To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the agenda for the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in September. [29129]

The UK Government are working to try to ensure that the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in September commits the international community to work for the systematic reduction of poverty in a sustainable planet. It is only on this basis that the world community will be able to agree on the need to manage the resources of the world sustainably. My own hope is that the summit will bring the development and environment agendas together and thus strengthen the international commitment to poverty eradication.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's involvement in the preparation for the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in September. [29133]

The UK is fully engaged in preparations for the world summit. The Prime Minister was the first world leader to announce his intention to attend. A Cabinet Committee has been established, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister, to co-ordinate the Government's approach. We are working hard—within the EU and internationally—to ensure a successful outcome at Johannesburg.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department provides to the Government of Nigeria in helping it to tackle AIDS. [29130]

Nigeria has an infection rate for HIV of 5.8 per cent. in the sexually active population. This is the level at which we normally see an exponential increase in infection rates. In some parts of Nigeria the rate is already 20 per cent. Given that one in four of the population of sub-Saharan Africa live in Nigeria, this situation poses a major threat. I recently approved a £50 million seven-year programme that supports behaviour change and distributes condoms using social marketing, targeting vulnerable and high-risks groups. We intend to do more.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to Botswana and Namibia to tackle the AIDS epidemic. [29148]

We are supporting a £7.5 million regional HIV/AIDS programme with the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The programme aims to develop capacity in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland to mount an effective response to the HIV epidemic. DFID is also financing Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), and Soul City, a regional non-government organisation, for HIV/AIDS work in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many projects are being funded by Her Majesty's Government in Zimbabwe; and what their costs are. [29131]

In Zimbabwe we are spending £18 million this year on 18 programmes, mostly aimed at providing food and medicines and slowing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Our aim is not to assist the Government, but to help the poor.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her response to food shortages in Zimbabwe. [29151]

DFID has provided £4 million since September 2001 for a supplementary feeding programme implemented by NGOs, targeting 300,000 people (predominantly children) in the worst hit areas of Zimbabwe. At the beginning of January we announced a contribution of £6 million for the UNDP's Humanitarian Assistance and Recovery Programme; £3.5 million for further feeding programmes and £2.5 million for essential medical supplies and improved access to health care services.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her priorities are for education investment in the poorest countries. [29132]

Our priority in education is to achieve the millennium development goals of universal primary education in all countries by the year 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary schooling by 2005. Since May 1997 we have committed over £600 million in support of them. Our recent paper "Children out of School" proposes an eight-point plan of international action for accelerating progress towards the 2015 target.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what importance she places on the role of education in the context of Government assistance to developing nations. [29137]

We give very high priority to education because education is a precondition of development and poverty reduction. We want other development agencies to do likewise. DFID's focus is on ensuring that we achieve the target of quality primary education for all children by 2015. Our education strategy paper, "The challenge of universal primary education", sets out DFID's overall approach and threefold strategy for delivering this goal.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to combat child poverty in developing countries. [29134]

We seek to reduce the poverty of children, which causes suffering to today's children and jeopardises the well-being of future generations, by working to address the causes of deprivation in their communities. Support for children's rights to basic health care, education, nutrition, shelter, protection from violence and abusive labour, along with sustainable livelihoods for their parents, is central to my Department's work towards the millennium development goals.We are determined to do our utmost to energise the international system to achieve the goals. The goals include the target of, by 2015, lifting one billion people out of abject poverty, universal primary schooling, and reducing under-five child mortality by two thirds. The goals are achievable given greater and more united international effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding is planned for agricultural developments in Uganda in the financial year 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [29135]

My Department plans to spend approximately £3.35 million on rural livelihoods projects in Uganda in the financial year 2002–03. In addition, DFID intends to provide £35 million of general budget support to the Government of Uganda, which will be used to support Government programmes, including an innovative strategy for rural poverty eradication, known as the plan for the modernisation of agriculture (PMA). This incorporates reforms to key strategies that determine livelihood opportunities for the rural poor, including extension, research, lands and marketing.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on development aid to Kenya. [29136]

The aim of British development assistance to Kenya is to reduce poverty. Direct assistance in 2000–01 totalled £52 million, including £15 million as budget support and £12 million on drought relief. We also support the provision of primary school textbooks and materials, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, reproductive health care, malaria prevention, private sector development, public service reform and initiatives to promote civic education and improved access to justice for poor people. In addition, Britain contributed substantially through multilateral agencies including about £2.7 million through the EC's aid programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the developmental impact of the air navigation contract with Tanzania. [29138]

There is general agreement that Tanzania needs a civilian air traffic control system to ensure safety in the country's air space. The issue is whether the contract with British Aerospace meets Tanzania's needs, and represents value for money.The Government of Tanzania are working with the World bank and the International Civil Aviation Organisation to address these issues. The developmental impact will depend on whether the system is technically appropriate and affordable within the Government of Tanzania's budget, which is being targeted on priorities set out in its poverty reduction strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to promote fairer terms of trade for developing countries. [29139]

The Government believe that trade has a vital role to play in helping developing countries to boost their economic growth and generate the resources necessary for reducing poverty. We have made important steps towards achieving these objectives, not least of which was the development agenda agreed at the Doha Ministerial Conference. This is, however, only the beginning of negotiations. To make it a real development round we will work to ensure that these commitments become a reality. We are therefore working with the Department for Trade and Industry, the European Union, the WTO and developing countries to assist them in forming clear and pro-development negotiating positions.The UK Government are also at the forefront of efforts to enhance developing countries' capacity to trade. In the White Paper on Globalisation we undertook to double our commitment over the next three years. We have recently pledged a £20 million package of trade related capacity building which will take us towards this goal.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in improving transport facilities for St. Helena. [29140]

A "Comparative Study of Air and Sea Access" was published last July. A copy of the report was placed in the House of Commons Library. It identified various options, which have since been under consideration by the St. Helena Government. As part of that process, the views of the islanders are being sought on the possibility of developing air access in future as an alternative to replacing St. Helena's dedicated passenger and supply ship.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures her Department is taking to promote peace and reduce poverty in Pakistan. [29141]

The UK's bilateral programme in Pakistan is focused on three objectives: creating the economic conditions for poverty reduction and improving health and education outcomes for poor people, improving the accountability of the political system and giving the poor a more effective political voice. We are also working to help entrench effective, inclusive and sustainable democracy in Pakistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further steps have been taken to ratify the optional protocol to the convention on the rights of children on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and if she will make a statement. [29142]

I have been asked to reply.The Ministry of Defence has been preparing detailed administrative procedures and guidelines for the UK armed forces which will give concrete form to the commitment, and accompanying declaration, we made on signing the optional protocol to ensure that all feasible measures are taken to avoid the direct participation in hostilities by any of our serving personnel who are under the age of 18. This process is in its final stages and we hope to proceed to ratification soon. Details of the means of implementing the protocol will be covered in an explanatory memorandum to be laid before Parliament in the lead up to ratification. Meanwhile great care continues to be taken in selecting the types of duty on which personnel under the age of 18 may be employed, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2002,

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about her Department's development work in southern Africa. [29143]

A new strategy paper will be published this year for DF1D's work in the Southern Africa Customs Union area, which comprises Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. DFID will continue to support the region's efforts to address inherited problems of poverty, inequality and exclusion. We will give increasing priority to work on HIV/AIDS.Within the broader Southern African region, DFID also supports programmes in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. DFID is also working to strengthen its partnership with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), following its recent restructuring.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. [29144]

Thanks to the efforts of the UN-led humanitarian system, and with the support of the international community, a potential humanitarian catastrophe has been averted in Afghanistan. But at least five million people will remain dependent on food aid and other emergency support over the coming year. Unless there is significant rainfall in the next few weeks, a fourth consecutive year of drought looks likely. Large numbers of Afghans are beginning to return from neighbouring countries, including around 10,000 people from Iran in the last few weeks, and approximately 3,000 a day from Pakistan.While it is vital that we prepare for longer-term development in Afghanistan, we must also continue to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, particularly over the remaining winter months. The UN has launched an Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme (ITAP) for the Afghan people in 2002. This paper identifies a package of unmet humanitarian needs and calls for $736 million of donor support this year to help cover gaps in emergency provision.At the Tokyo conference on Afghan reconstruction earlier this week, I announced a UK commitment of £200 million ($288 million) over the next five years. These funds will be used for both reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Tokyo conference on reconstruction and development in Afghanistan. [29150]

I refer my hon. Friend to my statement to the House on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 21–36.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of Sudan's prospects for peace and long-term development. [29145]

I visited Sudan recently to assess the prospects for peace and development. In my discussions with Sudanese leaders and others in the north and south of the country, I found that both sides in the conflict were yearning for peace. I concluded that there is now a real window of opportunity for the UK and the rest of the international community to engage in dialogue to help Sudan bring this long running conflict to an end.I believe the UK can play a significant role in helping resolve the conflict and that our involvement would be welcomed by both sides. My Department is now considering ways in which the UK can exert influence in the peace process. We will aim to raise and maintain the conflict's profile in the international arena, and to build the pressure for a just peace. This will involve discussing Sudan with the World bank, IMF and the EU as well as with African countries with the potential to help. It will also be important to maintain the continued interest and involvement from the US and we will work with them at official and ministerial level to ensure this.Long-term development of Sudan cannot be achieved without an end to the war. Such a partnership would depend on an end to the conflict, sustainable peace and political stability, as well as a commitment on the part of the Sudanese Government to poverty eradication.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to combat illiteracy in developing countries. [29146]

DFID' s major focus for tackling illiteracy is helping developing countries achieve the millennium development goal of universal primary education for all by 2015. Increasing access to good quality primary education and ensuring that children are literate when they leave school is essential for development and poverty reduction. Since 1997 the Government have committed over £600 million to support sustainable education systems in developing countries able to provide high quality primary education for all children.We will do more. We will also give increasing attention to helping developing countries tackle adult illiteracy.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's quick-start demobilisation programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [29147]

During my visit to DRC in August last year, I pledged the UK's support for the disarmament. demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants. The DRC Government have not yet taken up this offer of assistance. They have, however, assembled 1,800 soldiers in the Kamina cantonment and we are working with the Congolese and Rwandan Governments to try to ensure that they are properly screened and, if appropriate, returned to Rwanda. We stand ready to provide any useful support we can to the process. We are also providing direct assistance to MONUC to enable peacekeeping forces to deploy in the east of DRC.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to assist the Indian Government to provide education for the children of low-income families. [29149]

We have committed about £200 million to expanding and improving primary education in India through the District Primary Education Programme in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal, through the Lok Jumbish and Shiksha Karmi programmes in Rajasthan, and for post-cyclone reconstruction of schools in Orissa.The programmes specifically target poor children, especially girls and disadvantaged groups, such as the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and working and disabled children. These are highly successful programmes that are having a significant impact on enrolment, retention and quality, reaching increasing numbers of out-of-school children and involving high levels of community participation.We are currently discussing with the Government of India how we can further support their efforts to universalise education up to the age of 14, in the light of their 'Elementary Education as a Fundamental Right' Bill and recent Constitutional Amendment on the same subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the Government are making on relieving debt owed by the world's poorest countries. [29152]

Following a radical overhaul of the heavily indebted poor countries initiative in 1999, to ensure faster, deeper debt relief, up to $100 billion debt could be written off for the 42 HIPC countries. To date, 24 countries have qualified for this exceptional debt relief. Relief of more than $54 billion will be provided to these countries, reducing their debts by more than two-thirds on average. We hope that at least two more countries—Ghana and Sierra Leone—will qualify for debt relief in the coming months, but substantial further progress will be difficult, as many of the remaining HIPC countries are affected by conflict.The Government have already written off their aid debts to all the poorest countries. The UK is also the second largest contributor ($306 million) to the HIPC Trust Fund to help international financial institutions meet their share of HIPC costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support she provides for refugees from the Western Sahara in Algeria. [29153]

Support for refugees from the Western Sahara in Algeria is mostly channelled through three agencies: the United Nation's High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR); the World Food Programme (WFP); and the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). UNHCR' s budget for the refugees from Western Sahara amounted to about US$3.3 million in 2001. The WFP aims to provide 64,500 tons of food (costing US$27.5 million) in its 2000–02 programme. ECHO's Global Plan 2001 began last September and aims to provide Euro 11.8 million in humanitarian support to the refugees, of which approximately 15 per cent. is attributable to contributions from the UK. Smaller amounts of financial and food aid assistance are provided by other EU member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was provided by the Government in (a) development and (b) humanitarian aid to (i) Burundi, (ii) Angola, (iii) Uganda, (iv) Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, (v) Zimbabwe, and (vi) Zambia in the financial year 1996–97; and what the projected figures are in each case for the 2001–02 financial year. [30369]

Historical expenditure figures broken down by aid type for each of the countries listed, for the five financial years 1996–97 to 2000–01, are published in "Statistics on International Development" (SID), Table 7.1 Bilateral Aid by Country (Africa). Beginning on page 77, the relevant column to read is Total Gross Public Expenditure (GPEX). A coy of this publication is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if her Department will provide assistance to South Africa to help further the inter-Congolese dialogue this year. [30400]

Financial support for the inter-Congolese dialogue is channelled through the Office of the Facilitator. The UK has so far made the third largest contribution of all donors to the dialogue. We are in close touch with the Office of the Facilitator about future financial requirements. We are also in close touch with the Government of South Africa, who have offered to meet the main costs of hosting the next session of the dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement regarding the promotion of generic drug use in developing nations. [31277]

Generic drugs play a key role in addressing the disease burden of developing countries: at present 95 per cent. of drugs on the World Health Organisation's essential drug list (including almost all treatments for TB and malaria) are off patent and available generically.But patent protection—as set out in the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS)—remains important for new medicines as an incentive for future research. We support the TRIPS agreement, and the recent declaration at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Doha, which made clear that the agreement should be interpreted and implemented in such a way as to protect public health and promote access to medicines for all.We are promoting the appropriate use of both generic and patented drugs in developing countries. We will shortly be disbursing the first instalment of our $200 million contribution to the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, to finance increased coverage of tried and tested interventions for the three diseases. Since 1997 we have committed over £1 billion to strengthen developing countries' health systems, in order that more drugs reach the poor who need them.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2002, Official Report, columns 723–24W, Ref. 29065, for what reason the budgets of the (a) Forward Strategy Unit and (b) Delivery Unit have not yet been set; what working assumption has been applied to the budget provision; and on what date an announcement will be made. [30460]

Allocations to the new units within the Cabinet Office will be made in the usual way. They will be fully accounted for as with any other unit in the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office publishes an annual account. Budgets are not broken down by management unit.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the projects under consideration by the Forward Strategy Unit. [30458]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 104W.

To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) special advisers and (b) civil servants were employed in (i) the Forward Strategy Unit and (ii) the Delivery Unit on 1 January. [30459]

At 1 January 2002, eight full-time and three part-time civil servants based in the Cabinet Office were working in the Forward Strategy Unit, and no special advisers.Civil servants from other Departments assist the FSU with its work as required.17 full-time and three part-time civil servants were employed in the Delivery Unit, and no special advisers, on that date.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2002, Official Report, columns 723–24W, on Lord Birt, for what reason he is not able to answer the questions relating to the role of Lord Birt, Refs. 29190, 29185, 29315, 29184, 29191, 29187, 29182, 29186, 29183, 29194 and 29188. [30667]

I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

To ask the Prime Minister if all papers under his control relating to the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak are being made available to Dr. lain Anderson as part of his inquiry into lessons learned from the foot and mouth outbreak. [31396]

The Government are committed to full co-operation with the inquiry.

To ask the Prime Minister if he (a) has given and (b) will be giving (i) oral and (ii) written evidence to Dr. Iain Anderson's Lessons Learned Inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak. [31397]

I am giving full co-operation to Dr. Anderson in this important inquiry and had an initial meeting with him on 22 January.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what recent dates the financial situation of NATS has been discussed by Cabinet Ministers; [31607](2) what discussions there have been by Cabinet Ministers on the CAA's representations relating to the ability of the Airlines Group business plan for NATS to withstand a major incident; and on what dates. [31608]

Information relating to the proceeding of Cabinet and internal discussions between Ministers is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether he received a copy of the CAA representations on the ability of the Airlines Group business plan for NATS to withstand a major incident; [31651](2) what advice he received from the CAA on representations it has made on the ability of the Airlines Group business plan for NATS to withstand a major incident. [31652]

The terms of the public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services were accepted by all the parties involved, including the Civil Aviation Authority. It would not be appropriate to discuss the detail of discussions which led up to the conclusion of this commercial deal.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the people who received official hospitality at No. 10 Downing street in 2001. [31606]

It is not my practice to give details of every visitor to 10 Downing street. In 2001, around 4,300 visitors received hospitality.The programme of events is designed to give people the opportunity to visit No. 10, including for example regular children's tea parties and receptions for a wide-ranging cross section of the community. In 2001 these included receptions for teachers, NHS workers, the police, members of the emergency services and victims of the floods.I also provided hospitality to visiting world political leaders, and a wide range of other organisations and individuals.No. 10 has also been used for a large number of charity receptions which were funded by the charities involved, who were also responsible for drawing up the guest lists.

To ask the Prime Minister what information his officials (a) sought and (b) received from the Whittington hospital on the case of (i) Mrs. Rose Addis, (ii) James Scott-Faulkner, (iii) Mr. Sidney Hockley and (iv) Mr. Tom Grangevision; and if he will publish the verbatim text of briefings offered by his officials to the press on these cases. [31599]

My officials obtained copies of the press statements made by the trust after they were published which in themselves were in accordance with the guidance, "The Protection and Use of Patient Information", issued by the Department of Health. All Lobby briefings by my official spokesman are on-the-record. An account of them is published on the No. 10 website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date he told Schroder Salomon Smith Barney that the Chairman of Railtrack had requested further financial support, as indicated in the letter from SSSB to his Department, dated 7 October. [26291]

My Department first contacted Schroder Salomon Smith Barney on 6 August 2001 to ask for advice in assessing Railtrack's request for additional financial support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) whether Schroder Salomon Smith Barney advised him that Railtrack was insolvent; [26408](2) what advice he received from Schroder Salomon Smith Barney relating to factors other than Government support which would have prevented Railtrack from raising the additional debt finance assumed in its business plan. [26407]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 495W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether a company limited by guarantee has been established to bid for Railtrack plc. [30241]

A team to develop a bid based on the concept of a company limited by guarantee has been established and its bid costs are being met by the Strategic Rail Authority. A company limited by guarantee has not yet been established.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps are being taken to establish a value of Railtrack shares to allow individual shareholders to complete their financial affairs at the end of the tax year. [30809]

[holding answer 28 January 2002]: The administrator will be seeking to obtain the best value that he can for the assets of Railtrack plc. Shareholders will receive the value to which they are properly entitled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 861W, on Railtrack, for what specific purposes the additional public funding of £4.5 billion announced with the SRA strategic plan was allocated. [31540]

The additional £4.5 billion relates to (i) the October 2000 final conclusions of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of access charges, (ii) the April 2001 agreement between Government and Railtrack, and (iii) provision for further project development work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the percentage increase in unregulated rail fares (a) in the UK, (b) within the South Central franchise and (c) within the Thameslink franchise for each year from 1997; and what has been the largest individual price increase for a journey within the above categories for the same period. [27523]

[holding answer 16 January 2002]: The information required is not held centrally. Unregulated fares are a matter for individual train operating companies who set the level of these according to their own commercial criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made on how Thameslink 2000, South London Metro and the East London line would use common corridors; and whether this can be achieved in a way consistent with the Strategic Rail Authority's goal of reducing the number of operators on key commuter routes in London. [28566]

The integrated planning of the southern timetable is being carried out by Railtrack for GoVia, with active involvement from the SRA. The work is focused on maximising the use of the network for all relevant operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which investment commitments in the SRA plan have not been announced previously by the SRA or the Government. [28541]

The SRA Strategic Plan sets out, for the first time in nearly 50 years, a plan to lead to the expansion of Britain's railways. It sets out a series of prioritised measures to improve the rail network and ensure the 10-year plan rail targets are met. Many of the individual projects covered in the plan have been previously identified, including in the strategic agenda of 13 March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 22 January, Official Report, column 711W, on the Strategic Rail Authority, what proportion of the network will require ERTMS; and if he will list the lines concerned. [31564]

The plan for the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), incorporating an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) function, on the UK rail network is at present being prepared by a pan-industry team under the direction of the Strategic Rail Authority and Rail Safety Ltd. It is a complex undertaking as there are various levels of ERTMS at present under trial throughout Europe (including a major trial on West Coast Main Line) and the optimum infrastructure and rolling stock approach for the varied UK routes has to be found.The work of the pan-industry team is progressing very well and it is anticipated that an industry plan defining the recommended extent of ERTMS fitment together with a major route by route strategy and timescale will be available in April. A key input into the team's work has been the recommended priorities and objective defined in the Uff Cullen report, which will, to the extent feasible, be reflected in the plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the commitments in the SRA Strategic Plan which are contingent on (a) the completion of franchise negotiations which are running behind schedule and (b) the establishment of special purpose vehicles. [30261]

I refer to my answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, columns 601–02W. The Strategic Plan assumes that most large priority infrastructure projects will involve at least some funding through special purpose vehicles whose details and extent will be a matter for commercial negotiation in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the cost of the proposed South West Trains upgrade outlined in the SRA Strategic Plan is projected to be raised from the private sector; and what total amount that represents. [30250]

Costs of individual elements of the proposed new South West Trains franchise are a matter for the SRA's current commercial negotiations on she franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy to close rural or under-used passenger rail services or lines to create additional capacity on major routes. [28553]

We have no such policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps are being taken to ensure normal freight services are resumed through the channel tunnel. [30759]

There have been many contacts between the British and French Governments since November.The removal of the restrictions is dependent on the implementation of additional security measures at the Calais Fréthun yard so that SNCF can deal effectively with potential illegal immigrants.The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Home Secretary have all written to their French counterparts to ask that all necessary measures be put in place as soon as possible, to enable full rail freight services to resume.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last discussed with the French Government the SNCF restriction of channel tunnel rail freight services; and when he expects the restrictions to be removed. [28663]

I discussed this issue with Monsieur Gayssot, the French Transport Minister, during the last Transport Council meeting in December. Since then, the Secretary of State has written personally to M. Gayssot and there have been a number of other contacts between our Governments.The removal of the restrictions is dependent on the implementation of additional security measures at the Calais Fréthun yard so that SNCF can deal effectively with potential illegal immigrants. Work on strengthened fencing is now under way and, we are told, due to be completed by mid-February. The Prime Minister has written to M. Jospin asking him to do all he can to ensure the necessary physical security measures and police presence are put in place as soon as possible, to enable the resumption of a full rail freight service through the tunnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people in (a) the UK and (b) Buckinghamshire left the work force following injury or illness caused at work, in each year since 1997. [30052]

The regular statistical sources do not provide a basis for reliable estimates of the data requested. However, the HSE publication "The costs to Britain of workplace accidents and ill health in 1995–96" (the most recent such data available) estimates that in Great Britain approximately 27,000 people¹were forced to give up work in 1995 as a result of injury or illness caused by work.

¹It should be noted that this is a statistically imprecise estimate, based on aggregating two different sources, and the statistical 95 per cent. confidence interval around this estimate runs from 16,000 to 42,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps were taken by the Government (a) prior to 1 May 1997, (b) between 1 May 1997 and 24 February 1999 and (c) since 25 February 1999 to ensure adequate numbers of trained train drivers within the railway industry; and if he will make a statement. [29981]

When franchises were originally let in 1996 the purpose of the Government at the time was to give train operators full discretion and responsibility for providing resources, including drivers, to meet their obligations. In November 1998 the Government held a meeting with Railtrack and the train operating companies to discuss the poor performance of the industry and to agree a plan to deliver solutions. Part of that plan included the recruitment and training of 800 new drivers. The SRA is currently encouraging train operators to recruit sufficient drivers to meet their service obligations. In some cases the extension or replacement of franchise agreements will enable the SRA to contractualise measures to ensure adequate numbers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who he intends shall be liable for maintaining disused underground tunnels under PPP. [30227]

All parts of the London underground infrastructure have been allocated to one of the three infrastructure companies that were established as subsidiaries of London Underground in April 2000. Under the PPP, the infrastructure companies will transfer to the private sector. They will continue to be responsible for maintaining and modernising the infrastructure in accordance with detailed contractual obligations. These obligations include a requirement to maintain disused underground tunnels in a safe and secure condition, and in a manner which prevents deterioration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many bus services were running on Sundays in each year between 1990 and 2000. [30935]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many road traffic accidents took place on Sundays in each year between 1990 and 2000. [30934]

The numbers of injury road accidents which took place on Sundays are as shown. No information is available regarding the numbers of damage only accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the percentage of drivers of company vehicles who have had an accident in the last three years. [30739]

No estimate is available for the percentage of company vehicle drivers who have had an accident in the last three years.However, recent research shows that fleet car drivers have a higher probability of involvement in accidents than other drivers. This confirms the results of other research studies. It has also been estimated that between a quarter and a third of road accidents involved someone who was working at the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many local council employees were required to work on Sundays in each year between 1990 and 2000. [30936]

I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress is being made on preparing for control of high hedges. [30317]

[holding answer 29 January 2002]: The Government will introduce legislation giving local authorities the power to deal with complaints about high hedges as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable. We supported the Private Member's Bill on this issue introduced by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) in the last session of Parliament and were disappointed that the Bill failed to complete all its stages before the election.Guidelines commissioned by my Department, which provide an objective method for assessing whether high hedges block out too much light to adjoining properties, were published on our website in December. These guidelines are likely to be a factor for local authorities to take into account when determining complaints under a future statutory scheme. In the meantime, we want to encourage people to apply the guidelines and use the results to settle disputes with their neighbours amicably. We are preparing a leaflet specifically designed for this purpose, which we expect to launch in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the level of slot demand as a proportion of supply at Gatwick airport for summer 2002; and if he will make a statement on actual supply and demand for slots in (a) 2001, (b) 2000, (c) 1999, (d) 1998 and (e) 1997. [31286]

[holding answer 29 January 2002]: For summer 2001, the demand for slots at Gatwick was 206,419 and 174,484 slots were allocated. For summer 2002, the demand for slots rose to 231,211 with 177,657 slots being allocated. However, the increase in demand was due to a number of opportunistic bids for slots following the events of 11 September. I will write to my hon. Friend in due course to make a statement on supply and demand for slots in 1997–2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2002, refs 29312, 29314 and 29316, Official Report, column 1054W for what reasons he is not able to answer the questions relating to the work of Lord Birt. [30562]

The answers to these questions are set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 January 2002, Official Report, columns 723–24W, to which I have already referred the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of (a) large and (b) small NDPBs are subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission. [30472]

The audit arrangements for all executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are listed in the annual publication "Public Bodies". No audit details are provided for the other types of NDPB as their spend is usually negligible. In the majority of cases the National Audit Office (i.e. the Comptroller and Auditor General) is the external auditor. However, some executive NDPBs employ commercial auditors and, in such cases, the NAO has been granted inspection rights.The Audit Commission rarely audits NDPB accounts. It does not keep records to enable it to identify separately any NDPB audits. The Audit Commission has only gained responsibility for auditing NDPB accounts when there has been a round of local government reorganisation and where some residuary or stand-alone bodies have been created by statute, which are treated by their founding legislation as local authorities, for the purposes of the Audit Commission Act 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers local authorities have to influence the spending and policy of NDPBs that have branches at local level. [30462]

Local government has no statutory powers to influence the spending and policy of NDPB's that have branches at local level. Various powers exist which enable innovation and closer working between local authorities and their partners, including the discretionary power in the Local Government Act 2000 to do anything they consider likely to promote the economic, social and environmental well being of their area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 866W, on Tyne and Wear metro, what requirements imposed by the Health and Safety Executive have made this common usage possible. [31543]

The new extension of the Tyne and Wear metro runs, in part, along existing mainline network. Therefore, HSE has required all of the signals on the metro extension to be fitted with an automatic train protection system (Train Protection and Warning System) similar to those fitted to the rest of this stretch of the mainline network. This is to ensure that all trains that pass a signal at danger are automatically brought to a halt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what discussions he has had with the Treasury on the CAA representation on the ability of the Airlines Group business plan for NATS to withstand a major incident; [31645](2) what advice he received from the Civil Aviation Authority on the ability of the Airlines Group's business plan for NATS to withstand a major incident; [31648](3) if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the CAA's submission about the ability of the Airlines Group Business Plan for NATS to withstand a major incident. [31653]

The terms of the public-private partnership for NATS were accepted by all the parties involved, including the Civil Aviation Authority. It would not be appropriate to disclose the detail of discussions prior to conclusion of this commercial deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has prepared a contingency plan for NATS going into administration or receivership. [31655]

No such plan has been prepared.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when (a) he and (b) his officials last met NATS to discuss its financial situation. [31656]

Ministers and officials maintain regular contact with NATS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received, other than from that of the CAA, about the ability of NATS to withstand a major incident. [31654]

No such representations have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from banks backing NATS seeking additional public financial support for the business. [31644]

The banks backing NATS are in regular discussion with the Government and all other relevant parties regarding the company's financial situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last met NATS' bankers to discuss its financial situation. [31643]

No such meetings have been held.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what commitment Central Trains has made to introduce new rolling stock during the period of its two year franchise extension. [31537]

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is considering the possibility of a two year extension to the current Central Trains franchise aimed at achieving an early increase in capacity but no commitments have been made by either party.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether his Department has held discussions with its counterpart in the Irish Republic about rail interoperability on the routes that link ports with access to the Republic and the Channel Tunnel. [31386]

My Department and the Strategic Rail Authority are in regular contact with counterparts in the Irish Republic on a range of issues, but this has not included the specific issue of projects to adapt such routes to european interoperability specifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 865W, on freight facilities, what additional funds are being made available for rail freight. [31538]

The 10-year plan provides £3.5 billion of funding for rail freight over 10 years, to provide capital investment and revenue support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 866W, on the East London line, if the references to the East London line in the SRA Strategic Plan apply only to the extension to Dalston Junction. [31541]

The references in the SRA Strategic Plan are to the full East London line extension project, including both northern and southern extensions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the financial allocation by his Department is to support bus services in (a) London and (b) the remainder of the south-east. [31392]

Bus services, and transport issues in London in general, are a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. However, I hope that the following will be helpful.The Government allocate a block transport grant which the Mayor is free to spend in accordance with the Transport Strategy for London. In the current financial year that grant is some £714 million, and will rise to just over £1 billion next year. The Government have also supported specific projects such as the London Bus Initiative, through its Capital Modernisation Fund. The Mayor has consistently stated that investment in buses is one of his highest priorities.As far as bus services outside London are concerned, it is for individual local authorities to decide how much of their Revenue Support Grant settlement to allocate to the support of bus services.However, authorities in the south-east, as elsewhere, benefit from the specific funding schemes we have introduced to support bus services. Authorities in the south-east Government office region have been allocated a total of £9.14 million in Rural Bus Subsidy Grant in the current financial year. This will increase to £10.46 million in 2002–03. In addition, we have recently announced awards for authorities in the south-east totalling £2.7 million as a result of latest round of the Rural Bus Challenge and of £461,000 from first round of the Urban Bus Challenge. We have also awarded £425,000 for an Urban Bus Challenge project in London.In addition, under support for capital expenditure to implement their local transport plans, authorities in the south-east outside London have been allocated £179 million for local transport projects in 2002–03. Bus services will benefit significantly from many of these projects.In addition all operators of local bus services, inside and outside London, receive Fuel Duty Rebate from my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answers of 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 866–67W, on London rail termini and Waterloo, if it is his policy to permit the new proposed Wessex franchise to operate services into Waterloo. [31542]

The review of whether services using Waterloo should continue to be controlled by a single operator has not yet been commenced by the Strategic Rail Authority. Statutory consultees will be involved by the authority in this review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the status is of the Ireland/UK/Benelux road link in the Essen list, with particular reference to the proposed route west of the M6 motorway. [31544]

The Ireland/UK/Benelux road link is one of the 14 transport trans-European network (TEN) projects to which the Essen European Council attributed particular importance. There are no plans to change this status. Decision 1692/96/EC provides guidelines for the development of the TEN and Annex 1 to the Decision contains a map of the TEN road network in the UK. The European Commission has recently published proposals to amend the guidelines and in negotiations the Government will seek to ensure that all routes on the UK road map—including the one west of the M6 motorway—are, if appropriate, updated to reflect current circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many multi-modal studies (a) have been completed and (b) will be completed during 2002. [31539]

The following list shows the multi-modal studies that have reported. Multi-modal study

• Access to Hastings
• Cambridge to Huntingdon (A 14)
• South-east Manchester (Stockport, Manchester Airport Link West, Poynton)
• West midlands area (M5/M6 and M42 between M40 and M6).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people have not paid council tax in each local authority in descending order for 2000–01. [30573]

Central Government does not collect information on the number of people who have not paid council tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities have been rate-capped in each of the last 10 years. [30475]

I am able to provide information on English local authorities only. Local government finance is a devolved matter and capping in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.For the financial years 1991–92 to 2001–02 the following English local authorities were capped for the purposes of the community charge and council tax:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the level of rent arrears was by local authority in descending order in 2000–01. [30473]

A table showing the level of rent arrears as reported by each local authority in England at the end of the financial year 2000–01 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The local authorities are shown in descending order of total arrears.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many households were in mortgage arrears by region, expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) the total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures, in the latest year for which figures are available. [30583]

This information is not collected by my Department. Data are compiled by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, but only for the United Kingdom as a whole and not for individual regions. The number of UK households in mortgage arrears of three months or more in 2000 were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many housing benefit officers were employed by local authorities in each of the last 10 years. [30477]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many court repossessions of property there were in each of the past 15 years. [30567]

The numbers of properties in the United Kingdom repossessed by mortgage lenders in each of the past 15 years is estimated to have been as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the number of households that are officially described as overcrowded by region according to (a) percentage figures and (b) total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures in the latest year for which figures are available. [30584]

No estimates are available based on the statutory definition of overcrowding in the Housing Act (1985). The information provided in the table is based on the 'bedroom standard', which is a well established statistical measure of overcrowding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what legal agreement exists between the Government and the BAA in respect of an additional runway at Gatwick. [31600]

There is no agreement between the Government and BAA plc about an additional runway at Gatwick airport. But there is in place an agreement between the local authority, West Sussex county council, and the then British Airports Authority, which was agreed in August 1979, under the terms of section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1970.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has completed his review of the policing of ports; and if he will make a statement. [31292]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 296W. Work on the review has been delayed by other priority work on security issues, but I hope that the review will he completed by end April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many police officers were employed in ports police forces at the most recent date for which figures are available. [31293]

There were 192 port police officers in August 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on service level agreements between Ordnance Survey and local authorities. [31012]

The current service level agreement between Ordnance Survey and local authorities took effect on 1 April 1999 and will continue until 31 March 2004. This five year agreement covers a range of organisations including county councils, borough councils, district councils, fire and police authorities and national parks.The agreement allows for the provision of both large and small scale mapping to all participating organisations. The benefits of the service level agreement to the local authority community are wide ranging. The agreement provides a vehicle from which local authorities are able to obtain digital and paper mapping with both ease and speed. This has led to the widespread use of Ordnance Survey digital map data across the local government sector for use in their support of the local community. This widespread take up of Ordnance Survey's map data also ensures consistency of use across local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what effort he has made to encourage the creation of youth forums in each region; and if he will make a statement. [29971]

I have been asked to reply.In November 2001 I published "Learning to Listen: Core Principles for the Involvement of Children and Young People". It commits Government Departments to increasing opportunities for children and young people to have a bigger say about policies and services relevant to them across Government and in their communities. Youth forums provide one way to help achieve this.Both the Children's Fund and the Connexions Service provide financial and other support to local youth forums. The funding we are making available through the new "Transforming Youth Work Development Fund" will provide additional resources to promote increased participation, help to ensure there is enhanced youth work provision to underpin it, and contribute to our efforts to increase young people's engagement with local democracy.The Government also support the initiative being spearheaded by the Local Government Association and the National Youth Agency, "Hear by Right", that fosters the active involvement of children and young people in decision making within their communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many child workers were registered with local authorities in each of the last 20 years. [25016]

I have been asked to reply.Children and young people below the minimum school leaving age wishing to work must obtain permits from their local authority allowing them to do so. Numbers are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) bodies for which it is responsible on external public relations consultants in each of the last four years. [27400]

This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.However, since 1999–2000, a breakdown of Ministry of Defence's public relations expenditure has been published in the annual departmental performance report, broken down into categories of Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and civilian recruitment, PR, marketing and business support services, Chief of PR, sales promotion, scholarships and National Employers' Liaison Committee.Publicity expenditure figures were also published in the 1997–98 departmental performance report but on a slightly different basis.Copies of these documents are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when a judgment was made by the Arms Working Party on the suitability of the sale of the BAE Systems air-traffic control system to Tanzania under the MOD form 680 procedure; [28299](2) when the application for a Tanzanian air traffic control system was considered under the MOD Form 680 procedure; and what the decision was. [29440]

[holding answer 23 January 2002]: Siemens Plessey Electronic Systems (now part of Alenia Marconi Systems) submitted an F680 application in July 1997 for the supply of a radar system to Tanzania. In August 1997 the Government advised the company of preliminary clearance to supply an air-traffic control system to Tanzania subject to certain conditions. Within these conditions, it is routinely made clear to companies that such advice does not constitute an export licence, nor does it guarantee that a licence will be approved for the future export of goods or technology.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which Government Departments and agencies are represented on the Arms Working Party under the MOD Form 680 procedure; [28297]

[holding answer 23 January 2002]: The term "Arms Working Party" is colloquially used to describe the F680 process under which informal advice is provided to companies on the prospects for approval at the marketing stage. Advisers consulted include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Non-Proliferation Department, Geographical Departments, Human Rights Policy Department), the Ministry of Defence (Defence Intelligence, Equipment Security Branch, Headquarters Security Branch) and other Departments and agencies as necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed of the views of the World bank about the (a) suitability and (b) cost of the Tanzanian air traffic control system. [29443]

[holding answer 23 January 2002]: I am withholding this information under Exemption 2 (Internal discussion and advice) of Part II of the Government's Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason permission was not sought for Royal Marines to land at Bagram Airport before they arrived. [30780]

The deployment of Royal Marines to Bagram was a coalition operation carried out in close consultation with US forces. Appropriate contacts were made with elements of the Northern Alliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat over the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review. [30791]

Officials from the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, along with those from a number of other Government Departments, are contributing to the Ministry of Defence's continuing work on the new chapter to the Strategic Defence Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many retired officers and their widows have been identified as incorrectly paying tax on retired pay awarded since 1952 on the grounds of disability attributable to or aggravated by service. [31467]

Further to the statement I gave the House on 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 891–902, the latest available figures are that the Ministry of Defence has identified 967 retired Army personnel and 75 widows of retired Army personnel who are entitled to a refund of tax mistakenly paid on attributable service invaliding pensions. We continue to publicise the error and further cases may emerge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths have been caused by military action in Afghanistan among (a) coalition forces, (b) Taliban forces and (c) civilians since 11 September 2001. [31142]

Four US personnel have been killed in action and 17 US personnel have been killed in non-hostile incidents. Regarding Taliban and civilian deaths, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 860W, to my hon. Friends the Members for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) and for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham). It is as difficult to estimate the number of Taliban military casualties as it is to estimate the number of civilian casualties.