To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) whether military air bases handling civilian flights on an occasional basis are deemed to meet the requirements of the National Aviation Security Programme by virtue of their military status; [70528]

(2) whether military air bases handling incoming civilian flights on an occasional basis are required fully to meet the requirements of the National Aviation Security Programme. [70529]

All UK airports, whether civil or military, from which are operated flights regulated under the National Aviation Security Programme, must meet the requirements of the programme, and are subject to routine inspection, audits and tests by the Department for Transport. Incoming flights will need to have met the requirements of their airport of departure. Military airports are not deemed to have met the requirements of the National Aviation Security Programme simply by virtue of their military status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on directive 2003/20/EC; when the directive will be implemented in England and Wales; and what consultation he has undertaken on the provisions of the directive. [70401]

We are implementing directive 2003/20/EC. We will lay draft regulations for approval before both Houses of Parliament as soon as possible and if approved we aim to bring them into force in September 2006.

Public consultation in respect of the requirements in buses and coaches was published on 21 September 2004. The Department's decision following that consultation was published on 19 July 2005.

Public consultation in respect of the requirements for greater use of child restraints in cars and goods vehicles was published on 13 June 2005. The Department's decision following consultation was published on27 February 2006. These documents have been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_ rdsafety/documents/divisionhomepage/039143 .hcsp and http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n= 13759&1=2 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions he has in place to assess the level of adherence to the Highway Code by cyclists; and if he will make a statement. [70198]

We do not have any provisions in place to assess the level of adherence to the Highway Code by cyclists. Road traffic law and The Highway Code apply as much to cyclists as anyone else. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police. They can prosecute cyclists who ride dangerously, carelessly, ignore traffic signsor signals, cycle on the pavement or commitany other road traffic offence. These offences carry maximum fines between £500 and £2,500. Also,£30 fixed penalty notices can be issued for cycling on the pavement, by police and community wardens.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what discussions he has had with Governments in (a) Italy, (b) Spain, (c) Portugal and (d) Austria on the effects on road safety of compulsory reflective vests for car drivers leaving their vehicles following a breakdown or accident; and if he will make a statement; [70345]

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of deaths and serious injuries that have been prevented by the requirement in law in (a) Italy, (b) Spain, (c) Portugal and (d) Austria for drivers to wear reflective vests when leaving their vehicles at the roadside following a breakdown or accident; and if he will make a statement; [70357]

(3) whether the Government submitted an opinion on the notification by Italy in the Official Journal of the European Union of its intention to require car drivers to wear reflective vests when leaving their vehicle at the roadside following accidents or breakdowns (notice number 2003/357/1); [70358]

(4) if he will commission research to evaluate the effectiveness of the requirement in (a) Italy, (b) Spain, (c) Portugal and (d) Austria for drivers to wear reflective vests when leaving their vehicle at the roadside in the event of a breakdown or accident; and if he will make a statement; [70359]

(5) if he will commission a cost-benefit analysis of a requirement to wear reflective vests for car drivers who leave their car at the roadside following an accident or breakdown; and if he will make a statement. [70383]

No discussions have been entered into with other Governments, or opinions submitted upon, the benefits for road safety of compulsory reflective vests for car drivers leaving their vehicles following a breakdown or accident.

We will continue to monitor experience in other countries that introduce legislation requiring drivers to wear reflective vests when leaving their vehicles at the roadside following a breakdown or accident. If clear evidence starts to emerge that it is beneficial, we would look again at the need to legislate.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will list the material produced by (a) the House of Commons Information Office and (b) the Education Unit for (i) schools and (ii) individual pupils; and if he will make a statement. [70365]

The following tables show the information requested:

The Information Office also updates a range of material on the parliamentary website, including Frequently Asked Questions, lists of Members (by constituency, party, county/unitary authority), membership of all-party subject and country groups, members of the Government and party spokespeople.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans the House of Commons Information Office has to produce new factsheets; how many factsheets were sent to members of the public in each of the last three years; how members of the public may obtain copies; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [70364]

The House of Commons Information Office publishes 65 factsheets covering a range of parliamentary, legislative and procedural topics. These are currently being reviewed to ensure that they continue to address the queries most commonly raised by members of the public, and in line with planned changes to the parliamentary website. The Information Office would be pleased to receive suggestions from Members and their constituents for suitable subjects for inclusion in future factsheets.

The following table shows the number of factsheets that have been sent to the public, or downloaded from the parliamentary website, for each of the last three years:

Members of the public can obtain factsheets, free of charge, by contacting the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 4272 (email: hcinfo@parliament.uk) or, alternatively, downloading them from the parliamentary website (www.parliament.uk).

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission

(1) how often information technology equipment is renewed for (a) hon. Members and (b) each Department of the House; and if he will make a statement; [70282]

(2) when information technology equipment was last renewed in each Department of the House. [70283]

Information technology equipment for staff of the House is now renewed every four years as part of a rolling programme to maximise the return on the investment. There is therefore no single renewal date. For Members, information technology equipment is currently renewed each Parliament, providing this is near to or longer than four years.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many seats are reserved for (a) staff and (b) advisers of (i) the Government and (ii) Opposition parties on (A) the Floor of the House and (B) the Floor of Standing Committees; and how many there were in (1) 1979, (2) 1997 and (3) 2001. [70404]

On the Floor of the House the Government has the use of eight seats in the Officials Box and two seats in the Under Gallery. The Opposition parties have the use of four seats in the Under Gallery. On the floor of Standing Committees the Government have the use of between four and eight seats depending on the size of the Committee Room. There are no seats reserved for advisers or staff of Opposition parties. The House authorities are not aware of any change in these arrangements since 1979.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many copies of the House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin were (a) published and (b) sold in each of the last three Sessions for which information is available. [70363]

The number of (a) editions published and (b) copies sold of the House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin sold in the present Session to date and two previous Sessions is as follows:

To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases put forward by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last five years (a) resulted in a prosecution and (b) did not result in a prosecution. [69745]

The number and proportion in these two categories was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter dated 10 February from the hon. Member for North Down in relation to the tail docking of dogs. [63515]

I apologise for the delay. A reply was sent on 28 March 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the comments on the programme for the endorsement of forest certification scheme in the Environmental Audit Committee's second report of Session 2005-06 on sustainable timber; and if she will make a statement. [65244]

The Government note that the Committee had some concerns with the Government's decision to accept the programme for the endorsement of forest certification scheme (PEFC) as giving assurance of legal and sustainable timber sources. The Government's response to the Committee focused on the Committee's recommendation that the central point of expertise on timber (CPET):

"should make clear to PEFC that it would be desirable for it clearly and simply to set out the minimum standards it expects all its national members to conform to if it wants continued approval of its scheme."

The Government are generally satisfied that PEFC, having made changes to its scheme, now has a set of requirements that, if implemented by the national schemes endorsed by PEFC, will adequately assure compliance with Government contract requirements for legal and sustainable timber. However, this assessment was made prior to the process of implementation by national schemes being complete, and therefore a public commitment was made to assess the adoption of these changes by the national schemes endorsed by PEFC within a reasonable timeframe.

The assessment of changes made is under way but not complete. It has raised concerns with the interpretation some national schemes have made of the PEFC requirement for achieving consensus in the development and revision of standards. In particular, it is not clear that the voting procedures adopted by some of the schemes reviewed would ensure that decisions could be made only in 'the absence of sustained opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the concerned interests'—the definition of consensus adopted by PEFC. In the light of further discussions with interested parties the Government have decided that these interim findings merit further scrutiny before resolving the probationary status of PEFC. This will be done as part of a review of the five forest certification schemes first assessed by CPET in 2004. In the meantime, the Government are continuing to accept the PEFC scheme as assuring compliance with Government contract requirements for legal and sustainable timber.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on tackling fuel poverty in England and Wales during 2005-06; how much is proposed to be spent during 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. [69152]

In 2005-06 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was funded, and spent, over £190 million to tackle fuel poverty. In 2006-07 this figure will increase to over £300 million.

Most of this funding has been/will be spent on the warm front scheme, which has already assisted more than one million households since its launch in June 2000.

Fuel poverty is a devolved issue, and responsibility in Wales lies with the Welsh Assembly Government. The primary scheme to assist vulnerable households at risk of fuel poverty is the home energy efficiency scheme, which the Assembly Government funded to the order of £14.1 million in 2005-06 and will fund to the order of £19.6 million in 2006-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the same body armour is issued to armed forces personnel and visiting journalists in Iraq. [69833]

holding answer 11 May 2006

Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) is standard issue for all personnel serving on operations in Iraq. All civilians visiting Iraq, such as journalists, who are hosted by the Ministry of Defence are afforded the same force protection measures as UK forces and are, therefore, issued with the same ECBA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many counsellors are employed by each of HM armed forces; and for how many hours per week. [69291]

The Ministry of Defence does not employ counsellors within the armed forces. Advice and support to personnel is available from within the chain of command as well as from specialists such as chaplains, medical staff, uniformed and civilian welfare officers and voluntary agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [67985]

Information is not held centrally on the number of civil servants in the MOD that have been disciplined and dismissed for inappropriate use of the internet while at work and using work telephones to access premium rate numbers in each of the last five years. Because action on investigating and dealing with disciplinary offences has been delegated to line management in individual MOD business units, it would incur disproportionate cost to collate the requested data. Data for armed forces personnel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters UK forces have in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [70240]

UK forces have sufficient helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan for the task for which they have deployed, and this level is kept under constant review.

My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. John Reid) announced the UK force package for Afghanistan on 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 1529; however, we work in a multi-national environment, in both theatres, and therefore other helicopter assets are available to UK forces. To provide the total number of air assets in each theatre would likely prejudice the security of British forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a permanent commemorative memorial to (a) the crew of HMS Sheffield and (b) other Royal Navy personnel on the 25th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement. [69663]

There are currently no plans for a permanent commemorative memorial for HMS Sheffield, or for the other ships or Royal Navy personnel, lost in the south Atlantic conflict. All those who fell during the conflict will be remembered as part of the official commemorations in 2007. Furthermore, there are plans to construct an armed forces memorial dedicated to members of the UK armed forces killed on duty or by terrorist action since the second world war.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries which sent students to attend (a) the joint school of photographic interpretation and (b) the international intelligence directors course in 2004-05. [63458]

The information requested is being withheld on the grounds that to release it would prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the present functions are of Operation Rockingham; how many staff are employed on it; and if he will make a statement. [69799]

The Operation Rockingham cell is working on residual issues relating to Iraqi WMD and analysing the lessons learned from the Iraq survey group deployment. It consists of three people (two part-time and one full-time).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for RNAS Yeovilton. [70299]

RNAS Yeovilton is the main operating base for the Royal Navy's Lynx and commando helicopter forces and, despite the departure of the Sea Harrier in March of this year, it is still the UK's largest (by aircraft number) and busiest military airfield.

In 2004 the RAF-led defence airfield review (DAR) identified irreducible spare capacity at RNAS Yeovilton which could be exploited. Following publication of the review's report in May 2004, a number of working groups were formed to take the detailed work forward. The issue of spare capacity at RNAS Yeovilton is being considered by the programme belvedere working group. programme belvedere is responsible for the joint helicopter command basing element of DAR and is currently examining options for the basing of all of the Department's current and future battlefield helicopters. No decisions have yet been made, but the effect of any changes on the local community will be taken into consideration as part of the analysis.

The Royal Navy has recently announced the relocation of 727 Naval Air Squadron from Plymouth Roborough airport to RNAS Yeovilton. As part of its task, the squadron provides air experience flying (AEF) opportunities for younger members of the public. A recent review of AEF concluded that the relocation to RNAS Yeovilton will offer a greater selection of AEF to a much wider audience. The relocation will also result in a small increase in employment opportunities in the local area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea King helicopters are serving with the Royal Navy; how many are fully operational; how many are non-operational; and what time period is required to bring those which are non-operational into front-line service. [67858]

holding answer 3 May 2006

As at April 2006 the number of Sea King helicopters serving with the Royal Navy was 69, of which 50 were operational and 19 non-operational. Operational is defined as those Sea King helicopters that are in the forward fleet and non-operational as those in the depth fleet. The time period to bring individual Sea King helicopters through depth maintenance ranges from three to six months.

It is our policy not to have the whole fleet available to support the front line at all times. An ongoing programme of maintenance and repair is necessary to ensure that helicopters are kept in an appropriate state of repair to meet operational requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for injured service personnel to receive family visits. [66542]

holding answer 27 April 2006

Our priority is to provide the most appropriate medical care to injured personnel, and to give them the peace and quiet needed to allow a speedy recovery. We recognise that the emotional support provided by friends and family is of key importance to our injured soldiers, and visit arrangements for their relatives are managed by the welfare officer of the individual's unit.

The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), Birmingham, has allocated six rooms in one wing of the hospital for relatives of service personnel who are listed "Very Seriously Ill" (VSI) or "Seriously Ill" (SI) where relatives can stay whilst visiting a patient. These rooms are provided free. Depending on availability, RCDM also allow families and/or relatives of non-listed patients to stay in these rooms, but the priority is of course for the relatives of VSI/SI-listed patients.

One exception to this is that the University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust do not allow children under 16 to stay in this accommodation. This is in line with the practices of the trust concerning child protection issues, since the accommodation contains communal facilities which are deemed inappropriate for children as they are used by other adults staying in the accommodation. RCDM therefore can also provide a list of local bed-and-breakfast accommodation which has been inspected by Defence Medical Welfare Services. If there is a medical recommendation that relatives of a patient should stay with them, the MOD provides travel and subsistence costs for two relatives for up to seven days, although this can be extended if medical advice recommends it. If patients are not listed as VSI or SI, the individual's regiment can also pay for family travel. Such decisions are made at individual regiment level.

The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court also has a facility where family members visiting patients can stay. Costs for this facility are met by DMRC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the levels of radioactive pollution on foreshores close to the locations of Z berths (a) in Portsmouth harbour and (b) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [64784]

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) Environmental Sciences Department monitors the level of radioactive pollution on foreshores close to the locations of Z berths as part of its wider marine environmental survey programme, the findings from which are published annually. Z Berths are monitored on a regular basis of between one and five years depending on their location. The Portsmouth Z berth is normally monitored every two years.

DSTL's November 2005 report, entitled "Marine Environmental Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths 2004", includes information on samples taken in Portsmouth harbour. The report concluded that there was no radiological hazard to the public during 2004 as a result of operational nuclear-powered submarines. Copies of the report will be made available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the budget for his Department remained unspent in the 2005-06 financial year. [70614]

We shall publish figures as soon as they are available. Provisional figures will appear in the Public Expenditure Provisional Outturn which will be published around the middle of July and audited figures in our Annual Report and Accounts which is planned for publication before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the amount of training army units have received in all-arms urban warfare in recent years. [65444]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 563W, to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram).

It is assessed that all infantry units receive sufficient urban warfare training in accordance with the collective training levels required of their formation commanders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of thestaff in her Department is (a) male, (b) female and (c) disabled, broken down by grade. [69128]

The percentage of staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who are31 December 2005, broken down by grade is as follows. (Data on disability are collected on a voluntary self-declaration basis.) (a) male, (b) female and (c) disabled as at

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of24 April 2006, Official Report, columns 1358-59W, on millennium projects, if she will collect information on the performance of each project; and what monitoring of the performance of each project is undertaken. [69888]

Like all lottery distributing bodies, the Millennium Commission takes decisions independently on which projects to support with national lottery proceeds. Under Financial Directions from the Department, the Commission is required to undertake appropriate monitoring and evaluation of projects to make sure that, among other things, lottery funds are being used for the purposes intended, that they represent value for money and that they are delivering the benefits identified in the application to the Commission. Under the Directions, a report on monitoring and evaluation studies carried out by or for the Commission must be included in the Commission's annual report to Parliament.

In view of the Commission's independent status, the Department does not collect information on, or separately monitor the performance of, its projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) her Department and (b) its agencies spent on recruitment, search and selection agencies in each of the last five years. [68346]

The Department and its agency does not separately identify the cost of recruitment, search and selection agencies from other recruitment costs. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether those who do not have a television set are required to inform Television Licensing that they do not require a TV licence. [69812]

A television licence is required to install or use a television receiver, as defined in regulations made by the Secretary of State, rather than a television set. Members of the public who do not require a television licence are under no obligation to inform TV Licensing of the fact.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) what discussions she has had with the (a) Department of Trade and Industry and (b) Department for Work and Pensions on the decision to stop selling television licences through the Post Office; [70335]

(2) if she will make a statement on the BBC's decision to stop selling television licences through the Post Office; [70411]

(3) what discussions her Department has had with the BBC on the decision to stop selling television licences through the Post Office; [70412]

(4) if she will list the different ways that viewers are able to purchase television licences; [70415]

(5) how many and what proportion of television licences were bought through the Post Office in the last period for which figures are available; [70416]

(6) what the average annual cost to the Government of selling television licences through the Post Office has been over the last three years. [70414]

The award of the contract for over the counter sales of television licences is a commercial matter for the BBC as television licensing authority. The Government have no power to intervene in such matters, nor would it be appropriate to comment on the corporation's decision. The Secretary of State has not therefore discussed the matter with Cabinet colleagues but DCMS officials have liaised with the DTI to keep them informed of developments. Officials were informed by the BBC of the proposal to put the contract out to tender and were notified by the corporation prior to the announcement of the award of the contract.

The BBC, as licensing authority, bears the costs of licence fee collection direct. The Government have not incurred any costs relating to the sale of television licences through the Post Office since 1991.

As regards the different ways in which the television licence can be paid and the number and proportion of licences currently brought through the Post Office, I have asked the BBC's head of revenue management to consider the questions raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to promote tourism in south-east London. [70183]

DCMS supports the tourism industry as a whole. South-east London benefits from my Department's funding for VisitBritain, which for 2006-07 includes £35.5 million for marketing Britain as a tourism destination overseas, and £12.4 million for marketing England to the domestic tourism market.

Responsibility for tourism policy in London has been devolved to the Mayor and the Greater London Authority (GLA), which works with the London Development Agency (LDA) and Visit London. My Department contributes £1.9 million to the GLA in support of this role and the LDA spent a total of around £24 million supporting tourism in 2005-06, including over £11 million on tourism marketing and promotion for London and its sub-regions. In south-east London, this includes working with South London Business and TourEast London to deliver market research and other business support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Government funding has been allocated to promote tourism to the south-west in 2006-07; and how much has been allocated to regional development agencies to promote tourism in the south-west in each of the last five years. [70246]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) supports the tourism industry as a whole. The south-west benefits from my Department's funding for VisitBritain, which for 2006-07 includes £35.5 million for marketing Britain as a tourism destination overseas, and £12.4 million for marketing England to the domestic tourism market.

The regional development agencies (RDAs) took on strategic responsibility for tourism in the regions in 2003. Since then DCMS has contributed £3.6 million each year to the single pot in support of this role, which is allocated to the RDAs according to the Department for Trade and Industry's single pot funding formula.

All RDAs, including the south-west regional development agency (SWRDA), recognise the importance of the visitor economy to their regions. SWRDA has allocated £2.2 million to direct support for the industry in 2006-07, including marketing, as well as a further £500,000 for tourism skills development and £500,000 towards a regional data management system and the development of EnglandNet.

Before 2003-04, DCMS grant in aid passed to the English Tourism Council and was then allocated to the regional tourist boards, including South West Tourism, which was allocated £663,000 in 2002-03, £814,000 in 2001-02 and £563,000 in 2000-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total expenditure by Visit Britain was in each of the last five years. [70247]

VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain to the rest of the world and England to the British.

Expenditure is funded by grant in aid provided by DCMS and non government funding raised by VisitBritain in relation to its marketing and promotion activities.

Additional amounts of £14.2 million in 2001-02, and £19 million in 2002-03, were allocated from the reserve to help the tourism sector to recover from the impacts of the foot and mouth outbreak, and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in providing alternative sources of income through humanitarian aid for poppy growers in Afghanistan. [69734]

DFID's focus in Afghanistan has changed from mainly humanitarian assistance in 2002 to an approach now looking to secure long-term development.

The UK is playing a major role in supporting the development of legal livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan. In 2005-06, DFID spent almost£50 million for this purpose. In 2006-07 the level of spending is expected to continue at similar levels.

DFID is a major supporter to the National Solidarity Programme, which has helped nearly 7,000 villages prioritise their own development needs, and to plan and implement community-led small scale infrastructure projects. The UK is providing £20 million to the Micro-Finance Investment Support Facility of Afghanistan (MISFA) to provide small loans to the rural poor, particularly women. By funding the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) the UK is helping those currently dependent on illegal production and processing of drugs, to gain productive employment constructing and repairing essential infrastructure such as roads.

These projects are complemented by a £3 million fund to develop and promote alternative livelihood options for rural Afghans currently economically dependent on opium poppy. The fund is helping to identify local, national and international market opportunities for alternative crop varieties. Under our support for alternative agricultural livelihoods, 26,500 Afghan farmers have received important agricultural inputs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received about providing assistance and support for (a) women's networks, (b) civil society groups, (c) democracy groups and (d) organisations working with refugees and internally displaced peoples in Burma. [68235]

DFID regularly receives representations about providing assistance and support in Burma to each of these four groups and considers each seriously. For example, in planning a new fund to tackle HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Burma we are carrying out extensive and detailed discussions with opposition groups, civil society groups and other non-governmental organisations. Representations have recently been made at meetings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Burma on 28 February, 19 and 26 April, and the Burma Forum in Brussels on 29 March on behalf of all of these groups, with the greatest emphasis on organisations working with refugees and internally displaced peoples.

In Rangoon, the regular representations we receive from a wide range of groups are most frequently concerned with providing support to civil society in Burma. I have also recently received representations from a number of members of the House of Commons arguing for increased support to organisations working with refugees and internally displaced people living near the Thai-Burma border. In response to the increased vulnerability of those internally displaced people, DFID is, with the UN and local community leaders, currently assessing the possibility of providing assistance to these internally displaced people through local community mechanisms. Subsequently, DFID will be carrying out a fundamental review of the level and means of our support to internally displaced people and refugees in Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received about providing aid and support for (a) Burmese refugees living in Thailand, (b) internally displaced people living on the Thai-Burma border and (c) vulnerable groups living in Burma. [68241]

DFID regularly receives representations about providing assistance and support in Burma to each of these groups and considers each seriously. For example, DFID's support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (£500,000 in each of the past two years) is intended to provide vital support to those in prison or in conflict-affected areas and our support to the Thai-Burma Border Consortium (£1,838,705 over three years) is intended to assist Burmese refugees living in Thailand. Representations have recently been made at meetings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Burma on 28 February, 19 and 26 April, and the Burma Forum in Brussels on 29 March on behalf of all of these groups, with the greatest emphasis on internally displaced people living on the Thai-Burma border.

In Rangoon, the regular representations we receive from a wide range of groups are most frequently concerned with vulnerable groups living in Burma. I have also received recently representations from a number of honourable members arguing for increased support to organisations working with refugees and internally displaced people living near the Thai-Burma border.

In response to the increased vulnerability of those internally displaced people, DFID is, with the UN and local community leaders, currently assessing the possibility of providing assistance to these internally displaced people through local community mechanisms. Subsequently, DFID will be carrying out a fundamental review of the level and means of our support to internally displaced people and refugees in Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure that development funding for basic services in Ethiopia is channelled through non-governmental organisations. [70036]

We provide aid through non-governmental organisations in Ethiopia and are identifying ways to increase this. But NGOs in Ethiopia do not have the capacity to absorb the amounts of aid required to make significant progress on health and education and the other Millennium Development Goals; only the Government have sufficient reach to provide essential basic services for the entire country. For this reason we are also working with the Government of Ethiopia and other donors to develop a Protection of Basic Services Grant to deliver basic services such as education, health and water to the poor, with appropriate monitoring safeguards.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received on the use of DDT to tackle malaria; and what recent discussions he has had with international bodies on this matter. [69988]

DFID has received no recent representations and has not had any recent discussions with international bodies on the use of DDT to tackle malaria. However DFID does look to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide updated technical information on the most appropriate strategies to control malaria.

Current WHO guidance is that DDT may be used for mosquito control provided that it is used only for indoor residual spraying (IRS); it is effective; the material is manufactured according to WHO specifications, and the necessary safety precautions are taken for its use and disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the use of DDT on rates of malaria in South Africa. [69989]

Data for the number of cases of Malaria is available from the South African Department of Health's website (http://www.doh.gov.za/). The following are the official annual figures for the number of malaria cases, the number of deaths and the case fatality rate in South Africa.

Approximately 13 per cent. of the South African population are at risk from endemic malaria, another6 per cent. face the risk of epidemic malaria. The provinces of Mpumulanga, Kwa Zulu-Natal and Limpopo suffer the greatest burden of the disease and it is in these provinces where DDT is used, after its reintroduction in 2001.

The decline in cases in the table starting in 2001 is noticeable, though there are no reports to substantiate the extent to which this effect was due to the re-introduction of DDT. Both the South African Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) propose that it is a cost-effective prevention strategy for the provinces which provides a prevention service for a population of some 4.2 million.

DDT use was originally stopped in South Africa because of concerns about its environmental impact. It was reintroduced after careful assessment to demonstrate its effective and safe use. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants states that countries should only use DDT for malaria control under guidance from WHO, which South Africa is doing.

DFID supports the WHO managed Southern Africa Malaria Control Programme, with a grant of£18 million over six years. The project will finish in 2007. WHO has been successful in working with Governments in the region to revise and update their policies concerning all aspects of malaria control, including the safe and effective use of DDT for indoor residual spraying. A significant amount of material can be accessed at http://www.malaria.org.zw/

WHO is also organising a conference in Brazzaville in June of this year to review experiences in the use of DDT in Africa. DFID has asked to be kept up to date with the lessons and recommendations from this meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the recent report in The Lancet on the World Bank and malaria treatment. [69990]

DFID has carefully reviewed the critical report published in The Lancet, as well as the World Bank's response in the same issue. As a member of the donor group for the Bank's malaria booster programme DFID will continue to hold the Bank accountable to its commitment to increase its financing to malaria control, and improve the effectiveness of this work.

In its Global Strategy and Booster Programme on malaria the World Bank recognises that from 2000 to 2005 its investments in malaria control were not sufficient for success on a large scale. DFID is encouraged that new agreements totalling US $62 million made under the Booster programme to DR Congo, Eritrea, Niger and Zambia do represent increased commitment and demonstrate demand from countries for Bank lending for malaria control.

DFID supports the World Bank's position that countries should be able to define their own drug policies based on local patterns of resistance, and with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), who provide updated technical information on the most appropriate strategies to control malaria. In large countries there may be cause for different policies in different parts of the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the World Bank on the use of chloroquine to treat malaria. [69991]

As a member of the donor group for the World Bank's booster programme on malaria, DFID is in close contact with World Bank officials on progress in this programme, and issues such as the procurement of drugs that arise with the programme. DFID supports the World Bank's position that countries should be able to define their own drug policies based on local patterns of drug resistance, and with support and technical guidance from specialist agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). In large countries there may be cause for different policies in different parts of the country.

DFID also looks to specialist agencies such as the World Health Organisation to provide international guidance on the choice of antimalarial drugs for malaria treatment programmes. WHO advises that chloroquine is still effective for certain strains of malaria, but when resistance develops artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) should be used, which is more effective and can delay the emergence of resistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of malnutrition on the ability to meet the other Millennium Development Goals. [69963]

As highlighted in the recent United Nations (UN) report, "Progress for Children: A Report Card on Nutrition", several key Millennium Development targets may be missed due to nutritional problems of children in developing countries. DFID shares the concerns of the report and is convinced of the critical importance of hunger and malnutrition to achieving, not only the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for hunger (Goal 1), but also to achieving other MDGs.

Children who are malnourished in their early years never reach their full physical or mental potential, trapping them in poverty. They are less likely to attend school and, when they do, they perform poorly (Goal 2, Education). Women are often disproportionately affected by food shortages as in the family they often eat last and least. Educating girls and ensuring good nutrition empowers women and girls (Goal 3, Gender Equality). Child mortality (Goal 4) is dramatically affected by hunger, and malnutrition is implicated in two thirds of child deaths. A malnourished mother will give birth to a low weight child and is more likely to suffer complications during pregnancy and birth (Goal 5, Maternal Health). Finally, those who are malnourished are more susceptible to disease and are less likely to attend school and be able to afford medicine (Goal 6, Combating Disease).

DFID is working closely with the UN, other development partners and developing country governments to address the affects of malnutrition on the MDGs. DFID continues to respond to humanitarian needs and has committed £40 million to the immediate relief effort in the Horn of Africa and £67 million to the southern Africa crisis. DFID is also putting in place social protection mechanisms or welfare transfers; cash, food or other forms of in-kind transfers. They provide predictable and long-term assistance for the chronically hungry to help people before a crisis develops. This includes a three-year commitment of£70 million to the Productive Safety Nets Programme which got under way in Ethiopia last year and is helping over 7.2 million people fight hunger and malnutrition.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects the Millennium Development Goal for reducing rates of child malnutrition to be met. [69964]

There is no Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which specifically looks at child malnutrition. However, MDG 1 seeks to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and MDG 4 seeks to reduce child mortality. An indicator associated with MDG 1 is to reduce the proportion of underweight children by half and under MDG 4 there is an indicator to reduce the mortality of under five-year-olds by two thirds.

DFID does not make assessments of when individual goals are likely to be reached. However, we draw on data from the United Nations (UN). For both the indicators mentioned, the UN's latest assessment is that across the developing world as a whole, progress is insufficient to meet the targets by 2015—and in fact both are described as 'lagging far behind'.

DFID measures its progress against a set of public service agreement (PSA) targets, which tie in to the MDGs. In our 2005-08 PSA, DFID has adopted targets for selected countries in Africa and Asia. We have targets to reduce under-five mortality rates for girls and boys by 24 per 1,000 live births in Asia and by eight per 1,000 live births in Africa.

Progress against the PSA targets is assessed twice-yearly in DFID's autumn performance reports and departmental reports. The most recent analysis of progress against the PSA targets was published in DFID's departmental report 2006. The target for Asia was judged off track as the number of live births per 1,000 has reduced only by four. It is too early too tell whether the target for Africa will be reached by 2008, though a reduction of four per 1,000 live births has been achieved to date. The departmental report also gives details of how DFID is seeking to improve off track targets.

The departmental report 2006 was laid before Parliament on 9 May 2006. It is available both in hard copy in the Library of the House of Commons and electronically on DFID's website (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/departmental-report/default.asp).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the recent UNICEF report on malnutrition in children; and what steps are being taken by his Department to improve malnutrition rates in developing countries. [69965]

More than one quarter of all children under the age of five in developing countries are underweight. Poor nutrition contributes to half of the 11 million child deaths each year. Improving nutrition is essential in tackling poverty and is a critical factor in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At international level the UK Government is one of the biggest donors to UNICEF. DFID has worked closely with UNICEF in the development of its health and nutrition strategy.

UNICEF's "Progress for Children: A Report Card on Nutrition", states that achieving improved nutrition requires action across sectors. DFID's approach to nutrition at country level has always been that it cannot be dealt with in isolation. DFID's support for better nutrition therefore encompasses improved food security, support for agricultural production, fisheries and market access, better water and sanitation, education and strengthening health services for women and children.

Particular strategies are implemented in areas of high HIV prevalence, following natural disasters and during conflict. To be successful, programmes to improve nutritional status must be integrated into wider country led poverty reduction strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to tackle the indicators of state fragility and failure in Africa identified in the Failed States Index 2006. [69967]

There is no international agreement on what constitutes state fragility. A common way of estimating fragility is derived from the World Bank's Country Policy and Institutional Assessments (CPIA). CPIA scores divide low-income countries into five categories of performance plus an unranked group. The lowest two categories plus the unranked group are used by DFID and other donors as a list of fragile countries. Our understanding of fragility set out in our January 2005 policy paper 'Why we need to work more effectively in fragile states' is therefore similar to that of the "Failed State Index" but not the same.

Our policy on fragile states sets out how we can most effectively tackle the challenges and the underlying causes of weakness. Our approach includes support to early warning systems, analysis to understand the underlying political drivers of fragility and the funding of interventions that are tailored to the specific needs of those states where we work. But aid alone is not enough, and we work with others to help ensure that the international system as a whole works together to reduce fragility and address its causes.

In Africa we are working in the Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Sierra Leone—all states identified by the "Failed States Index". In each of these we have tailored our support to best tackle the fragility and support poverty reduction and growth.

A copy of the 2005 policy paper is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries the UK is helping to develop their water strategies. [69525]

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

DFID's Water and Sanitation strategy was set out in the 2004 Water Action Plan. This included commitment to doubling spending on water in Africa to £95 million by 2008.

We are currently actively involved in seven African countries (Ethiopia, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia), and through our funding of other agencies' programmes, we reach many other countries. In Asia, we have significant bilateral programmes on water and sanitation in China, India and Bangladesh. Our large humanitarian programmes in Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan, also include assistance on provision of water and sanitation. We also provide core funding to the Global Water Partnership which assists countries in developing Integrated Water Resource Management Plans.

DFID closely monitors progress in water and sanitation and publishes regular updates on the DFID website. The latest update will published this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress of the pilot schemes for the migration of Post Office Card Account holders to banking facilities. [68272]

We ran a number of small-scale pilots between 13 February and 10 March 2006. Now that they have concluded we are evaluating the results. We will share the results with the Post Office, and I will place a summary report of the findings in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made in engaging the private and voluntary sector in the Pathways to Work service. [68273]

Private and voluntary sector providers already play a key role in delivering a number of important programmes within our successful Pathways to Work programme. Their innovative approach has been a significant factor in helping over 21,000 people into work.

We want to draw further on the expertise and skills of a wide variety of organisations to help us to support people on incapacity benefits in getting back to work.

That is why we are currently consulting with a range of providers and stakeholders about our Pathways proposals and will announce our plans for future roll-out shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made in engaging the private and voluntary sector in the Pathways to Work service. [67335]

holding answer 3 May 2006

Private and voluntary sector providers currently play a key role in delivering a number of important programmes within our Pathways to Work pilots—notably New Deal for Disabled People and many of the other programmes in the 'Choices' package.

Discussions are continuing on how we can further draw on the expertise and skills of a wide variety of organisations that can help us to get people off incapacity benefits and back into work. We are consulting with a range of providers and other stakeholders about our proposals and intend to announce our plans for future roll-out shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit claims later determined to be fraudulent in London in each year since 1997, broken down by London borough; and if he will make a statement. [57206]

holding answer 9 March 2006

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in reducing benefit fraud. [65080]

In 2004-05 fraud across the benefit system was estimated to be less that 1 per cent. of total benefit expenditure at around £900 million; which is less than £1 billion for the first time since systematic measurement of fraud began.

We have firm targets to reduce fraud and error in the benefits which are most vulnerable to fraud. The target for reducing fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance for working age people was33 per cent. by March 2004, and 50 per cent. by March 2006. National Statistics published in December 2005 show that by March 2005, we had reduced fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by 44 per cent. Looking at fraud alone, this has reduced by more than two thirds compared to the 1998 baseline figure of 10.4 per cent.

We have set a challenging target to reduce levels of housing benefit fraud and error for working age claimants by 25 per cent. by 2006, and to maintain the 25 per cent. reduction by March 2008 against the 2002-03 baseline year. National Statistics published in January 2006 shows that by March 2005, housing benefit fraud has fallen by around 30 per cent. over a two-year period. However, over the same period there has been a 40 per cent. increase in customer error. The net effect of this is that fraud and error for working age claimants is now reported to be 2 per cent. above the baseline.

We are also taking steps to reduce customer error. We have an on-going programme of addressing complexity in benefits to make benefit rules easier and simpler for our customers to understand. Our processes and customer handling methods aim to make the claim making process straightforward thus lessening the opportunities for customers to make mistakes or leave out important information.

This shows we are getting results in preventing, detecting and deterring fraud. We have achieved this by a variety of methods. In 2004-05, through improved data matching, nearly 300,000 data anomalies were identified. The Targeting Fraud campaign has helped to increase public awareness of the problem of fraud. We now have a more appropriate sanctions regime. In 2004-05, in partnership with local authorities, we imposed nearly 43,000 prosecutions and sanctions—more than ever before and a fourfold increase since 1998. We have tightened our procedures to root out identity fraud. People are now required to verify their identity before they are allocated a national insurance number or have access to the benefits system. We have maintained the National Benefit Fraud Hotline, and for every £1 spent on its running costs, we identify overpayments of over £9 in defrauded benefit.

Despite these good results, we are not complacent and will maintain this hard work. Our efforts in the future will focus on using new technology available to us to stop fraud earlier before it enters the benefit system; increasing our ability to data match to include data from the private sector; exploring the use of new technologies, such as voice risk analysis; the proposed identity card, which will be a useful tool to combat identity and other frauds by verifying identity more effectively; continuing to warn fraudsters and potential fraudsters through the Targeting Benefit Fraud campaign and maintaining the National Benefit Fraud Hotline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single parents in each ward in Doncaster North received income support on average in (a) 1984, (b) 1994, (c) 2004 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all single parents this represented in each case. [68296]

Income support data is not available at ward level prior to August 1999. The available information for lone parents in receipt of income support is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2006, Official Report, column 719W, what year his Department published "Paying for Rented Housing: Non-Dependant Deductions from Housing Benefit"; and if he will commission an exercise to update this research. [67215]

The research "Paying for Rented Housing: Non-Dependant Deductions from Housing Benefit" was published as (then) Department of Social Security Research Report no. 43 in 1996. There are currently no plans to commission an update to this research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 234W, on housing benefit sanctions, when he expects to make a decision on who he will be consulting informally on his plans to use sanctions to ensure that those who are evicted for antisocial behaviour take up the help offered to them; and if he will make a statement. [67217]

As set out in my response of 10 March, we are currently assessing the use of sanctions to ensure that those households who are evicted for antisocial behaviour take up help offered to them more fully, before deciding who to consult and whether to legislate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions there were for refusals to pay back housing benefit overpayments in each year since 2000-01, broken down by local authority. [67260]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit compensation payments were ordered in each year since 2000-01, broken down by local authority. [67261]

The information is not available as it is not centrally collated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) what the total cost was of housing benefit overpayments recovered by (a) payments made under compensation orders, (b) payments made as a result of civil proceedings and (c) payments made with legal process in each year since 2000-01, broken down by local authority; [67262]

(2) what the total cost was of housing benefit overpayments written off as irrecoverable in each local authority in each year since 2000-01, broken down by (a) benefit claimant and (b) landlord. [67263]

The information is not available in the format requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) non-UK and (b) UK citizens received unemployment benefits in each London borough in each of the last five years. [70115]

The information is not available; no record is kept of claimants' nationalities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) whether the Child Support Agency deposited funds owed to Mrs. Joanna Stephenson, ref. PCU/154933, into an escrow account pending completion of the inquiry to determine why she has not received the moneys paid by her former husband; [70038]

(2) when Child Support Agency (CSA) payments to Mrs. Joanna Stephenson, ref. PCU/154933, will resume; when she will receive funds collected by the CSA since November 2002; and if he will make a statement; [70039]

(3) why the Child Support Agency (CSA) case of Mrs. Joanna Stephenson, ref. PCU/154933, ceased in November 2002; and if the CSA will pay compensation for errors in dealing with the case. [70040]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Hilary Reynolds:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently unavailable, I am responding on his behalf.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions three Parliamentary Questions regarding one of your constituents, case number 3210019483335. As all three questions relate to the same constituent, I will provide a joint response.

As details about individual cases are confidential I have written to you separately about this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single parents in Easington constituency were in receipt of income support in each year between 2001 and 2005; and if he will make a statement. [69423]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single parents in Coventry South were in receipt of income support in each year between 2001 and 2005; and if he will make a statement. [69844]

The information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many 16 and 17-year-olds are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in each London borough. [70059]

The information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in each London borough received jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years. [70060]

The information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to question 53502, on Remploy, tabled by the hon. Member for Caerphilly for answer on 27 February 2006. [63191]

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 April 2006, Official Report, column 1143-44W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to question (a) 47075 and (b) 47074, on his Department's buildings in Lytham St. Annes, tabled by the hon. Member for Fylde on 26 January 2006. [63474]

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 April 2006, Official Report, column 1139-40W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people were in receipt of single room rent restricted housing benefit on 1 April in each year since its introduction. [68451]

Information is not available in the format requested. Data is produced quarterly in February, May, August and November each year; the available information as at May each year is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single room rent restriction determinations there were in each year since October 1996. [68452]

The available information for single room rent determinations in England is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will amend the housing benefit regulations in line with the recommendation in the departmental research report number 243 that all care leavers and disabled people should be exempted from the single room rent restriction. [68454]

Our Green Paper "A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People to Work" sets out our proposals for extending the local housing allowance (LHA) across the private rented sector. The LHA scheme replaces the single room rent with a new shared room rate, which is based on a broader definition of shared properties. We will continue to look at the operation of the shared room rate as we move forward with housing benefit reform, but the underlying principles of the rate, that of encouraging work, remain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the European Union on the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China; and if she will make a statement. [70797]

There have been no recent representations made to the European Council on lifting the EU arms embargo on China. The European Council decided in December 2003 to review the EU Arms Embargo on China. This review is ongoing and it was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on13 December 2005. There is no consensus at present in the EU for lifting the embargo. The Government continue to fully implement the embargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is her Department's policy to endorse the EU Commission's call for a declaration of commitment to future institutional reform; and if she will make a statement. [71140]

The UK welcomes the communication from the Commission "A Citizens Agenda Delivering Results for Europe". The communication stresses that the EU should now be focusing on practical policies which deliver practical results to citizens, and on the economic reforms needed to make the EU competitive in today's global economy.

The Commission recognises that there is as yet no consensus on the constitutional treaty and underlines the need to concentrate on delivery. The Government are open to the idea of a political declaration setting out Europe's values and ambitions and believe that the real challenge ahead for the next year is delivering on the policy agenda.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the trial of Kifle Tigneh Abate has begun in Addis Ababa; what representations she made to the Ethiopian Government prior to the trial; and what reports her Department has received from Michael Ellman, the international observer of the trial. [70037]

The trial of Kifle Tigneh Abate started on 10 May in parallel with the trial of other Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) members. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development and our ambassador in Addis Ababa have made representations to the Ethiopian Government about the trial of the CUD party leadership including Kifle Tigneh Abate. They asked that the courts deal with the charges fairly, quickly and transparently in accordance with international standards.

We have not yet received a report from Michael Ellman, who is acting on behalf of the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work her Department is undertaking with civil society groups in Russia to tackle racism and racial violence. [69993]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to actively co-operate with civil society groups in Russia to promote human rights. Between 2003 and 2006 we have supported the following racial tolerance projects:

National Associations and Local Media: Co-operation or Confrontation?

Project duration: April 2006 to May 2007

Project aim: Develop contacts between youth leaders of national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Urals region and local media to promote balanced media coverage of ethnic issues.

Implementing partner: International Information Centre

Project cost: £5,190

Fund: Devolved Programme Budget.

Promotion of Racial Tolerance in St. Petersburg

Project duration: 1 September 2006 to 30 November 2006

Project aim: Achieve higher public recognition of the importance of tolerance towards ethnic and cultural minorities and broader acceptance of the value of diversity, particularly by the younger generation, drawing from the positive experience of the UK in promoting diversity and building relationships between different ethnic communities and the authorities.

Implementing partners: Fund for the Development of Peter & Paul Fortress, Association of Photo Correspondents of the Union of Journalists of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Institute of Law and the Youth Information Centre.

Project costs: £25,000

Fund: Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund.

From Heart to Heart

Project duration: April 2005 to September 2006

Project aim: Develop ethnic tolerance in Ekaterinburg through increasing awareness of national cultures and traditions.

Implementing partner: Pervouralsk XXI Century

Project cost: £2,900

Fund: Devolved Programme Budget.

Defending Roma Rights

Project duration: July 2005 to June 2006

Project aim: To challenge the use of hate speech in the media, particularly with regard to the Roma community.

Implementing partner: European Roma Rights Centre

Project cost: £26,300

Fund: Global Opportunities Fund.

Creating of 'The International Information Portal'

Project duration: April 2005 to February 2006

Project aim: Create an internet resource that will collect information about history, culture, rights and freedoms of ethnic groups in the Ural region. Promote the results of hate speech monitoring 'the language of hostility' in mass media.

Implementing partner: International Information Center

Project cost: £1,130

Fund: Devolved Programme Budget.

Training in Multi-cultural Education of Young People

Project duration: December 2005 to February 2006

Project aim: Train professionals working with children and teenagers in promoting ethnic, racial and cultural diversity and tolerance.

Implementing partner: St. Petersburg Youth Information Centre

Project costs: £3,650

Fund: Devolved Directorate Programme Budget.

Ethnic Minorities and Access to Justice

Project duration: September 2003 to December 2005

Project aim: Improve community policing through a joint programme between ethnic minority representatives and local police in Moscow, Samara, Krasodar and Ekaterinburg. Drawing on the experience of UK police forces.

Implementing partner: European Dialogue

Project cost: £103,285

Fund: Global Opportunities Fund.

"School of Tolerance" (a youth camp for children of different ethnic origin in the Pskov region, North-West Russia)

Project duration: 4 to 24 July 2005

Project aim: Bring together children of different ethnic origin and social positions, including refugees, to give them first-hand experience of living in a diverse multi-cultural society. Raise their awareness of issues such as human rights and tolerance and give them communication and leadership skills.

Implementing partner: 'Pskovskaya Glubinka' NGO

Project costs: £2,996.65

Fund: Devolved Programme Budget.

Training of Trainers in Human Rights and Tolerance Issues (workshop for teachers of Pskov oblast, North-West Russia)

Project duration: March 2005

Project aim: Promote human rights and the values of tolerance among teachers and give them practical skills to disseminate this information among their students.

Implementing partner: 'Pskovskaya Glubinka' with support from Amnesty International

Project costs: £3,709.38

Fund: Devolved Programme Budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1676W, on trade deals, how many bilateral trade negotiations the European Commission has (a) conducted and (b) signed on behalf of the UK in each of the last eight years. [70201]

The European Commission has competence for EU trade policy and conducts all trade negotiations on behalf of, and on the basis of a mandate from, EU member states.

Within the last eight years, and in addition to the trade agreements relating to enlargement of the EU, the following EU trade agreements have entered into force: Mexico, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Chile, South Africa and the Cotonou Agreement (with 77 Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries).

Negotiations are ongoing with Mercosur, the Gulf Co-operation Council, Turkey and Albania, and on Economic Partnership Agreements (which will replace the Cotonou Agreement). Signature of an Association Agreement with Syria is pending.

A comprehensive list of EU trade agreements currently under negotiation or which have already been concluded can be found on the Europa website:

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2005/july/tradoc_ 111588.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of27 March 2006, Official Report, column 699W, on recruitment advertising, when he expects the Government advertising review to be published. [71125]

The final report on the review of Government advertising in Northern Ireland was published on 14 April this year. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the (a) facilities and (b) extent of cover planned for the new ambulance station on the west bank of the Foyle in Derry; and if he will make a statement. [69686]

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (MAS) currently operates from 32 locations throughout Northern Ireland but has identified additional sites from which to deploy ambulances to improve response times for life threatening emergency calls. One of the first of those sites is shared with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Station at Northland Road on the Foyle West Bank and became operational earlier this month.

Initially, one ambulance from Altnagelvin Station will be assigned to Northland Road during daytime hours seven days per week and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, when Altnagelvin has more than one ambulance available and the Northland Road location requires cover, the additional vehiclewill be dynamically deployed there. The effectivenessof these arrangements will be reviewed after one month's operation and regularly thereafter. However, preliminary information suggests that ambulance response times have improved in the West of Derry City since the Northland Road site became operational.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to improve the main arterial routes from the constituency of South Down to the Belfast/Dublin corridor. [68251]