To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the millennium development goals in Asia. [53965]

Good progress is being made overall in Asia to reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty, and the region is on track to meet this target by 2015. Progress on other Millennium Development Goals is uneven. Areas of particular concern are the high rates of maternal mortality, the spread of HIV and AIDS, the quality of and access to education, especially for girls, and the need to improve access to sanitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he plans to take to ensure that measures to combat tuberculosis in developing countries are made a priority at the G8 St. Petersburg summit in July. [53966]

At the launch of the Global Plan to stop tuberculosis for 2006-15 in Davos, the Chancellor called for the G8 formally to designate tuberculosis a top priority at St. Petersburg in July, and urged G8 member countries to pledge to the Global Plan.

As always the UK will work through all available channels in the lead up to the G8 summit. We will encourage other G8 partners to ensure that tuberculosis control is addressed as part of the comprehensive package of measures agreed at Gleneagles, so that developing countries can make faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goal targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is discussing with his Commonwealth counterparts on using international aid to promote good governance. [53967]

At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta in November 2005 the Heads of Government reaffirmed their commitment to good governance. At the heart of the organisation is the Harare Commonwealth Declaration which sets out the shared commitment to good governance, human rights and democracy. To deliver these objectives the Commonwealth administers four Peace and Democracy Programmes: Good Offices for Peace, Democracy and Consensus Building, Rule of Law and Human Rights. Discussion has focused on learning from the experiences of member states on what works.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance will be given to Yemen in 2006-07 to help it combat the spread of tuberculosis. [53968]

The current prevalence of TB in Yemen is 1.5 per 1,00 people. The Government of Yemen runs a National Tuberculosis Programme aiming to eliminate TB in the country.

The UK has committed £59 million until 2008 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Since January 2002 the fund has approved US$735 million for TB control, and $6.1 million is being spent in Yemen between 2005 and 2010.

DFID has committed £ million, between 2005 and 2008, to the global Stop TB Partnership which has provided support to good quality TB drug access in Yemen. The UK also provides core funding to the World Health Organisation (£2.5 million in 2005–06) which among other things, works to fight TB in Yemen.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's work in the Republic of Yemen. [52706]

Yemen is the only low-income country in the middle east, with social indicators reflecting very low levels of human development—female primary school enrolment and completion rates and adult illiteracy rates are among the worst in the world, as are infant and maternal mortality rates. With a population of 20 million the poverty levels are high—10.7 percent. of population below US$1 a day and 45 percent. below US$2 a day.

DFID's support to Yemen goes back to 1997 with a £2 million per year programme focusing on strengthening economic and financial management. DFID extended the programme in 2003 also to include work on education and health, and opened an office in Yemen in 2004. DFID has increased its programme in Yemen from £2.5 million in 2001-02 to £12.5 million in 2005-06.

The Government of Yemen's 3rd five year development plan for poverty reduction (DPPR) is due to be finalised in the next few months. DFID will support the implementation of this and encourage a more effective, harmonised donor response through a joint donor framework for action. This will help donors achieve focus and prioritisation in their work.

This approach has given DFID the time to focus our engagement in strategic areas that we believe will bring about positive change; for example, supporting improvements in public financial management and improving aid harmonisation.

The current DFID programme includes support for basic education (with the aim of expanding access to quality basic education, focussing on the inclusion of girls), maternal and neonatal health (improving health services and health sector planning and policy making), community development through a social fund, support to elections reform, improved donor harmonisation and alignment, public financial management, and the development of the new development plan for poverty reduction. DFID is also exploring options for working with the Yemen Government on improving access to justice for the poorest.

The Yemen Government have recently announced a package of reforms to improve governance, and DFID are supporting the development and implementation of these through all of our work, through our dialogue with Government, and through our funding.

DFID is drafting its country assistance plan for Yemen detailing our development strategy in the country over the next three years which will be published in September 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the provision of clean water within development policy. [53970]

DFID is committed to helping achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the proportion of people without access to safe water by 2015. Our programmes are focussed on sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, where achieving the target will be most difficult.

Our strategy was set out in the 2004 DFID Water Action Plan, and updated in my World Water Day speech in March 2005. We publish regular updates of progress; these can be found on our website at: www.dfid.gov.uk. The last was in August 2005 and the next is due at the end of March 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the reconstruction work in Pakistan following the earthquake. [53971]

The Government are doing everything possible to help Pakistan recover from the earthquake.

DFID is one of the largest bilateral donors for reconstruction, and we committed £70 million for reconstruction at the Donors' Conference last November. We are one of the group of seven" large donors working collaboratively with the Government of Pakistan to help meet the challenge of recovering from the earthquake.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what alternative channels of funding to the Palestinians are being considered should Hamas refuse to renounce violence and recognise Israel. [53972]

The Government fully supports the statements by the Quartet and the European Union on 30 January. We support the Quartet in urging measures to facilitate the work of the current caretaker Government to stabilise public finances. Future assistance to any new Palestinian Government will be reviewed against that Government's commitment to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the roadmap. Subject to that review it is too early to say what channels of funding to the Palestinians might be appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to reduce corruption in sub-Saharan Africa. [49080]

Corruption is both a symptom and a cause of poor governance. DFID supports a wide range of governance reforms to prevent, detect and take action against corruption. For example, DFID is helping countries to reform their judicial system in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. DFID also supports public financial management reforms in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, DFID also provides technical and financial support to dedicated anti-corruption commissions in Sierra Leone, Uganda, Nigeria and Zambia. DFID also helps civil society hold African governments to account for the proper use of public resources. For example, DFID supports the international NGO Transparency International and its country chapters.

In addition, African countries are working together to tackle corruption regionally as well as in their countries. For example, DFID is helping the East and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) to build capacity in the region to prevent and detect money-laundering.

Both developed and developing countries must play their part to reduce corruption in Africa. In 2005 at Gleneagles, G8 countries committed to a set of actions at home to help stop corruption in Africa. DFID is working with other Government Departments to meet these commitments in the UK. For example, secondary legislation is now in place to enable the UK to ratify the UN convention against corruption, the first global anti-corruption standard. We expect to ratify imminently.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial support the British Government have given to (a) the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, (b) the Federation of Trade Unions—Burma, (c) the Democratic Voice of Burma, (d) the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and (e) the National Council for the Union of Burma in each of the past three years. [52207]

The British Government have not provided financial support to any of these five organisations during the past three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of his Department's annual budget for Burma has been spent on consultants in each of the past three years; how much each consultant has received; and what projects each undertook. [52209]

DFID's annual budget for Burma was:

Between 2002 and 2004, DFID issued three contracts to the Institute for Health Sector Development to co-ordinate an HIV/AIDS national response. Expenditure was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment the Government has made of whether the European Commission is abiding by the EU common position on Burma regarding humanitarian assistance. [52211]

The Government have made no formal assessment. DFID officials maintain a regular dialogue with the European Commission in their drawing up of programmes for assistance to Burma. The Commission is fully aware of the need for these to be consistent with the Common Position.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discretionary aid budget is available to the British ambassador to Burma. [52212]

The British ambassador to Burma has the management of a discretionary aid budget covered by the small grants scheme (SGS). The 2005-06 financial year budget is £110,000 and will be used to fund civil society organisations working on sectors such as health, education, income generation and water.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government have spent on projects (a) promoting democracy and (b) supporting internally displaced people in Burma in the last five years. [52466]

Support to increase prospects for a successful transition to a democratic society is one of the four objectives of DFID's country strategy for Burma and is core to all our work. While DFID does not fund projects which explicitly promote democracy, in all our programmes we constantly seek opportunities to strengthen local civil society, support poor people's participation in local decision making, build local accountability and transparency, address conflict and encourage discussion and debate, in order to increase the prospects for change.

DFID provides direct assistance to displaced people in Burma through support to ICRC's work with conflict affected populations. Since 2000 DFID has provided total funding of £2.3 million to ICRC (this also includes support for ICRC's prison visits). However, several other DFID funded projects, including through local NGOs, also include displaced populations among their recipients.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the UK spent on supporting internally displaced people in Burma in 2004-05. [54446]

It is not possible to specify how much DFID support to Burma was spent on internally displaced people during 2004-05. In the financial year 2004-05 DFID provided £0.5 million to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), of which approximately 80 per cent. is attributable to work with conflict-affected populations. In addition, several other projects funded by DFID which provide assistance through local-level NGOs (for example, on health care) include an indeterminate percentage of displaced people among their recipients.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether British non-governmental organisations are working in the province of Cabinda; and if he will make a statement. [53859]

To our knowledge there are no British non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the province of Cabinda.

DFID's programme in Angola does however work quite closely with a wide range of NGOs across the different elements of our programme. For example, in our humanitarian activities we are supporting Medecins Sans Frontieres to improve primary and secondary healthcare services in Bie and Uige provinces (£547,850). To promote peace and democracy we have provided £765,812 to the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) to educate citizens on their role in the electoral process. We fund the Luanda Urban Poverty Programme (LUPP), a coalition of local and international NGOs which works to reduce urban poverty (£8.9 million). On HIV and AIDS, we support programmes to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, offer voluntary counselling and testing, and market condoms through the BBC World Service Trust, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Population Services International and GOAL (over £2.5 million). To ensure continued peace and stability in Angola we also support a number of peacebuilding projects through Christian Aid, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) and the Centre for Common Ground, totalling over £2 million.

Mine action is still required in Angola and we currently support projects in partnership with Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and the HALO Trust. We are providing MAG with £1 million over the period 2005–07 for road and bridge demining in Mexico province and HALO Trust with £400,000 in 2005–06 for road clearance in Cuando Cubango province. Angola will remain a focus country for DFID mine action funding for the foreseeable future. We are working to strengthen Angolan Disabled People's Organisations through World Vision (£274,705).

NGOs have a vital role to play in the lead up to the elections planned for September 2006 and afterwards, both in terms of democratic development and in supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether UK (a) multilateral and (b) bilateral aid is spent in the province of Cabinda; and if he will make a statement. [53860]

UNICEF and the World Health Organisation both work in Cabinda. DFID supports this through our core contributions. As core resources are unearmarked it is not possible to assess the extent to which this expenditure can be attributed to DFID. No other multilateral, including the European Commission and the World Bank have programmes in Cabinda.

There is bilateral expenditure in Cabinda, through two channels. DFID provides additional bilateral support to UNICEF, which works in all 18 of Angola's provinces including Cabinda (over £4 million in the past three years). In 2005 UNICEF spent a total of $20 million in Angola, just over US$1 million was in Cabinda province, supporting education, health, and water and sanitation programmes. In addition DFID, together with the FCO and the MOD, is supporting peace building in Cabinda using funds from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (£40,000 this year). Young people representing civil society organisations in Cabinda are being given the opportunity to do work placements with human rights, democratisation or peace building organisations in South Africa. The intention is that the expertise obtained in these important areas will be reinvested in peace building efforts in Cabinda.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that his policies contribute to international efforts to tackle climate change. [53969]

DFID takes the issue of climate change very seriously, not least because developing countries will be worst affected by it. We are helping developing countries collect data on the range and type of climate-related changes that are likely to take place in coming years. We are helping developing country planners to interpret that data, so that they can make informed decisions about how best to respond.

We are also working with others, in particular the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, to increase investment in lower carbon energy, so that we can make progress towards reducing the greenhouse gas emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of projects supported through his Department. [53867]

The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that environmental assessment is critical to ensuring environmental sustainability in international development policy, planning and operations.

All DFID's development initiatives with a spend of more than £1 million are subject to environmental screening, which is also applied to projects of less than £1 million where there is a likelihood of significant environmental impacts. Where appropriate, screening is followed by a more comprehensive appraisal and assessment for policies, plans and programmes. The procedures, and guidance on the screening process, are detailed in DFID's Environment Guide (2003), which is available on the Department's public website www.dfid.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people were employed by his Department in each of the last 12 months for which data is available; and how many and what percentage of posts were vacant in each region in each month. [51173]

Staff numbers are collated on a quarterly basis, and the following data relating to UK based civil servants are taken from our official returns to the Cabinet Office during the last 12 months.

UK-based civil servants

The following data relates to staff appointed in our offices overseas on local terms and conditions of service. We are not required to publish these figures in civil service statistics.

SAIC

While the number of unfilled posts can fluctuate over the year, we normally run with a vacancy rate of approximately 5 per cent. at any time.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any (a) employee of his Department, (b) person engaged by his Department as a consultant and (c) paid advisor to his Department is a Member of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement. [52893]

No employee of or paid adviser to the Department for International Development is a Member of the House of Lords. DFID has no current high value consultancy contracts (over £100,000) with any Member of the House of Lords. Data on low value consultancy contracts let by DFID Departments and overseas offices under delegated budgets is not held centrally. Our inquiries of delegated budget holders has identified only one such contract, in which the DFID Office in Malawi engaged a Member of the House of Lords as a consultant in 2006 to advise on penal reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of his Department are employed by the Department in Scotland; and at which locations. [53035]

The latest published return to the Office for National Statistics, for the quarter ending 31 December 2005, shows 558 staff based in DFID's Headquarters in East Kilbride.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the role of remittances from abroad in assisting development and poverty reduction; what studies he has commissioned on the impact of such remittances; and how such research has influenced aid strategies. [50044]

DFID is active in assessing the role of remittances in development and poverty reduction, and uses the resulting findings to inform its aid programming.

In general, studies indicate that remittances reduce poverty in developing countries. For example:

Recent research from Guatemala and the Philippines show that remittances reduce the level, depth and severity of poverty. Households receiving remittances were found to spend around 50 percent. more than households with no remittances.

In Bangladesh, remittances from internal migration can represent the majority of household income. Households receiving remittances have higher nutritional and health status, higher levels of educational investment, and pools of money available for emergencies.

At the level of the economy, research suggests that remittances provide valuable foreign exchange for developing countries, and strengthen the balance of payments situation. Unlike other financial flows, remittances are counter cyclical, thus alleviating macroeconomic shocks. Remittances can also provide investment capital for economic activity, contributing to economic growth. Where remittance flows are saved rather than spent, they provide a higher deposit base for the banking system, which is necessary for economic growth.

DFID has funded a number of studies and also analyses relevant research by other organisations such as the World Bank. DFID funded a study in 2003 on remittances to developing countries in general which found a positive poverty reduction role for remittances. This finding was supported by DFID studies in 2004 and 2005 in Nigeria, Ghana and Bangladesh. DFID funded a household survey in the UK amongst the Bangladeshi community last year, which explored the impact on recipients of remittances to Bangladesh. DFID has recently commissioned a wider household survey to better understand the volume and value of remittance flows from key ethnic minority communities within the UK, and their impact on respective recipient countries.

DFID also funded a study to determine the contribution of UK based diasporas to development and poverty reduction. The study noted wider benefits from remittances and other forms of assistance from diasporas and migrant communities. These benefits were in the form of relief from war and disaster and in post war reconstruction (e.g. Somalia, Sri Lanka), and in education and health. .

DFID has used this research to design aid strategies in reducing barriers to remittance flows and further enhance their developmental impact. In particular, DFID has initiated remittance country partnerships programmes with Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana. These partnerships include work to extend access to remittances to poorer and more rural people, encourage greater competition and lower remittance prices, and improve data. This will be achieved by working with the private sector to extend access and outreach, and working with central banks and government, to address regulatory, data, competition and consumer issues.

In terms of work in the UK, DFID has recently set up a taskforce comprising of banks and money transfer companies, in order to lower remittance prices and improve the services they provide to low income migrants. The taskforce will implement recommendations from a public/private sector working group report that DFID launched late last year.

DFID has also initiated a website (www.sendmoneyhome.org) for those wishing to send remittances to developing countries from the UK. This provides easily available comparative information on remittance prices and providers. The aim is to improve choice and stimulate competition, leading to lower prices and a better service for low income migrants.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department (a) to reduce the risks associated with drought and (b) to improve food security within the developing world. [52194]

We will publish our Disaster Risk Reduction policy in March. We are committed to give greater priority to risk reduction measures. This can include, for example, supporting the development of drought resistant crops, improving water supply and reducing dependency on rain-fed agriculture.

In addition to providing support for food relief in life threatening situations, we are tackling chronic hunger by supporting the development of national safety nets that better deliver timely, adequate and guaranteed transfers of cash and/or food to the poorest. These programmes protect livelihoods and safeguard against destitution by helping people to keep their key assets—like land and livestock—through periods of hardship and crisis. For example, we have now provided a total of £43 million to Ethiopia's safety net. This has helped take five million people out of year-on-year emergency assistance.

We are also working with partners including the European Community and the United States to ensure that comprehensive food security strategies are addressed in the poverty reduction strategies of various chronically food insecure countries in Africa including Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the (a) amount and (b) proportion of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which has been employed (i) to advertise vacancies which arise, (ii) to appoint staff to manage its affairs, (iii) to employ external consultants and external companies to assist with its work, (iv) to promote and publicise its work and engage in public relations work and (v) on projects in developing countries. [53285]

According to the financial data provided by the Global Fund Secretariat, total expenditure in 2005 was US$1.586 billion. Of this US$1.524 billion (or 96.1 percent.) was for grants to projects in developing countries, and US$62 million (or 3.9 percent.) was for operating expenses.

The total expenditure of US$1.586 billion comprised:

(i) US$0.4 million (or 0.03 percent.) for advertising vacancies of staff posts;

(ii)US$24.7 million (or 1.56 percent.) for staff costs;

(iii)US$23.9 million (or 1.5 percent) for external consultants and external companies to assist with the fund's work, of which US$19.2 million (or 1.2 percent.) was for in-country oversight services provided by Local Fund Agents';

(iv) US$1.6 million (or 0.1 percent.) for communication services and materials including printing, translation, PR, photography and video production; (costs of staff engaged in these activities and included in (ii) above were US$0.9 million);

(v) US$1,524.0 million (or 96.1 percent.) for grants to projects in developing countries; and

the remaining US$11.4 million (or 0.7 percent.) was employed for office rent, utilities, supplies, equipment, travel and meetings.

The proportion of operating costs as a ratio of total expenditure fell in 2005 compared with 2004, from 4.9 per cent. to 3.9 per cent. The UK's line as a board member is that Secretariat costs should be kept to a level congruent with the Global Fund acting solely as a financing instrument.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of whether the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has an adequate complement of core staff to carry out its duties to donor and recipient countries. [53286]

Core staff are needed to ensure the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) fulfils its mandate: raising money, disbursing funds and reporting to the board and other stakeholders on how that money has been used. In addition staff are required to ensure the Global Fund works effectively with others in tackling these three diseases.

Each year the Secretariat proposes appropriate numbers of staff to fulfil its duties. The Board's Finance and Audit Committee reviews this and makes a recommendation to the board. The UK's line as a board member is to ensure that staffing levels are fit for purpose.

In 2005 the Secretariat comprised 199 staff members including 150 fixed-term posts (contracts up to two years) and 49 short-term positions (contracts up to 11 months). The use of short-term contracts gives flexibility to adjust the numbers and skills mix of staff efficiently. At the twelfth meeting of the Global Fund's Board in December 2005, the Secretariat proposed an increase in staff numbers from 199 to 252 in 2006. The Secretariat argued that the Secretariat has been asked to devote more time to collaboration with partners at country and global levels, and that staffing levels were insufficient. After discussing whether savings could be made from more efficient processes, the board approved the proposed 2006 operating expense budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) generic and (b) brand-name drugs have been approved for use in schemes financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and if he will make a statement. [48947]

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria does not currently collect this data.

The Global Fund's procurement policy specifies that resources may be used to procure any medicines that appear in national or the World Health Organization standard treatment guidelines (STGs) or essential medicines lists (EMLs). Unlisted products may be procured only if the principal recipient of the grant states a specific rationale for doing so in its proposal to the Global Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Uganda regarding the conservation of Lake Victoria. [52196]

I have not had any such discussions, but the most important conservation issue that currently affects Lake Victoria is the rapid fall in water levels. This is in part due to an extended period of drought in the region. In addition, the release of water from Lake Victoria for power generation has recently been in excess of the amounts set out in a formula agreed with the Government of Egypt. The fall in the level of the lake has already had consequences for the agricultural sector and transportation.

The Government of Uganda have re-assessed the extraction of water from Lake Victoria for power generation. Although the country faces a serious energy shortfall, it has agreed with the Government of Egypt and with development partners in Kampala, including the UK, to revert to the agreed formula for the extraction of water immediately. However, lake levels will only begin to rise when the drought ends.

DFID has invested £5.75 million in the Nile Basin Initiative, which is a multi country agreement and programme to manage sustainably the resources of the greater Nile Basin, including Lake Victoria. DFID's support for this initiative is specifically helping to establish arrangements for improved management of water resources in all Uganda's lakes. A separate DFID project has helped Uganda's Department of Fisheries improve the management of fisheries resources in Lake Victoria. DFID is helping the government develop an environmental and natural resources sector investment plan which includes the protection of wetlands around the shores of Lake Victoria and the regulation of the discharge of pollutants.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's activities in Mozambique. [53714]

DFID is the largest bilateral donor in Mozambique. Our aid framework for 2005-06 is £55 million, two thirds of which is provided as Poverty Reduction Poverty Support used to fund Government of Mozambique priorities as set out in the PARPA (Mozambique's Poverty Reduction Strategy). In addition, DFID has a large sectoral programme in the areas of health, education, infrastructure and HIV and AIDS. We also fund key central reform processes, including public financial management and public sector reform, and have a number a programmes with civil society. More information about DFID's programme in Mozambique is available on DFID's website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/africa/mozambique.asp

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's activities in Namibia. [53712]

The focus of DFID's bilateral programme in Namibia has been on developing livelihoods for the poor in the centre and north of the country. In the past five years DFID's Namibia programme in 2004-05 was £1.2 million.

The UK also supports development programmes in Namibia through multilateral bodies, in particular through our contribution to the European Commission (EC) of which our share of total assistance to Namibia is 14 per cent.

DFID also supports a wide range of HIV prevention and care initiatives in Namibia through the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). This programme operates in Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho. Namibia should also benefit from a current pipeline programme with UNICEF, which will focus on the care and support of orphans and vulnerable children. This £18 million/three year programme will operate in Angola, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.

There are several other regional programmes outlined in DFID's Regional Plan for Southern Africa that may benefit Namibia. The priority areas identified in the Plan are peace and security, resilient livelihoods and growth, jobs and equity. The Plan will be launched on 28 February 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the net present value of accrued pension liabilities in respect of (a) present and (b) former employees of his Department and its predecessor. [52111]

The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefit scheme and individual departments' pension liabilities are not available. The Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts for 2004-05 showed that the total pension liability at 31 March 2005 was £84.1 billion. The value of pension liabilities was assessed as follows:

As a result of a change in the discount rate used for calculating pension liabilities with effect from 1 April 2005, the total pension liability at 1 April 2005 increased by £10.6 billion to £94.7 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what factors his Department takes into account when deciding how much relief aid is offered to disaster areas; and if he will make a statement. [52705]

DFID responds to emergencies based on an analysis of humanitarian need. At the onset of a disaster, DFID seeks information from humanitarian agencies and contacts on the ground to establish the extent of humanitarian need. DFID may also send its own assessment personnel to affected areas. The decision to respond and the scale of DFID's response is weighed up against a number of considerations: the extent of unmet needs, the coping capacity of affected countries, the response of other donors and the value that a DFID response could add to the overall effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps have been taken by his Department to support renewable energy projects in developing countries. [53868]

Improved access to affordable and reliable energy supplies and services is essential for developing countries to increase their economic growth and achieve the UN millennium development goals.

We welcomed the decision in 2004 by the World Bank Group to increase its annual lending for renewable energy and energy efficiency by an average of 20 per cent. per year, over the five years to 2010. The World Bank is scaling up its financial support for renewable energy and energy efficiency and announced in December 2005 a rise to $299 million for the year to June 2005, compared to an average of $209 million per annum over the previous three years. These figures exclude large hydropower projects and exceed their commitment. We are working with the Bank to see if a higher level of such investments can be achieved.

DFID has provided £10 million for energy research projects, mostly over the past eight years, of which about £3.6 million was spent on the development and promotion of renewable energy, especially for rural communities. This has included a wide range of technologies such as wind, small hydropower, solar and biomass.

DFID is working with international networks such as the global village energy partnership (GVEP) and the EU energy initiative (EUEI) to promote access to affordable energy services, drawing on the full menu of technology options, including renewable energy.

We have supported the creation of a new €220 million EU energy facility, which will invite calls for proposals later this year. This grant fund aims to improve access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in Africa, and is encouraging viable renewable energy proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's (a) work and (b) expenditure in the Solomon Islands. [54277]

DFID no longer has direct bilateral programmes in the Pacific, but our high commissions administer a Small Grants Scheme. This has provided nearly £100,000 for projects in the Solomon Islands in the last two years. DFID continues to provide assistance to the Solomon Islands through the EC. The UK also contributes significant indirect funding to the region through the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and United Nations agencies.

The 9th European development fund (EDF) covering the period 2003-09, has an allocation to the Solomon Islands of €21.15 million or £13.8 million; the UK share of this is some £1.75 million. The focus of the 9th EDF is sustainable rural development and community development, with a micro-projects programme and a capacity building and institutional strengthening programme as key elements. The EDF also provides resources under the STABEX mechanism, which provides compensation for adverse fluctuations in earnings from agricultural and mineral commodities. These have been allocated to education, transport, agriculture, forestry and rural development.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations (a) Ministers and (b) officials have made about the decision of the Bush Administration not to fund the United Nations Population Fund; and if he will make a statement. [52536]

There have been no representations directly by DFID Ministers or officials to the United States in response to the decision by the Bush Administration in July 2002 to withhold $34 million funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) based on claims that the fund supported coercive abortion in China.

At the Executive Board in September that year several other donors including the UK announced support for UNFPA, and signalled an increase in their contribution to UNFPA. The UK is providing £80 million core support to UNFPA over its four year funding framework from 2004-05 to 2007-08. We reiterated our support for UNFPA at the Executive Boards in June 2005 and January 2006 when the UK said

let us state unequivocally that in our view, UNFPA's activities in China, as in the rest of the world, are in strict conformity with the unanimously adopted Programme of Action of the International Committee on Population and Development (ICPD)".

A State Department team that investigated UNFPA-supported projects in China submitted a report in May 2002, explaining they found no evidence that UNFPA had knowingly supported or participated in the management of a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation in the People's Republic of China. UNFPA has also publicly stated that it has never, and will never, be involved in coercion in China or any part of the world. The Fund is a staunch supporter, and promoter, of the human rights-based approach to family planning.

In the same year DFID supported a study tour for three UK MP's to visit China to study its population and reproductive health policies and UNFPA's work in China. The team was made up of my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Chris McCafferty), the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) and the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb). Their report concluded that UNFPA was a force for good, and a copy was placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has given to the Heritage Lottery Fund regarding sourcing timber from Burma. [52218]

The Department has published general guidance on procuring timber from legal and sustainable sources and this has been drawn to the attention of the Heritage Lottery Fund. This general guidance makes no specific mention of Burma.

The Heritage Lottery Fund did receive an inquiry, from a trade journal, related to Burmese teak. The Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET), a helpline service set up by my Department, advised the Heritage Lottery Fund not to approve any timber that did not meet the Government's criteria for legality. CPET further advised that it was not then possible to say how a particular source of timber would match up against the Government's requirements until a suppler submitted specific evidence for assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information the Government publish on carbon dioxide emissions from each type of fuel; and what emission factors are used to calculate these figures. [53750]

holding answer 27 February 2006

The most recent estimates of carbon dioxide emissions by type of fuel are published in Defra's statistics Digest in table 5: Estimated emissions of carbon dioxide (CO http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/download/xls/gatb05.xls). These data will shortly be updated to contain the emissions from the 2004 greenhouse gas inventory.₂ ) by UNECE source category, type of fuel and end user: 1970-2003 (

Emissions data aggregated according to fuel type are also published annually under contract to Defra in the Common Reporting Format (CRF) tables of the UK's greenhouse gas inventory. Tablesl.A(a)s1 to Tablesl.A(a)s4 provide sectoral background data for energy from Fuel Combustion Activities—emissions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) fuel class are listed. These can be found at the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) website: http://www.naei.org.uk/report_link.php?report_id=317.

Carbon emission factors used in the UK greenhouse gas inventory are also accessible through the NAEI website and are directly available via http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat07/0509161441_ energy_background_data_uk_2005_v1.1.xls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) shipping fuel and (b) aviation fuel included in table 1.1 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics is excluded from the calculation of UK carbon dioxide emissions. [53751]

holding answer 27 February 2006

The following table shows the estimate of fuel consumption in million tonnes, from both domestic and international shipping and aviation for 2004, the latest year for which carbon dioxide calculations for the UK greenhouse gas inventory are available. Under internationally agreed guidance, emissions from international shipping and international aviation are not included in the greenhouse gas inventory; this amounts to 1.83 million tonnes of fuel from international shipping and 10.52 million tonnes of fuel from international aviation being excluded.

Fuel consumption (million tonnes)

Note that the estimates of international and UK domestic fuels do not add to the total estimate of fuels due to rounding.

The data are derived from table 3.4 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics which presents details on the supply and demand of petroleum products according to fuel type, rather than from the more aggregate table 1.1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the carbon emissions resulting from (a) the generation of heating for buildings and (b) the powering of air conditioning in buildings in a town of average size. [52582]

An estimate of annual carbon emissions for the town of Swindon in 2003 due to the generation of heating for buildings is 81 thousand tonnes of carbon (ktC/yr). For powering of air conditioning in buildings the corresponding estimate is 3.6 ktC/yr.

These estimates are based on national models of energy use in the non-domestic building stock developed by the Building Research Establishment under contract to Defra.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage contribution of (a) non dwelling buildings and (b) dwellings to the UK's total annual carbon emissions was in each year between 1997 and 2005. [54066]

The following table shows carbon emissions for non-domestic buildings and for housing as a percentage of total UK carbon emissions for the years 1997 to 2004, the latest year for which data are available.

The figures are based on the Digest of UK Energy Statistics energy consumption data and estimates of energy use in building stock by the Building Research Establishment under contract to Defra.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's assessment is of the potential impact of the influx of Chinese mitten crabs in British waterways on the environment; and what plans her Department has to tackle the problem. [53531]

The Chinese mitten crab has been recorded along the east coast of Britain, including the River Thames, the Thames estuary, and the Humber, Medway, Tyne, Wharfe and Ouse rivers.

Where this species has become established it has displaced crayfish and other native crabs. It has damaged estuary banks by burrowing, and it can cause erosion of soft sediment banks. This could create future problems for our flood defences.

English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Association of Marine Sciences (SAMS), the Marine Biological Association of the UK, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and the Natural History museum are working to investigate the ecological impacts of this species, and any appropriate control methods.

The Natural History museum is taking forward additional work on UK distribution, case studies to inform a UK action plan, and disseminating information more widely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the quantification of the relationship between global dimming and the measureable effect of climate change; and if she will make a statement. [52580]

It is not possible at this stage to quantify with accuracy the relationship between global dimming and climate change because of the large uncertainty in the magnitude of the cooling effect of sulphate aerosols, the main contributor to global dimming.

A recent study funded by the Department, which was published in the journalNature last December, suggested that the cooling effect of anthropogenic aerosols could be larger than previously estimated. If confirmed, these results suggest the likelihood of a larger impact of increasing CO ₂ emissions on the climate system, adding urgency to our need to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Estimating the size of the cooling resulting from aerosols is an ongoing and crucial research activity. The Department continues to fund research in order to determine the size of the aerosols' cooling effect and what overall implications there are for forecasts of future global warming.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors have affected the timescale for publication of the revised climate change strategy. [50220]

The timetable for publication of the revised UK Climate Change Programme has been extended to allow us to take full account of the outcome of a number of other pieces of ongoing work including the energy efficiency innovation review and gives us more time to take forward commitments made in the 2005 pre-Budget report.

The revised timetable also fits more closely with the timetable for developing phase II of the EU emissions trading scheme enabling us to take into greater consideration the level of the cap for the second phase of the EU ETS which is occurring in parallel to the Climate Change Programme Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister of State for Climate Change will reply to the letter of 11 January from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, on behalf of Ladywood Furniture Project. [51723]

I apologise for the delay in replying to my right hon. Friend's letter. A response will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost per kilowatt hour to energy suppliers relating to the Energy Efficiency Commitment scheme. [51400]

In addition to Defra's own current analysis of carbon savings and costs and benefits, we have recently commissioned an independent consultant to evaluate the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2002–05. Preliminary results show that the cost effectiveness from a supplier's perspective was about 0.7 pence per fuel-standardised lifetime-discounted kilowatt hour of saved energy including indirect costs, or 0.5 pence per fuel-standardised lifetime-discounted kilowatt hour excluding indirect costs. It is estimated that for every £1 spent by the energy suppliers, householders have benefited by over £9 from energy efficiency improvements in terms of reduced bills and increased comfort. More details will become available when both evaluations are published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current staffing establishment is at English Nature in Peterborough; and what projected staffing numbers are over the next five years. [54354]

There are currently 397 English Nature staff based in Peterborough (including 23 in the area team for Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire).

From October 2006 (subject to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill passing successfully through Parliament) English Nature, the environment activities of the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency's Landscape, Access and Recreation division will come together to form Natural England. It is anticipated that Natural England will have an office in Peterborough, the number of staff based there will be a matter for the board of Natural England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government are on course to meet its fuel poverty commitments in 2010; and if she will make a statement. [53227]

Substantial progress has been made towards achieving our target of eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England, as far as reasonably practicable, by 2010. The number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty in England fell from four million in 1996 to one million in 2003, a decrease that was due to increasing household incomes, lower fuel prices and increased domestic energy efficiency.

However, recent rises in energy prices will have had an adverse affect on progress. We are continuing to analyse the impact of these rises and the implications for the level of resource that will be necessary to meet our target. This process will continue over the period of the Energy Review, which is due to conclude later this year.

The Government remains committed to achieving our targets. To underline this commitment, it was announced in the 2005 pre-Budget report that an additional £300 million would be made available to tackle fuel poverty across the UK over the 2005–08 period. In England, this means that total fuel poverty funding over the same period will exceed £800 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the occasions on which (a) she has and (b) each of her Ministers have visited (i) Brussels and (ii) Paris in the last two years; and what the (A) purpose and (B) means of transport to and from the United Kingdom was on each occasion. [45877]

holding answer 26 January 2006

Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas costing more than £500. The list provides details of the date, destination, purpose and costs of individual visits made by Cabinet Ministers.

Information relating to the period 2003–04 and 2004–05 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

DEFRA Ministers visited Brussels and Paris on the following occasions in 2004–05:

Elliot Morley

Alun Michael

Jim Knight

Ben Bradshaw

Lord Whitty

Lord Bach

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the (a) number and (b) area of National Parks. [54539]

The eight National Parks in England, together with the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads (the Broads) cover around 8 per cent. of the English landscape.

Government expects to receive shortly the Inspector's report of the inquiry which has been held into the possibility of creating a new national park in the South Downs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will amend the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 to provide for the requirements contained therein to be made equivalent to the requirements contained in the draft Water Environment Oil Storage (Scotland) Regulations 2006. [52264]

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 had a four-year phased implementation period and came fully into effect on 1 September 2005. The drafting of similar regulations for Scotland has drawn upon the experience in England and sought to simplify and improve the requirements for oil storage.

The aim of both sets of regulations is to reduce the number of oil pollution incidents. When information on the number of oil pollution incidents in England and their causes, following full implementation of the regulations, becomes available in 2007, the Environment Agency will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the 2001 regulations. That review will also take into account the approach adopted in drafting the Scottish regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the projected increases in the population of England upon (a) water resources, (b) the countryside and (c) the environment. [50792]

holding answer 13 February 2006

In England and Wales, water resources are the responsibility of the Environment Agency, which produced in 2001 Water Resources for the Future". This strategy document considers four different future scenarios for water use, based on the Environmental Futures' framework from the DTI's Foresight programme. Annual updates to the strategy keep it up-to-date. For example, the 2004 update draws from water company projections of water use that take account of population increase. Water Resources for the Future also considers demand from increased housing, which is to some extent associated with population increase. Increases in housing might also be expected to impact on rural areas and the environment. In 2004 Defra published the Entec report, Study into the Environmental Impacts of Increasing the Supply of Housing in the UK", which was partly driven by anticipated population increase. The ODPM also have an interest in housing supply increases, through their work on buildings and sustainable communities. Defra's Horizon Scanning and Futures team is currently preparing the groundwork for a study on the environmental impacts of increasing population. T his work will look at impacts on both urban and rural environments. Other elements of Defra's work include human population growth as a component: for example, population increase is factored into our air quality and emission projections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households have received funding from the Warm Front scheme since 2000. [53222]

Between the launch of the Warm Front scheme in June 2000 and the end of December 2005, the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme is 1.1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households which have received funding from the Warm Front scheme since 2000 were classed as fuel poor. [53223]

We do not collect specific data on the fuel poverty status of Warm Front recipients. The eligibility criteria for Warm Front are specifically designed to use receipt of one of a number of qualifying benefits as an indication that a particular householder may be vulnerable and so at risk of fuel poverty.

Households not in receipt of a qualifying benefit at the time of application are offered a benefit entitlement check, which is designed to provide both the potential of increasing household income and to establish eligibility of households to benefit from measures under Warm Front.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what average reductions in energy bills there have been in households which have received funding from Warm Front. [53224]

The average yearly saving for homes assisted by Warm Front is around £147.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes assessed under Warm Front received a benefits entitlement assessment in each year since 2000; and how many followed up their check and claimed benefits. [53225]

Benefit entitlement checks (BECs) were introduced as part of the Warm Front scheme in October 2003.

The Warm Front scheme offers these checks to potential customers to establish if they could be eligible for a Warm Front grant through receipt of a qualifying benefit they do not currently claim.

Details of the number of checks offered and those applicants later returning to receive assistance from the scheme are shown in the following table:

⁽¹⁾ The figures for the current year include checks offered to those households where measures installed did not raise the energy efficiency rating of the property to a level above SAP 65. These checks have been offered since June 2005.

It is recognised that, some applicants who complete a BEG may go on to claim a benefit but not apply to the scheme. Warm Front do not collect data on such circumstances .

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Warm Front scheme with reference to recent energy price rises; and if she will make a statement. [53226]

Recent energy price rises pose several considerable challenges for our fuel poverty targets. The Government remains committed to achieving these targets.

There are a range of schemes and policies in place that will help to tackle fuel poverty. To strengthen our ability in this regard, it was announced in the 2005 pre-Budget report that an additional £300 million would be made available to tackle fuel poverty across the UK over the 2005-08 period.

The Warm Front scheme was revised last year to provide a wider range of assistance to those households at risk of fuel poverty and so raise the energy efficiency of those properties to a level at which there will be minimal risk of fuel poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Office of Water Services on linking a reduced-rate water supply and sewerage infrastructure charge to water efficiency measures. [53836]

holding answer 27 February 2006

The Water Saving Group was set up so that for the first time all of the main water industry stakeholders could work together in practical ways to promote the efficient use of water in households. It is the first Government-led high level group of its kind promoting collaborative work on water efficiency. Its action plan, agreed at the first meeting last October, includes a workstream which is looking at developing incentives for companies to improve the promotion of water efficiency.

Ofwat is leading this work. One of the options that it is considering is investigating the feasibility of using differential infrastructure charges, to encourage developers to install water efficient appliances in new developments. It will report on all of the options it has developed at the next meeting of the Water Saving Group in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to tackle water shortages in the South East (a) during 2006 and (b) over the next 10 years. [53602]

Any projected shortage in water supply this year will be addressed though the relevant water company's drought plan. Drought plans contain mechanisms which trigger a range of actions to be initiated at different times as a drought develops. One of the actions may involve applying to my Department for drought orders in order to restrict non-essential uses of water.

For longer term planning water companies maintain 25 year water resource plans which seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. These water resource plans are produced voluntarily every five years at present but will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003. My Department is currently consulting on the exercise of the new powers in respect of statutory water resource plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding water shortages in the south-east; and if she will make a statement. [53622]

holding answer 28 February 2006

We have received a number of representations about the implications for water supply of the continuing drought in the south-east. The Environment Agency has produced a report, Drought prospects 2006", explaining the likely consequences of a continuing rainfall deficit and recommending action by water companies and the public. This report is available on request from the agency (telephone 0207 863 8710) or from its website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for the Child Trust Fund have been received from parents after the death of a newly born child. [54562]

1,004 requests for payment of the Child Trust Fund in child death cases have been received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the UK share of assessed gains to be made through deregulation as set out in the European Commission's annual report on competitiveness. [53221]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government support the view that lower regulatory burdens help deliver growth.

The estimates in the Commission's 2004 Competitiveness Report relate to the euro zone. However, a recent study by the OECD shows that lower levels of regulation have contributed to accelerated growth in the UK by stimulating business investment and promoting innovation and technological catch up.

OECD data also shows that the UK is the second least restrictive OECD country, only marginally behind Australia, in terms of economic and administrative regulation.

The Government have launched one of the most radical reform programmes in the world to ensure administrative and other burdens arising from regulations are minimised. At the EU level, we are working hard with the EU Institutions and member states to deliver better regulation as a driver for economic reform.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what plans he has to prosecute companies being investigated for underpayment of insurance premium tax; and if he will make a statement; [54176]

(2) how many companies are being investigated for underpayment of insurance premium tax; and if he will make a statement. [54177]

The accuracy of insurance premium tax declarations are routinely assured as part of HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) risk based compliance strategy. In cases of underpayment and evasion HMRC have a number of measures available to them including the use of financial penalties and criminal prosecution.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2006, Official Report, column 1395W, whether the insurance companies to which he refers are authorised by the Financial Services Authority; and how many insurance companies were involved. [54314]

All UK insurance companies are authorised by the Financial Services Authority.

The investigation of the allegations to which I referred in my reply did not uncover the underpayment of insurance premium tax by any insurance companies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's financial inclusion strategy of the decision by the Legal Services Commission to withdraw funding for specialist support and advice on debt; and if he will make a statement. [54717]

As part of the Government's strategy to tackle financial exclusion it has established a Financial Inclusion Fund of £120 million. It was announced in June 2005 that £45 million of this fund has been allocated to DTI to increase the provision of face-to-face debt advice and £6 million to the Legal Services Commission to pilot mechanisms of debt advice outreach for those who do not normally present themselves to debt advisers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how many recipients of tax credits in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK are involved in disputes relating to overpayment of benefit; [51945]

(2) how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK receiving tax credits have been involved in disputes relating to overpayment of benefit .in each year since their inception; and how many of these disputes have been resolved. [51946]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many completed TC846 forms have been received by HM Revenue and Customs requesting that it reconsider its decision to recover an overpayment of tax credits in each month since April 2003; and in what proportion of these requests the decision has been taken by HM Revenue and Customs to write off the overpayment. [54162]

Information about disputes relating to overpayments of tax credits is not available at constituency level.

For information about disputed tax credits overpayments to November 2005, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1496-97W and on 6 July 2005, Official Report., column 437W

There were around 23,500 disputed tax credit overpayments received in December 2005 and around 28,000 in January 2006. The number of overpayments successfully disputed, that is, where the overpayment was written off in full or in part, was around 1,500 in December 2005 and around 2,500 in January 2006. The figures for overpayments written off do not directly relate to those that were received in the same month.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value was of (a) financial assets and (b) non-financial assets of (i) Northern Ireland terrorist, (ii) fundamentalist Islamic, (iii) Basque separatist and (iv) other organisations, broken down by cause frozen by the Treasury in each year since 1997. [54754]

Assets with a total value of nearly £80 million have been frozen in the UK, as associated with Al-Qa'ida, the Taliban or other terrorist causes, although a large proportion was returned to the Government of Afghanistan. The legislation does not permit us to publish the analysis at the level of detail requested.

163 organisations have been designated under the Terrorism Order 2001 and the Al-Qa'ida and Taliban Order 2002. Of these, we judge six are Northern Ireland terrorist groups, 140 are Islamic and one is Basque. A consolidated list of individuals and entities subject to UK financial sanctions is available from the Bank of England website at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/financialsanctions/current/index.htm

Freezing action also prevents the flow of funds to listed individuals and entities. Asset freezing is part of the Government's overall strategy to create a hostile environment for terrorism and safeguard financial systems. A value cannot easily be put on those wider effects.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2808W, on VAT, how much has been paid in each parliamentary constituency under the grant schemes; [48231]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2808W, on VAT, which grant schemes are available to those (a) over 60 years and (b) on specified benefits; [48232]

(3) pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2808W, on VAT, how many successful applications there have been for each of the grant schemes, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [48233]

The reduced rate of VAT applies to the installation of security goods, such as locks, bolts, security chains and spy holes for people aged 60 or over, and for those in receipt of certain benefits, allowances or tax credits, when the work is funded by a public grant scheme which has as one of its objectives the funding of the installation of energy-saving materials in the homes of those persons.

These grant schemes may be funded by the UK Government, the devolved administrations, the European Community, a local authority, or under any arrangement approved by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority or the director general of electricity supply for Northern Ireland. HM Revenue and Customs and the Treasury do not operate any such grant scheme or collect any data relating to applications or payments made under the various eligible grant schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his timetable is for making a decision on the proposals for a twin tunnel at Hindhead on the A3; and if he will make a statement. [55537]

We are currently considering the Inspector's report into the A3 at Hindhead following the public inquiry which was held last year. We are also considering the South East region's advice on the priority it attaches to this scheme within the indicative funding allocation for major transport schemes in the South East. An announcement on the way forward will be made later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to enable the merger of the British Transport Police operating within London with the Metropolitan Police Service; and if he will make a statement. [53507]

My right hon. Friend informed the House on 14 February 2006 that, pursuant to his statement to the House laid on 11 October 2005, the Department is undertaking a review of the British Transport Police and will announce its conclusions in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) how much funding the Government are providing to Lancashire county council to provide free bus travel for (a) older and (b) disabled persons in West Lancashire; [53387]

(2) what estimate he has made of the funding required to fund free off-peak travel for (a) older and (b) disabled persons on buses in West Lancashire. [53388]

The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006-07 through the Formula Grant system. There is general agreement that there is enough additional money overall for the local authorities. The extra funding is unhypothecated; therefore the funding for concessionary fares it is not separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) land and (b) property his Department owns in the North East Milton Keynes constituency. [53183]

Details of land and property owned by the Department in the North East Milton Keynes constituency are set out as follows.

The Highways Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, own three areas of land near Milton Keynes. These consist of (1) land at Byron Lodge, Cranfield Road, Milton Keynes, (2) land adjacent to the M1 River Ouzel and (3) land at Brooklands adjacent to the M1 at Milton Keynes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any (a) employee of his Department, (b) person engaged by his Department as a consultant and (c) paid advisor to his Department is a Member of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement. [52896]

The Department has no record of any employees, consultants or paid advisors being Members of the House of Lords.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding is available for disabled pensioners to subsidise transport cabs if public transport is not suitable. [53660]

Local authorities may introduce schemes offering subsidised taxi travel for disabled people. The provision and funding of such schemes are entirely at the discretion of individual local authorities who set their own eligibility criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who in his Department is handling senior level contacts with GNER. [54919]

Management of the delivery of the GNER franchise is carried out by a dedicated Franchise Management team within the Department's Rail Service Delivery Directorate, which is part of the DfT rail group headed by the Director General.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote monorails in towns in England. [54284]

It is the responsibility of local authorities to determine their transport needs and develop the most appropriate solution in each case. Innovative proposals from local authorities could be considered for funding through the Department's major schemes programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures are followed by the Highways Agency to ensure that electronic signs on motorways are providing current information. [54773]

Variable message signs (VMS) are set by operators working in the Highways Agency's national traffic control centre (NTCC) and regional control centres (RCCs) and currently by police control offices (PCOs) until all functions are transferred to the RCCs. This is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2006.

NTCC continually monitors conditions on the motorway and trunk road network in England, receiving information from detection equipment on the network and from stakeholder partners and others. VMS messages are then set to provide information to

drivers about real-time conditions.

There are seven RCCs which monitor conditions on the motorway and trunk road network within their regions of England and allocate resources such as traffic officers to manage incidents. They set messages on VMS for safety reasons, to inform drivers and to assist with incident management. Incidents (and VMS settings) are monitored from control rooms and messages displayed on VMS are reviewed and removed as necessary.

VMS messages are also set by an automated system which uses information from the motorway incident detection and automated signalling (MIDAS) system. MIDAS works from loops in the road surface, which detect slow moving or stationary traffic. The automated message system then sets messages to warn drivers and to protect the backs of queues. This safety system has been shown to save 13 percent. of tail-end collisions. Messages are automatically cancelled as traffic flows return to normal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that Network Rail's inventory of assets owned is publicly available. [53589]

Network Rail has a licence condition to establish and maintain information about its assets (the asset register"). Network Rail is accountable to the Office of Rail Regulation for this and plans to allow access for third parties within the industry to data which they need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times (a) nuclear fuel and (b) nuclear waste has passed through (i) the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency and (ii) Greater London by (A) road and (B) rail in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [54630]

Information is only available on shipments of irradiated nuclear fuel flasks from nuclear power stations to Sellafield. Because of the nature of the railway network it is likely that shipments from power stations in south east England will have passed through London.

The total number of flasks shipped from these power stations (Bradwell, Sizewell and Dungeness) during the last five years were:

A single train may carry several flasks.

Information is not available on how many of these shipments passed through the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency as the route chosen is an matter for the rail operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the net present value of accrued pension liabilities in respect of (a) present and (b) former employees of his Department and its predecessor. [52108]

The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefit scheme and individual Departments' pension liabilities are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway stations in Hampshire which (a) do not have (i) waiting rooms and (ii) toilets and (b) are inaccessible under disability discrimination legislation; what steps are being taken to improve the position in each case; and if he will make a statement. [50497]

The following stations in Hampshire do not have waiting rooms and toilets and have steps to some of the platforms.

Beaulieu Road;

Bedhampton;

Botley;

Bursledon;

Grateley;

Hamble;

Lymington Pier;

Overton;

Portchester;

Rowlands Castle;

Shawford.

South West Trains, the station operator, currently complies with all its Franchise Agreement station facilities obligations and expects to continue to do so until the end of the franchise in February 2007.

The Invitation to Tender for the South Western Franchise will require bidders to present their plans for improvements at stations throughout the franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much is expected to be saved as a result of meeting the civil service work force reductions targets for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review; and whether these savings count towards the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the review. [52793]

The Department has a target to reduce headcount by 700 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by 2007–08. The central Department will reduce headcount by 200 FTEs, which is expected to yield efficiency gains of £10.7 million in 2007–08. DVLA will reduce headcount by 500 FTEs which will contribute to the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group's target to deliver £70 million of economy and efficiency savings by 2007–08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review is to be cashable; and under what budget headings these cashable efficiency savings will be re-spent. [52834]

At least 50 per cent. of the Department's agreed efficiency target of £785 million will be cashable.

The cashable savings due to be released through the efficiency programme were allocated across departmental expenditure following the SR04 spending settlement. There is no direct link to individual budget headings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the target level of employment expressed as full-time equivalents is in his Department by April 2008, in order to meet his Department's civil service work force reductions target set out in the 2004 Spending Review. [52852]

The target level of employment for the Department for Transport and executive agencies (excluding the Office of Rail Regulator, DfT staff in the Government Offices and the Government Car and Despatch Agency) for April 2008 is 17,981 full-time equivalent staff.

The figure for April 2008 takes into account the planned reduction of 200 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in the centre of the Department for Transport and the reduction of 500 FTEs in DVLA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total efficiency savings were achieved by his Department in 2004–05; and whether these count towards the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review. [52857]

The Department achieved efficiency gains of £288.3 million in 2004–05. These gains contribute to the Department's Spending Review 2004 target to achieve £785 million of efficiency gains by 2007–08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what baseline figures he is using for assessing progress on his Department's targets to (a) improve roads procurement in local authorities, (b) increase tax collection by the Driver and Vehicle Operator Group and achieve efficiencies through transactional services and other areas within the Driver and Vehicle Operator Group, (c) restructure and reform his Department and its support services and (d) deliver efficiencies as a result of Transport for London's plans and from local authority spending; what progress has been made towards these targets to date; and what the total efficiency savings achieved to date are for these targets. [52932]

The 2004 baseline figure for improving roads procurement in local authorities is equal to the local authority 2004–05 highways budget. As it is the decision of the local authorities how they divide their budget and only local authorities who choose to claim highways efficiencies calculate baselines, a precise baseline covering all local authority roads spend is unavailable. In 2004–05, the Highways Agency Local Authority Roads workstream achieved efficiency gains of £27 million.

The baseline for increasing tax collection by the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group is based on the roadside survey of vehicle excise duty evasion carried out in 2003. The level of evasion was recorded as 4.8 per cent. In 2004–05 the level of evasion was 3.2 per cent. This decrease resulted in £77 million of efficiency gains.

The 2004 baseline for efficiencies through transactional services and other areas in the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group is £723 million. This area generated efficiencies of 24.7 million in 2004–05.

The baseline for reforming the Department and the Shared Services Programme is £228 million.

The baseline for efficiencies resulting from Transport for London's (TfL) business plan is £2.25 billion. It was set in 2004-05. The baseline for efficiencies as a result of improvements in London Underground running and capacity from Public private partnerships (PPP) is £1 billion of the total TfL baseline from 2003–04. Due to the start date of the PPP contracts in December 2002 and April 2003, the most appropriate baseline for measuring these gains is 2003–04. In 2004–05 TfL realised efficiency gains of £119 million. An additional £46 million efficiency gains were realised as a result of improvements in London Underground running and capacity from PPPs.

The baselines for efficiencies resulting from local authority non-roads spending (excluding TfL) is equal to the total local authority 2004-05 budget for this sector. It is the decision of local authorities how they divide their budget and only local authorities that choose to claim efficiencies in the non-roads spend area calculate baselines. This means a precise baseline covering all local authority non-roads spend is unavailable. In 2004–05, the local authority non-roads workstream (excluding TfL) generated £19 million of efficiency gains.

Baselines and the basis for determining them were agreed with the Gershon Review Team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what interim targets he has set for achieving (a) the agreed efficiency target for his Department and (b) the civil service work force reductions targets for (i) gross reductions in posts, (ii) net reductions in posts and (iii) relocations for his Department, as set out in the 2004 Spending Review; what the baseline figures are against which these interim targets are assessed; on what dates they will take effect; and by what dates these interim targets are intended to be met. [52944]

The Department has a Spending Review 2004 target to achieve £785 million of efficiency gains by 2007-08. The Department has not established interim targets.

The Department has a target to reduce headcount by 700 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by 2007–08 relative to the 2004 baseline.

The Department has a target to relocate 60 posts out of London by 2010.

The Department continually monitors and reviews progress towards the 2007–08 efficiency target across the Efficiency Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport infrastructure projects on which his Department has carried out feasibility studies since 1997. [43362]

For transport infrastructure projects, a range of appraisal information including assessments using the New Approach to Transport Appraisal system apply to all schemes submitted to the Department for funding. Appraisal will cover the practicality of a scheme and this may involve a specific feasibility study. The Department does not hold a comprehensive record of all of the infrastructure projects where a specific study on feasibility was undertaken. Often this work would be undertaken by the scheme promoter, such as a local authority, and compiling a list of such feasibility studies would be prohibitively expensive.

Some particular rail projects where feasibility studies since 1997 were conducted by the Strategic Rail Authority, now part of the Department, were: The North South High Speed Line, Cross London Feasibility Study and The Future use of Waterloo International. The Government laid out its strategy for the future of the Air Transport industry in the Air Transport White Paper. This contains details of the supporting studies used in developing it, and can be found at: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft aviation/documents/divisionhomepage/029650.hcsp

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the guarantees the Government have provided to outside organisations for loans which have been used to fund transport projects. [46128]