To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions his Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury. [46237]

The Department for International Development has not consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what costs were incurred by his Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years. [46281]

Figures for travel costs within administration costs budgets for years which information is readily available are shown as follows:

The figures for travel reflect all domestic and overseas travel for Ministers, Advisers and Officials and include costs for all travel, accommodation and subsistence. It is not possible to disaggregate costs for Officials' travel overseas without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Information for earlier years is not readily available and in some cases will no longer be held.

In 2003–04, DFID introduced new procedures to draw together administration costs, including those travel costs which had previously been recorded on the programme budget. These changes have increased transparency and has enabled DFID to manage administration costs more effectively. Figures for 2003–04 onwards now include travel costs that were previously funded by country programmes and as a result are not comparable with earlier years.

All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in DFID's Staff Handbook and complies with the Civil Service Management Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the impact of EU agricultural subsidies on people in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [46740]

The Department for International Development supports a range of research on the impacts of developed countries agricultural policies on developing countries. One current programme is with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) on the impacts of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) agricultural Policies on developing countries. The research outputs are available at www.fao.org/trade The Government recognise the damaging impact that trade-distorting subsidies in the EU and other OECD countries have on developing countries and we are committed to securing reductions in these subsidies, through reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the World Trade Organisation talks.

The most recent common agricultural policy reform package agreed in 2003–04 marks a significant shift in the EU's agricultural policy. The decoupling of subsidies from production should increase the market orientation of European farmers, leading to reductions in production and disposal of subsidised surpluses abroad.

The Government also fully supports the commitment made as part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Agenda

to reduce, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies, and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support."

There was progress towards this at the recent WTO ministerial in Hong Kong, where the EU agreed to phase-out its export subsidies by 2013.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget for 2005–06 is allocated to projects for (a) AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria. [46879]

DFID will spend at least £1.5 billion on AIDS related work over three years (2005–06 to 2007–08). The Department does not have a specific target for the year 2005–06. There are no targets for the Department's spending on TB and Malaria. However, DFID has already committed to double its funding to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria to £100 million for 2006 and the same for 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1329W, on HIV/AIDS (paediatric care), if he will list the countries in which the UK funds AIDS programmes. [46381]

DFID directly and indirectly supports HIV and AIDS related activities across all its 16 priority countries in Africa. These are Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In well-developed states, DFID focuses on supporting national government decision-making processes and associated institutional reforms in line with the 3 ones" principles" and uses aid instruments such as general budget support. In fragile states" where working with government has been more difficult, we have been supporting UN agencies and civil society organisations to provide a range of services.

In Asia, DFID funds HIV and AIDS programmes in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. Most are not stand-alone DFID programmes, but are jointly funded. Burma is funded through our support to the UN.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, regional programmes cover a wide range of countries. In Latin America, the Brazil Sexually Transmitted Diseases/AIDS Programme provides technical support across the region. Focus countries are Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. In the Caribbean, the Regional Programme covers a wide range of island states, with a focus on six countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts & Nevis). A new project supporting the private sector response to HIV and AIDS is under way in Jamaica and Barbados. A programme tackling AIDS-related stigma and discrimination covers all countries in the Caribbean.

In the Overseas Territories, support is provided to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre to provide technical support and services for all of the Caribbean Overseas Territories (Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Anguilla).

In Europe and Central Asia, DFID supports HIV and AIDS programmes in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), through a programme working jointly with the World Bank. Flexible technical assistance programmes are also funded in Central Asia, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia and Montenegro, working with the Joint United Nation Programme for HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1189W, to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) on HIV/AIDS, what progress has been made since the publication of the good practice framework in March 2005 towards (a) increasing access to paediatric medicines and (b) stimulating research and development into paediatric formulations. [46833]

DFID published 'Increasing People's Access to Essential Medicines in Developing Countries: a Framework for Good Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry' in March 2005, with widespread pharmaceutical industry support. The framework was developed in close consultation with the industry and with its stakeholders, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and institutional investors. The framework, which recommends increased research and development into treatment and vaccinations for children, builds on the good work of many of the companies in the industry, and encourages pharmaceutical companies to go further by:

Engaging in widespread differential pricing of essential medicines in developing countries, especially the world's poorest, with particular attention given to patented medicines.

Increasing research and development investment for diseases affecting developing countries, including through public private partnerships.

Working to support broader health and development goals in developing countries.

and, increasing reporting and transparency around access to medicines activities.

The first recommendation related to research and development encouraged increased investment in medicines and vaccines for children. This issue has been discussed with pharmaceutical companies on a number of occasions since the launch, including at a well attended meeting of pharmaceutical companies and Government Departments on 30 September last year. Another meeting was held on 31 January to discuss differential pricing to make medicines cheaper in developing countries. The next meeting of the group will focus on paediatric issues.

The UK Government have also made significant progress on developing innovative financing to incentivise increased investment in research and development, including for paediatric formulations of medicines such as antiretroviral medicines. Research and development tax credits to increase investment in research and development for medicines and vaccines for AIDS, TB and Malaria were introduced in 2002. Last year the UK Government launched the international finance facility for immunisation, and announced plans for advanced market commitments to prompt the development of new medicines and vaccines for diseases affecting developing countries, including for paediatric formulations.

DFID also supports specific research on health in developing countries, including work on communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and paediatric health and HIV. DFID has funded research on the appropriate use of existing medicines in developing country settings including, clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in reducing mortality among children living with HIV and co-funding of the Development of Antiretroviral Treatment in Africa (DART) Trials with the Medical Research Council (MRC) exploring HIV treatment in resource limited settings, including for children and other vulnerable groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements have been made by the UK to deliver the commitment made at the Millennium Review Summit of September 2005 to support comprehensive national strategies to achieve the millennium development goals by providing the necessary increases in aid of sufficient quality and timeliness. [46587]

The UK has argued strongly for increased levels of aid and debt relief to support partner countries in implementing strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Commitments made by European and G8 governments last year will increase global aid from $79 billion in 2004 to $129 billion in 2010. The UK wants to increase the impact of this by creating the International Finance Facility. Governments also made commitments on improving the quality of aid, by providing more direct support to partner governments'.

The UK has published expenditure plans for 2005–06 to 2007–08, and we intend to meet by 2013, the UN target of providing 0.7 per cent. of gross national income (GNI) as development assistance.

The United Kingdom's proposals for supporting countries to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals are set out in the paper From Commitment to Action" prepared by the Department for International Development (DFID) and Her Majesty's Treasury. I have arranged for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what paediatric-centred policies have been put in place further to the Department's commitment to focus on the needs of children in the publication of its 2004 HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care Policy. [46832]

DFID's HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care Policy, published in July 2004 alongside the UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world, focuses on supporting countries to develop and implement their own country specific policies using guidance from multilateral such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), organisations that receive regular DFID funding. Like the rest of the international community DFID relies on the WHO for technical guidance on these issues.

In November 2004, the Medical Research Council's (MRC) clinical trials unit reported that using a widely available antibiotic drug could cut AIDS-related deaths in children after infancy by 43 per cent., by stopping infections associated with a weakened immune system. The outcome of the DFID-funded trial is that co-trimoxazole is now in the WHO paediatric treatment guidelines for children with HIV, and is now regarded as standard treatment even in the poorest countries. The treatment was also found to reduce the need for children's hospital admissions by 23 per cent.

In December 2004, DFID and the MRC jointly funded (£4.7 million) the Antiretroviral Therapy Research for Children (ARROW), run by the MRC clinical trials unit. The trial will address ways of providing antiretroviral therapy to children in resource poor settings and could both reduce costs of treatment as well as reducing side effects, and will begin in the next few months.

The UK is co-hosting, with UNICEF, the Global Partners Forum for Children and AIDS on 9 and 10 February. The forum will focus on key blockages to scaling up towards universal access to prevention, treatment and care for children. Paediatric treatment is one of the six key areas.

DFID has regular meetings with the pharmaceutical industry to advance the framework for good practice in the pharmaceutical industry, published in March 2005. The next meeting of this group will be dedicated to discussions on paediatric treatment.

To ask the Solicitor General if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of each directorate in the (a) Treasury's Solicitor's Department, (b) Serious Fraud Office and (c) Crown Prosecution Service. [41728]

The responsibilities of the directorates in each of the three Departments are shown as follows:

(a) Treasury Solicitor's Department

Litigation group: Provides civil litigation services to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies.

Employment and Commercial Practices Group: provides employment litigation ,and/or advisory services and gives advice on general contractual issues to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies.

The Department-specific Advisory Divisions, several co-located with client Departments, provide legal support for all aspects of the client Department's work.

The European Division provides and co-ordinates legal services in support of the Government's policies in relation to the European Union, including conducting all litigation on behalf of the U.K. in the European Court of Justice.

The Bona Vacantia Division raises money from the estates of those who die intestate, and from the assets of devolved companies, on behalf of the Crown.

The Government Legal Service Secretariat supports the Treasury Solicitor (Head of the GLS) and GLS teams on a range of management and professional issues affecting more than one Department.

The Directorate of Corporate Strategy is responsible for planning and implementing strategic, business and policy development throughout the Agency.

The Treasury Solicitor's Department's Estimate also covers funding for HMCPS, and for the Attorney General's Office, which provides legal and policy advice and support to the Law Officers,

(b) Serious Fraud Office

The SFO has five investigation and prosecution divisions, each containing a number of multi-disciplinary case teams comprising lawyers, financial investigators and support staff. These divisions are supported by:

Accountancy Support and Forensic Computing—the former allocating support from a central resource; the latter responsible for the seizure, processing and analysis of all electronic-based evidence.

Asset Recovery Unit, which provides assistance on and handles applications for restraint and confiscation orders.

Finance and Establishment Division.

Mutual Legal Assistance Unit, which assists overseas authorities where there is evidence in England, Wales or N. Ireland relating to a suspected fraud overseas.

(c) Crown Prosecution Service

Policy Directorate: developing prosecution policy and providing practical guidance to CPS staff, as well as representing the interests of the CPS within the CJS.

Business Development Directorate: supporting and monitoring the 42 CPS areas in delivering Criminal Justice targets, and in the coordination and implementation of change.

Finance Directorate: developing and managing the planning and financial management framework, dealing with spending reviews etc.

Human Resources Directorate: supporting the CPS on all issues relating to people employed within the Service.

Business Information Systems Directorate: responsible for all aspects of the development and delivery of the CPS' Information and Communications Strategy.

Organised Crime Division: set up to provide a dedicated service to SOCA.

Special Crime Division: prosecutes/assists the prosecution of the most sensitive, specialised and novel cases.

Counter Terrorism Division: advises on, and prosecutes, cases of terrorism, incitement to racial hatred, war crimes, official secrets and other offences within the definition of state crime".

Equality and Diversity Unit: Develops and supports the CPS equality and diversity policy.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission for what reason a one-way electronic lock and alarm has been fitted to the fire exit door from the Upper Committee Corridor North to the Press Dining Room; how much this cost; and what assessment has been made of the impact on the safety of those using the Press Dining Room in the event of an emergency. [47154]

The mechanical alarmed door lock between the Upper Committee Corridor staircase and the Press Dining Room has been in situ for many years. It is designed to allow people to escape in an emergency from the staircase into the Dining Room. The fire risk assessment does not identify a requirement for escape in the opposite direction. The cost of installation is unknown.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will consider (a) replacing the temporary boarding fencing off Westminster Hall for building works with perspex screens and (b) creating perspex windows in the boards to allow visitors to the Palace and Officers to view Westminster Hall and the progress of works there until normal access is restored. [47202]

Portholes are to be cut into the screen to allow a view of the works in progress and they will be complemented by a temporary information display. A photo montage is in the course of preparation which will give Members, staff and visitors a view of Westminster Hall.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to reform the law in relation to coroners. [44773]

I intend to publish a draft Bill to reform the law in relation to coroners in the late spring. I plan to make a further statement shortly.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received from the Hertfordshire coroner on the powers available to him to conduct appropriate inquiries into the Potter's Bar rail crash; and what response she has made to those representations. [44774]

The Hertfordshire coroner wrote to my officials on 8 November 2005 questioning the adequacy of his powers to conduct inquests which would effectively investigate the fatalities arising from the Potters Bar rail crash. He stated that if such inquests went ahead, his other inquests would be delayed as a result. He further indicated that he would seek to appoint a judge as his deputy to conduct the inquests. It has been agreed in principle that a judge would be released to conduct the inquests and the coroner has been informed of this.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average length of time was for the Court Service to notify the police of conviction details following a verdict in court for (a) all offences and (b) offences which require amendment of the sexual offenders register in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [44623]

Information about the average length of time for the Courts Service to notify the police of conviction details following a verdict in court for(a) , all offences and (b) offences which require amendment of the sexual offenders register in the last 12 months is not recorded centrally. However, figures showing how expeditiously the Courts notify the police of all case outcomes, against a target time of three days are in the following table.

Magistrates courts

The production and despatch of the court register within three working days of the court hearing in England and Wales

Crown court

The number of Crown court results to the Police National Computer (PNC) within three working days of the court hearing in England and Wales

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07; and what the expected costs are of each project. [37410]

My Department has(a) (i) undertaken no new building projects in 2005–06. (ii) My Department has no building projects planned for 2006–07. Building projects are defined as 'new builds' as per the Treasury guidance referred to as follows.

My Department has(b) (i) undertaken no refurbishment projects in 2005–06 and (ii) has no refurbishment projects planned for 2006–07. Refurbishment projects are defined as 'upgrading' as per the Treasury guidance referred to as follows.

The answer provided relates solely to building and refurbishment projects on the HQ estate of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. It does not cover HM Court Service, Associated Offices or NDPB's as this information is neither collated nor managed by DCA and to obtain it would incur a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many trials in (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown court were moved to a different location at the request of the (i) prosecution and (ii) defence in each year since 1990. [47185]

Information on the reason for cases being transferred to a different location is not held centrally for either magistrates courts or the Crown court and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was raised in business rates in (a) Rhyl, (b) Prestatyn, (c) St. Asaph, (d) Bodelwyddan, (e) Rhuddlan, (f) Dyserth and (g) Denbigh in each of the last 10 years. [46171]

Figures for individual towns and communities are not held centrally, and I understand from Denbighshire county council that they could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Denbighshire county council's contribution to the non-domestic rates pool in each year since the re-organisation of local government is provided in the following table.

Contribution to the non-domestic rates pool by Denbighshire county council

To ask the Leader of the House how much was claimed by hon. Members for travel by (a) air, (b) rail and (c) motorcycle in the last two financial years for which figures are available; and what the 10 highest claims were in each year. [46257]

The following figures report the cost of air and rail travel on parliamentary business within the UK plus certain European travel for the financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05. Details of claims relating to travel by motorbike are recorded together with claims for all forms of motor mileage and are not separately reportable.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the local government finance settlement. [46940]

During the consultation period on the local government finance settlement, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 336 written representations from local authorities, hon. Members and others. I and ministerial colleagues also met 60 delegations.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the explosion, fire and subsequent investigations at the Buncefield fuel depot in Hemel Hempstead. [46941]

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the costs of tackling the Buncefield depot fire. [46942]

Following the incident at the Buncefield fuel depot the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency were asked to conduct an investigation into the causes of the explosion. This inquiry is being chaired by Lord Newton of Braintree. In addition, the Hertfordshire fire and rescue service are carrying out their own internal investigation. Central Government and the Government Office for the East of England are also reviewing the lessons to be learned. These reviews will help inform future planning and emergency preparation.

The response to the Buncefield fire was led by Hertfordshire fire and rescue service, with support from 16 other fire and rescue services from across the country together with the high volume pumping capability funded by the Government's new dimension programme. It will take some time to determine the full costs involved. This exercise is being led by Hertfordshire county council who are working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the formulation of a claim for financial assistance under the Bell win scheme.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of future population growth on housing needs in the North East of England. [46943]

The North East assembly has submitted to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister a draft revision of the North East regional spatial strategy. This includes work on the implications of future population growth and housing needs. It will be considered at an examination in public. The North East regional housing strategy also includes consideration of population changes.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the supply of affordable housing in the East Midlands; and if he will make a statement. [46944]

The East Midlands regional housing board is supporting a programme of sub-regional housing market assessments, which will help identify affordable housing needs and the supply required to meet them contributing to the review of the regional spatial strategy. The first of these reports will be concluded during the summer of 2006.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of children living in overcrowded housing conditions in (a) London and (b) England. [32053]

There are two measures of overcrowding—the statutory definition and the bedroom standard.

Based on the bedroom standard, the number of children living in overcrowded households over the three-year period 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 was(a) 275,000 in London and (b) 880,000 in England. The total number of overcrowded households in England on this basis is estimated to be around 500,000.

Information on compliance with the statutory standard is not collected centrally. Using data from the Survey of English Housing" for the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000 and from the 1996 English House Condition Survey" it was estimated that there were 25,000 households in England that were so overcrowded that the statutory standard was breached. However, reliable estimates for London on this basis are not available—neither are figures for the number of children that live in statutory overcrowded households.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the East of England regional plan. [46945]

The East of England plan is currently under going its examination-in-public (EiP). The EiP is running to timetable and should be concluded at the beginning of March. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to receive the panel's report during the summer and publish the final plan early in 2007.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of ports development in the South East and East of England on the Northern Way development plan's objective for promoting port development in Tees Valley. [46946]

The Northern Way is developing an evidence base to promote economic growth in the North including the potential of its ports. It is for them to decide the specifics of their strategy. It is the Government's policy to promote improved economic performance in all our regions.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will issue planning guidance on applications for chicken farming establishments which takes account of avian influenza and the presence of the virus H5N1 in Europe. [43386]

holding answer 20 January 2006

There are no plans to issue such planning guidance. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is putting contingency plans in place to reduce the risk of avian influenza to the UK. In consultation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Defra has produced guidance for bird-keepers on the best way to do this. Further to this, the ODPM wrote to local planning authorities on 16 December 2005 drawing their attention to this guidance and reminding them of the need for reasonableness and proportionality should they need to consider planning applications for works required to isolate domestic poultry from wild birds.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about planning permission for large scale chicken farming establishments that are in proximity to (a) residential areas and (b) educational establishments. [43387]

holding answer 20 January 2006

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of general representations on planning policy for chicken farming establishments. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual planning applications given they may come to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for decision on appeal.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the cost to his Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005. [45915]

The cost of purchasing official Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Christmas cards in 2005 was £1,834.10 + VAT. It is policy to send mail by second class post wherever possible. All expenditure incurred in the purchase of official Christmas Cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of responding to freedom of information requests made in 2005. [46682]

The Government undertook a survey of a sample of local authorities covering the period 16 May to 12 August to obtain evidence on the impact on local government of the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) on 1 January 2005. This survey suggested that the cost of FoI to local government was approximately £4.9 million per year in the short-to medium term. The Local Government Finance Settlement 2006–07 and 2007–08 includes an additional £4.9 million in each year above existing spending plans to reimburse authorities for these costs under the New Burdens principle.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications for housing benefit extended payments were made in 2004–05; and how many of those applications were successful. [44811]

I have been asked to reply.

The information is not available.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on the rate support grant since its announcement. [47265]

Consultation on the 2006–07 Local Government Finance settlement ran from 5 December to 11 January. During that period the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 336 written representations. The Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead made no previous written representation; I met a delegation form the council to discuss the settlement on Tuesday 10 January.

All representations received have been considered in reaching the final 2006–07 Local Government Finance settlement.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his air travel in an official capacity cost in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister. [46634]

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 overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on domestic flights by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was £1,041. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's domestic air travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his official travel in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister. [46636]

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.

For information on the cost of ministerial vehicles provided to departments in 2004–05 I refer the hon. Member to the letter from Roy Burke, chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) in November 2005. 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 dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.

During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on rail travel by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was 4,624. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's rail travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on domestic flights by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was £1,041. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's domestic air travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his overnight accommodation while travelling on official duties in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister. [46637]

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.

The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list includes the total cost of travel and accommodation. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what opportunities are made available by her Department in Tamworth constituency (a) to retrain, (b) to reskill and (c) to educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment. [42080]

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

The Government's Skills Strategy, 21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential" (July 2003) and Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" (March 2005), set out our plans for increasing opportunities for adults to develop their skills for paid employment.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 27 January 2006

I write in response to your recent Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, where you ask what opportunities are made available by her department in Tamworth constituency to(a) retrain (b) reskill and (c) educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment.

Tamworth and Lichfield College is the principal further education (FE) college serving learners in the Tamworth district. Residents also have the opportunity to study in a number of other FE colleges within accessible travelling distance.

In 2004–05, some 9,500 adults enrolled on programmes of study at Tamworth and Lichfield College across a wide range of subject areas. Particularly large numbers (5,000 enrolments) were to programmes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These qualifications are adaptable to many employment sectors, and our regional and local market intelligence shows that, increasingly, employment opportunities will be in higher skilled and more technical jobs where ICT competencies will be an important part of the overall skills profile sought by employers,

In terms of the total employment demand, the health sector is forecast to be Staffordshire's second biggest sector over the next 10 years. Over 1,800 adults enrolled to programmes in Health, Public Services and Care at Tamworth and Lichfield College in 2004–05. College provision, therefore, is supporting residents to take advantage of new and emerging employment opportunities.

In addition to provision to support vocational training and upskilling, Staffordshire local education authority receives funding from LSC for the provision of non-accredited adult and community learning activities across the eight district councils in Staffordshire. The aim of the provision is to engage learners in learning programmes and activities to develop skills for life and personal development. Tamworth and Lichfield College delivers this provision on its Tamworth campus and an additional 17 community venues in the district. In 2003–04 the college enrolled 2,284 learners on 160 adult community programmes.

Learndirect offer a range of flexible learning opportunities though e-learning. The study can take place at the learndirect centres, of which there are 5 in the Tamworth area, or anywhere a learner can access a computer with a good internet connection. Courses include literacy and numeracy, and many are free.

Trust this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase the skills levels of disabled people in Hartlepool; and if she will make a statement. [42982]

More people than ever before with self-declared learning difficulties and/or disabilities are now engaged in LSC-funded education and training with 579,000 learners across the post-16 sector in 2003–04 at a total cost of around £1.3 billion. We want to work closely with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to continue to break down the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing quality training. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 places a statutory duty on the LSC to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different racial groups, men and women, and between disabled and non-disabled. To support that work, the LSC has introduced equality and diversity impact measures as a planning tool to promote greater equality of opportunity in both fair access to and outcomes from publicly-funded training.

Earlier this year, in our White Paper Skills Getting on in business, getting on at work" we outlined how the LSC is providing capital funding to support colleges and training providers in making the necessary changes to their accommodation, in order to improve access for disabled learners.

However, responsibility for the planning and funding of skills training in Hartlepool, including skills for people with disabilities, is the responsibility of the LSC. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, has written to my hon. Friend with further information and a copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 30 January 2006

I am writing to you to follow up the Secretary of State's answer to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding increasing the skills levels of disabled people in Hartlepool.

I have set out below a summary of current activity with learners in the town:

The main providers of post-16 learning in Hartlepool are Hartlepool College of Further Education and Hartlepool Sixth Form College. Both have been supported recently with funding in relation to improving access for learners with disabilities. All providers of Apprenticeships, Work Based Learning and Entry to Employment in Hartlepool have had an Access Audit to ensure that their facilities and premises are accessible to people with disabilities.

In excess of 1,900 people taking part in learning in Hartlepool are supported with Additional Learning Support Funding. This funding provides specific individual support in respect of learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

18 learners from Hartlepool with a learning difficulty/and or disability have achieved a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through the Employer Training Pilot. This is 7% of those taking part.

73 young people from Hartlepool who consider themselves to have a learning difficulty and/or disability are currently on Apprenticeship programmes and improving their skills and employment opportunities at levels 2 and 3. 42 young people from Hartlepool who consider themselves to have a learning difficulty and/or disability are currently on entry to employment programmes and are improving their skills and employment opportunities leading to level 2 qualifications.

Hartlepool College of Further Education is working with Catcote Special School in Hartlepool to increase provision for learners aged 19+ with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This project is increasing personal, social and skills for working life for 14 adults.

Hartlepool Sixth Form College is running a Pathways project1 which supports 26 learners with multiple learning difficulties aged 26 to 63. Learners follow the Certificate in Personal, Social and Health Education.

We have recently approved funding for the Shaw Trust to deliver support to unemployed 19–24 year olds with learning difficulties and/or disabilities that I have previously had specialist support in a local provider, or have returned from a residential college. The project will support them in community and work based settings. Participants will benefit from improved social skills to encourage independent living and progression, making aspirations and employment goals attainable. 50 learners will be supported across the Tees Valley.

In addition to the examples given above, people with disabilities have full access to the extensive range of skills training available in the colleges and learning organisations within Hartlepool.

Budgets for investment in services for learners with learning needs and disabilities for 2006–07 will shortly be allocated to regions and local LSC's enabling them to plan support for next year. This will be in the context of our plans for significant budget increases for these learners over the next few years. We have increased the overall budget for learners with learning needs and disabilities from £138 million to £157 million for 2006–2007 and this will increase again to £181 million in 2007–2008, rises of 14% and 15% year on year from 2005. These rises are significantly greater than the overall increase in our budget over the same period, which increases by 3% and 5%.

We are making this additional investment in response to the national review of support for learners with disabilities carried out for us by Peter Little. While the review is still out for consultation and we will need to agree nationally how the LSC's expenditure on learning is matched by what other agencies pay for by way of social and domestic support, we acknowledge that our own contribution must rise. This is because the overall number of learners with disabilities is rising as the effect of medical advances continues.

At a time when numbers of young people are falling and 80% of the workforce of 2010 is already in the labour market we regard it as essential that the aspirations and abilities of all learners are supported and developed.

I hope this information helps to support the answer to your parliamentary question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the requirement for extended schools referred to on page 10 of the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All". [46446]

By 2010 we expect all schools to offer access to a core offer of extended services, with half of all primaries and a third of all secondaries doing so by 2008. The core offer includes 8 am-6 pm wraparound child care; a varied menu of study support activities such as sport and arts clubs; swift and easy referral to specialist health and social care services such as speech therapy; parenting support; and wider community use of school facilities. How this develops in each community will vary depending on the needs of that community. Some will have greater need for more child care, others will be able to rely on working with existing providers. A survey of 4,000 schools has shown that many are already delivering parts of this offer, with the vast majority already providing some activities or care before or after school. There has been enthusiasm from local authorities and schools to engage with the extended schools support programme, with over 5,000 schools joining this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many statements are included in the Foundation Stage Profile. [46134]

The QCA Foundation Stage Profile scales booklet covers 13 areas of development related to the early learning goals. For each area, the booklet offers a series of statements, numbered 1 to 9, describing aspects of development within that area (117 statements in all). For each individual child, teachers decide which of the nine statements in each area best describe the child's stage of development. Schools report to the local authority, as the child's score", 13 numbers ranging from 1 to 9.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of how many adults lacked basic (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2005 in (A) Hampshire, (B) Portsmouth, (C) Southampton, (D) the Isle of Wight and (E) each (1) borough and (2) district council in Hampshire. [47482]

holding answer 31 January 2006

The Department does not collect annual data on adult literacy and numeracy skills and it is therefore not possible to provide estimates for 1997 and 2005. However, in 2002/03, the Department for Education and Skills conducted the 'Skills for Life Survey'. This is a national needs and impact survey of literacy and numeracy, which provides estimates of the level of basic skills within England among adults aged 16–65 years old.

The assessment levels correspond to the literacy and numeracy National Standards: these were introduced in 2002 to provide a framework for all adult screening tests, diagnostic tools, programmes of study and qualifications. Learners are assessed for levels of literacy and numeracy from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. Level 2 is broadly equivalent to a higher grade GCSE (A*-C).

The survey provides estimates for Learning and Skills Council areas and districts. Within the Learning and Skills Council area of Hampshire and The Isle of Wight, the Skills for Life Survey estimates that around 7 per cent. of adults had literacy levels below Level 1 (equivalent to a GCSE D-G) and around 43 per cent. had numeracy levels below Level 1 (Table 1 and 2).

Table 1: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Literacy Levels for Learning and Skills Council: Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Table 2: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Numeracy Levels for Learning and Skills Council: Hampshire and Isle of Wight

At a district level, the Skills for Life Survey estimates around 10 per cent. of adults have literacy levels below Level 1 (equivalent to a GCSE D-G) within Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight and around 50 per cent. have numeracy levels below level 1 (Table 3 and 4).

Table 3: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Literacy Levels for Districts

Table 4: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Numeracy Levels for Districts

A copy of the full report of this survey has been placed in the House of Commons Library and all geographical estimates are on the Skills for Life website [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus_skillsforlifesurvey/].

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what subsidies her Department has provided for primary schools in Shrewsbury constituency for daily school milk; and if she will make a statement. [44976]

I have been asked to reply.

The EU funds a scheme which subsidises the provision of milk to primary and nursery schools. In England the Government supplements the EU subsidy for primary schools by payment of an annual maximum of £1.5 million in national aid. Participation in the subsidy scheme, which is administered by the Rural Payments Agency, is entirely a matter for schools or local education authorities. Shropshire county council is on the Agency's register of subsidy claimants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector organisations delivered services in Sure Start programmes in each year for which figures are available. [43842]

Services in Sure Start programmes have been delivered by organisations from a range of sectors, for example, voluntary and community sector organisations, such as community development trusts, statutory partners, including local authorities and health authorities, and some private companies. Information on the extent to which individual organisations are involved is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to aid the provision of training schemes for Surrey Heath residents over 50 years old. [39769]

We are committed to safeguarding a wide range of adult learning opportunities in every area, including provision for learners over 50, and we will ensure that adult learning provision in Surrey Heath is provided through the funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to further education colleges, local authorities and other providers. As this is an operational matter, Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive has written to the hon. Member with further information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 23 January 2006

I refer to the written reply by Phil Hope to your Parliamentary Question. The Minister has asked that I write to you with further information.

Adult and Community Learning (now called Personal and Community Development Learning) is an important source of provision for older people. We are safeguarding funding for this provision for future years.

For other forms of provision, the LSC has agreed clear funding priorities with the Government as public resources are necessarily finite. Our highest priorities are to support increased participation and achievement of 16–18 year olds and to support adults without skills for life and full level 2 qualifications which are important for basic levels of employability. Many older people come within these latter priority categories and around a quarter of enrolments in LSC funded provision in Surrey are by people over the age of 50.

Surrey County Council, our Adult and Community Learning provider in the county, has developed provision for older people in two communities with high levels of multiple deprivation, one of which is in Surrey Heath. Building on earlier work by the Pre-Retirement Association, the purpose of these was to develop a transferable and innovative curriculum of recreational learning to encourage older people to regard learning and skills acquisition as a positive and natural accompaniment to growing older. Amongst other things, this led to the formation of an 'older and bolder club1 for health activities and recreation. The University of the Third Age has a presence in Surrey Heath to encourage lifelong learning for older people not in employment and relevant courses are also delivered by the WEA (with funding from the LSC.)

To help shape future provision, the Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership has run focus groups on our behalf, involving older learners, to identify provision of particular interest. Analysis of needs against provision on a geographic basis means that we can now identify where there is relatively high and low participation in learning for over 50s to provide a basis for review of future provision.

Our future provision in Surrey will also be influenced by our South East Region's annual statement of planning priorities in which we have a commitment to pilot curriculum opportunities for older workers to change their occupations or extend their careers". To this end, we are developing a project, with European funding support, to identify different ways of delivering learning to older people. This will include targeted information, advice and guidance and the development of courses specifically to meet the needs of older people seeking to extend their careers.

Looking further forward, demographic changes—with fewer young people entering the labour market and an expectation of longer working life—mean that, nationally, we will need to provide a broader programme of support for older people to keep their skills up to date. We will be working with the Department for Education and Skills to define and plan the nature of this broader support.

I hope this further information is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Key Stage 3 pupils undertook work experience in each year between 1995 and 2005, broken down by year group; and in which sectors. [25127]

We have no figures for the period 1995 to April 2001. From April 2001, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) took on the delivery responsibility for links between schools and businesses. Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 22 December 2005

Further to your question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills requesting the number of Key Stage 3 pupils who under-took work-experience placements between 1995 and 2005.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) collects data for work-experience placements for Key Stage pupils in Years 10 and 11. It does not collect information on Key Stage 3 students as part of the LSC Education Business Link funded activity.

Yours sincerely

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated to work-based learning in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08 for (i) 16 to 19-year-olds and (ii) 19 years plus at (A) Level 1, (B) Level 2 and (C) Level 3. [33349]

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) through an annual Grant Letter that sets out the LSC's key priorities. The operational delivery of individual programmes, taking account of these priorities and the funding made available by the Department, is a matter for the LSC. The following table details the allocations for work based learning programmes for the relevant financial years. In addition funding allocations are given for the adult skills programme Train to Gain.

Data for allocations to programmes by qualification level are the responsibility of the LSC and the council's Chief Executive Mark Haysom has written to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 21 December 2005

I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding funds allocated to Work-based Learning (WBL) in the three years from 2005–06 to 2007–08, for qualification levels 1, 2 and 3.

I need to begin by pointing out that the Learning and Skills Council does not allocate funding on the basis of qualification levels. We allocate funds to providers based on locally agreed provider development plans. These reflect a sound assessment of local employer, sector and individual needs, as well as Government policy, priorities and targets.

We afford our local teams considerable flexibility to move funds around to meet specific needs, hence we cannot say with certainty at this time, how much will be spent at each learning 'Level' for the years in question.

We do however gather information that enables us to see how much has been spent on the various elements of the WBL programme. For the most recently completed academic year, 2004/05, we know that the amounts were:

£344 million for Advanced Apprenticeships, which are geared towards the achievement of a Level 3 qualification;

£443 million for Apprenticeships, geared towards Level 2;

£228 million for Entry to Employment, Level 1; and

in addition, some £45 million of our WBL programme budget was spent on training towards NVQs only (Levels 1–4)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) names and (b) grades were of his Department's officials who visited Ascension Island and participated in the preliminary summit of 30 November 2005. [47308]

Two officials from the Ministry of Defence visited and participated in a preliminary summit in Ascension Island on 30 November 2005, one from our policy and defence relations (South) organisation and another from our permanent joint headquarters. Under the Data Protection Act, their names are withheld.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conditions governing the use of Ascension Island by the United States air force. [47330]

The use by the United States air force of Ascension Island is based on the 1956 Bahamas Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, and has been developed further through a number of local agreements covering the operational activities undertaken there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions are in place on legal personnel supporting families at board of inquiry meetings; and for what reasons such restrictions are in place. [47325]

A board of inquiry is an internal review conducted to investigate a matter and to report. It is not a court and it does not meet in public. The presence of families may inhibit the openness of witnesses, in addition to being impractical as boards of inquiry can last for months and necessitate travel both inside and outside the United Kingdom. In the case of an inquiry into a fatality or serious accident, we seek to ensure that the next of kin are fully briefed on the inquiry's progress and outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is considering making available a breakdown of casualty figures for the deployments in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [45218]

Yes. The MOD intends to publish casualty figures for Iraq on the MOD website in the next few weeks, identifying the number of personnel categorised as Seriously Injured" and Very Seriously Injured". The figures will be updated regularly. I will write to inform the right hon. Member prior to the first publication.

The MOD will also release in the same way these categories of information for any UK casualties that occur from 1 January 2006 onwards as a result of operations in Afghanistan. Information for previous years is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I will write to the right hon. Member when the figures are available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the distribution in each region and country of (a) regular service personnel, (b) direct civilian employees of the Department, (c) civilian personnel in the UK defence agencies and trading funds as at 1 October 2005. [45547]

holding answer 25 January 2006

Information on the posted location of Service personnel is published in TSP 10 (UK regular forces distribution across UK), which shows the number of Service personnel by Government office region and local authority. A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House, showing data as at 1 October 2005.

The following table shows the number of civilian personnel in the UK, Defence agencies and trading funds as at 1 October 2005 by Government office region.

Civilian personnel in UK Defence agencies and MOD—owned trading funds by Government office region and country at 1 October 2005⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk).

⁽²⁾ less than 5.

⁽³⁾ From the 1 January 2006 reporting, DASA has been able to identify a methodology to correctly identify all of the ABRO staff. Estimated October 2005 figures based on the new methodology are broken down as follows: ABRO Estimate October 2005 total 2390 FTE, broken down by Government Office Region: Yorks and Humber 130, West Midlands 1010, South West 810, Eastern 140, South East 100, Scotland 90, Wales 20. The differences between ABRO published and estimated figures are included within the MoD Total Excluding Agencies and Trading Funds figures above Overall figures by Government Office Region would be unaffected by any impact of ABRO staff estimates.

Notes:

1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10, as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.

2. Figures include values for part time staff proportionate to those of full time staff.

Source:

DASA (Civilian)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) how many 30mg pyridostigmine bromide tablets (a) personnel from (i) the 7th Armoured Brigade, (ii) 3 Commando Brigade, (iii) 16 Air Assault Brigade, (iv) 102 Logistics Brigade and (v) HQ Armoured Division, (b) Royal Navy personnel in the Gulf and (c) Royal Air Force personnel in the Gulf took daily during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Op Telic; [44221]

(2) what percentage of (a) the 7th Armoured Brigade, (b) 3 Commando Brigade, (c) 16 Air Assault Brigade, (d) 102 Logistics Brigade, (e) HQ Armoured Division, (f) Royal Naval personnel in the Gulf and (g) Royal Air Force personnel in the Gulf took nerve agent pre-treatment tablets during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Op Telic; and for how many days in each case; [44222]

(3) how many nerve agent pre-treatment tablets were re-supplied to (a) the 7th Armoured Brigade, (b) 3 Commando Brigade, (c) 16 Air Assault Brigade, (d) 102 Logistics Brigade, (e) HQ Armoured Division, (f) Royal Naval personnel in the Gulf and (g) Royal Air Force personnel in the Gulf during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Operation Telic. [44223]

Nerve agent pre-treatment sets (NAPS) tablets were issued to armed forces personnel serving with Operation Telic in single strips of 21 tablets. The recommended dosage rate is one Pyridostigmine Bromide (30mg) tablet every eight hours—ie three per day. Thus, a single strip contains a week's supply.

A total of 7,266,504 tablets were supplied to Operation Telic, in the form of 346,024 strips of 21. These were issued to approximately 32,000 personnel, over a three month period as follows:

Information is not held centrally on how many of these tablets were then issued locally to individual units in theatre, and could only therefore be provided at disproportionate cost.

Nor is it known how many tablets were actually taken daily by individual personnel. This is because the tablets were self-administered by personnel on command, rather than being administered by medical officers. For this same reason, information is not held as to what percentage of personnel took the tablets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005. [46754]

The decision to hold events to mark religious festivals is one for commanding officers and civilian line managers and records of such events are not held centrally.

Religious belief is regarded as a private matter in the Ministry of Defence and armed forces. It is the Department's policy to allow personnel to meet their religious observances provided this does not interfere with operational effectiveness, health and safety requirements or business needs. Armed forces and Ministry of Defence civil service personnel may request leave to celebrate religious festivals where these fall outside national public holidays. Such requests are considered objectively and met wherever practical. Areas for worship or contemplation are made available in Ministry of Defence and armed forces establishments wherever practicable.

A Guide on Religion and Belief in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces" was published last year to raise awareness of faith and cultural issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the use of land owned by his Department reduces the cost to his Department of the Medical Training to the Midlands; whether the use of land owned by (a) another Government Department and (b) the private sector would alter the cost of the project; and if he will make a statement. [47001]

Acquisition of non-Ministry of Defence (MOD) land always carries additional costs (legal, professional fees etc) as well as requiring an outlay of capital. There might also be disposal costs to be taken into account if the acquisition led to existing MOD land becoming surplus. It is for this reason that before considering such an acquisition to meet a new requirement, we always first look at the suitability of land and property already owned by the Department. This is consistent with the wider Government policy on asset management. We also need to ensure that our estate is no larger than is required for defence purposes and that it is efficiently used. If a privately-owned site were to offer specific advantages (for instance in terms of location, features or potential value for money) then an exception might be made, but this would be considered on a case by case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment is of each battalion of the Parachute Regiment; and how many vacancies there are in each battalion. [46080]

The following table shows the strength of the individual battalions of The Parachute Regiment compared to the Infantry element of the establishment as at 1 December 2005.

Notes:

1. The figures quoted are as at 1 December 2005 and are for UK regular trained Army officers and soldiers only and therefore exclude mobilised reserves, full-time reserve service and other reserves.

2. Strength totals for the 2nd Battalion include 90 soldiers on detachment with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

3. The establishment figures include only the infantry posts and exclude attached personnel of other arms and services such as chefs, clerks etc.

4. The strength figures do not include officers and soldiers in The Parachute Regiment that are serving outside the battalion, or personnel from other capbadges that are attached to the battalion. The officer element excludes personnel with the rank of colonel and above.

5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

In addition to those Parachute Regiment personnel serving with the battalions there are 480 (excluding colonels and above) members of the regiment posted elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) representations he has received and (b) meetings he has had with (i) representatives from the Public and Commercial Services Union and (ii) other interested groups in relation to job cuts and outsourcing of functions in his Department in Northern Ireland. [46795]

holding answer 31 January 2006

Representations have been made to Defence Ministers in writing and at meetings. In 2002, the trade unions tabled a claim for enhanced redundancy compensation for any MOD civil servants in Northern Ireland made redundant as a result of the peace process. A delegation of TU representatives from TGWU, GMB, AMICUS, TGWC, PCS and Prospect met with me in London in December 2004 and I met other TU representatives (GMB, Prospect, TGWU, PCS, JCC and AMICUS) in Northern Ireland in November 2005.

There has also been correspondence from a number of Members of Parliament on the same issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that intellectual property developed by Qinetiq remains in the UK following that company's flotation. [44157]

In common with other companies which carry out MOD-funded research, ownership of intellectual property generated as a result of MOD contracts remains with QinetiQ, although MOD has free rights to such information for its own use, or for use by its contractors for defence and security purposes. The MOD also has rights to disclose such information to other governments for international co-operation purposes.

Should QinetiQ wish to use UK government-funded intellectual property in programmes with overseas governments or contractors, arrangements exist, established in July 2001, which allow MOD to prevent transactions that it judges would cause an unmanageable conflict of interest or otherwise be contrary to the defence or security interests of the UK. These arrangements will remain in place after the initial public offering in QinetiQ. QinetiQ is also subject to the same security and export controls as any other UK company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to ease the restrictions on QinetiQ's involvement in defence manufacturing. [44158]

When QinetiQ became a company in July 2001, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) put in place a range of measures to ensure that the company did not undertake activities that could cause an unmanageable conflict of interest affecting its ability to carry out work for MOD customers.

In addition, the MOD had a separate right to require QinetiQ to seek our specific approval if it wished to carry out certain defence manufacturing activities which might also cause a conflict of interest. In reviewing the operation of the compliance regime, the Department has concluded that the existence of this additional approvals process on top of the wider conflict of interest protections has caused some confusion, and that there is scope for simplifying the regime. Consequently, the MOD has agreed with the company that the separate defence manufacturing approvals process will be removed from 1 April 2008, by which date the MOD willbe in a position to open its research programme tofull competition, potentially providing greater opportunities for the rest of industry to bid for work and increasing the options available to MOD customers. This change will not affect the level of protection available to customers who will exercise their rights through the wider provisions contained elsewhere in the compliance regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the acquisition of SevenCs by the UK Hydrographic Office on other commercial enterprises in the hydrographic industry. [47220]

holding answer 31 January 2006

Prior to the acquisition the UK Hydrographic Office concluded that a change of ownership of SevenCs would, of itself, have little or no effect on other commercial enterprises in the hydrographic industry. The acquisition should, however, work to the benefit of the industry as a whole by invigorating the development of digital navigation products, which will in turn enhance safety of life at sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the acquisition of SevenCs by the UK Hydrographic Office. [47222]

holding answer 31 January 2006

On 30 November 2005 the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) acquired SevenCs, a leading navigational software development company, based in Hamburg. This acquisition was in line with the UKHO's strategic direction and within its remit as a Ministry of Defence Trading Fund.

The purpose of the acquisition was to ensure an open route to market for all digital navigational data, including the UKHO's. It was strategically important for the UKHO, and in order to discharge the UK's responsibilities under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, that the UKHO safeguard an open system, which does not tie the end-user to a particular brand of data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel are working (a) under the NATO flag and (b) under the EU in relief efforts in Sudan. [46861]

The United Kingdom currently has one officer based in Ethiopia as NATO's senior military liaison officer to the African Union (AU), whose work includes supporting the AU mission in Darfur. A second officer will be deployed shortly and will be based in Sudan. The UK also has one officer based in Sudan as part of the EU support for the AU mission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government plan to assess whether they have met the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. [45688]

The Standing Committee of the UK Biodiversity Partnership has agreed to use a set of 18 headline indicators to assess whether the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has been met. These are based on the framework being used within the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Some of the indicators are already published; others require further development. The full set of indicators is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the results of the 2005 reporting round for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan will be published; and how this information will be used to improve the delivery of biodiversity conservation up to 2010. [45689]

The results will be published in a new report later this year. This will provide UK and county level information on how individual species and habitats are faring, emerging influences by sector, and constraints to delivery. We are committed to making full use of these results. And we will look to make them relevant to a range of different audiences and stakeholders.

The responsibility for implementing measures to conserve biodiversity is a devolved matter. And the results of the 2005 reporting round will feed into the individual strategies for biodiversity and the environment in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government (a) have introduced and (b) are planning to introduce to halt biodiversity loss by 2010. [45690]

Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) there are costed and targeted national action plans for 436 of our most threatened habitats and species in the UK. These are supported by approximately 150 local biodiversity action plans, often at county level. The most recently completed review of progress was conducted in 2002 and the latest published information on progress was issued in 2003: UK Biodiversity Action Plan—tracking progress". A further report on progress to 2005 will be published this year.

The England Biodiversity Strategy, Working with the grain of nature" was published in 2002. This brings together England's key contributions towards halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The strategy sets out a programme of activity to integrate biodiversity into policy making and practice. The third annual stock-take of progress under the strategy was published on 29 December 2005. This highlights coverage of more than 1 million hectares of land by Environmental Stewardship agreements, a new Planning Policy Statement on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, a new policy on ancient and native woodland, and a substantial increase in investment in water and wetland management for wildlife.

Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, we propose to extend a duty to all public authorities in England and Wales to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercise of their functions. And we are also committed to publishing a Marine Bill to provide a new framework for marine conservation.

We will publish new priorities, targets and plans for meeting our target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010, following reviews being undertaken under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The UK commitment towards international efforts to reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 is contained in the World Summit on Sustainable Development Delivery Plan for international biodiversity (http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/delivery/global-local/international/wssd/delivery-plans.htm). The plans set out the intermediate steps needed to meet the UK's long term aims, and reports on progress to date.

The UK also continues to fund and administer the Darwin Initiative. This has played a major role in conserving endangered species and habitats throughout the world. Since its launch in 1992, we have committed more than £45 million to more than 400 projects in more than 100 countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms straddle the border between (a) England and Wales and (b) England and Scotland. [43333]

The following figures relate to single payment scheme applications made in 2005:

(a) There are 463 applicants who have land both in England and Wales. 176 have applied to RPA and 287 to NAWAD.

(b) There are 128 applicants who have land both in England and Scotland. 64 have applied to RPA and 64 to SEERAD.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual Government expenditure on the development of a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis in (a) cattle and (b) badgers has been since 1998. [46730]

From 1998–99 to 2004–05, and including the forecast for the year 2005–06, Defra has spent £3.5 million on research into a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis for badgers, and £3.8 million on research into finding a vaccine for cattle.

In parallel with this, Defra has been researching diagnostic tests for badgers and cattle. From 1998–99 to 2004–05, and including the forecast for the year 2005–06, Defra has spent £1.1 million on badger test development, and £2.3 million on cattle test development.

The Government continues to pursue the development of vaccines for cattle and badgers. On 9 June 2005, we announced details of work on natural transmission studies in cattle and a field study to obtain licensing data for injectable BCG in badgers, to start in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of parishes where badgers removed during the Krebs trial were found to be free of bovine tuberculosis. [45840]

holding answer 26 January 2006

The results of the randomised badger culling trials are still being collected and analysed by the Independent Scientific Group, which is responsible for them. The information requested has not yet been made available by the ISG.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take to ensure the travel undertaken by the Young Climate Change Champions is carbon-neutral. [47580]

Under the Climate Change Champions youth competition we are looking to avoid and minimise carbon-intensive travel for all Defra facilitated journey's as far as possible. As part of this we will, for example, ensure that the nine chosen Champions, guardians and Government officials travel by surface transport, predominantly by train, on the fact finding tour to Switzerland. We will also be looking to offset any unavoidable emissions incurred as a result of the competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has allocated to the 'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge' programme. [47581]

Defra has committed £12 million to the 'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge' climate change communications initiative to March 2008.