To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the work his Department is undertaking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (72811)

[pursuant to the reply, 24 May 2006, Official Report, c. 1780-81W]: The figure given for DFID’s spend in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2001-02 was £7 million. This should have read £5.6 million, mostly on humanitarian interventions.

An estimate was made for DFID’s expenditure in 2005-06. This was premature, however, as DFID’s 2005-06 out-turn figures have yet to be confirmed but are expected to be finalised by the end of August 2006.

DFID funds available for the DRC this financial year were given as £63 million. The correct amount is £62 million.

I apologise for these errors in the original answer.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on treatment of HIV/AIDS in African countries of the departure of qualified doctors and nurses from the developing world for employment in the developed world. (75683)

DFID supported analysis of the human resources for health crises in Africa for the High Level Forum for Health in November 2005. The migration of skilled health workers from poorer African countries to developed countries in Europe, the United States and elsewhere has a significant impact on the capacity of African national health services to deliver HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care. However, migration to other more developed African countries and internal migration from rural to urban areas are also important factors. Health worker shortages are exacerbated by AIDS-related mortality among the health work force. The result is an overburdened health work force and weak health systems with inadequate capacity to deliver services.

DFID is working at country level to address human resources capacity and support Governments to implement policies on retention, skill mix and deployment. For example, DFID is supporting the health sector in Malawi—one of the most severely affected countries, with £100 million over five years. About £55 million of this is earmarked for the Emergency Human Resources Programme of the Malawi Government. This programme is aiming to increase recruitment and retention of staff by raising health worker salaries by 50 per cent., providing housing and improving training. This is expected to double the number of nurses and triple the number of doctors in training—while using international volunteers to fill gaps in the meantime. DFID is also funding country HIV and AIDS programmes to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on the health workers.

DFID is also working closely with the Department of Health (DH) to address “pull” incentives, preventing the targeting of developing countries in the international recruitment of health care professionals within the NHS through the Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals.

To ask the Solicitor-General what discounts are available in relation to hotel accommodation used by (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department. (69011)

The Law Officers’ Departments do not employ special advisers.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) book hotel accommodation for civil servants with First Option through an Office of Government Commerce framework agreement. The agreement enables the CPS, RCPO and HMCPSI to secure specifically negotiated rates and value for money in hotel accommodation. Individual discounts are not available to civil servants under the contract but a rebate is paid at the end of each year.

SFO books hotel accommodation through Expotel under an Office of Government Commerce framework agreement, unless exceptional circumstances apply. The Expotel agreement seeks the best rate within Government prescribed rates and also allows for a subsequent rebate.

The Treasury Solicitor’s Office (TSol) and this Office do not have arrangements which provide discounts but bookings are made within Government prescribed rates except in exceptional circumstances.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what environmental and social sustainability criteria are applied when purchasing food for the House dining rooms. (76016)

Last year, the House of Commons Commission approved and adopted an outline strategic plan covering the five years from 2006 until 2011. This plan explicitly states that the House administration must match current public service standards, including in the area of environmental protection. Food procurement tenders include consideration of bidders' environmental and ethical policies and procedures, but the precise evaluation criteria applied differ according to the nature of foods being supplied.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the House took to mark English Wine Week. (76800)

The Refreshment Department would have been pleased to support English Wine Week, which ran from 29 May until 6 June. This coincided with the spring bank holiday recess, so that most of the restaurants and bars in the House were closed. It was not considered viable to run a special promotion for the two days the House was sitting during this period.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to ensure that a Sussex sparkling wine is added to the House of Commons wine lists. (76690)

The Refreshment Department is always pleased to consider new wines for addition to its wine lists. The Director of Catering Services is happy to advise any suppliers how to apply to have their wines included on the House of Commons wine lists.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to ensure that Harvey's beer is considered for stocking in House of Commons bars during Cask Beer Week in September 2006. (76686)

The Refreshment Department supports the small independent brewers of Britain by offering a guest ale, changed weekly, in two of the House of Commons bars. This scheme does not operate during parliamentary recesses, when the bars are very quiet. It would therefore not be economic to support Cask Beer Week in September 2006 by stocking Harvey’s or any other real ale. I have asked the Director of Catering Services to contact the hon. Member in relation to the prospects for offering Harvey's as a guest ale.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time it has taken over the last 12 months to obtain security clearance for a House of Commons pass for hon. Members' staff working at Westminster; and if he will make a statement. (76008)

In the past 12 months it is estimated that the shortest time it has taken to obtain security clearance for a House of Commons pass has been approximately three weeks, the longest approximately 12 months, and the average approximately one month. This is dependent upon the nature of foreign connections, and the multiplicity of addresses which have to be checked by agencies both in this country and abroad.

As hon. Members have been informed, the Deputy Serjeant at Arms can in certain circumstances authorise the issue of a pass on the basis of satisfactory references pending the receipt of final clearances.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate the unit cost of the (a) organisation of a tour of the House and (b) cost of the tour itself; and if he will make a statement. (75997)

In the financial year 2005-06, the cost of organising a Member's guided tour was around £50. Each tour may contain the guests of a single or several Members.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many tours requested by hon. Members the House provided in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (76006)

Between June 2005 and May 2006, 7,374 tours were organised for hon. Members of both Houses by the Central Tours Office, covering around 119,000 guests. Some tours contained the guests of more than one hon. Member.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of the House's senior staff are of minority ethnic origin; and if he will make a statement. (76007)

As at 31 March 2006, the House had 79 senior staff, 72 of whom have declared their ethnicity. One of these senior staff (1.4 per cent.) is identified as of minority ethnic origin.

The proportion of ethnic minority staff across all pay bands is 19 per cent. The Commission is committed to valuing diversity throughout its workforce, and the board of management has made a commitment in its 2006 corporate plan to monitor the development of a diverse workforce at all levels by establishing gender and ethnic profiles by band and role.

To ask the Leader of the House how many of his staff are (a) under and (b) over 55 years of age. (77323)

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons currently has 12 staff, with one aged over 55 years of age.

To ask the Leader of the House how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited by his office in each of the last three years. (77324)

None, but I am 59.

To ask the Leader of the House what the total cost is of the IT refreshment scheme to replace and install new computers for hon. Members; and how much of that cost is to be spent on (a) implementing, installing and administering the scheme, (b) leases of equipment and (c) licensing of software. (75670)

The cost of Members’ IT installation and upgrade programme is borne mainly on the House of Commons: Members Estimate; but some costs are borne on the House of Commons: Administration Estimate which is the responsibility of the House of Commons Commission. The maximum estimated cash costs expected to be paid from the Members Estimate are:

The figures are provisional at this stage, as they depend significantly on the choices Members themselves make about the amount, type and location of the equipment they require.

I understand that the costs borne on the Administration Estimate cannot easily be disaggregated from the other running costs of the Parliamentary ICT Service.

To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of hon. Members have had their leased equipment replaced under the IT refreshment scheme; and if he will list the hon. Members concerned. (75679)

58 per cent. of Members have now received their new equipment. The IT refresh project is being undertaken in phases, and all Members will have been given an opportunity to refresh their equipment before the summer recess, provided forms are returned and survey and installation dates are agreed as set out in the guidance issued to Members. Equipment is loaned and not leased to Members and whether Members choose to use their allowance or not is a matter for them.

To ask the Leader of the House when he expects to publish the Government’s response to the Electoral Commission’s report of December 2004 on the funding of political parties. (76559)

The Prime Minister announced on 16 March that there was to be an independent review of the funding of political parties. Sir Hayden Phillips is currently undertaking this review. It would neither be appropriate nor courteous to publish a response to the Commission’s report prior to Sir Hayden Phillips reporting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average period was between (a) the state veterinary service and (b) his Department receiving urgent animal welfare complaints and the making of a visit to the premises being complained about in the latest period for which figures are available. (76339)

Any complaints received by the Department are immediately passed to the state veterinary service (SVS). The SVS aims to respond within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. The figures for April 2005 to March 2006 show the average response time was 0.5 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to promote (a) the wider use of and (b) research into biodiesel. (75455)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government announced in November 2005 that a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) will be introduced from 2008 which will require all suppliers of transport fuels in the UK to ensure that a certain percentage of their total annual sales is made up of biofuels. The level of the obligation will rise from 2.5 per cent. in the financial year 2008-09 to 3.75 per cent. in 2009-10 and 5 per cent. in 2010-11. This should ensure that, by 2010, biodiesel sales in the UK will amount to over a billion litres a year—a 20-fold increase from where we are today.

This Department has funded research in recent years into different aspects of biofuel production and use, but none has considered individual biofuels in any detail. Our research has focused instead on the potential environmental and other impacts of significant use of biofuels in the longer term, and on the emissions consequences and economics of various bioethanol and biodiesel blends. Research into biofuels will continue as part of the work the Department has commissioned to develop a carbon and environmental assurance scheme to underpin the RTFO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is towards the encouragement of biofuels as an alternative energy source. (75892)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government are committed to encouraging the most sustainable forms of biofuels for emissions savings as well as for security of supply reasons. That is why we announced in November 2005 that we will introduce a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation in April 2008 which will require all suppliers of transport fuels in the UK to ensure that a certain percentage of their total annual sales is made up of biofuels (or, in the longer term, some other renewable transport fuel).

The level of the obligation will rise from 2.5 per cent. in the financial year 2008-09 to 3.75 per cent. in 2009-10 and 5 per cent. in 2010-11. These levels will deliver a significant increase on current sales and will mean that by 2010 the vast majority of UK forecourts will be supplying renewable fuels in the form of biodiesel and bioethanol. The RTFO will deliver real environmental benefits and is projected to save around 1 million tonnes of carbon by 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent advice he has received on ways to improve the efficiency of testing cattle for bovine tuberculosis. (76330)

The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test is a well-established screening test for TB in cattle and the primary tool for live testing in Great Britain.

The SICCT is approved and recognised by the EU Commission and the International Animal Health Organisation (OIE) as the primary tool for the diagnosis of TB in cattle and other species, by virtue of its overall accuracy, robustness and relative simplicity. This has been demonstrated in several field evaluations conducted throughout the world.

The accuracy of any test is measured in terms of its specificity (proportion of uninfected animals identified as negative) and its sensitivity (proportion of infected animals detected as positive). The specificity for a correctly performed SICCT is above 99 per cent. Its sensitivity is between 77 per cent. and 95 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure adequate numbers of veterinary surgeons are available to test herds for bovine TB. (76331)

We recognise the importance of ensuring sufficient resources are available to carry out bovine TB testing. My officials closely monitor the situation and meet regularly with the veterinary profession.

Last year the Government introduced legislation under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to enable technical staff in the State Veterinary Service to carry out TB tests. A pilot study into lay TB testing is due to conclude shortly. We will consult the veterinary profession and other interested parties on the results and any proposals to extend lay testing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps the Environment Agency has taken to implement the end-of-life vehicle legislation; (75656)

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has transposed the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC) through the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2635) and the End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/263). DEFRA has responsibility for Part VII of the 2003 Regulations, on the keeping and treatment of waste motor vehicles, and these provisions are enforced by the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales.

All facilities treating un-depolluted end-of-life vehicles are required to have a permit, a condition of which is that the site in question must meet the minimum technical standards set down in Schedule 5 to the Regulations.

There are currently around 1,100 ‘Authorised Treatment Facilities’ for ELVs. The EA has worked closely with DEFRA, DTI and the vehicle dismantling sector to produce practical treatment guidance. Sites that hold the necessary site licence are inspected by the EA to ensure that they meet required standards. The EA also investigates sites thought to be handling vehicles illegally.

In 2004, the EA took forward 15 prosecutions for offences involving the keeping or treatment of ELVs. The figure for 2005 was 30. There have been 13 in the first five months of 2006. These are cases where ELVs were the main, or a significant proportion of, the waste being handled illegally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines have been issued by his Department to authorised treatment facilities licensed to store and treat end-of-life vehicles. (75657)

‘Guidance for Authorised Treatment Facilities’, a booklet providing guidance on de-polluting end-of-life vehicles, has been issued by the Department and is available from:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/elvehicledir.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the operators in North Devon who have been issued with a licence for storing and treating end-of-life vehicles. (75659)

The operators in North Devon who have been issued with a licence for storing and treating end-of-life vehicles are listed in the following table.

In order to treat end-of-life vehicles, licensed sites also need to meet the requirements of the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2003. To do this they need to have the necessary infrastructure in place to be an authorised treatment facility (ATF). The Environment Agency inspects and approves such facilities under these Regulations. At present only those sites listed below are both licensed and authorised to treat end-of-life vehicles.

There are a number of sites in North Devon that are registered as exempt from the requirement to have a waste management licence under paragraph 45 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (as amended). This exemption allows for the storage of dry ferrous and non-ferrous metals and storage of depolluted end-of-life vehicles. It does not allow for the storage and treatment of un-depolluted vehicles for which a licence would be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of export health certificates have been granted within agreed timeframes in each year since 1997. (76340)

The state veterinary service (SVS) only holds reliable and accessible figures for the period from January to April 2006. Applications for export certificates need to be made 10 working days before export. The following table shows the SVS success rate for timely applications:

This compares favourably with the SVS's target of processing 95 per cent. of timely applications within the agreed time frame.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many keepers of poultry with flocks of fewer than 50 there are; and what estimate he has made of how many chickens this represents. (76176)

The June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture for 2005 shows that there are approximately 21,000 registered poultry holdings in England with fewer than 50 birds. This represents approximately 350,000 chickens, or 0.3 per cent. of the national flock.

These figures only represent poultry kept on registered holdings in England. There are likely to be a significant number of poultry keepers with fewer than 50 birds that are kept on unregistered holdings, including domestic premises. No estimate is available for unregistered keepers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase the level of recycling; and what additional resources will be granted to (a) local authorities and (b) the Waste Resources Action Plan to achieve this. (76043)

The review of England’s Waste Strategy, due to be published later this year, will put forward a range of measures to build on recent improvements in recycling. The proposed target increases for household waste recycling are 40 per cent. by 2010, 45 per cent. by 2015 and 50 per cent. by 2020.

Local authorities’ main source of funding for waste management is the environmental, protective and cultural services (EPCS) block of the revenue support grant, distributed by central Government each year. In the last Spending Review (SR2004) the Government announced an increase in the EPCS block of £888 million by 2007-08 over 2004-05. A further £260 million through the waste performance and efficiency grant and £535 million in private finance initiative credits were also made available by 2007-08.

For 2006-07, the Waste Resources and Action Plan (WRAP) has been allocated £10.8 million for market development work, £40 million under the Waste Implementation Programme (to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill), £9 million under the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme and £5.5 million under the Aggregate Sustainable Levy Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will amend local authority league tables on recycling to give greater weight to waste minimisation. (76687)

[holding answer 12 June 2006]: Local authorities are assessed against a number of indicators on household waste which include the percentage sent for recycling or composting and the total weight collected per head. The Audit Commission publishes information on local authority performance against these indicators each year. This is available from the Audit Commission website:

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/performance/data provision.asp

Currently, there is no local authority statutory performance standard for waste minimisation. However, as part of the review of England’s Waste Strategy, Defra is looking at what levels and what forms of targets and indicators will, in the longer-term, be the most efficient at continuing the recent improvements we have seen in waste performance. The review will take into account existing policies designed to make waste management more sustainable, and consider how best to present information on local authority waste performance, consistent with sustainable waste management objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of (a) plastic and (b) glass bottles were recycled in each of the last five years. (75564)

Each year the Department publishes its Packaging Data Note (which can be found on the Defra website), giving the overall tonnages of all glass and plastic packaging waste recycled each year. These are shown in the following tables.

2005 figures are subject to confirmation. It is estimated that of the total amount of glass packaging waste recycled in 2004, approximately 75 per cent. were glass bottles. Of the total amount of plastic packaging waste recycled, about 10 per cent. is estimated to have been plastic bottles.

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 place an obligation on producers who put packaging on the market to recover and recycle packaging waste. The packaging targets increase each year and we expect the amount of glass and plastic packaging waste (including bottles) recycled to also increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department will give evidence to the forthcoming Competition Commission inquiry into the impact of supermarkets on market towns and out-of-town superstores in rural areas. (74503)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 18 May 2006, Official Report, column 1129.

My noble Friend Lord Rooker, the Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food has since written to the Competition Commission to highlight a number of areas which the Commission may wish to consider as part of its investigation. In doing so, he confirmed that the Department is willing to provide the Commission with any assistance or information it may request. A copy has been placed in the House Library and on Defra’s website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the closure of the agricultural waste collection facility near Wrexham. (76045)

I understand the facility which was approved for the collection of fallen stock was closed on 26 May when council officers inspected the plant after members of the public raised health concerns over the number of dead carcases on site.

The local authority and state veterinary service is now working with the facility to clear the backlog of carcases with a view to reinstating the approval of the site to begin receiving fallen stock again as soon as possible. In the mean time farmers in the area have been given a choice of alternative collectors and a good fallen stock collection service remains available to them under the National Fallen Stock Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of increased incineration of waste on the environment. (75568)

Defra published the independent Review of the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management, in 2004, which was peer reviewed by the Royal Society. The review concluded that, based on the evidence from studies so far, the treatment of municipal solid waste—including by incineration—has, at most, a minor impact on human health and the environment. Defra has also recently published a study, “Impact of Energy from Waste and Recycling Policy on UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions”, in support of a review of the Government's waste strategy. This is available on the Defra website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/pdf/ermreport.pdf

9 per cent. of waste is currently incinerated in England, but an increase is likely to be needed to be able to meet landfill directive targets, despite big improvements in waste recycling and minimisation. Recovering energy from waste through incineration produces many fewer greenhouse gas emissions than landfilling. Deriving energy from biodegradable waste also helps to offset fossil fuel generation.

The Environment Agency ensures that emissions and other outputs from waste management facilities are within the limits set by the EU and the UK Government to minimise any negative impact. Incinerators are also required to conform to tighter emission standards than other types of combustion plants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the UK's waste was (a) recycled and (b) sent to landfill in the last period for which figures are available. (75574)

In 2002-03, the estimated proportion of controlled waste which was landfilled in the UK was 43 per cent. In the same year, the estimated proportion which was recycled or reused was 42 per cent.

This encompasses waste collected from household, industrial, commercial, construction and demolition sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of whales killed for scientific research in each year since the international moratorium on commercial whaling was introduced, broken down by species. (77385)

Up to 2005 the number of whales taken each year, by species and by country for scientific whaling (since the moratorium was introduced in 1986) are shown in the following table as reported to the International Whaling Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK’s objectives are for the next International Whaling Commission meeting. (77386)

The UK’s key aims are to resist any attempts to end the moratorium on commercial whaling and resist threats to weaken or remove the conservation agenda of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). We will also highlight the cruelty involved in whaling, and promote the adoption of a new whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. Furthermore, we will strongly urge Japan, Iceland and Norway, to cease their whaling activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes to the present international whaling arrangements a majority of votes at the International Whaling Commission could achieve. (77387)

Although Japan and her allies may, for the first time, gain a simple majority at the next annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), such a majority would not be sufficient to overturn the moratorium on commercial whaling (which requires a ¾ majority). However, it would enable them to determine the IWC agenda, delete certain key conservation items and change the rules of procedure to their ultimate benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the member states are of the International Whaling Commission; and which are eligible to vote. (77388)

The International Whaling Commission, as of 12 June, has 70 member Contracting Governments: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kiribati, Luxembourg, Mali, Republic of Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States.

How many of these member states have voting rights will be determined only at the opening of the next annual International Whaling Commission meeting (IWC58) on 16 June, when it is known whether member states have paid their annual subscription and whether their credentials are in order. Even then the position can change during the meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which member states of the International Whaling Commission are (a) in favour of and (b) against (i) commercial and (ii) scientific whaling. (77475)

Issues are very rarely put to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in such stark terms. As such, the UK Government cannot determine with absolute confidence how each IWC member state might vote on removing the moratorium on commercial whaling or in protest against scientific whaling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a consignment of AK-47 type assault rifles has recently been imported from Bosnia into the UK. (75595)

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a decision on the proposed Belvedere incinerator. (76651)

I expect a decision to be announced very shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department is giving to the TrustMark scheme in the building industry. (75174)

The TrustMark scheme has been developed jointly by Government, industry and consumer stakeholders to raise standards in the domestic repair, maintenance and improvement sector and to provide better information to consumers. The TrustMark scheme grew out of the Government’s 2001 manifesto commitment to tackle cowboy builders.

DTI licensed TrustMark Ltd. (a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee) on 19 August 2005 to operate the framework. This involves assessing and licensing compliant membership organisations (“Approved Operators”) to use the logo, and monitoring their continued compliance. Approved Operators can then license compliant members. There are currently 10 Approved Operators (with further applications being considered) and around 6,500 licensed members.

Our aim is that, over time, improved performance as a result of TrustMark will enhance the construction industry’s reputation and improve consumer confidence leading to higher volumes of work and better levels of consumer satisfaction.

DTI is supporting TrustMark Ltd. with a grant of £2 million over two years, ending March 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department since April 2005, broken down by Act. (76911)

The information requested is as follows:

2005

No legislation introduced by my Department received Royal Assent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Department in each of the last five years. (71809)

From 2003-04 the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from the Department were as listed, in alphabetical order, as follows. Information at this level of detail relating to prior years is not held on the Department’s current financial system, and cannot be retrieved without incurring disproportionate cost.

2003-04

AirbusUK

American Express Europe Ltd

Amey Business Services Ltd

AON Ltd

ATOS Origin IT Services UK Ltd

Fujitsu Services Ltd

NPL Management Ltd

PERA International Ltd

Rolls Royce

SEMA Group

2004-05

American Express Europe Ltd

ATOS Origin IT Services UK Ltd

Capita Insurance Services Group Ltd

CPL Fuels

Cushman and Wakefield, Healey and Bake Cushman and Wakefield, Healey and Baker

Fujitsu Services Ltd

Land Securities Properties Ltd

Laser (Teddington II) Ltd

NPL Management Ltd

Syntegra

2005-06

AEA Technology Environment

American Express Europe Ltd

ATOS Origin IT Services UK Ltd

Capita Insurance Services Group Ltd

Fujitsu Services Ltd

NPL Management Ltd

PERA Innovation Ltd

Syntegra

UK Coal plc

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what opportunities exist for people to work beyond retirement age in his Department. (69006)

Staff may retire on reaching the age of 60 or work until they are 65 or retire at any time between 60 and 65 subject to giving three months notice. Staff in the senior civil service may work beyond 60 if there is a business requirement for them to do so. For all other staff the current maximum retirement age is 65 and they are not retained after that age other than in cases of exceptional departmental need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the staff in his Department is (a) male, (b) female and (c) disabled, broken down by grade. (69008)

The following statistics refer to Staff in Post at 1 April 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Department has considered implementing a higher minimum wage in areas where the overall cost of living is higher. (76718)

There are no plans to set different minimum wage rates for different areas or regions. There are often greater variations in pay within regions than between regions, and this would be complex to monitor and enforce. Single national rates are less bureaucratic and more easily understood for all concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of mobile phones in circulation in England and Wales in each of the last five years. (75557)

The Department does not hold the information that my hon. Friend requested nor is it available centrally and to obtain such information would entail disproportionate cost. However, research carried out by Ofcom found that the number of mobile phone subscribers in the UK rose from almost 45 million in 2001 to more than 64 million by the end of 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notice of redundancies he has received in respect of Sayers Bakery, Lorenzo Drive, Liverpool; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. (76696)

Advance notification of the proposed redundancies at Sayers Confectionery Limited., Lorenzo Drive, Liverpool, has been received. The information was passed to the Manager of Norris Green Jobcentre plus, who has arranged for staff to visit the site to assist those employees who are facing redundancy. The Jobcentre plus offers access to a range of support schemes, from the new deal and the jobseekers allowance through to more focused schemes designed to help those caught up in restructuring. It provides information on job searching; compiling CVs; further education and training for individuals who need to develop new skills; benefits information; etc. The help required is agreed in discussion with the employer, and in liaison with the local Government Office and the Local Learning and Skills Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have responded to his consultation on Sunday trading; and if he will list the persons invited to his stakeholder conference on the subject. (74074)

From 13 January to 14 April the DTI asked for views and evidence on all aspects of extending Sunday shop opening hours. We have received around 1,000 responses. We intend to publish a summary of the responses on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/Sunday %20Shopping) within three months of the close of this consultation.

On 10 May we held a stakeholder conference, attended by a wide range of stakeholders, where Indepen Consulting Ltd. presented their cost-benefit analysis and participants discussed the assumptions and findings. This was followed by optional forums where we gathered views on the impact on society, the retail sector and employees, and also what can be learnt from international comparisons.

We wrote to around 150 organisations including retailers, trade associations, trade unions, faith groups and groups with an interest in family life to make them aware of the conference. Details of the conference and how to sign up were posted on the DTI website and we also placed an advertisement in a number of retail trade publications. A report of the conference with a list of the organisations that attended, will be published on the DTI website shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what methodology the Casino Advisory Panel is using (a) to consider the social impact of new casinos and (b) to assess local opposition to new casinos in its work allocating casino licences. (77062)

The role of the Casino Advisory Panel is to advise the Secretary of State on the areas for the 17 new casinos permitted by the Gambling Act 2005, which will provide the best possible test of social impact, not to measure that impact. The panel is also required to ensure that the areas selected are willing to license a new casino and that they include areas in need of regeneration.

No earlier than three years after the award of the first premises licence, the Government will ask the Gambling Commission to advise on whether the introduction of the new types of casinos has led to an increase in problem gambling or is increasing that risk.

All local authorities who put proposals to the panel were asked to include details of their research into local opinion.

In announcing its short list of casino bids the panel has asked any interested members of the public to write to it expressing their views on the short listed areas, whether in support or in opposition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations (a) she and (b) the Casino Advisory Panel has received in the last six months criticising the methodologies used by the Casino Advisory Panel in its work. (77063)

There have been no representations criticising the methodology used by the Casino Advisory Panel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list those occasions when the recommendations of a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman have been (a) rejected and (b) partly rejected by her Department since 1997. (76263)

There were no occasions where the Department rejected or partially rejected recommendations of a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what incentives are available to encourage members of her staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work. (75120)

The vast majority of staff already use public transport. There are no car parking spaces, other than for disabled staff. We provide interest-free loans for the purchase of public transport season tickets and the purchase of bicycles. We are currently upgrading on-site facilities for cyclists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to promote tourism in South East Essex; and if she will make a statement. (75652)

The Regional Development Agencies have had responsibility for tourism support and promotion at a regional level since 2003. My Department contributes £3.6 million a year towards this in grant-in-aid.

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) works with the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency (ExDRA), as the body delegated responsibility for promoting tourism in Essex by the county council.

Initiatives that are directly being supported by EEDA include a tourism strategy for Essex which incorporates the Thames Gateway and Haven Gateway areas of the county. In addition EEDA is working with the Arts Council on cultural development and tourism in the Southend borough.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Minister in his Department is responsible for monitoring his Department's compliance with its duty under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to have regard to the purpose of conserving biological diversity in carrying out its functions; and if he will make a statement. (73939)

The Scotland Office have no responsibilities in relation to section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department plans to take to monitor the extent to which public bodies which report to him comply, from October, with their duty to conserve biodiversity in exercising their functions, under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. (74397)

The Scotland Office have no responsibilities in relation to section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by his Department in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature of the charges brought against them were. (73964)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what incentives his Department offers to encourage staff to share vehicles when travelling to work. (73058)

All staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and, where appropriate, may avail themselves of the schemes offered by those Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions Ministers of State in his Department stayed overnight in (a) five star, (b) four star and (c) three star hotels on foreign visits in each of the last three years. (69100)

There have been no Ministers of State in the Scotland Office during the last three years. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the terms of the “Ministerial Code” and “Travel by Ministers” which state that when travelling on official business, Ministers are expected to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the pension liability of his Department over the next 30 years. (75272)

I refer the hon. Member to the technical note which was placed in the Library of the House on 2 March 2006, Official Report, columns 388-90W, following a response at oral questions by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Pension liabilities are not estimated for individual departments but for individual pension schemes, as shown in the breakdown of liabilities per pension scheme given in Table 1 of the technical note.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension. (73059)

Members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) can pay additional contributions to top up their pension either through the Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contributions Scheme (CSAVCS), a money purchase arrangement, or by buying added years of service in the PCSPS. As an alternative to membership of the PCSPS recruits from 1 October 2002 have been able to join a stakeholder arrangement, the partnership pension account.

The number and percentage of staff in the department who are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension as at 31 May 2006 are shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total cost was of (a) staff away days and (b) staff team building exercises in his Department in each of the last three years. (69105)

The staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs; both Departments provide access to training and development opportunities. The Scotland Office does not hold information in the form requested; however, the total direct expenditure on training was:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to encourage community integration. (76450)

The Secretary of State is developing the Commission on Integration and Cohesion’s scope to ensure that it contributes to the delivery of the new Department’s strategic priorities. We expect to make an announcement about the way ahead before the summer recess.

The creation of the new Department for Communities and Local Government gives a renewed impetus to our work of encouraging integration with its powerful new remit to promote community cohesion, equality and civil renewal along with its responsibilities for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many copies of council tax bills for 2006-07 he has received from pensioners. (65110)

I have been asked to reply.

4,487 copies of council tax bills for 2006-07 have been received by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as at 21 April 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to include the Digital Challenge Competition in the Transformational Government work programme. (75921)

The Digital Challenge competition is an integral part of the programme outlined in Connecting the UK: the Digital Strategy, of which Transformational Government is also a part.

The Digital Challenge competition has the potential to make a real difference to people's lives. There are three overarching criteria for the winning bid which are fundamental requirements and which also reflect the principles outlined in Transformational Government:

Empowerment

The winning bid must show how they will use ICT to give new choice, voice and empowerment to citizens; it should be about enabling citizens to participate in their communities, as well as gaining access to services.

Service Transformation

The winning bid must demonstrate innovation in changing how we offer services to people—using ICT to transform the way services are provided, used and experienced.

Efficiency

Local authorities must show that after year one their initiatives are sustainable and cost effective and be prepared to showcase these to other local authorities in years two and three, acting as the UK exemplar.

The Digital Challenge is supported across government by many departments. Learning and evaluation of the winning bid and runners-up will be used to inform the development of Transformational Government programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the legal status of home condition reports will be; when home information packs are introduced; and for how long the Condition Report will be valid. (73899)

[holding answer 5 June 2006]: The regulations to be laid shortly will specify that Home Condition Reports will be valid documents once they are registered. The regulations will also specify that buyers, sellers and mortgage lenders can legally rely on Home Condition Reports. Home inspectors will be required to have in place suitable indemnity insurance.

The regulations will require that Home Condition Reports must be no more than three months old when marketing begins, but there will be no requirement for sellers to update them after this. We expect the industry to develop cheap solutions for updating packs where the seller wishes to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many home inspectors are in training; what qualifications are required to enter training; and how many home inspectors she expects to have in place in each local authority area in England by 1 June 2007. (73900)

[holding answer 5 June 2006]: As of 30April 2006, over 4,400 potential home inspectors were in training. The current qualification, the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection, is open to people with different levels of previous experience, but all candidates must satisfy all parts of the Diploma. This includes providing a portfolio of evidence demonstrating the required skills and experience, and passing the ABBE examination.

We have estimated that the number of home inspectors required in England and Wales by 1 June 2007, will be between 5,000 and 7,400. The ‘Report on the Number of Home Inspectors Required from Introduction of Home Information Packs’ published by DCLG on 23 May 2006 shows the number of inspectors expected to be required in each of the English regions and Wales. I have deposited a copy in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average waiting time was for a council property with disabled access in (a) Leeds and (b) the West Yorkshire region in the latest period for which figures are available. (75490)

[holding answer 7 June 2006]: Information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what plans she has to (a) build and (b) supply council housing for those with serious disabilities in (i) Leeds and (ii) the West Yorkshire region; (75491)

[holding answer 7 June 2006]: We have a duty to deliver housing appropriate to the needs of those with serious disabilities. Housing Associations are now the main providers of new social housing. Regional Housing Boards recommend the allocation of resources to deliver regional and sub-regional priorities identified in Regional Housing Strategies. The Housing Corporation has invested £3.3 million for 54 new supported housing units in West Yorkshire between 2004-06. For the period 2006-08, £4.2 million has been allocated to provide 95 new supported housing units in West Yorkshire.

In addition, Leeds are delivering through the private finance initiative high-quality accommodation and support services for people with learning disabilities. In addition to specialist provision, we continue to enable people with serious disabilities to live in their own homes if they wish to do so, with the appropriate level of care. Council housing adaptations are resourced through Council's Housing Revenue Account, or from other financial resources available to the local authority. Local authority tenants are statutorily entitled to assistance under the Disabled Facilities Grant programme but the present financial arrangements preclude the ODPM ring fenced fund being used for the provision of such adaptations for LA tenants. In the private sector, each year around 30,000 applicants benefit from a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which since 1997 has increased from £57 million to £103 million in 2005-06. Leeds allocation for 2006-07 is £1.5 million, a 37 per cent. increase. Provision for suitable accommodation will also be increased through our decision to implement the Lifetime Homes Standard through the new Code for Sustainable Homes.

I also understand that Leeds city council is preparing a Disability Housing Strategy and a Learning Disabilities Strategy (Valuing People), which will set out the approach that the authority needs to take in future years for provision of new housing which meets the needs of the seriously disabled in our communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people with serious disabilities are on the waiting list for council housing in (a) Leeds and (b) the West Yorkshire region. (75496)

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure timely development of infrastructure to keep pace with housing construction in (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex. (64450)

[holding answer 19 April 2006]: I have been asked to reply.

Government have increased overall spending in the south east since 2000 by 50 per cent. from £30 billion to £45 billion, including a 244 per cent. increase in housing and community funding, 67 per cent. increase in health, 59 per cent. in transport and 58 per cent. in education.

The South East Plan has been recently submitted to Government and sets out the regional assembly's views on required house building levels in the south east to 2026. This work has been prepared in partnership with local councils, and so takes account of local assessments of need. In its draft the assembly has taken a view of infrastructure requirements across the region, and this will be debated at the forthcoming examination in public. In due course, the Government will give their approval to the final version, which will certainly take into account the issue of infrastructure delivery, on the basis of the best information available at the time.

The Government response to the Barker report included:

a cross-cutting review in the run-up to CSR 07 to co-ordinate infrastructure provision across Departments;

consultation on the Government's response to Kate Barker's recommendation for a Planning-Gain Supplement (PGS) to help finance infrastructure and ensure that local authorities share in the benefits growth brings.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the local authorities' (a) capital grants for 2006-07 and (b) indicated grants for 2007-08. (46138)

I have been asked to reply.

Information on capital grants issued to local authorities is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much rates support grant was given to Lancashire county council over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (53372)

I have been asked to reply.

The following table shows the amount of formula grant provided to Lancashire county council for the period 1998-99 to 2007-08, together with the increase year-on-year on a like-for-like basis after adjusting for changes in funding and function. Formula grant comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and, for authorities with responsibility for policing, principal formula police grant. It is not appropriate to show just revenue support grant as the amount for England is dependant on the amount of redistributed business rates available for England in the year.

The large change in the level of formula grant in 2006-07 is due to the transfer of schools funding to the Dedicated Schools Grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities make provision for their councillors to hold a budget which they can spend on approved projects and organisations in their own wards. (76274)

The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of which local authorities the Government are proposing to reduce their support for borrowing for capital expenditure; and if she will make a statement. (76617)

Government support for borrowing by local authorities is issued as part of the Formula Grant Settlement. Formula Grant is unhypothecated and so capital support is not provided as a separate funding stream. The amount issued is calculated on a formulaic basis and therefore the Government do not intervene by reducing support to individual local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's policy is on supported borrowing for capital expenditure by Buckinghamshire county council; and if she will make a statement. (76618)

Government support for borrowing by local authorities is issued as part of the Formula Grant Settlement. Formula Grant is unhypothecated and so capital support is not provided as a separate funding stream. The amount issued to Buckinghamshire county council, as with all local authorities, is calculated on a formulaic basis and therefore the Government do not intervene by reducing support to individual local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the Mixed Communities Initiative. (76449)

The mixed communities approach is one element of our strategy to tackle concentrated deprivation and create sustainable communities for all. It brings together social, economic and physical regeneration, alongside essential improvements in public services, in order to transform failing communities into ones able to attract and retain households on a wide range of incomes. The Government are currently working with a number of locally led and managed projects in order to develop mixed communities in some of our most disadvantaged areas, while also testing out approaches to encourage mixed communities more widely. One such project is based in Coventry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will answer question 65110, tabled on 19 April to the Deputy Prime Minister. (73584)

I have answered the hon. Member’s question today, 13 June 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil service staff formerly working in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been disciplined as a result of breaches of rules contained in the departmental staff handbook in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement. (76238)

Information on the number of disciplinary cases is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of Supporting People on the safety and security of staff in supported housing. (76226)

Supporting People is a national programme which funds and enables local provision of housing-related support services. The programme went live on 1 April 2003, and brought together a range of pre-existing services and funding streams under a single strategic framework. This included the establishment of national quality standards—the Quality Assessment Framework—which include, among many other matters, ensuring proper procedures for risk assessment and health and safety of staff and against which all of these services have now been assessed.

While no specific assessment has been made by DCLG of the effect of the introduction of Supporting People on the safety and security of staff in supported housing, the Audit Commission national report on Supporting People (published in October 2005) reported that the Quality Assessment Framework has been effective in raising standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which military units from (a) the UK, (b) the United States and (c) other nations have been based in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years; and where each unit has been based. (76412)

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.