To ask the Solicitor-General what recent discussions the Serious Fraud Office has had with its EU counterparts. [169969]

The Serious Fraud Office has ongoing operational contact with its EU counterparts. The SFO uses its investigation powers under the Criminal Justice Act 1987 to provide mutual legal assistance to other EU member states.The Serious Fraud Office's Head of Policy recently attended a meeting at Eurojust and there are regular contacts between SFO senior staff and senior OLAF officials.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the reasons were for the reduction in the Administration Estimate from 2000–01 to 2001–02, as indicated in Table 4 of the Commission's Annual Report for 2001–02; and what the final administration accounts outturn figure for 2002–03 was. [169406]

The reduction in the net cash required was due, in the main, to the decrease in expenditure on Portcullis House following its completion.The resource outturn for 2002–03 on the House of Commons Administration Estimate was £180.0 million and the corresponding net cash requirement was £138.3 million. Further information can be found in the published House of Commons: Administration Resource Accounts 2002–03 (HC67).

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 236W, on electricity consumption, what factors underlie the increase in consumption between 1997 and 2003; and what steps the commission is taking to reduce electricity consumption. [169864]

Underlying factors include the increase in size of the Parliamentary Estate, increased use of office equipment and improvements in environmental controls, such as ventilation, air extraction and air-conditioning, to meet new regulations. Energy awareness and good housekeeping are regularly promoted and the estate is maintained to a high standard; for example the main Palace chillers were replaced recently with modern high efficiency plant.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on security of communications in the House against eavesdropping in respect of developments in Bluetooth technology. [169801]

The House of Commons authorities have taken a cautious approach to the introduction of wireless technology within Westminster because of security concerns. No services using wireless technologies will be offered until these concerns have been addressed.I understand that the Bluetooth function available on some mobile telephones could allow access to data and services on such phones. If phone owners are concerned about this potential vulnerability, they should disable the Bluetooth option using the menus on the handset.The Parliamentary Communications Department sent an e-mail with this advice to all network users on 30 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest estimate is of the amount spent by her Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [168999]

All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government guidance.The following table shows expenditure on entertainment by the Department. In a change to previous practice, figures from 1997–98 onwards are presented on an accruals basis. In 2002–03 changes were made in the way entertainment expenditure was captured to include associated staff costs following the contracting out of the hospitality service. Figures for 2004–05 are not available at present.

	£
1996–1997	41,000
1997–1998	15,269.81
1998–1999	24,496.51
1999–2000	33,359.78
2000–2001	51,666.75
2001–2002	32,586.56
2002–2003	87,150.29
2003–20041	78,144.29
Notes:
1Provisional, pending finalisation of annual accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the (a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by her Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170796]

Over the last five years, DCMS has procured the following;

(a) Crockery: 100 per cent. British Manufactured

(b) Cutlery: 100 per cent. British Manufactured

(c) Glassware: 80 per cent. British Manufactured

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the New Opportunities Fund is being provided to support children with special needs; and if she will make a statement. [170614]

The information is not collected in the way requested. However, a number of the New Opportunities Fund's programmes focus on children with special needs and I have asked the Chair of the Fund to write to the hon. Member with further details. I will arrange for copies of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding has been spent on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme; what sums are committed for (a) the current year and (b) future financial years; how many students are expected to be supported in 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [171043]

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: Exchequer funding of £3 million annually has been allocated to delivering the Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme in 2004–05 and 2005–06. This year is the first round of the programme in which we are looking to help about 1,000 young talented athletes continue to develop in their performance sport alongside taking up employment or continuing with tertiary education. The first bursaries will be announced in early summer and the scholarships later in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had concerning the potential impact in Wales of changes in European structural funds after 31 December 2006. [169191]

My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues across Government and with the Assembly about a number of issues, including European Structural Funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with English local authorities and environmental bodies regarding dredging in the Dee Estuary. [169192]

Regulation of the Port of Mostyn's dredging proposals is a matter for the National Assembly, the Environment Agency, and the Department for Transport. The Environment Agency is advised in England by English Nature, and in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales. English Nature has agreed that the Countryside Council for Wales should represent it in discussions on these proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales concerning the relocation to Wales of civil service jobs. [169193]

The First Minister and I have had and will continue to have regular discussions.We will be working closely to pitch for as many of the jobs allotted for relocation to come to Wales—where we have a record second to none in providing a home for civil service jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received from small business organisations in Wales regarding start-up schemes. [169194]

My right hon. Friend and I have regular meetings with small business organisations. The Government and the Assembly have created an extremely supportive environment to start up, grow and run a business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about progress in reducing waiting times. [169195]

I regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister concerning the health service in Wales: waiting times is one of the topics that we frequently discuss.The most recent Assembly quarterly waiting time statistics illustrates huge improvements in long waits for patients. There has been a 71.9 per cent. fall in the number of patients waiting over 18 months for inpatient treatment and a fall of over 36 per cent. in waiting times of over 18 months for an out-patient appointment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the (a) latest activities of the Welsh monitoring sub-group for the miners' compensation scheme in Wales and (b) latest figures for disbursements under the scheme. [169188]

The Welsh Sub-Group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group, which I chair, meets on a regular basis and will next meet on 24 May to discuss progress of miners compensation in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether the final report of the mission, entitled "DG (SANCO)/3367/2001—MR Final", carried out from 1 to 5 October 2001 by the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office, was submitted to the Anderson Inquiry into foot and mouth disease; [166757](2) whether the Department's Inquiry Liaison Unit was informed of the final report of the mission, entitled "DG (SANCO)/3367/2001—MR Final", carried out from 1 to 5 October 2001 by the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office. [166758]

There is no record of the final report, "DG (SANCO)/3367/2001—MR Final", being received by the Department's Inquiry Liaison Unit and it was not sent to the Anderson Inquiry on foot and mouth disease. However, Dr. Anderson did meet the EU Commission to discuss the foot and mouth 2001 outbreak and the lessons learned. Defra also provided the Inquiry Liaison Unit with a submission, which was passed to the Anderson Inquiry, which plotted the legislative changes, and gave copies of the legislation and the Department's working instructions, since the last foot and mouth outbreak in 1967. The submission included a copy of Council Directive 80/217. As I made clear in the Adjournment Debate on 16 March 2004, we believe that 80/217 was properly implemented in the UK. The application by this Government was consistent with previous administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the aridity index was, broken down by country in (a) 1975, (b) 1985, (c) 1995 and (d) 2002. [165813]

The aridity index is currently being developed as an index of desertification risk for Mediterranean areas by Spanish and Portuguese academics and supported by European research funds. It is an index of the average water available in the soil, defined as the ratio between mean annual precipitation and mean annual evapotranspiration. The research work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the success of the stone curlew within the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest is measured. [165144]

[holding answer 19 April 2004]: The stone curlew population will be assessed for the whole of the Breckland pSPA, which includes Breckland Farmland SSSI. This assessment is based on annual counts and is considered by English Nature in conjunction with available information on the UK population and distribution trends, to assess whether the pSPA is continuing to support the numbers of stone curlews for which it has been selected and make a contribution to the Favourable Conservation Status of the species across Europe.The conservation objective for Breckland pSPA is to maintain in favourable condition the habitats of the internationally important population of stone curlew. To date, the successful recovery of the stone curlew within the pSPA can be measured by the increase in numbers of breeding pairs since the start of the recovery project in 1985 and that the target of 200 pairs set in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for the numbers of breeding pairs was achieved two years ahead of schedule and continues to rise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the legal costs to date associated with the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest and the proposed Breckland Special Protection Area are (a) excluding costs relating to legal challenges and (b) including costs relating to legal challenges; and what other costs to date have been incurred by (i) English Nature and (ii) her Department. [165130]

The legal costs to date associated with the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the proposed Breckland Special Protection Area incurred by English Nature are: (a) excluding costs relating to legal challenges, approximately £10,000; and (b) including costs relating to legal challenges, approximately £250,000, both amounts are subject to VAT.The first amount

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates she has made of the potential carbon savings that will be achieved in the UK as a result of implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive by (a) 2010 and (b) 2020. [165280]

I have been asked to reply.The Government support the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and propose to transpose it into law through the Building Regulations. It requires member states to set standards, to require the provision of certificates, and to inspect boilers and air conditioning systems. It does not include specific carbon saving measures, and therefore no estimates of savings have been made. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is confident however that implementation of the directive will heighten energy efficiency in the public's mind, and hence lead to improvements in buildings producing carbon savings in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 26 April; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [169477]

I represented the United Kingdom at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 26 to 27 April 2004.After several hours of talks, the Irish Presidency concluded that it was not possible to identify a compromise proposal on the welfare of animals during transport that would command the support of a qualified majority of member states, and so the meeting concluded without agreement on that dossier. There are no plans to resume discussion of it. This outcome was disappointing for the Government, which had supported the Presidency's efforts to find a compromise that represented a genuine improvement in animal welfare over the current rules.On the approvals process for genetically modified organisms, there was no qualified majority of member states, either in favour of or against, the approval of sweetcorn from Bt11 maize for consumption in the EU. Under the rules of procedure for such approvals, the Commission is now able to take a decision under its own responsibility, from 1 May.Denmark reported on measures it has taken in response to dioxin levels in salmon fished in the Baltic Sea. Slovakia and Poland raised concerns about the rules on the carry-over of agricultural stocks on enlargement, which are designed to prevent speculation but which they consider to be over-bureaucratic. In response to a request from Denmark and Austria, the Commission indicated that it would bring forward a proposal within the next few weeks on thresholds for the adventitious presence of genetically modified material in seeds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what extra subsidy schemes severely disadvantaged area farmers may apply for. [169078]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Malden and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) on 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 271W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what headage of livestock is registered in Cumbria. [169079]

The total livestock figures for Cumbria, according to the latest available census returns, are as follows:

	Number
Cattle and calves	446,241
Pigs	31,875
Sheep and lambs	1,951,139
Goats	1,620
Horses	5,163
Deer	493
Poultry	2,392,240
Source:
June 2003 Agricultural Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms there are in Cumbria [169095]

The number of registered agricultural holdings in Cumbria was 7,969 at the 19 April 2004.The number of holdings in Cumbria as at the June 2003 Census was 7,849.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Cumbrian farmers will be subject to different cross-compliance measures from Scottish farmers. [169097]

Agriculture is a devolved matter, allowing the Scottish Executive to tailor policies where appropriate and permitted under the relevant regulations.Currently there are public consultations on possible cross-compliance measures in England and Scotland. Officials continue to work closely in the design and implementation of CAP reform policies, including cross-compliance, to develop complementary measures wherever possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether farmers in severely disadvantaged areas in Cumbria will be subject to different cross-compliance measures from farmers not in severely disadvantaged areas in Cumbria. [169098]

Defra launched its consultation on proposed and possible measures for implementation of cross-compliance in England on 29 March 2004. Final decisions on cross-compliance will be taken after careful consideration of responses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average difference in payments between 2005 and 2013 will be for farmers (a) in severely disadvantaged areas, (b) not in severely disadvantaged areas and (c) in Scotland. [169099]

Under the flat-rate system for allocating Single Farm Payment entitlement in England, the mean payment rate within each region will be similar between 2005 and 2013 even though individual payment rates will change during this transition. In Scotland, under the historic approach, both the mean and individual payment rates will change little over time. In both countries, however, some variation may arise from year to year due to movements in the prevailing exchange rate used to convert from euros and different rates of deduction for the national reserve, modulation and financial discipline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what effect the lower rate severely disadvantaged areas allowance will have on numbers of livestock in Cumbria. [169101]

From 2005 decoupling will break the link between subsidy and production in the UK and cause farmers to reassess their farming operation and production decisions. Decoupling is not affected by the method chosen for allocating entitlement to the Single Farm Payment. The impact of decoupling on production patterns and livestock numbers is very difficult to assess. There are several studies on the Defra website that examine this at the UK level but there are no assessments by county.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what differences in cross-compliance requirements will exist between farms in different regions in England; [168034](2) what differences in cross-compliance requirements will exist between farms in severely disadvantaged areas and non-severely disadvantaged areas. [168035]

Defra launched its consultation on proposed and possible measures for implementation of cross compliance in England on 29 March 2004. Decisions on cross compliance will not be determined until all responses have been considered carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has responded to the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit recommendation that she should designate the sea bass stock for recreational use; and if she will make a statement. [165929]

"Net Benefits", the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report giving recommendations for a sustainable and profitable future for UK fishing, was published on 25 March. These recommendations are presented as the basis for Her Majesty's Government, the Devolved Administrations, the fishing industry and all other stakeholders to determine future action. In response, the Fisheries Departments in the UK will engage intensively with stakeholders to develop by the end of 2004 an action plan for change and a timetable for its delivery. Defra has set up a dedicated team to advance this work. The need to balance the needs of the recreational and commercial sectors is one of the many important issues that were identified in the report and will be covered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many UK fishing vessels will be required to use pingers in gillnet fisheries in areas IV and VII under the provisions of the new Regulation agreed at the Fisheries Council on 22 and 23 March, on the basis of current fishing effort; [168244](2) what proportion of UK fishing effort will be exempt from the pinger requirement on the basis of the exclusion of vessels smaller than 12 metres under the provisions of the new Regulation agreed at the Fisheries Council on 22 and 23 March. [168246]

The new Council Regulation to address cetacean bycatch will require pinger usage on vessels of 12 metres and over in ICES divisions VIId, e,f,g,h and j when using bottom-set gillnets or entangling nets. In ICES Area IV and division IIIa, the pinger requirement will apply to vessels of 12 metres and over using bottom set gillnets or entangling nets where the combination of net lengths used does not exceed 400 metres or where the mesh size used is greater than or equal to 220mm. The data are not available to isolate definitively the number of vessels falling into the latter categories; it is only possible to identify the total number of vessels of 12 metres and over using bottom set gillnets and entangling nets in the areas concerned. On this basis, and using 2003 fishing data, the number of UK vessels required to use pingers would be 63.Bearing in mind the same caveats, the proportion of UK fishing effort (i.e. days at sea) using bottom set-nets and entangling nets exempt from the pinger requirement would be approximately 80 per cent. It should be noted, however, that this calculation does not take account of the length of net deployed by those covered by the pinger requirements which is a significant factor affecting bycatch rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition her Department uses of (a) hedgerow hops and (b) standard hops under the new single payment regime. [168147]

For the purposes of the Single Payment, no distinction is drawn between different types of hops.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what definition her Department uses of an orchard; [168145](2) at what tree density her Department defines woodland as an orchard. [168146]

There is no general definition of an orchard. Under present arrangements, densities above 50 trees per hectare have been regarded as ineligible for the purposes of claiming CAP subsidies and this is likely to continue in respect of the Single Payment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government will take to protect old varieties of apples if traditional orchards do not qualify for half subsidy. [168149]

Old varieties of apple are protected in the National Fruit Collection and the conservation of traditional orchards is funded through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU member states subsidise orchards. [168150]

There is no provision within the Common Agriculture Policy for subsidies to orchards. However, member states may, in certain circumstances, allow the forage area within grazed orchards to be used in support of a Single Payment Scheme claim and make payments under rural development and conservation measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to control the rat population. [169892]

The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 puts the responsibility for the enforcement and monitoring of rodent control with local authorities. Water companies, like other owners and occupiers of land, have a duty of carrying out the necessary control measures when ordered to do so by local authorities.Should local authorities fail to discharge their responsibilities under the 1949 Act, Defra has certain default powers to initiate action, and has oversight of the water companies who undertake control of infestations in sewers and water supplies. The Department of Health is responsible for advising on the health aspects of infestations. Our Departments liaise closely to ensure co-ordinated Government action is taken as necessary.The Government take this matter seriously. Defra, along with the Department of Health, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Local Government Association (representing the local authorities), Water UK (representing the water companies), Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and Central Science Laboratory, participate in the National Working Group on Rats in Sewers. The aim of the group is the development of an ongoing co-ordinated rodent control strategy.Defra is also undertaking a research and development programme, to develop or encourage the development of cost-effective, humane and environmentally acceptable methods of managing rat populations. This is due to be completed in March 2007. The Department also monitors the level of commensal rodent presence through the English House Condition Surveys, undertaken by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This is the only large-scale random survey of commensal rodent presence.A rat control technical advice leaflet and a range of others on similar topics are available from the mammal and bird licensing and advice pages of the Defra website (these are located at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlifecountryside/vertebrates) and from Defra's National Wildlife Management Team.

Te ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on recent discussions with the Association of Chief Estates Surveyors and Property Managers in Local Government, with specific reference to tenancy reform and estate disposal and restructuring. [169741]

As part of the Government response to the report of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group, my noble Friend the Lord Whitty met representatives of the Association of Chief Estate Surveyors and Property Managers in local government on 7 April together with representatives from the Local Government Association and farming organisations, to discuss county farms.The Government value the contribution that the county farm system makes to the tenanted farming sector and the opportunities it provides for new entrants to pursue a career in agriculture. The Government share the concerns of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group about the potential adverse impact that continuing sales of statutory smallholdings might have in the longer term.The meeting of 7 April discussed a number of issues stemming from the report of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group. This included the regulatory framework under which local authorities provide for statutory smallholdings and the way in which local authorities manage their county farm estates. The meeting also considered the way forward for county farms and how best to maintain a modern and efficient service for the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has made to the European Commission on the use and regulation of veal crates; and if she will make a statement. [169748]

We have not made any recent representations on veal crates. In the UK there has been a unilateral ban on the use of close-confinement veal crate systems since 1990. The EU banned new veal crate systems from 1994. Systems existing before that date were granted a transitional period that permitted their use until 2006. From 2006 all such systems will be banned throughout the EU.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides were recorded in the UK in each of the last 10 years for (a) children and (b) adults. [169895]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many conceptions resulted in termination in each year since 1997, broken down by month; and if he will make a statement. [170092]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in the Huntingdon constituency are in receipt of child tax credit. [170849]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 98W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Oldham West and Royton have received child tax credit. [170900]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 98W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress on (a) the Citizen Information Project and (b) the objectives of the UK Population Register. [170336]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the General Registrar, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the (a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by his Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170810]

The Treasury's catering service has been contracted out for several years and the cutlery, crockery and glassware used in providing that service has been procured by the suppliers of that service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in the Huntingdon constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [170855]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Wirral, South from 1997 to 31 December 2003; [170302](2) how many new jobs have been created in Wirral, South since 1997. [170303]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 23 April 2004, Official Report, column 686W, on gift aid, what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of gift aid claims on day memberships on donations to charities. [170046]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 30 March 2004, Official Report, column 1351 W, and 23 April 2004, Official Report, column 686W, and the answer my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave him on 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 1042.In last year's pre-Budget report, the Chancellor announced changes to the Gift Aid rules which aim to maintain the principles of Gift Aid as a scheme designed to encourage donations to charity.The Inland Revenue is consulting closely with affected charities in the heritage and conservation sectors on how this may best be achieved, and to ensure that there are no unintended side-effects.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average (a) household debt per annum and (b) household monthly income in each year since 1997 in Greater London, broken down by borough. [170494]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior citizens in Wirral, South qualified for the 10p rate of income tax in each year since its introduction.[170275]

All income taxpayers benefit from the 10p starting rate. The Survey of Personal Incomes estimates there were around 10,000 state retirement pension age taxpayers in the Wirral South constituency in 2000–01 and 2001–02. Figures for 1999–2000 are currently not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the Huntingdon constituency have benefited from 100 per cent. tax exemption for the purchase of computer and internet equipment. [170843]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Oldham West and Royton have benefited from the 100 per cent. tax exemption for the purchase of computer and internet equipment. [170901]

We regret that the information is not available to estimate the number of businesses in a given constituency which have benefited from the 100 per cent. first year capital allowances for the purchase of information and communication equipment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Wirral, South have benefited from the 100 per cent. tax exemption for the purchase of computer and internet equipment. [170301]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many jobs have been created in the Huntingdon constituency since 1997; [170850]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the official meetings he has had with the Mayor of London since July 2000 and (b) the dates and subject of each meeting. [170570]

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: The Chancellor has had no official meetings with the Mayor since July 2000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long it took to finalise the claim for child benefit submitted by Mr. B. Bentley of Quigley Street, Birkenhead; and if he will make a statement on his policy of transferring child benefit to grandparents when they become the main carer of the child. [170656]

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: The Inland Revenue is statutorily debarred from disclosing information relating to the affairs of individuals. Exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.The rules governing the transfer of child benefit from one person to an other are contained in the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Where a child's parent voluntarily relinquishes entitlement to child benefit in favour of the child's grandparent, the grandparent will be entitled from the day following the last day the benefit was paid to the parent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many young people aged 16 or 17 he expects will be entitled to the national minimum wage in (a) Greater London, (b) each London borough and (c) the United Kingdom in 2004–05. [170495]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to question 163123 tabled on 18 March, on meetings with the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority. [170870]

I did so on 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1114W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) Ordinary Written and (b) Named Day Questions his Department received in (i) the 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session up to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by month; [170764](2) what proportion of

The information is given in the following table:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer would be under its proposed reform of pension taxation of imposing no lifetime saving allowance on pension savings in 2006–07 and each of the subsequent three years. [170235]

There would be a cost attached to having no lifetime allowance under the proposed simplified pension regime. The size of this cost depends upon behavioural effects and any estimate of cost would inevitably be very broad-brush. However, given the potential additional pension savings from those in the top 1 per cent. of the earnings distribution, the cost to the Exchequer could be up to several hundred million pounds over this period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects to meet his target of having achieved a modest surplus across the current economic cycle ending in fiscal year 2005–06. [171292]

The UK public finances are underpinned by two fiscal rules: the sustainable investment rule and the golden rule. The golden rule states that over the economic cycle, the Government will borrow only to invest and not to fund current spending. Progress against the rule is measured by the average annual surplus on the current budget measured as a ratio to GDP over the economic cycle.The average surplus on the current budget between 1999–2000, which is the Government's provisional judgment of the start of the current cycle, and 2005–06 when the Government project the economy will return to trend, as stated in the Budget 2004 (HC 301), table 2.6 page 34, is 0.1 per cent. of GDP. On this basis, the Government are on track to meet the golden rule.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many small businesses re-registered for VAT in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997; [170636](2) how many new VAT registrations of small companies there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997. [170637]

Statistics published by the Small Business Service for total VAT registrations for the Shrewsbury and Atcham area from 1997 are shown in the following table:

	New registrations	Total registrations1
1997	270	2,975
1998	270	3,015
1999	250	3,050
2000	270	3,070
2001	265	3,090
2002	290	3,130
2003	n/a	3,185
1Start of year.

However, total VAT registration data do not capture all business start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to register if they fall below the compulsory VAT registration threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. There were only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Wirral, South on the latest date for which figures are available. [170304]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in each year since 1997 in Wirral, South. [170276]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the unemployment figures were in the constituency of Edmonton for (a) 1991–92, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2003. [169302]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will allocate additional funds to local authorities to introduce free bus travel for (a) those of pensionable age and (b) those with disabilities; [169786](2) if he will allocate additional funds to local authorities to enable subsidised fares for