To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work of her Department in improving access to justice in Nigeria. [6346]

I have this month approved a £30 million programme to support Nigerian Government efforts, at both federal and state level, to enable poor people to obtain rapid and fair justice. This involves the whole justice system—courts, police, prisons, legal aid, and traditional and informal mediation. We plan to implement this programme particularly in the four states in which our programmes are focused. These are Benue, Ekiti, Jigawa and a state in the south-east yet to be selected. Jigawa State announced last August that it will apply Shari'a criminal law. We will ensure that the assistance programme is taken forward in all four states in ways that uphold international human rights standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's assistance to (a) Botswana and (b) Namibia. [4279]

In Botswana, DFID is supporting programmes in rural livelihoods, education and HIV/AIDS. In Namibia, DFID is supporting programmes in rural livelihoods, education and health. In the financial year 2000–01, DFID provided around £2.5 million of assistance directly to Botswana and £2.6 million to Namibia in addition to our contributions through multilateral agencies.Over the next few years, DFID will be subsuming its bilateral programmes in Botswana and Namibia within a more regional approach to poverty elimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what are the terms of reference for the Green Minister in her Department; and if she will make a statement; [3984](2) on what date a Green Minister was first appointed in her Department; when subsequent appointments were made; and if she will make a statement. [3970]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 13 July 2001, Official Report, column 690W.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if officials in her Department have been disciplined for passing documents relating to Michael Ashcroft and his activities in Belize to The Times and The Guardian in July 1999 and December 2000. [4056]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when KPMG sent letters to (a) Carlisle Holdings and (b) Sonisa during its study commissioned by her Department to review the regulation of offshore financial services in Belize and the effect of tax exemptions on pro-poor programmes; if she will place copies of these letters in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [4058]

I understand that KPMG wrote to Carlisle Holdings on 25 August in response to their letters of 10 and 18 August 2000. I am not aware of any KPMG correspondence with Sonisa. The correspondence is private to the parties concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress she plans to make with the process of debt relief at the G8 Summit in Genoa. [2291]

To date, 23 countries have qualified for exceptional debt relief under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Relief totalling more than $53 billion will be provided to these countries, reducing their debts by more than two-thirds on average, and freeing up resources for spending on poverty reduction. At the G8 summit in Genoa, we will be urging our partners to push forward with implementation of the HIPC initiative, so that more countries will qualify for relief. However, making substantial progress will be difficult, as many of the remaining HIPC countries are affected by conflict.Debt relief is only one part of what will be required by developed and developing countries alike if poverty is to be reduced and the International Development targets set for 2015 to be met. The Italian Government, which hold the Presidency of the G8 in 2001, have already issued a paper to be discussed at the Genoa summit entitled "Beyond Debt Relief"—which sets out some of the other key areas in which progress needs to be made: trade reform, generating investment and improving the quantity and quality of spending on health and education. These are all important issues for poverty reduction which can be taken forward effectively at international level through the G8 forum.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list, for each of the last three years, the deals established by the Commonwealth Development Corporation broken down by (a) country and (b) project. [2285]

The table summarises the number of deals completed by CDC in 1998, 1999 and 2000, distinguished by country. These include those where deals had previously been made in the same project.

Country	1998	1999	2000
Africa (pan)	1	0	1
Argentina	0	0	2
Asia Pacific (pan)	0	0	1
Bangladesh	0	1	0
Barbados	0	1	0
Belize	2	3	1
Bolivia	2	1	2
Caribbean	0	1	1
China	0	0	2
Costa Rica	5	4	4
Cote d'Ivoire	1	1	0
Cuba	1	1	0
Dominican Republic	2	1	3
Ecuador	0	1	0
El Salvador	0	0	1
Ghana	1	3	1
Guatemala	0	0	1
Guyana	0	1	0
India	8	0	0
Indonesia	0	3	2
Jamaica	0	1	0
Kenya	4	1	3
Malawi	0	1	0
Mauritius	1	0	0

	2001			1997
District council	Number of spoilt votes	Percentage of total vote	Total votes polled	Number of spoilt votes	Percentage of total vote	Total votes polled
Derry	1,390	2.81	49,435	939	2.23	42,145
Limavady	239	1.55	15,455	193	1.45	13,287
Coleraine	491	1.97	24,986	348	1.80	19,314
Ballymoney	268	2.09	12,826	182	1.88	9,681
Moyle	187	2.51	7,438	126	2.03	6,201
Larne	342	2.42	14,161	236	2.37	9,938
Ballymena	510	1.74	29,346	403	1.76	22,942
Magherafelt	429	1.87	22,882	326	1.60	20,371
Cookstown	360	1.89	19,086	307	1.72	17,900
Strabane	457	2.08	21,919	352	1.80	19,587
Omagh	599	2.20	27,233	575	2.51	22,920
Fermanagh	650	1.98	32,837	505	1.72	29,329
Dungannon	497	1.74	28,491	409	1.64	25,008
Craigavon	988	2.43	40,633	573	1.84	31,076
Armagh	552	1.81	30,514	386	1.45	26,553
Newry and Mourne	1,263	2.70	46,829	943	2.49	37,899
Banbridge	329	1.57	20,897	220	1.35	16,275
Down	677	2.22	30,560	383	1.65	23,192
Lisburn	1,085	2.27	47,844	575	1.75	32,780
Antrim	501	2.42	20,739	258	1.78	14,523
Newtownabbey	938	2.61	35,973	437	1.86	23,473
Carrickfergus	376	2.38	15,794	177	1.61	10,960
Northdown	782	2.35	33,279	360	1.88	19,167
Ards	652	2.88	22,606	405	2.02	20,004
Caslereagh	809	0.57	31,491	432	2.03	21,265
Belfast	4,106	3.25	126,294	2,948	2.69	109,402
Total	19,477	2.41	809,548	12,998	2.01	645,192

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many spoiled ballot papers there were in each district council area in Northern Ireland in the (a) most recent and (b) 1997 local elections. [3413]

The number of spoilt ballot papers received in each district council area in Northern Ireland in the (a) latest and (b) 1997 local elections are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many spoiled ballot papers were received in each constituency in Northern Ireland at the (a) 2001 and (b) 1997 general elections. [3414]

	2001			1997
Constituency name	Number of spoilt votes	Percentage of total vote	Total votes polled	Number of spoilt votes	Percentage of total vote	Total votes polled
Belfast, North	377	0.91	41,309	128	0.31	41,580
Belfast, South	233	0.61	38,185	244	0.61	39,728
Belfast, East	202	0.55	37,031	125	0.32	39,154
Belfast, West	716	1.72	41,698	238	0.52	46,123
North Antrim	328	0.66	36,327	115	0.25	46,301
South Antrim	196	0.44	44,354	148	0.37	40,343
East Antrim	327	0.98	40,268	90	0.26	34,437
East Londonderry	399	0.99	49,545	112	0.29	38,214
Foyle	495	1.00	49,374	219	0.25	48,034
Lagan Valley	281	0.61	46,222	133	0.46	44,443
Upper Bann	339	0.66	51,376	120	0.30	47,907
South Down	574	1.09	52,648	248	0.25	49,734
Newry and Armagh	587	1.04	56,208	228	0.43	53,503
Mid-Ulster	452	0.90	50,388	154	0.30	50,823
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	693	1.32	52,667	377	0.77	48,667
West Tyrone	434	0.89	48,964	260	0.56	46,535
North Down	188	0.50	37,377	97	0.26	36,653
Strangford	217	0.50	43,471	87	0.20	41,703
Total	7,038	0.86	817,412	3,120	0.39	793,882

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to publish Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary 2000–01 report on the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [5971]

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) 2000–01 report will be published on Tuesday 14 August 2001. Copies of the report will be placed in the House of Commons Library. The report will also be available to the public from that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the prison population in Northern Ireland was on (a) 7 June 2001 and (b) 22 May 1998. [3395]

The prison population in Northern Ireland on 7 June 2001 was 913 prisoners and on 22 May 1998 was 1,527 prisoners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers he has to prosecute a civilian found (a) to be in possession of or (b) to have fired a stun grenade. [1230]

Dependent upon the precise circumstances of the case, a civilian would be likely to be prosecuted under Article 6 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Other Articles of the Order might also be relevant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the report

The number of spoiled ballot papers received in each constituency in Northern Ireland at the (a) 2001 and (b) general elections are:of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on the recording of the use of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland. [1117]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland wrote to the Chief Commissioner on 12 June acknowledging receipt of the report. The Secretary of State assured the Commission that the Chief Constable would consider the recommendations carefully and where appropriate take the necessary action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Secretary of State for Scotland in order to discuss inter-regional road infrastructure. [3168]

I have had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland on inter-regional road infrastructure since this is a devolved matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the criteria adopted by the Government for deciding which parties should be invited to participate in the Weston Park talks; and if he will make a statement. [4106]

The talks hosted by the British and Irish Governments at Weston Park concerned the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, and it was therefore appropriate to invite representative of all the parties to the Agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the people invited to participate in the talks at Weston Park during the week beginning 8 July. [4107]

The British and Irish Governments invited representatives of the parties to the Belfast Agreement to participate in the talks at Weston Park held during 8–13 July. The parties invited to send representatives were:

• the Ulster Unionist Party;
• the Social Democratic and Labour Party;
• Sinn Fein;
• the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland;
• the Progressive Unionist Party;
• the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition;
• the Ulster Democratic Party.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last travelled on the London Underground in the course of his official duties. [3680]

I travel by the most efficient and cost effective mode of transport, subject to security considerations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many additional appointments are to be made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and on what date these appointments will be made. [2250]

Further appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be made as soon as possible, and by the end of the summer. The response to the advertisements was very high (over 500 applications were received) so the process has taken longer than expected. The number of appointments is still to be determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the extent to which the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission can extend its powers under the Paris Principles of 1991. [2251]

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's powers and duties are set out in section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Under sub-section 69(2) of that Act, the Commission is required to make recommendations to the Secretary of State about how its effectiveness might be improved; the adequacy and effectiveness of the functions conferred on it; and the adequacy and effectiveness of the provisions of that part of the Act relating to the Commission. The Secretary of State received these recommendations in March of this year and they are currently under consideration. The Secretary of State will respond formally in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures will be taken to ensure that disabled voters have easy access to polling stations before the next Assembly elections. [4558]

Polling station schemes are a matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. However, I am aware that he takes his responsibilities on access very seriously. The Chief Electoral Officer is a designated public authority for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. He is currently drawing up an equality scheme which will be put out for public consultation. I know that he will ensure every reasonable measure is taken in providing access for the disabled voter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors underlay the time taken to bring forward the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill. [3167]

The Government have broadly welcomed the report by the Criminal Justice Review Group, which produced 294 recommendations for change across the criminal justice system.Detailed preparation of the draft legislation and an implementation plan, which will be published for consultation, is well advanced. Subject to the outcome of consultation, the Government expect to introduce a draft Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill in Parliament this Session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to extend legislation on racially motivated crime to Northern Ireland. [1074]

The provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which created categories of racially motivated offences were not extended to Northern Ireland. The Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, however, makes provision for a range of offences of stirring up hatred or arousing fear on religious or racial grounds. In response to approaches that have been made in recent months, it is our intention to conduct a consultation exercise later this year to consider how best to legislate in Northern Ireland against race crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to monitor sentencing of individuals according to (a) perceived community origin, (b) ethnic origin, (c) gender, (d) sexual orientation and (e) disability. [1073]

Some information is already available on sentencing trends according to gender. The Government are committed to developing a strategy for equity monitoring the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland as it affects different categories of people, while ensuring that such monitoring does not compromise judicial independence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure the records of the Patten Commission, the written submissions made to it and the transcripts of oral hearings are (a) made available to researchers and (b) archived for historians. [1224]

After the Commission reported in September 1999, it arranged for the research material and the records of the oral submissions to be placed in the Linenhall Library in Belfast. On written submissions, the Commission placed an advertisement in the main Northern Ireland newspapers in October 1999 advising the public that private or personal submissions which had been made to it would be destroyed. Other written submissions which were made to the Commission were passed to the Northern Ireland Office and will be made available in accordance with usual public record requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each week from Monday 23 July to Monday 8 October which departmental Ministers will be on duty (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in London. [4902]

Throughout the summer break, a Minister will be on duty for the Department, in line with para. 68 of the current Ministerial Code.

To ask the Solicitor-General when the Director of the Serious Fraud Office intends to publish her annual report. [6043]

I can confirm that I have today placed copies of the annual report in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Solicitor-General when the Director of Public Prosecutions will publish his annual report. [6044]

I can confirm that I have today placed copies of the annual report in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evaluation methods are in place for projects designed to nurture sporting talent among young people competing at a national level, with special reference to cricket, rugby and tennis; and what results evaluations have shown about the success of such projects. [4592]

The lottery funded World Class Potential and World Class Start programmes administered by Sport England are designed to support and nurture talented English athletes.The World Class Potential programme aims to assist the development of talented athletes with the potential to win medals, or equivalent, in significant future international competitions and events within the next eight years (2 Olympic Cycles). The World Class Start programme aims to identify and nurture a specific number of English athletes who have the necessary characteristics to achieve future World Class success.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the Gambling Review, chaired by Sir Alan Budd, to report. [5878]

The report was laid before Parliament and published on 17 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she will take to implement the recommendations by the Gaming Board for Great Britain on the stakes and prizes in gaming machines. [6350]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have considered the Board's recommendations very carefully. We are grateful to them and to the industry associations for the work which has gone into their proposals.We have also had to bear in mind the proposals for the far-reaching changes to the current law on gambling regulation which have been made by the independent review body chaired by Sir Alan Budd. This makes specific recommendations about the level of stakes and prizes in gaming machines. In laying the report before the House on 17 July, my right hon. Friend made clear her wish to undertake public consultations on the report before reaching firm decisions. For this reason, and bearing in mind that there are substantial points of difference between the two sets of recommendations, we do not propose to take any action to give effect to the Gaming Board's proposals before the consultations have been concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on the historic environment and the English Heritage document "Power of Place"; and if she will make a statement. [6349]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and I will issue a statement setting out the Government's vision for the historic environment and how we intend to work towards it. We will publish the statement in the autumn. Copies will be available from my Department at 2–4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH and from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions at Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU, and will be available at the Department's website at www.culture.gov.uk and www.dtlr.gov.uk. Copies will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Government will appoint the Chair of the Office of Communications. [6351]

It depends on the passage of the Office of Communications Bill. The Government do not intend to appoint the Chair of OFCOM before Spring 2002 at the earliest. This means that the process of appointing the rest of the Board of OFCOM for its preparatory work could not be completed before the summer of 2002.

To ask the President of the Council what progress has been made in setting up the Speaker's Advisory Panel. [6352]

Following the debate in the House on 5 July 2001, I am pleased to announce that the Speaker has appointed to the Advisory Panel the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Allan), my hon. Friends the Members for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) and for Streatham (Keith Hill), the hon. Members for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) and for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin), my hon. Friends the Members for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) and for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg), as well as the Director of Finance and Administration, the Head of the Fees Office and the Director of Communications. It is hoped that the first meeting of the panel will be held soon.

To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with the US Administration in relation to the US Export Administration Act in the past four years; and if he will make a statement. [3741]

I have had no contact with the United States Administration in relation to the US Export Administration Act in the past four years.

To ask the Prime Minister what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and if he will make a statement. [6182]

I have asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a further project looking at how to improve the Government's management of risk.Effective management of a wide range of risks is essential both for the delivery of improved public services and for the achievement of the Government's wider goals.

To ask the Prime Minister what effect the abolition of the Office Costs Allowance will have on the Public Duties Allowance payable to former Prime Ministers. [6187]

The Public Duties Allowance can be claimed by former Prime Ministers for expenses incurred for their continuing work for the public service and charity. The allowance, which was formerly linked to the Office Costs Allowance, will from 5 July 2001 be set at the same level as the ceiling under the new centralised arrangements for the payment by the House Authorities of the support and secretarial staff of Members of Parliament with London constituencies. This is currently £70,000.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has received the fourth report of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. [6188]

The Committee has submitted its fourth report to me. Since 1975 the Committee has advised the Prime Minister of the day on the propriety of any business appointments that Crown servants take up when they leave Crown service. Following a recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, it also provides advice directly to former Ministers on their business appointments. I am grateful to the Committee for all their work on this. This report gives an account of their work in 2000–01. I have today placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Prime Minister when he will respond to the Intelligence and Security Committee's interim report for 2000–01 [6190]

I have today laid the Government response to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report before Parliament.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Cabinet champion for children; and if he will establish an inter-ministerial group on children. [4922]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 10 July 2001, Official Report, column 452W. The terms of reference of the Cabinet Committee on Children and Young People's Services are to co-ordinate policies to prevent poverty and underachievement among children and young people, co-ordinate and monitor the effectiveness of delivery and work with the voluntary sector to build a new alliance for children.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the responsibilities of departmental Ministers for reducing poverty following the reorganisation of Government Departments. [3943]

The Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury share a joint PSA target to reduce the number of children in poverty by at least a quarter by 2004.Specific responsibilities for poverty and social exclusion are held by Baroness Hollis of Heigham and the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Malcolm Wicks). Other Ministers are involved where it is appropriate.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the breakdown of responsibilities of Ministers and Government Departments for electoral systems and electoral arrangements in the UK relating to elections for (a) councils, (b) the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, (c) the European Parliament and (d) the House of Commons, with particular reference to consideration of proposals for review and reform. [5063]

Overall responsibility for electoral law for the UK rests with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The law relating to European parliamentary elections, Westminster parliamentary elections and the National Assembly for Wales is wholly the responsibility of DTLR. Elections to the Scottish Parliament are the joint responsibility of DTLR and the Scotland Office. Council elections in England and Wales are the responsibility of DTLR. Council elections in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.The relevant Ministers are: in DTLR, Mr. Stephen Byers, Mr. Nick Raynsford and Dr. Whitehead; in the Northern Ireland Office, Mr. Browne; and in the Scotland Office, Mrs. Helen Liddell.Council elections in Scotland are devolved and therefore a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received calling for suspension of the marketing consent for the Aventis genetically modified maize, known as T25. [5651]

I have received a large number of cards and letters, which have been passed to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government's support for an opt-out procedure for unsolicited commercial e-mails in the revised Telecommunications Data Protection Directive (com2000/189) extends to electronic messages, including (a) short messaging service, (b) mail to WAP phones and (c) other forms of electronic messaging; and what remedies she proposes for the consequent costs incurred by consumers. [3243]

The proposed Communications Data Protection Directive treats all forms of electronic messaging, including text messages to mobile phones, as e-mails, for the purposes of regulatory controls on unsolicited commercial communications.The UK Government have argued that member states should be allowed to choose between opt-in and opt-out controls on unsolicited commercial e-mail. This approach allows an assessment of the situation in the light of working experience of both approaches by the deadline for implementing the new directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the criteria used to apportion to the regional development agencies the money for regeneration of fishing communities announced in April. [4874]

RDAs were awarded £120,000 for each port in their region affected by the recent fishing quota reductions. This accounted for £3,840,000 of the £5,500,000 budget. The remaining £1,660,000 was distributed in proportion to the weight of the catch at these ports.Each RDA has been given freedom to decide how best to direct funding to help with the regeneration of fishing communities in their regions. There is no compulsion to spend specific sums in specific ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if consultants have been employed to undertake a pay and grading exercise in the Insolvency Service. [5870]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings she has had with the Small Business Council since 1997; and what response she has made to the recommendations contained in the SBC's first annual report. [5367]

The then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I attended the first Small Business Council (SBC) meeting in May 2000. Since then my right hon. Friend and I have had several meetings with William Sargent, Chairman of the SBC. William Sargent met me and presented the first Annual Report of the SBC to me on 12 July 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements she intends to make for awarding licences for broadband fixed wireless access at 28 GHz that remained unsold after last November's spectrum auction. [5973]

I intend to make available in September all of the licences that remained unsold after last year's auction. This will allow the provision of competitive services throughout the UK.The key features of the award process will be:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Coal Authority's report and accounts for 2000–01 will be laid before Parliament. [5974]

I have today laid a copy before each House of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. [5976]

The ACAS Report for 2000–2001 is being laid before both Houses of Parliament today. Copies are available from the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received the annual reports for 2000 from the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors under Part II of the Companies Act 1989; and if she will make a statement. [5972]

I have received the annual reports for the year 2000 from the five recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors: a combined report from the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and one each from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Government will take to ensure that the new electricity trading arrangements do not penalise CHP and renewable generators. [5184]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 18 July 2001, Official Report, columns 263–64W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of bills were paid on time by Government Departments and their agencies during the financial year 2000–01. [5975]

I am today publishing tables setting out the payment performance of Government Departments and their Agencies in the financial year 2000–01. The publication of these tables is part of our commitment to tackle late payment and improve the UK's payment culture. We are determined that the public sector should lead by example.Government Departments and Agencies are required to pay all valid invoices within 30 days, or other agreed credit period. The tables show that, overall, Government Departments and their Agencies paid 96.80 per cent. of bills within the agreed credit period.

Annex B
Percentage
Main departments	Paid on time
National Investment and Loans Office	100
Privy Council Office	99.86
Registry of Friendly Societies	99.8
Office of Water Services	99.75
Scotland Office	99.7
Department for National Savings	99.6
Land Registry	99.5
Public Records Office	99.2
HM Treasury	99.09
Ordnance Survey	99.06
Ministry of Defence	98.67
Inland Revenue	98.65
Office of Telecommunications	98.64
Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce	98.62
Export Credits Guarantee Department	98.5
Health and Safety Executive	98.40
Northern Ireland Office	98.1
Electoral Commission	98
Government Actuary's Department	97.85

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the outcome of the first stage of the quinquennial review of the six grant-awarding research councils will be announced; and what its principal recommendations are. [5978]

I am today able to announce the outcome of the first stage of the quinquennial review of the six grant-awarding Research Councils. I shall be placing a copy of the stage 1 report in the Libraries of both Houses.Quinquennial reviews of Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are a key part of our programme to modernise Government. The Government are committed to achieving better public services that are of higher quality and are more responsive to the needs of the people who use them. Regular NDPB reviews are an important element in ensuring that we have in place the right structures to deliver the Government's agenda effectively and to provide a strong focus on improving future performance. Under Cabinet Office guidance (31 January 2000), such reviews should be conducted in two stages.The terms of reference for this review set the following objectives:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the regional development agencies have prepared annual reports and accounts for 2000–01; and if she will make a statement. [5977]

The Regional Development Agencies' annual reports and accounts for 2000–01 have been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. These cover the period from 1 April 2000 through to 31 March 2001. The Government welcome the continued progress made by Agencies in improving the economic regeneration, skills and competitiveness of the regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of the Regional Development Agencies have published an action plan as part of their corporate/business plan for 2001–02 setting out how they propose to develop their evaluation and performance monitoring framework; and how many of those action plans contain a commitment to consulting the general public on the content of the frameworks. [4608]

Each Regional Development Agency (RDA) has produced an action plan as part of the corporate planning process for 2001–02 setting out how they propose to develop their evaluation and performance monitoring framework. RDAs are required to publish an abridged version of their corporate plan, but whether or not this includes the action plan is at their discretion. RDAs were not required to consult the general public on the content of the frameworks, although several RDAs are developing and refining their frameworks in consultation with regional partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the definition is of trading links contained in her Department's document, 'Your Britain, Your Europe, Your North West'. [4324]

Companies with "trading links" means those in the North West which are associated with the export of goods and services to other EU member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for how many jobs in the North West membership of the single market is crucial according to her Department's document, "Your Britain, Your Europe, Your North West". [4325]

Membership of the Single Market makes the UK, including the North West, attractive to inward investment from across the world. As the document states this investment has amounted to £5.5 billion over the last ten years helping to create or safeguard over 100,000 jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many women have been helped to enter the construction industry in the North West by EU funding. [4374]

Although gender breakdown of beneficiaries of European Social Fund projects is recorded and monitored, this is not in sufficient detail to show how many women have entered the construction industry as a consequence of European funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the cost of remodelling the Arndale Centre and the new Exchange Square in Manchester has been met from EU funding. [4373]

£20 million was allocated from the European Regional Development Fund for the redevelopment of Manchester City Centre. Of this, £1.79 million was directly allocated to the Exchange Square project. £4.4 million was allocated to 'public realm' improvements in the City Centre, which included work on the public areas surrounding the Arndale Centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions she has had with the European Union with regard to assisted area status in Scotland; [5073](2)what proposals she has for the review of assisted area status in

The European Commission approved the UK areas eligible for regional state aid in July 2000; these were then implemented through the Assisted Areas Order 2000. The European Commission approval lasts until the end of 2006; the Government are not planning to review the assisted areas until it is necessary to develop proposals for the subsequent period. At that stage they will consult interested bodies on the selection of areas, including the Scottish Executive and others in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what appraisal was undertaken of the environmental impacts of granting licences for the development of third generation communications technology; and if she will publish it. [3866]

[holding answer 17 July 2001]: Installations are subject to planning law which deals with environmental considerations as it applies to Public Telecommunications Operators.Government strongly encourage the sharing of masts and sites in order to minimise environmental impact and operators must show that they have considered sharing options as part of the planning process in order to minimise the environmental impact of networks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many additional telecommunications masts she estimates will be needed in (a) urban and (b) rural areas for the effective development of third generation telecommunications technology. [3865]

[holding answer 17 July 2001]: The number of additional telecommunications masts that will be needed for the effective development of third generation mobile communications will depend on commercial decisions by the network operators on how they configure and roll out their networks.The Information Memorandum for the third generation mobile auction sets out the means by which the Government strongly encourage mobile telecommunications network operators to share masts and sites, in order to minimise the environmental impact of networks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list for (a) each county and (b) each region the percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources; and if she will make a statement. [4440]

Published statistics on renewable energy relate to the United Kingdom as a whole, as do published electricity generation statistics. In 2000, 2.8 per cent. of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom was from renewables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) average, (b) mean and (c) median length of time is taken to process (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful applications from former Icelandic Waters trawlermen for compensation for each region and nation of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [3906]

[holding answer 16 July 2001]: Statistics are not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation have been received from former distant water trawlermen living in Lancashire; how many claims have been paid; and how much the total payment is for (a) Fleetwood, (b) Blackpool and (c) the remainder of Lancashire. [3809]

At 13 July 2001, 174 payments had been made to claimants living in Fleetwood totalling £1,812,204. The corresponding figures for Blackpool are 27 and £226,299. I regret that the other information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution the United Kingdom is making to the European Commission's MOX fuel research programme. [3946]

Research projects on MOX fuel are included under the research area of the (European Atomic Energy Community) EURATOM Fission Programme aimed at improving the safety of existing nuclear installations and future systems. BNFL participates in one of these collaborative research projects, along with other European partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will recognise emphysema and chronic bronchitis as industrial diseases for slate quarrymen and former slate quarrymen. [4481]

I have been asked to reply.We have no plans to prescribe chronic bronchitis and emphysema as a prescribed disease in the industrial injuries scheme for slate quarrymen and former slate quarrymen. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, is advised on such questions by the independent Industrial Injuries Advisory Council who have reported on lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema in 1973, 1988 and 1992 (Cmnd 5443, Cm 379 and Cm 2091).The Council's present conclusions are that there is no scientific or medical evidence which would justify prescription of chronic bronchitis and emphysema for occupations other than coal workers. The Council keeps the list of prescribed diseases under review. If the hon. Member has evidence he wishes to submit to the Council, he is invited to write directly to the Chairman of the Council Professor Anthony Newman Taylor c/o Room 605, The Adelphi, 1–11 John Adam Street, London WC2 6HT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information, prior to Independent Insurance going into liquidation, was provided to (a) her Department and (b) the FSA relating to the French regulator's review of the company's French branch; and when this information was provided. [5286]

I have been asked to reply.The French regulator, the Commission de Contrôle des Assurances (CCA), first wrote to the FSA expressing their concerns about the French insurance subsidiary of the Independent Insurance Group on 11 January 2001. This company was a sister company of the UK-supervised insurer, representing about 5 per cent. of group premium income, and was subject to French supervision. The FSA, following discussions with the UK company, and having received copies of the company's own detailed responses to the French authorities, replied to the CCA in March 2001. In that letter, the FSA noted its understanding that the group had provided additional financing to the French subsidiary. The FSA subsequently had a number of further contacts with the CCA including a visit to their offices in Paris, provided financial information about the financial position of the UK company, and kept the CCA informed of events in the period leading to the company's closure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Disposal Services Agency for the financial year 2001–02. [5988]

Since its launch in October 1994, the agency has positioned itself as the market leader in the disposal sales of surplus equipment and goods in the public sector. The key targets, which have been set for the chief executive of the Disposal Services Agency for this financial year, are aimed at securing disposal receipts from the sale of surplus capital assets and inventory items from both the Ministry of Defence and a range of public sector organisations. The chief executive of the agency has been set the following key targets for the financial year 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Defence Agency for 2001–02. [5989]

The role of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre is to train the armed forces and other intelligence agencies in intelligence and security disciplines, and conduct after capture; to maintain an operational capability; and to contribute to effective and timely advice to the armed forces on appropriate intelligence and security matters. The key targets for the agency for the 12 months from April 2001 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of Iraq's capability to use ballistic missile technology to target surface-to-air missiles. [4040]

Since December 1998, the Iraqi integrated air defence system has been engaged in a systematic campaign to shoot down coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones. There have been over 1,800 direct threats from a range of Iraqi air defence assets, including surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery. Coalition aircraft are authorised to respond in self-defence only against air defence targets, and have done so on some 270 occasions.Over the past two and a half years, the Iraqis have evolved a range of novel tactics, aimed at maximising the threat to the coalition while minimising the risk of being targeted by a self-defence response. In particular, we assess that Iraqi surface-to-air missiles have been launched without the support of their fire control radars, in order to hide the position of the firing unit (thereby reducing its vulnerability).Missiles launched in this way receive no guidance information during flight and are much less likely to hit a target in comparison to a conventionally guided missile. The corollary is that there is also an enhanced risk, as with Iraq's indiscriminate use of surface-to-surface rockets in this role, of damage to civilian facilities when the missiles return to earth. Although surface-to-air missiles operated in this way follow an unguided, ballistic trajectory, there is no evidence that Iraq has employed ballistic missile technology to guide these surface-to-air missiles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff the Defence Diversification Agency has; and where its annual reports are published. [5075]

The Defence Diversification Agency (DDA), part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), currently has 24 staff of which seven are MOD employees (three within the defence science and technology laboratory and four, including the director, within MOD head office) and 17 employees of QinetiQ made available to the MOD under standard project support tasking arrangements. The DDA has three aims: to extend technology and expertise within the defence sector to civilian use; to foster partnerships and joint development programmes, recognising that the civil sector has much potential benefit to defence; and to inform and assist the defence industry's own diversification planning. Until 1 July 2001, the DDA was part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), the annual reports of which cover the activities of the DDA. The most recent report is the DERA annual report 1999–2000 published by The Stationery Office in July 2000 and which has sections on such issues as "Exploiting DERA's Technology" and "Defence Diversification and Regional Development" that deal with the DDA's activities. Following the DERA public-private partnership and the formation of the new company QinetiQ on 1 July 2001, the DDA has been brought into MOD head office. We are examining how best to report on its activities in future alongside our consideration of the formation of a Defence Diversification Council, which I have already announced our intention to establish once we have experience of how the DDA will operate in practice under the new structure. I will make a further announcement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is with regard to the siting of wind farms in tactical training areas; and what research has been undertaken in developing this policy. [4872]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 296W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign training sites are being used by the British Army; and at what percentage of those sites the British Army uses live ammunition. [2793]

I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will he placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) budget for and (b) cost of running and maintaining the Royal Navy Merlin helicopter squadron has been in each year since they were purchased. [4339]

The first Merlin helicopter squadron (824 training squadron) was formed in June 2000. In the financial year 2000–01, the repair and maintenance, manpower, aviation fuel and support authority operating costs for the squadron is estimated at £12 million, by comparison with a budget of £15 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake a review of the (a) manufacture of nuclear warheads at Aldermaston/Burghfield by AWE plc, (b) deployment of Trident 2 as the UK's nuclear deterrent, (c) use of Faslane as the Trident submarine base and (d) commitment to maintain a nuclear deterrent. [4293]

Following a fundamental re-examination of the issues, the 1998 Strategic Defence Review concluded that a minimum nuclear deterrent would remain a necessary element of our security. It determined that our deterrence requirements would be met by one Trident ballistic missile submarine on patrol at all times carrying 48 nuclear warheads, and a national stockpile of less than 200 operationally available warheads. I see no reason to conduct a further review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his compliance with paragraph 105F of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons. [4294]

Paragraph 105F of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, given in July 1996, states that:

"There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control".

The UK had already signed and ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1968. Article VI of the NPT commits all Parties to the Treaty

"to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control".

At the 2000 NPT Review Conference the United Kingdom, together with other participating countries, gave an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament to which all states are committed under Article VI of the NPT. At the Review Conference the UK, together with other participating countries, also agreed to the establishment in the Conference of Disarmament of an appropriate body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 July 2001, Official Report, column 362W, on discrimination, how many outstanding compensation claims there are for (a) men and (b) women discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality following the ruling of the ECHR. [5279]

There are 54 outstanding compensation claims from service personnel claiming that they were discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality following the ruling of the ECHR. Of these 41 are for men and 13 are for women.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the British servicemen held as prisoners in Auschwitz during the second world war are known to be still alive; and what memorials exist to (a) them and (b) those who were interned in other such camps. [5076]

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold complete information on how many British service men held as prisoners of war during the second world war are still alive.All of those who lost their lives during the world wars are commemorated through the nation's central memorial, the Cenotaph. The MOD holds no central record of memorials erected at individual sites overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) countries and (b) organisations which have received British military (i) training and (ii) assistance since 1997. [5342]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to dispose of HMS Cromer. [3525]

[holding answer 17 July 2001]: On current plans, HMS Cromer is due to be withdrawn from service towards the end of 2001. Plans for her disposal are currently under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on (a) Fylingdales and (b) Menwith Hill in relation to recent proposals to install a national missile defence system at Fort Greely, Alaska; and if he will make a statement. [4856]

In testimony to the US Senate Armed Services Committee on 12 July, the director of the US Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation set out plans to expand their ballistic missile defence "test bed" to include up to five ground-based silos at Fort Greely, Alaska. He stated that:

"if directed, this test bed could also provide a basis for a contingency defensive capability if the security environment warrants".

However, facilities in the UK will not form part of this test bed; the US Administration have not decided what sort of missile defences it will ultimately seek to deploy; and the US Administration have made no request for the use of facilities in the UK for missile defence purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which existing collaborative projects will become co-operative armaments programmes under the Six-nation Framework Agreement. [5360]

Existing collaborative projects are already subject to their own conditions and procedures. It is too early to say whether there would be benefits from seeking to apply Framework Agreement procedures to such programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Government Departments will be involved in approving the permitted export lists under the Six-nation Framework Agreement. [5359]

The Government Departments involved will be the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, Department of Trade and Industry and, as required, the Department for International Development, in line with their respective responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2001, Official Report, column 581W, if he will place in the Library the incomplete record of materials which were deposited in the sea off the north Cornish coast when CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned; [5947](2) how the results of testing and decontamination of materials disposed of into the sea at Nancekuke when the base was decommissioned

I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the implementation of the Defence Training Review and related training estate matters; and if he will make a statement. [5990]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications of the Defence Training Review for the future of RAF Halton. [4938]

Work is in hand in the Ministry of Defence on the implementation of the Defence Training Review which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House in March. A number of areas have been identified where rationalisation on a single site appears feasible, and scoping studies are taking place on these. These studies are examining, in the first instance, options for providing the training at MOD sites. These will serve as benchmarks, or Public Sector Comparators, against which a wider range of options can be considered. Wider options include potential partnerships with the private sector, and private sector providers are being encouraged to propose innovative solutions. These might involve establishing training establishments on completely new sites. The selection, therefore, of a benchmark site does not imply that the MOD has taken a decision to continue training on that site.The sites being examined for these benchmarks or Public Sector Comparators are RAF Cosford for aeronautical engineering training; the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield for logistic training; Defence Intelligence and Security Centre at Chicksands for security, intelligence, language and photography training; the Royal School of Signals at Blandford for communications and information systems training; RAF Halton for joint personnel administration and police training and HMS Sultan for electro-mechanical engineering training. There will be implications for other sites at which elements of this training are carried out, but because work is at an early stage these cannot be quantified.In parallel with the work on the Defence Training Review, the Royal Navy has been conducting a comprehensive review of the remainder of its training estate. It is now proposed to concentrate naval shore training over the next 10 years at the Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, HMS Raleigh in the Plymouth area, and HMS Collingwood in Gosport. This will permit the delivery of more cost-effective training and improve operational capability. It will include the creation of an Integrated Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood, which will deliver all maritime warfare training in a single site. As part of this programme, HMS Dryad in the Portsmouth area will become surplus to requirements and close by no later than 2011, although vigorous efforts will be made to advance this date to maximise the operational and financial benefits, and it is intended that substantial elements of the establishment will progressively transfer to HMS Collingwood over the next few years. Changes are also planned at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth, which has been announced as the future site for key elements of the Royal Navy's Fleet Headquarters.Detailed proposals for all the above measures will be subject to normal consultative procedures at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest estimate is of the cost of the Trident acquisition programme; and if he will make a statement. [5987]

The current estimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme, with payments already made expressed at the prices and exchange rates actually incurred and future spend at the current financial year exchange rate (the hybrid estimate), is now £9,764 million. Leaving aside the effects of price inflation and exchange rate variation (+£7 million), there has been a real cost increase of £12 million. Expenditure on the Trident acquisition programme to 30 September 2000 represented some 98 per cent. of the total estimate. If all expenditure, past and projected, is brought up to this current year's economic conditions (the non-hybrid estimate) the estimate is £13,662 million.The programme continues to show an overall reduction in real terms on its original 1982 estimate. This reduction, including the savings resulting from the decision to process missiles at the United States facility at Kings Bay, Georgia, now stands at over £3.9 billion at current prices.The proportion of the estimate for work undertaken in the United Kingdom is around 70 per cent.Our four in-service Vanguard class submarines are successfully maintaining continuous at-sea deterrence. HMS Vengeance entered service earlier this year.