To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps she plans to take to ensure high standards in animal sanctuaries; [122652](2) if she will make it a requirement for animal sanctuaries to be licensed. [122653]

This Department is currently working on an Animal Welfare Bill. Under the new legislation it is proposed to licence animal sanctuaries and to apply a statutory code of practice that will set a minimum standard of welfare for animals in sanctuaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she will reply to the letter of 6 May from the hon. Member for Billericay regarding Pitsea Tip; [119460](2) when her Department will reply to the letter of 6 May from the hon. Member for Billericay regarding Pitsea Tip. [122730]

[holding answer 30 June 2003]: The hon. Member's letter was received in the Department on 20 May. I responded on 4 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place requiring farmers and growers spraying crops to inform the public about the type of chemicals being used. [123002]

The Statutory Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings provides advice for farmers on best practice, including notifying the public of impending spray operations. There is also a legal obligation to notify others in the case of aerial spraying of pesticides and for the use of sulphuric acid as a pesticide. In addition to these safeguards Ministers are considering if further measures could be taken to make more information available to the public on pesticide spray operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many greyhounds have retired from British greyhound racing in each year since 1997; and how many were re-homed each year. [122266]

The Government do not hold records on the numbers of greyhounds that retire each year from racing.Each racing greyhound is the property of an individual owner and so it is not possible to record what happens to dogs once they retire.The racing industry and welfare organisations estimate that some 9,000 racing greyhounds retire each year. The Retired Greyhound Trust claims to re-home 1,400 per year. An undisclosed number will remain with their owners as pets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of shark (a) fishing and (b) finning on the world's population of sharks. [122658]

Current scientific knowledge indicates that many of the world's populations of sharks are under threat from fishing activities. The targeting of sharks for their fins alone adds to this threat. In view of concern over this threat to shark populations, this Department has been working to protect sharks at a national and international level. In addition to putting in place measures to protect the basking shark under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, we have secured strengthened protection for this species at an international level under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) produced in 1999 an International Plan of Action for the conservation and management of sharks, to which the European Commission signed up on behalf of the European Union. We have been pressing the Commission for action to follow this up and are pleased that work will begin shortly on the development and implementation of a Community Plan of Action.Discussions on a Commission regulation to restrict the practice of shark finning have recently concluded. While it was not possible to achieve the complete ban on this practice that we would have preferred, we were able to secure some important concessions, including additional control clauses and a commitment to a complete review of the regulation in the light of the development of the Community Plan of Action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to make available additional funding to the Environment Agency for the regulation of on-farm drum incinerators when the Agricultural Waste Regulations are introduced. [122754]

A draft of the Agricultural Waste Regulations will be issued for public consultation in the autumn with a view to their coming into force in early 2004. The main purpose of the Regulations is to apply the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive to agricultural waste. Incineration is subject to control under the Directive as a waste disposal operation. Provision has been made within the Corporate Planning process to meet the Environment Agency's costs, through charges and Grant-in-Aid, as a "competent authority" for the control of agricultural waste under the Directive. My Department has received no specific request from the Agency for funding for the regulation of on-farm drum incinerators.

To ask the Secretary a State for Transport what plans he has to change the measurement criteria for aircraft noise in the UK to correspond to those of the World Health Organisation. [123437]

WHO noise guideline figures are given in terms of equivalent continuous sound level (dBA L_eq) and of the sound event peak (dBA L_max). L_eq is already the established metric for averaging aircraft noise, as recommended in the planning guidance note PPG 24. L_max and SEL (which takes account of event duration as well as peak level) are also extensively used in describing individual noise events.In due course, noise contours will also be produced for aircraft noise and for other sources in accordance with the metrics, again based on L

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) published in the last two years on the impact of different aircraft noise levels on those affected. [123438]

The Department for Transport commissioned a study into attitudes to noise from civil aircraft sources in England in November 2001; it is expected to report towards the end of next year.This major study was commissioned following three earlier, smaller-scale studies commissioned by DETR into the effects of noise specifically at night: "Adverse Effects of Night-Time Aircraft Noise" (CAA R&D 9964); "Aircraft noise and sleep—1999 UK Trial Methodology Study" (Flindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement regarding the progress of Crossrail. [123056]

:I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Transport to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey), and my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mike Gapes) on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 149.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003, Official Report, columns 736–37W, on disabled parking permits, when he will take forward the recommendations received on the Blue Badge Scheme; and what enforcement measures he proposes to take. [123818]

We are committed to introducing a specific power for the police, traffic wardens and local authority parking enforcement officers to inspect badges. We are also looking at the feasibility of establishing a national database of badge holders; the introduction of smartcard technology; increasing penalties for abuse and misuse of the Scheme.The power to inspect, and a number of other measures, will need to be introduced through primary legislation and we are looking for a suitable legislative opportunity to do so. Meanwhile, we are already working on the changes that require secondary legislation, taking forward a number of research projects and drafting new guidance for local authorities to accompany the changes. We aim to implement the changes at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the passenger numbers to Liverpool John Lennon airport have changed in the past five years. [124212]

The number of passengers arriving at or departing from Liverpool John Lennon airport has increased from 680,000 in 1997 to 2,835,000 in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times he and his predecessors met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years. [122142]

Ministers meet the Mayor of London from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent changes have been made in the risk profile of the London Underground PPP. [124038]

As there has been no changes to the PPP contract terms, which may alter the allocation of risk, there have been no changes in the risk profile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances Network Rail carries out routine tree felling; and if he will make a statement. [123845]

This is an operational matter for Network Rail. However, as my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State stated in responding to the adjournment debate of 3 June 2003 called by my hon. Friend, Network Rail's first priority is to operate a safe, reliable railway. Tree clearance plays an important part in achieving that objective and in addressing the significant impact upon train performance arising from leaf fall in the autumn. Network Rail must strike a balance between providing a safe, efficient, reliable and affordable rail network and meeting environmental and community concerns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his recent letter to Mr. John Home Robertson MSP, referred to in column 1209 of the Scottish Parliament Official Report of 26 June 2003 regarding his plans to introduce legislation to allow the establishment of safety zones around UK offshore windfarms. [123761]

A copy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many coastal local authorities (a) do not have and (b) have oil spill contingency plans that have not been updated since the publication of the National Contingency Plan for dealing with pollution incidents. [123613]

There are 164 coastal local authorities in the UK. Of these, only one does not have an oil spill contingency plan as yet. Of the 53 coastal local authorities who published contingency plans prior to the National Contingency Plan, all but one has either rewritten, or begun the process of reviewing/rewriting their plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to give coastal local authorities a statutory responsibility to prepare and maintain oil spill contingency plans. [123614]

The question of whether coastal local authorities should have a statutory duty to prepare contingency plans for shoreline pollution incidents was raised in the context of the Emergency Planning Review, and my Department will be commenting on the resulting draft Civil Contingencies Bill, which has recently been published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the development of a commercial runway at Redhill Aerodrome with a rail line to Gatwick Station would fall within the vicinity of Gatwick as defined in the 1979 agreement between BAA and West Sussex county council; and if he will make a statement. [123846]

The Department for Transport has made no assessment of the type referred to by the hon. Member. We will consider this as part of our appraisal of the proposals submitted by Redhill Aerodrome Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2003, Official Report, column 192W, on Redhill Aerodrome, what future meetings are planned with Redhill Aerodrome Ltd. and associated companies and individuals. [123851]

No further meetings are currently planned with Redhill Aerodrome Ltd. (RAL) or representatives thereof. Their second response to "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East)" was submitted on 30 June 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years. [122255]

Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service are collected from the department and its agencies twice-yearly, in April and October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2002 were published on 27 February 2003.A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics.More detailed information on the Civil Service is published annually in 'Civil Service Statistics'. The last edition, based on April 2001 data, was published in June 2002. The next edition, based on April 2002 data, is due to be published at the end of July 2003.Data on staff in non-departmental public bodies are published by Cabinet Office in its annual publication. The latest edition 'Public Bodies 2002', was published in January 2003.Staff costs for the Department for Transport can be found in our Annual Report 2003.Copies of both the Civil Service Statistics and Public Bodies 2002 are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many unmanned level crossings have been closed to public access in each of the last five years; [121005](2) what discussions his Department has had with Network Rail since its formation on public access across unmanned level crossings over the rail network. [121006]

This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail advises that information on the number of public unmanned level crossing closures in each of the last five years is not readily available. Departmental officials have a number of discussions with Network Rail on a number of matters, which include level crossings. More generally, the Health and Safety Executive has on-going discussions with Network Rail at both local and national level about safety and access arrangements at level crossings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the Arts Council of England to transfer funds to the Film Council to fund the accessibility to films initiative announced on 9 December 2002; and if she will make a statement. [123328]

As part of the £176 million Arts Capital Programme, Arts Council England earmarked £15 million for cinema exhibition. Part of that £15 million was the sum of £500,000 to improve accessibility to films for people with sensory disabilities.In 2002, the Arts Council made the further decision to delegate the earmarked £15 million to the Film Council once their film exhibition strategy was in place. They have recently received details of the scheme from the Film Council and are now in a position to complete delegation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what VisitBritain is doing to promote overseas tourism in Wales. [123338]

VisitBritain works closely in partnership with the Wales Tourist Board in Wales's priority markets abroad, especially US, Germany and the Netherlands, to promote Wales by means of a wide range of marketing activities. In addition, since June last year, VisitBritain has organized some 46 familiarisation visits to Wales for journalists from 10 key markets world-wide. Wales is also featured extensively in a number of VisitBritain's campaigns, both on the web and in print. These include, for example, the Hidden Britain and Royal Heritage campaigns, which highlight Caernarfon Castle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the people appointed to ad hoc posts within her Department bearing the titles of advocate, Tsar, adviser, champion and comparable titles since May 1997; what their job title is or was; what their role is or was; whether they were or are being paid; what the total cost of each such person was in each financial year, including expenses and benefits; what the expected cost of each such person is in 2003–04; to whom they are accountable; and if she will make a statement. [112469]

At 11 June, my Department had the following special advisers: Jim Godfrey, Deborah Lincoln, Roger Sharp and Kitty Ussher. With the exception of one adviser, all of the above are paid appointments. Under exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, details of individual salaries are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish draft legislation on audit and company law reforms. [123569]

[holding answer 4 July 2003]: We have just completed consultation on proposals for taking forward changes to the regulatory regime for the accountancy profession following last year's review, and on community interest companies. We hope to set out some further elements of company law reform by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the percentage of the UK population was without any form of bank account in each of the last five years; and what she estimates it will be in April 2004. [118328]

I have been asked to reply.Information is not available for the time period requested or for UK coverage. The Family Resources Survey can provide estimates up to 2001–02 for Great Britain. This information is in the table.

	Percentage of adults without any form of bank account
1997–98	11
1998–99	10
1999–2000	10
2000–01	11
2001–02	9

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether BNFL requires authorisation to provide donations to the United States Nuclear Energy Institute. [116800]

No. This is a matter for the BNFL Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding will be made available for the provision of broadband infrastructure for rural villages. [123482]

My aim is for every community across the UK, irrespective of location, to be able to access affordable broadband from a competitive market.Government will be spending £1 billion over the next few years on public sector connectivity. This will enable broadband access in every primary and secondary school, GP's surgeries and other public sector services. DTI, with Regional Development Agencies are aggregating this public sector demand and this investment will have a significant positive impact on industry investment and availability of broadband. I believe this will make a significant contribution to extending broadband to village communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) start ups of new businesses and (b) businesses going into receivership there were in each of the last three years in (i) England and Wales and (ii) North Yorkshire. [123483]

New business start-ups are measured officially by VAT registrations. The latest data is available for 2001.

VAT registrations 1999–2001
Number
	1999	2000	2001
England and Wales	163,485	168,455	160,280
Former Country of North Yorkshire1	2,240	2,30	2,210
1Includes York UA

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many adverse reports required under the Company Directors' Disqualification Act 1986 have been received by her Department concerning the conduct of directors in each year since 1997. [122903]

The information is as follows:

Calendar Year	IP Adverse Reports	OR Adverse Reports	Total
1997	3,280	2,576	5,856
1998	3,314	2,229	5,543
1999	3,422	2,140	5,562
2000	3,396	2,153	5,549
2001	3,186	2,074	5,260
2002	3,552	2,500	6,052

The above figures are the number of unfitted reports submitted by both Insolvency Practitioners (IP) and Official Receivers (OR).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many disqualification orders have been made against directors under the Company Directors' Disqualification Act 1986 for a period of (a) two years and (b) more than two years in each year since 1997. [122904]

The figures for the number of disqualification orders and undertakings obtained by The Insolvency Service under section 6 of the Company Directors' Disqualification Act 1986 are:

	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997
Two Years	74	100	122	122	114	128
More than Two Years	1,520	1,589	1,380	1,367	1,236	1,091
Total	1,594	1,689	1,502	1,489	1,350	1,219

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many disqualification undertakings have been received by her Department from company directors since 1 April 2001. [122909]

The information is as follows:

	Undertakings
Period April 2001 to March 2002	1,213
Period April 2002 to March 2003	197
Total	2,685

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the Tyson Report on the Recruitment and Development of Non-Executive Directors; and if she will implement its recommendations. [122996]

I am grateful to Laura Tyson and her group for her thought-provoking report. It shows the clear benefits for business of diversity at board level. It is vital for UK business that they look more widely for the best candidates. I also agree that it is important to monitor change and highlight best practice examples of building diverse and meritocratic boards.I welcome the report's three recommendations:1. Rigorous and transparent Non-Executive Director Selection Processes—This is being taken forward as part of the Financial Reporting Council's work on amending the Combined Code, following Derek Higgs' Review.2. An initiative to bring together companies and training providers to establish guidelines to ensure that training programmes for directors are providing what is needed, and that useful information about such programmes is easily accessible on a timely basis.3. An initiative to monitor both progress on achieving rigorous and transparent processes for NED appointments and progress on building more diverse boardrooms. I agree that it would be useful to monitor progress and disseminate best practice and we will be considering how best this should be done. But it is clear this is not the end of the story. We must see real results in broadening the talent pool of directors appointed to our boardrooms and we are also looking at what further work the government can do to help business achieve this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the items of employment legislation, including delegated legislation, introduced by her Department since 1997. [122906]

In its first term (1997–2001), the Government introduced a foundation of minimum standards in the workplace. Every employee now has, for example, the right to a minimum wage, paid holidays, rest breaks, time off for family emergencies, and a cap on the working week. Trade unions have the right to recognition by the employer where a majority of the workforce want it. Part-time workers have the same rights as their full-time colleagues.In its second term, the Government are building on all these measures in their drive to raise productivity, including a range of changes to support families and to make work pay. The Government have improved existing maternity rights and introduced paid paternity and adoption leave for the first time. For example, the payment period of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance has been extended to 26 weeks. They have also introduced a right for working parents with children under six, or disabled children under 18, to request flexible working. This new right builds on existing best practice and further enforces our aim to promote greater dialogue in the workplace to find flexible solutions which suit both employers and employees.Recently both Houses have passed regulations to tackle discrimination in employment on the grounds of sexual orientation and religion or belief, which will take effect in December 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is planning to stimulate and develop new and effective markets in energy saving services. [123681]

Following a commitment made in the Energy White Paper, the Energy Services Working Group has been set up, under the joint chair of my Department, Defra and Ofgem, to look at ways of promoting an effective market in energy services. The Working Group will make recommendations to Ministers in December.Membership of the Working Group includes energy suppliers, Energywatch and the Energy Saving Trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legislative changes she proposes to ensure that (a) models, (b) actors and (c) entertainers are not at risk from rogue (i) entertainment, (ii) theatrical and (iii) modelling agents. [123588]

Our proposed changes to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations will provide that model, theatrical and entertainment agents should only deduct sums from workers' earnings from work the agent has found for them. We are seeking to outlaw the practice of unscrupulous agencies that take money from workers in the modelling and entertainment sectors but offer little or no work.We also propose to tighten up controls on client accounts so that the earnings of models, actors and entertainers are properly protected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the statutory undertakers about graffiti on their street furniture or other property; and if she will make a statement. [118087]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to her by my hon. Friend the Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing, and Community Safety on 1 July 2003, Official Report, columns 248–49.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are for alternative campaigns and materials following the decision to withdraw free literature on home safety. [122534]

It is not true to say that DTI is withdrawing all free literature or from home safety campaigns. What we have done is to focus our limited resources onto areas where we believe DTI can make an impact and that are line with the DTI's aim of promoting prosperity for all.The Department continues to provide information to support work undertaken by practitioners in a number of areas including, falls prevention and firework safety. In addition we continue to support RoSPA and others in their work to reduce home accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the funding used to maintain the Home and Leisure Surveillance System will be transferred to the Department of Health to support the development of their injury data system. [122535]

As the decision to stop funding HASS was the result of resource constraints within the DTI, I have no plans to transfer funding to the Department of Health. However, I have offered to support initiatives that the Department of Health might launch to strengthen the surveillance of accidental injury at regional and local levels in the NHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the decisions (a) to scrap the Home and Leisure Surveillance Systems and (b) to withdraw free literature on home and home safety campaigns. [122556]

On 2 May 2003, my hon. Friend the then Minister for consumer affairs, announced that the DTI will no longer collect statistics on the causes and nature of home and leisure accidents. Following increased pressure on resources and the need to focus on the Department's core priorities, hard decisions had to be made on what to stop. The collection of accident statistics did not fit with these priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason used ink cartridges are classed by her Department as consumables rather than recyclable waste; and what assessment she has made of the impact of that classification on (a) the amount of waste going to landfill, (b) the cartridge recycling industry and (c) the cost of cartridges. [123001]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10 June 2003,Official Report, columns 762–63.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Qualified Insolvency Practitioners are employed by the Insolvency Service. [122905]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees there were in the Insolvency Service in each year since 1997; and how many, in each year, have been on contracts of 12 months or less. [122908]

The numbers of staff employed in the Insolvency Service is published in the agency's Annual Report and Accounts. Due to an upgrade of IT systems information about staff employed on contracts of 12 months or less will not be available until August 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what loans were made by the Government to the Government of Iraq since 1979; how much has been repaid; how much is still owed; and if she will make a statement. [122671]

The DTI has not been party to any Government to Government loans between the UK and Iraq. However, unrecovered claims resulting from ECGD insuring UK exports or guaranteeing related commercial loans prior to 1991 on Iraq currently amount to £623million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to reduce the price of new motor vehicles. [123970]

The supply of New Car Order 2000 came into force on 1 September 2000 following a Competition Commission monopoly inquiry. One of the main provisions of the order is designed to ensure that manufacturers do not discriminate unfairly between discounts for fleet customers and dealers. The Office of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring compliance with the order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost to employers of introducing the minimum wage to (a) 17-year-olds and (b) 16 and 17-year-olds at (i) the youth rate and (ii) the adult rate; and if she will make a statement. [122875]

[holding answer 3 July 2003]: In forming its minimum wage policy, the Government takes into account the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission. The Commission presented their fourth report to the Government in March 2003.In that report, the Commission recommended that they should be asked to consider the possible introduction of a minimum wage rate for 16 to 17-year-olds. The Government accepted this recommendation and has invited the Commission to look at this issue in parallel with a wider government review looking at education and training policy and the system of financial support for young people. The cost to employers will be one factor the Commission will wish to consider. The Commission have been asked to report by the end of February 2004 and we will of course consider their report very carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the second annual report from the Director of the Office of Civil Nuclear Security was published; and what steps have been taken to publicise its release. [123665]

The second annual report from the Director of Civil Nuclear Security was published on Wednesday 26 June 2003. The publication was posted on the Department of Trade and Industry's website. A press release was issued on 27 June regarding the publication, and this is also available on the DTIs website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the two security breaches at nuclear sites referred to at paragraph 53 of the annual report of the Director of Civil Nuclear Security on the State of Security in the Civil Nuclear Industry and the Effectiveness of Security Regulation, April 2002–March 2003. [123760]

The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) investigations into security breaches are confidential, and I am therefore unable to comment upon them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives her Department has in place to discourage UK companies and businesses from locating facilities and services overseas. [115048]

We believe that the most effective way to discourage firms from moving abroad is to create the best environment for business success in the UK.We assist firms in a variety of ways.We provide practical advice and support to enable every company to be the best it can be. For example the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), launched last year, provides expert advice and consultancy to help companies drive up their value added. On average companies who have participated in MAS in-depth consultancy projects have seen added value of nearly £90,000 per year.We support firms in the research and development activities that will keep them ahead of the competition. For example, an R&D tax credit for large and middle-sized companies was introduced this year to complement the tax credit for small and medium-sized companies introduced in budget 2000. In 2001–02, the first year for which figures are available, somewhere in the region of 3,000 small and medium-sized companies made claims under the tax credit scheme.Each year we invest around £1 billion in support for the businesses that create Britain's wealth. We support the investment work of the regional development agencies for example through regional selective assistance through which we offer selective grants to firms investing in the assisted areas and creating or safeguarding jobs. In England in 2002–03, £934 million of business investment was secured as a result of 192 RSA grants totalling £108 million. This is expected to create over 10,000 new jobs and safeguard a further 9,000. Financial assistance to companies in Wales is a devolved matter for the National Assembly for Wales. Data on financial assistance given under the Industrial Development Act 1982, including regional selective assistance, is contained in the Annual Report to Parliament for 2002–03 which was laid on 26 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to prevent public utilities companies from passing on costs arising from their pension fund deficits to their customers; and if she will make a statement. [123199]

As with all other economic matters, the issue of cost pass-through to customers is for the independent economic regulators to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Regional Selective Assistance. [122901]

The Government is committed to ensuring that its resources are directed effectively to support viable investments in our poorest regions and Regional Selective Assistance forms part of that commitment. Regional Selective Assistance projects were last evaluated in 1998–2000, and the results of that evaluation are available on www.dti.gov.uk/support/rsajf2512001.htmWe expect to announce in the Autumn the DTF's new portfolio of Business Support products, including regional investment support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to develop regulatory arrangements to exploit the potential for renewable energy developments in Scotland consistent with (a) Ofgem's statutory objectives and (b) Transmission System Owners' licence obligations. [122574]

The British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA) are currently under development and the Government is committed to bringing forward legislation in time to implement BETTA in April 2005. BETTA will give all renewable generators in Scotland access to a GB wide market and will ensure that the costs of investment in the infrastructure in Scotland needed to meet our renewables targets can be spread across all GB users.Ofgem have asked the Government to bring forward the legislation necessary to bring in BETTA because the new arrangements are in line with Ofgem's duties to protect the interests of customers by promoting competition where possible. BETTA will require changes to the licence obligations placed on the Transmission System Owners. All changes to these licences are being consulted on as part of the consultation process on BETTA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on improvements to the National Grid as set out in the Transmission Issues Working Group Final Report; what discussions she has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) electricity transmission companies on (i) improvements to the National Grid and (ii) the delivery of renewable energy targets; and if she will make a statement. [122577]

It is clear that the transmission grid has to be modified and strengthened in order to accommodate the Government's renewable energy targets. The Transmission Issues Working Group final report has led to work commencing on the planning studies for measures required to increase the export of renewable energy from Scotland by upgrading the existing network infrastructure.The Transmission Issues Working Group is still in existence and meets again shortly. It comprises of representatives from the DTI, Ofgem, National Grid Transco, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern. Its key areas of interest are the upgrade of the transmission grid to accommodate new renewable energy generation located in Scotland and off the coasts of England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the work Trading Standards officers do to enforce regulations relating to the under-age sales of (a) alcohol, (b) fireworks, (c) spray paint, (d) air guns, (e) solvents, (f) cigarettes and (g) unclassified videos. [123615]

Within the terms of relevant legislation, Trading Standards Officers enforce the regulations in ways suited to local circumstances and priorities, working with other enforcement authorities, such as the police, where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision has been made by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan Transitional Authority to register returning refugees, internally displaced peoples and nomads for democratic elections scheduled to take place in 2004. [123028]

The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) is working closely with the Afghan Transitional Administration to develop a programme of voter registration. Plans are still being finalised but we understand from UNAMA that the national registration process will encompass Internally Displaced Peoples, returning refugees and nomads. The actual process of registration is scheduled to begin in August and run through the winter until March 2004. Subject to security constraints, rural areas, which are less accessible in winter, will be registered first followed then by urban areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British overseas territories have not complied with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on criminalisation of sexual activity between men; and what action he will take to ensure compliance. [123500]

None. Legislation decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting adults in private is in force in all British Overseas Territories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether EU sanctions against the Burmese junta will be linked to the atrocities committed by the regime against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people. [123346]

When the EU Common Position on Burma was strengthened and updated in April 2003, the plight of the ethnic minorities were specifically mentioned in the EU Council Conclusions. Should the EU agree more sanctions against Burma, the Government would ensure that the plight of Burma's ethnic minority groups was fully taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of human rights abuses committed by the Burmese military junta against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people. [123730]

[holding answer 4 July 2003]: Regrettably, we have not seen any substantive improvement in the overall human rights situation in Burma. The Karen, Karenni and Shan have suffered disproportionately. While the military authorities have allowed a delegation from Amnesty International to visit Burma, this has not led to an improvement in the human rights situation. I am especially concerned about the situation in light of recent arrests and detentions in Burma. We will continue to press bilaterally with the Burmese regime and in international fora for a rapid improvement in the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on British (a) forces and (b) employees from the Sovereign Base Areas visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus. [R] [123411]

I have been asked to reply.British Forces Cyprus Service Personnel, United Kingdom Based Civilians, authorised UK Officials and their dependants and specified close relatives are permitted to visit northern Cyprus. The procedure for application for a pass to visit northern Cyprus is under review because of recent events arising from the relaxation of the regulations by the Republic of Cyprus and the northern Cyprus authorities concerning cross border travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to promote contact and co-operation between (a) employers, (b) trade and employers' organisations and (c) trades unions in the government-controlled and occupied areas of Cyprus. [R] [123421]

Our High Commission in Nicosia encourages contact and cooperation, and free discussion of issues relating to the Cyprus Problem, within and between civil organisations on both sides of the Green Line in Cyprus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any Government has failed in its obligations to provide information it holds to the International Atomic Energy Agency about Saddam Hussein's regime's attempts to obtain uranium for Africa in the last five years. [123451]

[holding answer 3 July 2003]: We encouraged all states to share any information that they had with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).There is no requirement for the IAEA to inform us of who has, and who has not, provided information to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mass grave sites have been discovered in Iraq since the start of the recent conflict; and what steps are being taken by the occupying powers to (a) protect and secure the sites, (b) identify the victims and (c) bring criminal charges against the perpetrators. [123689]

To date 86 mass graves have been reported. Approximately 50 have been, or are currently, under investigation by coalition forces, who have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence of legacy crimes.We have sent a team of nine UK forensic experts to Iraq to investigate legacy crimes and mass graves. We are currently studying their recommendations for a long-term strategy for dealing with forensically important sites in Iraq and for further UK assistance in this area.We have always believed that those who have been responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes should be brought to justice. We believe it should be for the Iraqi people to decide how to bring those responsible to justice, with suitable international help.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreement was reached in the recent discussions in Madrid between the UK and 10 other countries regarding the possible interdiction of ships and planes from North Korea and other countries; whether the agreement has been published; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [123677]

The discussion, which took place on 12 June 2003, was an initial meeting of allies to establish the group and to share ideas for taking forward measures for interdiction. No formal agreements were concluded, except that the group would continue to meet regularly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of constructive engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. [123836]

The UK established diplomatic relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in December 2000 and opened an Embassy in Pyongyang in July 2001. Our contacts with the DPRK government in the period leading up to these decisions convinced us that it made sense to encourage the DPRK's integration into the international community, rather than see it remain isolated. Our diplomatic relationship has allowed us to keep open channels of communication which enable us to address the DPRK authorities frequently and directly on issues of international concern, pre-eminently non-proliferation and human rights. But we have told North Korea that there can be no normal relationship until the nuclear issue has been resolved.

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
FCO (staff)	5,930	5,594	5,523	5,620	5,737	6,054
£000,000	161.4	162.9	170.7	185.3	192.5	212.8
Agency—Wilton Park	41	44	47	47	53	55
£000	981	1,035	1,095	1,305	1,478	1,652
NDPBs:
Westminster Foundation for Democracy	6	6	7	9	9	11
£000	196	214.3	260.6	315.1	331.1	437.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Ministers from (a) North Korea and (b) China with respect to human rights in North Korea; and if he will make a statement. [123976]

Our establishment of diplomatic relations and an embassy in North Korea enable us to use official channels to raise human rights issues, including religious persecution, at regular intervals. Most recently, I discussed the human rights situation in North Korea with DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon during his visit to London in May. The UK also supported a resolution at this year's UN Commission on Human Rights. The resolution, which was adopted by a wide margin on 16 April, urges North Korea to co-operate with the UN human rights mechanisms.We regularly raise the issue of North Korean refugees with the Chinese, including at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. At the last round of the Dialogue, on 21 November 2002, we urged China to allow the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) access to the border areas and to observe its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. We will continue to encourage greater co-operation between China and UNHCR on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with colleagues in the European Union concerning the imposition of sanctions on Israel if Phase I of the road map for Peace is not adhered to. [121668]

There is no formal proposal for the EU to consider sanctions. The idea of sanctions has been discussed before but there has not been a consensus in favour. Israel and the Palestinian Authority should build on the recent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza and Bethlehem and meet their obligations under Phase I of the roadmap. We are devoting our efforts to encouraging them to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years. [122252]

The number of staff and the cost of those staff for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and each agency and non-departmental body it is responsible for in each year since 1997 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 815W, on Zimbabwe, if the British Government will assume responsibility for paying the pensions while the situation exists; what help is available to those pensioners in the UK who are not in receipt of their pensions; and if he will make a statement. [123096]

Responsibility for the payment of Zimbabwe Government pensions rests firmly with the Government of Zimbabwe. That has always been the case. We will continue to remind the Zimbabwe Government of its obligations to make these pension payments in full and on time. Zimbabwe pensioners in the UK whose incomes have fallen below a certain level and have few savings may qualify for income related entitlements, such as the minimum income guarantee. They should contact the minimum income guarantee scheme hotline on 0800 028 1111.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development whether his Department has provided funding to the provincial reconstruction teams for Afghanistan. [123640]

DFID has allocated £2 million as its contribution towards the UK Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) currently deploying to Mazar-e-Sharif. This funding is initially for a two-year period. It includes the cost of seconding a development advisor to the team and a budget for development projects in the local area.DFID is ready to make a similar contribution to another PRT, probably led by the US.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the (a) humanitarian, (b) economic and (c) cultural impact of forced removals of tribal groups from their tribal homelands in Botswana; and if he will make a statement. [123810]

Last year DFID commissioned a study on the situation of the San in Botswana and options for responses by the international community. The study, which has been placed in the House of Commons Library, sought to address the situation of the San in the context of broader poverty reduction issues in

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much the Department for International Development spent in each year since 2001 on the (a) Performance Reporting Information System for Management, (b) Multilateral Organisations' Performance Assessment Initiative and (c) Performance Assessment Network; if she will list the titles of their documents concerning the Department for International Development; and if he will place the documents in the Library. [122568]

The following amounts were spent on the Performance Reporting Information System for Management (PRISM):

Financial year	£
2001–02	482,000
2002–03	306,000

As both the Multilateral Organisations' Performance Assessment Initiative and the Performance Assessment Network are discussion groups it is not possible to identify a specific allocation of funding for these activities. There are no official documents relating to either PRISM or these two discussion groups.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how many street children there are in Russia; in which Russian republics they are; and how many street children there are in each republic. [123738]

There are no official statistics on street children in Russia and therefore no regional breakdown. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Development estimates that in 2002 there were approximately 10,100 street children in Russia. This is derived from records of the number of children admitted to state social care institutions in 2002.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much aid his Department gives to tackle the problem of street children in Russia; who this money is given to; and what the money is spent on. [123739]

DFID has two projects at regional level which support families and children at risk, including street children. These are:

"Children at Risk in Sverdlovsk Oblast". The project is being implemented by Everychild at a cost of £784,000. The project's duration is three and a half years, ending in September 2003; and

"Families and Children at Risk". This is a new project in Leningrad Oblast, with an expected value of £1,500,000 from autumn 2003 to the end of 2005. The implementing agency is yet to be determined.

Both projects provide technical assistance in the form of consultancy advice, training and study tours. The main beneficiaries are regional and local government administrations, and state and non-governmental organisations providing social services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) actual and (b) projected surplus is on the current budget; what the average surplus has been since 1999–2000; what the cyclically adjusted surplus is on the current budget; and what the public sector net debt is as a percentage of GDP from 2001 to 2008 (estimated). [124207]

I refer my hon. Friend to Table 2.7 of Budget 2003 (HC 500, Session 2002–03).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much fraudulent claims for child care tax credit cost the Exchequer in each year since it was introduced. [86663]

The Inland Revenue's compliance strategy for new tax credits, which has been informed by the Department's experience with WFTC & DPTC including the study of a sample of WFTC and DPTC awards, will be placed in the House of Commons Library later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish the Penrose report on Equitable Life in full as soon as it is received. [123808]

Lord Penrose's report will be published as soon as practicable after it is received.It is the Government's intention to publish Lord Penrose's report in full if it is at all possible to do so. However, parts of the report may be subject to legal and commercial confidentiality restrictions. For example, it is a criminal offence for confidential information received by regulators in the course of their duties to be disclosed to a third party except under certain, narrowly specified, conditions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines his Department has issued regarding the appointment of directors to the Board of Directors of the Financial Services Authority. [123625]

Schedule 1 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 states that the Treasury must appoint members to the FSA board. Treasury Ministers volunteered to follow The Commissioner for Public Appointments code of practice and adhere to these rules in making non-executive board appointments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the directors of the Financial Services Authority and their occupations. [123629]

A list of the directors of the FSA board and their occupations can be found on pages 120 and 121 of the 2002/03 FSA annual report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total amount of money lost through fraud in the system of tax credits for the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [96609]

The Inland Revenue's compliance strategy for new tax credits, which has been informed by the Department's experience with WFTC and DPTC including the study of a sample of WFTC and DPTC awards, will be placed in the House of Commons Library later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls have been fielded by the working tax credit and child tax credit helpline in each month since April 2002. [111381]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 616W, on the tax credit helpline, if he will estimate the number of (a) calls received and (b) calls handled by the helpline in (i) February, (ii) March and (iii) April. [112724]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls to the Inland Revenue's children's tax credit helpline have been abandoned (a) in total and (b) in each week since 1 April 2003. [118036]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average number of calls to the public helpline from those applying for or querying tax credits was each week in the past two months. [119513]

[holding answer 12 may 2003]: The following table shows the number of calls to the child and working tax credits helpline for Great Britain that were (i) received, (ii) handled and (iii) abandoned in each month since January 2003. These figures are based on a common set of definitions and are the final figures for these.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he estimates the proposed funding system for universities in England will have on the funding criteria for assessing payments under the Barnett Formula. [124132]

The student funding system for Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive within the overall funding announced for Scotland in the 2002 Spending Review.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what data is (a) collected and (b) published by the Church Commissioners concerning the financial performance of each diocese. [123298]

None. However, the Archbishops' Council receives copies of the published financial statements of each diocese. The council, in line with its responsibility to monitor the overall financial needs and resources of the Church, is in regular dialogue with dioceses about a wide range of financial issues and the Commissioners take part in this dialogue as appropriate.

To ask the Advocate-General what plans she has to meet with (a) Scottish Law Lords, (b) the judiciary in Scotland, (c) the Law Society of Scotland and (d) the Faculty of Advocates to discuss the proposals for a Supreme Court. [122717]

The policy responsibility for a Supreme Court rests with my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. He has stated that he intends to publish a consultation paper on 14 July 2003 containing proposals for a Supreme Court. The consultation period will run into November 2003 and the Government will be consulting very widely. I routinely meet many lawyers qualified in Scots law as well as English law in the course of my work and discuss current issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British special force troops remain in Afghanistan. [123594]

It is Government policy not to comment on the United Kingdom Special Forces, therefore I am withholding this information under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers defence, security and international relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Afghan heroin production levels (a) before and (b) since the invasion by coalition forces; what steps are being taken by British forces to reduce heroin production; and how effective these steps have been. [123198]

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy production in Afghanistan, has reported levels of production as follows:

	Tonnes
2000	3,300
2001	185
2002	3,400

We are engaged in helping to train the Afghan Transitional Administration's security forces. By doing so, we help to create the structures by which the Afghans themselves can implement more effectively President Karzai's commitment to deal with the drugs trade in his country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 649W, on armed forces personnel, what percentage of (a) Naval Service, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force personnel are immediately available for operational duties. [123659]

[holding answer 4 July 2003]: "Immediate availability" for operational duties is subject to the same factors that I set out in my answer to the hon. Gentleman of 9 June 2003, Official Report, columns 648–49W, including particularly the nature of the operation and the severity of the threat. It is, therefore, impractical to refer to a specific percentage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times each month in the past three financial years civilian aircraft have been chartered by the MOD; what types of aircraft were involved on each occasion; from which companies they were chartered; and what the cost of each of these charters was. [117189]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 May 2003. Official Report, column 442W, the answer I gave on 20 May 2003, Official Report, columns 673–74W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin), the answers I gave on 2 June 2003, Official Report, columns 285–86W and 1 July 2003, Official Report, columns 198–99W to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) regarding commercial air charter. The further details now sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the events he plans to attend as part of the Government's euro roadshow. [121403]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 June 2003, Official Report, columns 458–59W by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Defence Logistics Organisation spent on preparations for the war in (a) Kosovo and (b) Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [122044]

The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) was launched in April 2000. Therefore, figures for preparations for the war in Kosovo are not available in the format requested. The figures for DLO expenditure for continuing operations in Afghanistan are as follows:

	£ million
2001–02	83
2002–031	135
1 These figures reflect resource accounting principles and comprise mainly running costs. Figures for Financial Year 2002–03 are provisional pending finalisation of the Departmental Resource Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has in place with civilian airlines to provide emergency airlift. [123550]

The Ministry of Defence has no standing arrangements for the use of civilian airlines to provide emergency airlift. In the event of an emergency, Royal Air Force military aircraft would be considered first. There could also be occasions where other nations' military aircraft could be used. Where civilian aircraft were required, they would be acquired from the commercial market place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests were made during the recent conflict in Iraq by 34 Field Hospital for (a) paediatric modules and (b) pralidoxime for use against chemical poisoning; when the requests were made; what the response was to the requests; and if he will make a statement. [115551]

34 Field Hospital made a request for pralidoxime on 23 March 2003, which was turned down as the drug was already available in Chemical Warfare Treatment Modules issued on 22 March 2003. 34 Field Hospital made in the region of 11 requests for paediatric modules during the recent conflict, of which only one was denied because the module requested did not exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the coalition's estimate is of the number of deaths of Iraqi military personnel as a consequence of the war. [123428]

We have no means of ascertaining the numbers of military or civilian lives lost during decisive military operations in Iraq, and have therefore made no such estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been paid to UK forces personnel who have served on Operation Telic in respect of Local Overseas Allowance and Longer Separated Service Allowance payments. [123548]

The majority of personnel deployed on Operation Telic benefited from the Operational Welfare Package (OWP), as opposed to LOA, and were also paid either the Longer Service Separated Allowance (LSSA) or in the case of Royal Navy personnel the Longer Service at Sea Bonus (LSSB). The current tiered rates of LSSA, are Basic rate £5.39, Middle rate £8.43 and Higher rate £11.49 per qualified person per day, taxable. The current tiered rates of LSSB are £4.05, £7.74 and £10.32 per qualified person per day, taxable. LSSB has different qualifying criteria and hence the different tiered rates.Full rates of LOA are not paid when personnel are in receipt of the OWP. However, those individuals deployed from permanent overseas bases which attract LOA (such as Germany) retained residual rates of LOA for their permanent duty station throughout the operational deployment. The specific rates of residual LOA paid to each entitled Serviceman or woman are based on his/her rank, marital status and permanent overseas duty station.Accurate total cost data is not held centrally in a readily available format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contraction, spread and treatment of (a) severe diarrhoea and (b) cholera among the troops in Iraq. [123595]

There have been no cases of cholera among United Kingdom personnel in Iraq. Diarrhoeal diseases have occurred at a level commensurate with a large-scale deployment to a country such as Iraq. Most incidents have been viral and caused by a number of factors such as flies, personnel living in close proximity to each other and lapses in individual personal hygiene. Systems are in place to ensure food safety and to promote personal hygiene.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure that evidence of human rights abuses in Iraq during Saddam's regime is (a) protected and (b) collected. [114319]

The United Kingdom Government continue to believe that those who have been responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Iraq should be brought to justice.UK forces have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence of legacy crimes as they encounter it; to hand over to the relevant prosecuting authority at the appropriate time. The forum for these prosecutions has yet to be determined.