To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on recent progress on the establishment of a European vocational qualifications framework. [67218]

The UK conducted a national consultation on the European Commission's proposal for a European qualifications framework between September and December 2005, and submitted its response in January 2006. UK experts participated in a conference in Budapest in February 2006 to discuss the issues emerging from the consultation. The Commission is currently consulting an expert group containing technical representatives from all EU member states in order to finalise its proposal. We anticipate that a final proposal will be produced in autumn 2006. The final proposal will cover the full spectrum of education and training, including both academic and vocational qualifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 19 to 25-year-olds in Coventry South are studying for a first level 3 qualification. [67863]

In the academic year 2004/05 there were 269 19 to 25-year-olds in Coventry South studying for a full NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification* in further education and work-based learning.

This does not include access to HE qualifications or wholly privately funded study aims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) contribution rates and (b) proposed contribution rates to the Teachers' Pension Scheme are for (i) teachers and (ii) employers; and from when the proposed rates will take effect. [66278]

The pension contributions currently paid by teachers and employers to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) are 6 per cent. and 13.5 per cent. of salary respectively. The 2004 valuation of the TPS is reporting a net pressure on the contribution rate of 0.8 per cent. of salary. This is on the assumption that the change in contribution rate would take effect from 1 January 2007.

As part of the negotiations between DfES, unions and employer representatives on a package of reforms to the TPS, discussions are continuing on how current and any future pressures arising from scheme valuations should be handled between employers and scheme members. The expectation is that a formal consultation on reform proposals will be launched during May. This will include details of how the 0.8 per cent. net pressure arising from the 2004 valuation will be dealt with in the contribution rate paid by employers and scheme members; and the respective contribution rates that will apply from 1 January 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the projected annual increase in cost is to local education authorities of the proposed increase in the employers' contribution to the Teachers' Pension Scheme. [66778]

The proposed increase in employer contributions from January 2007 will add a maximum of 0.8 per cent. to the paybill of local authorities for all those teachers in membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. This cost increase has been more than covered in the levels of the minimum funding guarantee for 2006-07 and 2007-08, and by the increases in dedicated schools grant of 6 per cent. in 2006-07 and 6.4 per cent. in 2007-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether under the proposals in the further education White Paper (Cm 6798) a local education authority would be permitted to take over responsibility for an under-performing college. [67565]

Local authorities and the LSC have crucial roles to play in delivering the reforms set out in the White Paper 'Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances', and must work together to drive progress through a shared strategy. The White Paper makes clear that we want local authorities to play a strategic leadership role, consistent with their leadership role in children's services overall, ensuring the integration of 14-19 reform with the wider agenda for children and young people in the locality. The Learning and Skills Council will be the primary partner for the local authority, and will use its funding and powers to secure high quality provision which meets the needs of learners and employers in every area. This will include providing opportunities for new and existing high quality providers to openly compete for provision.

The White Paper sets out a robust approach to tackling underperformance which could culminate in the Learning and Skills Council ceasing to fund provision which does not improve; or requiring changes to governance or executive management.

If a change in governance or leadership is required, this might include a stronger role for the relevant local authority at the invitation of the existing governing body.

If funding is withdrawn, replacement provision is likely to be sourced by competition. No one model is expected to arise out of a competition to secure a replacement provider. It would be open to a local authority to participate in a competition if it wished to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government takes to ensure that aid-sponsored projects are clearly demarked as donor sponsored and not claimed by recipient governments as domestic government funded. [68151]

Information on the support provided by DFID to partner countries is publicly available (including on DFID's website www.dfid.gov.uk) and is disseminated in partner countries by DFID offices and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) missions.

We believe that aid is more effective when used to support developing countries' own plans, and to strengthen their own capacity to deliver. So where possible, DFID works in partnership with developing country governments, and integrates our support with their programmes. In such partnerships, our aim is to ensure public understanding of our combined efforts rather than to separately identify donor funded work.

Where however, governments do not share our commitment to reducing poverty reduction, human rights and good financial management, it is important to ensure that our aid is visibly separate from government programmes. For example, in Zimbabwe, no DFID funding is channelled through the Government. All our assistance, which focuses on humanitarian need and the HIV/AIDS crisis, is provided through non-governmental organisations and UN agencies. This substantially reduces the scope for the government to claim credit for assistance provided by DFID

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Government have allocated to the (a) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, (b) UN Economic Commission for Africa and (c) Pan-African Parliament for each of the next three years; what funding has been provided in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [66839]

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) sets out Africa leaders' priorities to help boost agricultural growth and food security at continental, regional and country levels. As the UK and other G8 countries only responded firmly to CAADP during 2005, no funds were explicitly allocated to it over the last three years. However, the response below identifies where DFID funding was consistent with the CAADP.

At the country level, the CAADP commits African countries to spend 10 per cent. of their budgets on the agriculture sector. DFID's support to African country budgets will help them do this. However, detailed information on how budget support is allocated to sectors by Africa governments are not held centrally and to gather it would involve incurring a disproportionate cost.

At the regional and continental levels, DFID provided around £80 million over the last three years for agricultural research, one of CAADP's four priorities. In the next three years, DFID has allocated around £85 million to agricultural research in Africa as part of its response to CAADP.

In financial year 2005-06, DFID committed an additional £200,000 to design a programme of additional regional support under CAADP. This will clarify DFID's plans for additional regional work on CAADP over each of the coming three years. DFID has provided a total of £2,348,000 to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UN-EGA) over the last three financial years (£1,000,000 in 2003-04, £673,121 in 2004-05 and £675,000 in 2005-06). DFID has recently been considering a contribution for the next three years with the Commission. However, this has been delayed whilst the UN-ECA re-examines its role in conjunction with the African Union and the African Development Bank, under the new leadership of Abdoulie Janneh. We expect the UN-ECA to be in a better position to discuss its future needs with donors after its Annual Meeting in May.

No support has been given to the Pan African Parliament to date. However, DFID is currently discussing priorities for support with the Pan African Parliament. We hope to complete the design of a Pan African Parliament support programme over the coming months.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to increase the percentage of HIV positive pregnant women in Africa with access to (a) information, (b) drugs and (c) antenatal treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to their child. [68160]

Access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services is unacceptably low in many sub Saharan African Countries where often less than 5 per cent. of pregnant women are able to access these services. The recent Secretary General's report to the UN reporting on progress for the past five years on AIDS, highlights that only 9 per cent. of HIV positive pregnant women in low and middle income countries have access to PMTCT services.

DFID has been actively engaged in building international consensus, and as co-chair of the Global Steering Committee for the June 2006 HIV/AIDS UNGASS will be pressing for agreement on actions required to scale up services towards universal access to a comprehensive programme of prevention, treatment and care, including access to PMTCT by 2010 with a "Road Map" for future action.

DFID believes that PMTCT is an important prevention measure which should form part of a comprehensive response to HIV prevention, and has encouraged partner countries to integrate PMTCT plans into maternal and child health and sexual & reproductive health services.

DFID funds are not earmarked for PMTCT, but integrated within AIDS programmes. DFID also works through UN agencies at country level. For example, DFID is currently providing £4 million to

"a universal access to HIV prevention programme with the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Rwanda".

DFID is the second largest donor to UNICEF which is the lead UN agency responsible for PMTCT services under the global task force (GTT) arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects his Department to meet its public service agreement targets on maternal health. [68164]

I expect the 2005-08 public service agreement target on maternal health in Asia to be met by 2008. I do not, however, expect the target on maternal health in Africa, to be met by 2008. Progress against this target after 2008 will therefore be subject to further discussion during the next spending review.

The target for Asia is to achieve an increase of 15 percentage points in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants. The latest estimate is 43 per cent. using data from 2001 to 2003, compared to 38 per cent. in 2000. If the current rate of progress continues, it is estimated that the target should just be achieved by 2008.

The target for Africa is to achieve an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants by 11 percentage points. The latest estimate is 47 per cent. and increases before 2008 are unlikely. DFID has not yet estimated when this will be achieved.

Further detail on the latest progress against these and all public service agreements will be presented in the 2006 Departmental Report which will be laid before Parliament in the next few days.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution the United Kingdom has made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals; and what recent assessment his Department has made of the time scale for the goals to be achieved. [67888]

The UK's contribution towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals is summarised in DFID's reports of progress towards the 2003-06 and 2005-08 public service agreements (PSAs). Those PSAs are based on the Millennium Development Goals. Progress was last reported in the 2005 Autumn Performance Report which was laid before Parliament in December 2005. Copies of this report are available in the Libraries of the House on the DFID website (www.dfid.gov.uk). Progress will also be reported in DFID's 2006 Departmental Report. This will be laid before Parliament within the next few days.

DFID has not yet made an assessment of the time scale for each of the goals to be achieved in the period after 2008. The departmental report will however, summarise progress in the key countries in which DFID works.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of its public service agreement targets his Department is furthest from meeting. [68166]

The most recent assessment of progress towards the public service agreements was outlined in DFID's Autumn Performance Report, which was laid before Parliament in December 2005. Progress will also be reported in DFID's departmental report. This will be laid before Parliament in the next few days.

The six targets in the 2005-08 public service agreement that are currently furthest from being met are:

an increase in the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school by five percentage points in Africa;

an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants by 11 percentage points in Africa;

an increase in net primary school enrolment by eight percentage points in Asia;

a reduction in under-five mortality rates for girls and boys by 24 per 1000 live births in Asia;

a tuberculosis case detection rate above 70 per cent. in Asia;

a greater impact of EC external programmes on poverty reduction and working for agreement to increase the proportion of EC official development assistance (oda) to low income countries from its 2000 baseline figure of 38 per cent. to 70 per cent. by 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to work with Governments in Africa (a) to improve the status of women, (b) to reduce the incidence of sexual violence, particularly during conflict, and (c) to prosecute cases of sexual violence. [68168]

There is growing political consensus among member states of the African Union on promoting gender equality and empowerment. A Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was ratified in November 2005. A key element is the elimination of discrimination against women. DFID seeks to encourage and support African Governments in their work at country level to put this into practice. DFID has provided financial support to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), who has developed an African Gender and Development Index which shows specific gaps in the status of women at country level.

DFID provides financial support for work to reduce violence against women and to provide support for legal assistance in a number of countries in Africa. For example, in Sierra Leone, DFID has provided support for Sexual Assault Referral Centres for victims of sexual assault and gender based violence; in Ethiopia it has provided core support to the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, who provide legal aid and assistance for issues affecting women; in Uganda DFID supports UNICEF's protection work in northern Uganda, one component of which aims to address sexual and gender based violence; and in Uganda and Ghana DFID provides support to programmes aimed at tackling domestic violence. DFID also provides financial support to the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) which supports the Trust Fund for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the Women, Peace and Security Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to assist the government of Liberia (a) in reducing the incidence of rape and (b) to prosecute rape cases effectively. [68169]

DFID funding to Liberia is mainly channelled through multilateral organisations, such as UN agencies, and the European Commission. To contribute to better public safety, and in response to a request from the UN Secretary General, DFID has recently provided £2.1 million to the United Nations Development Programme Trust Fund for Crisis Prevention and Recovery in Liberia for support to the deactivation of unqualified Liberian National Police (LNP) Officers. The LNP is responsible for maintaining law and order, investigating crime, collecting evidence and arresting and remanding suspects pending trial. Effective reform and rebuilding of the LNP would be a significant step towards providing more security for people, including women. DFID has also contributed £6 million to the disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration process since 2003, improving safety and security for the population.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the trend in the number of severely malnourished children in Darfur over recent months. [67873]

The massive international response to the Darfur crisis led to a significant improvement in the humanitarian situation last year, including in rates of malnutrition. Since January, however, rising levels of violence, lawlessness and displacement, together with a shortfall in donor funding for this year, threaten to reverse the progress that has been made.

UNICEF has recently warned of a risk of rising malnutrition. They have also reported instances of increasing rates of children being admitted to feeding centres, in line with what would be expected at this time of year because of the changing seasons. However, with the exception of localised pockets, malnutrition rates currently remain below the emergency threshold, and are significantly better than this time last year.

UNICEF's warning underlines the urgent need to end the violence in Darfur, to allow humanitarian agencies unrestricted access, and for donors to increase their funding for the 2006 appeal. The UK has been one of the few donors providing early and reliable funding to the crisis in Darfur in 2006. We continue to press our international donor partners to contribute more, and we are also working with the UN to find ways of mitigating the impact of the current shortfall of funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of recent statements by the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs regarding the state of the relief operation in Darfur. [68233]

We share the concerns raised by Jan Egeland, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. As he noted, the security situation has deteriorated dramatically since January, with increasing levels of banditry, armed clashes and attacks on civilians and UN and NGO staff. This rising level of insecurity threatens to reverse progress made in 2005. Over the last four months alone, 200,000 people have been driven from their homes by the violence. The ability of the UN and NGOs to access the most vulnerable people is becoming a critical issue with no or very limited access to up to 650,000 people in Darfur.

As Mr Egeland rightly identified, these problems are compounded by the increase in restrictions and administrative delays imposed on humanitarian agencies by the Government of Sudan. We continue to press the Government for unimpeded and safe access for the humanitarian agencies. We hope that a conclusion to the Abuja peace process will aid this process.

The UK has played a leading role in the international community's response to Darfur, including support to the Abuja process. The UK is one of the few donors providing early and reliable funding to the humanitarian effort in 2006. We continue to press our international donor partners to contribute more, and we are also working with the UN to mitigate the impact of the current funding shortfall and security-related issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of trends in the incidence of malnutrition in Darfur. [68234]

The massive international response to the Darfur crisis led to a significant improvement in the humanitarian situation last year, including in rates of malnutrition. Since January, rising levels of violence, lawlessness and displacement, together with a shortfall in donor funding for this year, threaten to reverse the progress that has been made.

UNICEF has recently warned of a risk of rising malnutrition. They have also reported instances of increasing rates of children being admitted to feeding centres, in line with what would be expected at this time of year because of the changing seasons. However, with the exception of localised pockets, malnutrition rates currently remain below the emergency threshold, and are significantly better than this time last year.

UNICEF's warning underlines the urgent need to end the violence in Darfur, to allow humanitarian agencies unrestricted access, and for donors to increase their funding for the 2006 appeal. The UK has been one of the few donors providing early and reliable funding to the crisis in Darfur in 2006. We continue to press our international donor partners to contribute more, and we are also working with the UN to find ways of mitigating the impact of the current shortfall of funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what preparations have been made for civil contingency planning in the event of an avian influenza epidemic. [68050]

The Department has robust disease control plans and instructions to address an avian influenza epidemic in birds. These are set but in our Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan, which is available on the Defra website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza-contplan.htm.

These plans and procedures are kept under closer review. They were tested recently during the national avian influenza exercise 'Hawthorn'. They were also used effectively to deal with the case of H5N1 avian influenza in a swan in Cellardyke, Scotland and the recent outbreak of H7N3 avian influenza in Norfolk. We also continue to work very closely with operational partners including the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS), the Department of Health, the Health Protection Agency, the Food Standards Agency, and the devolved administrations.

In addition, my Department has been actively involved in Department of Health-led planning in the event of an influenza pandemic. This is to ensure consistency and the sharing of expertise and experience.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will seek to legislate to require animal carcases to be transported in (a) sealed and (b) refrigerated lorries. [67614]

The Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 lays down strict rules for the collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and use or disposal of all animal by-products, which includes the carcases of fallen stock, in order to safeguard public and animal health.

Animal by-products must be collected and transported in leak-proof, covered vehicles or containers in accordance with Annex II of the EU Regulation. Local authorities, usually Trading Standards, are the enforcement authority for animal by-products legislation and are responsible for ensuring the conditions of the Regulation are complied with.

Transportation in a refrigerated vehicle is not a specific requirement of Annex II of the Regulation, unless the material is unprocessed Category 3 material destined for the production of feed material or pet food, when it must be transported chilled or frozen unless it is processed within 24 hours of departure. In other cases the transportation of animal by-products must take place at an appropriate temperature to avoid any risk to public or animal health and take place without undue delay. In all cases vehicles must be maintained in a clean condition, and be clean and dry before use, and washed and disinfected after use.

In addition, under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to check their areas periodically for existing and potential statutory nuisances, and to take reasonably practicable steps to investigate complaints of statutory nuisances, including any dust, steam, smell or other effluvia arising on industrial, trade or business premises and being prejudicial to health or a nuisance. A "premises" may be a dwelling, place of business, land, beach, vessel or sea.

Once satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists or may occur or recur, a local authority must issue an abatement notice requiring that the nuisance be ceased or abated within a specified timescale. It is an offence to breach or fail to comply with an abatement notice, which carries upon summary conviction through the courts a maximum fine up £5,000 for domestic premises and £20,000 for industrial, trade and industry premises.

Some plants and processes that have the potential for emissions of offensive odours are regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations, which are enforced by either the Environment Agency or local authorities depending on the type of installation. Plants and processes that are covered by these regulations are not subject to the statutory nuisance regime, in order to remove double jeopardy.

Vehicles on public highways are not "premises" within the statutory nuisance regime on odour. However, vehicles driven in a careless or antisocial manner (that is causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress) may be seized by the police under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the European Commission, (b) France and (c) other EU member states regarding actions necessary to reduce cetacean by-catch. [67034]

A European Commission Technical Working Group met on 20 April to discuss the problems member states had been having with implementing the use of acoustic devices (pingers) in gillnet and entangle net fisheries and possible ways forward. The Commission will report back to the Council Internal Fisheries Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has (a) allocated and (b) spent on scientific research into preventing cetacean strandings in UK waters since 2003. [67035]

The UK Government has spent £734,000 on researching by-catch mitigation measures and monitoring by-catch on vessels from 03/04 to the end of 05/06. Strandings data is obtained separately under the Defra-funded Cetacean and Turtle Stranding Scheme, carried out by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Institute of Zoology and Scottish Agricultural College.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2006, Official Report, column 2506W, on cetacean by-catch, when he expects the Sea Mammal Research Unit to publish its report on observer schemes investigating cetacean by-catch. [67076]

The Sea Mammal Research Unit is due to present a report to the Department on observer schemes investigating cetacean by-catch on completion of the research contract in spring 2007. However, results of observer schemes will be used to fulfil the obligations of Council Regulation (EC) 812/2004 and the first information will be available when the UK Government reports to the Commission on 1 June 2006 on by-catch monitoring in specified fisheries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the (a) frequency and (b) potential health consequences of the emission from municipal incinerators of PM2.5 particles. [67172]

holding answer 2 May 2006

Following the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Waste not, Want not, published in 2002, Defra commissioned an independent body to bring together information on waste management facilities, including municipal incinerators, currently used in the UK and Europe, and the currently available scientific evidence on their environmental and health effects.

The resulting Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municipal Solid Waste and Similar Wastes report; was peer reviewed by the Royal Society and published in May 2004. Among the other conclusions drawn, the report showed that risks to human health from incineration are small in comparison with other known risks to health.

Emissions from municipal incinerators of PM2.5 particles (estimated at 0.029 thousand tonnes in 2004) are proportionally lower than the contribution from other sectors, at around 0.03 per cent. of the national total of 104 thousand tonnes. The major sources of PM2.5 are thought to be road transport (27 per cent.), domestic combustion (14 per cent.), agriculture, (8 per cent.) industrial off road machinery (7 per cent.) power stations (4 per cent.) and small scale waste burning (4 per cent.). However, this fraction of national emissions will not represent the level of human exposure arising from each source sector as a result of the different heights and conditions of release.

Defra recently launched a consultation on measures to review the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This consultation suggests a much more wide ranging approach for pollutants such as fine particles (PM 2.5), which is cost effective, geared towards improving public health in the UK and will lead to further improvements in air quality. Further details on this consultation can be found on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/airqualstrat-review/index.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on improving resource efficiency. [67182]

The Department receives a range of representations on the subject of improved resource efficiency.

One of the main Government initiatives encouraging resource efficiency s the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme, which is returning £284 million from additional landfill tax to businesses over three years. The Programme helps to ensure that advice and assistance are available to help businesses achieve waste reductions and other resource savings in the most effective ways.

The Programme is being developed in full consultation with stakeholders. The Department is currently consulting with stakeholders on the third year of the Programme's delivery, beginning with a stakeholder event on 5 May. A selection of funding options will then be put forward for a full 12 week public consultation in August.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's funding for Shell's proposed Sakhalin II development with the Government's proposed resolutions at the International Whaling Commission on protecting the Western Gray Whale from anthropogenic impact. [67240]

The Government are fully aware of the environmental issues associated with this project including any potential impact on the Western Gray Whale. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) and other members of the lender group are treating these issues very seriously and the group's concerns have been reflected in improvements made by the project operators to the project's social and environmental standards.

In December 2005 EBRD Management agreed that all documentation required for beginning a public consultation process was "fit for purpose". A 120 day public consultation period ended on 28 April. EBRD Management is now considering all written responses received and additional representations from public consultation meetings.

If EBRD Management recommends to its Board that the project should receive EBRD funding, then the UK Government will decide in the light of the case made by EBRD on the project operators' response to concerns raised, whether or not to support an EBRD loan. In reaching its decision, the Government will carefully assess all aspects of the project, bearing in mind its commitment to other International organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce legislation to establish a statutory body with responsibility for waste. [68043]

In compliance with Article 6 of the Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended), the "competent authorities" which we have designated to be responsible for the implementation of the Directive's waste management controls are set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (as amended). We have no plans to amend the current list of designated competent authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on (a) the proposal (i) to delay and (ii) to cancel the issuing of a licence for the development of the offshore wind farm at Scarweather Sands and (b) the effect of a wind farm for breeding harbour porpoises; and if she will make a statement. [67600]

There has been no discussion with the Secretary of State for Wales. Licensing of the proposed offshore wind arm at Scarweather Sands is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

My officials in the Marine Consents and Environment Unit, which is administering the licence application under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 on behalf of the Assembly, are in discussion with officials in the Welsh Assembly Government.

No decision has yet been taken by the Assembly to grant a licence partly because of the decision taken by the developer to postpone construction for commercial reasons until 2008 and to allow further data currently being collected about the local population of harbour porpoises to be properly assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on (i) the Highways Agency's plans for improvements to the A27 around Chichester and (ii) alternative methods of easing congestion. [68607]

The Secretary of State for Transport commissioned the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal study (SoCoMMS) to investigate congestion, safety and environmental problems of transport on the South Coast between Southampton and Thanet.

In July 2003, the Secretary of State rejected the recommended improvements to the A27 Chichester Bypass. The Highways Agency was asked to work closely with the principal local authorities and the statutory environmental bodies to identify and develop less environmentally damaging options for easing congestion, including management measures, which reduce the need for major road construction, and report back.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment was made of alternative methods of easing congestion before the Highways Agency published its proposals to improve the A27. [68608]

The Secretary of State for Transport commissioned the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal study (SoCoMMS) to investigate congestion, safety and environmental problems of transport on the South Coast between Southampton and Thanet. At Chichester the report recommended two alternatives for addressing congestion on the A27. The Secretary of State rejected both these options on environmental grounds and asked the Highways Agency to work closely with the principal local authorities and the statutory environmental bodies to identify less environmentally damaging options, including management measures, which reduce the need for major road construction.

A key requirement of any options identified was that they should be capable of delivering planned housing and economic growth. It was agreed that any options identified would be reported back to Ministers before more widespread local consultation was undertaken.

A number of alternative junction improvement strategies were considered as part of developing the proposal put to public consultation but they did not meet the objectives set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the Highways Agency's plans for improvements to the A27 around Chichester. [68609]

A joint Public Consultation exercise, between the Highways Agency and West Sussex county council was held in late 2004 and early 2005. To date the Highways Agency have received over 9,000 responses to their proposals, including many alternative suggestions for dealing with traffic problems in the Chichester area. Once I have received the Public Consultation Report from the Highways Agency later this year, I will announce my decision on the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on alternative methods for easing congestion around Chichester since the Highways Agency published proposals to improve the A27. [68671]

Since the Highways Agency's proposals were published I have received a petition from Mr. Pieter Montyn, signed by over 2,000 residents of the Manhood Peninsula, requesting an A27 northern bypass solution as a method for easing congestion around Chichester. Subsequently, I have received a copy of his presentation to the Highways Agency on his proposed A27 northern alignment route. All alternative suggestions made will be considered before I make my decision on the way forward later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's definition is of excessive noise from aircraft; and what the World Health Organisation guidelines are on aircraft noise. [68298]

We have stated in consulting on our proposals for night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted that one of our broad aims is

"to strike a fair balance between the protection of local communities from excessive aircraft noise levels at night and the provision of air services at night where they are of benefit to the national, regional or local economy".

The expression 'excessive noise' does not apply to a specific level of aircraft noise. Based on research, the Government use various measurements of aircraft noise as indicators of disturbance or of potential annoyance, or as criteria for mitigation measures, including advice for land use planning purposes.

The World Health Organisation has produced 'Guidelines on Community Noise'. The guideline values have regard to specific environments and effects rather than the source of noise, so there are no specific guidelines on aircraft noise. For each environment and situation, the guideline values take into consideration the identified health effects and are set based on the lowest levels of noise that affect health. Guideline values typically correspond to the lowest effect levels for general populations.

The 'Guidelines on Community Noise' document, which sets out the full range of guideline values, is on the internet at the following address http://www.who.int/docstore/peh/noise/guidelines2.html

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take in the Civil Aviation Bill to bear down on aircraft noise. [68332]

The 'Future of Air Transport' White Paper set out the combination of measures by which the Government aim to limit and, where possible, reduce the number of people in the UK significantly affected by aircraft noise. These include promoting research and development into new low noise engine and airframe technologies. We have incorporated the key elements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's balanced approach to controlling noise at airports into UK law; EU directive 2002/49/EC requires periodic noise mapping at many airports from 2007 to identify day and night noise problems and, from 2008, action plans to deal with them.

The Government have powers to regulate noise at airports designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are currently so designated). This regulation includes departure noise limits and restrictions on night flying. We will also consider exercising similar powers at other airports if there is evidence that a major noise problem is not being dealt with adequately through local controls.

The Civil Aviation Bill will give airports clear powers to impose penalties on airlines who fail to follow noise preferential routes and other procedures designed to avoid, limit or mitigate the effects of aircraft noise. In the case of airports designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, where the Secretary of State has specified noise controls, he will have the power to direct that a penalty scheme be made, amended or revoked to enforce those controls. It will be for the managers of non-designated airports to decide whether to use these powers in the light of their local circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has (a) made and (b) plans to make of the effects of (i) regional transport strategies in England and (ii) the transport schemes listed as number one priorities in the regional funding allocations submitted by the regional assemblies on the Government's public sector agreement target for greenhouse gas emissions. [64479]

Regional transport strategies are subject to strategic environmental assessment, and the implications for greenhouse gas emissions will be carefully considered before strategies are approved. Advice put forward by regions on regional funding allocations sets out their proposals for affordable programmes of schemes. Decisions on each new scheme will remain subject to normal approval processes which take account of climate change impacts alongside other environmental, economic and safety factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of traffic congestion in Greater Manchester; and if he will make a statement. [67256]

The 2002 survey of traffic speeds in urban areas estimated that the average vehicle delay, comparing actual speeds with those that would be achievable by a car in the absence of other traffic, for the routes surveyed in Greater Manchester was 17.8 seconds per vehicle kilometre. The average for all the urban areas surveyed was 24.9 seconds per vehicle kilometre. We have been developing new measures of congestion that are more meaningful in urban areas. Greater Manchester will publish a new local transport plan congestion target by July, along with a baseline for the new indicator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on advertising for job vacancies in each of the last five years. [65965]

holding answer 25 April 2006

The Department for Transport was established in May 2002.

The Department uses the most appropriate publication for recruitment advertising, be it national, regional, trade magazine or website depending on the nature of the vacancy.

The following table lists the costs incurred by DFT(Central) in recruitment advertising in all grades together with advertising senior civil service jobs with executive agencies:

Advertising costs for recruitment below the senior civil service in DFT's executive agencies are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the departmental initiatives for each year since 2000 which required bids for funding from (a) voluntary organisations and (b) local authorities together with the total resource allocated to each initiative in each year; how many successful bids there were in each year; what proportion this figure represents of the total bids received; and what assessment he has made of the costs of (i) preparing bids for each initiative and (ii) assessing those bids. [66013]

A table setting out the information on the major capital funding initiatives, for which bids were required, provided by the Department since 2000, has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving instructors have been removed from the Register of Approved Driving Instructors due to convictions for sexual assault in each year since 1988; and how many days elapsed between conviction and removal in each case. [68420]

The Driving Standards Agency's records only show the number of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) removed from the register since 1996-97, as shown in the following table.

The reason for removal from the Register following a decision by the Registrar is not recorded, nor is the time elapsed between any conviction and removal.

The figures from the year 1996-97 to 2001-02 show both removal from the register following a decision by Registrar and those who chose to leave the register. The figures from 2002-03 show only those who were removed as a result of the Registrar's decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applicants with only one fully functioning eye have successfully applied to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for a driving licence in each of the last five years. [68403]

These data are not available. However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has estimated that it deals with in the region of 1,000 to 1,500 cases per year in which a loss of vision in one eye is either declared on a driving licence application form, or notified during the currency of a driving licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passports sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) were subsequently reported missing in each of the last 10 years; and how many owners of passports lost by the DVLA have claimed compensation. [68707]

Original documents (including passports) have been required to support applications for first photocard driving licences since April 1999. Statistics are only available for the past five years.

Over this period the total number of passports reported as missing by drivers was 20,660 (14,968 UK and 5,692 foreign). To date 7,740 (5,282 UK and 2,458 foreign) have become the subject of claims for compensation. Approximately 25 per cent. can be attributed to a DVLA error in keying the address, with 75 per cent. due to non-delivery by Royal Mail. Over 12,500,000 applications for first photocard driving licences (ie those requiring the submission of identity documents) were processed during this period.

Drivers are requested to wait for a minimum of 15 working days before contacting DVLA about non-delivery of documents, but in many cases they do not follow this advice. DVLA officials will investigate every report, but it is a fact that many drivers do not bother to ring back if the documents later turn up.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the additional average cost to each customer would be of secure delivery of passports returned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority. [68708]

Holders of UK passports do not have to enclose them with their applications. Those who hold digitised passports only need to quote the passport number so that DVLA can check identity on line with the UK Passport Service. All other UK passport holders can have their applications checked at some 750 mainline post offices, and DVLA's local offices, for a small charge, with immediate return. Holders of EU passports, and those from certain designated countries, can take them for checking at three DVLA local offices (Glasgow, Nottingham, Wimbledon) and DVLA's Reception at Swansea.

To introduce a standard system of charging for the return of passports (and other identity documents) would be viewed as unfair to those members of the public who have no need to submit them. If offered as an individual service on request this could amount to £10 at the very least (£4.10p special delivery/£2.50p courier service plus additional clerical involvement at DVLA).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passports returned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority have been delivered by (a) standard mail and (b) recorded delivery in the last 10 years. [68709]

Original identity documents (including passports) have only been required to support applications for first photocard licences since April 1999. No historical data exists to distinguish between the use of standard and special/recorded mail, but current issue per day is 8,500 and 200 (97.7 per cent. and 2.3 per cent.).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appeals were made (a) to magistrates courts in England and Wales and (b) to sheriffs' courts in Scotland against rulings of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency under the terms of section 92 and 100 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in each of the last five years. [68417]

Statistics are available only from April 2003 onwards and relate to both applications refused under Section 92 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 and driving licences revoked under Section 93 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The details are given as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential for the widespread use of ethanol as a fuel in the UK. [68222]

The Government strongly support the use of high quality biofuels in the road transport sector. In the short term, we estimate that bioethanol has the potential to make up some 5 per cent. of total petrol sales in the UK. The Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) which we announced last year is designed to ensure that this happens by 2010, and is likely to mean that sales of bioethanol will amount to over a billion litres a year by that time.

We have made clear that we intend that biofuels should account for more than 5 per cent. of total transport fuel sales after 2010 so long as infrastructural requirements and fuel and vehicle technical standards allow, and subject to the costs being acceptable to the consumer. We would also want to put in place robust carbon saving and sustainability assurance schemes to ensure that the biofuels sold in the UK were from sustainable sources and were delivering the maximum possible carbon savings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects agreement to be reached on a programme of work designed to make the European Aviation Safety Agency fit for purpose. [66170]

The Civil Aviation Authority, together with officials in the Department, continues to work closely with the agency, other National Aviation Authorities and the Commission to put in place effective strategies to improve the agency's performance. The work that must be done to help EASA become fully fit for purpose has many different strands.

The EASA management board on 26 April examined the agency's draft action plan for implementing recommendations made by external consultants to improve the agency's financial, administrative and IT processes. The board expects to approve the plan at its next meeting on 2 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the First Great Western Trains timetabling proposals for December 2006 for (a) intervals in service provision between Cardiff and Swansea during the evening peak time, (b) overcrowding on Arriva Trains Wales services and (c) train connection options for passengers travelling to Swansea on the proposed 1515 London Paddington to Cardiff service. [60821]

The number of other services, operated by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW), between Cardiff and Swansea will remain unchanged. Newer rolling stock is expected to be transferred to this route for December 2006. The Greater Western franchise specification was designed to improve the overall operational and financial performance of the train service and to ensure resources were used to best meet market needs. The timetable on each route, including London to Swansea, is derived from these requirements. The Department is discussing overcrowding with ATW.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions within the past three months the Heathrow Express service has been (a) delayed by more than 15 minutes and (b) cancelled. [68424]

Heathrow Express is not a franchise operating company. The Department of Transport does not therefore hold such information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by the British Railways Board (Residuary); and what that body's budget was in 2005-06. [68477]

BRBR had 21 full-time and 6 part-time employees as at 31 March 2006. In addition during the 2005-06 financial year the company was supported by additional resources from the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department for Transport.

BRBR's budget for 2005-06 was as follows.

Operating costs (stated net of property sales)—£25.6 million

Capital expenditure (relating to lease payments)—£7.8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what the total projected public expenditure is for all forms of national rail services for (a) London, (b) each of the English Passenger Transport Executive areas and (c) each of the English regions in each of the next six financial years; [68658]

(2) what the public expenditure was on all forms of national rail services for (a) London, (b) each of the English Passenger Transport Executive areas and (c) each of the English regions in each of the last 10 years. [68659]

The Department of Transport does not hold information on Government spending and investment at a regional level. This is primarily because franchise areas often encompass two or more regions and Network Rail is structured on a route by route basis which also serves more than one region.

Historic Government support to individual franchises is contained in the Annual Reports of the Strategic Rail Authority and in National Rail Trends, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State, made a written statement to Parliament on 10 February 2005, Official Report, columns 93-96WS setting out Government spending plans for rail as a whole to 2008-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider his decision on announcement boards on South-West Trains as a matter of urgency. [69134]

Continuing improvements to the availability and reliability of the existing Class 450 Desiro fleet, which have been introduced to replace Class 458s and the Mark One fleet, mean that by the end of July, when the exemption in question expires, there will be no rolling stock availability implications for the ability of South West Trains to deliver their current timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which construction companies have (a) tendered for and (b) been awarded road construction contracts by his Department since 1997; and how much each contract was worth. [68097]

holding answer 3 May 2006

The information requested regarding which construction companies have tendered for road construction contracts with the Highways Agency since 1997 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

A list of the major road construction contracts over £5 million awarded by the Highways Agency has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated carbon dioxide emissions from each (a) motorway and (b) trunk road scheme approved since 1997 were in each year of the operation of each such scheme; and what estimate he has made of the annual carbon dioxide emissions from each motorway and trunk road which is being assessed for inclusion in the roads programme. [68107]

holding answer 3 May 2006

Carbon dioxide emission estimates for the Highways Agency motorway and trunk road schemes, in the Targeted Programme of Improvements, which was first launched in 1998, are given where data is currently available. A copy of the table showing this information has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Schemes that have not yet entered into the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) do not have this information as the proposals are still at an early stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirement there is under the New Approach to Appraisal to quantify the carbon dioxide impact of each road scheme he approves. [68054]

As part of assessing the impact of new proposals on the environment New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) requires scheme promoters to assess the impact of their proposals on greenhouse gas emissions. As carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered to be the most important greenhouse gas, changes in CO2 emissions are used as the key indicator for assessing the impacts of new proposals' on climate change.

For all schemes that cost in excess of £5 million, which must be approved by the Secretary of State, the Department's guidance requires scheme promoters to estimate the level of carbon dioxide emissions in the current year and in the opening year of the scheme, both with and without the scheme in place. The change in carbon dioxide emissions in the opening year of the scheme is then used to provide an overall assessment of the scheme's impact on greenhouse gases. At present only carbon emissions associated with fuel consumption are considered in appraisal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the speed camera sites identified in the Review of Sites 2004 where casualties had not been reduced remain in place; at how many sites the speed cameras have been removed and alternative measures introduced to reduce casualties; and at how many of these sites the camera has been removed and no further action taken. [68759]

Following the publication of the site lists in 2004, the Department amended its Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the Safety Camera Programme to require safety camera partnerships to review existing sites as well as those areas where new sites might be appropriate.

Sites are selected locally as the right solution to a particular casualty problem and it is therefore appropriate for these reviews to be undertaken locally and the Department is not involved. We do however require sites operated as part of, or removed from, the safety camera programme to be recorded.

From the information held by the Department, 141 safety camera sites have been decommissioned between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2006. The Department does not hold information relating to why these sites have been decommissioned or whether alternative measures have been introduced at these sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many cases speed camera partnerships have had their applications for the siting of speed cameras (a) accepted and (b) rejected; what average time has been taken to make a decision on an application; for what average number of days cases that have not had a decision have been waiting; in how many cases the decision has been appealed; and how many of these appeals have been (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful. [68760]

The Department requires that applications for new speed camera sites comply with the site selection criteria provided in the Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the Safety Camera Programme.

For 2006-07, all sites submitted as proposed camera sites were approved as they fully met the site selection criteria. These sites were submitted during February 2006 and were approved by the end of March 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what transport improvements for which his Department is responsible have there been in Tamworth constituency in the past 12 months; what further improvements are planned; and if he will make a statement. [68356]

The Tamworth constituency is benefiting from the Burntwood bypass local major road scheme, which was funded by the Department and completed in May 2005. In addition, local highway authorities receive integrated transport block funding which can be used for local highways or public transport capital projects. It is for Staffordshire county council, as the highway authority, to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities.

In the last 12 months, the following Highways Agency schemes have been completed in the area:

A5 Weeford-Fazeley Improvement

A5 Tamworth bypass—replacement of porous asphalt

A38 Milliards Cross to Swinfen—renewal of existing road surfacing

A38 Swinfen—lay-by resurfacing and improvements

A5 through Hints—renewal of anti skid surface

A38/A5148 southbound free-flow link to alleviate congestion

A5 Hints bypass—major new road scheme to improve safety and journey time reliability

A38 Little Hay footbridge—new footbridge constructed as part of Hints bypass

The following Highways Agency schemes are either presently under construction or scheduled to begin in 2006-07:

A38 Bassett's Pole—junction improvement (traffic signals) to improve safety and journey time reliability, including signalisation of the island

A5 Tamworth bypass Phase 2—replacement of porous asphalt surface, including the slip roads at Stoneydelf and Glascote

A38 Swinfen—resurfacing of the northbound entry slip road

A38 Swinfen Gap—closure of the central reservation gaps to improve safety

A5 Tamworth bypass—improvements to the slip roads at Ventura Park and Fazeley to improve safety

A5 Tamworth bypass—ecology improvements to an adjacent drainage area to enhance the habitat for great crested newts

A38 Canwell—installation of interactive signs and other signing improvements to improve safety

The following Highways Agency schemes are also planned:

A38 Weeford Quarry to Canwell—Resurfacing works

Additionally, a number of Section 278 development schemes are being undertaken by external organisations with consent from the Highways Agency. These are as follows:

A38 Swinfen Prison—provision of acceleration lane at prison access.

A5 Bitterscote, Tamworth—provision of new roundabout junction at existing Bitterscote junction to access development site

A5 Wall—potential alterations to existing roundabout junction

A38 Weeford—Potential improvements to the access at Blackbrook Farm

On rail, the Trent Valley four tracking scheme on the West Coast Main Line which falls within Tamworth and started in 2003 will provide 19km of an additional two tracks at a cost of £327 million. This is expected to be complete in 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2006, Official Report, column 713W, on transport subsidies, how much subsidy for public transport was allocated by his Department to (a) Hampshire county council, (b) Portsmouth city council and (c) Southampton city council in each of the last five years in (i) cash and (ii) real terms. [67377]

The amount of subsidy for integrated transport allocated by the Department to Hampshire county council; Portsmouth city council; and Southampton city council in the last five years is shown in the following tables. Integrated transport funding is used by the local authorities to fund all non-maintenance transport investment schemes costing less than £5 million—small road projects, road safety schemes, bus priority schemes, walking and cycling schemes, as well as transport information schemes. It is for the councils concerned to decide how much should be allocated to public transport.

In addition Hampshire county council and Portsmouth city council have received funding for the A3 bus corridor as shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of vehicles registered (a) with false details and (b) to a (i) false and (ii) non-existent address. [61404]

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) would refuse to record any details on the basis of information that it knew to be false, and therefore the information requested is not available. However, a recent survey estimated that 97.4 per cent. of vehicles can be traced directly or indirectly from the records held at DVLA.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will review the basis on which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides whether to bring a prosecution with a view to encouraging the CPS to be less risk averse when making such decisions. [68925]

Each case the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) receives from the police is reviewed in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Application of the Code means that a case is prosecuted when there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction (the 'evidential test') and that the prosecution is in the public interest (the 'public interest test'). The Code is issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under Section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 and it is periodically reviewed by the CPS. The last review occurred in 2004 and included a public consultation exercise. The current edition of the Code was published in November 2004.

Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) reviews CPS performance regarding the application of the Code. HMCPSI's 2004-05 annual report records that CPS average percentage compliance with the evidential test at initial review over the 2002-04 inspection cycle is at 98.6 per cent.; and the equivalent compliance with the public interest test is at 99.9 per cent. There are no current plans for a review of the Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers on operational tour in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan went absent without leave in each quarter since January 2003. [68523]

There have been no reports of soldiers on operational tour in Iraq or Afghanistan going absent without leave (AWOL) over the period in question. However, this does not include those individuals who may have gone AWOL while returned partway through their tour of Iraq on rest and recuperation or for other reasons. This level of data is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on defence for each of the Crown Dependencies in each of the last 10 years. [67087]

The United Kingdom is responsible for the defence of the Crown Dependencies. There are no military forces specifically allocated to the provision of this task and, therefore, I am unable to identify separately the costs incurred in maintaining their defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service and ex-service personnel were given advice by the Army Directorate of Personal Services on how to handle press inquiries following publication of the Deepcut review; how many individuals attended the lunch and briefing on 29 March; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the letter of invitation signed by Colonel N. C. C. Freeman, dated 20 March. [66931]

A total of 43 service and ex-service personnel received advice from the Directorate of Personal Service (Army) on how to handle media attention following the Deepcut review. Five of these individuals attended the briefing on 29 March 2006. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals face disciplinary action following the report of the Deepcut Review. [66932]

The Army is currently examining the Deepcut Review report and associated documentation to see whether there is any evidence to suggest that a disciplinary offence may have been committed. In addition, the Army is examining the report for any indication of professional misconduct or negligence that might make administrative action appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the Deepcut Review was, broken down by main budget heading. [66933]

The total cost for the Deepcut Review currently stands at £919,718. Further costs are still expected, mainly concerning the recent publication of the report. The expenditure so far can be broken down into the following main areas:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations there have been with the recognised trade unions on Defence Logistic Organisation collocation proposals; and what responses have been received from the trade unions. [68291]

The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) meets regularly with industrial and non-industrial national level trade unions for discussions on both a formal and informal basis. Discussions in these forums have included DLO collocation proposals.

Formal Trade Union consultation can only begin once I have made an initial decision on DLO collocation proposals. I expect to be in a position to do this in the summer of this year. The DLO will then begin formal trade union consultation and would expect to receive the trade unions' formal responses as part of that process. The DLO is committed to working with the trade union and has recently offered closer engagement on collocation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the date was of implementation of the September 2005 Protocol between his Department and the Association of Chief Police Officers on the investigation of deaths on lands or premises owned, occupied or under the control of the Ministry of Defence; what the conclusions of the first annual review of the Protocol were; and what subsequent amendments were adopted on the (a) content and (b) operation of the Protocol. [66937]

The protocol was signed on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Defence and a representative from the Association of Chief Police Officers on 7 November 2005 and was implemented immediately thereafter. The content and application of the protocol will be reviewed 12 months post implementation, in November 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of (a) The Mole, (b) Compass and (c) Lynx publications issued since 2002. [65240]

The Compass publication ceased in February 2000 and "Lynx" is an internal MOD website not a publication. To place in the Library copies of The Mole issued since 2002 would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ground attack missile capability the Eurofighter will have. [66608]

The initial ground attack capability being planned for RAF Typhoon will use the Enhanced Paveway precision guided bomb. Integration of subsequent weapons is being considered under the Typhoon Future Capability Programme. From a ground attack missile perspective these include the Storm Shadow cruise missile and the Brimstone air-launched anti-armour weapon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, columns 6-7W, on Hercules aircraft, what his definition is of (a) directional infra-red defensive counter-measures and (b) lamp infra red counter measure; what the purposes are of each measure; and if he will make a statement. [68737]

The lamp infra red counter measure provides omni-directional protection against infra red guided missiles by projecting broadband jamming energy. The directional infrared counter measure utilises attack warning sensors to focus the jamming system towards the threat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what delays there have been in delivering Warrior armoured personnel carriers to British forces in Iraq over the last four months; what the reasons were for the delays; and what alternative arrangements have been made to safeguard the security of the troops affected. [67238]

holding answer 2 May 2006

There have been minor delays over the past few weeks to the delivery of replacement Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles for the Operation Telic 8 roulement. This has been due to technical difficulties experienced by the merchant vessel carrying these vehicles while in transit. This delay has had no impact on the security of British forces or Warrior capability in Iraq; existing vehicles were retained in service until the replacement vehicles were ready.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times UK personnel have undertaken unarmed aerial vehicles strikes in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since military operations began; and if he will make a statement. [63805]

holding answer 20 April 2006

UK personnel have been involved in five unmanned aerial vehicle strikes in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an (a) memorandum of understanding and (b) exchange of letters between the United States and the United Kingdom on the joint strike fighter programme includes a provision guaranteeing the transfer of technology. [65958]

The Memorandum of Understanding for the current phase of the programme contains provisions for the exchange of information to enable the participants to meet their respective requirements. In addition the Exchange of Letters (EoLs) signed in 2001 articulates the areas of military and industrial capability that are necessary to satisfy UK sovereign requirements. The EoLs do not contain a provision on guaranteeing transfer of technology. The UK remains committed to working closely with the US administration to resolve the issue of technology sharing and we are optimistic that our ongoing discussions will be successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result was of the Royal Military Police investigation into the death of Kieran Heggarty in Moscow Army Barracks on Sunday 19 February 2006. [67687]

The Royal Military Police have not carried out any investigation into the death of Kieran Hegarty at Moscow Camp, Belfast on 19 February 2006 as the Police Service of Northern Ireland has jurisdiction in this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2208W, on the merchant fleet, what the (a) year of use and (b) type of vessel was in each case. [65526]

The information requested is shown in the following table. The list also shows the financial year in which each vessel was chartered. Some vessels will have been chartered towards the end of one financial year, with use continuing into the following financial year.