/05. We can't say how many pupils there will be aged 19 and over in 2005/06 just yet.

In addition, we provide support for learners through Additional Learning Support for specific student needs, around 40 per cent. of which is attributable to adults or, over the 3 years roughly £123 million, £132 million and £135 million, Learner Support Funds, also provide financial support in cases of hardship and to meet childcare costs. These total £80 million a year for adults. Adult Learning Grants are also being piloted in 19 LSC areas at an annual cost of £12 million.

We also fund information, advice and guidance services for adult learners and potential learners at £36 million, £37 million and £38 million over the 3 years in question.

I have not included in Annex 1, the current funding for these programmes, because this would distort the comparison between local LSCs, as some of this funding is routed to particular parts of the country where provision is available or where we are piloting.

Annex 2 provides the participation information requested for 2003/04 and 2004/05. Figures for 2003/04 are actuals. Those for 2004/05 are estimated outturns—the 2004/05 academic year is yet to finish and, particularly for adult education which is primarily made up of shorter courses, the pattern of delivery across the academic year changes from year to year, making accurate prediction of full-year outturn difficult. Local LSCs are currently talking with providers across the whole range of our programmes for the 2005/06 year. It is too early to say what levels of participation we will see, but the LSC expects to achieve the targets we have been set on delivering the Government's priorities. This will lead to shifts in the balance of provision across programmes and we do expect a reduction in adult numbers in 2005/06 as a result. Our current estimate is that this will be around 300,000 learners, a reduction of around 7 per cent. from the 2004/05 planned level.

Regarding your question on future enrolments by over 25s in level 3 and level 4 courses, we are not able to say at this time, what the impact will be. Whilst each of our local LSCs plan provision with their providers, we don't manage providers at that level of detail. Colleges and other adult education providers will make their own decisions on the number of learners they recruit and the level of fees they may charge to meet course costs.

I hope this is helpful.

Annex 1