To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment programme. [53520]

The Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme work was completed in 2001. A summary of the study and its conclusions was placed in the Library of the House in February 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the Multinational Brigade Centre led by the United Kingdom in Kosovo to be merged with the French-led Multinational Brigade North; and if he will make a statement. [54834]

The future of the Multinational Brigades in Kosovo will be decided in the light of the major review currently being undertaken by NATO of its operations in the Balkans. The review, entitled the Joint Operational Area Review, will be discussed by NATO Foreign Ministers later this month. We welcome the review and remain committed to maintaining a military contribution to NATO peacekeeping in the Balkans. The form that this contribution will take has yet to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Chief of the EU military staff regarding organisational change in NATO; and if he will make a statement. [55569]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) NATO counterparts regarding organisational change in NATO; and if he will make a statement. [55568]

Preparations for this November's NATO Summit in Prague include work on a range of issues (including NATO's command and force structures, enlargement, resource management and Headquarters structures and processes) with organisational implications. I discuss these issues on a regular basis with NATO colleagues. We also work to ensure good contacts with the EU in relevant areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his US counterparts regarding creation of a Special Operations Coordination Centre at SHAPE; and if he will make a statement. [55571]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from his US counterpart regarding a creation of European Mobility Command to coordinate existing and future European airlift assets; and if he will make a statement.[55570]

None. We are working closely with allies and with NATO staffs to develop a capabilities improvements programme to build upon NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative at the Prague Summit in November, and it is likely that improvements in airlift will continue to be a key objective. The existing European Airlift Co-ordination Cell already provides a means of sharing airlift capacity among a number of European countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the European Air Chiefs Conference meeting of 18 April. [55695]

This was the latest regular meeting of the heads of 20 air forces within the forum of the European Air Chiefs Conference (EURAC) which was established in 1993. The aim of EURAC is to improve co-operation and understanding among European air forces, thereby increasing their efficiency and effectiveness.Copies of the recent EURAC Air Power Paper "A European Perspective on Air Power" have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to establish a national graduate training scheme for local government. [56425]

The Employers' Organisation (EO) has put in place a national graduate development programme (NGDP) for local government, which begins in September this year. This programme is to address the need to recruit a new generation of managers with the leadership potential to shape the future of local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many seats on parish and town councils in England and Wales were vacant on 1 January in each year since 1995. [55408]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research projects have been commissioned by his Department into electronic voting since June 2000; and if he will state in each case (a) the organisation or consortium members carrying out the research, (b) the cost, (c) the purpose and title, (d) the date on which the research was or is due to be delivered to his Department and (e) the date or expected date of publication of the results. [54138]

[holding answer 7 May 2002]: The Department has commissioned one research project into this area since June 2000. It is entitled 'The Implementation of Electronic Voting' and is being undertaken by De Montfort university at a cost of £84,910. The project has examined the practical requirements for the implementation of remote electronic voting. It is intended to publish the research later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will take steps to rectify the disparity in total external support to local authorities covering the Bromsgrove area in the local government White Paper; [54801](2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the new grant formula that will replace standard spending assessment will be

We are working to develop options for fairer and more intelligible grant distribution formulae. We will consult on options over the summer and will consider the responses when we come to take decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether a change in the material used to fill the package to be used to transport the mox fuel from Japan to Sellafield from argon gas to water requires the flask to be re-certified, proven and tested in compliance with the IAEA Safety Series 6 Regulations of the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials. [54365]

The certificate of approval ceases to have effect in the event of any alteration to the composition of the package, the package design or in any of the facts stated in the application unless the Competent Authority confirms the certificate notwithstanding the alteration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the approval process for the shipment and the transport package for the mox fuel due to be returned from Japan to Sellafield has assessed the level of risk and consequences for all reasonably foreseeable incidents that could arise in United Kingdom territorial waters and during docking, handling and onward transport from Barrow to Sellafield, including (a) fuel criticality events, (b) flask drop and impact incidents, (c) fire and/or explosion on board the ship, (d) sinking of the ship and (e) significant incidents during the rail transport phase. [54364]

The approval process assesses against the performance standards and test conditions prescribed in the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which establish standards of safety designed to provide an acceptable level of control of the radiation, criticality and thermal hazards to persons, property and the environment, taking into account routine, normal and accident conditions of transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what coolant will be used in the replacement of the air conditioning and water coolant for the QEII Centre. [56389]

Specialist advisers have considered all technological alternatives for the replacement of these air conditioning chillers. The choice of refrigerant will be in accordance with the relevant Government policies and I will be happy to confirm the final refrigerant selection within the next two months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what role parish councils will play in the revised planning procedures envisaged by the Government for (a) major infrastructure projects and (b) other planning applications. [56032]

Local planning authorities are required to consult or notify various organisations and bodies. This includes parish councils that have asked to be notified of certain applications. We are concerned that the present arrangements for consulting expert bodies on planning and other cases are not working as effectively as they might. The distinction between statutory and non-statutory consultees has become blurred and consultation can often be a source of delay.One option proposed in our consultation paper "Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change" is to clarify the basis of determining whether bodies should be statutory consultees and reduce their number. Decisions about which bodies might in future be statutory consultees will be made in the light of the consultation. The consultation paper also contains a number of proposals to promote better engagement of local communities in shaping the future development of their areas.We have proposed the introduction of a new procedure which would enable Parliament to make a decision in principle on certain major infrastructure projects. It is for Parliament to determine how this procedure might operate and how representations from interested organisations, such as parish councils, might be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will list (a) the deprived local authority housing estates and (b) the local authority and local authority wards that those estates fall into, referred to in DETR, Housing Research Summary No.91 (1998); [54610](2) which of the deprived local authority housing estates referred to in DETR, Housing Research Summary No.91 (1998) have subsequently been part of a stock transfer to housing associations.[54611]

Housing Research Summary No. 91 (1998) is not about research on local authority estates as it presents findings from "Key research on easier home buying and selling".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce the outcome of the round of applications for PFI credits for additional social housing and joint service centres. [56905]

I am announcing today the names of 10 local authorities with whom my Department will work on the development of PFI schemes. There will be five schemes providing additional social housing and five for joint service centres.The authorities proposing the housing schemes are: Birmingham city council, London borough of Brent, London borough of Harrow, Slough borough council and Warrington borough council.These schemes aim to provide additional social housing. They will help to increase the supply of affordable housing, help regenerate areas of low demand or provide housing for vulnerable groups.The authorities seeking support for joint service centres are: Leeds city council, Manchester city council, Newcastle city council, North Tyneside council and Shropshire.The purpose of these schemes is to give local communities improved access to a wide range of information and services and to integrate the information and services to be provided by the local authority with other local agencies.We were impressed with the quality of all the bids received and it was a difficult choice as to which schemes were selected.I congratulate those authorities which were successful in this round. We look forward to working with them to fully develop these bids into value for money projects.Whether any of the above schemes ultimately proceed will depend on authorities working up business cases which satisfy the scrutiny of the interdepartmental project review group (PRG), which considers all local government PFI schemes seeking central Government support. Endorsement by PRG is essential before schemes can be put out to tender.The total value of the PFI credits that will be allocated, if all these schemes are endorsed and proceed to contract signature, is £100 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total cost has been of carrying out the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council Fire Cover Review; what fees have been paid to external consultants; and what the cost has been per consultant used. [53682]

Details of the costs paid to date (end March 2002) to consultants during the review of fire cover commissioned by the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council are set out in the table.

Spent £000
Contractor	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	Total
Entec	16	64	30	47	157
Systems Options	78	205	203	98	584
Mott MacDonald	—	27	37	7	71
KPMG	—	57	174	60	291
Greenstreet Berman	—	0	0	54	54
ORH Ltd.	—	0	0	61	61
Total	94	353	444	327	1,218

Costs have also arisen from time spent by DTLR and Home Office officials on aspects of the review, but it is not possible to accurately determine this amount without incurring disproportionate cost.The cost of staff employed by fire brigades in connection with the pathfinder trials associated with the fire cover review can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whom he plans to consult before concluding the fire cover review; and over what time frame. [53683]

The findings of the task group on the fire cover review will be considered initially by the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council. Following this, I expect to consult widely since I expect the review to provide the fundamental basis of planning delivery of service by fire brigades in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the task group on the fire cover review will deliver its final report to the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council. [53681]

The aim at present is to present the report for consideration by the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council immediately after the summer recess at the latest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to make driving tests more difficult and increase the safety aspects of the test. [55333]

[holding answer 13 May 2002]: Our "Road Safety Strategy" commits us to keep the driving test up to date. Since 1999, we have added 10 minutes more general driving to the practical car driving test so candidates can be assessed driving on higher-speed dual carriageways and rural roads wherever possible. Also, candidates who commit more than 15 less serious driving faults, as well as those who commit serious faults, fail the driving test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to ease parking restrictions which affect essential health workers in the performance of their emergency duties; and if he will make a statement. [55846]

Parking dispensations and waivers are a matter for consideration by local traffic authorities as part of their overall parking policies. In London, a Health Emergency Badge (HEB) already exists for doctors and others involved in primary healthcare (such as nurses, midwives and health visitors). It can be used when the HEB holder is undertaking emergency or urgent work with patients away from the badge holder's normal base allowing them to park without payment in paid for parking places, in residents' bays and, if no alternative parking spaces are available, on yellow lines.The HEB scheme does not allow holders to park their vehicles in a dangerous or obstructive manner. Further details about the HEB scheme may be obtained from the Association of London Government Transport and Environment Committee, First Floor, New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4TZ.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1096W, on ferry services, what the nature is of the representation he has made regarding the proposed EU directive on minimum conditions of service and wages for seafarer on intra-community ferry services. [56051]

We have made representations in European Community discussions generally recommending the proposed directive to fellow member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the financial risk to the Strategic Rail Authority of a future financial and management failure by Network Rail. [55780]

Negotiations are continuing on a commercially confidential basis. Details of any contingent liability would be notified formally to Parliament in accordance with established procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many individuals working on street or road works were (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.[55852]

Following is the readily available information relating to the number of injuries to workers hit by vehicles occurring in the processes of road repairs and surfacing, and in street cleaning and verge maintenance.

Injuries to workers hit by vehicles occurring in the processes of road repairs and surfacing, and in street cleaning and verge maintenance—1996–97 to 2000–01
	Road repairs/surfacing/ maintenance	Road verge maintenance
Fatal injuries
1996–97	3	—
1997–98	2	—
1998–99	2	—
1999–2000	2	—
2000–011	5	1
Major injuries
1996–97	14	1
1997–98	10	2
1998–99	12	—
1999–2000	14	1
2000–011	10	—
Over 3-day injuries
1996–97	23	—
1997–98	20	3
1998–99	19	1
1999–2000	23	2
2000–011	19	2
1Provisional

HSE is temporarily only able to provide statistics on workers hit by vehicles because of essential enhancements currently being carried out to their database system but could provide data on all incidents covered in the processes in the table in due course. The table also only provides data from 1996–97 onwards. Access to earlier data is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of rates of pay on recruitment and retention of public transport workers and the delivery of the Government's transport objectives in London. [55793]

Recruitment and retention of public transport workers and their pay rates are the responsibility of the relevant transport operators. It is for them to manage their services to deliver the various performance targets set by the transport authorities within the context of the Government's policies. Measures to improve performance are taken as necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what statistics are collected by his Department on road safety; and if he will make a statement. [55853]

Personal injury road accident data in Great Britain are collected by the police and reported to the Department using the STATS 19 accident report format. A full description of the data collected and an extensive selection of statistics are published in detail in "Road Accidents Great Britain2014;The Casualty Report". The report for 2000 was published on 20 September 2001 and a copy placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities provide free travel on public transport for old age pensioners and the disabled. [55701]

There are six areas where free travel is provided for pensioners: London boroughs, Merseyside, West Midlands, Crawley, Reading and Redditch.There are eight areas where free travel is provided for disabled people: London boroughs, Merseyside, Congleton, Crawley, Reading Redditch, Rutland and Warwick. In addition, there are a further 89 areas where free travel is provided for blind people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the level of access of pensioners to free bus transport.[55848]

From June 2001 the Transport Act 2000 provides a standard minimum requirement for concessionary travel in England and Wales. This ensures half fares for pensioners and disabled people on local buses, with no charge for the pass. Local authorities may make more generous provision at their discretion.Following the introduction of the standard minimum requirement a survey taken last autumn shows that over half of authorities had a more generous scheme than previously and 17 authorities had introduced a concessionary fares scheme when none previously existed. Six areas provide free travel for pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what extra funding will be made available to county councils for road improvement in the next financial year. [55195]

The Government are providing over £30 billion for local road maintenance over the next 10 years, an extra 9 billion (23 per cent. in real terms) above the funding levels in the previous 10 years. The exact figures for 2003–04 will be announced in December this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what restrictions are in place in respect of the spending of moneys by local authorities in respect of revenue raised by them from parking meters and paid parking schemes; what the basis is for such restrictions; and if he will make a statement.[55798]

Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 requires local authorities to keep an account of income and expenditure in respect of designated on-street parking places. This section restricts expenditure of surplus on-street parking income to making good any charges against an authority's general fund, provision and maintenance of off-street parking, highway improvements and public transport schemes. There are no restrictions on the use of surplus income from authorities' off-street parking facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to prevent local authorities in England and Wales from issuing a greater number of residents parking permits than the number of residents parking places that have been made available by such local authority. [55796]

Local traffic authorities have powers to introduce traffic management schemes on their roads, including residents' parking schemes, by means of traffic regulation orders (TRO) made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The Secretary of State has a reserve power under the provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the 1984 Act to intervene in the making of a TRO in a case where he believes that an authority is not satisfactorily discharging its duty under section 122 of the Act to secure the expeditious, convenient and save movement of vehicular and other traffic and the provision of suitable and adequate parking facilities on and off the highway.The purpose of a residents' parking scheme is to ensure residents have preferential access to on-street parking in their area over others, such as those commuting into the area. Given the limited supply of kerbside parking space and possible multiple care ownership in individual households, an authority has to judge the balance between supply of spaces and the number of permits issued in drawing up a scheme. In practice a residents' parking scheme may not necessarily guarantee permit holders access to a parking space, but could be better than having an uncontrolled parking free for all.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the rate of return will be on each of the three PPP contracts. [56211]

The payments the private sector infrastructure companies receive from London Underground will depend on the performance they actually deliver. There is no guaranteed rate of return for shareholders under the three Public Private Partnership contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his reply of 2 May 2002, Official Report, column 900W, on London Underground. if the appropriate regulatory clearances relating to (a) the procurement process, (b) the competition aspects and (c) the state aid aspects have been obtained; and if he will make a statement. [56207]

All appropriate regulatory clearances will be obtained before any PPP contracts take effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the projected efficiency savings are in each of the first seven years of the PPP contracts for each of the consortia. [56213]

I refer the hon. Member to the final assessment report produced by London Underground. This report, which is available on London Underground's website, contains an assessment of the underlying costs of the bids for the tube modernisation contracts compared to the underlying costs of the relevant public sector comparators over the first seven and a half years of the contracts. A year-on-year analysis is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assumptions were made during PPP negotiations about the level of fare increases on London Underground in each of the first seven years. [56209]

London Underground fares are a matter for the Mayor. London Transport has for planning purposes assumed that fares would rise in line with inflation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much London Transport has spent on consultancy costs for the London Underground PPP.[56210]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 296W.Since 30 September 2001 a further 9 million has been spent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when regulations will be made implementing the Government's commitment to extend eligibility for fuel duty rebate to a wide range of community transport services. [57134]

I am pleased to confirm that the Bus Service Operators Grant (England) Regulations 2002, implementing this proposal, were laid before Parliament on 10 April and came into force on 1 May 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what payment each of the three consortia will receive in each year of the first seven years of the PPP contracts. [56208] Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the proposed comfort letter that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State reported to Parliament on Wednesday 20 March 2002. The actual level of payments received by the consortia will depend on the level of performance they deliver.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received about his most recent proposals to replace gap funding.[55713]

We have received representations from three organisations; the St. John's Urban Village, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Council for the Protection of Rural England, in respect of the proposals for the housing, dereliction and heritage aid schemes. We are working closely with the regional development agencies, English Partnerships and English Heritage on the development of these schemes. We are also with the regional development agencies, English Partnerships and others on further possible schemes to notify to the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the statement made by his Department on 7 May regarding the resignation of Mr. Martin Sixsmith. [55850]

The statement agreed by my Department and Martin Sixsmith was placed in the Library on 7 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 906W, on resignations, if he will revise his response in relation to the resignation of Mr. Martin Sixsmith [55751]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 9 May 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the speeches which (a) he and (b) other Ministers from his Department have made to external organisations and businesses since 7 June 2001, in each case providing details of where the speech is publicly available; if he will place copies of speeches not available in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [55844]

DTLR Ministers have undertaken a very wide range of speaking engagements since 7 June 2001. A record of all speeches is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Key ministerial speeches are available on the DTLR website address: http://www.dtlr.gov.uk/about/ministers/speeches/ index.htm. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what technical support contracts were awarded by the Health and Safety Executive between 1 January and 31 December 1997. [55778]

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will collect statistics on the religious affiliation of staff employed in local government with special reference to Muslim women in the work force; and if he will make a statement. [55441]

My Department has no plans to do so. Some local authorities already collect and monitor statistics relating to diversity and equal opportunity issues. However, this does not currently include religious affiliation of staff. In 2003 legislation against discrimination of grounds of religion or belief will come into force in order to comply with our responsibilities under the employment directive. All employers, including local authorities, will need to consider how best to meet their responsibilities under this legislation. The best employers will recognise the advantages of a fully diverse work force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what publicly owned accommodation is made available to him in his official role; how many nights he has been in residence at each of these properties in the last 12 months; and what the total cost is of maintaining each of these properties. [55101]

[holding answer 9 May 2002]: No publicly owned accommodation is made available to the Secretary of State in his official role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell), of 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 748W, on British Nuclear Fuels, if she will place in the Library a copy of BNFL's safety case for the receipt, handling and storage of the faulty mox on the Sellafield site. [54363]

No. Safety cases submitted to meet HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's specific regulatory requirements are "relevant information" under s28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and may not be made public when the licensee withholds consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have for consulting on energy policy; and if she will make a statement. [57109]

I am pleased to announce today that the Government has launched a major consultation on energy policy. I have placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the House.We want to know how people think energy policy should develop.I am determined to make the consultation process as open and inclusive as possible. It will run from now till the end of the summer, leading to a White Paper around the turn of the year. This will include a response to the Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review and to its emphasis on a low-carbon economy and greater energy efficiency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding a change in the law concerning probation periods; and what plans she has to review this part of employment law. [55902]

None. We have no plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research she has commissioned into the rights of employees working probationary periods prior to full-time contracts; and if she will publish the results of such research. [55910]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to reduce the number of work-related illnesses and accidents that result in death. [55006]

I have been asked to reply.The primary responsibility for avoiding fatalities arising from work-related accidents and ill health rests with employers and workers. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive have statutory responsibilities to promote health and safety and, with local authorities to enforce the law.In 1999 the Government and the HSC recognised that improvement in health and safety including reducing the number of fatalities had reached a plateau and for that reason launched a review of health and safety. This resulted in the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy and the first ever 10 year national health and safety targets.HSC's Strategic Plan sets out how HSC will focus its effort to deliver the Revitalising Targets. This includes priority programmes focusing on areas of major concern in relation to fatalities, as well as accidents and ill health.HSC will be reporting regularly on this long-term plan. The next report will be in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Restricted Committee of the Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and other extractive industries is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55240]

I have been asked to reply.The Restricted Committee of the Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries (SCHMOEI) is a committee comprising representatives from the governments of the member states of the European Union which meets immediately prior to the full meetings of the main committee. Its role is to prepare the meetings of the main committee which is a tripartite body.SCHMOEI's terms of reference include:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much in (a) overseas aid and (b) debt relief assistance has been spent per year on Bangladesh by the Government since 1997. [55475]

The Bilateral Development Assistance and Debt Relief for Bangladesh since 1997 was:

£000
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Bilateral development assistance	39,078	67,361	71,794	76,920
Of which was debt relief	559	443	292	0

In addition the UK contributes development assistance via multilateral organisations. The estimated contribution for Bangladesh is as follows:

Year	£ million
1997	14.6
1998	41.8
1999	6.0
2000	37.7

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Commonwealth debt initiative aided (a) Bangladesh and (b) other moderately-indebted countries; and what future plans the Government have to extend debt relief to Bangladesh. [55476]

The Commonwealth debt initiative does not apply to Bangladesh. The initiative was launched in 1997 to cancel aid debts of poorer Commonwealth countries who are committed to international development targets. Bangladesh had already had its UK aid debts written off under retrospective terms adjustment prior to that date.Aid debt worth about £50 million has been written off under the Commonwealth debt initiative for middle-income countries largely in the Caribbean.There are no plans to extend debt relief to Bangladesh since Bangladesh's current external debt burden is sustainable. But Bangladesh received £773.88 million in aid, of which £68.28 million came from the UK in 2000 (the latest year for which figures are available).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days of sick leave were taken in her Department last year; how many related to employees suffering (a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to her Department. [56479]

8,399 days were taken in the year 2000, the last year for which published figures are available.Information on sick leave is not held by these precise categories but can be provided in terms of staff suffering from stress related illnesses generally. The number of days lost in 2000 in this category was 1,277.Information on costs is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her budget is allocated for the provision of primary education in developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [56440]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Thomas) on 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1067W.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to her Department. [56458]

The holders of public appointments which are the responsibility of my Department have been advised of the requirements contained in the Cabinet Office Model Code of Practice for Board Members of Advisory Non-departmental Public Bodies which require declaration of any such interests and withdrawal from any discussion of matters in which they have an interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what meetings have taken place since 1 April between members of the British diplomatic staff in Israel and Israeli officials, with regard to securing the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories occupied by the Israeli Defence Force; what the outcome of these meetings was; and if she will make a statement; [55157](2) what meetings have taken place since 1 April between her Department and

In parallel with representations by Ministers and those made to Israeli officials by British diplomats in the UK, the British ambassador has on the instructions of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the safe delivery of humanitarian medical aid to those in need. The Israeli response has not been satisfactory. It is still not certain that the humanitarian agencies have unrestricted access to the affected areas. Israeli forces have obligations under international humanitarian law to allow these agencies to do their work in the Occupied Territories.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures were taken to ensure the use of sustainable timber in procuring timber for the refurbishment of 1 Palace street; and if she will make a statement. [56038]

The contractual documentation required all such procurement to be carried out in accordance with standards set by the Building Research Environmental Evaluation Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) in relation to materials and the environmental implications of materials selection.The background to this is that a small section of our new headquarters is grade 2 listed, and was built in 1861. It contains sections of mahogany doors and panelling. Under planning regulations we were required, when refurbishing the building, to match the appearance of the existing finishes. In order to do so the contractor obtained a quantity of Sapele wood veneer from F. R. Shadbolt and Sons, for use in this area of the building. Shadbolts are founder members of the WWF 19952020; group, a timber and timber buyers group set up by WWF for the purpose of improving forest management. The Sapele veneer supplied by Shadbolts came from existing stocks, bought in 1983, and which, with the consent of WWF, they are allowed to continue to supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the non-governmental organisations consulted in drawing up the Second UK Periodic report under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. [53773]

Although non-governmental organisations were involved in drawing up the Second UK Periodic report, it has not been possible to locate records of the full list of those consulted following the transfer of responsibility for this between Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the teachers' pension index is linked; and if she will make a statement. [55730]

Teachers' Pensions, in common with all other public service pensions, are increased in line with the Retail Prices Index. The increase for the current financial year, as specified in the 2002 Pensions (Increase) Review Order, is 1.7 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers are able to teach deaf children; and how many are able to teach using sign language. [55335]

My Department does not hold these statistics centrally. However we understand, from an exercise undertaken by the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) in January 2000, that, at that time, there were approximately 1,800 qualified teachers of the deaf in England and approximately 200 in training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place to ensure that deaf students are able to continue their education to the level of their choice. [55336]

The Government are committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to go as far as their talents and efforts will take them. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 sets out the statutory provision for the assessment of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities and the Connexions Partnerships will deliver that requirement. From April 2002, where a Connexions Partnership is not operational, the local careers service is required to draw up action plans for all statemented young people who are in their final year of compulsory schooling and who intend to leave school for further education or training. From the academic year starting September 2002, Connexions Partnerships, where operational, will be expected to conduct assessments for all young people with learning difficulties and disabilities (whether or not they have statements) who are in their last year of compulsory schooling, who are over compulsory school age but under 25, or if they are receiving or are likely to receive post-16 education or training or higher education.Under the Learning and Skills Act 2000, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has a specific responsibility to help young people and adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD). For those learners who wish to pursue a programme of further education, the LSC provides funding to enable colleges to provide the learning support necessary to ensure individual learners have access to their chosen programme of study, for example, to provide a signer to support a deaf/hearing impaired learner. Where learning needs are more complex or specialised, the LSC will work with Connexions and other agencies to secure appropriate boarding accommodation as part of a much broader learning package. Although most young people with learning difficulties should find their educational needs can be met locally, some will need to be placed in specialist colleges away from their home area. Connexions Partnerships can make flexible arrangements in the best interests of young people so that someone at a specialist college may be supported by a personal adviser from either their home or host area. We will ensure that Connexions and the LSC work together with learning providers, social services departments, health authorities and other support agencies, to ensure that young people with profound and complex learning difficulties have access to an appropriate mix of personal care and learning provision.The Government have also demonstrated their commitment by introducing Part IV of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Act 2001. From September 2002, it will be unlawful for bodies responsible for the provision of further education, higher education, adult and community learning and youth services to discriminate against disabled students or other disabled people by treating them less favourably than others. The Act covers everything from physical disability, hearing and visual impairment, to mental health problems and dyslexia. The Government have made £172 million available over 2002–04 to support the implementation of the Act; this will enable responsible bodies to raise awareness of and make any adjustments necessary to meet the needs of disabled people. Additional funding, guidance and support will be made available through organisations such as the Disability Rights Commission, the LSC and the Higher Education and Funding Council for England.Financial support is also available for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to complete their studies via their school, Connexions/careers service, college or university.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what PFI school building schemes have been approved by her Department; and, in each case, what (a) the date of approval, (b) the names of the schools covered by the scheme, (c) the actual or planned opening date of each school, (d) the capital cost of each school and (e) the capital cost per pupil place in each school were. [55070]

47 projects have now reached financial and/or commercial close, and a further 24 projects are in procurement, having been approved by the Treasury-chaired Project Review Group (PRG). Details of these projects can be found on the Department's website at www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolsprivatefinanceinitiative. In addition there are a further 30 schemes which are currently preparing Outline Business Cases for consideration by PRG.It would incur disproportionate cost to provide the further information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when a replacement scheme for individual learning accounts will be launched. [55056]

There will be a replacement ILA-type scheme building on the strengths of the ILA and taking in to account findings from the recently published stakeholder consultation and Select Committee reports. We will announce our plans in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the new individual learning account scheme will allow individuals to top-up the Government's financial contribution to their education and training. [55055]

We are currently considering a wide range of recommendations from a number of different sources for a new ILA- style scheme. The issue of the individual's own contribution to the costs of learning is among those being considered in the work under way to develop a successor programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is her policy that small learning providers should continue to supply training under the new individual learning account scheme; and if she will make a statement. [55980]

We are currently considering a wide range of recommendations for a new ILA-style scheme from a number of different sources, including the Education and Skills Select Committee report and the findings from our stakeholder consultation exercise. Among those consulted were small learning providers participating in the ILA scheme and the Federation of Small Businesses. We will announce our plans for a successor scheme, including delivery arrangements, in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if it is her policy that Capita should be the provider of the support infrastructure for the new individual learning account scheme. [55979]

We are now moving closer to settling the design for a successor programme which will incorporate the lessons which we have learned following the closure of ILAs last November. We continue to work closely with Capita to wind down the current scheme and to ensure we learn the lessons for its successor scheme. We will announce our plans for a successor scheme, including delivery arrangements, in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many criminal offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by her Department since 1997.[55436]

A comprehensive list of new and abolished offences could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We can however provide the following information about the following education measures of the Department for Education and Employment enacted since January 1997 and before June 2001. No criminal offences have been created or abolished by the Department for Education and Skills since June 2001.The Education Act 1997 created the offence of obstructing the Chief Inspector of Schools for England in the performance of his duties and a similar offence in relation to the Chief Inspector for Wales.The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 created two offences: obstructing a member of the Inspectorate or a registered nursery education inspector in the exercise of his duties and a similar offence in the Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Act 1996 which was repealed when the 1998 Act offence came into force.The Learning and Skills Act 2000 created six offences, all concerned with the obstruction of persons carrying out school inspections in England or in Wales.The SEN and Disability Act 2001 inserted section 28J into the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, creating an offence of failing to comply with a requirement to disclose documents.Three offences not contained in education legislation but relating to teachers are section 3 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 (having sex with a person under 18 where in a position of trust) and section 35 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (a person disqualified from working with children applying to work in a regulated position, including teaching, and knowingly to offer such a person such work).The total number of offences created and listed above is 14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) of 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 448, on the Learning and Skills Council, what the cost is of bringing funding for the education of 16 to 19 years olds in further education colleges in line with that of school sixth forms. [55276]

[holding answer 9 May 2002]: Given the different ways in which schools and colleges are funded and the very much broader remit of colleges, comparisons on the funding of the education of 16 to 19 year olds are far from straight forward. My Department is currently considering the best basis for making sound comparisons. The Government remains firmly committed to bring up the level of funding of colleges towards that of school sixth forms. However, as we have repeatedly made clear, this will take time and must be done as resources allow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what publicly owned accommodation is made available to her in her official role; how many nights she has been in residence at each of these properties in the last 12 months; and what the total cost was of maintaining each of these properties in the last 12 months. [55099]

[holding answer 9 May 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills does not have publicly owned accommodation available in her official role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 2 May 2002, Official Report, column 906W, on the Business Development Unit, what proportion of the £7.3 million sponsorship was (a) in cash and (b) in kind; and if she will list examples of the latter. [55405]

The £7.3 million sponsorship referred to in my answer on 2 May is divided into £2.7 million cash, and £4.6 million in-kind support. Examples of in-kind support include the provision of free or subsidised computers; presentational equipment and other resources for teaching such as books and CD-ROMs; training for teachers; ICT support; and employer and employee time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to introduce education maintenance allowances nationwide. [55703]

We will be taking decisions on any future extension of the scheme on the basis of the rigorous evaluation currently being conducted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in Luton have benefited from the educational maintenance allowance pilot scheme since its introduction.[55755]

The education maintenance allowance became available in Luton in September 2000. During the academic year 2000–01, 886 students benefited from EMAs. In the current academic year 1,588 students have received weekly payments so far. Some of these students receiving EMA in this academic year will now be benefiting from a second year of support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on the creation of a sector skills council to service the tourism industry. [56029]

Five Trailblazer Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) were announced in December 2001. The expression of interest from the tourism and hospitality industry was not selected in this instance. However, non-selection as a trailblazer does not preclude a sector from submitting an expression of interest to form a SSC.A business adviser has been working with the tourism and hospitality sector. A readiness assessment has been carried out to determine what further work needs to be done before proposals from the sector can be considered by the Sector Skills Development Agency. The sector will be advised of the outcome shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many classes at Key Stage 1 have more than 30 children in them; how many Key Stage 1 children are in classes of over 30; and when all Key Stage 1 children will be taught in classes of under 30 children. [55020]

[holding answer 9 May 2002]: The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 placed a duty on local education authorities and schools to ensure that infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds taught by one teacher were limited to no more than 30 pupils by September 2001 at the latest. The legislation does allow the limit of 30 to be exceeded in certain circumstances. Such circumstances include, for example, the admission of an infant outside of the normal admission round, and for whom there is no other suitable school nearby, or on the direction of an admission appeal panel.The January 2002 annual schools census found that out of a total of 61,527 infant classes, 329 (0.5 per cent.) classes containing 10,398 children, were reported as containing 31 or more pupils on the day of the count. Of these classes 249 contained 31 or more pupils because of reasons permitted by the legislation. Over 99 per cent. of all infants are now in classes of 30 or fewer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying her decision on the bid made by Gloucestershire county council for a PFI for Cleeve School, Bishop's Cleeve, Cheltenham. [54649]

[holding answer 8 May 2002]: The application from Gloucestershire local education authority (LEA) for PFI credits in 2003–04 was not supported as it did not meet the criteria, as set out in the guidance issued to LEAs on 31 July 2001, to the same extent as those applications from other authorities which were supported. An official from the Department met with members and officers from Gloucestershire LEA on 26 April to provide detailed feedback and to explore how the application might be strengthened for future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many net additional staff her Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at (a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level. [52425]

The information requested is set out in the table as follows.

	Executive Officer level		Administrative Officer level
Month/Type of staff	Headcount	FTE	Headcount	FTE
June 2001
Permanent	–1	–1	–2	–1
Temporary	+1	+1	+7	+6
Total	—	—	+5	+5
July 2001
Permanent	+4	+4	+3	+3
Temporary	+3	+3	+37	+36
Total	+7	+7	+40	+39
August 2001
Permanent	–13	–13	–16	–15
Temporary	+2	+2	–11	–11
Total	–11	–11	–27	–26

	Executive Officer level		Administrative Officer level
Month/Type of staff	Headcount	FTE	Headcount	FTE
September 2001
Permanent	+4	+4	+5	+5
Temporary	–6	–6	–19	–19
Total	–2	–2	–14	–14
October 2001
Permanent	+5	+5	–1	–1
Temporary	–1	–1	–7	–6
Total	+4	+4	+6	+5
November 2001
Permanent	+25	24	+7	+6
Temporary	–3	–3	–12	–11
Total	+22	+21	–5	–5
December 2001
Permanent	+4	+5	+7	+7
Temporary	+1	+1	–2	–1
Total	+5	+6	+5	+6
January 2002
Permanent	+13	+13	+18	+18
Temporary	+2	+2	+4	+4
Total	+15	+15	+22	+22
February 2002
Permanent	+5	+5	+3	+3
Temporary	+4	+4	–10	–9
Total	+9	+9	–7	–6
March 2002
Permanent	–2	–2	–2	–2
Temporary	+6	+6	–9	–9
Total	+4	+4	–11	–11
+ = An increase in staffing numbers
- = A decrease in staffing numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will place in the Library copies of each version of the internal guidance which have been drawn up by her Department since 1 January 1999 to assist staff in her Department to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998. [53362]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. McCabe) on 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 446W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) agency teachers and (b) teachers on contracts of one term or less were employed in schools in England, broken down by local education authority, in each of the last five years. [53663]

[holding answer 30 April 2002]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school buses are in use in England. [54861]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she has introduced to increase transport for children on the daily school run. [54862]

Local education authorities provide home to school transport which fulfils statutory requirements set out in the Education Act 1996. They also have discretion to make additional transport provision to meet local needs. There have been no recent changes to these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to improve the safety of children on their journeys to and from school. [54796]

Home to school transport is the responsibility of local education authorities. They must monitor the condition of vehicles used for transporting pupils from home to school and report any safety defects to the Vehicle Inspectorate, which sponsors the annual Operation Coachman inspection of buses and taxis used for the school run.This Department, in partnership with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, is taking steps to improve the safety of children whenever they use the roads, on the school journey and at other times, through a combination of engineering, enforcement and education measures. An example is a scheme recently announced by my transport colleagues that is giving children from vulnerable backgrounds practical roadside training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the functions of her Department that have been (a) market tested and (b) outsourced in each of the last five years, specifying the (i) money saving and (ii) percentage saving in each case. [42985]

It will not be possible to answer this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what recent representations she has received on the transparency of the arrangements for post-16 funding by the Learning and Skills Council; and if she will make a statement; [55086](2) what representations she has received from

My right hon. Friend has received wide-ranging representations from a number of schools, local education authorities and trade unions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list reports published by the Government between 1972 and 2002 that concern mathematics, including (a) the study and teaching of mathematics of school pupils from starting age to Advanced Level, (b) the shortage of mathematics teachers, (c) the declining levels of students undertaking mathematics courses in further and higher education and (d) the failure to engage the interest of pupils studying mathematics. [49852]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A list is available of mathematics publications issued or sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills, its predecessors and non-departmental public bodies, during the period 1972–2002. However, the list is not comprehensive or official. I am placing a copy in the Libraries, together with figures for Higher Education students studying mathematics for the period 1994–95 to 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has made to further education colleges regarding time taken off each month by students waiting for their asylum applications to be processed to report at Gatwick. [54158]

None. Asylum processing arrangements are a matter for the Home Office. It is important that students attend Immigration Service reporting centres as required. I would expect further education colleges to plan learning for asylum seeker students as they would any other students and take account of an individual's personal circumstances wherever practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which chief education officers and other interested organisations were consulted on removing some asylum-seeking children from sections 13 and 14 of the Education Act 1996; and if she will place their responses in the Library. [54736]

[holding answer 9 May 2002]: A consultation exercise was conducted with a very small number of chief education officers to gather views on the removal of some children of asylum seekers from sections 13 and 14 of the Education Act 1996. They were asked to treat this consultation as confidential. In view of the fact that those whose views were sought were approached on a confidential basis we do not consider it appropriate to list those who were consulted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to authorise a further round of local Sure Start programmes. [56841]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and I have today invited the following districts in England to set up 85 new sure start programmes:

• Ashfield
• Barking and Dagenham
• Barnet
• Barnsley
• Bath and North East Somerset
• Birmingham¹
• Blackburn with Darwen
• Blyth Valley
• Bradford
• Breckland
• Broxtowe
• Burnley
• Camden
• Canterbury
• Charnwood
• Coventry
• Derwentside
• Doncaster
• Dudley
• Greenwich
• Hackney
• Halton
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Haringey
• Hull
• Ipswich
• Islington
• Kirklees
• Knowsley
• Lambeth
• Leeds
• Leicester
• Lewes
• Lewisham
• Lincoln
• Liverpool¹
• Manchester¹

• Mansfield
• Middlesbrough
• Newcastle
• Newham
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Norfolk
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Oldham
• Pendle
• Penwith
• Peterborough
• Portsmouth
• Preston
• Rochdale
• Salford
• Sandwell
• Sedgefield
• Selby
• Sheffield
• Shrewsbury and Atcham
• South Kesteven
• South Tyneside
• Southwark
• St. Helens
• Stockton on Tees
• Stoke on Trent
• Sunderland
• Sutton
• Tameside
• Teesdale
• Telford and Wrekin
• Tower Hamlets
• Vale Royal
• Wakefield
• Walsall
• Waltham Forest
• Wandsworth
• Warrington
• Warwick
• Westminster
• Wirral
• Wolverhampton
• Wycombe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Foreign Ministers of EU applicant countries to discuss enlargement issues. [54380]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I regularly meet our opposite numbers from the candidate countries. I visited Cyprus last month, and the Foreign Secretary plans to visit Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Bratislava later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in negotiations with EU applicant countries. [54390]

The Laeken European Council confirmed the EU's determination to complete negotiations with those countries that are ready at the end of this year, so that they can participate in the next European Parliament elections in 2004. The negotiations are on course to meet this timetable.Currently 11 of the 12 countries in negotiations have opened 30 chapters. Cyprus has closed 27 chapters, Slovenia and Lithuania have both closed 26, the Czech Republic has closed 25, Hungary, Estonia, Slovakia and Latvia have closed 24, Poland has closed 23, Malta has closed 21, and Bulgaria has closed 17. Romania has opened 24 chapters and closed 11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to help United Kingdom business prepare for EU enlargement.[54405]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Rosemary McKenna), at columns 635–36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the recent ministerial visit to Cyprus; and if he will make a statement on progress on negotiations between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island. [54381]

I visited Cyprus on 10 and 11 April and met, among others, President Clerides and Mr. Denktash. I remain hopeful that a settlement can be found that will enable a reunited island to join the EU.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the state is of the peace talks in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [56161]

Face-to-face talks with UN involvement for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement are at an important stage. The UK and the international community hope to see a reunited Cyprus accede to the EU. We are working hard to help all involved to move negotiations forward and co-operating fully with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser, Alvaro de Soto.As the UN Security Council stated on 2 May, the time has now come to set down on paper areas of common ground between the two sides, with the aim of establishing the component parts of a comprehensive settlement which takes full consideration of relevant UN resolutions and treaties; and, where differences remain, to narrow and remove those through a process of negotiation focused on compromise formulations.My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has welcomed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit to Cyprus, from 14 to 16 May. He said:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact the peace talks in Cyprus will have on Cyprus' accession to the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [56162]

The UK and the international community want to see a reunited Cyprus accede to the European Union. We are working hard to help all involved to move negotiations forward and co-operating fully with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser, Alvaro de Soto.The UK supports agreement of the Helsinki European Council in 1999 that, taking into account all relevant factors, a political settlement on Cyprus would facilitate, but is not a precondition of, Cyprus' accession to the EU. Cyprus continues to make good progress in the accession negotiations and is expected to complete them at the Copenhagen European Council in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has recently met the representatives of the British citizens recently convicted of security offences in Greece; and if he will make a statement. [54382]

I have not met any representatives of the recently convicted British nationals in question. However, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary intends to meet a group on 23 May at the Foreign Office. My noble Friend the Baroness Amos who has responsibility for consular matters met the group on 22 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to efforts to renew the peace process in Colombia. [54383]

We continue to play an active role in efforts to renew the peace process in Colombia. We condemn the violence, kidnapping and involvement in the drugs trade by all illegal groups in Colombia. We remain in close touch on this with our EU partners, the US Administration and the United Nations, together with the Colombian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has held with British-based corporations who are involved in mineral exploration in Colombia covering the rights of local people; and if he will make a Statement.[55611]

[holding answer 13 May 2002]: The FCO, in partnership with several leading international oil and mining companies, human rights NGOs and Corporate Social Responsibility organisations has developed a set of "Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in the Extractive Industries". Launched in December 2000, they provide guidance on how companies can best fulfil their human rights objectives in security provision in conflict-prone regions. The participating companies, in dialogue with NGOs convened by Governments, have been working to implement the Principles of the ground. The Governments have organised in-country meetings in several countries, including Colombia, to promote local implementation of the Principles by oil and mining companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress being made to maintain democracy and peace in sub-Saharan Africa. [54384]

The FCO is working to bring peace and security to Sierra Leone, helping to end to the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea and to resolve the conflicts in the Great Lakes Region, Sudan and Angola, as well as co-ordinating international pressure on the Mugabe regime to respect democracy.The United Kingdom also supports to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), aimed at improving political and economic governance in Africa.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Zimbabwe. [54385]

What has happened in Zimbabwe is a tragedy, imposed by Robert Mugabe. The only way back is through respect for the rule of law, and a return to democratic principles and sensible economic policies.Our policy towards Zimbabwe, in the aftermath of the election, is to work with Zimbabwe's friends in Africa and internationally to promote democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.