To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many pipe organs there are in the Church of England. [62549]

The Church of England does not hold figures centrally for pipe organs in its cathedrals and churches. However, there are some 28,000 pipe organs registered in the UK (National Pipe Organ Register).

Most are in institutional settings such as cathedrals, churches, schools, civic and concert halls. A significant proportion of these will be in Church of England churches.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff in the Law Officers' Departments are paid on a performance-related basis. [50486]

Pay and performance management for all Senior Civil Service (SCS) staff within my Departments is based on a framework set by the Cabinet Office. As at 31 December 2005 the numbers involved were:

The SCS scheme includes a mixture of consolidated base pay awards and non consolidated bonuses, both of which are linked to individual performance and delivery.

Pay and performance management outside the Senior Civil Service is delegated to individual Departments and Agencies. All my Departments maintain systems which have a link between pay and performance; and some of the Departments run Special Bonus Schemes to provide a speedy recognition of exceptional performance by an individual or team. The numbers of staff below the SCS as at 31 December 2005 was as follows:

To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service was of the trial of Mike McCartney. [61890]

The Crown Prosecution Service does not routinely ascertain the total cost of bringing prosecutions in individual cases. No assessment has been made of the cost of bringing this prosecution.

To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the trial of Michael McCartney. [62175]

None.

To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment he has made of the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service of the trial of Michael McCartney. [62176]

I have not made an assessment of the costs to the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing the prosecution against Michael McCartney. The Crown Prosecution Service does not routinely assess the costs of bringing individual cases and no assessment has been made of the cost of bringing the prosecution in this case.

The decision to prosecute in this case was made following a review of the available evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The cost of bringing a case is not a factor that is taken into account in making decisions on whether to prosecute.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will instruct the Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to investigate the conduct of the Crown Prosecution Service in the trial of Michael McCartney. [62177]

I have received a report from the Crown Prosecution Service concerning this case. It discloses no reason to invite Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to investigate the conduct of this case by the Crown Prosecution Service.

To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost is of the Serious Fraud Office investigation into price fixing among drug companies supplying the NHS. [57525]

The Serious Fraud Office has undertaken a major investigation into a suspected conspiracy to defraud the NHS in relation to prices charged by suppliers for prescribed drugs between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2000. The case is complex, involving a number of individuals and companies, and has taken a significant amount of time to investigate.

The total expenditure for this case:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps (a) the Government and (b) local authorities take to prevent electoral fraud relating to votes by (i) post, (ii) proxy and (iii) polling stations in the names of deceased persons. [62300]

A person will be guilty of the offence of personation if they vote in the name of a deceased person, either by post or in person at a polling station or as a proxy. Individual Returning Officers are responsible for ensuring that elections are conducted in accordance with the requirements of electoral law. The presiding officer at a polling station, acting under the direction of the Returning Officer, may ask a person applying for a ballot paper if they are the person registered in the electoral register for the election, or in the case of a person applying as a proxy, if they are the person whose name appears in the list of proxies for the election, if it is suspected that the voter is attempting to vote in the name of a deceased person. A ballot paper shall not be given to any person required to answer either of the above questions unless they have answered them satisfactorily.

The Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 contain a range of measures that improve the security of postal voting and will be in force at the May 2006 local elections. The following provisions will help to prevent attempts by persons to vote by post in the name of a deceased person.

Electoral administrators are now required to confirm in writing the outcome of postal vote applications.

Postal voters must give a reason for the re-direction of their postal vote.

The closing date for postal vote applications has been moved from six to 11 days before polling day to give administrators more time to check applications.

Electoral administrators may check signatures on postal vote applications against any other signatures they may hold.

The Electoral Administration Bill currently before Parliament contains a number of measures that address electoral fraud, including attempts by persons to vote in the names of deceased persons. The measures include the following.

There will be a new specific offence of applying for a postal or proxy vote as some other person, including a deceased person.

After every election a list of all those who voted by post will be compiled which will enable fraudulent and stolen votes to be identified.

Voters will have to sign for their ballot paper at the polling station to deter fraudsters and allow signatures to be checked if there is suspicion of fraud.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of the public funding of political parties. [62320]

None. The Prime Minister has announced that Sir Hayden Phillips will conduct a review of the funding of political parties. The terms of reference are to conduct a review of the funding of political parties. In particular:

To examine the case for state funding of political parties including whether it should be enhanced in return for a cap on the size of donations.

To consider the transparency of political parties' funding.

And; to report to the Government by the end of December 2006 with recommendations for any changes in the current arrangements.

Sir Hayden Phillips will work closely with stakeholders including, especially, the political parties and the Electoral Commission. He has been asked to aim to produce recommendations which are as much as possible agreed between the political parties with a view to legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will estimate the net present value of accrued pension liabilities in respect of (a) present and (b) former employees of her Department and its predecessors. [52118]

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.

Liabilities for current members still contributing to the scheme—£37 billion.

Deferred pensions and contingent pensions for dependants in respect of members no longer contributing—£12.7 billion.

Current pensions for members and contingent pensions for dependants—£34.4 billion.

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 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the Department's role as the sponsoring Department for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) with the ACP's role in offering advice to other Government Departments. [62045]

While Defra and the Health and Safety Executive provide the secretariat to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides other Government Departments are closely involved in its operation. Appointments to the Committee are made by all Ministers responsible for pesticides in Great Britain and the Committee is also appointed separately to advise Northern Ireland Ministers. An assessor from each of the responsible departments attends ACP meetings. Advice from the ACP on particular pesticide authorisations has to be approved by all the relevant Departments before it is implemented. I see no conflict in the current arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in preparing for the introduction of the enhanced capital allowance for biofuels in early 2007. [59391]

Defra has been working closely with HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs in drawing up the state aid notification. As announced in the Budget report on 22 March, this has now been submitted to the European Commission. Consultants will be appointed to develop the administrative arrangements for the scheme and, in consultation with industry, to finalise the qualifying criteria and list of eligible equipment. Subject to state aid clearance, we envisage the scheme being in place in early 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have held with directors and senior executives of (i) Capita Group plc and (ii) its subsidiaries since 1 January 2004; and whether (A) Capita Group plc and (B) its subsidiaries have provided input (1) in writing and (2) in person to policy discussions in her Department since 1 January 2004. [61080]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle movements were tracked by the British Cattle Movement Service in the last five years for which figures are available. [60369]

The figures in the following table show the number of movement notifications received by the British Cattle Movement Service for each year. The actual number of animals moving would be significantly less than the annual figures quoted because both ends of the movement are required to be notified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what change there has been in the level of imports of chicken in the last three months. [61560]

The most recent trade statistics currently available are for January 2006, February data is expected to be available around 17 April. During the last three months available, the import level for chicken has remained steady at around 40,000 tonnes per calendar month.

Note:

Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, DEFRA. 2005 and 2006 data is subject to change.

Source:

H M Revenue and Customs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget is for the Coastal and Market Towns Initiative (a) to final report stage and (b) for the implementation stage beyond final report. [61603]

holding answer 27 March 2006

For towns currently engaged in the South West Coastal and Market Towns Initiative, the average award up to plan production has been approximately £45,000 per town.

The addition of the implementation stage is a new development introduced by the Market and Coastal Towns Association during the last year. It provides additional support of between £5,000 and £10,000 per town. It is likely that towns coming into the initiative from the next financial year onwards will be awarded £25,000 to complete their plan, as well as consultancy support of approximately £10,000 to complete their implementation stage. This reduction in overall costs will be achieved through the better targeting of effort and resources as a result of the lessons learned from previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list towns in Devon engaged in the Coastal and Market Towns Initiative; and which have completed the process and produced a final report. [61604]

holding answer 27 March 2006

There are 20 Devon towns currently engaged in the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative. They are as follows:

Crediton

Cullompton

Dartmouth

Dawlish

Hatherleigh

Holsworthy

Honiton

llfracombe

Ivybridge

Kingsbridge

Lynton and Lynmouth

Okehampton

South Molton

Tamar Valley

Tavistock

Teignmouth

Tiverton

Torrington

Totnes

Westward Ho!

Seventeen towns have completed and published their community strategic plan (final report). Honiton has just completed a draft plan and anticipate publishing a final version in May 2006. Lynton and Lynmouth expect to publish their plan in June 2006, and Tiverton aim to publish theirs in September 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of financial irregularities have been recorded in her Department in each of the last five financial years; and if she will make a statement. [57544]

Annual returns of fraud submitted by Defra, to HM Treasury for the financial years 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05, show the number of cases of fraud in the Department. These are summarised in the following table. Records of any other cases of financial irregularities are not maintained and could only reconstructed at disproportionate cost.

The Department has only been in existence since June 2001. Information covering earlier periods is therefore not available, and could be reconstructed only at disproportionate cost.

Information on Executive Agencies and NDPBs could be obtained only at

disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Islington South and Finsbury constituency, the effects on Islington South and Finsbury of her Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. [60731]

The Department has put in place a considerable programme of reforms and improvements across a wide range of policy areas since 1997 to help improve the quality of life for local communities. These include broadening enforcement tools to tackle litter, dog fouling, noise and fly-posting. The issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices for Islington in each of these areas are as follows.

Islington also has the power to impose Fixed Penalty Notices for dog fouling, graffiti, fly posting and noise. No notices have been issued by Islington for these offences. Improved monitoring tools and resources have also been introduced to help local authorities to manage local environmental quality issues at a local level, respond to local needs and target resources more effectively and efficiently.

The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services, including recycling. Funding is also provided from a variety of other sources to support recycling, the amounts allocated are set out in the table.

My Department is responsible for the Warm Front Scheme, which is the key tool for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England. Since its launch in June 2000 it has assisted more than one million households with a range of insulation and heating measures and energy efficiency advice.

The number of households that have been assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Islington South and Finsbury, each year since June 2000 areas follows.

In general, Defra collects information on a local authority basis rather than a constituency basis so not all information provided in this reply is specific to the Islington South and Finsbury constituency. The information provided reflects a significant proportion of Defra activity in this area, but may not be exhaustive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits she has made on departmental business since 5 May 2005; and how many letters she sent in this period. [55710]

Since 5 May 2005, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett) has made six keynote speeches in the UK and conducted ten official domestic visits on Departmental business. She has replied to 1,508 letters as of 21 March 2006.

My right hon. Friend has made a large number of more routine speeches and attended many international gatherings during the UK's presidency of the G8 and the EU, including chairing both the Agriculture and Environment Ministerial Councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how UK authorities exercise their responsibilities under the EU Habitats Directive with regard to (a) the assessment of plans or projects likely to have an effect on European wildlife sites and (b) the consideration of alternative solutions and of imperative reasons of over-riding public interest relating to plans or projects assessed as likely to have an adverse impact on the integrity of European wildlife sites in instances when a plan or project is of a type not specified by Regulations 54–85 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (as amended). [60301]

Regulation 3(4) of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) provides a general duty for UK Competent Authorities to have regard to the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive so far as they may be affected through the exercise of their functions. This general duty includes the need for competent authorities, considering plans or projects not specified in Regulations 54–85, to address the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the UK authorities exercise their responsibilities under the EU Habitats Directive relating to (a) the assessment of a plan or project likely to have an effect on a European wildlife site, (b) the consideration of alternative solutions and of imperative reasons of over-riding public interest in the case of a plan or project assessed as likely to have an adverse impact on the integrity of a European wildlife site and (c) European protected species. [61003]

Competent Authorities have a duty to make sure their responsibilities for assessing plans or projects likely to affect a European wildlife site are carried out in ways that agree with the provisions in Part IV of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

Regulation 3(4) of the 1994 Regulations sets out a general duty for Competent Authorities to follow the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive if they may be affected when the Authorities exercise their functions. This duty also means that Competent Authorities, which are considering plans or projects not specified in Regulations 54–85, have to address the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive.

The same general duty provided by Regulation 3(4) also applies to the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive about the protection and surveillance of European protected species and any operations that might adversely affect them, their eggs, breeding sites or places of shelter. This includes, in particular, the need to address the requirements of Articles 11–16 of the Habitats Directive.

The same or similar duties apply throughout the devolved Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will provide rural development funding to English farmers to develop farm health plans. [60037]

We are currently consulting on the priorities for the new Rural Development Programme for England to run from 2007–13. In the consultation we do not propose to fund farmers for the development of farm health plans. However, £6 million of separate funding will be made available over the next two financial years to pump prime the farming industry to encourage active farm health planning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list research funded by her Department which is (a) completed, (b) under way and (c) proposed on the development of flood management strategies and plans for the Suffolk coast and its tidal rivers; and what is the estimated cost of such research between 2003–04 and 2008–09. [56930]

The Environment Agency is the principal authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England. Most of the Agency's flood risk management activities are funded by Defra grant in aid. The Agency is promoting five studies which are currently underway, namely Thorpeness to Hollesley Coastal Strategy (£330,000 between 2003–04 and 2008–09), Stour and Orwell Estuary Strategy (£575,000), Deben Estuary Strategy (£550,000), Aide Ore Estuary Strategy (£625,000) and Blyth Estuary Strategy (£565,000).

Suffolk coastal district council is developing its Felixstowe Strategy (£110,000), partly in partnership with the Agency for the southern part which covers flood risk as well as coastal erosion and is complete. (The cost given covers both the flood risk and coastal erosion components as Defra does not hold separate figures for these). A review of the Lowestoft to Harwich Shoreline Management Plan is underway, led by Suffolk coastal district council (£110,000). This will cover both flood risk and coastal erosion but the respective costs of these two components have not been separately estimated. Both these studies will be supported by Defra funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support her Department has provided to the north-east in preparation for a potential culling of fowl. [62408]

Defra has issued extensive guidance to bird keepers on bio-security measures to protect their birds from avian influenza.

If it became necessary to cull birds, compensation would be paid for any healthy birds compulsorily slaughtered to control the disease. If needed, we would also establish a Welfare Disposal Scheme to fund the collection and disposal of poultry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answers of 2 February 2006, Official Report, column 630W, on IBM Guildford, if she will place in the Library a copy of the official representations made to IBM. [56497]

Every Defra or IBM staff member, who registers their car with Accommodation Section at Defra Guildford, is issued with the following notice.

Car parking information and procedures at Guildford

This note is intended to advise all vehicle drivers of the procedures and restrictions of parking at Defra Guildford.

1. Car passes

Yellow Passes: Cars can only be parked on site if a yellow car pass is displayed in the front window of the vehicle.

Red Passes: All new starters to the site can apply for a red car pass from Chris Wood ext 3396 or when their photographic site pass is made.

Accommodation Unit will regularly monitor the situation and as directed by the security guards, red car pass holders may be invited to park on site if space allows on any given day. As permanent vacancies occur red car passes will be exchanged for yellow ones in order of issue.

2. Car park spaces for disabled pass holders

Car park spaces especially designed for staff with a disability are available outside the main blocks and staff who hold special passes have priority over these at all times. However, these spaces may be used after 10am by everyone but will be expected to vacate the space if a special pass holder arrives to park later.

3. Visitors car park

Car parking for visitors in the visitor's car park must be reserved prior to their arrival by email to 'GUI.Accommodation@Defra.gsi.gov.uk' mailbox.

The request must contain name & company of visitor; car registration if possible, expected time of arrival and duration of stay.

Also a contact name and telephone number must be included to ensure a space can be reserved.

Accommodation Unit will do their best to accommodate every request and a 'first come, first served' system is in operation with a maximum of up to 2 spaces for any one meeting being reserved in any one day, unless previously discussed and agreed.

A minimum of 24 hours notice must be given (unless in exceptional circumstances) and bookings will be taken up to two months in advance only. Accommodation Unit will continue to be as flexible as possible to requests for the visitor's car park during low usage periods.

4. Street parking

Due to the shortage of car parking availability on site it is clear that some staff and externals are using local side streets for parking. Accommodation Unit continue to receive complaints from local residents about cars being parked in an illegal manner and blocking personal drive entrances.

Defra has a responsibility as a good neighbour and we therefore ask everyone who parks locally to do so in a considerate and orderly manner. In line with the travel plan, we ask you not to park in Down Road, Pitt Farm Road, Daryngton Drive, Carroll Avenue, Gateways and Broadwater Rise. The council have established some controlled parking zones near by and wherever possible it would be helpful if you could park in these designated areas.

Further details can be found at http://intranet/regional/guilford/driving/code_con.asp .

A copy of the statement will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has met (a) Sir Christopher Evans and (b) representatives of Merlin Biosciences Ltd. in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [61764]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has met neither Sir Christopher Evans nor representatives of Merlin Biosciences Ltd. in the past 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the impact of competition laws in the UK on the development of large scale milk co-operatives. [60035]

The Department has not made any assessment of the impact of competition law on the development of large scale milk-co-operatives in the UK. We have, however, drawn the industry's concerns about the way that competition law is applied in the dairy sector to the attention of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to implement the recommendations of the Wooller report into the funding of national parks. [61602]

The Wooller report made recommendations for amending the model for allocating National Park and Broads Authority Grant. We have already taken forward its recommendation to introduce a baseline of £1 million per park into the funding model. We began implementing the revised funding model in 2004–05 and 2005–06. However budget pressures have prevented further movement in this direction. The position will now be reviewed in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

The report also made recommendations on corporate planning. Officials are discussing with the National Park Authorities how these can best be implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have received their single farm payments to date. [58351]

By the end of 17 March 10,116 Single Payment Scheme claims had been paid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effect of delays in single farm payments on non-farming businesses in rural communities. [58354]

Non-farming businesses in rural communities may be affected by cash flow issues faced by some farming business. All sections of the rural community will, therefore, have welcomed the positive action the Department is taking to ensure payments under the Single Payment Scheme are made as soon as legally possible, as set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's written statement on 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 104WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers have (a) received their single farm payment entitlement statement and (b) had their statement validated. [58355]

Almost all of the 120,000 farmers who submitted a claim to the 2005 Single Payment Scheme have received their entitlement statements. Around a third have validated statements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the administration of the single farm payments scheme in Lancashire. [58448]

The Rural Payments Agency responds to all correspondence relating to the single payment scheme. As the scheme is not administered on a regional basis, it does not hold records on representations specific to Lancashire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider making interest payments in cases where single farm payments are delayed by failure to validate the mapping of farms. [58465]

holding answer 14 March 2006

The issue of compensation does not arise as the EU regulations governing the scheme provide for a payment window that runs until 30 June. It is now March. Farmers have been aware for more than 12 months that payments would not be made before February 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payments were made in February; how many payments have been made in March; how many letters of confirmation of the amount of single farm payments have been sent to farmers; what percentage of the calculations of the amount of payment have been shown to be inaccurate; and when she expects all valid applicants to receive a correct letter advising the amount of their payment. [58628]

A total of 2,400 single payment scheme payments were processed and released in February, the last of which were in bank accounts by 2 March. By the end of 17 March, 10,116 claims had been paid. All those farmers receiving payment have received a payment statement setting out details of its value, including any deductions. Queries on the value of payments are being dealt with as they arise. Payment statements are sent as claims are authorised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of delays in the single farm payment on the supply chain within the farming industry; and whether she has had discussions on compensation for creditors. [60485]

To the extent that the agricultural supply industry has been affected by the cash-flow issues faced by some farming business, it should welcome the positive action the Department is taking to ensure payments under the Single Payment Scheme are made as soon as legally possible, as set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's written statement on 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 104WS. The issue of compensation does not arise as the EU regulations governing the scheme provide for a payment window that runs until 30 June. It is now March. Farmers have been aware for more than 12 months that payments would not be made before February 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of single farm payments have been made; how many payments have not been made because of invalid returns; and how many payments have yet to be made. [59057]

120,367 applications were received for the single payment scheme. By the end of 17 March 2006, 10,116 (8.43 per cent.) claims had been paid.

The claims still to be made will include a number of invalid returns. The Rural Payments Agency is unable at this stage to quantify the number.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of claims made for the inaugural single farm payment have had letters of entitlements from her Department declared invalidated. [59349]

Approximately two thirds of entitlement statements were issued to Single Payment Scheme applicants whose claims had not completed full validation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with contractors providing digital maps for single farm payments in the past six months. [59453]

holding answer 17 March 2006

The Rural Payments Agency are in daily contact with the contractors undertaking the digitisation. The contractor also provides a weekly progress report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payment cases are delayed due to digital mapping errors; and if she will make a statement. [59454]

holding answer 17 March 2006

Single payment scheme claims are validated against a number of factors and a claim may have many reasons for being invalidated. Those claims invalidated due to mapping errors are not separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for single farm payments have been received to date (a) in total and (b) from the county of Devon; and what percentage of these have been paid. [59455]

holding answer 17 March 2006

120,367 applications were received for the single payment Scheme. By the end of 17 March 2006, 10,116 (8.43 per cent.) claims had been paid.

The Rural Payments Agency does not have data available on a regional basis, as the scheme is not administered in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payments were made to farmers in (a) England and (b) Somerset in the week ending (i) 24 February, (ii) 3 March, (iii) 10 March and (iv) 17 March. [59909]

The number of Single Payment Scheme claims paid are as follows:

24 February—213 claims had been paid(a)(i) Week ending

(ii) Week ending 3 March—2,882 claims had been paid cumulatively

(iii) Week ending 10 March—4,484 claims had been paid cumulatively

(iv) Week ending 17 March—10,116 claims had been paid cumulatively

(b) The Rural Payments Agency does not have data available on a regional basis, as the scheme is not administered in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Parliament on the average single farm payment to be received by farmers with farms of comparable sizes. [60058]

The Defra ministerial team meets regularly with Ministers from the Devolved Administrations, when the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is a regular topic of discussion. The model of the SPS adopted in England is different to that in Wales and Scotland, so direct comparisons with regard to the size of payments would not be very meaningful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single payment scheme applications have been received from Bath constituency; and how many of those applications have received validated payments. [60509]

120,367 applications were received for the Single Payment Scheme. By the end of 17 March 2006, 10,116 (8.43 per cent.) claims had been paid.

The Rural Payments Agency does not have data available on a regional basis, as the scheme is not administered in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the Spanish agricultural organisations of national importance as referred to in state aid approval notice N 400/2005 whose state funding has been authorised by the Commission; whether UK agricultural organisations of national importance have (a) requested and (b) been granted equivalent state funding authorised by the European Commission; and if she will make a statement. [59805]

Aid scheme N 400/2005 provides for(a) start-up aid for new producer groups and (b) aid-related to the extension of the activities of existing producer groups. In both cases the remit of the producer group must extend to more than one autonomous region of Spain. We do not have information on the Spanish groups that have received aid, the award of which is a matter for the Spanish Government.

The aid scheme covered by state aid approval notice N 400/2005 is a national scheme which applies only in Spain. The UK has not sought state aid approval for a grant scheme offering a similar type of aid and we have no plans to do so. We have, however, obtained approval under aid scheme N 424/2003, to provide grant to English Farming and Food Partnerships which was set up to encourage and support collaboration and co-operation between farmers in England, and between farmers and the rest of the food chain. Grants are also available under the Agriculture Development Scheme (aid N 505/2002 extended as N 508/2005) for projects in England which involve collaboration and co-operation benefiting primary producers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households in England were in the sparsely populated area analysed by the Countryside Commission in its recent report, the State of the Countryside; how many of those households were second home owners; and how many of those households that were not second home owners had access to a vehicle. [60586]

The Commission for Rural Communities (which is an operating division of the Countryside Agency) used census 2001 data on housing stock and car ownership in its annual State of the Countryside report in 2005.

Analysis of data on housing stock reveals that, in 2001, there were 344,321 'household spaces' in sparse areas of England, of which 24,475, or 7.1 per cent., were categorised as unoccupied second residence or holiday accommodation.

It is not possible to assess, from the analysis that has been completed to date, how many households resident in sparsely populated areas owned second homes.

Analysis of the number of non-second homeowners in sparse areas with access to a vehicle was not included in the 2005 State of the Countryside. However, basic car ownership figures reveal that, at the time of the census in 2001, 252,908 households (82.4 per cent.) in sparse areas of England had access to at least one car.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

(1) what consultation with local planning authorities in the affected areas took place prior to the implementation of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Areas; [61348]

(2) if she will list the occasions on which the implementation of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) was referred to (a) in Parliament and (b) in public by Ministers in her Department prior to designation of the SPA. [61349]

In March 2000, Thames Basin Heaths was notified to Parliament as potentially qualifying as a Special Protection Area.

It was classified as a Special Protection Area on 9 March 2005 following consultations undertaken by English Nature and my Department. All relevant local authorities were directly consulted by English Nature.

We do not hold records of when the implementation of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area was referred to in Parliament, or on all public references by Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister about the implications of the implementation of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Areas for the ability of the surrounding local authority areas to accommodate intended housing allocations. [61350]

My officials have had a number of meetings with officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, English Nature and the South East England regional assembly about the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA). Discussions have focused on how the intended housing allocations can be accommodated in a way that avoids damaging the conservation of the SPA, and on ensuring that our obligations under the habitats directive are met. These discussions have considered proposals for a delivery plan, which could provide a strategic framework for mitigating the impacts of new development on the SPA.

Officials will maintain a regular dialogue with partners involved in the draft delivery plan as it evolves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average level of water (a) leakage and (b) use per household in litres was in each water company area in each year since 1996–97. [60108]

Figures for water leakage and household water consumption are published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports. Total water company leakage for 1996–97 to 2004–05, in Megalitres per day, was reported as follows:

⁽¹⁾ In spring 2003 Severn Trent Water revised its water balance data. The company attributed most of the increase in leakage to methodological changes

Water company estimates of average daily household consumption in litres per head per day for 1996–97 to 2004–05 was reported as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase energy efficiency within his Department; and if he will make a statement. [60335]

The Scotland Office subscribes to the energy efficiency policies adopted by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Bridget Prentice), on 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 301W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) the Cabinet Office on the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill. [61407]

My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Scottish Executive and other Government Departments, including the Cabinet Office, on a wide range of matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has made an assessment of the likely impact of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill on Scotland. [61408]

Certain provisions of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill trigger the Sewel Convention. The Scottish Parliament's consent is therefore required for those provisions in Part 3 of the Bill which will widen the powers available to the Scottish Ministers to implement EC obligations and give greater flexibility in the use of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's employer contribution rates to the principal civil service pension scheme are; what assumed rate of return underlies those contribution rates; and what the contribution rate would be if the assumed rate of return was in line with current redemption yield on index-linked gilts. [61996]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy), on 29 March 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what total amount of employers' normal contributions accruing superannuation liability charge has been accounted for by his Office in each of the last five years for which data are available. [61360]

The amount of employers' accruing superannuation liability charges in respect of members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme in the last five years is as follows:

⁽²⁾ From 1 October 2002 new entrants have been able to opt for a partnership pension account, a stakeholder arrangement with an employer contribution. Employers' contributions to partnership pension accounts are not included in the figures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial support he plans to give to the development of carbon capture and storage technology. [62341]

The Government are actively working to build an evidence base on the economics of carbon capture and storage (CCS). At Budget 2006, HM Treasury launched a consultation exercise on barriers to wide-scale commercial deployment of the technology and the potential role of economic incentives in addressing those barriers. The results of this exercise will be fed into the Energy Review.

Consideration of whether there is a need for economic incentives for CCS in the UK is taking place in addition to support which has been made available for demonstrations of CCS through the Department for Trade and Industry's Carbon Abatement Technologies Strategy. The Strategy is providing capital grant funding of 35m for demonstration projects of carbon abatement technologies over four years starting in 2006–07.

In reflection of the global challenge which carbon emissions present, during the UK's presidency of the EU and G8, the Government initiated a project aiming to build a demonstration zero emissions coal plant with CCS, as the centrepiece of the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change. It is providing £3.5 million to fund the initial phase of this project.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the economy of Government funding for science; and if he will make a statement. [62345]

The social rates of return to R&D vary. For the UK they are estimated at over 80 per cent. for manufacturing and 30 per cent. for public R&D in pharmaceuticals. Just under 200 new university spin-off firms were set up in 2002–03 compared to 70 a year on average from 1994–99. Over the past two years, 20 university spin out companies have floated on the stock market with a combined market value of over £1 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he used in making the decision not to include a rebate on council tax for pensioners in the Budget. [62343]

Any decision on the future of additional payments to pensioners must be taken within the context of Sir Michael Lyons' ongoing review into local government funding due by the end of 2006 and the Government White Paper on Pensions due later this spring.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with operators in the energy market on the proposed disposal of the Government's stake in British Energy. [62550]

Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and analysis. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to promote investment in business in the UK. [62323]

In the Budget we announced a comprehensive package of measures to promote the UK as the leading location for inward investment. This included a new five year strategy for a step-change in the Government's drive to market UK economy internationally and a new strategy to promote London internationally as the world's leading financial centre. The Government will also implement a £9 million international R&D strategy, in partnership with the academic and business communities. These strategies will be supported by a reformed UK Trade and Investment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was at current prices of child benefit in each year since 1996–97; and what percentage of the costs was accounted for by administration in each year. [59340]

The following table shows the total expenditure on child benefit for the years 1996–97 to 2004–05.

Total UK expenditure on child benefit: 1996–97 to 2004–05

Before 2003–04 the Department for Work and Pensions was responsible for child benefit in Great Britain. Comparable figures of administration costs for these years are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter dated 13 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. M. K. Ghafood. [62434]

I have done so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of tax levels on economic growth. [62543]

The Government's macro-economic framework has consistently delivered stability with strong growth and low inflation, thus establishing a track record that has been internationally acknowledged. GDP has now grown for 54 consecutive quarters and inflation remains at historically low rates. The Government's approach to taxation balances the need to finance better quality public services, deliver fairness and promote sustainable development while ensuring that the UK benefits from the advantages of being a lightly taxed economy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the tax and national insurance incentives for employer-supported child care since April 2005; and if he will make a statement. [60628]

The tax and national insurance contributions exemption for employer-supported child care is designed to engage employers on the issue of child care and help parents pay for child care. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are currently assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of the tax and national insurance contributions exemptions for employer-supported child care. However, informal qualitative evidence suggests that the scheme is working well and that the numbers benefiting may be higher than estimated.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of a windfall tax on energy companies. [62569]

The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes to taxation are considered as part of the normal budget process.

In PBR 2005 the Chancellor announced a package of measures to ensure that the North sea tax regime strikes the correct balance between oil and gas producers and consumers, by promoting investment and ensuring fairness for taxpayers. As part of this announcement the Chancellor committed to no further increases in North sea taxation for the lifetime of this parliament.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Wirral, West did not have access to a bank account on 31 December (a) 2005 and (b) 1997. [62346]

The most recent data available that allows assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account is the Family Resources Survey from 2002–03. This indicates that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. This data is broken down to Government Office regional level. This shows 9 per cent. of households in the North West and Merseyside were unbanked.

In 1997–98, the Family Resources Survey was collected on a Great Britain basis, excluding Northern Ireland. 11 per cent. of households in the North West and Merseyside were unbanked at that time compared to 8 per cent. of households in Great Britain as a whole.

In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The financial inclusion taskforce has been asked to monitor progress. The taskforce recently made its first annual report, which concluded that steady progress has been made towards the goal but also encouraged banks to continue to address the difficulties faced in opening a bank account.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Written Answer of 23 March 2006, Official Report, column 505W, on HM Revenue and Customs, what the reasons were for HM Revenue and Customs' decision to close its Basingstoke office; and what the findings were of assessments of the likely impact of the closure on (a) residents, (b) local businesses and (c) others in Basingstoke, with particular reference to equality impact assessments. [62600]

HMRC's targets for improving efficiency and reducing costs include reducing staff numbers by 12,500 net by 1 April 2008, and making substantial savings on the cost of its estate. So it is looking critically at how many of its 600 plus staffed buildings it needs to keep, and in what locations.

The decision to close the HMRC office at London House, Basingstoke, was taken in that context. A break in the lease gave the opportunity to give up the accommodation. An assessment of the likely impact of closure found that there would be no significant impact on local businesses, residents or taxpayers. A face to face service for customers will continue to be provided at a nearby building.

The impact assessment identified the equality issues that will need to be addressed in completing the relocation, and HMRC managers will be talking to staff about how to deal with any individual problems the closure may pose for them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been diagnosed with lymphoma in (a) Beverley and Holderness and (b) England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [62363]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Jill Matheson, dated 30 March 2006

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have been diagnosed with lymphoma in(a) Beverley and Holderness and (b) England in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (62363)

The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases (incidence) of cancer are for 2003. Figures requested are given in the table below.

Cases of lymphoma diagnoses 1999–2003 in Beverley and Holderness, and in England^{(3) (4)}

⁽³⁾ Lymphoma sites are based on codes in the international Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD10). Hodgkin's disease is defined by code C81, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is defined by codes C82–85, C91.4, and 096.

⁽⁴⁾ Parliamentary constituency.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what penalty fee was levied for late registration for national insurance contributions in each year since 2001. [62451]

A late notification penalty of £100 for the late registration for Class 2 self-employed national insurance contributions was introduced on the 31 January 2001. The penalty has remained at the same level since that date.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many temporary national insurance numbers have been issued by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 1997; and what proportion of these have been for tax credit purposes. [62544]

Temporary national insurance numbers can be issued by HMRC once the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed that a claimant has attended and passed an evidence of identity interview at their local DWP office.

Recent analysis of tax credit claimant data shows that HM Revenue and Customs issued around 16,000 temporary references using a Nino format for tax credit purposes between April 2003 and March 2004, around 6,000 between April 2004 and March 2005 and around 13,000 April 2005 to date.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bills were issued in the last year for which information is available for national insurance contributions which had remained unpaid for more than six years; and what was the total value of such bills. [62401]

Full information relating to Class 2 national insurance bills could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of transparency of the classification of public sector bodies' debt. [62331]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on the Floor of the House earlier today to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date HM Revenue and Customs published Tax Bulletin 79; and what changes the bulletin made to eligibility for tax relief under section 336 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003. [62298]

Tax Bulletin 79 was published on 24 October 2005. It made no changes to an employee's entitlement for tax relief under section 336.

However, it contained an article announcing a relaxation of HMRC's view of the circumstances in which employees can claim tax relief for un-reimbursed home working expenses. It means more employees will be able to claim tax relief for the additional expenses they incur where they have to work from home.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date HM Revenue and Customs published the guidance in the Employment Income Manual section EIM32760 which was superseded by Tax Bulletin 79. [62299]

The guidance in the Employment Income Manual section EIM32760 reflects longstanding guidance published in earlier Inland Revenue guidance manuals. It was published in its current format on 29 May 2003 following the introduction of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the median (a) working tax credit and (b) working families tax credit payment received by (i) lone parent households and (ii) non-lone parent households was in each year for which figures are available. [43764]

Lone parent and couple families receive the same award where their family income and other circumstances (such as the number of children) are the same. There are a number of factors affecting average awards, including:

couple families tend to have more children, increasing their child tax credit (CTC) award. (The December 2005 tax credit statistics showed that in-work couple families had on average 1.8 children per family compared to 1.5 for in-work lone parents.);

lone parents tend to have lower incomes than couple families, increasing their award. (The statistics show that 27 per cent. of in-work lone parent families have gross incomes below £5,220 compared to 4 per cent. of in-work couple families.); and

lone parents are more likely to benefit from the childcare element of the working tax credit (WTC) designed to help more people move into work. (The statistics show around two-thirds of recipients of the child care element are lone parents, with the remaining third being couple families.)

The median weekly entitlements to WTC and CTC are £109.96 for lone parent families and £96.50 for couples with children, based on finalised 2003–04 awards. The median weekly entitlements for working families tax credit are £88.95 for lone parent families and £75.59 for couples with children, based on figures for November 2002. Such data for later years are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of tax credit claimants received manual payments due to computer system failure in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06 to date. [60190]

The information is not available in the format requested.

For the reasons for issuing manual payments I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (John Hemming) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 325W.

HM Revenue and Customs are working hard to improve administration, address technical issues and minimise impact on taxpayers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants in Lewes constituency are receiving regular manual payments each month due to computer error; and what steps are being taken to ensure that all claimants receive regular automatic payments. [60858]