To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Committee expects the Electoral Commission to publish the code of practice in election observation on the UK as required under the Electoral Administration Act 2006. (112283)

The Electoral Commission informs me that the code of practice on attendance of observers at specified UK elections is being laid before Parliament and published today. The Government are at the same time bringing into force for Great Britain the legislative provisions which allow for the presence of observers at specified elections. The commission is publishing the code of practice in full on its website and is sending a copy of the relevant parts to all returning officers in Great Britain.

To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of food served in 10 Downing street was of British origin in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. (111122)

My office supports the public sector food procurement initiative and is working with its suppliers to encourage them to increase opportunities for more small and local producers to join their supply chains.

To ask the Prime Minister what visits he has made to hospitals in South London since the last general election. (111427)

Records of official visits are not held in the format requested. My visits cover a range of matters including health, education, criminal justice and the economy and I have visited a number of hospitals since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the gross domestic product of Afghanistan was in each year between 1995 and 2006. (112307)

Records of gross domestic product in Afghanistan are patchy prior to 2001. In 1975 GDP was estimated at $2.4 billion. In 2002, the International Monetary Fund reported GDP at $4.1 billion, which has been steadily increasing on an annual basis to $4.6 billion in 2003, $6.0 billion in 2004, $7.3 billion in 2005 and $8.9 billion in 2006.

These statistics are available on the IMF's website www.imf.org.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what unemployment was in Afghanistan in each year between 1995 and 2006. (112308)

Given Afghanistan's predominantly informal economy and absence of a welfare system, added to the lack of a robust data collection capability, there is no reliable data for unemployment in Afghanistan going back to 1995.

Although data collection by the Central Statistical Office is improving, it is not yet possible to provide reliable estimates of unemployment. DFID and other donors are working with the Government of Afghanistan to improve access to key data such as rates of unemployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) higher education institutions there were in Afghanistan in each year between 1995 and 2006. (112314)

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education is unable to provide us with the data on the number of primary and secondary schools and higher education institutions in Afghanistan in each year between 1995 and 2006.

Enrolment rates may, however, provide a better measure of progress in education to date. According to UNICEF, enrolment has increased sharply since 2001 from 1.2 million in March 2002 to 5.1 million in December 2005. Prior to that, a World Bank report¹ shows that approximately only 970,000 children (grades 1-12) were enrolled at school per year from 1993 and 1999.

¹ Afghanistan: Managing Public Finances for Development—Volume IV (December 2005)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department were allocated to working on climate change adaptation and mitigation issues in each of the last three financial years. (112092)

Implementing DFID’s climate change policies on adaptation and mitigation in country programmes involves a range of staff, including programme managers and advisers with environment, livelihoods and infrastructure responsibilities. For example:

In Bangladesh, China and India the numbers of advisers working on environmental issues over the last three years (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07) is: Bangladesh: 0, 1, 1; China: 1, 2, 2; India 3, 2, 2. However the proportion of time spent on climate change has increased over the period. A new post has been created in Brazil on climate change and markets starting 2007-08.

The work of advisers in the Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods groups, while not necessarily dedicated to climate change, covers aspects of the subject, for example adaptation in agricultural research or in infrastructure design. The numbers of internal posts over the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 financial years are as follows:

Environment posts: 20, 18.5, 22.5 (includes GEA climate change posts)

Infrastructure posts: 29, 27, 34

Livelihoods posts: 49, 45.5, 45.5

The Global Environmental Assets team of the Sustainable Development Group leads on climate change policy work. Its complement of dedicated staff working on climate change over the last three financial years is as follows: 3 in 2004-05, 3.5 in 2005-06 and 5.5 in 2006-07. We expect to fill two additional posts in coming months.

In addition, we are externally recruiting a new Head of Profession for Environment who will also be engaged on this important issue. The Heads of Profession for Infrastructure and Livelihoods continue to provide support to DFID’s climate change work. DFID’s Chief Scientific Adviser has been providing support on climate change and agriculture.

In the International Financial Institutions Department, which is leading DFID’s work on supporting the multilateral development banks to develop a clean energy and investment framework, three posts include climate change in their portfolios. The number of posts over the last three financial years has remained static but the proportion of time spent on climate change has increased over the period.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what occasions (a) he and (b) departmental ministers have been requested to appear before committees of (i) devolved institutions and (ii) the European Parliament since 2004; on what topic in each case; how many and what proportion of such requests were accepted; and if he will make a statement. (111540)

Ministers in DFID do not regularly attend committees of the devolved institutions and European Parliament. It is not possible to provide the more detailed information requested without incurring disproportionate cost

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much Government funding the Commonwealth Education Fund received in each year since its foundation. (111879)

The UK Government committed £23.4 million to the Commonwealth Education Fund, when it was launched in 2002. This funding supports three components: the Strategic Fund; Comic Relief Fund and Schools Linking Programme.

The Schools Linking Programme has received an allocation of £2 million covering the period between 2002-03 to 2005-06.

The following table shows yearly expenditure on the Strategic and Comic Relief Funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what dates Ministers in his Department made official visits to the London boroughs of (a) Tower Hamlets, (b) Newham and (c) Waltham Forest in each year since 1997. (115741)

I visited Tower Hamlets (Professional Development Centre) on 7 March 2005. Before this date the information would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of the divestment of Kelvin Power by Globeleq on (a) electricity tariff rates and (b) access to electricity by deprived populations in South Africa; (112005)

Globeleq is a wholly owned subsidiary of CDC which is in turn wholly owned by DFID. It is managed independently by its own board of directors. It takes its own day-to-day commercial decisions without intervention or interference by DFID, but working within a policy framework that we have set for them. DFID would not normally make assessments such as those in question. That remains the responsibility of CDC.

Globeleq mainly operates power generation facilities and sells power on a wholesale basis to the local distribution agency. Consumer tariffs, which cover the cost of transmitting and distributing power as well as of generation, are set by the distributing agency or independent regulators. Globeleq has no direct influence on their levels. For most of Globeleq's power generation facilities, the price it receives for its power is determined by a power purchase agreement or PPA, most of which were negotiated before Globeleq bought the assets.

Although consumer tariffs may have risen since Globeleq bought generation facilities, or after it disposed of them, as in the case of Kelvin Power, there is no causal link between Globeleq ownership and consumer tariffs.

By improving the reliability of power supply, Globeleq makes a positive contribution to the provision of power. Most of Globeleq's power generation businesses meet or exceed their contractual requirements for generation. Globeleq mainly operates power generation facilities rather than distribution networks and has no control over the number of connections. That remains the responsibility of the distribution agency.

Globeleq is involved in distribution in Uganda through its ownership of Umeme which holds a concession to operate the distribution network in Uganda. Umeme has exceeded the concession requirements for increasing customer connections.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department had in place prior to the invasion of Iraq for the reconstruction and development of the country. (112106)

Prior to the coalition's invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the UK Government consulted and worked with UN agencies, the US Government, and others in making preparations to deal with a number of priorities including: the possibility of large-scale urban fighting with substantial civilian casualties; the possible use or inadvertent release of chemical or biological weapon materials; disruption to the Oil For Food programme due to instability following conflict or a longer-term collapse of oil production; serious damage to transport links and other essential infrastructure such as water and sewage pumps; disruption to the functioning of hospitals; large-scale movement of people within Iraq and into neighbouring countries; and internal ethnic and political conflict.

In March 2003, to help international preparedness, DFID allocated £32 million to the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and £13 million to United Nations agencies (World Food Programme, UNICEF, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organisation, Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the UN Security Coordinator). This funding contributed to the costs of pre-positioning food, medical and nutrition supplies, shelter kits and other relief supplies; establishing logistical support systems; and deploying staff in readiness for the crisis. As a result, United Nations agencies were able to return to Iraq very quickly in order to begin implementation of substantial humanitarian and recovery operations.

Decades of under-investment and mismanagement by Saddam’s brutal regime have left the Iraqis with a huge challenge. The new Iraqi Government is firmly in the lead in the reconstruction effort and has the resources to fund much of the improvements and public services itself. It also has massive international support. The UK is one of the first major donors to Iraq to fully disburse its Madrid pledge of £544 million since 2003. This contribution is helping build the capacity of the Iraqi Government, at provincial and national levels, plan to deliver investment in basic services, improve oil production levels, generate jobs and manage its own significant resources more effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what funding has been committed to Iraq for reconstruction and development in each year since the invasion; and what proportion of this funding has been committed (a) bilaterally and (b) multilaterally, broken down by organisation; (112107)

Iraq currently requires help from the UK and others to stem violence and build a stable society and economy. In 2003, the UK pledged £544 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Iraq. The UK has now fully disbursed this pledge and committed a further £100 million to be spent on reconstruction and development in Iraq over the next three years. We have not given any budgetary support to Iraq.

The following table shows the total UK spending to Iraq since 2002-03:

We have made the following contributions to multilateral and international organisations:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of microfinance projects in Iraq; (112109)

The UK's provincial reconstruction team in Basra has recently assessed microfinance initiatives in southern Iraq. It concluded that, with improved security, these initiatives can improve livelihoods, particularly in fertile agricultural areas, and urban areas where there is a market for goods and services, by extending credit to small businesses.

However, in the long term a more sustainable solution is to unlock Iraq's significant financial resources for the benefit of local businesses. While DFID is not funding any microfinance initiatives in Iraq, we are advising provincial and central government officials on ways of extending credit to small and medium enterprises. This work is taking place in coordination with USAID which is funding two microfinance institutions operating across Iraq; together these two organisations have made $78 million worth of loans to over 40,000 clients.

Through the UK provincial reconstruction team in Basra, we are running a series of workshops to equip local businessmen in Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna with the skills they need to succeed. Training sessions to date have included management training, advice on how to set up a business, and information about marketing.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the UK Government are giving to the Governments of Syria and Jordan in supporting displaced refugees from Iraq. (112246)

We are very concerned at the increasing numbers of people displaced due to sectarian violence in Iraq.

We have recently announced a £4 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance, including water, medical supplies and rehabilitation of health infrastructure to vulnerable people, including internally displaced people (IDPs) inside Iraq. We are also considering UNHCR's appeal, which includes help to refugees in neighbouring countries. This brings our total humanitarian contribution for Iraq to over £120 million since 2003. Additionally, DFID provided £70 million to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), which provides support to internally displaced persons. We are not directly assisting the Governments of Syria and Jordan at present.

Above all the first priority of the Iraqi Government must be to end the violence that is causing this situation, with the support of the international community and the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population in Zimbabwe who live below the poverty line. (110786)

It is estimated that 56 per cent. of the population live on less than US $1 a day while 80 per cent. live on less that US $2 a day (Poverty Assessment Study Survey 2006).

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of the Brent Teaching Primary Care Trust service reductions on the financial position of the London borough of Brent; and if she will make a statement. (117231)

It is the responsibility of the council and the primary care trust to work in partnership to provide services that meet the needs of their local population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) names, (b) length of service, (c) relevant experience and (d) organisational affiliations are of the current commissioners of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. (117545)

The current commissioners of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights were announced by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 5 December 2006. Their names and information about length of service, relevant experience and organisational affiliations are available on the CEHR website at:

http://www.cehr.org.uk/content/commissioners.rhtm.

A second round of commissioner recruitment is currently in train, looking to secure up to five further commissioners, including a Scotland commissioner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many domestic properties there are in each council tax valuation band in each local authority ward in England. (111970)

Ward level data for England on the number of dwellings in each council tax band at 2001 can be found at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505882

Data for years 2001 to 2004 using middle super output areas can be found on the Neighbourhood Statistics Service website at:

http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/datasetList.do?JSAllowed=true&Function=&%24ph=60&CurrentPageId=60&step=1&CurrentTreeIndex=l&searchString=&datasetFamilyId-938&Next.x-14&Next.y=13

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the percentage real terms increase in average band D council tax in England was in each year since 1997-98. (111996)

The real terms average percentage increases in band D, two-adult council tax in England in each year since 1997-98 are shown in the following table:

The figures are calculated from data reported by local authorities on BR1, BR2 and BR3 forms and have been adjusted using the all items retail prices index (RPI) as at April each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have a full-time dedicated anti-domestic violence co-ordinator. (112100)

I have been asked to reply.

Domestic violence co-ordinators are employed directly by local authorities at unitary, county and district level. Data for local authorities in each of the nine Government Office regions, and for Wales, is shown in the table as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to monitor performance against best value performance indicator 225 on domestic violence. (117557)

Best value performance indicator 225, which was introduced in 2005-06, measures the overall provision and effectiveness of local authority services to help victims of domestic violence. We are not currently monitoring local authority performance against best value performance indicator 225, although we expect that subsequent time series data will help us identify those areas that need our support. The Audit Commission is considering whether data from this performance indicator should be taken into account in the next comprehensive performance assessment round.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and local government what plans her Department has to review the electoral process for local government in England. (111688)

We are proposing certain changes to the electoral processes for local government in England in our Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’, and in the Local Government and Involvement in Public Health Bill currently before Parliament. These include simplifying arrangements by devolving power to local authorities to opt for all-out elections—every four years—and single-member wards.

In addition, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, in its 11^th report ‘Review of The Electoral Commission’, makes recommendations to reform the Electoral Commission, including recommendations about the processes for setting local electoral boundaries. The Government have welcomed the Committee’s report and are carefully considering its recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the Equality Act regulations for Great Britain; and whether local authority-commissioned adoption agencies run by religious bodies will be subject to the regulations. (115804)

The Government published a consultation paper in March setting out proposals for regulations that will prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. The Government will publish a response to consultation shortly, with the intention that the regulations should come into force next April, alongside part 2 of the Equality Act outlawing discrimination on grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods and services. The hon. Member should refer to the press notices made by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women on 29 January 2007, which have been made available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has issued on whether local polls held by a local authority further to the Local Government Act 2003 may be held on any day of the local authority's choosing; and if she will make a statement. (111967)

The Department has not issued any such guidance. Decisions on how a local poll is conducted, including its timing, are matters for the council concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information she has received from Sir Michael Lyons on the likely date of publication of his report. (112105)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget report on 6 December that Sir Michael Lyons' final report will be published around the time of the Budget 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of her Department’s computer systems use open source software; what percentage of the systems planned to be installed use such software; and whether she plans to increase the use of open source software in her Department. (111166)

The Department does not have statistics on the use of open source software, and to date it is very limited. The Department will continue to consider open source solutions on an overall value for money basis in accordance with the Government’s policy statement. The policy (Open Source Software, Use within UK Government, Version 2.0, 28 October 2004) can be viewed at:

www.govtalk.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) Muslim, (b) Hindu and (c) Sikh organisations received funding from her Department in each of the last five years; and how much has been allocated to each such organisation for 2006-07. (111995)

The Department has a number of funding streams which enable faith-based organisations to deliver a wide range of community based projects. Some are targeted specifically at faith organisations. Some faith organisations apply for mainstream grants and are awarded money on the same basis as any other applicant.

The key source of targeted funding for faith organisations is the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund. In 2006, 96 Muslim organisations received a total of £1,447,307; 21 Hindu organisations received £225,445 and 14 Sikh organisations received £347,222. A further breakdown is available on the Community Development Foundation website www.cdf.org.uk.

Information on which faith organisations have received mainstream funding is not held centrally, and could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what means the Valuation Office Agency assesses whether a domestic property has an outbuilding for the purposes of its maintenance of council tax valuation lists; and by what means it did so during the Welsh council tax revaluation. (111977)

Whether a property has an outbuilding, or any other property attribute, was initially gathered from the Valuation Office Agency’s paper-based records as they were digitised. This information will continue to be collected, as circumstances allow, for new or altered properties as part of the on-going statutory responsibility to maintain current council tax valuation lists. For the Welsh council tax revaluation, property attribute data had not been digitised, and paper-based records were relied upon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2006, Official Report, column 474W, on the Valuation Office Agency, how many domestic properties in the local authority area of (a) Epping Forest district council and (b) Brentwood borough council are classified with a dwelling house code of FC. (111983)

As at 3 January 2007 there were (a) 359 and (b) 574 domestic properties classified with a dwelling house code of FC in (a) Epping Forest district council and (b) Brentwood borough council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2006, Official Report, column 475W, on the Valuation Office Agency, how many domestic dwellings in England are recorded by the Valuation Office Agency as having the property attribute of having (a) one bathroom and (b) more than one bathroom. (111984)

As at 3 January 2007, of the 21,849,763 dwellings in England the Valuation Office Agency has recorded (a) 19,426,111 with one bathroom and (b) 2,321,927 with two or more bathrooms. The records will, correctly, not show an entry under number of bathrooms in either of these headings in such cases as unmodernised properties where there is no separate bathroom or where facilities are shared amongst occupiers (e.g. certain types of bedsit)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Costa Viyella site in Worksop was acquired by the East Midlands Development Agency; what the rationale was for its acquisition; on what date it was sold; what the rationale was for its sale; how many jobs have been created at this site since EMDA acquisition; and what has been the effect on public funds in real terms of EMDA’s acquisition. (112394)

[holding answer 30 January 2007]: The Costa Viyella site was acquired by the East Midlands Development Agency on 30 March 2001. The rationale for the acquisition of the site was to ensure that suitable employment land and premises were retained in the Worksop area in the light of recent job losses.

The site was sold on 25 April 2006 to a buyer who would generate employment at the site in line with the original rationale for the site’s acquisition.

The buyer has accepted a Selective Finance for Industry in England (SFIE) grant of £205,000 which requires the creation of 58 jobs at the site, but EMDA is not yet aware of any job creation to date.

Since the acquisition of the site by EMDA, it has spent £359,000 on site security, maintenance and advertising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on how to secure UK electronic networks against disruption from (i) attack and (ii) natural hazards; and if he will make a statement. (112389)

The integrity of electronic communications networks and services is a matter for communications services providers.

My Department contributes to the Cabinet Office’s annual national risk assessment that considers both threats and hazards to the UK’s electronic communications networks. The assessment is part of a comprehensive programme to ensure that the nation’s ICT is properly safeguarded and is undertaken in conjunction with the communications services providers, Departments and agencies with the relevant expertise in these areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; what the function is of each body; and what the budget was of each body in the most recent year for which figures are available. (116767)

Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by DTI can be found in the Cabinet Office publication, “Public Bodies 2006”, copies of which are in the Library and which is also available online at:

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicbodies2006.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post boxes were (a) removed and (b) not replaced after damage or theft by the Royal Mail in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these were at sites located in Wealden constituency. (117699)

This is an operational matter for which the Royal Mail has direct responsibility. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a statement giving details of post office closures following the consultation. (112502)

The Government's consultation on the Post Office network runs to 8 March 2007. Government will then consider responses with a view to making an announcement by the end of March 2007. It will then be for Post Office Ltd to develop local area implementation plans within the framework set by Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria will be used to determine which post offices should close following the current consultation. (112503)

Government are currently seeking views on proposals which set out the broad framework for maintaining a national Post Office network. A final implementation process will not be established until the Government's public consultation has ended.

Government's proposals include the introduction of access criteria and the requirement that, in restructuring the network, Post Office Ltd takes into account local factors affecting ease of access, such as rivers, mountains, valleys and sea crossings. Following Government's decisions after national consultation, Post Office Ltd will be tasked to develop area restructuring plans which will then be put to local consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what payment will be offered to postmasters where post offices will be closed following the review. (112504)

Discussions between Post Office Ltd and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters on terms are on-going. Compensation to exiting sub-postmasters is broadly expected to be based on 28 months remuneration—matching the levels awarded under the urban reinvention programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much postal business Royal Mail has lost to the private sector since the postal industry was opened up to competition. (112639)

Postcomm has responsibility for the introduction of competition in the UK and monitors its development. Its latest figures show that in the period from April to December 2006, Downstream Access accounted for around 11 per cent. of Royal Mail’s total addressed letter volumes in the licensed area. This is mail carried by alternative operators and handed over to Royal Mail for final delivery. Royal Mail still delivers this mail and collects revenue for the final delivery, and is therefore delivering 99 per cent. of licensed area addressed mail.

Mail volumes carried from collection to final delivery (end-to-end) by alternative operators represents less than 1 per cent. of overall volumes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Royal Mail customers posting items second class sometimes receive a first class service. (117609)

This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have therefore asked Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of Royal Mail, to reply direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support the Low Carbon Buildings programme is giving to roof-mounted wind microgenerators. (112312)

Under the Low Carbon Buildings programme roof-mounted wind turbines receive the following grant support:

Phase 1

Domestic stream—£1,000 per kW installed up to a maximum of £5,000, subject to an overall 30 per cent. limit of the installed costs

Small-scale community projects—50 per cent. of installed costs up to a maximum of £30,000

Stream 2 A—40 per cent. of the installed costs up to a maximum of £100,000

Stream 2B—40 per cent. of the installed costs up to a maximum of £1 million

Phase 2

30 per cent. of the installed costs up to a maximum of £1 million

There are also a number of organisations due to start micro-wind field trials, which are expected to provide useful data on performance in the urban environment. The Government are engaged in this work and it will feed into development of the microgeneration certification scheme, which is due to be launched in April 2007. The certification scheme has a key role to play in developing sustainable markets for microgeneration technologies, including micro wind.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) Scotland's First Minister to discuss the removal of failed asylum seekers in Scotland. (111184)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Home Office and Scottish Executive Ministers on matters that affect Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent using Royal Mail in each of the last five years. (115239)

The Scotland Office and the Office of the Advocate-General use the Scottish Executive's postal facilities for the majority of outgoing mail and reimburse them for usage. The Offices are unable to accurately split the costs by individual provider. Separately, the Offices use Royal Mail for the transportation of ministerial papers.

The total costs for postage and the transportation of ministerial papers for the last five years was follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Military Police co-operate with the Bermuda Regiment in enforcing male conscription to the regiment (a) in Bermuda and (b) among Bermudians resident in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. (111633)

The Royal Military Police has no links with the Bermuda Regiment and does not co-operate with it in enforcing conscription, either in Bermuda or the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding the UK has allocated to the clearance of anti-personnel mines in mined areas in the Falkland Islands between January 2007 and March 2009. (112442)

A jointly funded Argentine and British contract was let in November last year to conduct a survey of the Falkland Island minefields. This survey forms the main part of a joint feasibility study. The principal aims of the survey are to identify the options for anti-personnel mine clearance, what environmental impact clearance may have, and to set out the broad costs involved. Until the results of the survey are known, and the feasibility study is completed later this year, no decisions on funding allocation will be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the standard of accommodation for UK troops serving in Iraq (a) now and (b) in 2003. (114765)

The condition of camps and in particular the accommodation for UK troops in Iraq has been routinely monitored since the start of operations in 2003 and we have striven to make constant improvements where necessary. The exact type of accommodation will vary from base to base and would include for example fixed living accommodation and tented accommodation. To improve comfort levels for troops we seek to reduce the occupancy levels in rooms to below the occupancy rate that the accommodation was designed to hold, where space permits. However, where this is not possible we endeavour to ensure that the design occupancy levels for accommodation are not breached.

To further improve conditions for troops, a package of operational welfare provisions is also afforded to troops. This includes fitness facilities, retail and leisure facilities, TVs, VCRs/DVD machines, playstations, radios, videos/DVDs/games, newspapers, magazines, books, internet facilities, telephone facilities and a host of other facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officer cadets are in training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; what the service personnel establishment is; what the civilian establishment is; and what the annual running costs were in each of the last five years. (111417)

[holding answer 25 January 2007]: There are currently 368 Royal Navy and overseas officer cadets in training at Britannia Royal Naval College. BRNC also administers a further 184 cadets who are at university, which brings the total to 552.

There are 173 uniformed members of staff at BRNC comprising: 61 officers, 39 Senior and Junior Ratings, 45 members of the Royal Marines Band and 28 members of the Military Provost Guard Service.

There are 316 members of civilian staff at BRNC comprising: 45 MOD civil servants and 271 contractor staff (Flagship Training Ltd. 97, Sodexho 160, Interserve 14).

The annual running costs for BRNC for the last five years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recruitment activity is carried out by the UK armed forces in (a) Bermuda, (b) Gibraltar and (c) other overseas territories; whether recruits to the UK armed forces from Bermuda are exempt from conscription to the Bermuda Regiment; and if he will make a statement. (111517)

Employment in the regular UK armed forces is open to citizens of Commonwealth countries and Republic of Ireland nationals as well as British citizens; all applicants are given equal consideration and all have to meet the same basic entry standards. The armed forces do not generally actively recruit overseas with the exception of Gurkhas from Nepal. However, in recent years the Royal Navy and the Army have sent selection teams to some Commonwealth countries with the permission of the Government concerned, and only then when evidence suggests that there is sufficient interest among the local population to merit a visit. The selection teams screen out those who are not thought capable of meeting the full entry standards, to save them the cost of an abortive trip to the UK to undergo the recruitment process.

There are no planned Royal Navy or Army recruiting visits to any British overseas territory. Royal Air Force careers staff usually visits each sovereign base area once a year. On such occasions a recruiting facility is provided for children of service personnel; a ‘high street’ service is not provided to local residents.

There are no special arrangements regarding Bermudan citizens and conscription to the Bermuda Regiment. However, those wishing to apply to join the UK armed forces must produce an official letter of confirmation of non-reserve liability from the Bermuda authorities before the application can proceed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy vessels are (a) mothballed and (b) in a reduced state of readiness, broken down by class of ship; and what the predicted financial saving as a result of this policy is in each year until 2012. (117181)

[holding answer 22 January 2007]: “Mothballed” is not a term used by the MOD. I have interpreted it as referring to ships capable of being returned to operational service but for which there is no requirement to do so at this time. The only Royal Navy warship in this category is the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible.

Five other surface warships of destroyer/frigate size and above are at low or very low readiness; four of these are in refit. I am withholding further details as this could enable deductions to be made that could be prejudicial to national security.

The normal readiness cycle of every Royal Navy ship is comprised of a mixture of periods of lower readiness, typically for maintenance or refit, and periods of higher readiness. The extent to which costs are reduced during periods of lower readiness is not calculated separately and depends on a number of factors including the type of ship, the readiness state to which it is reduced, and the length of time spent at lower readiness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which organisations staff in his Department are seconded; and if he will make a statement. (112027)

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were advised that due to a medical condition they were unfit for service in the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Navy in each of the last five years, broken down by medical condition. (116616)

The Defence Analytical Services Agency has recently carried out a full validation review, with the medical directorates in each service, of the data they hold on medical discharges from the UK armed forces and their causes for the 12-year period 1994-2005. The results for this period will be compiled for analysis over the coming months. The data for 2006 are not currently available for a similar validation exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed new timetable for the cross country franchise will require the splitting up of any services. (111507)

In order to offer faster journey times between Birmingham and Scotland, and to provide a more operationally robust timetable on the west coast main line, direct services which currently continue towards the southwest and Bournemouth from Scotland via Preston will terminate at Birmingham New Street. A new hourly through service will be introduced from Manchester to Bristol, removing the need for passengers to change trains, and from Manchester to Bournemouth, improving direct links between popular destinations in north-west and south-west England; an hourly direct service will operate between Scotland and south-west England via Leeds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the legality of centralising licensing work to the Leeds traffic area office has been challenged by a traffic commissioner. (111807)

The legality of centralising work to the Leeds office was challenged by the traffic commissioner for the south-east and metropolitan traffic area. The Department's view is that the proposed arrangements are legal but require the co-operation of each of the traffic commissioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Maritime and Coastguard Agency takes to ensure that foreign seafarers serving on UK ships understand the working language on board their vessel. (117628)

The standard of English language is assessed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in one of the following ways.

If the MCA is satisfied that the training leading to the officer’s original Certificate of Competency satisfactorily assessed written and oral English language ability, no further testing is required.

If this is not the case, then there are a number of ways evidence of English language ability may be provided:

i. confirmation of proficiency by an MCA Marine Surveyor on board or in a MCA Marine Office; or

ii. successfully passing the International Shipping Federation Marlin’s English Language Test at an approved centre together with the Marlin’s Test of Spoken English or a letter of confirmation from the company attesting to the standard of spoken English; or

iii. satisfying the MCA that English is the applicant’s mother tongue; or

iv. holding an advanced English Language Certificate from the British Council or International Language Testing System test report showing an overall band of at least 6; or

v. holding a test of English as a foreign language as applicable for entrance to US universities; or

vi. holding a Berlitz Language School level 2+ certificate endorsed by the shipping company; or

vii. passing an MCA English language test administered for the MCA by the Scottish Qualification Authority; or

viii. company based assessment in accordance with criteria specified in Marine Guidance Note 221 (M). This can be found at:

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-mld-page.htm?textobjid=7E9918FC4C47FE90

Seafarers have to demonstrate to the MCA compliance with one of the above methods of proving ability in English language before a certificate of equivalent competency is issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors were taken into account when deciding to ban the wearing of tinted visors by motorcyclists. (117690)

Motorcyclists are currently permitted to wear tinted visors provided that they are capable of transmitting at least 50 per cent. of the available light. In 2002 the Government reviewed whether to allow darker tinting during daytime only. Motorcyclists favoured this approach but road safety bodies raised concerns about the dangers which could arise if darker visors were worn in day time during poor or changing light conditions. After careful consideration, and on the grounds of road safety, it was decided to maintain the current limitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department ensures value for money when work for hedge-cutting and fence maintenance on motorways is contracted out; who inspects the standard of work carried out on fence maintenance and hedge-cutting on motorways; and what measures are taken to ensure that hedge-cutting and fence maintenance on motorways is conducted to pre-set standards and budgeted costs. (117640)

All motorway maintenance contracts are awarded by competitive tender to contractors whose staff hold the relevant safety, quality and environmental accreditations. Most contracts include an annual lump sum which is designed to cover minor maintenance work such as hedge-cutting and fence repairs. Under some older contracts fence and hedge maintenance is procured by issuing works packages of varying sizes. The Highways Agency has specific standards for landscaping work of this type to which its agents, who manage the contract, are expected to conform. In addition, Highways Agency staff carry out periodic inspections to check the general condition of the network, where any problems with the standard of fence and hedge maintenance would be identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the platforming arrangements at New Street station are adequate to accommodate the December 2008 timetable for (a) peak and (b) off-peak times. (111508)

The number of cross-country passengers who have to change at Birmingham New Street station will reduce with the implementation of the December 2008 timetable, therefore it is anticipated that the flow of passengers around the station will improve with the introduction of the timetable. Network Rail has already indicated that robust and reliable plans for the operational issue of train platforming for the clock-face timetables which will operate have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the employment by the Stagecoach company in East Kent of a convicted child sex offender as a school bus driver, he will review the efficacy of the powers available to the traffic commissioners to reject applications for public service vehicle drivers. (112003)

[holding answer 29 January 2007]: Existing legislation already gives powers to the traffic commissioners to refuse a passenger carrying vehicle licence to an applicant, and to suspend, revoke or increase a disqualification period of an existing licence holder.

The Secretary of State refers decisions regarding the fitness of applicants for and holders of PCV driving licences to the traffic commissioners.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, in conjunction with the traffic commissioners, assesses continually the effectiveness of the procedures governing the issue of PCV licences.

Where convictions are declared, DVLA refers the application as a matter of routine to the traffic commissioner to make an independent and objective evaluation of risk, to inform the licensing decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve rail services between Lancaster and Morecambe. (112638)

Between Lancaster and Morecambe, Northern Rail and Transpennine Express operate a total of 23 services in each direction between the hours of 06.28 and 22.48 on a Monday to Friday. In addition, Northern Rail also operates one service, in each direction, between Leeds and Morecambe, which, for operational reasons, does not call at Lancaster.

The Department for Transport does not have any plans to introduce additional services on this line of route beyond the current level of services that Northern Rail is contracted to deliver.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the change in the price of train fares in the west midlands over the past three years. (112264)

Figures are not available by county. Fares for regional operators are compiled by the Office of Rail Regulation and published every year in a document called National Rail Trends Yearbook. Copies of the relevant editions of National Rail Trends Yearbook (2005-06, 2004-05 and 2003-04) will be placed in the Library and are also available at the following addresses respectively:

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/294.pdf

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt0405-yr-rev.pdf

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt0304-yr.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the capacity of the UK to meet its obligations under the renewable transport fuel directive from home produced markets up to 2010; and how many hectares of land will be required to meet such obligations. (111625)

The renewable transport fuel obligation should ensure that 5 per cent. of UK road transport fuel sales will be made up of renewable fuel by 2010. This will represent approximately 2.5 billion litres of biofuel and it is expected that this will be supplied from a mixture of domestic and imported feedstocks. To meet a 5 per cent. fuel obligation entirely from UK sources in 2010, we estimate that between 1 to 1.5 million hectares of land would be required depending on a range of factors including crop yields, fuel extraction rates, the technologies employed and the market split between petrol and diesel. However, this does not take into account the utilisation of co-products from biofuel production, for example in animal feed, which will reduce the overall land requirement. In the longer term, advanced technologies for processing feedstocks should also help to reduce the land requirements.

UK farmers will be able to compete in this market, and a number of major new biofuel production plants are at the planning and construction stage in various parts of the UK. We understand that several of these are anticipating making use of home-grown biofuel feedstocks. However, much will also depend on the ability of UK farmers to compete on price and quality with overseas producers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents were reported on (a) the A2 in Bexley borough, (b) the A20 in Bexley borough, (c) Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, (d) Okehampton Crescent, Welling, (e) Bourne Road, Bexley, (f) Gravel Hill, Bexley, (g) Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, (h) Knee Hill, Abbey Wood, (i) Park View Road, Bexleyheath, (j) Broadway, Bexleyheath, (k) Avenue Road, Bexleyheath, (l) Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath and (m) Long Lane, Bexleyheath in 2005-06. (112585)

The information requested is shown in the table:

Data for 2006 are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to remove the roundabouts on the A50 between the M1 and M6. (117776)

There are no plans to remove the roundabouts on the A50 between the M1 and the M6.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many certificates of equivalent competency have been issued to foreign seafarers in each year since 2000. (117629)

The number of full certificates of equivalent competency issued to holders of certificate of competency under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 as amended in 1995, each year since 2000 is as shown in the following table. Complete information about CECs in 2000 and 2001 under the unamended 1978 convention can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The 1995 amendments to the 1978 convention came into force in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of proposals to allow reflective strips in place of lighting on skips. (117692)

The Department has intended for some time to consult on requirements for marking and lighting builders' skips once a new British standard for use of brighter reflective markings became available. The new standard (BS 8408) was published in 2005. We will consult in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the introduction of graduated speed-reduction zones on approaches to urban areas to reduce road accidents. (117726)

Traffic authorities already have powers to introduce local speed limits including graduated reductions in speed limits if they believe it appropriate to do so. There is no requirement for them to seek approval from the Department, therefore no representations have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency will honour individual commitments to staff in the traffic area offices, other than Leeds, in relation to redeployment or severance. (112424)

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency will honour its commitments where it has entered into an agreement with individuals in relation to redeployment or severance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schools in (a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands have taken part in the Travelling to School scheme. (112265)

Fifty-one Coventry schools (39 per cent.) and 1,160 west midlands schools (43 per cent.) had high-quality school travel plans in place by 31 March 2006. Nationally, there were more than 10,000 schools (40 per cent.) with high-quality school travel plans, reflecting the Travelling to School initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether his Department plans to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the reduction of the age of cattle for pre-movement tuberculosis testing to 16 weeks; (110996)

A cost benefit assessment of extending pre-movement testing for bovine TB to cattle over six weeks old moving out of one or two year tested herds has been carried out. The additional cost to farmers in England is estimated to be £2.3 million.

The Department estimates that, once fully implemented, the policy will save about 610 new incidents a year. Total costs of the policy per year are estimated as £5.9 million, total benefits £10.5 million, giving net benefits of £4.6 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the merits of implementing in England a policy of valuing bovine TB slaughtered cattle on a case by case basis. (111998)

We do not intend to revert from a table-based compensation system to one based exclusively on individual valuations.

While DEFRA has not ruled out the possibility of changes to the current compensation system, any changes would need to be justified and fair to farmers and the taxpayer. They would also need to take account of the extensive evidence on the level of over valuation experienced under the previous system based on individual valuations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has made to Spain on bull fighting; and what his policy is on bull fighting. (111055)

We are opposed to any form of animal cruelty, including bull fighting.

No specific representations have been made to Spain in relation to bullfighting. The UK actively works at European and international level to try to ensure that countries adopt animal welfare standards which are as high as our own.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what consultations his Department has had with (a) local authorities and (b) associated bodies on the financial impact of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005; (111867)

DEFRA officials have held a number of discussions with the Local Government Association, local authorities and other interested organisations about the financial impact of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act. When commenced, section 68 will transfer responsibility for stray dogs from the police solely to local authorities.

Discussions on the transfer of funding from the police to local authorities to reflect the change in responsibility are ongoing, and a date has not yet been set for the commencement of the change. A circular clarifying responsibilities for stray dogs is due to be sent to all local authorities and police forces in the coming week.

Local councils are legally responsible for taking in stray dogs under the Environmental Protection Act. Any dogs seized by their officers or brought in by members of the public must be kept for a minimum of seven days and be provided with suitable kennelling.

There is no specific provision in the Environmental Protection Act for this Department to intervene if a local authority breaches its statutory duty in relation to stray dogs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on consultants by the Environment Agency in each of the last five years. (116172)

[holding answer 17 January 2007]: Annual consultancy expenditure by the Environment Agency for the last 5 years is as follows:

Percentage breakdown of consultancy services:

The Environment Agency delivers a large capital programme and a significant number of services in support of its flood risk management activities. Externalisation of a large element of this competency occurred during the early 1990s when a significant element of business and staff were transferred into private sector civil engineering and environment consultancy practices.

The previous accounting system used by the Environment Agency did not provide detailed breakdown for years 2001-02 and 2002-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on leased cars for staff in each of the last five years. (116174)

[holding answer 17 January 2007]: The Environment Agency has spent the following on lease cars for staff in each of the last five years:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Transport introducing a compulsory element to air passenger safety films on board aircraft to tackle the dangers of illegal meat imports. (111630)

DEFRA holds regular discussions, on a range of issues, with the Department for Transport. Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 745/2004 lays down measures with regard to imports of products of animal origin for personal consumption. Under this regulation, international passenger transport operators are obliged to inform all EU-bound passengers of the animal health conditions for Community imports of products of animal origin.

Airlines operating flights into the UK from non-EU countries are regularly reminded of their obligations. They have been offered the script of an announcement and a video produced by DEFRA and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for in-flight use, to assist them in meeting this requirement. Almost 200 airlines have been contacted as part of this exercise, with the majority taking up the offer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the volume of illegal meat imports into the UK in each of the last five years; what volume has been seized; how many successful prosecutions there have been for meat smuggling; and what further steps he plans to take to tackle illegal meat imports. (111442)

Because the trade referred to is illegal, data on the volume of imports do not exist. In 2006 the European Food Safety Authority published a risk assessment into the risk of foot and mouth disease being introduced into the EU, which is available on the DEFRA website. This estimated that up to 2,000 tonnes of animal products may be illegally imported by travellers into the EU each year.

Since April 2001, seizures of illegal meat imported into the UK have been recorded and are shown in the following table:

HM Revenue and Customs has been responsible for anti-smuggling controls on products of animal origin into Great Britain since 11 April 2003.

The numbers of prosecutions taken by HM Revenue and Customs for POAO illegal imports offences are shown in the following table:

All prosecutions were successful.

Details of prosecutions for offences relating to illegal imports of meat into the UK are recorded by local authorities and are not collected centrally.

HMRC continues to target POAO on the basis of risk and intelligence, with a view to reducing the level of illegal imports. All HMRC frontline detection staff include animal products as part of their anti-smuggling responsibilities. However, within these resources, dedicated teams (currently totalling around 100 officers) with prime responsibility for detecting illegal POAO are deployed. Anti-smuggling staff are supported by both the use of detector dogs and baggage x-ray scanning equipment.

DEFRA assists HMRC in deploying its resources according to risk, by providing information on the animal health disease situation around the world, including the risks from new disease outbreaks. HMRC and DEFRA continue to develop and evaluate publicity campaigns aimed at raising awareness within Great Britain, at borders and overseas.

Further details can be found in the ‘Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products: April 2005-March 2006’. A copy has been deposited in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the landfill capacity available for local authorities in areas covered by the Sustainable Communities Plan; and if he will make a statement. (111638)

No specific estimate has been made by this Department of landfill capacity available to local authorities in areas covered by the Sustainable Communities Plan.

The capacity of landfill sites in England and Wales has been assessed by the Environment Agency. It concluded that there is sufficient landfill capacity to meet current waste arisings in England. Future capacity is difficult to predict. However, a number of Government policies are designed to significantly reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

On 22 January this year, I announced new powers to set up joint waste authorities, which will help local authorities work together to achieve better integrated, cost-effective waste services and invest in more sustainable waste facilities. These new powers, together with more challenging waste targets, progressively lower landfill limits and the escalating landfill tax will all help the UK to move away from its reliance on landfill. These measures will also encourage more sustainable waste management through greater reduction, reuse and recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which options are currently being considered by his Department for the continuation of the Real Nappy Programme. (117591)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 15 January 2007, Official Report, column 771W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of disposed packaging of people purchasing unpackaged food from local street markets; (111764)

Food-related packaging makes up an estimated 18 per cent. of household waste and around 3.3 per cent. of the controlled waste which is sent to landfill¹. No estimate is currently available of the proportion of landfilled packaging waste which relates to fresh fruit and vegetable sales.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme is currently working with all leading supermarkets through the Courtauld commitment to achieve a standstill, and then a reduction, in the amount of packaging waste. A number of retailers are considering the role that the selling of loose fruit and vegetables could make to those objectives without increasing the amount of damaged produce which is then discarded. The current situation is unsatisfactory and I urge retailers to address this issue quickly.

In general, street market sales of fruit and vegetables are less highly packaged but no estimate is available of the savings to landfill which might result from an increased use of street markets.

¹ Figures are based on estimates of waste composition contained in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit 2002 report, Waste Not Want Not, and information from WasteDataFlow for 2005-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of school waste was recycled in 2005-06; and what plans he has to encourage schools to recycle more waste in 2007-08. (112348)

[holding answer 30 January 2007]: Waste from schools is classed as household waste. 26.7 per cent. of household waste was recycled or composted in 2005-06.

Waste Strategy 2000 set targets for the management of household and municipal waste. These included 2005, 2010 and 2015 targets for the recycling and composting of household waste (25 per cent., 30 per cent. and 33 per cent.) and for the recovery of municipal waste (40 per cent., 45 per cent. and 67 per cent). The waste strategy review consultation document, published in February 2006, proposed new targets for 2010, 2015 and 2020 for the recycling and composting of household waste (40 per cent., 45 per cent. and 50 per cent.) and municipal waste recovery (53 per cent., 67 per cent. and 75 per cent.). We intend to publish the revised waste strategy in the spring.

The Department for Education and Skills recently held a consultation on a sustainable schools strategy and DEFRA will be working with DfES and other partners, including the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), following the consultation to help schools minimise, reuse, recycle and compost their waste. It is our intention as part of this work to issue guidance to schools to include issues around the definition of waste from schools and ‘top 10 tips’.

In addition, WRAP is currently developing a schools programme as part of its successful Recycle Now communications campaign. The aim of the programme is to change recycling behaviour at home and at school. The programme includes:

A training programme aimed at providing local authority waste and recycling officers with the knowledge and skills to implement effective recycling schemes in schools.

Research into resources for schools, including the development of a database of resources on the subject of waste and recycling.

Research with secondary school teachers and senior managers to inform WRAP’s secondary schools strategy.

A primary schools programme to communicate the “3 Rs” message of reduce, reuse, and recycle and give pupils examples of how to put the “3 Rs” into practice at home and school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the National Scrapie Plan. (111053)

The National Scrapie Plan Ram Genotyping Scheme has been under review during the second half of 2006, following a decision by the EU Council and Parliament to reject proposals for compulsory scrapie resistance testing in pure bred and pedigree flocks.

The review included an examination by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee of the science underpinning the NSP, and an assessment of the benefits gained from the RGS over the last five years. SEAC concluded that the RGS approach of selective breeding for scrapie resistance remained a scientifically valid approach for eradicating classical scrapie. They concluded however that the prevalence of BSE in the UK sheep population is most likely zero, or very low if present at all, and consequently the current RGS would have little impact on public health.

Ministers have accepted the review’s key recommendation that a fully-funded RGS is therefore no longer appropriate. Instead, Departments should consult on options for the future of the RGS—either a cost-shared genotyping scheme, or closure of the scheme.

Ministers have also agreed that the consultation should take place in the summer in the light of progress on wider work on responsibility and cost sharing which is already under way. It will also cover the NSP flock register. Officials will continue informal discussions with sheep industry stakeholders and RGS members.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when her Department began to measure its carbon emissions; what the volume of those emissions was in the last period for which figures are available; when her Department started to offset those emissions; what the cost is expected to be of offsetting her Department’s emissions in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement. (116381)

My Department has been monitoring and reporting on carbon emissions since 1999, the last periods figures for travel and building emissions can be found at:

www.sd-commission.org.uk/watchdog/

My Department started to offset emissions for air travel from April 2006, figures for the first year’s operation are still being calculated, and this exercise will be extended in line with the cross-Government target for central office estate to be carbon neutral by 2012.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether a privacy impact assessment was produced for the CORE electoral database project. (112571)

A privacy impact assessment has not been produced for the CORE project, as it is not expected that CORE will impact on individuals’ privacy. The CORE information system will mirror the information held on local registers and access will be subject to the same regulations as for access to the local registers.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if her Department will introduce legislation to require companies to disclose fully the details of any loss of personal data about their customers as soon as possible after the loss has occurred. (112167)