To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many questions tabled for answer on a named day his Department received in each of the last 12 months; and to how many such questions his Department provided a substantive answer on the day named. (305385)

28 named day questions were received within the last 12 months, 25 were answered on the specified date.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether the Government Olympic Executive has entered into any contracts with Siemens or its subsidiaries since February 2009. (304259)

Neither the Government Olympic Executive nor the Olympic Delivery Authority have entered into any contracts with Siemens or its subsidiaries.

10. To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations she has received on proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement. (304990)

On 31 July we published our proposals to reform the Civil Service Compensation scheme. Correspondence has been received from over 200 Members and the Cabinet Office has received over 18,000 emails and letters in response to the consultation. Officials have had numerous meetings with the civil service unions since July 2008, and Ministers met the unions on 22 September to listen to their views. In the light of representations significant changes which provide better outcomes for the lowest paid civil servants, while still delivering the savings committed to. Overall, the new package—announced last Friday—provides fairer outcomes to civil servants and to taxpayers.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what work with the third sector her Department is undertaking to encourage the creation of jobs. (304992)

Latest figures show levels of employment in the third sector have been sustained throughout 2008-09, with over 500,000 employees—a significant achievement in light of the recession. We are committed to creating a further 25,000 jobs in the third sector through involvement in public services. The Cabinet Office is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to support third sector involvement in the creation of 150,000 jobs through the Future Jobs Fund.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government are taking to reduce the burden of regulation on charities. (304988)

The changes we have made to charity law and accounting and reporting thresholds have resulted in savings for up to 50,000 charities and up to £5 million per year. The new Charitable Incorporated Organisation, planned for next year, will give charities the advantages of incorporation without the burden of dual regulation by both the Charity Commission and Companies House. Departments are also cutting red tape for third sector organisations and will be reporting on further progress later this month. The Government and National Audit Office (NAO) have produced guidance to reduce red tape associated with the £12 billion a year the sector gets from Government. The Government have introduced further measures to facilitate the use of Gift Aid, with particular support for smaller charities, including reforms to simplify the record keeping and auditing process.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) her Department and (b) its agency has spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months. (303842)

Since 2006, the Cabinet Office has predominantly used an on-line e-card at no cost to the Department. The cost of any Christmas cards sent by the Department is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. No departmental funds have been used for staff Christmas parties.

Christmas trees are situated at certain points on the Cabinet Office estate, such as in the reception of the main buildings. The cost which includes the purchase, decoration and environmentally friendly disposal of the trees in 2008 was £5,757.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information her Department holds on the number of employees of each Government Department who incurred hearing loss in the course of their duties in each year since 1999. (304011)

The Cabinet Office does not hold this information.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many security passes her Department has issued to contractors providing consultancy services in the last 12 months. (303953)

The Cabinet Office takes great care regarding access to its buildings and its access control policies are in line with the HMG Security Policy Framework, Mandatory Requirements 56, 57 and 58

The Department issues security passes to all those who are visiting and have business on its estate. Non-staff employed by the Department (including temporary staff, short-term work placements, contractors and consultants) may be issued with either a temporary pass, an escorted visitor pass or an unescorted visitor pass, depending on the length of time they are working for the Department and their level of security clearance.

Separately identifying those who may be visiting the Department to provide consultancy services from those who are visiting for other reasons could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will bring forward proposals to ensure that public bodies which enter into partnership to provide services are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. (305046)

I have been asked to reply as the Minister responsible for Freedom of Information policy.

On 16 July 2009, the Government published the response to their consultation on extending the Freedom of Information Act by means of a section 5 order. It noted that they were not minded to include in an initial order companies providing, under a contract made with a public authority, any service whose provision is a function of that, authority. However, the Government have made clear that they intend to keep the extension of the Act under review.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions she has met the Government chief scientific adviser in the course of her official duties in the last 12 months. (304731)

No current Cabinet Office Minister has met with the Government chief scientific adviser within the last 12 months.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what payments the Equality and Human Rights Commission has made to (a) Postif Politics and (b) APCO Worldwide in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made. (305157)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has not made any payments to (a) Postif Politics and (b) APCO Worldwide in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many questions tabled for answer on a named day his Department received in each of the last 12 months; and to how many such questions his Department provided a substantive answer on the day named. (305376)

The number of named day parliamentary questions tabled for answer by the Department for International Development (DFID) and answered on the day named is provided in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure adequate education provision for children in Gaza. (304766)

The Department for International Development (DFID) supports both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide education in Gaza.

Our budget support to the PA was £50 million in 2008 and £18.5 million so far in 2009. This funding contributes to the salaries of public sector workers, including teachers and the provision of basic services such as education. Approximately 50 per cent. of PA spending goes to Gaza.

UNRWA schools in Gaza are attended by over 200,000 children. Through our core funding to UNRWA, DFID has contributed £100 million over five years (2007 to 2012) towards teacher salaries.

DFID continues to press Israel to allow reconstruction materials into Gaza so that schools destroyed and damaged in Operation Cast Lead can be repaired, and to lift all restrictions on the imports of stationery, textbooks and school furniture.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to provide medical assistance to those in refugee camps in Gaza. (304763)

Medical assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere in the region is the responsibility of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The Department for International Development is providing £100 million to UNRWA in core funding over five years (2007-12) which the Agency can allocate to areas of most urgent need: this year we gave UNRWA nearly £20 million. About 5 per cent. of UNRWA's overall budget is allocated to healthcare in Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contacts his Department has with governments of South East Asia in respect of the delivery of national tuberculosis programmes. (304767)

The Department for International Development (DFID) contributes to tuberculosis (TB) control through a variety of channels including support for national programmes, multi donor initiatives and research.

In China, DFID has provided £28 million to the National TB Control Programme. This programme has increased national case detection rates from 30 per cent. in 2000 to over 70 per cent. in 2007 in 16 provinces, covering half of China's population. Furthermore 1.8 million patients have successfully been treated and cure rates are now well above 85 per cent.

DFID will provide £30.1 million by 2011 to the multi-donor funded Three Diseases Fund (3DF) which aims to tackle TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS. The 3DF provides grants to UN agencies and NGOs to support delivery of the National TB Strategy in Burma. DFID is also the donor representative on the Country Coordinating Mechanism which oversees the implementation of the National TB Strategy in Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of Tamils released from camps in Sri Lanka in December 2009. (304765)

The Government of Sri Lanka announced that freedom of movement would be allowed for all the remaining displaced people held in camps by 1 December 2009. Since this date figures for the number of people returning to their home areas have been changing rapidly and are hard to follow accurately on a day by day basis. However at the end of last week, the United Nations estimated that more than 150,000 people had returned to their home areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department plans to provide to Tamils released from camps in Sri Lanka in December 2009; and with which international charities his Department plans to work to provide such assistance. (304764)

The Department for International Development (DFID) has already provided considerable support to returning displaced people since September, including de-mining programmes, transport, shelter materials, water and sanitation, and seeds for restarting agricultural activities. Future support will be determined on the basis of the evolving situation on the ground and taken forward with the most appropriate delivery partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s estimate is of the population of (a) Britain’s area of responsibility in Helmand province and (b) each district in Helmand province. (304353)

We estimate the population of Britain’s area of responsibility in Helmand province to be 750,000 to 800,000. According to 2003 Central Statistical Office/UN Population Fund Socio-Economic and Demographic Profile, the estimated population of each district in Helmand are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with their Afghan counterparts on a national unity Government in Afghanistan. (304720)

In the run up to and following Afghanistan’s 2009 presidential elections, we met with a range of presidential candidates and continue to encourage all parties to work together for the good of Afghanistan. It is not for the UK to dictate to Afghanistan’s political leadership the makeup of any future Government, or prescribe the degree to which the Afghan Government should formally work with its opposition. What is important is that with UK and international community support, the Afghan Government and other key Afghan partners reach out across the political spectrum in order to deliver progress on the key issues President Karzai outlined in his inauguration speech: security, governance, peace and reintegration, economic development and regional relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-6, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, what proposals the Government have brought forward on stronger international civilian leadership in Afghanistan; and when he expects such proposals to be agreed with international partners. (304933)

Following President Karzai’s inauguration speech on 19 November 2009 and President Obama’s statement on 1 December 2009, the international community are reinvigorating their efforts to deliver and co-ordinate coherent and effective support for the Government of Afghanistan and its people. Work is progressing on a number of fronts. NATO Foreign Ministers discussed Afghanistan on 3 and 4 December 2009 and a NATO force generation conference on 7 December 2009 focused on increasing the Allied military effort. It is important that this enhanced International Security Assistance Force military effort is matched by a stronger, more-effective civil effort. We are discussing with our international partners how best to achieve this. The London Conference will offer a timely focus to taking forward international agreement on delivering a more coherent civilian effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a recent estimate of the (a) direct and (b) indirect contribution of his Department and its staff to the economy of Afghanistan. (305469)

The effort in Afghanistan is cross-departmental, with the bulk of the UK's efforts supporting the economy coming from the Department for International Development (DFID). However, one of the greatest needs for the Afghan economy is stability. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) efforts across Afghanistan and wider region, supporting stability will therefore have the greatest indirect impact on the Afghan economy, although it is not possible to measure this contribution.

There are a number of projects, procurement and salaries in the local economy which have a direct impact on the local economy. Local purchases amounted to £6.8 million in 2008, much of which will have fed directly back to the Afghan economy. Local staff salaries were an additional £549,000. Spending in 2009 is likely to be similar. In addition, the FCO supports numerous programmes which support activity in Afghanistan. This financial year (2009-10) the total budget for non-DFID civilian programmes in Afghanistan is £88.4 million. Of this, it is predicted that £54.1 million is administered with the promotion of economic development and welfare—officially Overseas Development Authority—spend. This does not include DFID spending.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Moroccan counterpart the deportation of Aminatou Haidar, with particular reference to Article 12(4) of the International Convention on Civil and Human Rights. (304261)

Officials from our embassy in Rabat, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and the United Kingdom’s Mission to the United Nations have discussed the case of Aminatou Haidar with the Moroccan authorities. Article 12(4) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights has not been raised during these discussions. We have however made it clear that we believe the issue should be resolved swiftly and fairly.

We have also made it clear to the Moroccan authorities that recent events risk impeding the UN-led negotiation process. The UK remains fully committed to this process, and will continue to support the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, in his efforts to bring the parties together to find a mutually acceptable political agreement that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) historic and (b) other entitlements affect his Department's ability to enforce the proposed new Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. (302472)

No decision has yet been taken on whether a Marine Protected Area will be established in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). A decision will be taken following the public consultation which is at present underway.

The UK is responsible for enforcing protection of the BIOT Fisheries and Conservation Management Zone/Environmental Preservation and Protection Zone and this would also be the case for any proposed Marine Protected Area. Surveillance and monitoring of the fisheries is, at present, carried out by a Senior Fisheries Protection Officer based on board the BIOT Patrol Vessel—the Pacific Marlin, and the Marine Resources Assessment Group's monitoring centre in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) are employed by and (b) work for his Department. (303599)

The White Book, published by the Central Office of Information (COI) every six months, contains details of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's press team in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research his Department is undertaking on the viability of the proposed return of the Chagos Islanders to the archipelago; and if he will make a statement. (305190)

Following the Law Lords judgment of 22 October 2008 in the Judicial Review of the 2004 British Indian Ocean Territory Orders in Council, Government policy remains that no-one has a right of abode in the Territory or the right to enter the Territory unless authorised. The Government have no plans to resettle the Chagos Islanders in the Territory and is not therefore undertaking research on the viability of the return of the Chagos Islanders to the British Indian Ocean Territory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on measures to enable displaced Christians in Orissa province to return to their homes. (303117)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with his Indian counterpart. On 10-11 November 2009 our High Commissioner to India visited Orissa and enquired with the local state authorities, including the Chief Minister, about the status of Christians still affected by the violence in Orissa in 2008, living conditions, compensation and the prosecution of those responsible. The local authorities advised that the state run camps had been closed, affected Christians had now returned to their homes, compensation had been provided and perpetrators had been convicted. However, resettlement of those displaced and the reconstruction of churches was still ongoing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the detention by the Israeli authorities of Mohammed Othman from Jayyous; and whether he has made representations to the Government of Israel on the subject. (304705)

We are concerned by Mr. Othman’s treatment and long detention without charge. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, Ivan Lewis, raised UK concerns over Othman’s case with the deputy Israeli Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon on 27 October 2009. Our embassy in Tel Aviv, and our consulate-general in Jerusalem, continue to follow his case closely.

More generally, we continue to monitor the situation with regard to all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. We are very concerned about cases of administrative detention: we call on the Israeli Government to take immediate action to ensure that all cases are reviewed by a court in accordance with fair procedures, and that detainees’ rights are upheld.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with its obligations under article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention in respect of free passage into Gaza of consignments of (a) medical and hospital objects, (b) food and (c) clothing. (304882)

The Government have made clear their view that in light of the control that Israel continues to exercise over Gaza, Israel remains bound by obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 in respect of Gaza. Those obligations include article 23 of that convention. We are deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza and continue, bilaterally and with our EU partners, to urge Israel to allow reconstruction and humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Israeli Government on the payment of compensation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East following the shelling of its compound in Gaza City in January 2009. (304909)

The Government were deeply concerned by reports of incidents involving UN property/personnel during the Gaza conflict. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set up the UN Board of Inquiry to investigate certain incidents involving UN property/personnel during the Gaza Conflict. The Board reported back on 5 May.

The UN Secretariat are taking this forward—including the issue of compensation—directly with the Israeli Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Israeli Government on the alleged shelling with high explosive and white phosphorus munitions of the United Nations compound in Gaza on 15 January 2009. (304910)

Our embassy in Tel Aviv raised concerns over this incident directly with the Israeli Government on the day it took place.

We have been clear from the beginning of the Gaza conflict that all allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law committed by both sides must be properly investigated.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set up the UN Board of Inquiry to investigate certain incidents involving UN property/personnel during the Gaza Conflict. The Board reported back on 5 May 2009. The UN Secretariat are now taking this forward with the Israeli Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2009, Official Report, column 228W, on Morocco: mining, what recent steps the Government have taken to seek to ensure that Morocco fulfils its obligations under international law to ensure that the extraction and exploitation of phosphates do not adversely affect the interests of the people of Western Sahara. (304262)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell) of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 32W.

The UK continues to maintain its position that Morocco, as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration—including the extraction and exportation of phosphates—do not adversely affect the interests of the people in Western Sahara.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Moroccan Government on (a) ending the movement of members of the Moroccan civilian population into the occupied Western Sahara and (b) the application of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention until the status of Western Sahara is determined. (304414)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell) of 5 May 2009, Official Report, column 47W, Western Sahara: Politics and Government:

We have not discussed the movement of population between Morocco and Western Sahara, or the application of article 49 of the fourth Geneva convention, and have no current plans to discuss either matter with the Moroccan Government.

The Government see the status of Western Sahara as undetermined and continue to believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute, providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, is best achieved under the auspices of the UN. To this end the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prepare for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. (304465)

The Government have led international efforts to re-energise the consensus underpinning the non-proliferation treaty over the last three years. There are clear indications that the international mood is changing.

Building on the “Road to 2010” policy document launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in July 2009, and available at:

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/roadto2010.aspx

The Government will continue to work hard with nuclear weapon states partners and the great mainstream of the non-aligned movement to build critical momentum and ensure a successful review conference next May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions each UK mission has raised the question of persecution or discrimination in relation to (a) the Christian faith, (b) the Islamic faith, (c) Judaism, (d) Sikhism, (e) Hinduism, (f) Buddhism and (g) other religious faiths in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (304445)

The UK condemns all instances of persecution and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith or belief, wherever they occur and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.

All the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) overseas missions have a responsibility to monitor and raise human rights in their host countries. Our embassies raise freedom of religion or belief in a variety of different contexts. We take action on individual cases where persecution or discrimination has occurred; lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws; raise freedom of religion or belief in bilateral and EU human rights dialogues; and work in the UN and other international organisations to uphold universal standards. The FCO does not keep statistics on our lobbying on religious persecution or indeed on broader human rights issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Sudanese Government and (b) the UN on the peacekeeping patrols in Darfur being blocked; and if he will make a statement. (304679)

We regularly discuss UN peacekeeping in Darfur with the UN, the Government of Sudan and other parties in Darfur, emphasising the importance of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid operation (UNAMID) in Darfur being able to exercise its full mandate in accordance with the Statement of Forces Agreement. On 30 November 2009 the UN Security Council reiterated its full support for UNAMID and emphasised the need for all parties in Darfur to unconditionally guarantee full access to UNAMID patrols in Darfur. On 12 November 2009 we participated in a demarche setting out to the UN and African Union our strong concern at the Government of Sudan's non-compliance with the Status of Forces Agreement and urging them to take all necessary measures to ensure that Sudan complies with its terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Taliban's income which derives from the illicit trade in opium. (303037)

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released the report Addiction, Crime and Insurgency: The Transnational Threat of Afghan Opium on 21 October 2009. In it the UNODC estimates that the Taliban in Afghanistan now derive between $90-160 million per year from taxing opium production. There are no accurate assessments of what proportion of the Taliban's income comes from the drugs trade. However, the UK assesses that the opium trade represents a significant proportion of the Taliban's income.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of incidents of anti-Semitism in the US; whether he has had recent discussions with the US Administration on that matter; and if he will make a statement. (305396)

I have not received any recent reports of anti-Semitism in the US. For a more detailed explanation of ongoing discussions between the UK and US on the issue of anti-Semitism, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 December 2009, in which I said that we continue to work closely with the US Administration and other partners to combat anti-Semitism wherever it occurs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 1969W, on Western Sahara: human rights, whether the matter of human rights abuses in the Non-Self Governing Territory of Western Sahara related to calls for a referendum was raised with Morocco by EU officials in the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democratisation and Governance on 24 July 2009. (304417)

The EU and Morocco held positive and open discussions in the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democratisation and Governance on 24 July 2009. A wide range of human rights-related issues were discussed, including women’s rights, freedom of expression and the rights of detainees. Whilst there was no discussion relating specifically to the issue of Western Sahara, Morocco has a responsibility towards the people living there and therefore the discussions that took place did not exclude Western Sahara.

The UK and European partners regularly engage in discussions with the Moroccan authorities on issues related to human rights and Western Sahara, and raise individual cases where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to implement the Afghan Public Protection Programme in Helmand province. (304369)

I have been asked to reply.

We are fully aware of the Afghan Public Protection Force project being piloted in Wardak province with the help of the US. We welcome the principle of empowering individual communities to take a greater role in providing their own security. We will remain in close contact with the Afghan Government and the US on its progress and look forward to discussing the results of this pilot with them in due course. Only once the pilot has been rigorously evaluated will any decisions on expansion, including to Helmand, be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion of armed forces personnel who deploy to Helmand province equipped with a cricket box for groin protection; and if he will make a statement. (304726)

All of the protective personal equipment provided to armed forces personnel is constantly under review. The Osprey body armour systems have long been considered to be among the best in the world, and the survival rates are testimony to that; however, a direct by-product of that is that personnel are now surviving with other associated and sometimes life-changing injuries. We are continually seeking ways to further protect our personnel, and work is well under way to research ways of providing additional protection including for the whole groin area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department paid for Jet A1 and diesel fuel delivered to Camp Bastion in support of UK operations in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; (304745)

[holding answer 7 December 2009]: Fuel for both Bastion and Kandahar Airbase is paid for from the same budget. During the last 12 calendar months £85,669,000 was paid for aviation fuel; and £43,058,000 for ground fuel for both locations. Based upon information from FY 2008-09 onwards the average monthly cost of aviation fuel was £6,070,000; and £2,891,000 for ground fuel for both Bastion and Kandahar Airbase. The information for fuel costs prior to FY 2008-09 is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Department is taking to enable mail and postal services provided for armed forces personnel in Afghanistan to manage the volume of letters and parcels expected over the Christmas period. (305343)

Over the Christmas period, the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) employs extra staff to ensure that all HM Forces mail to all world-wide destinations including Afghanistan is dispatched promptly.

The Enduring Free Mail Service which operates all year round is bolstered by the Christmas Free Mail Service (CFMS) for one month before Christmas, where the Free Post is extended to cover not only Operations and their supporting ships, but all destinations where HM Forces are deployed.

The CFMS is advertised along with Last Dates of Posting via a Defence Information Notice and the BFPO and MOD websites. This information is also available on the Royal Mail website.

MOD undertook press and media campaigns in the run up to Christmas to promote the reduction in volume of Unsolicited Mail, which places a considerable burden on the Supply Chain, which, left unchecked, can seriously delay personal mail.

Finally, over the Christmas period, Royal Mail occasionally delivers directly to BFPO to shorten transport time, rather than BFPO staff collecting mail from the Royal Mail Depot at Greenford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) required and (b) actual number is of (i) items of night vision equipment, (ii) pieces of body armour and (iii) small arms for pre-deployment training. (305023)

The current required and actual number of night vision equipment, body armour and small arms specifically held for pre-deployment training are provided in the following table.

Where there is a shortfall against the pre-deployment training requirement, this reflects the newness of equipment, or the growth in forces deployed. We are making further progress in closing the gap and should meet the full requirement for each equipment type identified (except the Sig Pistol) by July 2010, and in some cases earlier than July. All pistols (some 25,000) are due to be replaced as part of the Soldier System Lethality programme.

Equipment availability for pre-deployment training is carefully managed and prioritised to ensure that operators are safe, qualified and competent on the equipment prior to deployment.

In addition to the equipment allocated specifically for pre-deployment training, further equipment is held by units themselves; these items are not included in the figures as they are not specifically held for pre-deployment training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2009, Official Report, columns 287-8W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what compensation is payable for loss of (a) the penis and (b) normal use of the penis under the provisions of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation scheme) Order 2005; and what level of severity of injury on the scheme's scale such compensation represents. (304725)

The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2005 makes provision of compensation for all members and former members of the regular armed forces or reserve forces should they be injured, become ill or die as a result of service. Awards are tariff based depending upon the nature and severity of the injury. There is no standard provision for particular types of injury or theatre of operation.

The following table reflects the current Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2005 tariff covering injury to the genitalia.

In addition, where appropriate, the following tariff may be awarded:

These provisions are included within the review of the AFCS, being led by Lord Boyce.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current (a) required and (b) actual number of drivers is for each armoured vehicle type in the armed forces. (305024)

This information is not held centrally, or in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armoured vehicles are used by a number of corps and units across the armed forces. Units are required to train using a ratio of 1.5 crew operators (drivers) per vehicle against their peacetime establishment. This ratio is different for operational requirements, which is usually set at two crew operators per vehicle.

These ratios may vary depending on the vehicle, however all requirements are currently being met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on preparations for Project Pegasus at AWE Aldermaston. (304681)

Work to prepare the site commenced in 2007, and includes site investigation, the removal of redundant services, preparatory ground works and services diversion works. This work is allowable prior to planning consent being received, and is currently planned to complete by the end of 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the length of the construction period for the new enriched uranium facility at AWE Aldermaston as proposed in the planning application made to West Berkshire council; what plans he has for the usage of the uranium processed there; and if he will make a statement. (305195)

The replacement enriched uranium handling facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment is due on current plans to become operational in 2018. The materiel outputs of the facility are for use in the Defence nuclear programme. I am not prepared to disclose further details of usage as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security and defence in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 11 November 2009, Official Report, column 403W, on Atomic Weapons Establishment: radioactive waste, who owns the radioactive waste at the site; and whether the costs of storing radioactive waste at Atomic Weapons Establishment sites are covered in the contract arrangements between AWE plc and his Department. (305227)

The Ministry of Defence owns the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites and all radioactive waste stored on those sites. The cost of storing radioactive waste at AWE is covered in the management and operation contract between AWE Management Ltd and the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets his Department has sold and leased back in each of the last 10 years; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease. (305284)

During the last 10 years this Department has entered into a number of temporary lease back arrangements in the course of estate disposals, for example to allow time for facilities to be reprovided.

The details requested are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

So far as the disposal of other surplus Ministry of Defence assets (such as ships, tanks, aircraft, plant, IT and other equipment) is concerned, no lease backs are entered into.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on (a) damages awarded against it and (b) legal costs in respect of cases in the courts relating to a decision of the Army Board under the redress system in respect of which legal proceedings have been completed since 1997. (305054)

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on (i) alcohol and (ii) entertainment in the last 12 months. (305542)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 October 2009, Official Report, columns 422-33. The provision of alcohol at public expense must be in moderation and is subject to both financial and quantity restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 28 January 2009, Official Report, columns 509-22, on supply estimates, what the equivalent figures are for each estimate type in his Department’s winter supplementary estimate for 2009-10. (305104)

I am placing a copy of the requested information in the Library of the House, which breaks down the MOD’s 2009-10 winter supplementary estimate in the same format as we have supplied before.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments the Met Office has made to (a) Cavendish Communications and (b) Politics International in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each contract under which such payments have been made. (305063)

The following payments have been made in each of the last three financial years:

Payments relate principally to training and support for Met Office events. The contracts between the Met Office and Cavendish Communications and Politics International are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0870, (b) 0845 and (c) 0800 his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls were received to each number in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case. (305218)

The use of 0800, 0845 and 0870 numbers is determined at local level in accordance with individual business requirements and obtained directly from the supplier. Records of such numbers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many questions tabled for answer on a named day his Department received in each of the last 12 months; and to how many such questions his Department provided a substantive answer on the day named. (305386)

The MOD received 643 named day questions during the past 12 months and answered 482 (75 per cent.) on the day named. The MOD aims to answer all named day questions on the day named, but where this is not possible, we aim to provide a substantive reply at the earliest opportunity.

The following table shows the number of questions which were due for answer in each month and the number answered on the day named:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions have been taken in respect of the (a) repair and (b) replacement of HMS Endurance; what tenders have been sought in respect of damage caused to her; what the cost was of her return to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. (304687)

Options for restoring our Ice Patrol capability are presently being examined and no final decisions on whether to repair or replace HMS Endurance have yet been taken. Therefore, no tenders have yet been sought. The cost to the Department of returning her to the United Kingdom was approximately £4.3 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and for what reasons his Department decided to sell and lease back its Kentigern House site in Glasgow. (305281)

The decision to sell and lease back Kentigern House in Glasgow was taken as part of the planning round that concluded in spring 2009.

Sale and leaseback is a commercially accepted practice ensuring the MOD maintains use of the facility while releasing useful capital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation was undertaken with unions representing staff at his Department’s Kentigern House site in Glasgow prior to the sale and lease back of the site. (305283)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Ms Clark), on 26 November 2009, Official Report, column 294W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopter call outs of each type from each search and rescue station there were in each of the last 10 years; and how many (a) day and (b) night time hours off-station each call out entailed. (303634)

I am placing data showing the number of helicopter call outs of each type from each search and rescue (SAR) station in each of the last 10 years in the Library of the House.

Information on the actual daytime and night-time hours off-station for each call out is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Further data on military SAR activities is published by Defence Analytical Services and Advice at the following link;

http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=66&pubType=0

All UK SAR helicopter units are able to provide overlapping cover when an adjacent unit is either already committed to a SAR operation or operating at a reduced capability for any reason, or during periods of temporary closure. The provision of adjacent SAR cover is standard practice and occurs routinely when a SAR helicopter is already airborne on a search and rescue sortie or is unserviceable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many incidents of oil leakage from his Department’s facilities in the vicinity of St. Kilda have been recorded in each of the last three years; (304186)

No oil leakages from Ministry of Defence facilities on or in the vicinity of St. Kilda has been recorded during the last three years.

The Bulk Fuel Installation (BFI) located on St. Kilda, in support of activity at the MOD Hebrides Range, is compliant with the current legal standard, the Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Ship-to-shore replenishment of the BFI is undertaken in compliance with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved “St Kilda Oil Spillage Response Plan”, prepared in accordance with the merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998.

A number of measures are in place to protect the environment from spills and leakage. The oil tanks and associated equipment are enclosed within a physical containment barrier, known as a bund. As an additional precaution, the fuel connection points, pipe-work, valves, vent points, sight glass, rainwater sump, oil-water interceptors, and spillage kits are protected against the effects of ice.

Vehicle refuelling on the island is undertaken within the containment area. The refuelling pump is only operated by authorised personnel, and is locked when not in use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the effect on the Horserace Betting Levy of the operation of betting exchanges. (305287)

The Government have not made such an estimate. However, the Horserace Betting Levy Board informs me that the levy payable by betting exchanges is equivalent to 10 per cent. of their gross profits, defined as gross commission on British Horserace Betting Business deducted from winnings paid out to bettors and bet-takers. In the year ended 31 March 2009, Betfair also made a voluntary contribution to the Levy Board in respect of British Horserace Betting Business conducted by their off-shore website in Malta.

Betting exchanges operate a business model that does not deliver product through shops. When bookmakers accept risk on bets and do so in shops, liability to levy and gross profits tax is calculated without the deduction of overheads. This leads to a proportionately larger contribution to the levy than would be the case for a betting exchange.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people resident in (a) West Derbyshire and (b) the East Midlands have access to high-speed broadband. (303189)

I have been asked to reply.

The Next Generation Fund will help to bring fast broadband to at least 90 per cent. of households in the UK by 2017. The fund will promote the roll out of infrastructure that meets the needs of businesses and households in regions the market would not otherwise deliver to. It will work alongside the Government's Universal Service Commitment, a parallel infrastructure investment programme to ensure virtually every community has access to a broadband connection capable of providing at least 2Mbps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in his Department’s buildings in the last 12 months. (305687)

The Department has not refurbished or carried out any works to offices allocated to Ministers in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many plasma screen televisions his Department has purchased since 2001; and what the cost has been of purchasing and installing such screens in each such year. (306080)

Since 2001 my Department has purchased one plasma television screen at a cost of £2,715.31 inc VAT. The cost covered purchase and installation in June 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department received in 2008; and how many of these received a substantive response within 20 days. (305496)

The information is published regularly by Government, and can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at:

http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationquarterly.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Heritage Lottery Fund has made to (a) Blue Rubican, (b) Greenhause Communications and (c) Strategem in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contracts under which such payments have been made. (305139)

The information requested is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Heritage Lottery Fund, who have been unable to provide the information requested to the timescales dictated by parliamentary convention.

Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Gambling Commission has made to Grayling Political Strategy in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contracts under which such payments have been made. (305140)

The information the hon. Member has requested is not held centrally and is a matter for the Gambling Commission.

Accordingly, I have asked the responsible director to write to the hon. Member. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) scientific advisers and (b) civil servants in scientific posts there are in his Department. (302027)

DCMS has one chief scientific adviser who is a Senior Civil Servant, Director, and Board member. The chief scientific adviser leads a team of 15 civil servants working in a variety of scientific or research posts across the disciplines of economics, statistics, social or operational research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date he last travelled by (a) bus and (b) taxi in the course of his official duties. (302722)

26 November and 8 November respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments his Department has made to Edelman in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library copy of the contract under which such payments have been made. (305133)

No direct payments have been made to Edelman by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the last 12 months. However, Edelman was engaged through Central Office of Information to provide brand and event development support to the Creativity and Business International Network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Digital Switchover Help Scheme has made to Fishburn Hedges in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made. (305132)

The BBC is responsible for administering the Digital Switchover Help Scheme.

Accordingly I have asked the chief executive of the scheme to write to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the operating costs of the Gambling Commission were in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09; and what proportion of the change in costs is accounted for by the relocation of the Commission in Birmingham. (305119)

The Gambling Commission completed its move to Birmingham in July 2006. The total operating costs of the Commission were £6.645 million in 2007-08 falling to £5.027 million in 2008-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what value for money objectives his Department has set for the Gambling Commission. (305121)

The Gambling Commission’s performance is primarily assessed through a funding agreement with the Department which includes their agreed strategic objectives, together with funding and performance indicators/targets. They were set a target of achieving 3 per cent. value for money efficiency savings, year on year, over the period of the funding agreement 2008-09 to 2010-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the operation of the Gambling Commission with the recommendations of the Hampton Review of Regulation. (305118)

The Gambling Commission was the subject of a Hampton Implementation Review earlier this year which suggested that, if the Commission’s plans were implemented, it would be in a strong position to demonstrate the Hampton principles throughout its work. The implementation of those plans is a strategic objective in the Commission’s 2009 business plan and my officials and I meet the Commission on a regular basis to consider progress against all of the objectives in that plan. The Commission is making good progress on these measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on hotel accommodation for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in each of the last five years. (305665)

All travel is conducted in accordance with rules set out in the Department’s staff guide under travel and subsistence and is consistent with the civil service management code. Travel by Ministers is made in pursuance of their ministerial duties and complies with guidance set out in the Ministerial Code.

Expenditure on hotels is included within travel and subsistence claims made by Ministers and officials. The information is not held separately or analysed by the categories requested in the Department’s accounting system. It can be obtained by retrieving and manually analysing a large number of travel, subsistence and incidental expense claims only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of each response received to the licensing questionnaire which formed the basis for the Licensing Statistical Bulletin 2009. (304706)

Responses received to the licensing questionnaire which formed the basis for the Licensing Statistical Bulletin 2009 are available on the DCMS website:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6387.aspx

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the funds to be distributed from the National Lottery to good causes in each year to 2015; and if he will make a statement. (305356)

DCMS does not forecast future Lottery income, but we do issue projections of what income might be if total sales stay at approximately the last year’s level. The latest income projection issued to non-Olympic Lottery distributors in September 2009 was as follows:

The total income column is gross income, i.e. before the Olympic transfers are taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been distributed by the Big Lottery Fund to statutory bodies in each of the last five years. (305357)

The Big Lottery Fund has distributed funding to statutory bodies where they are best placed to deliver outcomes for communities and people most in need. The Big Lottery Fund does not fund statutory bodies’ core work nor does it substitute or replace statutory funding. Where BIG distributes funding to statutory bodies it is often on the precondition that they work in partnership with voluntary and community sector organisations.

The following table shows the amount awarded to statutory bodies across the UK by the Big Lottery Fund each full financial year since its inception on 1 June 2004.

Funding made through statutory bodies as third party award partners where the voluntary and community sector organisations are the direct beneficiary have not been included in these figures.

Amounts retained by the statutory third party award partner for administrative costs have been included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria his Department use in determining the award of contracts; and how much his Department has spent on the advertisement of tenders for Government contracts since 1997. (303136)

Other than minor purchases, the Scotland Office does not undertake discrete procurement or tendering projects. It utilises existing service contracts between suppliers and the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice. These awarding authorities would take the lead in such matters and would determine the criteria for the award of contract. The Office has not incurred any direct spend on the advertisement of tenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments the Northern Ireland Equality Commission has made to Stratagem in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made. (305162)

The sponsorship of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has budgeted for introducing police community support officers to Northern Ireland; and what the budgeted cost of one police officer in Northern Ireland was in the latest period for which figures are available. (302941)

The 2007 comprehensive spending review period (CSR07) runs to 31 March 2011. Based on current plans, the PSNI has not budgeted for the introduction of PCSOs in this period. This was agreed by the Chief Constable and the NI Policing Board in allocating resources for the CSR07 period. The budgeted cost of one police officer in Northern Ireland in 2009-10 is £45,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of introducing police community support officers in Northern Ireland. (302942)

The 2007 comprehensive spending review period (CSR07) runs to 31 March 2011. Based on current plans, the PSNI has not budgeted for the introduction of PCSOs in this period. This was agreed by the Chief Constable and the NI Policing Board in allocating resources for the CSR07 period. The estimated cost of one police community support officer in Northern Ireland is £27,000 per annum but the actual cost would depend on how they were introduced. Decisions on the introduction of PCSOs would be for the Chief Constable and Policing Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the level of illegally held (a) weapons and (b) explosives in Northern Ireland. (304592)

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has worked, and continues to work, to put the armaments of republican and loyalist terrorist groups beyond use. By their nature estimates of illegally held weaponry would be speculative and it is not Government practice to provide information on this basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions Capita Group plc tendered for contracts let by his Department in each of the last five years; how many such tenders were successful; how much his Department paid to Capita Group plc for the execution of contracts in each such year; how many contracts which terminate after 2010 Capita Group plc hold with his Department; and what the monetary value is of all outstanding contracts between his Department and Capita Group plc. (303156)

The core-Department does not hold centrally information on how many occasions Capita Group plc tendered for contracts let in each of the last five years and how many such tenders were successful. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. From information held centrally the expenditure with the Capita Group since 2005-06 is as follows:

From information held centrally the core-Department has no contracts which terminate after 2010. It is not possible to calculate the monetary value of all outstanding contracts between the core-Department and Capita Group plc because the contracts may vary in terms, length, services, costs and in the demands made upon them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK of the findings of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research report on Antarctic climate change and the environment. (304584)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government welcome this comprehensive and timely report from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) which has been circulated to all delegations ahead of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen for their consideration. Antarctica is an important barometer for global climate change and changes there will have far reaching impacts including on the UK. I congratulate all those involved in the SCAR report in particular those UK scientists, most notably from the British Antarctic Survey, who played a leading role. The Government are committed to the protection of the Antarctic environment and strongly support the Antarctic treaty and its environmental protocol. I recently launched for consultation the draft Antarctic Bill which will add to the protection we give to Antarctica. The report will be discussed in detail at the Antarctic treaty meeting of experts on climate change in April 2010 and also at the Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in Uruguay in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of maintaining his Department’s website in the 2008-09 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year. (302416)

Staff costs for the central team with responsibility for updating and maintaining DEFRA’s websites are estimated to be around £340,000 in the 2008-09 financial year, and the same in 2009-10. This central team is also responsible for the DEFRA intranet, and the staff costs for the external DEFRA website alone cannot be readily disaggregated.

Additional costs in 2009-10 of £71,149 have been incurred for specialist web design, audience research and web accessibility auditing relating to the relaunch of the DEFRA website in September 2009. This relaunch was the first significant investment in the DEFRA website since the creation of the Department in 2001, and work on it spanned two financial years. There are no such expenses currently planned for 2010-11.

Website hosting services—as well as a range of IT applications—are provided as part of DEFRA’s overall IT service provision and the costs of this aspect of website maintenance cannot be readily disaggregated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts his Department has with private hire taxi companies; and what expenditure his Department has incurred against each such contract in each of the last three years. (300832)

The core-Department has no contracts with private hire taxi companies. Paragraph 8.2 of the civil service management code requires staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances, taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities.

On expenditure, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) of 21 October 2009, Official Report, columns 1455-56W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on flood protection measures in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the City of York Council area in each year since 2000-01. (304591)

The following table provides an analysis of Government funding to the Environment Agency for flood risk management between 2000-01 and 2008-09.

The figures are based upon the annual report and accounts of the Environment Agency.

Until 2004-05 the flood risk management function of the Environment Agency was funded primarily through a combination of grants from DEFRA for specific projects and levies on local authorities.

Both forms of funding were largely replaced by grant in aid from DEFRA from 2004-05 onwards.

The following table shows the total expenditure of the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee in total and specifically on the City of York.