To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of anti-Semitism in the UK. [57554]

I have been asked to reply.

The Association of Chief Police Officers' national community tension team (NCTT) regularly produces a Community Impact Assessment which contains an assessment on the state of community relations, this includes anti-Semitism. This material is not shared with the public, as it contains operational policing information. The NCTT liaises with the community security trust (CST) at the national level on behalf of the police service. Forces with significant Jewish communities liaise closely at the local level. The Home Office's assessment of community relations also draws upon advice from Government Offices who in turn are informed by a wide range of community sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were required to report to the police as a condition of their temporary admission on 1 April 2006. [68597]

The information requested is not readily available as it would require the examination of individual case records which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in Kingston upon Hull North constituency; and how many of them are children. [69771]

holding answer 24 April 2006

Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by local authority. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2006 will be published on the 23rd May 2006, and will be available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library. Separate arrangements exist for unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are supported by local authorities; the local authority receives funding from the Home Office for this purpose. As at the end of March 2006 NASS was reimbursing Kingston upon Hull for providing support to 13 unaccompanied asylum seeking children, this figure is based on management information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times (a) a Minister and (b) an official has responded to an hon. Member that a file has been lost in an immigration case in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to prevent such files being lost. [69885]

The information is not routinely kept and the cost would be disproportionate to provide the information requested. A range of measures including additional training and targeted exercises to locate files and update records is currently being pursued in order to reduce the number of files that become lost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that victims of torture who seek refuge in the UK, including those whose asylum applications have failed, have access to medical treatment and counselling. [70017]

Asylum seekers receive NHS treatment free of charge while their claim is being considered. If they are to be dispersed, asylum claimants are advised on access to GP services in their dispersal area. If an asylum claim, including any appeal, is unsuccessful routine access to free NHS treatment will cease, although a course of treatment which has already started can be continued free of charge until the patient leaves the country. Immediately necessary treatment would not be withheld, regardless of whether the patient was chargeable or able to pay. In appropriate cases we will advise claimants of the existence of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture which is able to provide care, treatment and counselling.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to increase the priority given to victims by the criminal justice agencies; and what changes have been made to the criminal justice system (a) to take more account of the needs of victims and (b) to make the system more efficient and effective. [45205]

The Government are committed to putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. In "Rebuilding Lives: supporting victims of crime" we set out our plans to improve support to victims of crime, by refocusing the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to provide more financial help to those most seriously injured and immediate, practical help to other victims through delivering Victim Care Units.

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime will help ensure victims get information about their case, and from April victims can enforce their rights through the parliamentary ombudsman. We are in the final stages of appointing a new victim's advisory panel (the last panel has just completed its three-year tenure). The panel meets with CJS Ministers quarterly to advise on all aspects of services and support for victims of crime. We have increased the amount of money we spend on victims; Victim Support's funding has increased from under £12 million to £30 million .

We have set up 165 witness care units across England and Wales, giving victims and witnesses a single point of contact to help them through the court process. We have allocated over £3 million this year to improve accommodation facilities at court for witnesses. We have also consulted on proposals to pilot victims advocates in homicide cases. We have also established the prosecutors' pledge which sets out the level of service victims can expect to receive from prosecutors; reinforcing our commitment to victims.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2006, Official Report, column 813W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the exclusion of non-religious belief groups from eligibility for grant money under the Faith Communities Capacity Fund with the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 relating to official discrimination between religious beliefs and non-religious beliefs; and if he will make a statement. [60296]

I have been asked to reply.

Non-religious belief groups were eligible for the Faith Communities Capacity Building fund. All voluntary and community sector organisations including secular ones were entitled to apply for funding provided they could satisfy the criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many people have been (a) residing illegally and (b) working illegally in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [66457]

Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally, the Home Office published a report which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. A copy of the research and development statistics on-line report 29/05 Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html#rdsolr2905. The method used relies on data from the census undertaken every10 years, so it is not possible to produce an estimate for other years. Nor is it possible, using this methodology, to estimate the number living in Northern Ireland. No estimate has been made of the number of people who have been working illegally in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrant worker work permits were granted to farms in Bassetlaw in the last three years, broken down by country of origin. [69738]

Approvals for individuals to work in the UK agricultural sector are granted under the Work Permit Scheme, the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). The following tables show the approval information for each of the schemes.

PQ 69738 tables

This data is not provided under National Statistics protocols. It has been derived from local management information and is therefore provisional and subject to change.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy when placing material in the Library in response to a parliamentary question to supply a copy of the material to the hon. Member who tabled the question; and if he will make a statement. [64212]

Government best practice is that Departments should supply a copy of material placed in the Library in response to a parliamentary question to the hon. Member who tabled it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK nationals (a) are serving and (b) have completed in each of the past five years, prison sentences in Hampshire for (i) murder, (ii) manslaughter, (iii) grievous bodily harm, (iv) rape and (v) sexual offences against children; and how many of those released in each category served half of their sentence or less. [68484]

holding answer 11 May 2006

The information requested on UK nationals being held in prisons in Hampshire by type of offence, as recorded on the central prison IT system, is provided in the attached table. This IT system does not specify sexual offences against children as a separate category, so information is not available for those offences. The information requested on how many prisoners have been discharged from sentences from prisons in Hampshire is not available.

The only way in which an offender would have been released before the half way point would have been on home detention curfew which, for prisoners sentenced under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, is statutory restricted to those sentenced to less than four years and not convicted of a grave offence. Those who are eligible are then subject to risk assessment. So few of these offenders will have been released before the halfway point.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the merits of giving the Healthcare Commission statutory authority to monitor and evaluate the adequacy of mental health care provision across the prison estate. [65586]

National health service primary care trusts (PCTs) assumed full responsibility for the commissioning of prison health services in the public prisons in England in April 2006. HM Prison Service previously held this commissioning responsibility. The main aim of this transfer is to help ensure that prisoners receive a similar level of service from the national health service as that received by the general public.

As part of this, the statutory authority for the Healthcare Commission to performance manage prison health services, including mental health services, was automatically assumed when responsibility for commissioning prison health services was transferred to the national health service. The Healthcare Commission has responsibility for the assessment and performance of NHS organisations, which includes primary care trusts with responsibility for prison health services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the estimates of additional probation staff needed to implement the Criminal Justice Bill 2003 contained in explanatory notes published on 21 November 2002 are still valid. [63083]

On 3 April in answer to the hon. Gentleman's written question number 63078 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 354W, I provided details of substantial increases in probation staffing since 1997 and of further planned increases. Comparison with the estimates that were made three and a half years ago is difficult because the changes introduced through the Criminal Justice Act 2003 are not the only ones to affect deployment of probation resources. We are monitoring the courts' use of the new sentences in the 2003 Act and, thus far, the sentences are being imposed broadly in line with the planning assumptions that informed the explanatory notes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Sheikha Ahmed, reference LR1918000565, will be notified of her immigration status. [69475]

Officials from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to Mrs. Ahmed informing her of the decision concerning her immigration status on 9 May 2006.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many personal computers are allocated to employees of the House. [69455]

The latest estimate of personal computers currently used in the House service, including those allocated to PICT which is a department serving both Houses, is 1850, made in connection with the programme for updating computers to Microsoft XP. Following the creation of PICT in January of this year, a more systematic process for central recording of information on equipment volumes and for keeping it up to date is under way. All House staff who require a desk and access to the network have a desktop personal computer. Not all desktop computers are personally allocated; some are based in work areas used by different staff at different times. There are further computers used for training and development purposes, and a small number of laptops held within individual departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his Department's (a) advisory bodies and (b) committees concerned with animal health and welfare; and if he will make a statement. [67177]

For information on advisory bodies and committees with which the Department works, but which also cover the work of other Departments I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on 9 May 2006, Official Report, column 125W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discount rate has been used to calculate the nuclear liabilities of British Nuclear Group in preparation for its sale by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. [64055]

Following the European Commission's decision on state aid as announced on4 April (press release reference IP/06/428), financial responsibility for the civil nuclear liabilities of BNFL including British Nuclear Group was assumed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with effect from 31 March 2006. The sale of BNG was agreed to in the expectation that the State Aid decision would be favourable in allowing for this assumption of financial responsibility. As such, the sale of BNG does not include those nuclear liabilities and no calculations were needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the pay gap between able-bodied and disabled workers in (a) Kingston upon Hull, North and (b) the UK in each year between 1997 and 2005; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce that gap. [69763]

The Low Pay Commission reported that, in 2004, the pay gap for people with a work-limiting disability was 13 percentage points. This Department is not aware of any further data on the pay gap between disabled and non-disabled workers in Kingston upon Hull or the UK in the years 1997 to 2005.

The Equal Opportunities Commission's code of practice on equal pay recommends that it is good practice for employers, when comparing the pay between men and women to also look at disability and seek advice from the Disability Rights Commission to ensure that the relevant provisions of the disability legislation are taken into account.

As a result of a strong economy and active labour market policies, the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people is starting to close. The employment rate for disabled people was 38.1 per cent. in spring 1998, rising to 46.6 per cent. by spring 2005; over the same period, the employment gap fell from 35.1 per cent. to 28 per cent.

The DTI supports the recommendations in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report, "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People", and the aims of the Office for Disability Issues and contributes to implementing recommendations within its area of responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to encourage manufacturers to place on the market televisions and other such appliances which switch automatically from stand by to off mode after a pre-set time. [68465]

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply on 19 April 2006, Official Report, column 729W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding was allocated by his Department to the Energy Saving Trust in each year since 1997. [66732]

holding answer 27 April 2006

I have been asked to reply.

Total funding for the Energy Saving Trust by my Department is as follows:

Figures for 1997-98 cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the government of Brazil about the implications for the UK of its experience of the use of ethanol as a fuel. [68221]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not held any direct discussions with the Brazilians on the use of ethanol. However, the Prime Minister discussed the benefits of bioethanol with President Lula during his state visit to the UK in March. Part of the discussion focused on the study scoping a possible Brazil-UK-Africa partnership on bioethanol that is currently being undertaken by E4tech for the Office of Science and Innovation. This project arises from a visit made to Brazil by the UK Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, as part of the preparations for the UK G8 Summit in Gleneagles in July 2005. The final report on the study will be available for discussion at the Brazil- UK science days at the Royal Society on 22 and23 May. The aim of the project is to try and address two difficult global problems, climate change and African development, through a tri-partite partnership. Work is currently focused around achieving a win on climate change and African development through development of production capacity from sugar cane.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the European Energy Charter. [69930]

The Government see the Energy Charter Treaty as a valuable instrument with important provisions on non-discrimination on energy investment, trade and transit and an energy efficiency protocol. The Government's policy is to help to enhance its effectiveness by encouraging all member countries who have not yet ratified the treaty to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on UK (a) policy on and (b) contributions to the International Energy Agency. [69934]

holding answer 11 May 2006

The Government believe the International Energy Agency (IEA) carries out an important role as expert energy adviser to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (the OECD).

The IEA organised the collective release of emergency oil stocks held by member states to address the loss of supplies and to restore confidence to the oil market in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It is also an international respected centre of technical energy expertise and is involved in the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development. The G8 asked the IEA to undertake significant work under the Gleneagles Plan of Action.

In 2005 the UK paid an annual subscription of €1,459,674 (£962,833 at today's rates). The UK also made additional voluntary contributions from the Global Opportunities Fund that, in 2005, amounted to £144,695. The UK, as part of the G8, also made a contribution of €1 million to fund the work under the Gleneagles Plan of Action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) vibration white finger claims have been submitted from Bassetlaw constituency, broken down by district electoral ward. [69752]

The breakdown of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and vibration white finger (VWF) claims requested above is set out as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bereavement awards have been paid out as part of a miner's industrial disease claim in each year since 1999. [69784]

In total, 32,681 bereavement awards have been paid out as part of miners' industrial disease claims since 1999. The annual breakdown is as set out as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many services claims under the vibration white finger scheme have been (a) submitted and (b) refused since 1999. [69791]

As at 7 May, 50,699 vibration white finger services claims had been submitted⁽¹⁾ and 2,866 denied since 1999.

⁽¹⁾ Some of those claims submitted may not have been pursued to settlement, having either been withdrawn or just not progressed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) minimum and (b) maximum costs (i) have been claimed from and (ii) paid by his Department for common law (A) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (B) vibration white finger claims since 1999. [69800]

The minimum and maximum costs claimed are not readily available but the sums paid each year since 1999 are set out in the following tables:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which private contractors have signed up to his Department's claims handling agreement for mining diseases. [69804]

UK Coal, the largest of British Coal's successor companies, has signed up to the respiratory disease claims handling agreement (CHA) as has AGF, the insurers of the small mines owners.

A list of coal mining contractors who are party to the 1999 VWF CHA⁽¹⁾ follows:

A. Monk and Co. Ltd. (now Kvaerner Construction Ltd.)

AM Mining Services Ltd. (dissolved 7 May 2002)

Amalgamated Construction Company Ltd.

Caledonian Mining Company Ltd. (now Calsafe Group Ltd. incorporating Caledonian Building Systems Ltd).

CEMEC

Cementation Mining Ltd.

Cleveland Potash

Davy Mining Ltd.

Derek Crouch Mining Ltd.

G. Elect Services Ltd.

Hollybank Engineering Ltd.

James Williams (Neath) Ltd.

Kvaerner Construction Ltd.

Low Valley Engineering and Shot Blasting Ltd.

Matthew Hall Mining Ltd.

MB Installations and Site Services

Mining Skills Ltd.

National Plant and Transport

OMEC Engineering

Small Mines

Specialist Mining Services Ltd.

T. Bridges and Co. Ltd.

Techplus Mining Ltd.

Thyssen (GB) Ltd.

Trafalgar House Group

UK Coal Mining Limited

West Riding Technology

Coal Investment

Hatfield Colliery

Midland Mining Ltd.

Tower Colliery

^{(1 )}Please note that the VWF CHA has since been amended by negotiation with the Claimants Steering Group, which the above Coal Mining Contractors are only in agreement with in part

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 13 March 2006, Official Report, columns 91-92WS, on offshore petroleum licensing, what protection is in place in the 24th round of offshore petroleum licensing for Cardigan Bay, as a special area of conservation. [69304]

There are several types of protection which will be afforded to any special areas of conservation within Cardigan Bay.

Prior to commencing the 24th Licence Round, my officials carried out a strategic environmental assessment in order to predict and evaluate the environmental implications of the round.

We will shortly be conducting an "Appropriate Assessment" (pursuant to the habitats and birds directives) of potential impacts of the 24th Licence Round. An Appropriate Assessment will enable my officials to ascertain whether the proposed plan or project is likely to have an adverse effect on the integrity of a relevant site. In carrying out this Appropriate Assessment we will consult the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Should any licences be granted and the operators subsequently apply to undertake activities that are likely to have a significant effect on a relevant site within Cardigan Bay then further Appropriate Assessments will be conducted at the project level. In addition, an environmental impact assessment may also be required as part of the permit application process.

These assessments will be used to determine what type of activity may be licensed or consented and/or what form of mitigation should be applied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will compensate those post offices which will be affected by the proposed withdrawal of the Post Office card account. [70250]

Post Office Ltd and the Department for Work and Pensions are currently discussing various options to help mitigate any impact on post offices resulting from the end of the Post Office card account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's policy is on the removal of share certificates under a programme of dematerialisation; and if he will make a statement. [67757]

The Government have welcomed the work of an industry working group which is looking at options for greater use of paper free holding and transfer of shares. The responses to the company law reform White Paper of March 2005 showed strong support for this initiative, but it is also clear that more information is needed on the costs and benefits of a paper free approach. The Government do not wish to rule out any option at this stage, and have therefore decided to extend the existing power relating to transfer of securities under section 207 of the Companies Act 1989 so that it could be used to require, as well as to permit, the paper free holding and transfer of company shares. In doing so, we wish to ensure that the new arrangements for paperless holding and transfer of securities do not deprive individual shareholders of existing rights which may be important to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of how the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's changes to the funding of the UK Sub-Auroral Magnetometer Network will affect amateur astronomers. [67752]

To maintain the health of its programme, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) has conducted a rigorous review of its investments. As a result of this review, PPARC has decided to withdraw support from UK Sub-Auroral Magnetometer Network (SAMNET). SAMNET records natural variations in the Earth's magnetic field, PPARC's assessment is that the withdrawal of support will therefore have minimal impact on amateur astronomers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many possible telephone numbers had not been issued to subscribers or service providers (a) in the UK, (b) on the Isle of Wight and (c) in each London code area (i) immediately before the revisions to the numbering system in (A) 1990, (B) 1995 and (C) 2000 and (ii) at the most recent date for which information is available. [64806]

holding answer 24 April 2006

The matter raised is the responsibility of the Regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the value of the business brought to the post office by its sale of television licences. [70413]

The value of the business brought to the post office by the sale of television licences derives from a commercial contract with the BBC, and is therefore an operational matter for the company. I have asked Alan Cook, the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd., to reply direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely timescale for reopening the THORP nuclear reprocessing plant; and if he will make a statement. [69376]

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estimates that the thermal oxid reprocessing plant (THORP) is likely to be ready to reopen in the summer. A decision on whether to restart rests with the NDA Board is subject to the Health and Safety Executive's safety requirements being met. The Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will not allow THORP to restart until it is satisfied that these safety requirements have been met.

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

(1) what the average infection rate is for the (a) H7 and (b) H5N1 strains of avian influenza; [69410]

(2) what information he has received on the infection rate in other countries where there has been an outbreak of the H7 strain of avian influenza. [69411]

The infection rate within a flock will depend on the stage at which the disease is detected. The rate of spread and local epidemiology within a poultry population will depend on many factors, but once the virus is introduced into a holding its rate of spread within the flock will be most strongly influenced by the virus strain, the host species and the production type.

Recent incidents of low pathogenic H7 avian influenza in Italy have usually resulted in infection rates of 100 per cent., especially where the disease was not detected early and intervention strategies were not put in place. Early detection of low pathogenic viruses is particularly difficult since clinical signs are often very mild or not apparent. In the outbreaks of H7N7 highly pathogenic avian influenza in flocks in the Netherlands in 2003, 100 per cent. of birds became diseased when there was no early detection or intervention. The average infection rates for H7 or H5 avian influenza in flocks of poultry will depend on the influence of all of the factors mentioned above.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the infection rate was in each UK outbreak of the H7 strain of avian influenza in the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement. [69412]

The infection rate, as determined by serology, in the three poultry premises recently confirmed with H7N3 was 100 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what testing methods are used by the UK Government to detect (a) the H7 strain of avian influenza, (b) the H5N1 strain of avian influenza and (c) other strains of avian influenza; what information he has received on the methods used in other countries in each case; and if he will make a statement. [69414]

The UK national laboratory at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA), Weybridge follows standard international protocols (including EU directives) to detect avian influenza viruses.

A combination of screening and confirmatory tests are used. Initially, samples are screened using a rapid, highly sensitive and specific real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) that detects all influenza A viruses. Further tests of this type are used specifically for the detection of H5 and H7 subtypes, in addition to conventional PCR tests that provide information on the pathogenicity of the virus.

In all cases involving suspicion of disease in poultry, or following positive detection in any host, virus isolation in embryonated fowls' eggs is carried out to provide further characterisation. In addition, especially forH5 or H7 viruses, blood samples are analysedfor virus-specific antibodies using standard haemagglutination inhibition tests.

As an international reference laboratory—and the EU community reference laboratory for avian influenza—the VLA takes a leading role in developing new technologies for diagnosis, together with the transfer and standardisation of such methodologies to other laboratories. The agency is also responsible for ensuring test harmonisation across all national laboratories and ensuring that common testing methodologies are used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Carbon Trust is exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [67866]

The Carbon Trust is a private company and is not listed in the schedules of the Freedom of Information Act. It would be Defra's responsibility to answer any request for information held by the Trust on Defra's behalf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to address the effects on the UK of global warming; and what further steps he plans to take in the next five years. [65392]

holding answer 11 May 2006

The recently published climate change programme in March 2006, sets out the Government's commitments both at international and domestic level to meet the challenge of climate change. The programme contains a series of measures between now and 2010 both to further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and bring us closer to our domestic target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The programme also contains commitments to adapt to that climate change which is already unavoidable.

Further information on the new climate change programme can be found on the DEFRA website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/index.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the community energy programme has had its funding programme curtailed; and what alternatives have been put in place. [68568]

The recent climate change programme review involved a wide-ranging appraisal of the effectiveness of existing climate change policies. We have concluded that other programmes deliver carbon savings in a more cost-effective way, compared with the community energy programme. These include support for biomass community heating through the new heat support scheme, which will include combined heat and power.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent developments in the milk producing and dairy industry. [66107]

The Department commissioned a report from Professor David Colman and Yaqin Zhaung, 'Changes in England and Wales Dairy Farming since 2002/03: A Resurvey', which was published last year. This showed that more farms had ceased production than had been previously indicated and there was a higher concentration of more profitable and larger herds among those that left. It reconfirmed previous findings which indicated that milk production is likely to fall.

Although the trend of farmers leaving the industry is not new, in terms of the sustainable future of the dairy industry, the apparent trend of some of the more efficient dairy farmers leaving the industry is worrying. We commissioned the report because we wanted some firm evidence of what was happening in the dairy sector. This is part of that evidence base. The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, is working to understand why these farmers are leaving. While it is likely that profitability will be an important factor, there are also issues such as succession and possibilities for diversification which need to be considered.

The report, 'Changes in England and Wales Dairy Farming since 2002/03: A Resurvey', can be found on the DEFRA website at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/milk/pdf/colman3report.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to assist the dairy farming sector; and if he will make a statement. [66108]

The Government are helping the industry to help itself, for example by establishing the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker. The dairy farming sector is well represented on the Forum. We believe that the Dairy Supply Chain Forum has had a positive effect on bringing together all sectors of the dairy industry to discuss the challenges and develop collective solutions.

The Forum has commissioned and published a considerable amount of research which has stimulated debate and helped provide information to help the industry make informed decisions about its future.

The dairy farming sector has also benefited directly from grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme, for example to help fund benchmarking and the creation of a network of dairy best practice groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken (a) to strengthen the selling systems for milk and (b) to improve the dairy industry structure. [66109]

The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, has had constructive discussions regarding the National Farmers Union's 'Vision for the Dairy Industry' and the Milk Development Council's paper, 'Raw Milk Contracts and Relationships'. Ultimately however, decisions on selling systems are private commercial matters in which Government cannot get involved.

Decisions on the future structure of the dairy industry are also for the industry rather than Government. Through the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, a considerable amount of research has been commissioned and published, which has helped provide information to help the industry make informed decisions about the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Crown copyright applies to Environment Agency data. [67801]

Crown Copyright applies to Crown and Government Departments. As the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body (NDPB), Crown copyright does not apply to Environment Agency data.

The Office of Public Sector Information lists Crown and non-Crown bodies on its website at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/advice/crown-copyright/uk-crown-bodies.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the EU Commission on EU support for environmental industries. [67896]

UK Ministers and officials regularly discuss EU support for environmental industries with the European Commission. Under the UK presidency of the EU, my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), hosted a stakeholder forum on environmental technologies alongside Environment Commissioner Dimas on 1 December 2005 in Brussels. In addition, the UK has played an active role in the implementation of the environmental technologies action plan since its adoption. We continue to promote ways of facilitating the uptake of environmental technologies, including through Community research programmes and financial instruments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent announcement by the EU Food Safety Authority on the long-term safety of GM crops. [66628]

I understand the hon. gentleman to be referring to the press release issued by the European Commission on 12 April. This document did not make any new claims or provide any new evidence relating to the issue of the long term safety of GM crops. Its purpose was instead to give details of certain proposed measures which provide reassurance that Community decisions on genetically modified organisms are based on high quality scientific assessments which deliver a high level of protection for human health and the environment.

The Government believe that Community decisions on GMOs are already taken on the basis of high quality scientific assessments which provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment. However, we support this initiative from the Commission which aims to improve the transparency of the procedures in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Leader Plus programmes are running in Gloucestershire. [68567]

There are no Leader plus Local Action Groups in Gloucestershire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) grants are available and (b) assistance is offered by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies for the promotion of education about recycling; and if he will make a statement. [69205]

holding answer 8 May 2006

The Government are providing funding and support for the promotion of awareness and education about recycling through a number of different programmes.

Each local authority in England is receiving a share of the £105 million Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG) this year. This grant allocation is not ring-fenced and local authorities are encouraged to use it to support further improvements in recycling performance, including education initiatives.

The Waste Implementation Programme (WIP)'s local authority support unit provides best practice guidance, practical support and consultancy advice, including public awareness and education programmes.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is taking forward, on behalf of the Government, a waste awareness and education programme. WRAP has a budget of nearly £16 million for this programme this financial year. Nearly £10 million of this budget will be spent on the national "Recycle Now" campaign, which includes television and news media campaigns. The remainder of the budget of around £7 million will be used to support local authority communications campaigns. The campaign also involves work with schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had about plans for responding to oil spills in winter ice conditions in relation to possible European Bank for Reconstruction and Development funding for Shell's proposed Sakhalin II development. [67173]

My predecessor, and Ministerial colleagues from other Departments, have held a number of meetings, both with Shell and representatives from NGOs, relating to the Sakhalin II project. A range of issues, including the environmental impacts of the project, and specifically the question of plans for responding to oil spills in winter ice conditions, have been discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of farmers waiting to receive payments under the single farm payment scheme in Suffolk. [69820]

120,367 applications were received for the single payment scheme (SPS). By the end of 4 May 2006 over 58,000 claims (48.5 per cent.) had been paid, a total of £552 million in full payment.

31,000 partial payments have been processed to a value of £730 million. In total, 85 per cent. of the £1,500 million of expected payments for the 2005 scheme years will have been distributed.

31,000 claimants were not included in the partial payments system, 26,000 because their claim amounted to less than €1,000, and 5,000 because of a diverse range of other factors which made their cases particularly complex. Making full payments to this group of 5,000 will now be given the highest priority by the Rural Payments Agency.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who signed the letter from his Department to the Commission for Agriculture dated 12 April requesting an extension of the payment window for the single farm payment until October 2006. [67923]

holding answer 3 May 2006

The letter was signed by the Director General for Sustainable Farming and Food.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints have been received from farmers in Milton Keynes about the single farm payment. [68137]

The Rural Payments Agency does not have data available on a regional or subject basis, as complaints are not administered in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the March meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and its implications for the Government's policy on terminator seeds. [67467]

At the eighth meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Curitiba, Brazil 20-31 March 2006, Governments decided to reaffirm the decision which had been taken in 2000 that there should be a precautionary approach in field testing and commercial development of Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs).

This decision states that products incorporating GURTs should not be approved for field testing until appropriate scientific data can justify such testing and for commercial use until appropriate scientific assessments with regard to ecological and socio-economic impacts have been carried out and the conditions for their safe and beneficial use validated. In addition to reaffirming the precautionary approach in the 2000 decision, the 2006 decision calls for the respect of farmers' rights to the preservation of seed and for further research on the ecological, economic, social and cultural impacts of GURTs.

The UK Government have pursued a consistent policy on this issue, supporting both the decision taken by the CBD in 2000 and the reaffirmation of this decision in 2006. As far as we are aware, no crops involving terminator technology are in use anywhere in the world, and none are under active commercial development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ban the importation of veal which has been reared in crates; and if he will make a statement. [69253]

Under both EU and international trade rules it would be illegal to ban the import of veal reared in crates. However, the UK opposes the use of veal crates, and banned them in this country in 1990. From 1 January 2007, veal crates will be banned throughout the EU.

Many producers on the continent have already moved to other production methods and the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have also banned their use. Finland has banned veal production altogether and Sweden and Greece have no veal industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 23 December 2005, from the hon. Member for North West Leicestershire on the reprocessed fuel oil, the Waste Incineration Directive and the draft Waste Framework Directive. [57532]

I apologise for the extremely long delay in replying.

The Government have been in high level discussions with industry and stakeholders on these issues, and a reply will be sent by 26 May 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of households in each water company area has water meters; and what percentage of all households was metered in (a) 1990, (b) 2000 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available. [67897]

Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Each year it records the percentage of household customers with meters on an individual company and industry wide basis. This information is published by Ofwat in its 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' report.

Ofwat holds reliable figures on the percentage of metered properties from 1992-93 onwards. Figures for the period 1990-92 are not available. The latest reporting year for which figures are available is 2004-05. Household metering projections

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) water shortages and (b) hosepipe bans on (i) municipal floral displays, (ii) cricket pitches and (iii) the Britain in Bloom competition. [66240]

The Environment Agency has produced a report, 'Drought prospects 2006', explaining the likely consequences of a continuing rainfall deficit and recommending action by water companies and the public. This report is available on request from the Agency (telephone 020 7863 8710) or from its website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Hosepipe bans imposed by water companies affect the watering of private gardens. Some water companies in South East England have applied to the Secretary of State for drought orders to ban the non-essential use of water. If made, such orders could impact on the watering of parks and sports facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long he expects the hosepipe bans in (a) Thames Water and (b) Three Valleys Water to continue; and if he will make a statement. [66880]

The typical duration of hosepipe bans depends on factors such as the amount of water stored in local aquifers, base river levels and reservoir storage. The present bans in Thames Water and Three Valleys Water are likely to continue throughout the summer, and until there is enough rainfall for water companies to be confident they can meet demand for summer 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amount of water likely to be lost due to leaks in pipes owned by water companies over the next decade; and if he will make a statement. [67008]

The Director General of Water Services publishes leakage figures annually in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports. Leakage targets are set by Ofwat, currently up to 2009-10. If all water companies were to meet these targets, total water company leakage would be 3,336 megalitres/day by 2009-10, a reduction of 272 megalitres/day from 2004-05 figures.

To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of his private office staff is (a) male, (b) female and (c) disabled. [69151]

The office of the Leader of the House of Commons has 12 staff, 67 per cent. are male and 33 per cent. female.

The provision of personal information on disability is optional and is held on individual staff files. Owing to the nature and size of the office, providing this information could result in the identification of individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1591W, on first level 3 qualifications, how many 19 to 25-year-olds studying for a first level 3 qualification are paying fees for the course in each region in England. [69569]

holding answer 9 May 2006

The following table shows the number of 19 to 25-year-olds who were studying for a full level 3 or equivalent qualification⁽¹⁾ in further education in the academic year 2004/05 by region, and the number of those in each region who did not receive any fee remission.

⁽¹⁾Does not include Access to HE qualifications or wholly privately funded study aims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children in each school in Worcester city (a) receive free school meals and (b) are eligible for free school meals. [67402]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Two sets of figures relating to the number and proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals are given here. The first includes all pupils in the school, regardless of their age. The second includes full-time pupils aged up to (and including) 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 (inclusive). This second coverage is as used in the Pupil Achievement Tracker and Ofsted's PANDA reports and provides consistent school level comparisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools do not have a permanent head teacher. [70792]

Information is not available in the format requested.

Information on the number of full-time temporary filled head teacher posts is available from the annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies held in January each year. Table 9 of Statistical First Release 18/2006 provides a snapshot of temporarily filled head teacher posts as at January for each year available. This publication is available on the Department's website at the following URL: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000653/index.shtml. A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the basis was for the calculation of the estimated £40 million savings from the re-organisation of the Learning and Skills Council; whether the calculation was made (a) before and (b) after a decision had been reached on staff numbers and structures; and how much of the estimated saving was savings on (i) staff costs and (ii) administrative costs. [69884]

holding answer 11 May 2006

On 16 September 2005 Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive, announced proposals for a new structure for the organisation with the aim of making it more effective at identifying and responding to local learning and skills needs, and to achieve a less bureaucratic and more strategic relationship with partners and providers. It means that the LSC will spend less time on transactional processes and more time developing relationships with key partners and stakeholders. This requires fewer staff with a different set of skills. The calculation of savings of up to £40 million, which could be released for the benefit of learners, was based on these priorities and a structure that will require some 1,100 fewer posts. The savings include staffing, property and related costs. Due to the complexities involved in the restructuring the level of savings may change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the £750 million pledged for school sport at the 2000 Labour Party Conference has been spent. [69919]

holding answer 11 May 2006

All of the New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) funding is now fully committed, to over 2,000 projects. To date, £341,370,187 has been drawn down by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children are educated in private schools in each local authority area. [68793]

The information requested is shown in the table.