To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what administrative savings have been made by her Department in each of the last eight years. [34950]

Information on gross and net controlled administration costs underspends for Whitehall Departments is published in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Papers for the relevant years. These are available in the Library of the House.

DEFRA has also agreed efficiency targets, financial and staff, for the Spending Review 2004 period. These are set out in the Efficiency Technical Note which was published on DEFRA's website on 5 December 2005. It can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/busplan/efficiencynote-0511.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on the UK honey bee population of the reduction in the National Bee Unit's budget. [39411]

The Department has not reduced its expenditure with the National Bee Unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many seasonal bee inspectors she expects to be employed by her Department in (a) January 2006 and (b) January 2007. [39412]

Bee inspectors are employed by the National Bee Unit, which is part of the Central Science Laboratory, a Defra agency. The Unit expects to employ 28 seasonal bee inspectors in England in 2006 and 2007, unchanged from the number employed during 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the risk assessment carried out by the Environment Agency in relation to the use of Incinerator Bottom Ash in the Tesco construction site at Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire; and if she will make a statement. [38939]

holding answer 20 December 2005

Incinerator bottom ash aggregates were being used as a secondary construction material in the Tesco construction site of Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire under an exemption from waste management licensing. The Environment Agency does not normally carry out a risk assessment itself on exempted activities as they are considered low risk, but does check whether the information provided by the operators of the activity meets the terms and conditions of the exemption.

Jacksons Civil Engineering Ltd. notified the Environment Agency of the use of this material in construction of the Tesco site, Gerrards Cross, as an exempt activity under the Regulations. The notification included a risk assessment provided by the producers of the aggregate. In accordance with Environment Agency policy, this document has been placed on the public register at their Hatfield Office (North East Area Office, Apollo Court, 2 Bishops Square Business Park, St. Albans Road West, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. AL109EX).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which bodies are funded by her Department which are concerned with climate change; and how much funding these bodies received in 2003–04. [39724]

holding answer 10 January 2006

The two key bodies funded by Defra to combat climate change are the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust. Total expenditure in 2003–04 by the Department on the Carbon Trust was £52.4 million and on Energy Saving Trust £29.8 million (including the Community Energy Programme).

The Department also funds a number of research contracts relating to climate change. The total value of these in 2003–04 was £13.5 million. These include around £9.9 million for the Hadley Centre (part of the Meterological Office) and around £0.6 million funding to Oxford University for the UK Climate Impacts Programme.

In addition the Environment Agency contributes to mitigation of greenhouse gases through its regulation of emissions and to society's adaptation to the impacts of climate change, notably by flood risk management. However, it is not possible to assess the proportion of the Agency's £1 billion per annum budget (60 per cent. of which is funded by Grant-in-Aid from Defra) that can specifically be attributed to climate change work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding the Government spent in 2003–04 on climate change adaption. [39725]

holding answer 10 January 2006

The Government has no specific overall budget for adaptation to climate change. In many fields, adaptation to climate change is in its early stages and in general would be an incremental element of existing programmes. No detailed assessment has been made of the scale of this additional work.

The Department is currently consulting on the development of the Government's Adaptation Policy Framework, an exercise that includes collation of a database of policies, measures and programmes that are already taking account of adaptation requirements. The results of this consultation exercise will be reported later in 2006.

The answer given on 3 March 2005, Official Report, column 1275W, detailed the Department's spending in 2003–04 on research into the impacts of climate change and the identification of adaptation and mitigation options.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) salary bill was and (b) administrative costs were for her Department in (i) each (A) nation and (B) region of the UK and (ii) London in 2004–05. [35878]

The administration budgets regime overseen by the Treasury relates to Whitehall Departments only. How administration costs are controlled in the devolved Administrations is a matter for them. We do not monitor regional or central London administration costs separately.

The most recent Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (CMD 6639) records provisional 2004–05 departmental administration costs outturn. The DEFRA departmental report contains the estimated 2004–05 pay bill outturn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on advertising by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by her Department in each year since May 1997. [39076]

The Department does not maintain separate records of its expenditure for advertising. The expenditure for publicity by Defra's Communications Directorate includes marketing, advertising, publications, events, shows and direct mailings and is recorded for the financial years since Defra's creation in June 2001 as follows:

This includes communications on a wide range of matters, much of it necessary or beneficial to the public and the wide range of industries in which Defra has an interest, together with local government, voluntary organisations and other bodies.

Individual records of advertising spend for Defra's NDPBs, agencies and financially sponsored organisations are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by her Department for use in London Headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year. [39138]

The following table summarises the Department's rounded expenditure on widescreen televisions across the London headquarters estate since the beginning of the financial year 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants in her Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available. [40291]

No specific data is held by the Department on the precise extent of home working by staff. However, the practice appears to be on the increase now that we are promoting smart working and new, flexible, working practices (including home working). Recent staff survey data shows that 83 percent. of staff believe they are encouraged to work flexibly. Whilst these approaches are designed to improve the way we do business and deliver more efficiently, data from the same survey shows that 67 percent. of staff said they were able to achieve the optimum work/life balance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to date is of the Rural Payments Agency's digital mapping exercise; how many staff have been employed for the exercise; at what cost; what the cost of the digital mapping software was; and what the annual running costs of the digital mapping exercise are. [40395]

holding answer 9 January 2006

Following the launch of the Rural Land Register in September 2004 the level of demand was higher than anticipated and this has affected the running costs for the first year.

The approximate cost of establishing and running the Rural Land Register to date is £16.4 million.

The approximate total number of staff including agency staff employed by the Rural Payments Agency for varying durations has been 865 at an approximate cost of £7.3 million.

The cost of the digital mapping software was £0.4 million.

The estimated annual running costs of the digital mapping exercise is £1.9 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will require local authorities to follow the example of Woking borough council in reducing energy consumption. [34481]

Placing a requirement to act on local authorities would require the Government to fully fund this as a new burden. The Government cannot commit to beginning a programme of investment that had not been planned for. Neither Government nor local councils have made provision for such a programme.

However many local authorities are already actively reducing energy consumption, both in their own operations and in the communities they serve. Through the beacon council theme on sustainable energy the Government are ensuring that good practice is shared. Woking borough council was granted Beacon Council Status for its work on Sustainable Energy in 2005

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for cereals, (b) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for dehydrated fodder and (c) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for sugar have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement. [38784]

The Cereals Management Committee normally meets on a weekly basis in Brussels. The dates of meetings held during the UK presidency of the EU and the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/cereals/index.htm.

The Dried Fodder Management Committee met for the last time on 14 July 2005 in Brussels. A summary of the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/feed/index.htm.

In future, dried fodder issues will fall within the remit of the Cereals Management Committee.

The Sugar Management Committee meets on either a fortnightly or weekly basis, depending on the time of year, in Brussels. The dates of meetings held during the UK presidency and the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address:

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/sugar/index.htm

The European Commission provides the Chair for each of these Committees. The UK is represented by officials from Defra and additionally, as necessary, by officials from the Rural Payments Agency and other UK Agriculture Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for oils and fats, (b) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for natural fibres and (c) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for milk and milk products have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement. [38786]

The information is as follows:

1 November the Management Committee for Fats and Oils became the Olive Oil Management Committee. It meets every month so during the UK presidency there have been six meetings. There was also a meeting when a vote was taken in the margins of another Management Committee. The meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. A Defra official represented the UK at each meeting. Reports of these meetings are copied to devolved administrations for information and comments.(a) On

5 September 2005, 17 November 2005, and 29 November 2005. The meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. Defra officials represented the UK at each meeting. Reports of these meetings are copied to members of the devolved administrations for information and comments.(b) The Management Committee of the common organisation of agricultural markets for natural fibres met three times in the period:

28 July, 25 August, 15 and 29 September, 13 and 27 October, 10 and 24 November, 15 December. The meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. Defra officials represented the UK at each meeting. Reports of these meetings are copied to members of the devolved administrations for information and comments, and during 2005 officials from the Welsh Assembly Government Environment, Planning and Countryside Department have attended as observers when subjects of particular interest were discussed.(c) The Milk Management Committee met on 14 and

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for beef and veal, (b) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for sheep and goats and (c) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for pigmeat have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement. [38788]

The Beef and Veal Management Committee normally meets on a monthly basis in Brussels and is chaired by European Commission officials. The dates of meetings held during the UK presidency and the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/beef/index.htm

The UK was represented at these meetings by officials from Defra. Officials from the Rural Payments Agency and other UK Agriculture Departments attend as necessary but did not do so during the UK presidency.

The Sheep and Goat Management Committee met twice during the UK presidency (on 16 November and 7 December). Both meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. The UK was represented by Defra officials.

The Pigmeat Management Committee met during the UK presidency of the EU on 13 July, 20 September, 19 October, 16 November and 7 December 2005. Meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. The UK was represented by one official from Defra. The devolved authorities were consulted on agenda items prior to each meeting, and receive reports and papers shortly after each meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU Committee on (a) geographical indications and protected designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (b) certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs and (c) organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement. [38822]

The information is as follows:

4 October 2005 and 6 December 2005. Both meetings were chaired by an official from the European Commission. Two Defra officials represented the UK at each meeting. Arrangements are in place to consult with the devolved administrations on the business conducted by the Regulatory Committee.(a) The Regulatory Committee on protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs met twice in the period:

4 October 2005. The meeting was chaired by an official from the European Commission. Two Defra officials represented the UK. Arrangements are in place to consult with the devolved administrations on the business conducted by the Regulatory Committee.(b) The Regulatory Committee on Certificates of Specific Character met once in the period: on

1 July 2005, 26 September 2005 and 30 November/1 December 2005. The Committee is chaired by an official of the European Commission. Officials from Defra represent the UK. Arrangements are in place for consultation with the devolved administrations on the business conducted by the Standing Committee.(c) The Standing Committee on Organic Farming met three times in the period; on

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for seeds, (b) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for live plants and floriculture products and (c) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for bananas have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement. [39012]

Meetings of the Bananas Management Committee were held on 12 July, 15 November, 29 November and 13 December 2005. All four meetings were held in Brussels, chaired by officials of the European Commission and attended by Defra officials.

There were no meetings of the Management Committees of the common organisation of the markets for seeds or live plants and floriculture products during the UK presidency.

The UK Government takes into account the views and interests of the devolved administrations when formulating the UK's policy position on all EU and international issues which touch upon devolved matters. Provision for attendance at EU meetings by Ministers and officials of the devolved administrations is set out in paragraphs 4.12–15 of the Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues (part of the Memorandum of Understanding between devolved Ministers and the UK Government).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Implementation Committee for spirit drinks, (b) Implementation Committee on aromatised wine-based drinks and (c) Joint Meetings of Management or regulatory committees in the field of agriculture—promotion of agricultural products have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement. [39014]

The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee met once and the Joint Management Committee for the Promotion of Agricultural Products four times during the UK presidency of the EU. The Aromatised Wine Implementation Committee did not meet at all and has not done so since 2002.

The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee meeting took place on 27 September 2005. Two DEFRA officials represented the UK. The Joint Management Committee for the Promotion of Agricultural Products meetings took place on 19 July 2005, 28 September 2005, 30 November 2005 and 21 December 2005. A DEFRA official represented the UK at July and September's meetings and a DEFRA official and a Rural Payments Agency official did so at November's meeting. Two Rural Payments Agency officials attended December's meeting. All of these meetings were presided over by European Commission officials.

The UK Government takes into account the views and interests of the devolved Administrations when formulating the UK's policy position on all EU and international issues which touch upon devolved matters. Provision for attendance at EU meetings by Ministers and officials of the devolved Administrations is set out in paragraphs B4.12–15 of the Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues (part of the Memorandum of Understanding between devolved Ministers and the UK Government). Ministers from the devolved Administrations have attended and do attend Councils, by agreement with the lead Whitehall Minister. A copy is available on the internet at:

www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/devolution/pubs/odpm_dev_600629.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's contractual obligations to the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in each of the last 10 years. [39396]

Defra has committed funds for Research and Development projects to the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research over the 10 year period in question as follows:

⁽¹⁾ Provisional

Details of the projects funded, including individual project costings and the final reports from completed projects, are available on the Defra website at:

http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project data/Default. asp.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria were taken into account when deciding to discontinue funding of the National Flood Forum; and if she will make a statement. [40753]

Defra has policy responsibility for flood risk management in England. The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England.

I understand the Agency has agreed with the National Flood Forum Board of Directors that their core funding from the Agency will be phased out over a three-year period from December 2004 to ensure the Forum's independence from a single funding source, and allow it to establish a broader funding base. The Agency will continue to provide funding for the Forum on a project by project basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to Question 31449, on the EU sugar regime, tabledby the hon. Member for Hendon on 21 November 2005. [40272]

I replied to the hon. Member on 20 December 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research's role in her Department's research and development strategy. [39337]

The Welsh Assembly Government have been consulted in the development of Defra's Evidence and Innovation Strategy; is an assessor on Defra's farming and food Research Priorities Group; and is party to the development of Defra's research funding plans.

Defra procures R and D relevant to agriculture and fisheries at a range of research establishments including the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER). This research is funded to support both Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government policies. The Welsh Assembly Government are a close partner in the formulation of Defra research funding plans at a number of levels ranging from our Department wide Evidence and Innovation Strategies through to statements of policy rationale and scientific objectives for individual R and D programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997. [39086]

For details of Contracts awarded to DFID since 1997 to assist with International Development, I refer the hon. Member for Angus to the response I gave to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 55W.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for financial sponsorship of Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC). They do not however, retain a central record of expenditure on external consultants and to obtain this information would incur a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to help the Guatemalan authorities reduce the incidence of violence against Guatemalan women. [40820]

The Department for International Development is contributing €1 million through its share of the European Commission's (EC) 2004–07 project to strengthen the ability of the Guatemalan Indigenous Women's Ombudsman (Defensoria de la Mujer Indigena) to address the high levels of exclusion and violence suffered by poor indigenous rural women. The Ombudsman is part of the Guatemala Presidential Commission of Human Rights.

The UK provides 18 per cent. of the funding of EC programmes to Guatemala.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what shelters the UK Government is providing for the people of Pakistan following the earthquake there; and what assessment it has made of the adequacy of such shelters for winter temperatures and conditions in the affected region. [40799]

holding answer 9 January 2006

As a part of DFID's overall response to the Pakistan earthquake, we have provided in-kind assistance in the form of 5,500 winterised tents, as well as plastic sheeting, blankets and ropes which are an integral part of the International Organisation for Migration's (IOM) tent winterisation package. In addition, we are providing financial support as well as staff secondments to the IOM, the lead international agency managing shelter issues, as well as financial support to six non governmental organisations that are implementing shelter programmes. This support is helping relocated North West Frontier and Kashmir populations in camps at lower altitude as well as those villagers living in remote locations above 5,000 feet. It has enabled the construction of temporary warm rooms" made of galvanised iron sheets to assist those affected by the earthquake to survive the Himalayan winter.

DFID has been working actively with a range of donor partners, the Government of Pakistan, as well as beneficiaries, to gauge the appropriateness of the shelter assistance provided. When it became clear that a high proportion of the shelters distributed (excluding the DFID-provided tents) was not winterised, DFID provided an additional £2,000,000 of in-kind assistance to support the activities of the responding international community. We are currently discussing whether additional financial or in-kind support is required. DFID support through the financing of transport aircraft provided by NATO and in-country helicopter operations includes the delivery of shelter materials for the UN and humanitarian agencies.

The tents provided by DFID are fully certified winterised tents with provision for heating by stove. We are content that the additional in-kind support is of appropriate quality and meets UN and/or International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of the 50/50 ruling on the recruitment of suitably qualified Protestants to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [40309]

Since 2001, the unprecedented level of interest in joining the PSNI, from across the whole community, has reflected the increasing confidence in policing in Northern Ireland, and has created an inevitable surplus of suitably qualified candidates for a finite number of posts. I am advised that only 541 suitably qualified non-Catholic candidates, from the first eight campaigns, will be rejected as a result of 50/50. This is less than two percent of all non-Catholic applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many kneecappings have been recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [40310]

The PSNI does not record offences separately. I can tell you that in the last five years the number of shootings has more than halved, from 186 in 2001 to 85 last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Sinn Fein on the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill. [40311]

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had discussions with a number of political parties including Sinn Fein.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department has taken to consult parents in Northern Ireland on his plans to change arrangements for academic selection for post-primary education. [40312]

Throughout the review of post-primary education, the Department has consulted with parents in a number of ways, including through public meetings, focus groups, questionnaires including a household response form, meetings with representative groups and through written submissions. All views were considered before decisions were taken on the new post-primary arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department has taken to consult parents in Northern Ireland on his plans to change arrangements for academic selection for post-primary education. [40315]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in developing visitor facilities at the Giant's Causeway. [40313]

I can confirm that good progress continues to be made In relation to the provision of new visitor facilities at the Giant's Causeway. The design has been selected following a very successful international architectural competition. In addition, a separate firm of designers has recently been appointed to design and fit out the new facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his plans to deal with on-the-run terrorists returning to Northern Ireland. [40314]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on (a) ambulance service cover in Derry city and (b) night-time cover in Derry city during the Christmas period. [40752]

Accident and emergency ambulance services in Derry city are commissioned by the western health and social services board from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) on the basis of historical patterns of demand. Levels of cover therefore vary to meet demand but there are usually three to five vehicles on duty during the day and two to three at night crewed by a total complement of 46 operational staff.

During the recent Christmas period, NIAS experienced an unusually high level of staff sickness absence. In addition to six Altnagelvin station staff already absent, a further seven reported sick at short notice. As a result, of 58 planned shifts over the period 24 to 29 December, it was possible to cover only 41. However, full cover was resumed on 30 December 2005 and was maintained over the rest of the period including new year's eve.

Immediate action taken to reduce the impact of the sickness absence included redeploying staff from other stations, offering overtime to ambulance staff throughout Northern Ireland, assigning day shift staff to night-time cover, redeploying rapid response vehicles and introducing additional non-emergency vehicles to minimise the need for emergency crews to undertake non- emergency work.

In the longer term NIAS plans to review its procedures for allocating leave and overtime, and shift rotas to ensure effective staff cover. NIAS will incorporate its findings into a review of its absence management procedures.

While there was considerable additional pressure placed on ambulance personnel in NIAS's western division, I am pleased to say that the ambulance service's response to life threatening calls in the area and, in particular within Derry city itself, remained on a par with its performance across Northern Ireland performance during the period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the basic hourly rate is for Northern Ireland civil service starting grades. [40784]

The Northern Ireland civil service general service recruitment grades are administrative assistant, administrative officer, executive officer II and staff officer graduate. New entrants are normally recruited at the minimum of the respective salary scale. The basic hourly rate for the minimum of these grades are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate his Department has made of public expenditure on housing in (a) the public and (b) the private sector in the last five years for which figures are available. [40778]

The amounts of public expenditure allocated to housing in the public and private sectors over the last five years is as follows:

£ million

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent open-source software is being used by Government Departments in Northern Ireland; and whether the recommendations of the e-Government policy unit on this are being implemented. [39425]

Open Source is currently being used in two Government Departments in NI for specific projects.

Other Departments are evaluating it and this is underpinned by the NICS ICT strategy which states that the NICS will consider the use of Open Source.

The NICS has adopted the UK Government e-Government Interoperability Framework (eGIF) which mandates open standards and specifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many successful prosecutions there have been in Northern Ireland for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving since its introduction. [40674]

Until 2004 data relating to offences prosecuted by the police become available early this year information is currently available only for those cases prosecuted by the new Public Prosecution Service. Since the introduction of the offence on 1 February 2004, a total of 18 persons have been found guilty of driving while using a mobile phone. The majority of minor offences dealt with in the magistrates courts are prosecuted by the police and this continues to be the case except in the Belfast Region and Fermanagh and Tyrone which are now covered by the Public Prosecution Service which commenced in June 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many buildings in Northern Ireland are owned by the Government; what the average spare office capacity in them has been in each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to lease further space to private firms. [38588]

There are currently 162 Government owned office buildings in Northern Ireland. Records showing the average spare office capacity for each building in each of the last 10 years are not held. However, at 1 December 2005 0.8 per cent. of the 261,000 m² of space available was vacant. There are currently no plans to lease space out to private firms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost of (a) ministerial cars and (b) drivers in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [39650]

The Northern Ireland Office cannot provide the information requested by the hon. Gentleman as we cannot identify separate costs for Ministers' cars and drivers.

All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code" and Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

In respect of Ministerial cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA); my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Jim Murphy) has asked Roy Burke, Chief Executive of the GCDA, to write to the hon. Member with details of the costs of Ministerial vehicles provided to Departments in 2004–05. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the Chief Executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Howard Flight) dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff are employed by non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which he has responsibility. [36006]

As at 31 March 2005 there were 84,353 staff employed by non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office and 19,402.5 staff employed in Executive Agencies attached to Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted following public order disturbances in North Belfast since 1 January. [7092]

PSNI advise that during the period 1 January to 31 December 2005, there were 93 persons charged with riotous behaviour, riotous assembly and disorderly behaviour in North Belfast DCU.

1. Statistics refer to those brought against a person after the original period of detention (including extensions). Any subsequent changes, additions, deletions to the original charges are not included.

2. Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

PSNI do not link charges to specific incidents.

PSNI do not record the number of arrests centrally.

PSNI do not record convictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many publicans in Northern Ireland were fined for selling short measures in each of the last 10 years. [38587]

In the last 10 years, three publicans in Northern Ireland were fined for short measure offences: one in 1996 and two in 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

(1) what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of absence from work in the Province in the last five years; [24908]

(2) what estimate he made of the cost to public funds of absence from work in the Province due to work-related illness in the last five years. [24924]

The information requested is not available. However the hon. Lady may wish to refer to the workplace health strategy for Northern Ireland, Working for Health', published by the Health and Safety Executive in 2003. This estimated Northern Ireland's whole economy bill for work-related ill health at some £330 million per year. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) length of the waiting list is and (b) average waiting times are to (i) see a neurologist and (ii) receive beta interferon in each of the four health and social services board areas. [40637]

Waiting list information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) length of time waiting. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point waiting time band.

(i) The number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment with a neurology consultant at 30 September 2005 and the median waiting time in each health and social services board is shown in the following table.

Note:

Patients currently suspended from waiting list are excluded from these figures. The NI total of 5,068 patients includes 11 patients whose board of residence was not specified (including private patients and those resident outside of Northern Ireland). The most recent information available from the Department is at 30 September 2005.

Source:

Departmental Information Return CH3 Parts 1 and 2

(ii) The number of patients waiting for beta interferon treatment at 30 November 2005 and the median waiting time in each health and social services board is shown in the following table.

Note:

Nine patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.

Source:

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the EU budget will be spent on agriculture, including rural development, over the period 2007 to 2013; and what proportion of the EU budget was spent on agriculture, including rural development, in each year since 2000. [40949]

The EU budget agreed by the European Council on 17 December for the period 2007–2013 will be €863 billion (in 2004 prices) on a commitments basis. Forty three percent. of this total is allocated to agriculture, including rural development (Heading 2). The comparable figures for the period 2000–2006 are:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated value will be (a) in euros and (b) as a proportion of gross national income of each member state's (i) gross contribution to the EU including overseas aid spending, (ii) contribution to the UK abatement, (iii) receipts of EU spending and (iv) net contribution to the EU budget over the period 2007 to 2013. [40950]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Altrinchham and Sale West on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 290W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to decrease disparities in regional gross domestic product and gross value added per capita; and which Minister is in charge of those steps. [39623]

The Government are committed to a public service agreement (PSA) target to: make sustainable improvements in the economic performance of all English regions by 2008, and over the long-term reduce the persistent gap in growth rates between the regions." The Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry are jointly responsible for this target. The Government are working with the devolved administrations to promote economic growth, full employment and prosperity for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of a phone call to the tax credit helpline was in the last period for which figures are available; what percentage of calls to the tax credit helpline were answered within (a) one minute, (b) two minutes, (c) five minutes and (d) at all; and what the average waiting time was for calls to be answered by a tax credit helpline operator. [9845]

We do not have available information on the average length of a phone call to the tax credit helpline. Information on percentages of calls answered within specific times other than 20 seconds is not kept.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the programme to digitise telephone conversations between members of the public and staff of HM Revenue and Customs in relation to queries about tax credits. [21874]

Total costs incurred to date on the Witness Call Archiving project are around £2 million.

The benefits of the Witness Call Archiving project are that they allow call recordings to be stored in an easily retrievable way that helps with queries, complaints, call monitoring etc. This system allows appropriately authorised users to search and replay calls remotely, this ultimately saves a significant amount of time in the complaints/query process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disputed tax credit cases were decided in each month since June 2004; what proportion of disputes have been decided in the disputant's favour; how many tax credit disputes received since April 2003 have yet to be decided; and how many disputes have been raised since June. [29706]

A monthly breakdown of the number of disputed overpayment decisions is not available for 2004–05.

To ensure they provide the most accurate information available, HM Revenue and Customs has changed its method of counting decisions made in 2005–06 since I answered the hon. Gentleman on 21 July 2005 and 10 October 2005, Official Report, columns 2033W and 282W. Figures for July 2005 to November 2005, inclusive, are around:

For those cases, HMRC wrote off a disputed overpayment in around 35 per cent. of cases up to 30 November 2005.

At the end of November 2005, around 54,000 disputes were awaiting a decision.

Between 1 June 2005 and 30 November 2005 around 187,000 households disputed a tax credits overpayment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of fraud have been detected in Northern Ireland in relation to tax credit claims in each of the last five years. [36506]

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to charge VAT on domestic flights. [38195]

VAT is already charged on aircraft fuel supplied for flights within the UK at either the standard rate or reduced rate of 5 percent., depending on the type and quantity of fuel being supplied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the revised methodology for air quality around airports; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [41045]

The Department's air quality technical panel process was initiated following commitments in the Air Transport White Paper related to the future development of Heathrow. It is expected to complete its report during February. This activity concerns the approach to modelling of air quality at Heathrow only. The report will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 759W, on automatic number plate recognition, how long information collected by the police will be held as a record on police computer databases before deletion in (a) the pilot programme and (b) the proposed national scheme. [31501]

I have been asked to reply.

Pursuant to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington on 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 759W, my officials have been working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to ensure that information collected by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technologies and retained by the Police is cognisant of the relevant data protection legislation. The specific ACPO guidance states:

a period of two years in a 'live, searchable system' incorporating 'a controlled access environment' after 90 days. This period of retention is to facilitate the searching of that data on a case-by-case basis, should a crime committed during the deployment come to light during that two-year period. It would be expected that after the initial 90 days period, the data will be 'partitioned' for the rest of its retention period. In the period of 91 days to two years, the data will only be accessed for a justified policing need. Access to this data will be 'controlled and documented' to ensure its compliance with the proportionality, justification and use. In exceptional circumstances there may be operational grounds to justify retention of ANPR data beyond the two-year period. Should this occur a record of the grounds should be retained".

This document covers the European Convention for Human Rights. Data Protection, the Regulatory Investigative Powers Act 2000 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to the Police use of ANPR (excluding speed enforcement devices) and is applicable to all police forces in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what estimate he has made of the cost to date of strengthening bridges to accommodate 44 tonne lorries; [40878]

(2) what percentage of the costs of strengthening bridges to accommodate 44 tonne lorries has been borne by (a) the Highways Agency, (b) local authorities, (c) Network Rail, (d) Railtrack, (e) British Rail and (f) other organisations. [41046]

Since 1 January 1999 the United Kingdom has been required to implement EU Directive 89/460/EC, which allows the use of road vehicles with 11.5 tonne axle loads and plated vehicle weights of 40 tonnes. These vehicles are more demanding in loading terms than a 44 tonne vehicle on six axles. The Directive applies to principal routes" used in international traffic, and in the UK these have been assumed to be motorways, all purpose trunk roads and the primary route network.

Under The Railway Bridges (Load Bearing Standards) Regulations (England and Wales) Order 1972 (SI 1705/1972) bridges carrying highways over railways are required to take a 24 tonne rigid lorry or a 32 tonne articulated lorry. So any strengthening to take 40 tonne (or 44 tonne) lorries is the sole responsibility of the relevant highway authority.

When the Directive came into force, all bridges on the motorway and trunk road network were able to accommodate 40 tonne vehicles. In the six years from 2001–02 to 2006–07 £205 million has been provided to strengthen bridges on the local authority primary route network to take 40 tonne lorries. In the same period £703 million has been provided to strengthen local authority bridges not on the primary route network, but not all of these bridges are required to take the 40 tonne loading.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list bypasses built in each of the last five years. [40569]

The following table lists the Highways Agency trunk road and local authority bypass schemes (at a cost of over £5 million) which have been completed in each of the last five years:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) elderly and (b) disabled people who paid half fare or less on public transport in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2004. [40562]

Based on data from the National Travel Survey, it is estimated that in 2000 41 per cent. of people of pensionable age in England held a pass for reduced or free travel. In 2004, following the extension of the eligibility of passes to men aged 60 and over in 2003, 51 per cent. of people aged 60 and over in England had a pass for reduced or free travel.

Data on the percentage of disabled people benefiting from reduced or free travel on public transport are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost of extending the free fares local bus scheme for over 60s and people with disabilities to a national free fares bus scheme. [40708]

Initial analysis suggests the cost could be around £100 million a year, but £160 million if peak bus services were included, on top of the additional funding (£350 million for 2006–07) already being provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask Eurostar to review security arrangements on journeys from Waterloo and Ashford, with particular reference to baggage checks on all passengers. [40361]

Eurostar is directed on security matters under the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994. Amongst a number of measures designed to provide a level of security proportional to the threat is the requirement to screen baggage. This is done using X-ray equipment similar to that in use at airports. Security measures are kept under continual review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses to the first stage of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports consultation relating to Heathrow advocated a rise in the number of night flights over and above the existing movement restrictions at Heathrow; how many advocated (a) a reduction in the number of and (b) a ban on such flights in (i) the immediate short-term and (ii) the long-term; and if he will make a statement. [40913]

A summary of responses to the stage one paper has been published on the Department's website and includes some of the general comments made by consultees. The consultation posed nine questions about issues such as the way aircraft are classified for night restrictions purposes and the possible noise abatement objectives for the airports concerned. Consultees were not specifically asked for their views on what the number of night flights at each airport should be, as this matter was to be dealt with in the stage two consultation. Of the approximately 1800 responses to the consultation paper about 400 indicated in commenting that they would like to see an immediate ban or a commitment to working towards a ban on night flights. A large majority of these responses were from the Heathrow area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultation responses relating to Heathrow were received in the (a) first and (b) second stage of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports consultation; and if he will make a statement. [40914]

There were approximately 1800 responses to stage one of the consultation exercise. The following table shows responses received which commented specifically on the position at Heathrow area:

Responses were also received from airlines, airline organisations and other industry representatives but their responses tended to include all three airports and were not generally Heathrow specific.

Responses from the stage two consultation are still being analysed and a summary, including some numerical analysis will be available, in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses to the second stage of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports consultation relating to Heathrow (a) supported and (b) opposed the proposal in paragraph 7.25 for a rise in the number of night flights over and above the existing movement restrictions at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement. [40915]

Responses to the stage two consultation paper are being analysed and decisions will be announced in due course. A summary of responses to the consultation along with some numerical analysis will be published with the decision announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many 20 mph zones have been established in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was in each of those years. [40563]

This information is not held by the Department. Local highway authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits, including 20 mph limits where they deem these to be appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many park and ride schemes have been opened since 2000; and how many he expects will open in (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07. [40842]

The local authority returns provided to the Department indicate that outside London 55 new park and ride schemes have opened in the financial years 2001–02 to 2004–05 (inclusive). 21 were forecast to open in 2005–06. There is not a recent forecast available for 2006–07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding was made available for rail freight in each year since 2000–01. [40566]

Direct support for rail freight is provided through three schemes. These are Freight Facilities Grants (FFG), Track Access Grant (TAG) and Company Neutral Revenue Support (CNRS). The amounts spent in the period is as follows (incl. England, Scotland and Wales):

⁽²⁾ 2000–01 includes waterways FFG.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of trains used on the UK's railways is; and what the average life of a train is. [38459]

The average age of the UK passenger fleet as at 1 October 2005 is 13 years. Typically the design life of rolling stock is between 30 and 35 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list trunk roads widened in each of the last five years. [40570]

A total of eight trunk roads have been widened, over the last five years, as follows:

In addition three motorways have been widened and these are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list schemes completed in the Highways Agency Targeted Programme of Improvements. [40576]

Since 2002, 32 schemes formerly in the Targeted Programme of Improvements have now been completed. These are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Government have made towards their aim to halt the deterioration in local road conditions by 2004; what schemes it funded to meet that aim; and how much each scheme cost. [40839]

The National Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2004 showed that the Government had achieved their aim of halting the deterioration in local roads by that year. Local road condition overall in 2004 was significantly better than in 2000.

To help to achieve this improvement the Government provided £3.264 billion of capital funding and £7.920 billion of revenue funding for local highway maintenance in the four years from 2001–02 to 2004–05. Specific schemes that were funded in that period and their costs are shown as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 327W, on Stratford stations, what kind of direct access he expects will be provided between Stratford International and Regional Stations from 2010; and whether any arrangements besides step-free access from Dockland Light Railway trains to street level will be provided for passengers with disabilities travelling to or between Stratford International and Regional Stations during the 2012 Olympic Games. [36908]

Subject to the approval of applications which are currently before the Secretary of State, the main form of direct access between the Stratford International and Regional Stations will be the proposed Docklands Light Railway (DLR) link from 2010. Access from DLR trains to platforms will be step free and both Stratford International and Stratford Regional Stations will provide step free access from platform to street for passengers with mobility difficulties.

In addition, the deemed planning permission for the CTRL development at Stratford (granted in 2001 to Union Railways North, a subsidiary of LCR), requires a 'mechanised link1 such as a travelator to be constructed between Stratford Regional and International Stations. Also, the outline planning consent for the Stratford City development, granted in 2004, requires the developer to make physical provision for the mechanised link, provided that LB Newham agree the procurement date and design of the travelator by January 2006. Discussions on how this requirement might be fulfilled are underway between LCR and London borough of Newham, who as local planning authority are responsible for the enforcement of these conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Gravesham borough council on the Government's plans for concessionary travel for pensioners. [40623]

None. The statutory entitlement to free off-peak local bus travel in England for people 60 and over and disabled people will come into effect on 1 April 2006. The Department for Transport has issued guidance to local authorities on implementation but it is for individual concessionary travel authorities, to design and operate their local concessionary fares scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of unadopted roads in England. [39590]

We have no current estimate of the number of unadopted roads in England as this information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year. [39813]

My Department's main activity is to set Government policy on a range of cultural and leisure activities. An analysis of administration costs by activity for 2004–05 as published in the Department's Annual Account 2005 (page 87) is shown in the table.

⁽³⁾ Estimated outturn

My core Department is wholly based in London and, at present, administration costs are not attributed to areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total administrative costs for her core Department are; and whether these are regarded as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses. [39840]

The administration budgets regime overseen by the Treasury relates to Whitehall Departments only. Control of administration costs in the devolved Administrations is a matter for them.

My Department's net administration costs were £40,452k in 2004–05, and £39,335k in 2003–04. Table 8.19 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2005 shows the Department's expenditure on services for 2003–04 (the latest available), including the elements of each that are identifiable and non-identifiable. Expenditure on administration is classified as in the same way as the service it supports. Copies of PESA 2005 are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact on the British film industry of the requirements that film production projects applying for the new tax incentives are required to meet. [38518]

I have been asked to reply.

The Chancellor made a number of key announcements regarding the new film tax incentives at the pre-Budget report. Further details of the new tax incentives will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the expected average cost per household is of digital switchover. [39783]

holding answer 9 January 2006

On 8 November 2005, Ofcom published research by the Generics Group which examined the cost and power consumption implications of digital switchover for UK households. The report estimates that the actual cost to individual households of switchover-driven non-voluntary conversion of sets and VCRs is estimated to range from £26 to £153 depending on the equipment in the home.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pubs and clubs have sought variations in their licensing hours for televised events since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement. [40271]

Information on the number of pubs and clubs seeking variations in licensing hours for televised events is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on rural tourism in East Yorkshire. [39504]

Rural tourism is a vital element of the English and British tourism offer, and is supported at national and regional levels. At national level, my Department funds the work of VisitBritain and the England Marketing Advisory Board in promoting rural tourism to both the domestic and international markets. VisitBritain spent £1 million in directly promoting rural areas across England in 2004–05.

The regional development agencies have been responsible for supporting tourism at regional level since 2003. Yorkshire Forward's Economic Strategy for 2003 to 2006 includes tourism initiatives which take account of the region's rural areas. The Agency will be investing £4 million in the promotion of local tourism across the county over 2003 to 2006.

Following publication of the Government's Rural Strategy in 2004, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs requires each English region to set out its priorities in a Regional Rural Delivery Framework, setting out its rural priorities and agreeing how public sector bodies will work together to deliver them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) television broadcast stations, (b) generic television repeater broadcast stations, (c) am radio broadcast stations, (d) am repeater radio broadcast stations, (e) fm radio broadcast stations, (f) fm repeater radio broadcast stations, (g) short wave repeater radio broadcast stations and (h) short wave radio broadcast stations are sited in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) each of the English regions and (iv) Northern Ireland. [39205]

Details on transmitters, as determined by Ofcom, are listed in the following table.

⁽⁴⁾ Includes restricted service licences and non-co-sited Channel 5 transmitters.

Note:

Figures for England include The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man.

We do not have a breakdown of the above figures for radio transmitters, indicating broadcast sites and repeater broadcast sites. For a breakdown of TV transmission sites across the country, I suggest visiting either the Ofcom website at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/reception_advice/index.asp.html or the BBC website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/tv_trans/index.shtml

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average number of television sets per household is. [39788]

According to figures from the research company GfK, there is currently an average of 2.6 TVs per home.