To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's (a) advisory bodies and (b) committees concerned with animal health and welfare; and if she will make a statement. [67178]

DEFRA is the Department with the lead responsibility for animal health and welfare. Partnership working with animal owners, the farming industry and others is at the heart of the approach set out in the Government's Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

The current advisory bodies and committees are:

Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens

Advisory Committee on Organic Standards

Cattle Compensation Advisory Group

Defra Antimicrobial Resistance Co-ordination Group

England Implementation Group for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain

Farm Animal Welfare Council

Human and Animal Infections and Risks Surveillance Group

Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis

Science Advisory Council

Bovine Tuberculosis Vaccine Programme Advisory Group

Bovine Tuberculosis Vaccine Steering Group

UK Zoonoses Group

Veterinary Products Committee

Veterinary Residues Committee

Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee

Surveillance Group on Diseases and Infections in Animals

Zoos Forum

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the poultry industry of cases of avian influenza being identified in the UK. [68542]

holding answer 8 May 2006

We are monitoring the effect of these cases closely but it is too early to say what the wider impacts on industry will be. Our present objective is to manage the situation effectively and to minimise adverse impacts by encouraging wide public understanding of the issues and an evidence-based and proportionate response.

At present the disease is confined to three premises. Unless there is a significant spread of disease we do not expect a significant impact on local economies. Trade from the UK to other member states can carry on as normal and we are continuing to work with exporters and British embassies regarding imminent exports of poultry to third countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support has been given to assist the poultry industry in the UK to deal with the effects on sales as a result of avian influenza. [68547]

holding answer 8 May 2006

The Government are working closely with the poultry industry to respond effectively to the challenges posed by avian influenza.

Market impacts of animal disease are a risk carried by the industry. But the Government seek to minimise that risk by encouraging wide public understanding of the issues and an evidence-based and proportionate response. In particular, the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency, the chief medical officer and the chief veterinary officer have all made clear statements to the effect that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk for domestic consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2006, Official Report, columns 813-4W, on biological diversity, what contribution she expects the UK to make towards each of the recommendations; what her timetable is for thedelivery of such contributions; and if she will make a statement. [66985]

The Government were closely involved in developing many of the initiatives agreed upon at the Eigth Conference of Parties (COP 8) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including in it's EU presidency role in the latter half of 2006. We will continue to support the EU in forthcoming international negotiations, including on the conservation of marine biodiversity and genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and on the development of an international regime on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources.

Many of the decisions from the conference include a call for regional responses and we expect these to be discussed at the next meeting of the Working Party on International Environmental Issues (Biodiversity) in June.

Once the definitive versions of the Decisions taken at COP 8 are available on the website of the Convention on Biological Diversity, my officials will review with other Departments the devolved Administrations and the Nature Conservation Agencies how to ensure that the decisions taken, including the new programme of work on Island Biodiversity, and the decisions on climate change and biodiversity, invasive alien species, business and biodiversity, forest biological diversity and agricultural biodiversity are reflected in our policies, programmes and research for the United Kingdom. This exercise will be completed over the next six months.

One of the key delivery mechanisms for these policies are the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), required under article 6 of the Convention. The COP decision to review the implementation of NBSAPs is opportune in the light of plans already in place within the UK to refresh the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, which is both a delivery mechanism for the CBD and a link from CBD to the devolved country biodiversity strategies.

The decision on business and biodiversity arose from a joint UK Brazil initiative in partnership with the Secretariat of the CBD, Insight Investments and ILJCN—the World Conservation Union. We will be discussing with these and new partners how to take forward the elements of the decision requiring international development.

I will be discussing the integration of biodiversity into official development assistance with the DFID Under-Secretary of State at the next meeting of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Biodiversity.

We will continue to work closely with colleagues in Europe and the Secretariat to the CBD to support work on indicators and the development of improved outcome focussed reporting.

Elements of some decisions will be implemented through existing EU measures, for example the recently concluded Regulation on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade which strengthens efforts to promote sustainable forest management. In addition, existing EU legislation, in particular directive 2001/18/EC, already ensures a precautionary! Approach to the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (including Genetically Modified Trees and Genetic Use Restriction Technologies).We will continue to provide additional financial resources to support countries rich in biodiversity in the implementation of the CBD through the UK's substantial contribution to the Global Environment Facility (currently £118 million for 2002-2006, of which approximately 30 per cent. goes to Biodiversity projects) and through the Darwin Initiative.

We will also support capacity building efforts over the inter-sessional period leading up to COP 9 in 2008 through DEFRA's World Summit on Sustainable Development Implementation Fund and through DEFRA's support for the Convention's Trust Funds. We will be focusing such efforts particularly on Africa and on support for implementation, particularly through national biodiversity strategies and action plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 553W, on game rearing farms, what the reasons are for the difference between the figure for the number of game rearing farms given in that answer and that given in the partial draft regulatory impact assessment on the control of avian influenza. [65430]

Figures provided in the answer of16 June 2005, Official Report, column 553W, represent the industry's own best estimate for the UK as a whole; no specific figures are held. That answer also referred to 200 established game farms, while the partial RIA drew on the Game Conservancy Trust's estimate that there are more than 10,000 holdings where pheasants are reared. The use of these different classifications accounts for the difference in the figures quoted.

More recently, DEFRA has established the Great Britain Poultry Register to gather essential information about certain species of birds only held on commercial premises in Great Britain. This is to support rapid communication with poultry keepers and help to manage disease outbreaks by targeting resourceswhere they are needed most. Further informationcan be found on the DEFRA website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/vetsurveillance/poultry/index.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which body is responsible for regulating the activities of animal rendering plants, with particular reference to John Pointon and Sons, Felthouse Lane, Cheddleton near Leek, Staffordshire. [67580]

holding answer 8 May 2006

If the aggregated net thermal rated input of the appliances on a rendering site exceeds 50 MW, the rendering plant falls under part A(1) of section 1.1 of schedule 1 to the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (PPC Regulations) and thereby is regulated by the Environment Agency. This is the case with the rendering plant operated by John Pointonand Sons near Leek. Rendering plants with less than50 MW aggregated net thermal rated input falls under part A(2) of section 6.8 of part 1 of schedule 1 of the PPC Regulations and thereby is regulated by the relevant local authority.

The Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 requires all premises on which animal by-products are handled or processed to be officially approved or authorised. In England the implementing Regulations (the Animal By-Products Regulations 2005) prescribe the Secretary of State as a 'competent authority' for the purpose of granting animal by-product approvals. The Secretary of State fulfils this role via the state veterinary service. Approval is only granted or maintained if the competent authority is satisfied that the regulation is complied with.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of hectares of land which would be owned by Natural England; what percentage of this land is dedicated for open air recreation under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and what plans exist for dedicating the remaining land. [69530]

We envisage that the majority of Natural England's land holding will comprise National Nature Reserves (NNRs). NNRs cover approximately 89,800 hectares, of which 62,300 hectares are managed by English Nature, the remainder being managed by Approved Bodies. Of the land managed by English Nature, 19,641 hectares are owned and hence qualify for owner-dedication under section 16 (s16) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Some 27,935 ha of all NNRs (whether managed by English Nature or by an Approved Body) are already mapped as access I and under the CRoW Act. No NNRs are currently dedicated under s16 of CRoW, although the first such dedication will follow shortly, prior to the vesting of Natural England. The board of Natural England has not yet considered its policy ons16 dedication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on financial support for poultry farmers in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement. [68543]

holding answer 8 May 2006

A proposal to extend the current provision for exceptional measures in the eggs and poultry market was adopted at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 25 April. This allows exceptional market support measures to be taken where there is serious market disturbance because of concerns about avian influenza. Member states would need to specifically request any individual measures, and these would need to be 50 per cent. co-financed. The Commission has made clear that measures adopted by member states before 25 April may be considered for co-financing on a case-by-case basis, and that serious market disturbance is defined at EU—not member state—level.

The UK view is that these kind of measures must be directly linked to exceptional circumstances and must not be used to distort the normal competitive nature of the EU market. It is long-standing UK policy that public funds should not be used to underpin changes as a result of normal market evolution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Government support is available to develop voluntary shops in village communities. [67772]

holding answer 3 May 2006

Village shops are important to rural communities in providing goods and services, as well as crucial social contact. An increasing number of village shops are operating as social enterprises and able to sustain the business through volunteer action and earned income.

For social enterprises generally, local Business Links are a good source of advice and support. The Business Link website includes a selection of useful sources of information and business support. More specifically, DEFRA' s rural enterprise scheme, which is part of the England rural development programme (ERDP), can provide support to social enterprise projects such as community run shops, where they have strong community backing and a business plan which establishes the need for a grant. The current ERDP ends on 31 December 2006 and the rural enterprise scheme will close to new applications on 30 June 2006. DEFRA is currently consulting on priorities for the new rural development programme for England.

The Government have also assisted local services by extending mandatory rate relief at 50 per cent. to include sole village public houses, petrol stations and village food shops under the village shop scheme. Qualifying premises are entitled to a 50 per cent. reduction in their business rates bills, and local authorities have the discretion to top-up all other non-domestic premises up to 100 per cent. provided the rateable value is £14,000 or less.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what statutory authority the Registrar General retained the 1921 decennial census for England and Wales in his Department between1 January 1959 and 16 January 1985; and if he will make a statement. [67180]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell dated 9 May 2006:

As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking under what statutory authority the Registrar General retained the 1921 decennial census for England and Wales in his Department between 1 January 1959 and 16 January 1985. (67180)

In 1958 the Public Records Act was passed and Section 3(4) specified a requirement to transfer records to the Public Record Office not later than 30 years after their creation. However advice received at that time was that the statutory prohibition on disclosure prescribed by the Census Act 1920 overcame the requirement.

Subsequently the Registrar General wished the retention of the returns in his custody to be covered by formal approval and this was obtained from the Lord Chancellor in 1985.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of the number of live births per 1,000 of population in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in each of the next five years. [68389]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the forecast of the number of live births per 1,000 of population in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in the next 5 years. (68389)

The attached table provides the projected crude birth rate in East Sussex and Eastbourne from 2005 to 2010. These projections are based on mid-2003 population estimates and are the latest projections available. They assume that local trends in fertility, mortality and migration over the reference period 1999 to 2003 will continue into the future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many live births per 1,000 of population there have been in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in each of the last 10 years. [68390]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2006:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many births per 1,000 population there were in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in each of the last 10 years. (68390)

The latest year for which figures are available is 2004; the table below shows the requested figures from 1995 to 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) live births and (b) still births have occurred at (i) Eastbourne district general hospital and (ii) the Conquest hospital, Hastings, in each of the last 10 years. [68399]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the forecast of the number of live births per 1,000 of population in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in the next 5 years. (68399)

The attached table provides the projected crude birth ratein East Sussex and Eastbourne from 2005 to 2010. These projections are based on mid-2003 population estimates and are the latest projections available. They assume that local trends in fertility, mortality and migration over the reference period 1999 to 2003 will continue into the future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) incidence and (b) survival rate was for bowel cancer in each (i) goverment office region and (ii) strategic health authority area in each of the last three years, broken down by sex and age. [68704]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell dated 9 May 2006:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) incidence and (b) survival rate was for bowel cancer in each (i) government office region and (ii) strategic health authority area in each of the last three years, broken down by sex and age.

The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases of colorectal (bowel) cancer registered in England are for the year 2003. Incidence rates by Government Office Region and by sex, in each year between 2001 and 2003, are published in Table 5 of the Annual Reference Volume, Cancer statistics: Registrations, Series MB1. These are available on the National Statistics website:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=8843&Pos=l&ColRank=2&Rank=272

Numbers of newly diagnosed cases and indirectly standardised ratios (SRRs) are available by Strategic Health Authority and by sex for the years 1993 to 2002. These can be found on the Clinical and Health Outcomes Knowledge Base website:

http://www.nchod.nhs.uk/.

The latest available one-year and five-year survival rates by Government Office Region and Strategic Health Authority for cancer of the colon, are for adult patients diagnosed during 1995-1997 and followed up to the end of 2002. These were published on the National Statistics website on 21st April 2005, and are available at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=11991&Pos=4&ColRank=1&Rank=272.

Figures are not available for colorectal (bowel) cancer or cancer of the rectum. Figures by age are only available at England level.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what (a) research and (b) other information was used to inform his conclusions regarding the number of people affected by Clause 157 and Schedule 20 of the Finance (No. 2) Bill; [68157]

(2) if he will place in the Library the cost impact assessment of Clause 157 and Schedule 20 of the Finance (No. 2) Bill prepared by his Department. [68212]

The Red Book contains estimates of the Exchequer consequences of Budget proposals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requirements have been placed on HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in relation to accessibility of its customer-facing offices to public transport; and what assessment HMRC made of the number of buses passing within 100 yards of (a) the existing St. James's street office and (b) the proposed St. Cross office each hour during the working day in respect of the transfer of the Newport, Isle of Wight, office to new premises. [69483]

HMRC considered—and balanced—a number of factors when considering the new location for the Newport, Isle of Wight inquiry centre. Among the factors considered were accessibility for customers and the availability of suitable accommodation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public sector employees were covered by final salary pension schemes in (a) 1997 and (b) 2005. [69457]

We do not have data for the exact years requested. However, for the years 1995 and 2004, the number of employees covered by public service final salary schemes, which include the civil service, NHS employees, teachers, armed forces, police officers, fire fighters and local government employees were 3.9 and 5 million respectively. These figures do not include employees in public corporations, as information about their schemes is not centrally held.

Increases in public sector employment have been concentrated in priority areas and focused on frontline delivery. However, there are other factors such as increases in the proportion of part-time employees opting to join public service schemes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of cases of prostate cancer in each English county for each year from 1990-91 to 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. [68495]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the estimate is of the number of cases of prostate cancer in each English county for each year from 1990-91 to 2006-07.

The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer registered in England are for the year 2003. I am placing a table in the House of Commons Library, which gives figures by local authority for the years 1990-2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reptiles were imported into (a) the UK and (b) the EU each year between 2000 and 2005; and how many were of (i) wild-caught, (ii) captive-bred, (iii) ranched and (iv) farmed origin in each year. [67040]

I have been asked to reply.

Data are only available for imports of species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Under CITES, there is no source defined as farmed; only wild-caught, captive-bred and ranched.

The following number of wild-caught, captive-bred and ranched live reptiles were imported into the UK under CITES:

Member states release data about the previous year's CITES imports annually in June. Until the June 2006 reporting round is complete, data for imports into the EU are only available up to 2004. The available data show that the following numbers of wild-caught, captive-bred and ranched live reptiles were imported into the EU under CITES:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in his Department have been (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate numbers in each of the last five years. [67977]

Prior to 2005, the Treasury only kept records of disciplinary cases that were proven. Information on disciplinary cases that were initiated but not proven is not available. The number of people who were (a) disciplined for inappropriate use of the internet while at work in each of the last five years was as follows:

No employees were dismissed for this reason.

The number of people who have been (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed for using work telephones to access premium rate numbers in each of the last five yearsis nil.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have committed suicide in each year since 1997, broken down by method used. [68637]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2006:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have committed suicide in each year since 1997, broken down by method used. (68637)

The most recent year for which figures are available is 2004. The attached table shows the number of deaths with a verdict of suicide or undetermined intent, by method of injury in England and Wales for the years 1997 to 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of vehicle excise duty collected was spent on (a) the maintenance of roads and (b) public transport in each of the last five years. [67187]

The Government do not hypothecate revenue from vehicle excise duty into transport expenditure.

Details of Government expenditure on roads and public transport is available on the Department for Transport website http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/page/dft_transstats041489.pdf

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many White Papers were published by his Department in 2005; and if he will make a statement. [68248]

A list of Command Papers published by the Treasury is to be found on the websiteof the Office of Public Sector Information (www.opsi.gov.uk). Information relating specifically to White Papers and to Green Papers—terms which are not formally defined—is not available.

To ask the Prime Minister

(1) pursuant to the answer of 4 May 2006 to question 67852, how charges to journalists are calculated for their air travel when accompanying him on overseas trips; [69570]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 4 May 2006 to question 67853, if he will list the names of the journalists who have accompanied him on each foreign visit since 2001; and which news organisations have been invited to accompany him on such visits. [69571]

I have nothing further to addto the answer I gave the hon. Member on Wednesday3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1675W.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the establishment of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise. [68633]

The Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE) was established over 25 years ago under the terms of the Partnership Agreement between the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the European Community and its member states. The CDE's mission is to foster socio-economic development by providing advisory and non-financial services to companies and businesses in ACP countries.

The CDE employs 57 staff. It is primarily funded from the European Development Fund (EDF) which has provided €108 million for 2000-06. The United Kingdom contributes 12.67 per cent. of that amount. Additional funding comes from donors including Sweden, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle corruption in developing countries. [68670]

DFID is committed to tackling corruption. It is a problem in most countries, and is a result of failures in governance and accountability. The best check against corruption is to strengthen governance, supported by regular monitoring. We need to focus on building policies and institutions that prevent and deter corruption before it undermines development. DFID programmes include support for a range of governance reforms which are aimed primarily at improving accountability, transparency and the improved financial management of public resources. DFID is also promoting work internationally to develop better indicators that will help track progress over time.

A key part of DFID's work with developing country governments is to support the improvement of strategic planning and public financial management. For example, DFID supports public-financial management reform in Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Lesotho and the Gambia. Procurement reform is particularly important and DFID works closely with other bilateral donors and multilateral institutions (especially the World Bank) to improve countries' procurement capacity. Many DFID programmes are also supporting reform of public service pay, conditions and performance management, in order to reduce the incentives for public officials to act corruptly.

DFID also provides support to a wide range of institutions in developing countries, working to tackle corruption and improve the effectiveness of aid and domestic resources to maximise service delivery and benefits to poor people DFID has provided technical and financial support to dedicated anti-corruption commissions, for example in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. In addition work is under way to help improve citizens' capacity to hold governments to account for the way funds are used, by strengthening institutions such as parliaments, parliamentary committees and supreme audit institutions.

Corruption is not just a developing country problem. Developed countries carry an equal responsibility. The UK Government are strongly committed to combating overseas corruption and have taken a number of steps including action to reform the UK domestic legal framework and providing support to developing countries to strengthen their own systems. DFID, working with other government departments, has launched the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to improve the transparency of oil and mineral revenues. The UK also played an important role in negotiations to develop the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the first global agreement on the action that needs to be taken to combat corruption. The UK formally ratified the convention on 9 February this year and became only the second G8 country to have done so.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration about (a) condom use, (b) maternal health, (c) access to safe abortion and (d) its Mexico City policy on family planning assistance in developing countries. [68243]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development has not had recent discussions with the US Administration on these issues. The UK does have a different view from the US in a number of areas, including on promoting condom use, and on access to safe abortion. But we do, as we always have, continue to work with the US as closely and constructively as we can to promote country-led, evidence based and effective approaches to sustainable development.

The UK and the US are the largest bilateral donors involved in the supply of condoms and have a shared view on a range of key issues. We are working closely together, for example with the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition to help develop long-term sustainable responses to reproductive health commodity needs.

DFID and the US have regular discussions on maternal health, and we both support for example, the recently launched Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, as well as joint research on improving ways to measure maternal health.

The US is fully aware of our views on the Mexico City policy; that we do not agree with it.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being made by his Department (a) to treat and (b) to reduce the incidence of malaria in developing countries. [68229]

UK support to malaria control is provided through global partnerships, multilateral agencies, and bilateral country programmes. Most of these channels support both treatment of malaria and reduction of incidence including through more widespread use of insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs). DFID also supports public-private partnerships for the research and development of new tools and technologies (PDPs).

The UK is a key donor to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM), and has pledged £359 million to the fund through to 2008. Approximately 27 per cent. of GFATM funds go to malaria treatment and prevention?including both treatment (through provision of anti-malarial drugs) and prevention. DFID has provided £48.5 million from 1998-2005 to the global Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership, who work at global level, including by running the malaria medicines and supplies service which works to support countries to access supplies of effective malaria drugs and ITNs. DFID also provides core funding to the World Health Organisation (£12.5 million in 2004-05), and funds the World Bank and European Commission who also provide support to malaria treatment and prevention.

At country level DFID supports malaria control through bilateral programmes. Our priorities for malaria control focuses on giving support to countries to develop strong and sustainable health systems that are able to scale up the coverage of treatment including artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) and ITNs. In Kenya?DFID has committed £47.4 million to social marketing of ITNs. The aim is to increase the use of nets among pregnant women and children under five. DFID has also committed £8.5 million to develop a sustainable market for ITNs in Mozambique, through community-based and public health centres and retail shops.

DFID has pledged £10 million over five years (2005-10) to the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), which aims to discover, develop and deliver new affordable anti-malarial drugs. This is a joint commitment with the Wellcome Trust, who will match our support. DFID will also give £6.5 million over the next three years to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), which includes funding for work on developing a more effective artimisinin combination drug for treatment of malaria.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on increased funding to the Palestinian territories through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. [68893]

DFID provided £15 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in April 2006. This will help UNRWA continue to provide health, education, job creation and other essential programmes for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. We provided a similar level of assistance through UNRWA in 2005.

Since 2004, DFID has provided a total of£47.2 million for UNRWA's work to support the basic needs of Palestinian refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the merits of (a) non-governmental organisations and (b) private sector initiatives funding as a means of sustaining international aid to the Palestinian territories. [68898]

Supporting the basic needs of the Palestinian people is a high priority for DFID's programme of assistance. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector play a vital role in meeting the needs of some Palestinians. However, NGOs and the private sector do not have the capacity to substitute for the Palestinian Authority (PA) which, together with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), provides the vast majority of basic services to people in the West Bank and Gaza. We hope that the new Palestinian government will comply with the Quartet principles. If this happened, DFID funding would continue through the PA.

DFID and Her Majesty's Treasury are continuing work that began before the Palestinian elections to take forward the Chancellor of the Exchequer's initiative on the contribution of private sector development and growth to sustained peace in the region. The business environment is clearly very difficult, but we are assessing what opportunities there might be.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to provide support for pygmies in the Congo basin who have been affected by conflict. [68232]

In 2005-06, DFID provided£29.5 million in assistance to meet humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) out of a total programme of £55 million. We do not earmark our assistance specifically for particular ethnic groups so cannot say what proportion of this would have benefited pygmies. In addition to humanitarian assistance, the majority of our programme is focused on successful completion of the transition process and peace-building activities aimed at reducing the risks of conflict. These activities along with a major diplomatic effort are aimed at seeing a permanent end to the conflict in the DRC that has had such a devastating impact on the people including pygmies.

In 2004-05, we also provided £500,000 in assistance to meet humanitarian needs in the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), also not targeted to any particular ethnic groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on recruitment, search and selection agencies in each of the last five years. [68338]

DFID does not make use of recruitment, search and selection agencies when recruiting staff to the home civil service.

In accordance with The Civil Service Commissioners code, external appointments are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

Our job advertisements are placed in the national press or specialised magazines in addition to appearing on DFID's own website www.dfid.gov.uk. Since 2003, all of our vacancies have also been placed on the civil service recruitment Gateway website www.careers.civil-service.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to work with developing countries to tackle sex tourism, with particular reference to that involving children. [68174]

The Department for International Development (DFID) is working with Governments of developing countries to reduce poverty. Poverty can make poor people vulnerable to exploitation in local and international sex tourism. DFID has committed approximately £12 million to support countries' efforts to combat trafficking of poor women and children, many of whom are trafficked for work in the sex industry.

DFID's commitments include support throughthe International Labour Organisation's (ILO) International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour to help eliminate labour exploitation of women and children in the Greater Mekong basin in South East Asia. This six year programme began in 2003 and works with the Governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and the province of Yunnan in China to combat trafficking of women and children. DFID is also supporting a Save the Children Fund programme, which works with communities and is specially designed to complement the ILO's interventions on trafficking at national level.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department (a) to reduce the incidence of sexual violence in Democratic Republic of theCongo and (b) to improve the status of women in society. [68230]

We are concerned about the continuing reports of wide-scale sexual violence in the DRC, primarily against women, though also against significant numbers of children and men too. Rape seems to have become a weapon of war among armed groups. The prevailing culture of impunity, which creates the conditions for ongoing human rights violations, persists in the great lakes region.

The UK is working with the international community at different levels to deal with causes and symptoms of this, and has raised the issue with the Congolese authorities at all levels on many occasions, reminding them of the need to protect the rights of all vulnerable groups and for judicial action to be taken to bring the perpetrators of such abuses to justice. Specifically, as a member of the International Committee to Support the Transition (CIAT), the UK has joined the international community in highlighting abuses perpetrated by the Congolese army against the civilian population.

To end the cycle of human rights violations in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there needs to be an end to conflict in the country and the whole great lakes region. Conflict reduction is a major focus of the UK's engagement in DRC, and at a local level in the East we support NGOs who are promoting dialogue and peace building work between communities previously in conflict, with a total commitment of £3.3 million.

In addition, all the projects within this peace building programme try to tackle many of the underlying causes of sexual violence and to enhance women's status in society by working with women's organisations. One example of this type of work is International Alert's support for the South Kivu Women's Forum, which brings together women's organisations from community groups to women politicians to work for women's empowerment and peace.

Other areas of our work aim to address other aspects of women's empowerment. For example we are providing support of £800,000 to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to ensure women's full participation in the electoral process, both as candidates and voters.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to provide (a) psychological counselling for rape victims, (b) education for communities to reduce the stigma associated with rape, (c) medical treatment for victims including repair of fistula, (d) support for women made pregnant as a result of rape and (e) other support for victims of sexual violence in Democratic Republic of the Congo. [68231]

The high incidence of sexual violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is of great concern to the Government, particularly as recent evidence that suggest that levels are increasing. Providing support to the victims of such violence is a key part of humanitarian work in the DRC and DFID is a major donor to humanitarian programmes in the country, through the DRC Humanitarian Action Plan.

The Action Plan identifies 'protection' as a key sector for support, which includes ensuring that special measures are implemented to protect women and girls from violence in emergency situations and providing adequate assistance for survivors of gender-based violence.

Many of the individual humanitarian projects that we fund include providing support, especially medical assistance to victims of sexual violence, particularly in Eastern DRC. We are providing £440,000 to the Norwegian non-governmental organisation (NGO,) Christian Relief Network to set up and run a hospital wing in South Kivu treating women suffering from fistula—which is one of the most serious and devastating consequences of sexual violence. Their programme includes some of psychological support for patients as well as medical treatment. We are also supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross, who have recently launched a gender-based violence pilot programme in the East.

We have recently agreed to the addition of medical and psychosocial support for victims of sexual violence to an existing humanitarian health programme implemented by the health NGO, Merlin.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population of Sierra Leone which (a) lives below the poverty line and (b) lives on (i) $1 and (ii) $2 a day. [68150]

The Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey of 2003-04 (the latest available figures) found that:

70 per cent. of the population lived below the national poverty line (Leones 2,111 a day, which is the equivalent of $0.90 a day);

Approximately 70 per cent. of the population therefore lives on less than a dollar a day, and this figure is cited by the UN in 2005;

Approximately 75 per cent. of Sierra Leoneans live on less than two dollars a day according to data cited by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to help Sierra Leone develop policies to enable its Government to generate income from (a) diamonds and (b) fishing. [68152]

DFID is supporting the objectives set out in the Government of Sierra Leone's Core Mineral Policy. It has two main aims: to maximise the economic and social benefits of the diamond sector to both the Government and the people of Sierra Leone; and to ensure that the benefits accrued from the sector are divided more equitably among those involved. I refer the hon. Member for Cotswold to the answer I previously gave on 7 March 2006, Official Report, columns 1395-6.

DFID is committed to ensuring that the Government of Sierra Leone maximise the revenues it can accrue from its mineral resources, including the diamond sector. As part of this commitment, DFID is recruiting a Director General (DG) for the Ministry of Mineral Resources (MMR), whose principle task will be to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ministry. The DG's responsibilities will include overseeing a work plan that the MMR will develop in close consultation with the Office of the President. The DG will also liaise closely with other ministries, such as the National Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the policies developed maximise the revenue potential available to the Government from its extractive sector.

DFID officials are currently assessing options for providing support to fisheries policy development and more effective fisheries management by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. The European Commission (EC) is currently supporting a fisheries stock assessment in Sierra Leone and DFID's assistance would aim to build on this. At the same time, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has shown an interest in engaging with Sierra Leone on issues relating to illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. Our combined objective is to ensure the wealth of this highly prized fishery accrues to Sierra Leone for use by Sierra Leoneans. It is commonly recognised that currently Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries Liberia and Guinea, are together losing $140 million in fish that is stolen by illegal foreign fleets operating beyond the reach of national policing. A recent DFID assessment mission noted that this would have important benefits for the many small-scale fishers and processors and help them access new markets for their produce.

The mission was undertaken as part of the development of a new Joint EC/DFID Country Strategy Paper for Sierra Leone, which will be published in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the population of Sierra Leone has access to (a) free education and basic healthcare and (b) fresh water; and what steps he is taking to increase the percentage in each case. [68153]

There is currently no accurate or reliable data on the percentage of the population that have access to free education and basic health care services. The Ministry of Health estimates for 2005, indicate that approximately 60 per cent. of the population has access to health services of some kind. I refer the hon. Member to the information on 'gross school enrolment rates' in my answer of 13 March 2006, Official Report, column 1941W.

On the percentage of the population who have access to safe water, estimates from the Sierra Leone National Energy and Water Policy Planning Unit vary from21 per cent. to 46 per cent. (Updated water data from a household survey will be available soon and DFID is supporting ActionAid to undertake a water user survey in the Freetown area.)

At the end of the conflict in 2002, DFID agreed a country assistance programme with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) which focused on promoting peace and security, and good governance. This, with poverty reduction budget support, has formed the core of DFID support to date. As part of the development a new Joint Country Strategy, DFID, the GoSL and the European Commission (EC) are reviewing existing country programmes. This will include an assessment of needs in the education, health and water sectors.A draft of the Joint Country Strategy will be available for wider consultation in July.

In the meantime, DFID is funding a number of separate initiatives across all three sectors. These include:

providing support to implement a Malaria Outreach programme;

undertaking preparatory work with the National Energy and Water Policy Planning Unit to support the National Water and Sanitation Policy. DFID is also financing a programme aimed at improving the effectiveness of state-owned enterprises, including in the water sector;

through DFID contributions to the EU Water Facility a number of NGO programmes for rural water supply and sanitationare underway in Sierra Leone—with a total value of some€5.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many White Papers were published by his Department in 2005; and if he will make a statement. [68247]

No White Papers within the Commands Paper series were published by DFIDin 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority has started an investigation into the chronic neurotoxic effects of exposure to pyrolised engine oils via inhalation from aircraft engines into the cabin air supply on various types of aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [67802]

We have commissioned for the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) to conduct a comprehensive evidence review of any health risks in cabin air and the CAA are contributing to this process. The formal COT meeting will be held in public later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the EU Directive relating to cabotage on the UK haulage industry. [69528]

Based on figures published by Eurostat, it is estimated that, in 2004, cabotage operations by foreign hauliers accounted for about1.2 per cent. of all road haulage operations in the UK (the cabotage penetration rate for the EU as a whole was also about 1.2 per cent.)

We are working with industry, through the Haulage Industry Task Group, to gather further evidence on the range of challenges facing the haulage industry, including competition from overseas, but also a number of other important issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months. [67529]

Paragraph 5.28 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) the websites operated by his Department and (b) the reports placed on the internet in March 2006, indicating in each case whether paper copies were also made available. [65200]

The following websites are operated by the Department for Transport and its Agencies:

www.dft.gov.uk

www.cfit.gov.uk

www.cyclesense.net

www.cvclesmart.org

www.databases.dft.gov.uk/schools

www.databases.dft.gov.uk/primary

www.databases.dft.gov.uk/secondary

www.databases.dft.gov.uk/roadsafety

www.dft-eb-calculator.co.uk

www.dptac.gov.uk

www.drugdrive.com

www.hedgehogs.gov.uk

www.highwaycode.gov.uk

www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk

www.thinkseatbelts.com

www.transportdirect.gov.uk

www.transportdirect.info

www.utmc.gov.uk

www.webtag.org.uk

DfT Agency websites:

www.mcga.gov.uk

www.highways.gov.uk

www.ha-research.gov.uk

www.trafficmap.co.uk

www.dvlaregistrations.co.uk

www.dvla.gov.uk

www.dvlaonline.gov.uk

www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk

www.dsa.gov.uk

www.passplus.org.uk

www.arrivealive.info

www.ask-what-if.com

www.theory-tests.co.uk

www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk

www.vca.gov.uk

www.vosa.gov.uk

We published 187 new documents on the Department's main website (www.dft.gov.uk) inMarch 2006.

All major activity will be published in both forms and promoted to stakeholders and the press for wider dissemination. In contrast, some publications, particularly those aimed at niche/specialist audiences, may be published in electronic format only.

It is the Department's policy to make documents available in paper and alternative formats on request. The DfT website also complies with Web Accessibility Initiative (WIA) AA accessibility standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to enforce the disability equality duty on train operating companies. [64483]

The Department for Transport is currently assessing its policies and functions, including those of the Rail Group, in preparation for producing its own Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan which will be published later this year.

We have already achieved a great deal to ensure that our railways are more accessible to disabled people, for example:

All new rail vehicles must be accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users. Over 4,400 accessible vehicles have already entered service.

All TOCs, and Network Rail, are now required to publish a Disabled People's Protection Policy which describes how they will provide a service to disabled passengers and make information about the accessible features of each of the stations they operate publicly available.

As service providers, TOCs are obliged to remove any barriers that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to access their services. This duty applies to infrastructure including stations and services such as booking facilities.

In addition, we have launched our "Railways for All" Strategy which sets out how we will improve the accessibility of rail travel in Great Britain. The strategy is complemented by a £370 million Access for All fund to target improvements to the accessibility of stations through to 2015.

Powers in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 will also have an effect in this area. In particular, they will give disabled people a "right of access" to transport vehicles?including rail vehicles, enable the setting of an "end date", of no later than 1 January 2020, by which time all rail vehicles will become regulated, enable accessibility regulations to be applied to older rail vehicles when they are refurbished and other measures such as the introduction of compliance certification. These provisions will be in place by the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with GNER concerning its plans to increase the number of Leeds to London trains; and if he will make a statement. [68672]

Network Rail has been required by the Office of Rail Regulation to undertake further timetabling work to establish how many additional GNER Leeds to London trains can be accommodated in addition to the extra Grand Central and Hull Trains services for which ORR recently granted access rights. The impact on GNER's timetable plans will be assessed when the result of Network Rail's work becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Harbour Revision Order for Humber Sea Terminals (Phase 3) to be signed; and if he will make a statement. [67882]

I expect a decision on the order to be made within the next six weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make representations to Transport for London to ensure that (a) underground stations are not closed and (b) services are not subject to significant restrictions unless planned work is carried out; and if he will make a statement. [68601]

The closure of stations and suspension of services for maintenance works is an operational matter for London Underground, which transferred from central Government to Transport for London and the Mayor of London on 15 July 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions he has made to compensate garage owners for technical difficulties with the new MOT computer system. [69551]

There are two back-up provisions available to all garages in the MOT scheme designed to enable continuity of service to motorists in the event of technical difficulties to the MOT computer system. In addition to these, all of the 18,300 garages currently in the MOT scheme have been contacted and advised to write to the MOT service management team if they believe they have suffered financial loss as a result of disruptions to the MOT service. Each claim will be considered on its respective merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce a decision in relation to the Night Flights Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Consultation; and if he will make a statement. [68108]

holding answer 3 May 2006

We have been considering the responses to the consultation on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports and will announce our final conclusions by the end of the month. However, in order to remove uncertainty on an element which has given rise to concerns, we announced yesterday that we have decided not to increase night-time movement limits at Heathrow during the period 2006 to 2012.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had since the beginning of 2005 with (a) directors and (b) employees of Network Rail to discuss extra rail capacity for open access operators; and if he will make a statement. [67271]

The Secretary of State meets regularly with senior directors of Network Rail to discuss a range of issues, including improving the capacity of parts of the network for all train operators, both franchised and open access.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) the Office of the Rail Regulator, (b) potential bidders, (c) Network Rail and (d) Passenger Focus about the network capacity and financial implications of an open access operator operating on the route as part of the franchise specification process for the (i) South West, (ii) East Midlands, (iii) West Midlands and (iv) Cross Country franchise areas. [67272]

The Department has regular discussions with the ORR, Network Rail and Passenger Focus on issues relating to franchise specifications, and a briefing session for potential franchise bidders was held in April 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail franchise contracts that have been awarded in the last two years; and what the (a) premium or subsidy payable and (b) length of the contract is in each case. [67268]

The franchises awarded, their contract lengths, and details of their subsidy or premium are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the award of franchises on the East Coast rail line. [68049]

The following franchises have part of their operation on the East Coast Main Line: Virgin Cross Country, Northern Trains, Trans Pennine Express, First Capital Connect, ScotRail, Central Trains and GNER. Periodically these franchises will fall due for renewal. Replacement franchises will be awarded in accordance with DfTs guidance which is published on the Department's website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information a bidder is required to give about its services for disabled people within the tender evaluation process for rail franchising; and what weight is given to that information in awarding the franchise. [68469]

The evaluation of each bid incorporates assessing the evidence provided of how the franchisee intends to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) in delivering station and train services including provision of assistance to and consultation with impaired passengers, provision of tickets and training of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that Ivybridge has a rail service and timetable that is viable for (a) commuters and (b) students. [67608]

Under present plans Ivybridge will have five trains in each direction each weekday with effect from December 2006, at times to meet the needs of the majority of users. We are considering whether there are options for providing additional services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to announce how much will be available from the savings made by the reduction in the Sunderland-Newcastle rail service to help fund improvements to Sunderland railway stations. [67811]

Discussions between the Department for Transport and Nexus, the Tyne and Wear PTE, who are sponsoring proposed improvements to Sunderland railway station, are continuing. An announcement will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) GNER trains, (b) Virgin trains, (c) Northern trains and (d) First trains have been fined for late running of trains in each year since the introduction of the fines. [67188]

The penalties for poor performance paid by franchised train operators, together with bonuses paid where performance has been better than each company's benchmark, are itemised in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when HM Railway Inspectorate last visited Llansamlet railway station; and what conclusions were drawn from the visit. [60818]

The Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) last visited Llansamlet station on 27 January 2006. HMRI inspected work being undertaken by a Network Rail contractor, to upgrade railway signalling and telecommunication infrastructure near the station. HMRI concluded that no action needed to be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken at Llansamlet railway station (a) to improve passenger security, (b) to reduce vandalism, (c) to improve passenger facilities, (d) to provide on station ticketing machines and (e) to provide CCTV as part of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise. [60826]

There are no current plans by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) for improvements to passenger facilities and security at Llansamlet railway station. ATW do have a regular programme of station patrols and graffiti removal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to incorporate the Westcountry coast line between Exeter and Plymouth in the Trans European Network. [68330]

holding answer 8 May 2006

The line between Exeter and Plymouth is already defined as part of the Trans European Railway Network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston railway line. [68890]

The Borderlands Rail Study assessed electrification of all or parts of the Wrexham to Bidston line and integrating it with the Merseyrail Electrics network. It also considered the case for extensions to the existing diesel operation and new stations at Beechwood, Woodchurch and Deeside Park. Merseytravel, together with neighbouring authorities and the North Wales local authority consortium Taith, are considering the results of the study.

Subject to all available funding sources and discussions with interested parties, Merseytravel will consider whether a scheme is suitable to promote for major scheme funding as part of the second local transport plan for Merseyside covering the period 2006-11. The specification and funding of the Arriva Trains Wales service between Wrexham. and Bidston is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the maximum speed regularly attained by (a) passenger and (b) freight trains is on the North Wales coast line between Chester and Holyhead. [69430]

The maximum line speed for passenger train services along the North Wales Mainline is 90mph and for freight trains it is set at 60mph.

To ask the Secretary of Statefor Transport how many (a) incidents of objects thrown at or dropped on moving railway vehicles, (b) derailments, (c) incidents of livestock wandering onto the track, (d) collisions between moving railway vehicles and (e) suicides were recorded on the North Wales coast line between Chester and Holyhead ineach of the last three years for which figures are available. [69431]

The Department for Transport does not hold this information. This is an operational matter for Network Rail and I have asked them to reply directly to my hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been allocated to maintain the sea defences along the stretch of railway track at Dawlish in each of the next three years; and how much was spent in each of the last three years. [69129]

This is an operational matter for Network Rail. I have asked Network Rail to reply directly to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the plans to regulate ship to ship oil transfer are on schedule; and if he will make a statement. [68945]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) of 30 March 2006, . My officials are still working towards the deadline outlined therein, ie to consult in the summer with a view to secondary legislation which will regulate ship-to-ship transfers within the limits of the UK's territorial sea coming into Official Report, columns 1118-19W

force later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic effects of ship to ship oil transfer on (a) HM Treasury, (b) ports authorities and (c) surrounding local communities. [69203]

In accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance, the Department will prepare a regulatory impact assessment, which will address economic factors, to accompany the secondary legislation which will regulate ship-to-ship transfers within the limits of the UK's territorial sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will publish taxi access regulations under Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [68470]

We do not yet have a timetable for introduction of taxi accessibility regulations but the current situation is that local licensing authorities remain free to introduce their own accessibility policies and many have done so already. We are currently developing a technical specification to set the design parameters for accessible taxis. To assist this process, the Department held a seminar in June 2005 for stakeholders from industry, organisations representing disabled people and licensing authorities to discuss the complex issues around taxi accessibility. The views expressed at the seminar will be used to shape a consultation package.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of (a) Regulation 16, (b) Regulation 18 and (c) Schedule 3 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986; and what recent representations he has received about the operation of these Regulations. [69635]

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 as amended, including Regulations 16, 18 and Schedule 3, are operating as normal and I have received no representations about their operation. I occasionally get enquiries or suggestions for amendments to the Regulations. Each request is considered on its merits and may result in changes to the Regulations. The most recent amendments to the specific Regulations mentioned were made in 2001 and came into force on 1 May 2002.

It has been suggested that consolidation of the Regulations would be useful. The Department has sympathy with this view but does not see such a consolidation as a high priority at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989; and what recent representations he has received about the operation of this Act. [69636]

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended, are operating as normal and I have received no representations about their operation. I occasionally get suggestions or enquiries about amendments or additions to the Regulations. Recent enquiries have included requests for the Regulations to include special retro-reflective markings for the emergency services' vehicles, to permit red lights to be used by emergency and recovery vehicles and to require the fitment of retro-reflective tape to trucks. Each request is considered on its merits and this may result in changes to the Regulations; the latest amendments were made last year.

The Department is at present planning further amendments to the Regulations. These would permit the distinctive retro-reflective liveries on vehicles used by the emergency services, such as the blue and yellow block pattern used by the police, which are not allowed under the existing Regulations. This change would remove the need for the individual temporary exemptions that are currently issued to each service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Joint Ministerial Committee last met. [67713]

The Joint Ministerial Committee is the policy responsibility of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The last plenary meeting of the JMC was in October 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the future of Scotland's manufacturing industry. [67714]

Prospects for the future of the Scottish manufacturing sector are now very positive with a number of reports of growth in output, demand and employment in the first quarter of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the energy review takes account of the views of the energy industry and energy consumers in Scotland. [67716]

A wide range of Scottish interests have contributed to the consultation process in connection with the Energy Review. My hon. Friend, the Energy Minister, and his review team are in regular contact with the devolved Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Department for Trade and Industry on the commercial development of tidal energy in the Pentland Firth; and if he will make a statement. [67719]

Scotland Office Ministers and officials have discussions with their counterparts in the Department of Trade and Industry on a wide range of energy-related topics.

Government support development of tidal and other marine energy technologies by assistance for the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney and through the£50 million Marine Renewables Development Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on levels of personal debt in Scotland. [67717]

Personal debt data is collected on a UK basis by the Bank of England. The UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Executive, is however committed to addressing problems that may arise from over-indebtedness, particularly for vulnerable groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the socio-economic effects of the Barnett formula in Scotland. [67718]

I have received no representations on the socio-economic effects of the Barnett formula. The Government are content with current arrangements and have no plans to replace or to review the Barnett formula, which has delivered fair, stable and transparent settlements for Scotland under successive administrations for almost 30 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the voting rights of hon. Members representing Scottish seats on issues which do not affect Scotland. [67720]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) during Scottish oral questions on 28 February 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the BBC and Cabinet colleagues on television licences in Scotland. [67721]

I intend to have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues affecting Scotland. TV licensing is a matter for the BBC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the work of the loan sharks pilot scheme in Scotland. [67715]

My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry. I recently met the manager of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit, based in Glasgow, to discuss this groundbreaking initiative that tackles the problem of illegal loan sharks.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Home Department on anonymity during court proceedings for those accused of sexual offences. [68822]

I have had many discussions with Home Office Ministers about sexual offences since I became Solicitor General in 2001 and since 2005 in my role as Minister of State in the Department for Constitutional Affairs. There are no plans to change the rules to provide anonymity for those accused of sexual offences.