To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding was provided by (a) the UK and (b) the EU in the form of aid to African countries in each of the last five years, broken down by country. (226845)

I have placed in the Library a table which details the level of Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided by the United Kingdom, the EU15 and European Commission to African countries over the period 2002-06. I have also included data on the level of UK ODA to African countries in 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is supporting to promote trade between African countries. (226680)

The Department for International Development's (DFID) work to facilitate trade between African countries is mainly focused in east and southern Africa. In east Africa, DFID is preparing a major new regional programme which will help to facilitate trade between East African Community member states (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). It will focus on reducing the costs of trading across borders by supporting one stop border posts, customs reforms and the development of revenue sharing arrangements between countries.

In southern Africa, DFID funds the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme. This aims to make it quicker and easier for businesses to trade between countries. Important activities include harmonisation of trade-related regulations and procedures, introduction of one stop border posts, and promotion of exports into the south African market.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is supporting to promote the manufacture of goods marketed in finished form from Africa, rather than the export of raw materials. (226681)

Much of Sub-Saharan Africa has been a relatively difficult place for manufacturing activities. Key reasons for this are poor infrastructure, particularly roads, ports and power infrastructure, a poor business environment and restrictive rules of origin in trade agreements.

The Department for International Development (DFID) works on all of these agendas. For example, DFID provides support to the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA). This encourages a joined-up approach among donors and partner governments to meet Africa's urgent infrastructure needs. We also provide support to the Investment Climate Facility for Africa which is a new private-public partnership, focused on improving the investment climate in African countries.

DFID's soon to be launched Aid for Trade Strategy will set out how we will support countries to become more competitive traders. In parallel, DFID continues to press for more development-friendly trade agreements with African countries. This is particularly evident in the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), where we are arguing for more liberal rules of origin for African exports.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage other donors to contribute to the joint UN-NGO fund in response to the cyclone in Burma, launched on 10th July. (227401)

On 9 July the Secretary of State for International Development wrote to a range of like-minded development Ministers urging them to offer generous support to the UN appeal for Burma which was to be launched the following day. The Secretary of State has also offered to support the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, in his efforts to encourage other donors to contribute more to the UN appeal. The Department for International Development (DFID) and Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) officials have followed up through bilateral contacts with other donors and in international forums.

The Secretary-General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, is also working to encourage other donors to increase their contributions to the Burma cyclone relief effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what financial and other support the Government has provided directly or via multilateral agencies to assist with reconstruction in Cuba following hurricanes Gustav and Ike; and whether further assistance is planned; (228441)

The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £250,000 in direct humanitarian aid to Cuba through the International Red Cross for shelter material and water filters for some 40,000 people. In addition, the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has announced a relief contribution of €2 million, of which 17.5 per cent. is funded by DFID. The United Nations Relief Agencies have mobilised $8.6 million for relief and rehabilitation works in Cuba, $1.6 million of which is funded by DFID through the UN. However, the UN remains in negotiation with the Cuban authorities on full access and co-operation in order to use that money. We also understand that the Cuban government have received offers totalling $30.5 million from a number of countries to assist with their reconstruction and emergency response efforts following the impact of the recent hurricanes.

Beyond humanitarian relief we do not provide direct reconstruction or long-term development aid to Cuba. We do not have direct access in Cuba either for making our own assessments of humanitarian or reconstruction needs and rely on assessments and programmes undertaken by international agencies such as the World Bank.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's rest and recuperation leave policy for civilians working in operational theatres. (226986)

Arrangements for rest and recuperation leave (“breather breaks”) are developed in response to specific operational needs and the changing context of each country. They currently apply to staff working Iraq and Afghanistan.

Employees are entitled to a two week break away from post for every six weeks worked. Breaks are usually taken within the employee's home country but can be taken elsewhere on condition that this is of equal or lesser cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of Government-commissioned advertising in the last 12 months relating to matters falling within the remit of his Department. (226527)

The Department for International Development's (DFID) main area of advertising spend is recruitment and procurement advertising which is assessed in terms of response rate and quality. However, DFID is introducing an e-enabled recruitment system that will help with this evaluation in the future.

In the last 12 months DFID has moved increasingly towards advertising via electronic media, which is much easier to track and evaluate in terms of responses to adverts and in terms of which method provides the best value for money. This is an ongoing process and the results are being used to inform future campaigns and promotional work.

DFID is committed to reducing the cost of advertising generally by the use of more focused advertisements and through maximising discounts through the Central Office of Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. (226423)

DFID paid a total of £641,510 in non-consolidated performance bonuses to 71 senior civil servants in the last year in recognition of their performance during the 2007-08 reporting year.

DFID's reward arrangements for the 2007-08 financial year did not allow for the payment of end of year performance bonuses to staff below the senior civil service.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 1043W, on departmental public expenditure, whether the programmes to which underspend can be re-allocated must be within the same country budget as the programme in which the underspend occurred. (228452)

Underspends on programmes do not have to be reallocated to other programmes within the same country budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies spent on (i) recruitment consultants and (ii) external recruitment advertising to recruit staff in each of the last five financial years; which recruitment consultants were employed for those purposes in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. (226802)

In accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Code, all external appointments to the Department for International Development (DFID) are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

Job advertisements for vacancies at the Department for International Development (DFID) are placed in the national press or specialised magazines, in addition to appearing on DFID's own website and on the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway website. DFID does not routinely use recruitment consultants to fill vacancies for permanent posts. However, the central framework of executive search services, which is owned by the Cabinet Office, was used in February 2008 to engage Russell Reynolds Associates, at a cost of £43,671, to help identify suitable applicants for the post of Permanent Secretary in DFID.

DFID also periodically engages temporary staff through recruitment agencies, mainly in administrative grades. A management fee is included in the salary costs for each person supplied by the agency, but it is not possible to disaggregate the management fees from the total amount charged by the agencies without incurring disproportionate costs.

DFID's total spend on recruitment advertising for each of the last five financial years was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken (a) to ensure that UK aid reaches its intended targets and (b) to reduce fraud. (226846)

The Department for International Development has a strong set of controls to manage the risk of misuse of funds. Throughout the management of our programmes, there is a strong emphasis on establishing comprehensive arrangements to guard against fiduciary risks. The rules of UK Government accounting are rigorously applied.

DFID checks on the use of funds by requiring recipients to provide audited financial statements and by conducting annual monitoring reviews. DFID's programme management is supported by regular audits by DFID's Internal Audit Department and the National Audit Office, both providing further evidence of the correct use of aid funds.

Within DFID's fraud policy specific actions to reduce the incidence of fraud include:

DFID's programmes are designed to respond from the outset to the risks of fraud or corruption which are identified through planning tools such as the fiduciary risk assessment;

A specialist Counter Fraud Unit coordinates DFID's response to allegations or suspicions of fraud and corruption, and provides support to management to strengthen systems and processes to prevent or detect future losses; and

Action is taken to recover funds which are lost, and DFID takes a robust approach in dealing with anyone found to have diverted UK aid funds away from their intended recipients. This includes disciplinary sanctions, criminal prosecutions, recovery of losses and the suspension of aid.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much space, in square feet, was occupied by all House staff in each of the last five years. (223930)

Figures on this basis are not readily available. Evidence given to the Administration Committee in March 2006 showed the total floor area occupied by House staff was 13,140 sq m (Third Report 2005-06, HC 1279, p Ev 52). Details of the size of the different buildings on the parliamentary estate were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 13 November 2007, Official Report, column 87W.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what representations the Commission has received from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment on the erection of temporary structures on the Terrace; what the Commission’s policy is on the erection and dismantling of such structures; and if he will make a statement. (227342)

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has advised that the erection of temporary structures on the Terrace is more a matter for the local planning authority advised by English Heritage rather than their organisation.

The House does not have a policy on the erection of temporary structures, the matter being delegated to the Director General of Facilities who will consult the appropriate authorities according to the sensitivity of the proposal.

Conservation bodies have expressed concern for some time about the appearance of the marquees on the Terrace. However, Members and their visitors greatly value the facilities they provide and they are in considerable demand. The existing structures are, however, coming to the end of their economic life. The question of their replacement will need to be addressed soon requiring wide consultation in both Houses before deciding on a way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to support the development of improved large conference facilities in the South East. (228020)

[holding answer 17 October 2008]: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not actively support or engage in the development of improved large conference facilities in the south-east. Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6): ‘Planning for Town Centres’ sets out the Government's national policies for town centres and main town centre uses, including the provision of conference facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to regulate the work of fire assessors, with particular reference to the accuracy of advice provided by them. (226664)

The Government have no plans to regulate the work of fire safety risk advisors or assessors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the latest estimated date is for when each of the nine regional fire control centres will become operational. (226454)

[holding answer 13 October 2008]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 2 June 2008, Official Report, column 541W which set out the timetable for the project. Since then, proposed changes to the hardware solution and issues regarding access to the Airwave infrastructure for testing suggest that some rescheduling of the project may be required. The implications of these points are currently being considered and if timescales do need to change an announcement will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to review the Regional Controls Centre Physical Access Control and Security Policy for Regional Controls document; and if she will make a statement. (227312)

The regional control centres buildings are part of the Critical National Infrastructure and have been subject to thorough risk assessments in accordance with Government security policy and guidance as well as ISO 27001/17799 best practice and standards. There are no plans to review the guidance material developed that has been issued covering physical access control and security policy for the regional control centres

We are providing support to the local authority controlling companies who manage the regional control centres and who will create their own access control and security policies based on the guidance material.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the savings generated by the 2007 National Review of the FiReControl Project Business Case were allocated, broken down by sub-heading; and if she will make a statement. (227350)

The savings generated in the FiReControl Full Business Case v1.0, which was published in June 2007, are broken down as follows:

Part 2 of the 2008 National Business Case to be published later this year will provide updated information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value was of public sector pensions in the fire service in each of the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was of providing such pensions in each year. (228433)

The value of firefighters' pensions¹ in each of the last five years is as follows

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what hydrological assessments have been made of the state of water courses and consequential flood risk in rural Bassetlaw since 1978. (225323)

I have been asked to reply.

From 1996 the Environment Agency can confirm the following work has been undertaken:

Idle & Torne Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) which was published in March 2007.

Hydrological investigations have been carried out for Anglian Water (by Grontmij) on the River Poulter and River Idle.

Groundwater abstractions operated by Yorkshire Water in the area of the River Idle have been reviewed to ascertain whether they were having an impact on the wellbeing of the River Idle Washlands.

In December 2006 the Environment Agency produced the River Idle Washlands SSSI Water Level Management Plan (WLMP).

The Environment Agency are currently working on the building of a regional groundwater model for the East Midlands Yorkshire Sherwood Sandstone Model. This is due to be completed by the end of this financial year.

Following the flooding of June 2007 the Environment Agency commissioned consultants to produce reports about the events that occurred in Worksop and Retford.

The Environment Agency has carried out the following mapping studies, which include hydrological analyses, within the Bassetlaw constituency:

River Idle Flood Risk Mapping, March 2005

River Maun, Strategic Flood Risk Mapping, March 2007

River Meden, Strategic Flood Risk Mapping, June 2008

River Ryton, Strategic Flood Risk Mapping, March 2008

Tidal Trent Strategy, April 2005

Laneham Beck Strategic Flood Risk Mapping, 2007.

Information on studies carried out pre-1996 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what advice and when her Department has provided to local authorities on financial investment risk since January 2007; (228446)

CLG's current guidance on local government investments issued under section 15 of the Local Government Act 2003 is available on the Department's website at:

http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/data/lginvest2.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have identified a severe short-term financial difficulty as result of the financial collapse of an Icelandic bank; and what assessment she has made of the extent of the difficulty in each case. (228448)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 17 October, Official Report, column 1577W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested, (b) cautioned and (c) proceeded against for buying or attempting to buy alcohol for someone under age in each of the last three years. (228123)

[holding answer 17 October 2008]: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally. The offence of buying or attempting to buy alcohol for someone under age is not a notifiable offence and does not form a part of the arrests collection.

In relation to those cautioned and proceeded against for the offence of buying or attempting to buy alcohol for someone under age; I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing, my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 23 April 2008, Official Report, column 2146W.

Data for 2007 will be available in November 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has conducted a review of (a) financial and (b) other support provided to people at all stages of the asylum process. (227536)

Asylum seekers who are destitute, or likely to become destitute, are provided with support under sections 95 and 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 from the time they arrive in the UK until their claim has been fully determined. This support takes the form of cash subsistence or accommodation, or both. Failed asylum seekers can receive support, as accommodation and non-cash vouchers, under section 4 of the Act if they would otherwise be destitute and they are taking reasonable steps to return or are able to point to a legitimate barrier to their return.

Cash subsistence support rates for asylum seekers supported under section 95 are reviewed annually.

In January 2008 new regulations came into force following a review and public consultation on essential living needs not connected with the provision of accommodation under section 4 for the most vulnerable.

Regional Target Contracts for the provision of accommodation across the UK were introduced from 2006 following a review which identified how contractual improvements could be made.

We are currently holding regional meetings with stakeholders to seek a range of views on how to improve the way we provide asylum support to asylum seekers, including those unsuccessful in their claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish her Department's evaluation of the alternatives to detention scheme at Millbank, Ashford, Kent. (227552)

An independent consultant was recruited to carry out an assessment of the pilot. The report is being finalised and the findings will be published by the end of December 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department expects the capacity of the immigration detention estate to be in (a) October 2009, (b) October 2010, (c) October 2011 and (d) October 2012. (227554)

In October 2009, on current plans, we expect 3,160 places; and in October 2010, 3,178 places. This reflects the anticipated loss of the Oakington centre over this period. The capacity of the estate beyond 2010 will depend, in particular, on the progress of our plans for the Home Office owned site outside Bicester and the land adjacent to the existing Yarl's Wood removal centre. We anticipate that development at one of those sites will add 400 to 600 beds to the estate by 2012.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the Airwave programme; and what discussions she has had with the Department of Health on the rollout of the programme to the Ambulance Service. (227377)

The Airwave service is being used operationally by all police forces in England, Wales and Scotland including the British Transport Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Several changes to the service have been made since the original contract was signed in February 2000. These comprise enhancements to resilience and fallback arrangements, plus an extension of the service to include coverage within the London Underground. The testing and release for operational use of the 125 underground stations is due to be completed by 30 March 2009. I hope to be able to provide an update on this in the near future.

The rollout of Airwave to the Ambulance Service, which is still in progress, has been carried out under a separate contract between the Department of Health and Airwave Solutions Limited. Programme management rests with the Department of Health but the police service and the Ambulance Service have appropriate consultation processes in place to progress areas of common interest such as interoperability.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answers of 15 May 2008, Official Report, column 1733W and 5 June 2008, Official Report, column 1126W, on human trafficking, for what offences the 84 convictions were secured. (219468)

The 84 convictions are for human trafficking and related offences, including rape, inciting prostitution, false imprisonment and immigration offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of its fee income from immigration documents and services for (a) 2008-09 and (b) each of the subsequent three financial years. (227530)

Our estimate of fee income for 2008-09 from visa application is £300 million.

Our estimate of fee income for 2008-09 from in country application is £350 million.

Forecasts are subject to change on a regular basis, at least quarterly; sometimes more frequently than that, as they are revised to account for various events that we believe will impact upon demand.

We are reviewing the position next year in the run-up to laying fees orders and as part of the development of business plan for next year. We do not currently have estimates of fee income for the subsequent three years at the moment as fees have not yet been set for future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Immigration Service detainees were held in police cells in each police force area in each year since 2001. (226843)

The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many successful prosecutions have been brought against those arrested for the sale of knives to underage persons through commercial premises in (a) England and (b) Wales in the last 10 years; (225731)

The available information on prosecutions and convictions for this offence is in the following table. Information does not distinguish individuals prosecuted or convicted. 2007 figures will be published in November 2008. On 1 October 2007 it became illegal to sell a knife to anyone under 18; previously the minimum age was 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal meat imports were seized at port of entry in each of the last three years; what the (a) estimated market value and (b) weight of such seizures was in each year; what assessment she has made of the recent trends in these figures; and if she will make a statement. (227321)

Information on the number and weight of illegal meat seizures at GB points of entry are as follows:

Anti-smuggling controls on illegal imports of products of animal origin are designed to prevent the introduction of animal disease so the value of goods seized is not relevant in this context and therefore is not recorded.

Customs continue to target the animal products and routes that pose the greatest animal disease risk, taking account of the latest veterinary risk assessments. The increase in seizures in 2006-07 can be attributed to the additional resources deployed to tackle the threat from Avian Influenza during that period. More recently there are also some indications of increased compliance among the travelling public following HMRC’s awareness-raising campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the statement of 15 December 2005, Official Report, columns 167-71WS, on counter-terrorism: progress report, what progress has been made on the development of a database of individuals who have demonstrated unacceptable behaviour. (227940)

[holding answer 17 October 2008]: Since August 2005, 79 such individuals have to date been excluded from entering this country and placed on the watch list. This is on-going work which is being taken forward in co-operation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, police, various community groups, and others who bring to our attention individuals who are considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the United Kingdom coastline is patrolled at least once a week by maritime craft from (a) the UK Border Agency and (b) other agencies engaged in border patrol. (227524)

UK Border Agency cutters are deployed on an intelligence-led basis to areas of highest risk. It is longstanding policy not to divulge details of operational deployments, as this could provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent relevant controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention of crime.

UKBA does not record details of operations carried out by other agencies involved in border patrols.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) property and (b) land owned by the UK Border Agency is not in full-time use; and what the estimated market value is of each such holding. (227527)

Bullington (formerly known as Bicester) is the only freehold property which is owned by the UK Border Agency but not in full-time use. No land is in part-time use. Current open market valuation in respect of this property is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency expects to pay in rent to (a) other public bodies, (b) local authorities and (c) Government Departments for buildings and land in 2008-09. (227528)

The UK Border and Immigration Agency expects to pay rent of (a) £630,340 to other public bodies; (b) £42,120 to local authorities; and (c) £793,732 to Government Departments for buildings and land in 2008-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) buildings and (b) land are (i) owned and (ii) leased by the UK Border Agency; and how many full-time equivalent staff are based at each. (227529)

The UK Border Agency owns four detention centres located at Harmondsworth, Colnbrook, Campsfield and Dungavel. 26.5 full-time equivalent staff are employed at these locations.

A further 96 buildings are leased. 17,463 staff are based at these locations.

Details of the numbers of staff based at each location will be published on the UK Border Agency website by the end of the year.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government has taken to improve business development in (a) Leeds and (b) Yorkshire since 2000. (226395)

Since 2000 the Government have helped to ensure business success by promoting the creation and growth of business and a strong enterprise economy across all regions, ensuring that all Government Departments and agencies deliver better regulation for the private, public and third sectors and delivering free and fair markets, with greater competition, for businesses, consumers and employees.

Since 2000 the regional development agencies (RDAs) have been charged with stimulating the economic regeneration of the English regions through regional economic strategies.

The RDA for Yorkshire and the Humber, Yorkshire Forward, working together with local authorities and other regeneration organisations, has supported the building of a stronger, mixed economy that combines a strong service sector with a higher value manufacturing sector, with more people starting their own businesses and new businesses that survive longer. As a result, the region’s economy has been transformed following the decline in core traditional industries and recovered well from natural disasters such as foot and mouth in 2001 and flooding in 2007. Latest data to 2006 show it has had consecutive years of growth above the EU average.

Latest statistics show there were over 350,000 businesses in the Yorkshire and the Humber region at the start of 2007, up by 94,000 (37 per cent.) from 256,000 in 2001.

Yorkshire Forward has been leading on the simplification of business support provision in the region. The most significant change for business so far has been the rationalisation of the Business Link network and the development of a single regional gateway to business support (Business Link Yorkshire) that was launched in April 2008. This will significantly reduce the duplication of services, provide greater clarity, and redirect resources into front-line support services for businesses in the region. Yorkshire Forward also plans to make significant changes to its own support mechanisms, to focus on supporting six core programmes of activity that aid the overall start up and growth of a business.

Examples of specific support programmes that have supported business development include:

Objective 1 European Funding for South Yorkshire—where the 2000-06 programme worth a total of £2.4 billion (including over £770 million from the European Union’s Structural Fund budget as well as public and private sector resources) resulted in over 1,300 new small and medium enterprises and over 30,000 new jobs in the area.

Objective 2 European Funding for the rest of Yorkshire and the Humber—where total of nearly £1 billion (including £350 million of European Structural Funds alongside UK public and private sector sources) resulted in over 22,000 new jobs.

Yorkshire and Humber Manufacturing Advisory Service (Y and H MAS)—based on a national scheme, where since 2002 advisers have worked with almost 2,500 manufacturers across the region to improve their processes and productivity, helped to secure 17,640 jobs and create 1,140 new jobs and made productivity improvements which have contributed to an overall increase in turnover of over £200 million.

The region’s Graduate Retention Programme, which has been running for six years, funded by Yorkshire Forward in partnership with the region’s universities, which aims to retain graduates from the universities and colleges of Yorkshire and Humber, as well as the attracting graduate talent from outside the region. This is critically important for business’ ability to compete on a national and international stage.

Centres of Industrial Collaboration (CICs)—are funded by Yorkshire Forward. They aim to get knowledge within universities into companies in practical ways. Since their launch in 2003 they have collaborated with over 1,800 businesses and generated more than £39 million of research income for the region.

Leeds and the wider Leeds city region have benefited, as have all parts of the region, from these programmes.

Since 2005, a major new driver for encouraging enterprise in the neediest areas of the region is the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI). Yorkshire and Humber has five LEGI partnerships, led by the local authorities, working to ensure wider benefits of business growth spread to more deprived communities. They will be supported by £128.6 million from the Government over five years. The five LEGI schemes cover Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Doncaster and North East Lincolnshire.

The Leeds LEGI programme, entitled ‘Sharing the Success’ aims to address great imbalances in the local economy. Leeds has been awarded approximately £20 million to deliver an enterprise programme targeted at tackling worklessness issues in its most deprived neighbourhoods. To date nearly 50 new businesses have started in the LEGI area, nearly 100 new jobs created and over 100 local residents found employment.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies spent on (i) recruitment consultants and (ii) external recruitment advertising to recruit staff in each of the last five financial years; which recruitment consultants were employed for those purposes in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. (226803)

When running recruitment campaigns, recruitment costs, including advertising costs are generally devolved to individual management units and there are no central records held of the breakdown of advertising costs. When advertising vacancies, the departments use the most appropriate advertising media be it national, regional, local, trade magazine or website, depending on the nature of the vacancy to be filled.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals to extend the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to include the time that support workers are obliged to spend sleeping at their place of work; and if he will make a statement. (227696)

There are no current plans to change legislation in this area. We are, however, reviewing the guidance on sleepovers as part of work to reduce uncertainty about what constitutes compliance with the law.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department and its predecessor has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997. (222049)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 7 October 2008, Official Report, column 577W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of turbulence in financial markets on the willingness of banks to provide loans to fuel-poor householders to improve their home energy efficiency rating. (226251)

I have been asked to reply.

Low income and vulnerable households are able to access discounted or free energy saving and heating measures as a result of Government policies. These include the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target regulations on energy suppliers (as a result of which free cavity wall and loft insulation are available to households in receipt of certain benefits and tax credits and those over 70), and publicly funded schemes such as the Warm Front scheme in England and the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in Wales. The Government's Home Energy Saving Programme announced on 11 September set out a £1 billion package of new activity to help all households save energy and save money.

As stated at Budget 2007, based on consultation with major banks and building societies, the Government anticipates that the measures it has put in place and improved energy advice and information have the potential to create a market for “green” financial products designed to help householders invest in energy efficiency and microgeneration installations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people in West Chelmsford constituency have (a) applied for a grant for energy efficient measures under the Warm Front scheme and (b) been awarded a grant for energy efficient measures under the scheme. (228034)

Between 1 June 2005 and 30 September 2008, 1,273 households in West Chelmsford applied for a Warm Front Grant, 859 have qualified and of these 721 have received assistance. The remaining 138 households are awaiting the delivery of measures.

Prior to 2005 the scheme was delivered by a different scheme manager and the data retained by the present administrator are not sufficient to provide a response with the level of detail requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on grants under the Warm Front scheme in West Chelmsford constituency since its introduction. (228035)

Between 1 June 2005 and 30 September 2008, the Warm Front Scheme delivered £955,714.14 of measures into the homes of some of the most vulnerable West Chelmsford residents.

Prior to 2005, the scheme was delivered by a different administrator. The data retained by the present scheme manager is not sufficient to provide a response with the level of detail requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to publicise the (i) Warm Front Scheme and (ii) Warm Deal Scheme; how much was spent by his Department and predecessor departments to publicise each scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement. (227588)

As fuel poverty is now a devolved issue, this answer refers specifically to Warm Front. The Warm Deal Scheme falls within the remit of the Scottish Government.

Warm Front advertising and promotion is not an expense drawn from the Warm Front budget. It is a contractual requirement placed on Eaga, as the main contractor, to generate sufficient interest in the scheme to fulfil the budget.

(a) In promoting the Scheme, Eaga undertakes several streams of activity targeted at reaching those eligible or potentially eligible for assistance. Activities include attendance at local community events, partnerships with both the Department of Health and the Department of Work and Pensions, affinity arrangements with local voluntary and charitable groups and direct mailing activities with local authorities.

(b) Eaga will continue to publicise Warm Front so that it is visible and available to those in need, and will ensure that the scheme assists as many households as possible by fully utilising its budget.

The Government’s Act on CO₂ helpline (0800 512012) directs people to advice from the Energy Savings Trust which can include information about Warm Front.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research he has recently (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of the (i) Warm Front Scheme and (ii) Warm Deal Scheme in reducing fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement. (227589)

As fuel poverty is now a devolved issue, this response refers only to Warm Front. The Warm Deal Scheme falls within the remit of the Scottish Government.

DECC’s independent quality assessors, White Young and Green, carry out bi-annual audits of the scheme as well as further ad hoc reports on various subjects requested by the Department.

Further to this, the National Audit Office is performing a value for money audit of the scheme which they anticipate publishing in December of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department travelled by (i) car, (ii) rail and (iii) air on Government business in each year since its creation. (228027)

[holding answer 17 October 2008]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 1 September 2008, Official Report, column 1413W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce congestion on motorways and two-lane roads caused by slow-overtaking heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement. (227802)

[holding answer 17 October 2008]: The Highways Agency is undertaking a series of trials on the Strategic Road Network, restricting HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from using any lane other than the nearside lane for short stretches of road. Trial areas include the M42 Junction 10 to 11 and two sections of the A1 (M) Southbound from junctions 61 and 63. After a successful 18-month trial on the A14 the restriction has been made permanent, and the process of making the order permanent on the M42 is in progress.

In addition, the Highways Agency has constructed new crawler lanes at four locations on the motorway network, one on the M27 and three on the M5 in the south-west area. These sites were identified as places where congestion has been caused by the slow movement of HGVs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the rail network was electrified in (a) 1978, (b) 1988, (c) 1998 and (d) 2008; what plans exist to electrify further sections; and on which of these sections electrification has commenced. (228028)

[holding answer 17 October 2008]: The following table provides the information requested:

The Department for Transport is working closely with the rail industry to examine the case for extending the electrified network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the net change in the number of train carriages on the rail network has been since 1 May 1997, allowing for the removal of Mk 1 trains and other time-expired vehicles, in (a) absolute and (b) percentage terms; and what the change in passenger numbers has been over the same period. (226565)

The Department for Transport does not hold the detailed information.

In May 1995 the number of vehicles on lease was 10,401 and, as of today, the number on lease on the Rail Network is around 11,150, an increase of around 7.2 per cent. It should also be noted that a further 1,300 vehicles will be delivered as part of the High Level Output Specification (HLOS), of which 423 have already been ordered. In 1997-98 there were 846 million passenger journeys and by 2007-08 this had risen to 1,232 million.

Although the numbers may seem disproportionate in percentage terms it should be noted that off peak traffic and non-London traffic has grown substantially faster than London peak traffic; hence, a large proportion of the extra journeys are being made on what were previously under utilised trains.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has a comparator to assess the relative value for money of private and public operation of railway passenger services. (227147)

The Government's policy is that rail passenger services are provided by the private sector through competition to operate publicly-specified franchises. There are no public operations which could provide the yardstick for a comparator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operators have requested a time extension for payments of the premia due under their franchise agreements in the last 12 months. (227127)

[holding answer 14 October 2008]: No operators have requested a time extension for payments of premia due in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure the implementation of fair and competitive pricing structures by train operating companies. (225701)

Train operators have been encouraged to implement the simplified fares structure set out in the 2007 White Paper, reducing the number of principal fare types to three types—Anytime, Off-peak and Advance, with standard terms and conditions for each category.

Train Operating Companies continue to set fares, where regulated, within the Policy of limiting overall increases to RPI + 1 per cent., in all but two cases. The Southeastern franchise, and the West Yorkshire part of the Northern franchise, are subject to an overall regulatory cap of RPI + 3 per cent. to reflect investment by the franchisees.

Unregulated fares are set commercially and are a matter for each Train Operating Company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what European Union law governs whether train and station operations should be separated from rail infrastructure maintenance and renewals. (227148)

Directive 91/440/EEC requires separation of accounting between infrastructure management business and the provision of transport services, and prohibits the transfer of public funds between these functions. It allows member states to achieve this through the organisation of distinct divisions within a single entity or by requiring the infrastructure to be managed by a separate entity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has made an assessment of the value for money of (a) integrating rail infrastructure and operations in the public sector and (b) separating train and station operations from rail infrastructure maintenance and renewals. (227149)

No such formal assessment has been made. It is generally accepted that the structures put in place at privatisation were flawed. The 2004 Rail White Paper and 2005 Railways Act set out a new streamlined structure, specified by the Government and delivered by the private sector, under which rail investment is based on affordability and value for money as determined by the independent Office of Rail Regulation.

This structure provides coherent and effective management and delivers safe, reliable railways that work efficiently. The new arrangements provide much-needed stability for the industry as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the value for money of operating rail passenger services in the public sector after each passenger franchise expires. (227150)

The Government's policy is that rail services are provided by the private sector to a specification developed in the public sector; therefore, no formal assessment has been made of the value for money of operating rail passenger services in the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2008, Official Report, column 1043W, on railways: Milton Keynes, how many more southbound Virgin trains will call at Milton Keynes during (a) peak and (b) off-peak times once the platform upgrade is complete than did so before the work commenced. (228450)

On weekdays between 0600 and 0900, the number of southbound Virgin trains calling at Milton Keynes Central will increase from four to seven trains once the upgrade is completed. In off-peak periods, the number will increase from two to three per hour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2008, Official Report, column 1043W, on railways: Milton Keynes, what the aggregate number of Virgin trains stopping per day at Milton Keynes will be once the platform upgrade is completed and a new timetable introduced; and what change this will represent from the previous aggregate number. (228451)

The number of trains, operated by Virgin Trains and stopping at Milton Keynes Central station, once the enlargement work is completed, is likely to be 110 on a normal weekday. This will represent a 31 per cent. increase from today's number of 84 services operated by Virgin Trains and stopping at Milton Keynes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of hours of delays there will be on the railway in (a) 2010, (b) 2015 and (c) 2025. (226696)

The High Level Output Specification, published in July 2007, required an improvement in the Public Performance Measure (PPM) to an average of 92.6 per cent. by the end of 2013-14, with associated reductions in significant lateness and cancellations. Delay hours are reported periodically by Network Rail, but are not separately estimated by the Department for Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Lancashire county council on improving safety on (a) the A59 and (b) other roads in the council's area. (228538)

The Department for Transport has not held formal meetings with Lancashire county council specifically about the A59. The A59 is a non-trunk principal road. The county council is primarily responsible for safety on the road, and other similar roads, within its administrative area.

Departmental officials have talked with Lancashire county council officials about work supported by a road safety partnership grant not specific to the A59, about major (costing more than £5 million each) road projects and about local transport planning and delivery more generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many 20 mph speed limit zones have been introduced in each region in (a) each of the last eight years and (b) 2008; (227069)

This information is not held by the Department. Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits and have powers to introduce 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones if they believe it appropriate to do so. They are not required to inform the Department when they change a speed limit.

The Department has recently commissioned a new research project on local road safety policy and practice. Some of the information gathered from local authorities as part of this project includes details about the implementation of 20 mph zones. The project will take three years with an interim report due in March 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to amend the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Mark) Regulations 2001 so as to permit the display of the Union Flag and the national flags of Wales, England and Scotland. (224689)

The Regulations have not yet been amended and the matter is currently under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was raised from the modulation element of the single farm payment in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. (224939)

For the financial years, 1 April to 31 March, 2006-07 and 2007-08 the modulation deducted from the single payment scheme payments are £136 million and £350 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) lowest, (b) highest, (c) median and (d) mean value was of claims under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme. (227308)

The lowest, highest, median and mean values of the 2007 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) payments are:

The lowest value is a result of a non compliance penalty.

These figures are subject to change as RPA continue to make 2007 SPS payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many work permits were allocated under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme in each of the last five years. (227298)

I have been asked to reply.

The UK Border Agency has a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) that enables the provision of short term, low skilled workers to be employed in the agricultural industry. The permit to work that is issued to SAWS participants is known as a work card.

Work cards allocated to SAWS operators by UKBA by year are:

The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many livestock disease reactors were identified through pre-movement testing in each year such testing has been in operation. (227316)

The information requested is as follows.

TB contribution

The numbers of bovine tuberculosis (TB) reactor cattle identified in England each year since TB pre-movement testing became mandatory in March 2006, are given in the following table:

Pre-movement testing applied to cattle over 15 months old from 27 March 2006 and was extended to cattle over 42 days old from 1 March 2007.

Cumulative TB pre-movement statistics are updated monthly and are published on the DEFRA website. The published figures are an underestimate of the impact of the policy and show the minimum benefits. The number of reactors identified does not take into account the benefits of herd owners utilising Government paid TB surveillance tests as pre-movement tests or the number of inconclusive reactors identified by pre-movement testing which have ended up as reactors when retested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the prevalence of deformed wing virus in the bee population in England; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of this virus on bee productivity. (227329)

Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) is a virus associated with varroa, a parasitic mite infesting bees. Varroa is widespread in the UK and while it cannot be completely eradicated, beekeepers can keep productive bees despite its presence, providing they operate effective controls. Controlling the varroa mite vector by means of a careful programme of integrated pest management is the most effective way of controlling virus infections. DEFRA has published detailed advice for beekeepers on this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strains of (a) avian influenza and (b) bluetongue were confirmed in the UK in each of the last three years; where such cases occurred; and how many animals were slaughtered in each case, broken down by region. (227326)

The information is as follows:

(b) Bluetongue

Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) is the only strain of Bluetongue virus to have been detected in the UK to date. The first case was detected on 22 September 2007.

As at 16 October 2008, a total of 147 cases of BTV-8 had been detected. These are shown in the following table, by UK region, for the last three years:

A total of six infected animals were culled in England in 2007 prior to 28 September 2007.

On 28 September 2007, it was confirmed that BTV-8 was circulating in the local midge population in the affected area of East Anglia. Since Bluetongue is spread by midges, the culling of animals infected by Bluetongue would no longer have been an effective measure to control disease spread, and in line with the Bluetongue Control Strategy, the decision was taken not to slaughter further infected animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration his Department has given to the use of contra bait or other measures to control breeding in the management of badger populations infected with tuberculosis. (227774)

DEFRA is funding proof-of-concept research into fertility control for managing animal populations. As part of this research, we are evaluating this approach specifically for the management of urban badger populations. The research is focused on population control, not disease control. Lowering population numbers in itself does not necessarily mean that disease transmission risks are lowered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects a bovine tuberculosis vaccine to be available for (a) badgers and (b) cattle. (227319)

Badger vaccines are likely to be available sooner than cattle vaccines. The earliest projected date for the widespread use of Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) oral badger vaccine is 2014. Injectable BCG badger vaccines may be available by 2010.

The earliest projected date for the widespread use of a BCG cattle vaccine with a differential diagnostic test (DIVA) is mid to late-2015.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the increase in mean surface temperatures on the potential for (a) malaria, (b) equine fever, (c) dengue fever, (d) lyme disease, (e) African Horse Sickness, (f) Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, (g) Rift Valley fever and (h) other vector borne diseases to spread to the UK; and what steps he has taken towards securing vaccines for these diseases. (227327)

DEFRA has an ongoing programme of international disease surveillance that monitors disease outbreaks. Risk assessments for African Horse Sickness and Rift Valley Fever have been published on the DEFRA Website. Equine fever could refer to a number of diseases of the horse, so we are unable to say whether we have performed a risk assessment for it.

DEFRA has not conducted specific assessments of the potential increase of the risk of these diseases as a result of an increase in mean surface temperatures. Surface temperatures are only one factor affecting the potential spread of disease and/or vectors. A number of natural and human-related factors, such as trade, animal movements and livestock husbandry practices may have a more significant role in disease spread in the short-term. Some research is under way to investigate potential implications of climate change for animal diseases.

No steps have been taken to secure vaccines against these diseases. Vaccines are often specific for particular types and strains, and decisions on vaccine procurement would need to be taken on the basis of risk assessments and our agreed control strategy for each disease.

Malaria, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, Dengue fever and Lyme disease are human health issues and therefore queries should be addressed to the Department of Health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of dairy farmers in each of the last 10 years. (228535)

The number of holdings and associated farmers (full and part-time) in England where dairy is the predominant activity are shown as follows. Farmers includes partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of the Local Government Ombudsman ruling 06/C/10554, in relation to the waste policies of local authorities which seek to restrict the number of household bins which are collected. (224617)

The Ombudsman found against this particular local authority on the basis that it had made insufficient effort to assess whether requiring the householder to have only one bin for the size of the household, was reasonable.

The ruling does not change the fact that local authorities can, under section 46 of the Environment Protection Act 1990, restrict the number of waste receptacles per household. However, section 46 requires the arrangements for receptacles to be reasonable and it is the authority's failure to comply with that requirement that led to the Ombudsman's investigation and subsequent ruling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the consultation on restructuring of inland drainage boards. (224593)

The Inland Drainage Board Sub Catchment review set a direction of travel following an independent report produced in 2006. The independent report outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the current performance of internal drainage boards and made recommendations for future improvements.

There has not been formal consultation on this, but representations have nevertheless been received from interested organisations and internal drainage boards, making points on the detail of the report as well as seeking guidance on the review itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will (a) respond to and (b) set out its five proposals for action in respect of the consultation on options for allocation of responsibility for the ownership and long-term maintenance of drainage systems; and if he will make a statement. (224612)

The Government will not be providing a separate response for the consultation and has indicated in the Summary of Responses to the consultation that the next steps will be announced in the response to the Pitt Review "Lessons learned from the 2007 floods".

The response to the Pitt Review is due in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often the Environment Agency updates its maps of river and coastal flood risks. (226700)

The Environment Agency is continually updating its Flood Map, which shows areas that could be affected by flooding from rivers or the sea. Flood Maps, published on the Environment Agency's website, are sent to local authorities for planning and Civil Contingencies Act purposes. These show areas at risk of flooding and are updated and published on a quarterly basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of homes at risk of (a) coastal flooding and (b) inland flooding, broken down by region. (226463)

The latest national flood risk assessment (NaFRA) was carried out during 2006. The NaFRA data were published in March 2007.

A brief summary of appendix L of the NaFRA 2006 report follows and indicates the number or properties (both homes and businesses) at risk from tidal and fluvial flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage alternatives to incineration for the management of non-recyclable waste. (225010)

It is local authorities, not DEFRA, who are responsible for deciding how waste is managed as part of their local waste management strategies. Any plans for facilities that converted waste to energy should emerge out of local waste strategies, so that all options for reuse, recycling and composting can be explored before landfill.

Recovering energy from waste offers a considerable climate change benefit compared to the alternative landfill. This is primarily through avoided landfill methane emissions, with the energy recovered from the biodegradable part of that waste not only displacing conventional power generation based on oil, coal or natural gas, but also counting towards our renewable energy targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was imported in each of the last 10 years; and from which countries such milk was sourced. (227607)

[holding answer 16 October 2008]: The following table shows the volume of liquid milk imported into the UK from 1997 to 2007, by country of dispatch, as recorded in the Official Trade Statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was produced in England in each of the last 10 years. (227608)

[holding answer 16 October 2008]: The volume of milk produced in England is shown in the following table.