To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many staff in her Office have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years. (218979)

None.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people were employed by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) at the most recent date for which figures are available; what the staffing costs of the ODA will be in 2008-09; and how many of the ODA's staff work on (a) project management, (b) legacy planning and (c) financial oversight. (219273)

As of 30 June 2008, the ODA employed 212 members of staff. This consists of permanent staff, fixed-term contract staff, and secondments. The overall management costs budget for 2008-09 is based on an ODA headcount of 276. The agreed total budget for ODA management costs for 2008-09 is £24,223,000. This budget has been set to cover salary costs, including employer national insurance contributions, employer pension contributions and bonus payments that are payable to eligible staff based on performance and achievement of overall objectives.

The ODA currently has 128 members of staff working in project management roles across a number of ODA teams.

The ODA is leading the first phase of legacy which is focused on cleaning, clearing, and creating the park and the development of new infrastructure, utilities, and venues. The second phase is led by the LDA and is focused on what the park is used for after the games. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of those ODA staff who are exclusively working on legacy planning roles as every project within the programme is considered with legacy in mind, ensuring that legacy requirements are incorporated into design briefs, specifications and business plans.

The ODA currently has 15 employees working in the Finance and Business Planning Team who work closely with the delivery partner on the financial oversight of the programme. In addition the ODA has engaged Ernst and Young to provide an internal audit service.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008, Official Report, columns 567-8W, on the Olympic games, what estimate he has made of the cost of Ministers from her Department and departmental officials attending the Beijing Olympic games. (219477)

All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, and travel by DCMS officials is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Library.

I and my Private Secretary will be travelling to the Olympic games. The cost of my visit will be covered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she plans to take to ensure that the 2012 Olympics have an effective economic and social legacy in all parts of the UK. (217670)

In June this year we published the Legacy Action Plan (LAP) which sets out the long-term benefits we hope to stimulate through hosting the Olympic games and Paralympic games in 2012, and how we plan to achieve them. This is unprecedented as no other host city has ever been at this stage of planning, nor so committed to a broad and sustainable legacy, this early in preparations.

The LAP sets out the Government's priorities for UK-wide legacy as defined by our five legacy promises, published in Our Promise for 2012 in June 2007. This includes a target to help get two million people more active through sport and physical activity by 2012. Sport England will seek to get one million more active through sport; they will do this through new engagement with national governing bodies and through county sport partnerships.

Further to the announcement in June, Government have now set out further details of the £140 million cross-Government free swimming scheme. The scheme is designed to encourage as many local authorities as possible to participate in making swimming free for over-60s and under-16s in their local communities, but also to stimulate ambitious authorities to maximise and sustain uptake through other initiatives such as free lessons for adults who cannot swim, the introduction of swimming co-ordinators and to provide incentives for the most ambitious to move further towards a universal free swimming offer.

The LAP also includes initiatives to stimulate economic and social benefit by increasing tourism and improving access to skills and business opportunities. This includes, for example, the London 2012 Business Network giving business across the UK access to the 75,000 contracts in the London 2012 supply chains worth £6 billion.

Facilities in the London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide which will be published in Beijing will also have the opportunity to attract inward investment and showcase their local area on an international stage. UKTI are also developing programmes to use the games as a springboard for export.

In addition to the LAP, each of the English regions and nations has its own plan for legacy initiatives at local level that complement this work.

As Members of Parliament we should do everything we can in our constituencies to ensure that the opportunities and long-term benefits generated by the games are realised at local level across the UK.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much was paid to KPMG as Olympic advisers in each year since its contract began. (219274)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's sole contract with KPMG, to date, covered the period from October 2005 to July 2006 when KPMG were commissioned to review cost estimates for the 2012 Games. The cost of this contract was £1,190,000, inclusive of VAT.

The Olympic Delivery Authority paid KPMG in 2006-07 £255,000, and in 2007-08 £1,585,000. Both figures are inclusive of VAT. The costs are attributed to the financial evaluation of tenders, financial support and advice.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she next expects to make an announcement on Olympic funding; and if she will make a statement. (221409)

I have no plans to make a further announcement on Olympic funding. The public sector funding provision for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games remains as set out in my statement to the House on 15 March 2007.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for St Albans of 2 April 2008, on policing for the Olympic Games in London in 2012. (221389)

A letter of response to the hon. Member for St. Albans will be sent shortly.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many full-time equivalent members of staff in her Office are employed on work in relation to railways; how many of those work on (a) project management, (b) project oversight and (c) financial oversight; and what plans she has for related future staffing levels. (221433)

No members of staff in the Minister for the Olympics Office are employed on work in relation to railways.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes; (219590)

All Scotland Office expenditure, including all money spent on hospitality, is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on “Regularity and Propriety”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions his Department has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from (a) the Court of Appeal and (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected. (220826)

The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Since that date the Scotland Office has not instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from (a) the Court of Appeal and (b) the House of Lords itself in any of the last 10 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) reviews and (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007. (221368)

Since 27 June 2007, the Scotland Office has undertaken one public consultation, “Sorting the Ballot”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which projects his Department has commissioned from (a) think tanks and (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid. (221626)

The Scotland Office, along with the Wales Office and Ministry of Justice, is funding a series of reports on devolution from University College, London. The Scotland Office has agreed to contribute £25,000 over three years towards this work.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2008, Official Report, column 919W, on departmental conferences, when he expects to publish information on official and charity receptions for 2007-08. (221266)

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made today.

To ask the Prime Minister what UK Government databases may be accessed by third parties, following Commission Decision 2008/291/EC, OJ L98 of 10 April 2008; what statutory safeguards exist for personal privacy; and if he will make a statement. (217983)

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what UK Government databases may be accessed by third parties following Commission Decision (EC) 2008/291, and what statutory safeguards exist for personal privacy. (217983)

Commission Decision (EC) No 2008/291 updates the list of scientific research institutions that have passed statutory checks for their competence to carry out research using certain statistical datasets held by Eurostat, the statistical office of the Commission.

The statistical sources that may be accessed by researchers in admissible institutions are listed in Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 (as amended):

European Community Household Panel (ECHP)

Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Community Innovation Survey (CIS)

Continuing Vocational Training Survey

Structure of Earnings Survey (SES)

European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC)

Adult Education Survey

Farm Structure Survey

The UK contributes data to each of these sources. At present only ECHP, LFS, CIS, EU-SILC, and SES micro-datasets have an agreed anonymisation standard and available in that form for research use. Eurostat and member states are working on an anonymisation design for the other sources. The anonymisation standards are equivalent to the standard ONS uses for the datasets it places for research use through the UK Data Archive at Essex University.

Researchers in admissible institutions may be provided with data when the statutory safeguards in Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 are met. This requires the researcher to submit a detailed written request setting out the research proposal. The UK authority that contributed data to the source must be informed of the request, and can withhold permission for its data to be provided.

A contract with Eurostat must be in place that specifies the research purpose and the necessary organisational and technical measures to keep the data secure. The data provided are also protected by the statutory prohibitions on disclosure in Chapter V of Council Regulation (EC) 322/97.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 247 to the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe, how many of the three million people to whom he referred are (a) UK citizens and (b) non-UK citizens. (221207)

I refer the hon. Member to the information produced by the Office for National Statistics which shows that 2.9 million more people are in work since 1997:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LMS_FR_HS/WebTable01.xls

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners under what conditions bishops and clergy of the Church of England occupy episcopal and parish property for which the Church Commissioners are responsible; whether bishops and clergy are required to abide by the provisions of Church of England Measures to use such property; and if he will make a statement. (218199)

Diocesan bishops occupy see houses under licence from the Church Commissioners who have the power, under section 3 of the Episcopal Endowments and Stipends Measure 1943, to house diocesan bishops.

Refusal to abide by Church of England Measures would be a matter of clergy discipline, which is not the responsibility of the Commissioners.

The Commissioners are not responsible for parish property occupied by clergy or property occupied by suffragan bishops.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many home information packs have been commissioned by the Church Commissioners or its representatives to market a residential property; for which properties; at what cost; and whether a voluntary home condition report was purchased as part of the packs. (219020)

Home information packs have been provided by the Church Commissioners in relation to 143 The Quadrangle Tower, London W2 (at a cost of £359.65), 114 The Quadrangle Tower, London W2 (at a cost of £347.65), and Flat 4 Devonport, London W2 (at a cost of £359.65).

In all three cases the Commissioners did not purchase the voluntary home condition report.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance provided by the Council for the Care of Churches on approaches to the inspection of memorials. (219067)

A copy of the guidance from the Council will be placed in the Library on 22 July 2008.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many Church of England churches in England have been taken out of use for worship in each year since 1997. (219068)

The numbers of Church of England churches in England closed for regular public worship in each year since 1997 are as follows:

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cotswold of 23 April 2008, Official Report, column 2046W, on the Cromwell Green entrance, whether the Commission has now considered the review of lessons learned from the visitor reception building project; and if he will make a statement on its main findings. (218868)

The independent post-project review of the Cromwell Green visitor reception building, undertaken by Roy Davis Associates LLP, has now been received by the Clerk of the House. It was reported to the Commission at its recent meeting, and will be reported to the House of Lords House Committee in October.

The review presents a thorough analysis of the project. The Cromwell Green entrance opened on 21 April 2008 and has been operating successfully since as an important enhancement of visitor reception at Westminster. But its construction was subject to exceptional delay and significant cost overruns. The main findings of the review are:

until autumn 2007 the governance of the project was poor, and it is questionable whether the Houses were advised in sufficient detail to make balanced decisions;

the initial project delivery date of September 2006 drove the project but was not achievable;

once on site, delays occurred due to the complexity and uniqueness of the design, the fact that it was incomplete and uncoordinated, which required it to be extensively reworked during construction, and the lack of resolution of critical issues;

the requirements of major parts of the project brief were ignored;

the management of the design and the construction was undermined by the split responsibilities of project managers and the lack of ownership of the project; and

both the cost management and advice and the procurement and production of contracts for consultants and the contractor were poor.

The repeatedly escalating costs and continued slippages in this project have raised serious questions about project management competences in the House service. A number of key steps have already been taken. As part of a reorganisation following the review by Sir Kevin Tebbit it was decided to create a reunified Parliamentary Estates Directorate and recruit senior managers with appropriate skills. The Directorate is now under the direct responsibility of a Director General of Facilities. As part of their recruitment, both new postholders have been required to demonstrate competence, and personal track records of delivery, in the areas of estates and works matters.

Further improvements relating to transparency and control of projects are under way, and these will take account of recommendations for future practice from the post-project review. The Commission will receive a progress report from the Clerk of the House in the autumn on the establishment of the revised management arrangements and the effectiveness of the new controls over projects. It supports the Clerk of the House in his determination to ensure that full lessons are learned from this major failure in project management.

A copy of the post-project review has been placed in the Library and on the parliamentary website.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the House’s policy is on the purchase of cleaning products that have been tested on animals. (220866)

The House of Commons does not have a policy on cleaning products being tested on animals. The specification for the new parliamentary cleaning contract requires that all materials and chemicals used must minimise environmental impact and be fit for the purpose intended. The safest possible product is to be used.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many basins there are in Portcullis House; and how many of them do not have plugs. (220400)

Portcullis House has 112 basins in lavatories, bathrooms and tea points. A survey on 17 July found that four plugs were missing. Work is in hand to replace them. Included in this number are 20 wash basins in accessible lavatories which, by design, do not have plugs.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what redundancy package is available for (a) Officers of the House and (b) other staff of the House; what the reasons are for the provisions of each; and if he will make a statement. (221264)

No redundancies are currently contemplated, nor have there been any redundancies in recent years. Were redundancies to be necessary, the packages available are the same as those available to the civil service under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, which are set out on the civil service pensions website:

www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk/scheme_information/cscs.aspx

The terms are the same for Officers of the House and other staff.

To ask the Solicitor-General where Christine Drury's desk is located; and whether she is paid from the public purse. (211912)

Christine Drury does not work in the Attorney-General's Office or in any of the superintended departments.

To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the appointments made to agencies for which the Attorney-General is responsible since 27 June 2007. (211791)

Since 27 June 2007 the Attorney-General has appointed the director of the Serious Fraud Office.

To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Attorney-General's Office has taken to monitor the cost of its mail services in the last 12 months. (221488)

The Attorney-General's Office are in the process of reviewing our post room services. This includes usage of Royal Mail services, DX membership, Government Car Despatch Agency's Government mail service (formerly IDS) and our messengers’ hand delivery services in order to achieve greater efficiency and savings.

To ask the Solicitor-General what the Attorney-General's Office's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. (220424)

The Government's policy is to pay all undisputed invoices promptly. The Department is covered by this policy. The Department aims to secure good value for money from all of its suppliers and our commitment to prompt payment is one of the factors that allows us to negotiate competitive prices. We do not seek additional discounts for making payments swiftly and in compliance with Government policy.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many and what percentage of staff in the Attorney-General's Office have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years. (218695)

The number and percentage of staff who have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days is illustrated in the following table:

To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff in her Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years. (218975)

There have been less than five staff who fall into this category, therefore this information cannot be provided on grounds of confidentiality.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission plans to publish, or otherwise make available for independent scrutiny, the accounts submitted by the Labour party for 2007. (221452)

The Electoral Commission informs me that as required by section 46 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000, the Electoral Commission makes all statements of accounts available for public inspection. Statements of accounts for 2007 submitted by parties with income or expenditure over £250,000, including the Labour party, are due to be published on the Commission's website on 30 July 2008.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what procedures are followed by the Electoral Commission in circumstances where a party is unable to submit signed-off accounts demonstrating its financial validity as a going concern; and if he will make a statement. (221422)

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 requires registered parties to submit an annual statement of accounts to the Electoral Commission. Where the gross income or total expenditure of the registered party during the period of those accounts exceeds £250,000, that statement of accounts must be submitted within six months of the party's financial year end, and must be audited by a qualified auditor. The legislation provides for civil penalties where these requirements are not met and a failure to comply may also give rise to a criminal offence.

The Electoral Commission informs me that it reviews all statements of accounts, publishes them on its website and pursues the penalties provided for in cases where the requirements have been breached. The Electoral Commission further informs me that it publishes guidance for parties on preparing their statements of accounts. This guidance is available on the Commission's website at

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/_data/assets/electoral_commission_pdf_file/0014/13460/Draftguidance_21211-8865_E_N_S_W_.pdf

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission has produced guidance on the declaration of donations and sponsorship by trade unions by declared electoral candidates outside of election periods. (221425)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it has published ‘Donations and loans: guidance for regulated donees in Great Britain’. Regulated donees include members of registered political parties who receive donations for their use and benefit in connection with their political activities, such as campaigning outside the relevant regulated period. This guidance covers the reporting of all donations from all permissible donors, including trade unions.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008, Official Report, columns 1309-10W, on political parties: finance, on what dates the Electoral Commission met the Secretary of State for Justice to discuss the White Paper on party finance and expenditure ahead of its publication. (221471)

The Electoral Commission informs me that the chairman of the Commission, Sam Younger, and Commission officials met with the Secretary of State for Justice on 12 November 2007 and 14 April 2008. A range of matters were discussed regarding party and election finance, some of which are addressed by the Government’s White Paper, “Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom”.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the publication of the White Paper on party finance and expenditure, when the Electoral Commission plans to consult on guidance on the new triggering rules. (221472)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it will consult on any guidance relating to new provisions proposed in the Political Parties and Elections Bill after the Bill has been passed by both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (1) which donations to regulated donees entered on the Commission's register pursuant to section 69 and Schedule 7 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 were registered after the statutory deadline in 2001; (221565)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it has retained most original hard copies of donation returns from regulated donees from 2001 onwards and all original hard copies of donation returns from regulated donees from 2007 onwards. On the basis of available returns, a copy of the information sought by the hon. Member has been placed in the Library and has been made available on the Commission's website:

www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many members of the Government's new reconstruction unit are based in Helmand province. (220404)

Stabilisation Unit staff are currently located in Helmand. For security reasons, Stabilisation Unit does not publish exact details of the number and location of its staff in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the foundation stone for the new mosque in Musa Qala will be laid; and if he will make a statement. (220405)

Work has already begun on the new mosque in Musa Qala. DFID is providing support through the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

The Governor of Helmand province will lay the foundation stone when he next visits. The exact date for the visit is still to be confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to increase the protection of vulnerable children in Africa. (219985)

The UK Government remain firmly committed to tackling child vulnerability in Africa, including those affected by HIV/AIDS. Over the last three years the Department for International Development (DFID) has provided over £120 million for support of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Africa. This includes supporting National Plans of Action for OVC and expanding support for the needs of the most vulnerable children in health, education, social protection and HIV prevention and treatment programmes.

Over the next three years, the UK Government will expand their social protection programmes and increase spending to over £200 million. DFID will work in at least eight African countries to develop social protection policies and programmes, with Governments and NGOs that provide effective predictable support for the most vulnerable households—ensuring access to social services and protection from abuse. DFID will also work with others to provide better diagnostics and treatment of children infected with HIV and living with AIDS. A copy of the updated strategy ‘Achieving Universal Access—the UK’s strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world’ and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the DFID website:

www.dfid.gov.uk

DFID’s broader health sector initiatives all benefit vulnerable children, particularly in Africa. These include support (£30 million for 2006-8) to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), a long-term (20 year) £1.38 billion commitment to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), $485 million in support of drug development incentives by the pilot Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) for pneumococcal vaccines and support of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) where DFID has made an unprecedented long-term commitment, subject to performance, of up to £1 billion between 2008-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes. (219596)

All entertainment and hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money. Financial control is managed through delegation to Heads of Department who are responsible for their respective budgets. Further controls are exercised through sample spot checks of expenditure undertaken by DFID's Accounts Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department’s work force worked from home in whole or in part in the most recent period for which figures are available. (220786)

DFID does not keep central records of the number of home workers, or the proportion of working time that is carried out from home. Arrangements for home working are agreed informally between line managers and individuals. 1,798 of our 2,467 employees (73 per cent.) have been issued with laptop computers rather than a desk-top computer. This allows them to work from home on a regular or ad hoc basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the change in the number of employees in his Department has been since July 2006. (217072)

The Department for International Development (DFID) submits quarterly returns on our Home Civil Service (HCS) staffing numbers, to the Office for National Statistics.

DFID also employs staff appointed in country (SAIC) recruited locally to work in our network of over 50 offices overseas on local terms and conditions of service.

Details of our HCS and SAIC staff numbers, showing the separate and overall comparisons between the end of June 2006 and end of June 2008, are shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of staff of his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years. (217417)

The Department for International Development (DFID) operates two separate bonus schemes.

The first is an established bonus scheme for members of the senior civil service (SCS). Bonuses are awarded at three different levels (high, medium or no bonus award). The proportion of SCS members who did not receive the high level (or maximum) bonus in each of the last two years was as follows:

The second performance bonus scheme is for home civil service staff (HCS) below the SCS. The HCS bonus scheme was introduced under the 2007 pay deal for HCS staff and will come into effect in the 2008-09 performance appraisal year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training courses were (a) available to and (b) taken up by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months. (210580)

Reporting which training courses were (a) available to and (b) taken by civil servants in the Department for International Department in the last 12 months would incur disproportionate cost, since the majority of training activity is arranged by sub-departments and overseas offices.

Courses which have been provided centrally include Leadership and Management Development, Negotiating and Influencing, Working with Ministers, Induction and Health and Safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of long-term trends in food prices; and what assessment he has made of their effects on the developing world. (218505)

The UK Government have been working closely with the major international organisations (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UN agencies and International Food Policy Research Institute) in order to assess future price trends and cereal production. Increased cereal production and the removal of export bans have brought about a calming of markets, and prices have fallen back from the very high levels seen earlier this year. But the consensus remains that the underlying demand for food remains strong, and this is likely to keep prices high for some years yet, with the trend price for grains stabilising at around 10-25 per cent. higher than 2001 levels.

Many countries have experienced serious social and economic consequences of the recent surge in food prices, aggravated by similar movement in fuel prices. The macroeconomic impact on developing countries varies according to the degree of dependency on food and fuel imports. Some countries (e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Mozambique) are experiencing significant food price rises; some (e.g. Kenya and Zanzibar) are experiencing clear food shortages; countries in West Africa (e.g. Nigeria and Niger) are heavily affected due to their reliance on imports from international markets; some (Malawi and Zambia) are relatively insulated from global price movements, while others (e.g. Vietnam) are benefiting. The poorest are hardest hit, with some families spending up to 90 per cent. of their income on food. The UK Government are pressing for a global partnership to address both the short term impact of surging food prices, and the longer term challenges of promoting food security for the 850 million people who continue to face hunger.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans there are to meet the global target of universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention. (219986)

I refer my hon. Friend to the written parliamentary statement made on 2 June 2008, Official Report, columns 42-44WS.

A copy of the updated strategy ‘Achieving Universal Access—the UK’s strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world’ and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:

www.dfid.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of staff in his Department are disabled; and what the average salary in his Department is of (a) full-time disabled staff, (b) full-time non-disabled staff, (c) part-time disabled staff and (d) part-time non-disabled staff. (220184)

The Department for International Development (DFID) employed 1,653 Home Civil Service (HCS) staff at the end of June 2008. Of these 58 have declared a disability. This represents 3.5 per cent. of the total. Average salaries are shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department’s budget is for expenditure in Kosovo on (a) staffing and other operational costs of the post, (b) technical assistance to (i) the Government of Kosovo and (ii) non-governmental organisations working in Kosovo, (c) budgetary support for (i) the Government of Kosovo, (ii) non-governmental bodies working in Kosovo and (d) other international bodies operating in Kosovo in 2008-09. (219657)

The Department for International Development (DFID) has an administration budget of £450,000 for its office in Kosovo in 2008-09. This excludes the cost of some staff who are based in London but provide support to DFID offices across the Western Balkans region, including Kosovo.

The budget for programme activities in Kosovo in 2008-09 is £8.8 million. This includes resources for the Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) (£3.8 million) which is managed jointly by DFID, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

DFID provides assistance to the Government of Kosovo in the form of technical assistance. No decision has yet been taken on providing budget support in Kosovo. The CPP provides assistance for non-governmental organisations in the form of grants and for international organisations including NATO. We intend to provide £3.8 million for the NATO Trust Fund for Demobilisation with Dignity of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) through the CPP.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcomes were of the donors’ conference for Kosovo held on 11 July; and what his Department’s policy objectives are for its engagement with the Republic of Kosovo. (219658)

The conclusions from the 11 July Kosovo Donors’ Conference are available on the following website at:

http://www.seerecon.org/kdc/conclusions.pdf

The UK’s objective in Kosovo is to support the development of a prosperous, stable, democratic and multi-ethnic state. Within this objective, DFID’s priorities in Kosovo are to promote improved economic growth and employment, reduce the risk of conflict, and support the development of accountable Government institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what areas the Government of the Republic of Kosovo have requested assistance from his Department in the last 12 months. (219659)

The Government of Kosovo have outlined their policy priorities for the next three years and their requirements for donor assistance in their Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). This document was presented at the 11 July Kosovo Donors’ Conference. The UK has pledged £23 million to support Kosovo over the next three years. We will align our support with the priorities in Kosovo’s MTEF and are actively encouraging all other donors to do likewise.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what mine harvesting projects his Department is funding in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Cambodia and (c) Yemen; (219323)

Since 2001, the Department for International Development (DFID) has spent over £10 million per year to clear and reduce the impact of land mines, cluster munitions and other unexploded remnants of war in developing countries around the world.

(a) In Afghanistan, DFID is providing £10.6 million over the next five years to the charity HALO Trust to clear land mines and other unexploded ordnance in Herat Province, in order to return land back to productive use for the poor and vulnerable.

(b) In Cambodia, DFID funds demining work through the charities HALO Trust and Mines Advisory Group (MAG). HALO Trust’s programme will amount to around £3 million over the three years 2007-10, and the MAG programme will be around £1.5 million for the same period. Both organisations work to reduce the impact of mines on the most vulnerable and affected communities, with HALO focusing on large-scale humanitarian clearance and MAG linking closely to other development programmes.

(c) DFID does not currently fund any demining projects in Yemen.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has for the provision of aid to the Government of Nigeria to help deal with unrest in the Niger Delta region. (219514)

It is important that any security improvements in the Niger Delta are made in the context of a wider peace process that includes improved development and better governance. The Department for International Development (DFID) stands ready to assist the State Governments of the Niger Delta region to better manage their substantial resources for the good of their people. This would reduce unrest by ensuring that citizens of the Niger Delta saw some benefits from their region’s oil wealth.

Progress can only be made with genuine State Government commitment to efficiently manage their resources and use them to provide good quality services for their people. Once this commitment has been demonstrated, DFID would seek to agree any further support to the Niger Delta with other international partners, including the US Government, the World Bank, the European Commission and the UN.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian implications of the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the Nigerian Government. (219516)

The humanitarian situation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is already serious, with high levels of violence and insecurity, and very little provision of basic social services. Department for International Development (DFID) staff are unable to travel to the Niger Delta for security reasons, so we have been unable to make a direct assessment of the current humanitarian situation. DFID is in regular contact with the Office for Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), Save the Children (SCF) and Oxfam, and none of them reported any change to the humanitarian situation in the Niger Delta.

The recent breakdown of the two-week Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) cease fire will have done nothing to improve the situation in the Niger Delta. The UK remains committed to helping the Nigerian Government work towards a peaceful and sustainable solution to the underlying causes of instability in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Foreign Secretary and (b) the Secretary of State for Defence on possible assistance to the Nigerian Government. (219515)

I most recently discussed possible assistance to the Nigerian Government with the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for the Armed Forces at the meeting of the Ministerial Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development (NSID) sub-committee on Africa held on Tuesday 15 July. We agreed that we would stand ready to offer further assistance to the Nigerian Federal Government and the State Governments of the Niger Delta in the areas of peace-building, security, development and improved governance. The Prime Minister conveyed this message to President Yar'Adua of Nigeria when they met on Wednesday 16 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the security situation in Somalia on humanitarian agencies’ ability to access refugee camps; and if he will make a statement. (218332)

The security situation in Somalia is deteriorating, with ongoing fighting in Mogadishu continuing to cause displacement of the population and the loss of lives. The UK Government continue to monitor the situation closely through our partners on the ground and, security permitting, visits by our staff.

Humanitarian agencies are still able to access refugee camps but under great risk. The UK Government deplore the recent escalation in the killing of aid workers. An immediate cessation of all hostilities is needed in order to allow relief agencies to meet critical humanitarian needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to provide food aid to Somalia; and if he will make a statement. (219710)

The humanitarian situation in many parts of Somalia has significantly deteriorated not only due to ongoing fighting but to drought, uncontrolled hyperinflation and a broad economic crisis. The Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) estimates that 2.6 million Somalis (approximately 35 per cent. of the population) will require relief assistance in 2008.

Since January 2008 the Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £17.9 million for humanitarian assistance to the worst affected areas. This includes £12 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) who are distributing more than 15,000 metric tonnes of food aid a month, and a further £1.4 million to UNICEF and World Vision for emergency nutrition projects in South Central Somalia.

DFID continues to advocate for the safe passage of all humanitarian goods and aid workers in Somalia.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make representations to his international counterparts on the deployment of naval ships to escort food aid shipments to Somalia. (219734)

The UK Government are working with EU partners to consider future deployments of naval ships.

Since December 2007 the French, Danish and Dutch military forces have escorted over 70,000 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Somalia. Consignments included relief materials for UNICEF and UNHCR in addition to WFP food aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support multi-party democracy in Swaziland in preparation for elections in October. (219433)

I have been asked to reply.

Our non-resident high commissioner and deputy high commissioner to Swaziland have raised the issue of multi-party elections in that country frequently, over the last year, with a range of figures including the King, politicians, civil servants, civil society groups and others. The Government will be giving £230,000 this year to fund the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa to train a pan-African parliamentary observer mission to all the Southern African Development Community countries holding elections in 2008-09, which includes the election in Swaziland.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of HIV prevalence in Swaziland. (219420)

The Department for International Development's (DFID) assessment of HIV prevalence in Swaziland is based on data from UNAIDS, whose mandate is to monitor HIV prevalence. UNAIDS' latest statistics show that HIV prevalence rates in Swaziland are among the highest in the world, but are improving. The current estimate of infection rates for those aged between 15 to 49 years is 26 per cent., compared to 33 per cent. in 2005. Further information is available on the UNAIDS website:

www.unaids.org

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Government of Swaziland on restrictions on trades unions in that country. (219404)

I have been asked to reply.

Our non-resident Mission to Swaziland, based in Pretoria, has a regular programme of quarterly visits to the Kingdom. Our non-resident deputy high commissioner, at her last visit in May, met with a wide range of Government, Opposition, non-governmental and other civil society figures. Her discussions focused on our support for multi-party elections and the implementation of a constitution which, if implemented, would enhance workers’ rights and benefit trade unions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the creation of a UN Women’s Agency; and what steps his Department has taken to implement this policy. (219398)

The Department for International Development agrees that the UN needs a single, strong agency for women that combines the different parts of the UN system that are working to enhance the status of women. We are closely involved in discussions within the UN system on the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe. (219576)

We have not recently discussed humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe directly with Commissioner Michel, but our officials and those of the European Commission co-ordinate closely as a matter of course, both in Brussels and Harare, on humanitarian aid and development issues in Zimbabwe

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the EU end of life vehicles directive on trends in the levels of abandonment of vehicles manufactured before July 2002. (219076)

I have been asked to reply.

The number of vehicles of all ages being abandoned is one of several indicators monitored by the Department since implementing the end-of-life vehicles directive. We believe that a combination of factors has contributed to the significant reduction in the numbers of abandoned vehicles recorded in recent years. Those factors include the introduction of the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 and the End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005, improvements in the accuracy of the vehicle register, various Government and local campaigns to tackle abandonment, and the continuing high value of scrap metal. It is difficult to isolate the individual impact of any one of these factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost of a hectare or equivalent measure of farmland according to the Farm Business Survey was in each year for which figures are available. (219071)

While the Farm Business Survey does collect a level of information on farm balance sheets, the better measure of the value of farmland over time is provided by the aggregate balance sheet published in “Agriculture in the United Kingdom”.

The aggregate balance sheet shows the value of fixed assets at a point in time (December each year) and the value of liabilities at a point in time. Fixed assets are dominated by land. As the volume of land is virtually unchanging, the trend in the value of land and buildings is dominated by the effect of land prices. Estimates of the value of land and buildings from the latest balance sheet are given in the table below and show the value of UK agricultural land and buildings has increased by 40 per cent. at current prices, between 2003 and 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes have been made to his Department’s air quality monitoring programme in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. (220205)

DEFRA and the devolved Administrations reviewed air quality monitoring needs in the light of the 2007 Air Quality Strategy and new EU Air Quality Directive requirements and improvements in the concentrations of some pollutants.

As a result some new sites/monitors have been brought into the network or installed, while others have been removed from the network or closed. The changes to the Automatic Urban and Rural and Hydrocarbons networks fall into three broad areas:

A reduction in the number of carbon monoxide (from 79 to 26) and sulphur dioxide (from 76 to 48) monitors, commensurate with the generally low levels of both pollutants currently found. However, there will be increased sulphur dioxide monitoring in some areas around particular industrial hotspots.

Movement of oxides of nitrogen monitors from agglomerations to zones, and from urban background to roadside, in line with the requirements of the new air quality Directive.

The creation of a ultrafine particulate matter (PM_2.5) network, and changes to the fine particulate matter (PM₁₀) network, in line with the requirements of the new air quality Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's air quality monitoring sites have been closed in each of the last three years; and how many air quality monitoring sites have been opened in that period, broken down by region. (220206)

The number of air quality monitoring sites which have been closed and opened in 2005, 2006 and 2007, broken down by zone and agglomeration are shown in the following table. Data are included from the following monitoring networks: automatic urban and rural network; automatic and non-automatic hydrocarbon networks; black smoke network; heavy metals network; particle numbers and concentrations network; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and toxic organic micro pollutants networks; and the acid deposition and rural sulphur dioxide network.

Agglomerations are continuous urban areas with populations greater than 250,000. Zones in England are based on the Government office regions and in the devolved Administrations are based on administrative areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to increase capacity for the production of biogas through industrial anaerobic digestion technologies. (220890)

The Government are committed to making the most of the potential of anaerobic digestion. It supports our objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, generating renewable energy, and diverting organic material, especially food waste, from landfill. In addition, the treated material—the ‘digestate’—can be returned to the land as a fertiliser.

The consultation on the UK Renewable Energy Strategy, which was published on 26 June 2008 (available on the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s website), sets out the steps we are proposing to help promote anaerobic digestion. Specific support includes the Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme, which supports the installation of biomass-fuelled heat and combined heat and power projects in the industrial, commercial and community sectors in England. We have also recently announced a new £10 million programme to support the construction of new anaerobic digestion demonstration plants, and we are doubling the incentive to generate energy through AD by changes to the renewables obligation. In addition, the Rural Development Programme for England provides support to develop energy projects or small scale on-farm renewable energy technologies (including anaerobic digestion).

We are working with key stakeholders to identify any barriers to the uptake of anaerobic digestion and ways to address these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the population of breeding wading birds and wintering waterbirds in (a) privately-owned and (b) publicly-owned land in the Somerset Levels and Moors was in (i) 1987 and (ii) at the most recent date for which figures are available. (219932)

It is not possible to give an indication of populations of birds split between private and publicly owned land, because of the complexity of land ownership.

There have been comprehensive surveys of the breeding waders of the Somerset Levels and Moors since 1977. These generally take place every five or six years. In 1987, a total of 278 breeding pairs were found to be present across 16 sites. The breakdown was as follows:

Curlew 27 pairs; Lapwing 144 pairs; Redshank 44 pairs; and Snipe 63 pairs.

The last comprehensive survey of waders on the 16 sites was in 2002, when a total of 284 breeding pairs were recorded. The breakdown was:

Curlew 36 pairs; Lapwing 127 pairs; Redshank 69 pairs; and Snipe 52 pairs.

Data on wintering water birds on the Somerset Levels and Moors are collected and reported through the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), launched in 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he has given to the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to carry out targeted culls on badgers as a measure to tackle the wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis as part of his policy formulation in this area. (218908)

The ministerial decision in Wales allows Welsh Assembly officials to consider all the options for culling badgers as part of an ‘intensive action area’. Final decisions on what this will involve are not expected before the end of the year. Bovine TB control is a devolved matter, and Wales have responsibility for defining their own strategy for bovine TB control.

If badger culls do take place in Wales, their effects will be considered as part of our overall TB strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he last met representatives of the bromine industry. (220668)

[holding answer 21 July 2008]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) and I regularly meet representatives of the chemical industry but we have had no contacts with representatives of the bromine industry in particular or discussions relating to that sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources his Department is making available to research the effectiveness and safety of new environmentally-friendly alternative flame retardants which do not include the use of deca-BDE. (220678)

In 2003 the Environment Agency commissioned a report on the Prioritisation of Flame Retardants for Environmental Risk Assessment. The aim of the study was to assess the use of and risks associated with flame retardants, in particular to identify substances that might require detailed consideration in terms of their possible impact on the environment. It also considered issues concerning substitution of flame retardants. The study noted that little was known about the effects of many of the substances, including those sometimes proposed for use as environmentally-friendly substitutes.

The new European Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (known as REACH) places on industry the responsibility to assess and understand the potential human health and environmental impacts of the substances they produce in accordance with the principle of “No Data, No Market”. REACH also has the aim of replacing substances of very high concern, as defined by criteria in the regulation, with suitable alternatives. Industry will have to justify their continued use. These provisions will drive substitution of harmful substances and also provide the assurance that the substitutes are less harmful than the substances they replace. On current evidence decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) does not meet the criteria of a substance of very high concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discount rate was used in the figures set out in the analysis in the Climate Change Bill Financial Impact Assessment. (221446)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 June 2008, Official Report, column 929W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs further to the answer of 10 July 2008, Official Report, columns 1775-6W, on carbon emissions, what the implications of the Stern Review are for the tools that are used in Government to perform cost-benefit analysis, with particular reference to the appropriate discount rate to use. (219547)

[holding answer 17 July 2008]: The Stern Review analysed, from a global perspective, the question of whether or not to take global action to avoid dangerous climate change. The methodological approach adopted by the Stern Review in answering this question has implications for the appropriate discount rate to use in cost-benefit analysis under certain specific circumstances, and more generally for the appropriate approach to use to value greenhouse gas emissions in cost-benefit analysis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statutory means are at his disposal to press farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. (221526)

There are currently no regulations or statutory instruments which place a direct requirement on farmers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, a number of measures have an indirect impact on agriculture GHG emissions, such as measures under the nitrates directive and conditions under cross-compliance. There are also a number of voluntary initiatives which can help to reduce GHGs from farming, including the Environmental Stewardship schemes and various grant schemes.

DEFRA has a programme of research dedicated to agriculture and climate change issues which includes research into reducing emissions from livestock, manure and fertiliser application, as well as measures to protect carbon stores in soils. We are working closely with relevant stakeholders, including through the Rural Climate Change Forum and the Farming Futures communications project, to help ensure that farmers have the information and advice they need to take practical action to reduce GHG emissions. As such, we are promoting anaerobic digestion to reduce methane emissions from manure, slurry and other organic material.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what photographic and video evidence of cetaceans being caught in nets has been obtained through Government-funded research programmes in the UK in the last 15 years; which Ministers and officials have seen the evidence; who holds the evidence; and if he will publish the evidence. (221664)

I understand that video and photographic material was collected by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) prior to 2003 as part of their research project into the effects of fishing trawlers on dolphins and porpoises around the UK. DEFRA does not hold, nor was it supplied with, this material.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate he has made of the quantity of private land affected by the creation of the coastal corridor proposed in the draft Marine Bill; (219910)

Natural England will consult with landowners before making proposals on the most appropriate positioning of the coastal route. The amount of private land affected by the creation of the coastal corridor will depend on local decisions.

The draft Marine Bill makes no provision for compensation to be paid to private landowners for the creation of the coastal access corridor. Natural England’s report to Government recommended that there should be a working presumption against paying compensation for the new right of access in view of the fact that legislation would be simply creating access rights over land rather than depriving landowners of property. The legislation has been drawn up so that implementation will take account of the interests of landowners and minimise any impact on businesses. Natural England will consult with landowners on any necessary conditions on access, for example for land management purposes.

Natural England has estimated a cost of £50 million over 10 years for implementing the coastal access corridor. This figure includes the costs of Natural England and local authority staff, the costs for establishing the coastal access corridor on the ground, and for ongoing maintenance during the implementation period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the creation of a coastal corridor proposed in the draft Marine Bill. (219917)

3,929 responses were received to the public consultation on the draft Marine Bill which closed on 26 June 2008. We also received about 11,000 postcards from members of the Ramblers’ Association supporting the inclusion of coastal access provisions in the draft Bill. We are currently looking at the responses to the consultation and will publish a summary of the responses within 12 weeks of the consultation closing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to improve access to coastal areas in the UK. (219913)

A proposal for Natural England to identify a coastal route and associated coastal margin around the English coast, to which there will be a right of access on foot, is contained in the draft Marine Bill. In Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government are considering appropriate statutory provisions for Wales which might be included in the final Bill. In Scotland, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 provides a statutory right of access to most land and inland water, and access in Northern Ireland is covered by the Access to Countryside (NI) Order 1983.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase the number of people working in his Department in Cumbria. (216276)

The majority of DEFRA staff working in Cumbria are located in Carlisle, Penrith and Workington.

Animal Health has an office at Carlisle that is staffed at a level to carry out duties effectively. Currently there are no immediate plans to increase staff levels.

Present staffing levels within the Rural Payments Agency are sufficient to meet present business needs and are expected to remain reasonably constant going forward, although processes and structures are constantly under review for efficiency purposes.

There are currently no plans to increase staff numbers at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency's office in Penrith.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the financial position of the dairy industry; and what the current farm gate price for milk is. (220021)

DEFRA published farm incomes in England by farm type in January 2008. These were based on figures from the Farm Business Survey. Farm Business Income per farm on dairy farms was expected to have increased to £50,700 in the year ended February 2008, from £33,600 in the previous year—an increase of about 50 per cent. This was largely due to a higher farm gate milk price in 2007-08, although higher input costs, particularly feed, dampened down the size of the expected increase. This compares with the average income across all types of farms, including dairy farms, which was expected to have increased by 20 per cent. from £37,600 to £45,000 in 2007-08. DEFRA will publish actual incomes for the year ended February 2008 in October this year, and forecast incomes for the year ending February 2009 in January 2009.

In May 2008 the farm gate price of milk in the UK was 24.45p per litre compared with 17.53p per litre in May 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department and its agencies have been (a) dismissed and (b) disciplined for their conduct in the last two years. (217407)

The number of staff dismissed and disciplined for their conduct by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies during the last two financial years, 2006-07 and 2007-08 are as follows:

Dismissed: 36

This figure represents:

Nine staff dismissed from DEFRA

27 Staff dismissed from DEFRA agencies

Disciplined: 72

This figure represents:

Six staff disciplined within DEFRA

66 Staff disciplined within DEFRA agencies

The figure refers to staff disciplined for recorded minor, serious and gross misconduct. However, it does not reflect the total number of staff disciplined for minor misconduct, because these warnings are issued by line managers who are not required to record these cases centrally. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.

The Civil Service Management Code sets out the requirements for Departments to have procedures in place to deal with conduct and disciplinary issues. The DEFRA procedures are laid down in the staff handbook which is accessed on the departmental intranet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08. (215193)

20 full-time, permanent members of staff are employed in the DEFRA Press Office to deal with inquiries from the media.

Details of the number of staff employed at each grade and the relevant salary scales are included in the following table: