To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he intends to introduce a scheme to help farmers with the cost of removing illegally dumped motor vehicle tyres from agricultural land; [150810](2) if he will make a statement on the cost to farmers of removing illegally dumped motor vehicle tyres from agricultural land in the latest year for which figures are available. [150809]

I have been asked to reply.Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides the Environment Agency and local authorities with powers to require the removal of waste dumped in contravention of waste controls; or to remove it and recover their costs from those responsible. However, farmers of land which is the subject of fly-tipping cannot be required to remove the waste or to pay for its removal, unless they knowingly caused or permitted its dumping. We have no plans to introduce a scheme to pay the costs incurred by landowners in removing fly-tipped waste.However, the Fly Tipping Forum is addressing the problem of fly-tipping on farms; and has commissioned research to assess the problem's scale and associated costs. (The Environment Agency chairs the Forum and its members include the NFU and the Country Landowners Association.) It is anticipated that this research project will be completed later in the spring and the Forum will then consider its findings. The Department of Trade and Industry also chairs a joint Government/industry working group which is considering options for recycling tyres in the light of the Landfill Directive, which will ban their disposal in landfill sites.No data are currently held centrally on the cost to either local authorities or farmers of removing illegally dumped motor vehicle tyres.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Blackpool, South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [142229]

As most of my Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis, but not disaggregated further. However, farmers in the UK have benefited from this Government's policies to the tune of £1.2 billion since 2 May 1997 in addition to the figure of approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. Farmers in the Blackpool, South constituency will also have available to them all of the schemes available under the England Rural Development Programme, which is backed by funding of £1.6 billion over the period 2000–06. Three of the schemes within this programme—Rural Enterprise, Processing and Marketing, and Vocational Training—have a budget of around £190 million and are being operated on a regional basis; each region has its own allocation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his policy and corporate strategy unit was established; which of its reports are placed in the public domain; how many departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate in its work; how many regular (a) non-departmental and (b) departmental staff participate in its work; and how many of these work for the unit on a full-time basis. [150366]

The MAFF Policy and Corporate Strategy Unit was established in November last year. No departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate directly in the unit's work, but one of the departmental special advisers sits, alongside senior officials and a non-executive director of the MAFF management board, on the unit's steering board. This board is chaired by the permanent secretary and is intended to determine priorities for the unit's work.It is intended that the Policy and Corporate Strategy Unity will provide internal advice to Ministers and the permanent secretary. Typically, resulting reports would be placed in the public domain by the Department. No such reports have yet been produced by the unit.The unit currently has 10 full time members of staff, including three staff on loan from other Government Departments and Agencies. During the coming months its staff complement is expected to rise to approximately 15 full time staff.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what review has been carried out by his Department's officials in order that producers' organisations recognised prior to 1995 satisfy EC Regulation 1762/96; and if he will list the proportion of total production by weight, attributable to each producers' organisation for its economic area. [151536]

UK Fisheries Departments regularly review the status of producers' organisations in accordance with the provisions of EC Regulation 2939/94, as amended by EC Regulation 1762/96, to ensure that they still meet the recognition criteria. Under EC Regulation 2939/94 a producers' organisation must be responsible for at least 15 per cent. of the production in its area, or at least 30 per cent. of production in a major port in its area. Data from 1999, the latest date for which information is available, for the producers' organisations are set out as follows. It should be noted that the European Commission is currently reviewing the recognition criteria in respect of minimum levels of economic activity.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will place in the Library the Government's response to the questionnaire concerning the practical operation of the Hague Convention on Child Abduction and views on possible recommendations, drawn up by Mr. William Duncan, Deputy Secretary-General, and dated October 2000. [150890]

The response to the questionnaire on behalf of the Central Authority for England and Wales has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will name the remaining areas that will benefit from a new school sports co-ordinator from September 2001. [149399]

Twelve new areas in the second round of school sport co-ordinators were announced on 16 February. Fifty-five further appointments will be made in these new areas bringing the total number of school sport co-ordinators to 195.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the quality of sports facilities in primary schools. [149386]

There is need to improve sports facilities in many of our primary schools. Part of our plan to do this is the Space for Sport and the Arts initiative which will provide £130 million for capital projects in 65 LEAs benefiting about 300 schools. In addition, £580 million of New Opportunities Fund money will be invested in strengthening the foundation of sport across England by building and refurbishing PE and sports facilities in over 1,500 schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he is taking to ensure national lottery funds are distributed in a way that targets areas with the greatest social needs. [149393]

Following the 1988 reforms to the national lottery, distributors are required to take into account the need to ensure that all areas have access to funding and the scope for reducing economic and social deprivation. Since then, distributors have increasingly targeted funding on areas of need, on people and activities rather than just capital projects, and on small grants to community groups. All of this means that, more than ever, the communities with the greatest needs are experiencing the positive effects of national lottery funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much income for the Dome was generated through (a) merchandising aids and (b) royalties. [150937]

The figure provided by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is subject to the Company's necessary external audit scrutiny. That work will begin shortly and will inform the content of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The Report and Statements will be published in due course. NMEC has advised that income from merchandising was £2 million net, and from licensing was £0.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total expenditure was on staffing the Dome from the run up period to the opening until the closure, including the costs of terminating contracts. [150925]

The figure provided by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is subject to the Company's necessary external audit scrutiny. That work will begin shortly and will inform the content of the Company's Annual Reports and Financial Statements for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The Report and Statements will be published in due course. NMEC has advised that staffing expenditure for the period February 1997 to 31 December 1999 was £34.5 million. Staffing expenditure for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000 was £47.2 million including retention and bonus payments as provided for in staff contracts but excluding bonus payments to Directors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what revenue was received by NMEC from the catering arrangements at the Dome. [150924]

The figure provided by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is subject to the company's necessary external audit scrutiny. That work will begin shortly and will inform the content of the company's annual report and financial statements for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The report and statements will be published in due course. NMEC has advised that revenue received from the catering arrangements at the Dome was £2.3 million net.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the ticket revenue received from the Dome was. [150923]

The figure provided by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is subject to the company's necessary external audit scrutiny. That work will begin shortly and will inform the content of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The report and statements will be published in due course. NMEC has advised that ticket revenue received from the Dome was £58.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the expenditure on utilities was for the Dome until its closure. [150926]

The figure provided by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is subject to the Company's necessary external audit scrutiny. That work will begin shortly and will inform the content of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The Report and Statements will be published in due course. NMEC has advised that expenditure on gas, electricity and water to 31 December 2000 was £4.3 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date the £1 million sponsorship payment from the Hinduja foundation for the faith zone was received by the New Millennium Experience Company. [149220]

[holding answer 6 February 2001]: I understand from the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), that the Hinduja Foundation first approached NMEC in February 1997 about the possibility of incorporating the "Concordia Project" into the Dome. This was to be an interactive visitor education centre focusing on the world's different cultures. The agreement between NMEC and the Hinduja Foundation governing its £1 million financial support for the Faith zone was signed on 16 February 1999. The first payment of £100,000 was paid on 25 February 1999; the second payment of £450,000 was paid on 18 May 1999 and the final amount of £450,000 was paid on 23 August 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the combined total of students in further and higher education in each of the past five years was expressed as (a) total student enrolments in publicly funded institutions and (b) total full-time equivalents. [150118]

[holding answer 15 February 2001]: The information requested is contained in the tables.Higher education student numbers have steadily increased over recent years. Further education student numbers, on the other hand, have fallen slightly. The main reason for this is the large fall in franchised provision. Previous participation figures were artificially inflated by franchising, some of which offered courses of dubious value. I remain determined to raise student numbers in FE at the same time as I raise the quality of the provision on offer.

Table 1—headcount of student numbers in higher education		Thousands
Year	Number
1995–961	1,355
1996–971	1,382
1997–981	1,414
1998–991	1,442
1999–20002	1,461
1 Actual
2 Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the IT projects his Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if he will state in each case the (a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151476]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: The major information technology projects to be started in the next year are listed in the table.requirements of the new agency. This will occur over the coming months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151502]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: The major information technology-enabled projects currently being undertaken by the Department are listed in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have benefited from the New Deal, by parliamentary constituency, in Northern Ireland broken down by gender who are (a) young unemployed, (b) long term unemployed, (c) disabled and (d) lone parents. [151000]

This subject is a devolved matter. I refer my hon. Friend to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if fast-track teachers will be distributed proportionately between specialist and non-specialist schools; and if he will make a statement. [151133]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: Specialist and non-specialist schools will be able to create fast-track teaching posts. Fast-track teachers will not be distributed among schools; they will apply for these posts and be recruited in the usual way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what involvement he will have in the implementation of learning initiatives proposed by the Environment Agency in "The Business of Learning—Investing in a Sustainable Future". [150272]

[holding answer 15 February 2001]: I recently met Sir John Harman and colleagues to hear about their consultation on "The Business of Learning". The Environment Agency is proposing a number of initiatives building on its Pathfinder project and extending its involvement in sustainable development education. The Government's sustainable development education panel has already made a significant contribution towards raising the profile of sustainable development education in schools, further and higher education, and among the general public. I am considering with colleagues at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions the extent to which the proposals outlined in the consultation paper might complement the panel's work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what basis performance-related pay is awarded to those civil servants within his Department concerned with the outsourcing of LEA services. [150703]

DfEE staff up to and including Grade 6 have their performance assessed under the Department's Performance Management System and at the end of each year are awarded an overall performance marking. This performance marking determines the size of their pay increase. Better performance is rewarded with a higher pay increase than weaker performance. The details of these increases are negotiated annually with the unions.Members of the Senior Civil Service (SCS) (former Grade 5 and above) in DfEE have their performance assessed under the arrangements for the SCS Performance

Credit approvals allocated to Sefton local education authority (LEA)
Year/school	Project	Credit approval awarded £000
1997–98
LEA-wide allocation	Annual Capital Guideline settlement:
	Commitments arising from previous years	170
Details not readily available	Special Education Needs (SEN)	220
1998–99
LEA-wide allocation	Annual Capital Guideline settlement:
	Commitments arising from previous years	19
	Formula	1208
	Minor Works	160
Greenbank High	Enhance facilities for the teaching of languages	100
Green Park County Primary	Schools Access Initiative (SAI) project	2
Orrell County Primary	SAI project	4
Davenhill County Primary	SAI project	6
Grange County Primary	SAI project	5
Linaker County Primary	SAI project	3
Freshfield County Primary	SAI project	3
Crosby Road North County Primary	SAI project	5
Northway County Primary	SAI project	4
Manor High	SAI project	34
1999–2000
LEA-wide allocation	Annual Capital Guideline settlement:
	Commitments arising from previous years	1104
	Formula	1327
	Basic Need	1161
	SEN projects	187
	Minor Works	191
Netherton Moss County Primary	Surplus places removal	76
Redgate County Primary	Surplus places removal	33
Litherland Moss County Primary	Surplus places removal	92
Rowan Park Special	Alterations	217
Presfield Special	Alterations	40
Ronald House Special	Alterations	40
Greenacre Nursery	SAI project	1
Birkdale Community Primary	SAI project	10
Davenhill Community Primary	SAI project	18
Farnborough Road Community Infant and Junior	SAI project	21

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the credit approvals allocated to Sefton borough in each year from 1997 to 2004; and if he will specify the projects which received approvals and their associated cost. [151291]

The table lists credit approvals issued to Sefton local education authority for the financial years 1997–98 to 2001–02, and shows those schools for which the credit approvals were allocated, together with details of the projects supported, where this information is known. Credit approvals for local authorities for the years beyond 2001–02 have not yet been issued. Sefton local education authority will have had discretion as to the application of credit approvals to specific projects and will be able to provide more information about the individual projects which have been supported through credit approvals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the projects that (a) the New Deal for Schools programme and (b) Seed Challenge funding have supported in the borough of Sefton in each year since 1997; which it will support in each year up to 2004; and how much money (i) has been and (ii) will be allocated to each project. [151290]

The table shows those schools in the borough of Sefton which are benefiting from investment through the New Deal for Schools programme, allocated over the four years from 1997–98 to 2000–01. These allocations total £6.768 million. In the same period, Sefton local education authority has been allocated some £19.536 million of funding in total for capital investment in schools.A total of £196,000 of Seed Challenge funding was made available to Sefton local education authority in 2000–01. The authority will be able to provide a breakdown of individual projects and costings. 2000–01 is the first year in which Seed Challenge funding has been allocated to local education authorities.In January this year, we announced that the New Deal for Schools would be extended over the next three years to 2003–04. Allocations which will benefit schools in Sefton local education authority, announced in January 2001 under the New Deal for Schools, total £11.23 million over three years; of this, £1.89 million is for 2001–02, £3.69 million for 2002–03 and £5.65 million for 2003–04. This funding does not include the new £550 million New Deal for Schools Modernisation programme for which detailed allocations will be announced later this year.An increase in Seed Challenge funding was also announced in January 2001, with allocations to Sefton local education authority totalling £970,000 over the three

New Deal for Schools Allocation for schools in Sefton local education authority
Year/school	Project	Grant awarded (£)
1997–98
Included within an LEA-wide package:
Hillside High	Conversion and refit of laboratory	1836,000
Sacred Heart RC High	Refit of three science laboratories
Range High	Refit of three science laboratories
Christ The King RC High	Refit of two science laboratories
St. Winefride's RC Primary	Major structural repair due to ground subsidence
Litherland High	Replace felt roof
Maghull High	Replace felt roof
Ramborough Road Infant	Replace two classroom units
Lydiate County Primary	Demolition of reinforced concrete covered walkway
Grange County Primary	Wet rot repairs and external painting
1998–99
Litherland High	Heating repairs	55,850
Holy Trinity CE Primary	Rewiring	55,850
Holy Trinity CE Primary	Heating repairs	44,680
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary	Boiler replacement	44,680
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary	Replacement kitchen	112,310
St. Andrew's CE Primary	Rewiring	55,850
Ainsdale High	Fire safety improvements	11,549
Linacre Primary	Heating repairs	61,435
1999–2000
Churchtown School	Replace temporary accommodation	1,862,285
2000–01
Farnborough Road Infant and Junior, Bootle High, Christ the Church High	Boiler replacement	2368,283
Hillside High	Replace temporary classrooms	528,513
Forefield Infant	Replace temporary classrooms	513,231
Greenbank High	Replace temporary classrooms	424,253
St. Luke's Formby CE	Replace temporary classrooms	605,594
Melling Primary	Replace temporary classrooms	396,048
Forefield Junior	Replace temporary accommodation	393,539
Waterloo Primary	Replacement dining room	398,079
1Local education authorities (LEAs) were not required to specify individual project costs for phase 1 of the NDS programme, so the amount shown is the total allocation in that year to the LEA. Sefton local education authority holds project level information.
2 The total allocation made to package projects covering more than one school. Sefton local education authority will be able to advise the value of projects at schools which have benefited from these allocations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps have been taken to ensure that parents are notified that supply of emergency contraception will be permitted under a school's sex and relationships education policy; [151128](2) what steps he is taking to ensure that parents are properly consulted before a school adopts a policy of supplying emergency contraception; [151127](3) what estimate he has made of the number of schools which have made emergency contraception available to pupils. [151126]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: Our sex and relationship education guidance, published last July, clearly states that governing bodies and head teachers should consult parents in developing their sex and relationship education policy to ensure that they develop policies which reflect the parents' wishes and the

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142710]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member of Bath (Mr. Foster) on 15 February 2001, Official Report, columns 196–97. The information sought is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, what information is available was provided on that occasion.Advertising is used by the Ministry of Defence when it is judged to be the most cost-effective way of delivering the publicity necessary to support a policy or proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for (a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98, (g) 1998–99, (h) 1999–2000 and (i) 2000–01, (I) his Department's total spending on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and (II) the cost of each individual project. [146583]

As the modernising government White Paper set out, it is important to this Government that we listen to what people have to say about new proposals and policies. Quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces and other means are now an integral and important part of departmental work. Public opinion research spending, however, is subject to the usual strict rules that spending must represent good value for money for the taxpayer and must not be used for party political purposes.Information on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. These standard management tools are now employed across the Department and its many agencies.Information on task forces, reviews and ad hoc advisory groups is updated and published every six months by the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information regarding the decommissioning of Nancekuke is contained within the remaining documents held by the Government under the 30-year rule; and if he will place it in the Public Record Office; [148908]

It is not possible to identify the complete holding of records relating to defence activities at Nancekuke in the main MOD repository at Hayes without incurring disproportionate cost. All departmental records are reviewed under well-established procedures and those selected for public preservation are released in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958 and 1967.Following discussions between the Public Record Office (PRO) and the DERA site at Porton Down in the late 1990s, a collection of records that were over 30-years-old was identified and passed to the MOD's records authority for review in accordance with the procedures described above. The records from this collection that are selected for permanent preservation will be released to the PRO once the review process is complete. Some of these records make reference to the work at Nancekuke.As part of the programme of environmental surveys of RAF Portreath, which have been conducted by the RAF and an independent expert consultant, a number of records have been identified relating to the decommissioning of Nancekuke. It is envisaged that these records will be made available when the conclusions of the current environmental survey have been considered and made public. No decisions have yet to be taken on the need for possible remedial work at the site and I expect this work to reach a conclusion later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there were sufficient supplies of Mefloquine or equivalent anti-malarial drugs for members of the Parachute Regiment and other service personnel deployed to Sierra Leone in 2000; and if he will make a statement. [149885]

[holding answer 12 February 2001]: My Department had sufficient supplies of Mefloquine and other anti-malarial drugs to support deployments to Sierra Leone in 2000. There were no known problems in obtaining supplies, either at the start of Operation Palliser or on subsequent deployments. Some 200 Army personnel nevertheless deployed initially without anti-malarial tablets. An Army board of inquiry subsequently concluded that this was due to an oversight in their preparation for an unexpectedly rapid deployment. Within 24 hours of these personnel arriving in theatre, the French drug, Savarine, was procured locally and distributed. Steps were immediately taken to provide Mefloquine, the preferred anti-malarial treatment, from the UK and all personnel taking Savarine transferred to Mefloquine within four days. One other individual is known to have deployed without anti-malarials as a result of being temporarily absent from his unit on duty just prior to deploying and then fore missing the issue of Mefloquine. He was issued with Mefloquine as soon as the problem came to light between two to five days after his arrival in theatre.No anti-malarial drug is 100 per cent. effective and the degree of protection can be subject to a wide range of factors', for example, the geographical location, the season and the activities undertaken by the individuals concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what efforts are being made in negotiations with the preferred bidder for ro-ros to ensure that strategic sealift service vessels are crewed by UK officers and ratings; [150908](2) what progress has been made in the negotiations with the preferred bidder for the ro-ro ferries. [150903](3) if, in the event that negotiations with the preferred bidder for the ro-ros fails, the other short listed bidders remain available to continue the competition. [150902]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he established the Office for Standards of Casework; what its mission, purpose and objectives are; and if he will publish its key target; and achievement matrix. [151231]

The Office for Standards of Casework (Army) (OSC(A)) will be formally established by 2 April 2001. Work is currently in progress to develop its outline mission, purpose and goals.Its mission is to oversee the Army's casework processes in order to achieve the armed forces overarching personnel strategy (AFOPS) goals for discipline.OSC(A)'s purpose and primary function is to keep the Army's disciplinary and administrative casework processes under constant review and to propose measures that will ensure that these processes are working as efficiently as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what measures are taken by his Department to ensure that the medical records of members of the armed forces are not lost; [150262](2) what measures he takes to ensure that individual members of the armed services are not disadvantaged in the event of their medical records being lost. [150263]

[holding answer 14 February 2001]: Every care is taken in my Department to ensure that service personnel medical records are securely stored and not misplaced. A receipt note is used to cover the physical transfer of medical records, which is enclosed with the documents for immediate return by the receiving unit to the sending unit. In the event of a medical record going astray, it could be partially reconstructed from secondary sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the telephone and simcard of Juliet McBride are in the possession of the Ministry of Defence Police at Aldermaston; if the text and other messages have been transcribed or recorded; if the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police has appointed (a) a Ministry of Defence Police officer or (b) an officer from another force to investigate; and if he will make a statement. [151288]

On 18 January 2001, Ms McBride entered the AWE Aldermaston site without authorisation. She was approached and ejected by the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) officers. Subsequently, Ms McBride reported the loss of her mobile telephone while on the site. This was found in the MDP vehicle used when removing Ms McBride from AWE and was returned to its owner on 19 January 2001. The Deputy Chief Constable of the MDP has appointed a MDP Chief Superintendent to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recovery of Ms McBride's telephone. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment pending the results of this investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collated on the amounts of surplus halal slaughtered meat being sold in non-halal retail outlets. [147449]

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that information on the volumes of halal meat sold in non-halal outlets is not collected centrally. All meat, whether produced to halal requirements or not, must

Warrington Hospital NHS Trust
£000
	11996–97	11997–98	11998–99	11999–2000	22000–01
Revenue income
Total income from activities (Health Authorities etc.)	48,535	52,036	57,416	62,804	70,771
Percentage increase on income from activities	—	7.21	10.34	9.38	12.69
Other operating income	5,204	4,265	4,945	5.609	5,539
Total overall income	53,739	56,301	62,361	68,413	76,310
Percentage increase on total income	—	4.77	10.76	9.70	11.54
Capital allocations
Unconditional capital	1,309	1,309	1,047	1,117	1,151
Conditional capital schemes
Replacement angiographic equipment	560	—	—	—	—
Breast screening	—	65	65	—	—
Anaesthetic equipment	—	254	—	—	—
Neurophysiology	—	—	96	79	—
Daresbury unit	—	—	—	413	1,407
A&E 2nd round of modernisation	—	—	—	750	—
ICU bed	—	—	—	69	—
Critical care beds	—	—	—	—	500
Radiology	—	—	—	1,000	—
Action on cataracts	—	—	—	—	500
Action on other	—	—	—	—	90
Rapid access chest pain clinics	—	—	—	—	25
Capital project manager	—	—	—	—	35
Outpatient equipment	—	—	—	—	132
Sub-total conditional capital	560	319	161	2,311	2,689
Total all capital	1,869	1,628	1,208	3,428	3,840
1 Actual
2 Forecast

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Medical Research Council funded trial to compare sub-thalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease with best medical practice will treat all patients that have an unmet need for deep brain stimulation (a) as part of the trial and (b) outside the trial; and if he will make a statement. [151454]

A proposal for a large randomised long-term assessment of the relative effectiveness of

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the amount and (b) the purpose of each specific grant allocation made to Warrington Hospital since 1997. [149485]

[holding answer 8 February 2001]: The information requested is in the tables.surgery for Parkinson's disease patients is being considered by the Medical Research Council (MRC). The funding decision on this trial is due to be made by the MRC in March, following which the council would be happy to provide further details.I regret that in an Adjournment debate on Parkinson's disease on 2 February 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) have died while on the waiting list for an operation and (b) have been removed from the waiting list as a result of death in each of the last three years. [151606]

[holding answer 27 February 2001]: The Department does not collect statistics on the number of people who have died while on the waiting list for an operation or the number of people who have been removed from the waiting list as a result of death. Data are collected on how many patients are removed from the waiting list without being treated, but these are not broken down in to the reasons why.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many tankers registered in the United Kingdom have single hulls; and what percentage of the total this represents. [148401]

There are 26 single hulled tankers over 3,000 gross tons registered in the United Kingdom. This figure represents 86% of the total.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government decided to release commercially confidential information concerning the PPP bids for London Underground to Transport for London; and for what reason the Government did not do this previously. [150421]

Transport for London has had privileged access to information about the London Underground PPP from the beginning, consistent with the duties to consult and co-operate under the Greater London Authority Act 1999. My answer of 14 December 2000, Official Report, columns 201–02W, set out some of the commercially confidential information which had by that time been made available to Mr. Robert Kiley, the Commissioner of Transport for London. Since the agreement of 2 February between the Deputy Prime Minister and Mr. Kiley, there have been intensive discussions based on full access to information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Government's proposed PPP for the London Underground, if it is the Government's policy (a) to avoid splitting the operation of trains and the control of infrastructure as originally envisaged and (b) to ensure that London Underground management will have control over programmes for investment, renewal and maintenance of infrastructure, particularly with regard to their timing and priority. [150398]

The Government remain committed to securing the best option for long-term and stable investment in the Tube that combines value for money with maintaining and improving safety. We are in discussion with the Commissioner of Transport for London, Bob Kiley, on his proposals. Building on the work already done, we aim together to work out how best to accommodate his thinking within the current framework for the public private partnership competitions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much London Transport has spent to date on consultancy for the London Underground Public-Private Partnership. [151576]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on 30 November 2000, Official Report, column 757W. The Government will continue to provide six-monthly updates to Parliament on the cost of the consultancy work for the PPP and restructuring of London Underground.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the consultation document on changes to the exemptions from waste management licensing. [150452]

The recovery and disposal of waste are subject to control under the Framework Directive on waste; and the main method of control is a waste management licence under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, Article 11 of the Directive provides discretion for the provision of licensing exemptions, on the basis of "general rules" and subject to certain conditions. The main purpose of exemptions is to encourage waste recovery in ways which protect the environment and human health.We are currently reviewing several of the exemptions provided in regulation 17 of Schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. The review includes two exemptions subject to allegations of abuse (Schedule 3 paragraphs 9 and 19). We propose to tighten the terms of these, exemptions to preclude their use for "sham recovery", to set minimum inspection frequencies by the Environment Agency, and to introduce charges for their registration and inspection.We are also reviewing the exemptions for the landspreading of waste for

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will review the performance of Foundations responsible for co-ordinating the work of home improvement agencies. [150848]

My Department keeps the performance of Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies, under continuous review in accordance with the procedures established under the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department will be publishing figures on the performance of local home improvement agencies which are in receipt of funding from the Department. [150849]

Under the arrangements for funding home improvement agencies, local authorities are responsible for monitoring the performance of their local agency. The national co-ordinating body collects information on agencies' activities and outputs and, in respect of the current financial year, will be making it available for benchmarking purposes as soon as it has been collated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the guidelines for the monitoring of the performance of home improvement agencies. [150850]

The national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies, Foundations, completed the despatch of guidelines to local authorities and agencies on 20 February. I am arranging for copies to be sent to my hon. Friend and placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends to issue guidance to local education authorities prohibiting the use of vehicles (a) specifically designed to carry standing passengers and (b) without seatbelts, for the transportation of school children. [150806]

I have no plans to issue guidance to local education authorities prohibiting the use of vehicles specifically designed to carry standing passengers or those without seat belts for the transportation of school children. As I stated in my answer of 26 February 2001, Official Report, column 315W, it is ultimately for the schools and local education authorities to ensure the vehicles they will be using are appropriate for the type of journeys planned, and in so doing to take the safety benefits of seat belts into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he intends to introduce measures to reduce the number of illegally dumped motor vehicle tyres; [150807](2) if he will make a statement on the cost to local authorities of removing illegally dumped motor vehicle tyres for the last five years for which figures are available. [150808]

Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides the Environment Agency and local authorities with powers to require the removal of waste dumped in contravention of waste controls; or to remove it and recover their costs from those responsible. However, farmers of land which is the subject of fly-tipping cannot be required to remove the waste or to pay for its removal, unless they knowingly caused or permitted its dumping. We have no plans to introduce a scheme to pay the costs incurred by landowners in removing fly-tipped waste.However, the Fly Tipping Forum is addressing the problem of fly-tipping on farms; and has commissioned research to assess the problem's scale and associated costs. (The Environment Agency chairs the Forum and its members include the NFU and the Country Landowners Association). It is anticipated that this research project will be completed later in the Spring and the Forum will then consider its findings. The Department of Trade and Industry also chairs a joint Government/Industry working group which is considering options for recycling tyres in the light of the Landfill Directive, which will ban their disposal in landfill sites.No data are currently held centrally on the cost to either local authorities or farmers of removing illegally dumped motor vehicle tyres.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to ensure flight security for cabin crew. [150644]

The Civil Aviation Act 1982 and the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995 provide strong powers for dealing with passengers who threaten the safety or personal security of cabin crew or passengers. New powers were introduced in 1999 to ensure that anyone using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour towards cabin crew or intentionally interfering with the crew during their duties can be punished. The effectiveness of existing measures to deal with disruptive incidents is monitored by the Disruptive Passengers Working Group, which is made up of representatives from Government, the Civil Aviation Authority, the airline industry, the police and other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the (a) contribution to road safety, (b) recruitment, remuneration and retention and (c) extension of responsibilities to include assistance to people with disabilities of school crossing wardens. [150710]

The Government fully recognise that school crossing patrols provide a valuable service to local communities, making it safe and easier for children, parents and other pedestrians to cross busy roads. However, questions as to where they should be provided and to the terms and conditions of employment of the patrol officers, are a matter for individual local authorities. My Department has made no centralised assessment of such matters.Recent amendments to previous legislation, through the Transport Act 2000, have given school crossing patrols wider powers. When in operation, they now have authority to help anyone who seeks their assistance in crossing the road, and not just children on their way to or from school.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the compatibility of the stated purpose of the South Coast multi-modal study and the consideration of the construction of bypasses for Hastings. [150875]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: The Access to Hastings study reported in November 2000 and considered how transport can contribute to regenerating the local economies in Bexhill and Hastings.The South Coast multi-modal study is currently out to tender, and aims to investigate congestion, safety and environmental problems on the south coast between Southampton and Ramsgate. The study is strategic in nature and will take into account the Access to Hastings Final Report and decisions by Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the system of business rates. [151279]

In September we published our Green Paper "Modernising Local Government Finance". It detailed a number of proposals relating to business rates including a supplementary local rate and rate relief for small businesses. The consultation period ended on 8 December. We are now considering the many responses we have received. We will publish our conclusions in a White Paper later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the meeting between the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, the right hon. Member for North-West Durham (Ms Armstrong) and leading members of the Town and Country Finance Issues Group concerning the Green Paper on local government finance will take place. [151132]

We have no record of a formal request for a meeting from the leading members of Town and Country Finance Issues Group. If I receive such a request I would be happy to consider it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures he has established for auditing the quantities of recyclable material eligible for packaging recovery notes and packaging export recovery notes; and if he will make a statement. [150975]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: Only packaging waste handled by accredited reprocessors and exporters is eligible for packaging recovery or packaging export recovery notes. In England and Wales the accreditation is overseen by the Environment Agency, to whom those who are accredited are required to send information regularly on the quantities handled. Accredited reprocessors are subject to an annual inspection at the time of making their application for accreditation. Accredited reprocessors must submit quarterly returns to the Environment Agency and the Agency also makes periodic inspections, some of which are unannounced, to premises to check this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of packaging export recovery notes on the use of recyclate by British manufacturing industry; and if he will make a statement. [150974]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: No assessment of this kind has been done to date. However, in the first three quarters of 2000, 93 per cent. of packaging recycled has been recycled in the UK; with the remainder being exported for recycling. Since the packaging regulations came into force, the UK has increased its packaging recovery rate from some 30 per cent. in 1997 to just under 40 per cent. at the end of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much his Department spent in the last year on raising public consciousness concerning the value of recycling; [151320](2) what steps he is taking to improve public awareness of the cost of waste disposal and the importance of recycling. [151316]

Prime activity to raise public awareness of waste reuse and recycling is taken forward under my Department's "are you doing your bit?" publicity campaign, which aims to persuade people to take action to protect the environment. This campaign, which is receiving funding of £9 million in this financial year covers transport, climate change, waste and water conservation. Approximately 15 per cent. of campaign expenditure is devoted to waste issues. Examples of "are you doing your bit?" waste campaign activity are at www.useitagain.org.uk and www.doingyourbit.org.uk, which I commend to the House.In addition, my Department is providing core funding of £3.7 million to the environmental charity ENCAMS (incorporating Tidy Britain Group and Going for Green), who primarily focus their waste promotional activity around a waste theme month in October. Environmental Action Fund grants totalling approximately £415,000 are also being paid to 13 charities in this financial year to support various waste/recycling projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve the level of recycling in the United Kingdom. [151353]

Waste Strategy 2000 set out targets for doubling the recycling or composting of household waste in three years and nearly tripling it in five years. These targets will be underpinned by statutory performance standards for each local authority under the Best Value regime. It also set a target of reducing the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill by 2005, to 85 per cent. of that landfilled in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what incentives his Department plans to introduce to assist in the production of community recycling programmes. [151317]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in his speech of 24 October a further £50 million from the New Opportunities Fund to support community recycling initiatives for up to 700,000 households.We will shortly issue guidance to English local authorities on Municipal Waste Management Strategies, which will make it clear that we expect such strategies to include the authorities' plans for partnerships with local community groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the contracts that exist between Serco and his Department, its executive agencies and associated public bodies; and if he will list those which have existed in the last three years. [151337]

The following are current contracts between Serco and DETR, its executive agencies and major associated public bodies:

• Refuse Collection Service, Canterbury Driving Test Centre;
• Integrated Telesales Facility for DVLA;
• Additional Message Sign Sub-System and Maintenance of Motorway Communication Equipment;
• Midlands Network and Customer Services (West Midlands) Maintenance Contract;
• National Motorway Communications System (NMCS) Software Maintenance;
• Maintenance of Automatic Traffic Counting Equipment for London.

The following are contracts which have been completed during the last three years:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received concerning the planning application relating to Woodfold Hall and Park, Mellor near Blackburn. [151551]

The Secretary of State has received representations from eight interested parties since he called-in the three applications relating to Woodfold Hall and Park on 15 December 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Norwich, North constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [151140]

Norwich, North constituency has benefited from a range of Government initiatives since 2 May 1997 including:

Capital allocations for housing
Year	£ million
1997–98	5.39
1998–99	7.93
1999–2000	7.76
2000–01	9.17
2001–02	12.95

By 2001–02 the resources made available to Norwich city council's housing investment programme will have more than doubled since the Government came to power. In 2001–02 £9.68 million of the allocation is in the form of the Major Repairs Allowance (MRA), paid as revenue, reflecting a shift to providing resources specifically for the cost of works to maintain council housing. It is for the local authority to determine where within its boundaries these resources are invested; it is therefore not possible to give precise amounts used within the Norwich, North constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce a licensing system for houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement. [151554]

As we indicated in our Housing Policy Statement, we remain committed to introducing a compulsory licensing system for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding allocations his Department has made to the London borough of Camden to support those in temporary housing in each year since May 1997. [150977]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: There has been no specific allocation of funding from this Department to support those in temporary housing in the London borough of Camden. It is for local authorities to decide how they should allocate the resources they receive from the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources have been allocated by his Department to the London borough of Camden through regeneration initiatives since May 1997. [150979]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: Since 1997 to date, the London borough of Camden has been allocated £58.599 million for regeneration schemes. These resources have been spread over the following five schemes, two of which have been co-ventures with the neighbouring boroughs of Brent and Islington:

Scheme	£ million
Kings Cross	37.5
West Euston	6.5
All Change at Camden Central	7.0
New Commitment to Kilburn (Brent and Camden)	6.599
Young People, Drugs and Crime in Gospel Oak (Islington and Camden)	1.0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources have been invested by his Department in (a) local authority housing and (b) social housing in the London borough of Camden since May 1997. [150978]