In the House... Questions in the House of Commons

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November and major European Union events for the period from 30 November to May 2003. [80107]

Mr. MacShane: The information is as follows:

NOVEMBER 2002
4	Brussels	Culture Council
5	Brussels	ECOFIN
6	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
7	Brussels	Health Council
7 - 8	Brussels	Convention Plenary
11	Brussels	EU - Russia Summit
11 - 12	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council
14 - 15	Brussels	Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Tourism Council
18 - 19	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations council (+ Defence)
21	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
21 - 22	Brussels	Aarhus - Informal Sports Ministers
25 - 26	Brussels	Budget Meeting
25 - 26	Brussels	Industry & Energy Council
28	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
28 - 29	Brussels	Justice & home Affairs & Civil protection Council
29 - 30	Copenhagen	Enhanced European Co-operation (Ministerial)
DECEMBER
2	Brussels	Meeting On Macro Economic Dialogue (Ministerial Troika)
3	Brussels	ECOFIN
2 - 3	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
4	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
5	Brussels	Transport & Telecom Council
6	Brussels	Transport & Telecom Council
9	Brussels	General Affairs Council
10	Brussels	Environment Council
12 - 15	Copenhagen	European Council
16 - 17	Brussels	Fisheries Council
19	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
20	Brussels	Justice And Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council
20 - 21	Brussels	Convention Plenary-External Action and Defence working group conclusions
JANUARY
9	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
9	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed)
16	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
20	Brussels	EUROGROUP (evening)
20	Brussels	Convention Plenary
20 - 21	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
21	Brussels	ECOFIN
24	Nafplion	Employment Council (Ministerial Informal)
27 - 28	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations Council
28	Brussels	EU-ASEAN Ministerial
30	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
FEBRUARY
5	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
6 - 7	Brussels	Convention Plenary
10 - 11	Brussels	AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES Council (to be confirmed)
13	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
17	Brussels	EUROGROUP (evening)
18	Brussels	ECOFIN
20	Brussels	EDUCATION, YOUTH & CULTURE Council (to be confirmed)
22	Thessaloniki	Energy Council (Ministerial Informal)
24 - 25	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations Council Agriculture & Fisheries
26	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
27 - 28	Brussels	Convention Plenary
27 - 28	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
28	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
MARCH
1 - 2	Ioannina	Informal Education
3	Brussels	Competitiveness Council
4	Brussels	Environment Council
6	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
6	Luxembourg	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
6	Luxembourg	EUROGROUP (evening)
7	Luxembourg	ECOFIN
7	Luxembourg	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
13	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
14 - 15	Athens	(Informal Defence Meeting)
17 - 18	Brussels	Convention Plenary
17 - 18	Luxembourg	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
18 - 19	Luxembourg	General Affairs & External Relations Council
21	Brussels	European Council
27	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
27	Veria	Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal)
27 - 28	Luxembourg	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council)
28	Athens	EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR
28 - 29	Veria	Informal Justice & Home Affairs (Veria)
31	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed)
APRIL
2	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
3 - 4	Brussels	Convention Plenary
4	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs
4 - 6	Hania (Crete)	Informal ECOFIN (Ministerial)
5	Lisbon	Europe - Africa Summit
5	Ioannina	Ministerial Meeting on Education (Informal)
10	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
11 - 13	Chania	ECOFIN (Informal)
14	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
14	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries
16	Athens	European Conference
16	Athens	Signature Of The Accession (Provisional Date)
23	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
24 - 25	Brussels	Convention Plenary
MAY
2 - 4	(Greece)	Gymnich (Informal Foreign Ministers)
5	Athens	Informal Environment (Ministerial)
5 - 6	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council (To be confirmed)
8	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
12 - 13	Brussels	Informal Agriculture (Ministerial)
12	Brussels	EUROGRUP
13	Brussels	ECOFIN
14	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
14	Brussels	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
15 - 16	Brussels	Convention Plenary
16	Brussels	EU - ACP Ministerial
16 - 17	Halkidiki	Informal Regional Policy (Ministerial)
16 - 18	Athens (Cruise)	Informal Transport & Merchant Marine (Ministerial)
17	Brussels	EU - W. Balkans (Zagreb Process)
19	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations (+ Defence)
20	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
22	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
24	Thessaloniki	Informal Culture (Ministerial)
26 - 27	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
26 - 27	Athens	EUROMED Conference (Mid Term Ministerial)
27	Brussels	Environment Council
28	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
30 - 31	Brussels	Convention Plenary
31	St. Petersburg	EU - Russia Summit

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on rail franchising policy. [79825]

Mr. Darling: The Strategic Rail Authority has announced today, a new approach to franchising. Under it the SRA will be much clearer what it expects from each train operating company. Train companies will not just be judged on whether trains run on time but also on the cleanliness of trains and stations, accurate travel information and passenger security.
The nature of the franchising structure put in place at privatisation has contributed to the difficulties in the railway industry - especially poor performance and variable quality of service.
Today, with the Government's support the SRA has announced a new approach to franchising that puts passengers first. It intends to do so through: tighter specification of services, station standards, train cleanliness and journey quality; and robust incentives and penalties that will influence positively the behaviour of operators. These include: changes to the performance regime; quantified performance indicators for service and station quality, with payment by results; and a new approach to the award and management of franchises. The first franchise awarded under the new basis is expected to start operating in 2004.
The SRA has also announced proposals to make better use of the railway by combining franchises at key London stations - from 3 to 1 at Liverpool Street, from 2 to 1 at Waterloo and from 3 to 2 at Paddington.
Transitional arrangements are being put in place as it is not practical to award all of the franchises due to expire by 2004 simultaneously. The SRA has therefore made a number of detailed announcements on individual franchises today. These include: an invitation to Connex Transport UK Ltd and First Group/Keolis SA to proceed to detailed negotiations on Heads of Terms for the TransPennine franchise; negotiations with Arriva Trains Northern on an interim franchise to operate services until the Northern Rail franchise commences in 2004; a 1-year extension to the current South West Trains franchise to February 2004; and the agreement of principles with Stagecoach Holdings plc for a new South West Trains franchise extending to 2007.
Further adjustments to franchise periods may be necessary to facilitate an orderly transition from the existing franchise regime to the new one. I shall be prepared to use my powers of direction under section 26 of the Railways Act 1993 for this purpose.
This announcement is another step towards delivering a reliable and safe railway and builds on the SRA's consultation on its Capacity Utilisation Strategy launched on 5 September.
Copies of the SRA's Franchising Policy Statement have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What measures his Department is taking to enhance opportunities within the engineering industry to enter into partnership development roles during the procurement of high-tech equipment and software for the armed forces. [76717]

Mr. Hoon: The Ministry of Defence recognises that partnerships with industry in high-tech areas are crucial to military capability and to the UK Defence Industry. The Ministry of Defence has recently launched the "Towers of Excellence" and Defence Technology Centres. These are mechanisms for partnering with industry and academia in priority high technology areas. We are also taking steps, via the National Defence & Aerospace's Systems Panel, to ensure that Ministry of Defence and Department of Trade and Industry Science and Technology spending is fully co-ordinated.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Whether governments will be required to privatise companies under the GATS initiative; and if she will make a statement. [76421]

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Patricia Hewitt): As I have just explained, the GATS cannot force any Government to privatise services. The requests submitted to other World Trade Organisation member countries by the European Union make clear that the EU is not seeking the dismantling of public services, nor the privatisation of state-owned companies in developing countries. Where other Governments decide in their own interests to open services to private sector supply, we are asking in those negotiations for non-discriminatory access to those markets

Lawrie Quinn: I thank my right hon. Friend and welcome her response. In the light of the recent summit in Johannesburg on sustainable development and the recent experience of liberalisation of markets in Russia and Asia, should not the so-called developing world be allowed to develop through partnership and a more sustainable approach? Above all, British companies should offer a helping hand to enable those countries to fulfil their opportunities in the trade round and their opportunities for future prosperity.

Ms Hewitt: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. As we saw in the Asian crisis, if developing countries open some of their markets - for instance in financial services - too quickly without having adequate regulation in place, that can have most unfortunate consequences. However, provided that the sequencing is right and, where appropriate, there is proper regulation by the domestic Governments, I have no doubt at all that increased foreign investment and trade is the best way out of poverty for developing countries. That is why we are so strongly committed to the Doha developing countries round and why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has led the way by committed £30 million to helping developing countries participate fully in those negotiations.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement on his plans to set up new sector based migration schemes next year. [75320]

The Minister for Citizenship and Immigration (Beverley Hughes): My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 7 October two new schemes to help employers in the hotel, leisure and food manufacturing sectors to recruit workers from abroad to fill vacancies that they have been unable to fill from the resident work force. This is part of the continued development of our comprehensive policy of managed migration.

Lawrie Quinn : Does my hon. Friend agree that such managed schemes are good news not only for the economy but for key cutting-edge technology areas such as engineering, information technology and medical research? People can enter the country legally and make a great contribution to our future wealth, thereby providing extra jobs that can give a real boost to the economy. In addition, are we not sending a clear signal to those who try to smuggle individuals into this country by clandestine measures that we want to undermine their terrible acts and put a stop to the despicable smuggling of people?

Beverley Hughes: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Recent estimates suggest that migrants contribute a net benefit of about £2.5 billion to the economy, over and above any resources they consume. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is chairing a new Cabinet committee that is looking into the social and economic impacts of migration. My hon. Friend is also right that the White Paper marked a radical shift in policy, based on a recognition of the positive contribution of migration while acknowledging that we need to manage it, return asylum to its proper purpose and bear down on the gangs that encourage people to enter the country illegally to work. We need better integration of refugees, including a UNHCR gateway, and to open up legitimate routes into the United Kingdom for people to work. These schemes will be additional to the work permit and other existing schemes

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of (a) Babergh and (b) Swale district councils. [76866]

Malcolm Wicks: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's (BFI) follow up inspection report on Babergh District Council was published on 10 October 2002 and copies of the report were placed in the Library.

The BFI first inspected and published a report on Babergh District Council in April 2000.

This report finds that Babergh District Council had made significant improvements since the first inspection. Despite backlogs of work, the council had made progress in its housing benefits administration and counter fraud work. Throughout the inspection, BFI identified improvements and good practices that had been implemented since the first inspection.

The report finds that the council had introduced initiatives to raise awareness of housing benefits among its residents, and had reviewed its Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claim form.

The council had introduced the Verification Framework, improving the collection and recording of evidence to support new claims for benefit, and it was identifying and checking any inconsistencies to reduce fraud and error. All new claims were subject to a 100 per cent. quality check.

However, the report finds that the council needed to improve its evidence gathering for renewal benefit claims and not make awards before all the necessary evidence was collected.

The report finds backlogs of work, arising from the simultaneous implementation of the Verification Framework and a new IT system for processing housing benefits claims, which were severely affecting the processing times for all claims.

The report finds a marked improvement in counter fraud work, with investigators receiving Professionalism in Security training and a full range of investigations being undertaken. The District Auditor had reported satisfaction with the council's counter fraud measures.

Overpayments had increased since the first inspection, mainly due to the backlogs of work and IT changes. Levels of recovery had dropped and overpayment cases were not well documented or subject to quality checks.

In 2000-01, Babergh District Council administered approximately £12.8 million in housing benefits.

The report makes recommendations to help the council address the remaining weaknesses and to further improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.

The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's (BFI) follow up inspection report on Swale Borough Council was published on 25 September 2002 and copies of the report were placed in the Library.

The BFI first inspected and published a report on Swale Borough Council in April 2000. The report found that while the council demonstrated some good working practices, the efficiency and security of the benefits system was compromised by a backlog of work and a lack of a clear sense of direction and purpose in its counter fraud strategy. At that time, the council had undergone a period of significant change.

This report finds that of the 40 recommendations made in the April 2000 report, the council had implemented 6 in full, partially implemented 24 and not implemented 10.

The report commends Swale Borough Council for its commitment in clearing the backlog of work, which was having a detrimental effect during BFI's first inspection. This required a heavy investment in increasing and training its staffing on the benefit section.

There have also been improvements in the council's benefit claim form, the levels of verification and the speed of processing claims and notifications of change of circumstances.

There were still problems with the council's counter fraud operations. BFI reports that a lack of effective management had hampered the way that the unit operated. The report finds a general lack of management checking and controls to guard the system against fraud, error and abuse.

The report finds significant problems with overpayments not being accurately classified and the situation had worsened since the first report. The council did not always impose the maximum deduction for the recovery of fraudulent overpayments.

The counter fraud operation was not being sufficiently managed and there was minimal management checking and little direction during fraud investigations.

The council's post opening operation was found to be insecure and BFI expresses concern to find that numerous recommendations made in this area in the first report remained unactioned.

In conclusion, the council had only partially delivered the improvements that it said it would in its response to the Secretary of State following the publication of the BFI's first inspection report, published in April 2000.

The report makes recommendations to help the council address the remaining weaknesses and to further improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help he will give to people considered by employers to be unemployable. [73087]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We are committed to the goal of employment opportunity for all. Building on a foundation of a strong and stable economy, we have introduced measures to ensure that everyone of working age has the chance, and is encouraged, to be in work.

In April we launched Jobcentre Plus to deliver work focused support for all people claiming working age benefits. Jobcentre Plus will provide a single, integrated service, providing people with the help they need to move into work, and working closely with employers to encourage them to open up more job opportunities to Jobcentre Plus clients.

Our New Deals are providing the help people need to overcome the barriers they face when trying to move into work. The New Deals have already helped nearly three-quarters of a million people move into work and improved the job prospects of thousands more by giving them the skills, experience and confidence to succeed in the labour market.

We are also introducing further measures to help those people who continue to face significant barriers to work. For example:

• we are introducing 20 StepUP pilots to provide transitional jobs for long-term unemployed people;
• we will shortly roll out the second phase of progress2work, providing recovering drug mis-users with the extra help they need to get into work;
• and later this month we will begin piloting extra support for other disadvantaged groups such as ex-offenders and homeless people.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): ): If he will make a statement on his assessment of the prospects for a sustainable sea fishing industry in the North sea. [72347]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Elliot Morley): It is our aim in the current common fisheries policy negotiations to achieve a more sustainable sea fish industry, and that key objective underpins our approach to the negotiations.

Lawrie Quinn : My hon. Friend will be aware that tomorrow the Whitby and district fishing training school will be opened for the first time, allowing 10 new apprentices to get the training onshore that they need for the key skills in the industry. Does he agree with the director of the school, Mr. Tony Hornigold, who said in the Whitby Gazette:

"People have said fishing is a dying industry. It's not a dying industry, it's a changing industry." In that spirit, will my hon. Friend take an early opportunity in the new year to come and meet those apprentices and people from the industry, to discuss the vibrant and sustainable industry to which they can look forward in the years to come?

Mr. Morley: I agree that with the changes that the industry faces, there are still a great many opportunities, and fish is still a premium quality product for which there is a high demand from consumers. We should not say that the industry does not have a bright future. The fact that 10 apprentices are undergoing training demonstrates that there are young people who see their future in the industry. That is why my Department was glad financially to support the training initiative. I hope that my hon. Friend will pass on my warmest congratulations to everybody who has been involved in setting up the training centre in Whitby. I was invited, but I am sorry that I cannot be there because of my diary commitments. I would like to come there on some future occasion and speak to the apprentices and the local industry.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the provision of social housing in rural areas. [71976]

Mr. McNulty: We recognise the importance of affordable housing in sustaining inclusive and thriving rural communities. We have taken substantial measures to help alleviate housing pressures, as outlined in the Rural White Paper. We expect to deliver around 9,000 affordable homes annually in rural areas by 2003-04, including 3,000 in small rural settlements.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): How his Department will work with the regional development agencies in planning improvements for transport routes and systems within England. [71420]

The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Alistair Darling): My Department is committed to working closely with regional development agencies to identify transport improvements that can enhance regional economic prosperity.

I am also asking the Highways Agency to press on with a package of improvements to tackle congestion and improve safety at around 90 junctions across the motorway and trunk road network in England. The package is valued at about £145 million. The agency aims to open all these schemes to traffic in the next five years. I will place a list of the junctions and a map giving their locations in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

Lawrie Quinn : I warmly welcome that answer to my question. In the light of that, would the Secretary of State care to look at the Highways Agency's final strategy for the A64 corridor? Given that economic development should drive road schemes, should not schemes such as the improvements required on the A64 to the Yorkshire coast be somewhere near the top of that package in relation to the trans-Pennine routes?

Mr. Darling: I know that the A64 is currently the subject of a development agency study that will be considered by the Highways Agency. My hon. Friend is right that economic development is a consideration, but so too is the pressing need to tackle congestion and to improve road safety in different parts of the country. There are, therefore, different considerations in different parts of the country, and they all need to be addressed in their own way. Our objective is to make sure that we can build a more reliable road network that will assist and underpin our economic growth. A successful economy needs a transport system that can move people and goods around more effectively. However, we must also get our priorities right. Pollution and increasing safety, as well as economic regeneration, are also important.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Does my right hon. Friend agree with the following statement made earlier this year by the King of Saudi Arabia? He said:

"Regardless of its origin, terrorism must be eliminated and terrorists, regardless of who they are . . . must be taken to justice".

Mr. Straw: As I indicated in my opening statement, the Government of Saudi Arabia have made clear their rejection of terrorism, and the quotation that my hon. Friend has just read out is confirmation of that.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What plans she has to reduce the cost of entertainment licences for live music in pubs and clubs. [68961]

The Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting (Dr. Kim Howells): Our plans for the modernisation of the alcohol and entertainment licensing regimes were set out clearly in the White Paper "Time for Reform". The proposed new licensing system will remove at a stroke a considerable amount of existing red tape and reduce the licensing costs that currently deter many venues from providing live music and dancing. The reforms will be implemented by means of primary legislation to be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Lawrie Quinn: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer and for his recent excellent two-day visit to my constituency. [Hon. Members: "Two days?"] It is a big constituency. As he will remember, he had a listening brief on that occasion and, regretfully, turned down my invitation to go into some of the bars in Whitby to add his baritone voice to the great deal of notable folk-singing that goes on in the area. Next time he visits my constituency, will the people of Scarborough and Whitby be able to hear his lovely voice?

Dr. Howells: I could clear the entire Chamber within three bars.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many higher education institutions in England submitted successful bids under the Special Educational Needs Training and Development Fund 2002-03; and if she will make a statement. [71686]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: The Special Educational Needs Training and Development Fund 2002-03 was established to provide one-off pump priming support to aid the creation of new, or extended, in-service training and development opportunities for teachers and other staff, both in mainstream and special schools, to help improve and reinforce skills in the area of special educational needs and disabilities. Under the fund, higher education institutions were invited to submit competitive bids, in the range of £50,000-100,000. There was a good response, with 41 individual bids received from 34 institutions. Within the £1 million available for allocation we have approved 16 bids from the following institutions:

• Bishop Grosseteste college, Lincoln
• Canterbury Christ Church university college
• Institute of Education University of London
• Leeds Metropolitan university
• Nottingham Trent university
• Sheffield Hallam university
• St. Martin's college of higher education, Lancaster
• Manchester Metropolitan university
• University of Birmingham
• University College Chichester
• University of Greenwich
• University of Surrey, Roehampton
• York St. John College, university of Leeds.

In addition, a further £1 million has been also been allocated, under Strand 2 of the Department's SEN Small Programmes Fund 2002-03, in support of work by voluntary organisations, to produce a range of training resources for SEN and disabilities.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet has met since it was set up last year; what progress has been made; and if he will make a statement. [70809]

Hilary Benn: The then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw) announced the establishment of the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet on 9 May 2001. Since then, the full Task Force has met four times and most recently on 3 July 2002. The work of the Task Force has been taken forward by a number of Sub Groups which have met regularly and have been looking at the criminal law, law enforcement, child protection measures, public awareness, training and further developing co-operation between the industry and others on reporting and handling child protection issues.

Members of the respective Sub Groups have given freely of their time to support the aim we set last year: to make the United Kingdom the best and safest place in the world for children to use the internet, and to help protect children the world over from abuse fuelled by criminal misuse of new technologies.

The Task Force has developed, run and now evaluated a successful national awareness campaign. Research had confirmed two key gaps: first, that parents are ill-informed about their children's use of the internet and chat rooms, and second that young people give out their personal details without considering the consequences. Two campaigns were designed, one to target 14 to 16-year-olds and the other parents/carers of 11 to 13-year-olds. The media used included press advertising, cinema, radio, on-line and viral marketing from December 2001 until spring 2002. Independent evaluation of the campaigns shows significantly improved awareness of the key messages in both target audiences. The Task Force is now considering that evaluation and how to build on the momentum created.

The Task Force has also developed proposals for a criminal offence to tackle the "grooming" of children by paedophiles on-line or off-line. This is intended to allow prosecution at an early stage when children are being groomed, before an existing sexual offence has been committed. In addition, the proposals include the creation of a new civil protection order relating to behaviour towards a child for an illegal or harmful sexual purpose.

Practical on-line child protection measures have been drawn up in a draft good practice document for service providers which deals with chat, instant messaging and web services. These encourage, among other things, clear and accessible safety messages and advice and user-friendly ways of reporting abuse. The drafts are being considered by the wider industry through the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) and the London Internet Exchange (LINX).

Work is also in hand to develop a shared matrix for reporting and handling child protection issues, and developing good practice for dealing with law enforcement requests for information from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This is being taken forward, with the oversight of the Task Force, by the Internet Crime Forum.

The Task Force will continue to work in partnership with the industry to: consider the extent to which the criminal law currently covers unsuitable material being sent to children and all forms of indecent representations of children; assess the new challenges posed by development of 3G mobile phones; and develop basic training materials for child protection staff on children's internet use.

In parallel with the Task Force, the United Kingdom has played a leading role in the development of a G8 strategy for protecting children from sexual exploitation on the internet. The strategy, which is not yet finalised, will cover issues such as: victim identification; intelligence gathering and sharing; location of suspects; enforcement tools and training; awareness building and prevention; and police working with industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her powers to settle disputes over access between oil and gas infrastructure owners and potential third party users. [69676]

Mr. Wilson: Following extensive consultation through the Department's consultation 'Oil and Gas Infrastructure: Guidance on Applications for resolution of Disputes over Third Party Access', the Department has, today, issued guidance to clarify how the Secretary of State would use long standing powers in the Petroleum Act 1998, Pipe-lines Act 1962 and the Gas Act 1995. This Guidance sets out how the Department would handle applications and the principles that would be applied in making a determination.

We have also published today a summary of responses to the consultation. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department will publish guidance on the better management and preparation of development plans. [68765]

Mr. McNulty: Today I am pleased to announce that we are launching a document called "Making plans".

Development plans are a way of mapping the future for communities and are critical to improving our towns and cities. So it is vital these must be up-to-date to reflect the changing aspirations and priorities of the community. Plans which do not have people at their heart are destined to fail.

It is time for councils to get on with these plans and not wait for any new legislation as the basic principles of good planning won't change. Plans need to be clear and they need to involve the community.

The guide makes it clear that many of the principles set out in last December's planning Green Paper can be acted on now. It emphasises the need for a clear strategy with an implementation programme.

But most of all it stresses a principle central to the Green Paper that real, proper participation by the community from the start of any planning process leads to much better plans at the end.

The report, produced by the consultants Baker Associates with BDOR and Gradwell Corporate Design, is available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of the National Probation Service in reducing crime. [64760]

Hilary Benn: The National Probation Service, together with the Prison Service and the Youth Justice Board are jointly responsible for the target of reducing the level of reconviction of offenders by 5 per cent. by 2004. The Probation Services is working towards this by:

• Careful risk assessment of offenders
• Providing help with accommodation and employment
• Improving basic skills
• Running offending behaviour programmes.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): In view of the great skills shortages in the railway industry, will the Secretary of State spell out exactly what requirement Network Rail will be given to make sure that we make up for the great gaps in terms of the key jobs in technical and other areas that we need to build a railway fit for the 21st century?

Mr. Darling: My hon. Friend raises an important point. There are skills shortages in engineering across the board, but particularly in transport and the railway industry. The Strategic Rail Authority is concerned about that and is consulting on setting up a national scheme - an academy - to increase the amount of skills available to the industry. As I said to a meeting with the railway industry today, it is important that we as a Government play our part, together with the SRA. It is important also that the industry does more to sell the career opportunities that undoubtedly exist in this important industry.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the tonnage of farmed salmon in England was in each year since 1990; and what the average size of the fish produced was in each year. [63361]

Mr. Morley: Statistics for 1990 and 1991 are not currently available.

Farmed Atlantic salmon production in England between 1992 and 2001 primarily involves the production of juvenile fish for on-growing in Scottish marine fish farms and for re-stocking rivers. The juvenile fish concerned are fry, parr and smolts which, depending on their stage of growth have an average weight of between 1 gram and 30 grams. Details are as follows:

Juvenile Atlantic salmon production in England - 1992 to 2001

	Juvenile fish
	Number (millions)	Estimated tonnes
1992	7.2	37
1993	5.7	35
1994	3.6	41
1995	6.8	44
1996	6.0	26
1997	8.6	39
1998	8.6	59
1999	14.4	98
2000	6.8	54
2001	7.6	36

There has also been farming of some six tonnes of adult fish (estimated average weight of three kilos) in the period mainly for broodstock and research purpose.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total percentage of salmon caught by (a) the Scottish Nets, (b) Northumbrian Nets, (c) Yorkshire Nets, (d) Scottish Rods and (e) Northumbrian Rods was in each year since 1990; and what the total number of salmon caught in the United Kingdom was in each of those years. [63363]

Mr. Morley: The most recent information is set out in the following table:

	Scottish nets		Northumbrian nets		Yorkshire nets		Scottish rods(3)		Northumbrian rods(3)		Total UK
	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	catch(1),(2)
1990	33.9	97,400	15.0	43,048	3.0	8,482	24.9	71,600	0.5	1,449	287,328
1991	36.4	76,300	10.8	22,525	1.4	2,904	30.0	62,400	0.6	1,263	209,534
1992	39.0	101,600	7.0	18,567	0.6	1,577	31.4	82,900	0.7	1,749	263,846
1993	32.2	86,800	13.8	37,097	1.7	4,703	29.5	79,500	0.6	1,656	269,638
1994	34.0	106,400	13.6	42,547	1.3	4,007	26.7	83,300	0.6	1,772	312,529
1995	31.9	93,900	16.9	49,801	1.2	3,409	29.3	86,100	0.7	2,053	294,134
1996	30.7	64,700	8.4	17,784	0.4	797	33.0	69,600	1.2	2,466	210,860
1997	21.1	37,100	11.3	19,828	1.2	2,094	34.6	60,700	1.3	2,356	175,556
1998	17.9	31,800	9.2	16,298	1.1	1,967	41.2	73,100	1.6	2,786	177,244
1999	12.9	17,900	18.1	25,013	1.3	1,820	37.9	52,500	1.8	2,540	138,385
2000	18.0	35,500	20.1	39,635	1.9	3,719	33.2	65,600	1.7	3,451	197,426

⁽¹⁾ Includes data on catch and release.
⁽²⁾ Excludes any NI rod catch for which no details are available.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the stocking programme for salmon and trout on the River Esk has been over the last 20 years; when it was last stocked; and who provided the finance. [63362]

Mr. Morley: Details of salmon stocking on the River Esk are shown in the table. The Esk was last stocked with salmon in 2002 in mitigation for a pollution accident - compensation was obtained from the polluter. No sea trout have been stocked but between 700 and 1,200 brown trout have been stocked annually by angling clubs or fishery owners.

	Salmon
	Unfed fry	0+ parr	1+ parr	smolts	Total
1982	-	-	-	-	0
1983	-	-	-	-	0
1984(1)	-	-	-	30,320	30,320
1985(1)	50,000	-	-	-	50,000
1986(1)	50,000	-	-	-	50,000
1987(1)	50,000	-	-	-	50,000
1988(1)	-	-	15,000	-	15,000
1989(1)	-	-	12,000	-	12,000
1990(1)	-	-	10,900	-	10,900
1991(1)	50,000	-	50,000	-	100,000
1992(1)	50,000	-	60,000	-	110,000
1993(1)	10,000	-	5,202	-	15,202
1994(1)	50,000	-	6,866	-	56,866
1995(1)	-	-	7,852	-	7,852
1996(1)	-	-	3,700	-	3,700
1997(2)	-	14,000	-	-	14,000
1998(2)	-	60,000	-	-	60,000
1999(2)	-	25,000	-	-	25,000
2000(2)	-	30,000	-	-	30,000
2001	-	-	-	-	0
2002	-	-	12,000	-	12,000

⁽¹⁾ Joint: River Esk Action Committee/Environment Agency or predecessor
⁽²⁾ River Esk Regeneration Programme (including European funds through Objective 5b)

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State what representations he has made on the marine environment for the consideration of the world summit on sustainable development. [55946]

Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State has made many representations on the UK priorities for the World summit. The conservation of the marine environment is one of those priorities, given the importance of marine resources for maintaining sustainable livelihoods across the world.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his information campaigns to promote take-up of pension entitlements by the over-60s. [55519]

Mr. McCartney: As part of the Government's commitment to combating poverty and providing security and independence for people aged 60 or over, new measures have been introduced to automatically identify pensioners who might be entitled to Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) and encourage them to claim. These measures build on the successful Take Up campaign which ran from May to November 2000, and contacted 2.4 million potential MIG customers. It generated approximately 1 million responses. Further mail shots in March 2001 coincided with the increase in capital limits from £8,000 to £12,000.

From April 2002, all customers contacting the RP Teleclaims Centre are offered information on MIG and asked if they would like someone to call them back to provide them with more information and pursue a claim. Those customers who do not wish to claim MIG via the RP Telecentre are sent a MIG information leaflet with their RP claim pack.

From April 2002, all customers who have claimed RP since November 2000 (the end of the last MIG take-up campaign) who have been identified as having a potential entitlement to MIG are being issued with a mailshot letter and leaflet to encourage them to claim. Around 100,000 pensioners will receive a mailshot over the April-June period.

Further (Key Life Event) MIG triggers have been introduced. Departmental data matching techniques are now being used to identify other new and existing pensioners with potential entitlement to MIG. These triggers identify customers who have a match with one or more predetermined 'key life events', which may indicate a potential entitlement to MIG, for example, when customers aged 60 and over receive a new award of one or more benefits, such as attendance allowance, industrial injuries benefit or housing benefit. A mailshot comprising a letter explaining the possible entitlement and inviting customers to claim along with a MIG1L leaflet is sent to all customers identified in this way.

In order to ensure take up of winter fuel payments, an information campaign ran throughout 2001, including advertisements in national and local press, a leaflet and poster made available in a variety of venues, including social security offices, post offices, supermarkets and doctors surgeries, a dedicated winter fuel payment helpline and information on the internet.

Through all of the above measures we intend to ensure that as many potentially eligible people over the age of 60 as possible do not miss out on the additional source of income MIG can provide them with.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What measures she is taking to protect the marine environment for future generations. [55117]

The Minister for the Environment (Mr. Michael Meacher): The first marine stewardship report was published on 1 May. It sets out our strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of our marine environment. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Lawrie Quinn: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. I think that he is aware of the important work that is being done locally in Scarborough and Whitby and along the coastline by Yorkshire Water, in its coast care project. Will he congratulate all the people involved, including those at Yorkshire Water, the contractors, and many members of the local community? My constituency has a long, historic and respectful relationship with the sea. Does my right hon. Friend agree that when the Johannesburg summit considers these important issues in a global context, projects such as Yorkshire Water's coast care should be viewed as the way forward in protecting the sea for future generations?

Mr. Meacher: I am glad to offer the tribute that my hon. Friend requests. It is very important that the water companies should recognise their responsibilities in relation to coastal management. We have instigated a review of coastal management. It is for those companies to establish responsible care regimes such as Yorkshire Water's. We certainly intend to draw attention to the matter at the world summit, and we have already established with several of our water companies internationally based partnerships between the industry and Governments, to try to encourage in many developing countries the services and skills at which those companies excel.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what performance targets he has set the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre Executive Agency for 2002-03. [57291]

Dr. Whitehead: The agency's principal financial target for 2002-03 is to achieve a minimum contribution to the Exchequer of £300,000.

An operational target has been set to achieve combined room occupancy of 400 days in the three key conference areas within the centre.

The agency is also being required to achieve a total of at least 25 stand-alone banqueting events. It also has the following quality of service targets:

• Overall score for value for money satisfaction of 90 per cent.
• The number of complaints received to be less than two per 100 events
• An average response time when answering complaints of less than four working days.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Will my right hon. Friend confirm whether, in his earlier meeting with representatives from the railway inspectorate and the Health and Safety Executive, they indicated that any investigation into the tragedy at Potters Bar would include not only a review of the methodology and frequency of track inspections, which are varied and many, but a review and an audit of enforcement action that may result from such track investigations? That point will be of great interest to those who want to say that they still have full confidence in our railway industry.

Mr. Byers: My hon. Friend has a wealth of experience in these areas from his occupation before he was elected to the House. In my meeting with the railway inspectorate and the Health and Safety Executive, it was made clear to me that there will be a thorough and full investigation. Such an investigation will want to take into account all those relevant matters in relation to what happened at the point south of Potters Bar, and that is appropriate in the circumstances.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those regulatory impact assessments published during the latest six-month period. [55067]

Mr. Leslie: The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish RIAs for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business.

I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing RIAs published between 1 July and 31 December 2001. Copies of those listed have been placed in the House Libraries. This is the sixteenth such Command Paper.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the (a) amendment and (b) repeal under section 75 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of legislation prohibiting the disclosure of information. [53819]

Mr. Wills: We have identified 155 items of primary legislation and 83 items of secondary legislation that contain provisions prohibiting the disclosure of information. We have also identified a further 62 items of primary legislation and 18 items of secondary legislation which contain provisions providing discretion to disclose information.

We have identified 36 items of legislation to be repealed or amended under the provisions in section 75 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 57 items of legislation have been identified which fulfil our international obligations. It will be necessary to retain these.

A list of all the legislation identified will be placed in the Library of the House.

Decisions on the repeal or amendment of legislation governing the disclosure of information relating to devolved matters in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive. The repeal or amendment of legislation within the devolved authority of the Northern Ireland Assembly will be a matter for consultation with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Each item of legislation not already identified as a candidate for repeal or amendment and not fulfilling an international obligation is now being reviewed to determine whether it may be so repealed or amended in light of the provisions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A further update will be given in the annual report in November on implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Having listened closely to the Secretary of State's statement, Members will know that discussions have taken place with the management of football clubs. Has any contact been made with the Professional Footballers Association, however, particularly given that the lion's share - a suitable phrase in English terms - of the costs associated with football are generated by the players' wage bills?

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell): I refer my hon. Friend to my earlier remarks about the football authorities' welcome recognition of the need to address the financial insecurity that many clubs now face. Although that insecurity was in part created by the immediate crisis arising from the failure of ITV Digital, it is more deep-rooted and long-standing than that. Obviously, the PFA will be an important party to any successful resolution of those discussions.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State what progress has been made on the Cabinet Office consultation document, "Towards Equality and Diversity". [49371]

Mrs. Roche: The consultation document "Towards Equality and Diversity" sets out the Government's proposals to implement the EC employment and race directives. The 15-week consultation period, which closed at the end of March, resulted in a high response rate from a range of stakeholders including small businesses, large employers, unions, interest groups and individuals.
Ministers are currently considering the responses. The results of the consultation, and fuller proposals, including draft legislation to outlaw discrimination at work on grounds of sexual orientation and religion, will be published in the autumn.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What plans he has to help employees of companies affected by large-scale redundancies to find new work. [45011]

The Minister for Work (Mr. Nicholas Brown): We have developed the rapid response service to support people affected by significant redundancies and help them make the transition to sustainable new jobs. This enhanced service allows a flexible response based on local need. I am pleased to announce that, on 1 April, the rapid response service became fully operational, supported by a further £6 million investment over two years.

Lawrie Quinn: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. He might recall the major threat of a factory closure in my constituency just under a year ago. Indeed, his Department helped considerably in creating a renaissance for the factory's prospects. However, many people still faced redundancy and a lot of those who came to my surgery thought that the Government should work closer with the citizens advice bureaux and local agencies that have local knowledge to help them through that difficult period when they have just been made redundant and are looking for new work. Can the Minister comment on working in conjunction with local agencies to help people to find their way back into work?

Mr. Brown: My hon. Friend makes a fair point and I am grateful for what he says about the work of officials in difficult redundancy rounds. Although it may not seem like it at the time, it is the case that those who are in work mostly go on to get further work. However, it is right that the Department is able to help. It is also right that we co-ordinate our work with other agencies. Indeed, part of the extra £6 million is intended to do exactly what my hon. Friend requests.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will announce his decisions on the applications to extend the Heathrow Express and the Piccadilly Line to the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement. [46934]

Mr. Byers: When I gave approval on 20 November last to the building of a fifth terminal at Heathrow, I said that I shared the inquiry Inspector's view on the importance of these two proposed railway extensions to the case for approving the new terminal. I therefore imposed conditions requiring two railway extensions to be provided before the core terminal building is opened. I also said that I was minded to make the necessary Orders under the Transport and Works Act (TWA) authorising the proposed railway extensions, and to grant planning permission for this development.

I was, however, unable at that stage to grant the necessary approvals for the railway works. This was because I wished to attach planning conditions giving satisfactory control over the railway development, but these conditions had not been discussed at the inquiry. I therefore set out in my November letter the conditions I was minded to impose and invited comments. I have subsequently received comments from interested parties which have shown a good measure of agreement for the conditions I proposed, and which have helped me to finalise their wording.

I have therefore now decided to make the TWA Orders and to give planning approval for the Heathrow Express and Piccadilly Line extensions. Copies of both decision letters, which include the full sets of conditions for these works, have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the (a) ministerial priorities and (b) Best Value performance indicators for the police for 2002-03. [46683]

Mr John Denham: I am pleased to announce that the statutory instruments have now been laid before the House. The Ministerial Priorities, which will come into effect on 1 April 2002, are:

• to help create safe communities by reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder through effective partnership working, including reducing the availability and use of Class A drugs;
• to reduce the fear of crime in all sections of the community and in particular to increase the trust and confidence in policing amongst minority ethnic communities; and
• to increase the number of offences for which offenders, and particularly persistent offenders, are caught and brought to justice, in partnership with other criminal justice agencies.

The Home Secretary will, by the summer, introduce a performance indicator on tackling persistent offenders. Persistent offenders must be caught and dealt with to protect the public from their activities. An indicator to measure police success in driving up performance will be introduced as soon as data collection systems are in place.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What plans he has to adjust defence capabilities in respect of the coalition against international terrorism. [40917]

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon): The work being conducted in the Ministry of Defence on a new chapter to the strategic defence review is designed to ensure that we have the right concepts, forces and capabilities in place to deal with the threats that were manifest on 11 September. This work builds on the solid foundation of the strategic defence review, which left the United Kingdom well placed to meet the additional challenges that we now face. I expect to be in a position to announce some conclusions in the spring or early summer.

Lawrie Quinn: Notwithstanding the deliberations that his Department is undertaking, will the Secretary of State tell us whether, in the event of a new problem appearing on the horizon, the Department would have the facilities needed to implement the changes, representations and conclusions embodied in the work in progress, and to respond to any further terrorist threat?

Mr. Hoon: I can give that assurance. Obviously further policy work is under way, but it does not affect our practical ability to deal with a new terrorist threat should it manifest itself.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement on progress towards his target for making electronic communications from the public to all Government Departments feasible. [40123]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mrs. Barbara Roche): All Departments can be contacted via e-mail. The Government are committed to providing those services that can be delivered electronically by 2005. The latest figures show that more than 50 per cent. of Government services are now available on-line, with 74 per cent. predicted by the end of this year.

Lawrie Quinn: Has the Minister had a chance to study last night's Adjournment debate in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen)? Can she confirm that the so-called digital divide will not be used as an argument by the civil service or the Government to prevent targets being met or improved upon so that the public can have access to e-government?

Mrs. Roche: I am aware of the debate that took place last night and can give my hon. Friend the reassurance that he needs. It is right for us to ensure that we can deliver more services on-line, and it is also right to try to ensure that people who are currently without internet access receive those services. That is why - to give one example - the Department of Trade and Industry and the Post Office have just completed a six-month pilot of public information kiosks in post offices.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement on the work of the rapid response service for people made redundant. [36332]

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Alistair Darling): The rapid response service works closely with Jobcentre Plus helping people who are affected by redundancy: 56 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices have already opened and are working well. Later this week, I will announce that a further 225 offices will open in the coming year, 2002-03. I shall arrange to place a list of the areas where the offices will be in the Library, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Work will write to all hon. Members with offices in their constituencies setting out the details.

Lawrie Quinn: I thank the many people from the rapid response service who assisted my constituents last year, when Plaxton's bus factory faced potential closure. Does my right hon. Friend envisage that the service will link up with agencies such as citizens advice bureaux to give debt counselling to those who face redundancy, and to help them manage associated domestic finance problems?

Mr. Darling: My hon. Friend's point about the rapid response service is important. It is sometimes overlooked that, after redundancies are announced - last autumn, a number were indeed announced - the Employment Service and its specialist services work closely with employers to help get people back into work as quickly as possible. The Employment Service was very active when Plaxton's faced closure in his constituency.
The whole object of the new Jobcentre Plus regime, which brings benefits and job searches together under one roof, is to ensure that we can turn round people who lose their jobs as quickly as possible. I was just asked about the difficulties of the over-50s. Jobcentre Plus is a new and better way to help back into work people who, in the past, were left out and in some cases simply written off when they lost their jobs. Jobcentre Plus and the rapid response service will continue to do everything that they can to help people such as my hon. Friend's constituents.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement on the number of dentists working in the NHS. [34707]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton): A total of 20,480 dentists were working across all dental services in England in September 1997. The number of dentists working in September 2001 was 22,440. That is an increase of 1,960.

Lawrie Quinn: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer and welcome the increase in the number of NHS dentists. Does he agree that in market towns, such as Whitby, where there is great difficulty in gaining access to NHS dentists, people have to travel to larger centres? Will he say what the primary care trust can be expected to do to make it easier for people in rural locations to have access to NHS dentists?

Mr. Hutton: I agree with my hon. Friend that people in some rural areas clearly experience problems in accessing NHS dentistry. That is true in my constituency. I am sure that he will welcome the decision of the local health authority to establish one of the new dental access centres in his constituency on two sites - one in Scarborough, with which I am sure that he is familiar, and one in Whitby, too. Next year, when the service begins to operate with full efficiency, it is estimated that it will be able to treat about 3,500 patients in his area. That is an important step forward.
As my hon. Friend probably remembers, the Government's rural White Paper made it clear that we were committed to developing access to NHS dentistry in rural areas. There are three things in particular that we can do. First, we need to continue to invest in dental practitioners' premises in rural areas, and the lion's share of investment is going into such practices. Secondly, we have dental access centres, and the majority of the new 49 DACs serve rural areas. Thirdly, local health authorities, including the primary care trust in my hon. Friend's area, can enter into spot contracts with local dentists to treat unregistered patients on the national health service. That will help my hon. Friend's constituents and others in rural areas in particular.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State if he will make a statement on establishing an elected regional assembly for Yorkshire and the Humber. [30911]

The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State: The Government's plans for taking forward the manifesto commitment on elected regional government will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper on Regional Governance.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest estimate of the total cost of refunding tax to those retired Army personnel or their widows and widowers who are, or were, in receipt of a service invalidity pension. [31696]

Dr. Moonie: In my statement to the House of 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 891-902, I estimated the total cost of refunding wrongly taxed Army pensioners at around £30 million. The latest Inland Revenue estimate is that, to date, it has refunded in the order of £6.5 million to eligible pensioners or their spouses. We believe that the majority of these pensioners or their spouses have already been identified but we recognise that there may be some beneficiaries eligible to claim where the pensioner is deceased. It is not easy to establish their number or the cost attached to such claims. Nonetheless, I would not expect the total to exceed £30 million, and based on the repayments that have been made to all of the cases that have been identified it is likely to be significantly less. Of those so far identified as having wrongly paid tax, only 14 have not yet had refunds.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the proportion of pupils reaching the end of compulsory schooling without any qualifications. [23850]

Mr. Timms: In 2001 the proportion of pupils reaching the end of compulsory schooling without any qualifications fell for the sixth year in a row to 5.5 per cent. This reflects a continuing rise to 94.5 per cent. in 2000-01 in the percentage of pupils achieving one or more GCSEs at grades A*-G (or equivalent).

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in meeting the United Kingdom's legal obligations to implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive. [24996]

Margaret Beckett: Following the decision by the European Court of Justice that the United Kingdom has failed to comply with the Nitrates Directive, I will be issuing a consultation document to key organisations very shortly, setting out the proposals for implementing the Nitrates Directive in England. The consultation will get under way in earnest in the new year, when a summary version of the consultation document will be sent to all farmers in England seeking their views on implementation options. The consultation document includes an outline of the help available from DEFRA for farmers to meet the cost of compliance.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many responses the Government have received to recommendations (a) 60, (b) 61, (c) 62, (d) 63 and (e) 64 of the Gambling report, indicating how many (i) supported, (ii) opposed and (iii) were in neutral in respect of each recommendation. [23781]

Mr. Caborn: By the end of the consultation period we had received 20 responses supporting and 10 opposing recommendation 60, nine responses supporting and seven opposing recommendation 61; 11 responses supporting and 11 opposing recommendation 62; eight responses supporting and 10 opposing recommendation 63; and nine responses supporting and 13 opposing recommendation 64. A very much larger number of responses did not specifically refer to this group of recommendations. Since these we have received a number of further letters from hon. Members enclosing correspondence from constituents operating or employed in businesses involving gaming machines which children may currently play, criticising the recommendations.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

1. what estimate she has made of the impact on the Government's policies to regenerate seaside resorts of the implementation of recommendations 60-64 of the Gambling Review report; [23780]
2. what estimate the Government have made of the impact on jobs of the implementation of recommendations 60-64 of the Gambling Review report. [23782]

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish a timetable for the implementation of lateral entry, secondments and other north/south co-operation issues between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Siochana. [23250]

Jane Kennedy: I have today published a timetable, which has been agreed with the Irish Government, identifying how both Governments intend to implement the Patten recommendations on co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Siochana, including lateral entry and secondments to the two police services on a reciprocal basis. Copies of the timetable have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he intends to use his reserve capping powers this year in respect of any local authorities' council tax increases. [22732]

Mr. Raynsford: The reserve capping powers will not be used this year.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made following the publication of hospital star ratings. [19677]

Mr. Hutton: For national health service trusts who were awarded no stars, action plans are being drawn up and implemented. These will improve the areas of significant under-performance and bring them up to the standard the public and patients have the right to expect.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the impact that the new deal 50-plus has had on getting older people back into work. [19169]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We are committed to the principle of extending opportunity for all to everyone regardless of age, and tackling age discrimination in the workplace. A key element of this is the New Deal 50 plus which has already helped over 50,000 people move into work since its national launch in April 2000.
We are developing 3rd Age Apprenticeships to increase take up of the New Deal 50 plus training provision, and employer involvement in the programme. These will offer work-based training organised on a sectoral basis, making using of existing New Deal 50 plus funding arrangements, particularly the Training Grant. The ongoing AgePositive campaign is challenging workplace attitudes towards age, ensuring employers realise the benefits of employing an age diverse workforce. On 3 December the campaign launched both a new AgePositive website and research studies, including the Evaluation of the Impact of the Code of Practice and Good Practice in the Recruitment and Retention of Older Workers.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Youth unemployment in my constituency was reduced by some 80 per cent. because of the new deal, but we still have pockets in rural areas. Is my right hon. Friend proposing to introduce any extra support to help with transportation problems in the most rural areas, where people have problems in getting to placements?

Mr. Darling: I believe that we can do more here. I am aware of cases in which the Employment Service has teamed up with employers some distance away from its catchment area and they have, through a variety of means, provided transport to get people from where they live to work. For example, people regularly travel from north London to Stansted airport, and measures have been put in place to make it easier for them to do so. My hon. Friend is right to highlight the fact that people who are unemployed and live away from main centres of employment face additional difficulties. That is one reason why we are introducing measures such as the step up programme to see what else we can do to ensure that people who have been disadvantaged in the past are given the same opportunities as everybody else.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Today's announcement will be welcome in North Yorkshire. Can my right hon. Friend tell the many people in my constituency who have difficulty finding an NHS dentist whether it will help them, in conjunction with the new PCT that will be set up at the beginning of next April?

Mr. Milburn: Substantial extra investment is going into North Yorkshire for investment in health services; there has been an increase of 9.84 per cent. for 2002-03, which is a big sum of money. It will be for local PCTs and the strategic health authority to decide how best to deploy that money. Some of it is earmarked for national priorities which, we believe, are patients' priorities: waiting times, primary care, and investment in cancer and coronary care. But the overwhelming bulk of resources will be deployed by local PCTs and health authorities. They must address the pressing health needs of their local communities. If there is a need to invest in dentistry, they will have to look at that.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what visits to Government regional offices Cabinet Office Ministers have made since 7 June. [15990]

Mrs. Roche: Since 7 June, I have visited the Government Offices for the East of England, East Midlands, South West, North East and North West. My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, has visited the Government Offices for the North East, South West and North West. My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, visited the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on emergency planning strategies in Yorkshire and the Humber. [9283]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 31 October 2001]: Emergency planning strategies are a local matter and, in this instance, are a matter for the responding agencies in Yorkshire and Humber.
Guidance has been issued on emergency planning which promotes the principles of Integrated Emergency Management, under which all organisations likely to be involved in the response, including the emergency services and local authorities, share their plans and participate in strategic meetings, joint exercises and training.
The Cabinet Office Review into the Future of Emergency Planning in England and Wales raises the issue of monitoring local emergency planning services and has invited specific comments and suggestions about it.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement on investment in the railway system in the next 10 years.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Stephen Byers): The Government, through their 10-year plan, remain committed to delivering a better, safer and more reliable railway network that is fit for the 21st century. We plan to spend £30 billion over the next 10 years to achieve substantial improvements and are confident that some £34 billion will come from the private sector.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. He will recognise that the future of the east coast main line and of the trans-Pennine route is absolutely crucial to the regeneration and future economic prosperity of the key areas of the North-East and Yorkshire. Will he put his mind to the fact that there is a potential skills shortage in the railway industry? That might prevent the investment profile coming forward, thereby stymieing that investment and doing lots of damage to the future economy of those areas?

Mr. Byers: My hon. Friend is right to point out the current skills deficiency in the railway network. That is partly a result of decades of under-investment in the railway system. We now need to move away from a short-term approach to the industry, which leads to a lack of investment in skills, to a situation where through long-term investment, the 10-year plan and the investment of £30 billion of public money, we can, once again, begin to invest in the people at the heart of the railway system. The people who operate the signals, drive the trains and maintain the track must be the real priority for the future and, under measures that we are introducing with the Strategic Rail Authority and other sectors of the industry, we intend to make them exactly that.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the role of support staff in the police.

Mr. Denham: The police reform process is looking at ways in which the visibility and accessibility of the police can be increased. A range of tasks are currently undertaken by police officers which could be carried out by suitably trained support staff, freeing up officers to return to the beat.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 1 November, when he published the report by PA Consulting "Diary of a Police Officer", that we are committed to encouraging broader use of support staff for custody duties and handling the paperwork involved in case preparation. We will use the Police Bill to make any necessary legislative changes.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): Does my hon. Friend agree that some CCTV systems that are successful in central areas have pushed criminality out on to estates and into outlying areas? Will she give careful consideration to the Eastfield area of Scarborough? The community there desperately wants CCTV but does not seem to be able to get hold of the right people in the local council to push that initiative forward. What is the best way of doing that on behalf of the local community? [Interruption.]

Beverley Hughes: As one of hon. Friends says, my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Lawrie Quinn) has done precisely that.
We have received anecdotal reports of displacement, which is an issue in some schemes but not in others. We are evaluating 17 of the current schemes to determine their effectiveness across the board. Indeed, one of the questions relates to whether crime is displaced to areas without cameras as a result of CCTV. On my hon. Friend's more general point, we are reviewing the entire crime reduction programme and I shall let him know of future initiatives.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he anticipates the new measures to combat electoral fraud will come into force.

Mr. Browne: It is our intention that all the measures proposed by the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Bill, which will provide the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland with additional functions to address the problem of electoral fraud there, will be in force by May 2003.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the review of the criteria for the voluntary registration of charities.

Angela Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 93W, that he had asked the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) of the Cabinet Office to undertake a broad-ranging review of the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the wider voluntary and community sector. Subsequently, the PIU confirmed that the position of charities excepted from registration with the Charity Commission, was one of the areas that was to be looked at as part of its review. The work by the Home Office and the Charity Commission on the way forward, has therefore been discontinued pending the outcome of the PIU review. The PIU is expected to complete its review early in 2002.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when regional planning guidance for Yorkshire and the Humber will be published.

Ms Keeble: My right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is today publishing Regional Planning Guidance for Yorkshire and the Humber (RPG12). RPG12 provides the spatial development framework for the Yorkshire and Humber region. Its core objectives are to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration and to achieve urban and rural renaissance in the region. Development will be focused on the region's main towns and cities making best use of previously-developed land and helping to reduce the need to travel.
The new Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, launched on 22 October, will be at the heart of the implementation of the strategy, working with the region's local authorities, Yorkshire Forward and other stakeholders.
I am pleased that much of the format and content of RPG12, including the vision, objectives and core strategy, carries forward what was proposed in the original draft RPG prepared by the Regional Assembly. RPG12 reflects very effective working between the Assembly, local authorities and other stakeholders who have made valuable contributions to refine and enhance the original draft strategy. It builds on the new inclusive process for preparing RPG that the Government have put in place. Many of the comments received in response to the consultations carried out earlier this year were constructive suggestions and have been taken on board in finalising the guidance.
The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly will now take the strategy forward and work with partners to ensure its effective implementation, monitoring and review.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress the veterans forum has made in addressing the needs of veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Moonie: I have chaired two meetings of the Veterans' Forum at which I have agreed with representatives of the veterans' organisations a vision and initial work programme for the initiative. A key objective has been that the initiative should be taken forward as a partnership between ourselves and the veterans' community. We are addressing issues of identity, communication, recognition and care and the action plan we have developed for the future will be focusing in particular on those veterans who are most vulnerable.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit Scarborough and Whitby to inspect the North Yorkshire police force and the rural mobile police station initiative.

Mr. Denham: I am keen to visit as many police forces as I can to hear the views of the police service and to see the work being done to reduce crime and provide public reassurance. I will be visiting North Yorkshire police on 1 November and will be interested to hear of innovative ways of making police officers more visible and accessible to the communities they serve.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): My right hon. Friend will appreciate that, with 134 cases in North Yorkshire, many of which have been in its two national parks, the impact on our sub-regional rural economy--particularly in my own constituency in the Esk valley--was much the same as the impact in Cumbria. Will she confirm that North Yorkshire will share in substantial support to deal with that impact? Will the national park authorities, with their expertise, be used to tackle the problems of overstocking, especially in the sheep sector, that are facing many of my constituents?

Margaret Beckett: We are listening to the views and input of the various authorities on the future direction of policy. We shall also examine the distribution of that money. I am sure that not everyone will be satisfied, and that everyone will think that there should be more for their area, but I hope that people will recognise that it is a contribution.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide details of how his Department will provide financial assistance for Railtrack plc in administration.

Mr. Byers: Full details of the funding arrangements agreed with the administrators are in the Loan Agreement. Parliamentary approval for this new expenditure in the form of a voted loan (to be repaid when Railtrack plc moves out of administration) will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for DTLR. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £800 million will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he proposes to review the future of English Partnerships.

Ms Keeble: I am today announcing a review to be undertaken by my Department, as to the future of English Partnerships. I have decided to bring forward the quinquennial review due in 2003 to ensure that the future of English Partnerships is given greater clarity and focus. The terms of reference for the whole review are set out as follows.

During the review we will be seeking the views of a wide range of interested organisations. We expect to complete the first stage of the review examining the role of English Partnerships by the end of this year. Subject to confirmation of their continued existence, we aim to complete the review of the structure and skills of the organisation by Easter, to ensure that English Partnerships can deliver their new role. I will publish the findings of the first stage of the review in the New Year.

The Terms of Reference for the review are as follows:

"To review the role of English Partnerships in delivering the Government's policies; to consider the future ownership of CNT assets and liabilities, and recommend such changes as might be necessary in the light of the review. To consider English Partnerships' structure and processes to ensure effective and efficient delivery of its remit".

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): I welcome the introduction of the new primary care trust for my area of North Yorkshire. For the first time in probably a decade or more, the Whitby community hospital feels that it has a future--that it has a role to play in undertaking proper health care for people in the Whitby and North York moors area of my county. Will the Minister take every opportunity to make sure that the people who live in the remoter, rural parts of the county of North Yorkshire get better access to community hospitals such as the Whitby community hospital and that the full intentions of the primary care trust idea can be brought to the forefront?

Mr. Hutton: I am grateful to my hon. Friend--I have had the pleasure of visiting Scarborough with him and seeing some of the improvements in the NHS in relation to the care of the elderly that have taken place there; they are very long overdue. Older people are the largest users of health care services in this country, and it is very important for us to continue to improve the range of care services available to them. My hon. Friend raises a particularly important issue about access to those services in rural communities, but that is precisely the reason why we set up primary care trusts: they can assess those needs and ensure that the necessary arrangements are put in place so that older people can gain access to the wider range of health care services that we are committed to establishing.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dentists in the rural districts of North Yorkshire.

Jacqui Smith: Currently there is one dentist in Scarborough Town and another some three miles away in East Ayton accepting new National Health Service patients. There are also dentists in Whitby and Kirkbymoorside accepting new NHS patients. Additional resources have been allocated to a general dental practice in Scarborough to enable it to treat more unregistered NHS patients. The health authority has set up dental access centres in Scarborough, Whitby and York. The demand for these services is high and the health authority is considering expanding these dental access centres.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): As the other co-chairman of the all-party railways group, I want to say how much I liked the part in my hon. Friend's statement about recognising the loyalty, talent and commitment of the Railtrack staff who have gone on working for a 21st century railway. Will he give a commitment about the future of freight on rail and say whether the proposals that Railtrack had developed will be followed through by the proposed new company?

Mr. Byers: Freight has often been the forgotten part of the railway network. I know from the discussions that my Department and ministerial team have had with representatives of freight companies that there has been real concern about the way in which the railway network has developed. I assure my hon. Friend that we want to ensure as part of the 10-year plan--in which we have a clear objective on the growth of freight--that we deliver on that commitment.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his plans to make it easier for pensioners to collect their state benefits through private bank accounts. [3597]

Mr. McCartney: Most new pensioners (56 per cent.) already opt to have payment made directly into their bank/building society accounts, and find the process straightforward and convenient.

Paying benefits directly into bank accounts will become the normal method of payment from 2003. To support that, we will implement a number of improvements to our present systems to make it simpler for existing customers to switch. We will back up these enhancements with an effective publicity campaign, and where it is required we will also provide individual claimants with advice on opening and operating a bank account.

In addition we have made it clear that people will still be able to collect their pension weekly in cash from post offices. The Post Office is developing Universal Banking Services which will enable this to happen.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to speed up the processing of major infrastructure projects in the planning system. [6446]

Mr. Byers: We need a modern and fair process for making decisions about major infrastructure projects, such as new airports, runways, rail links and roads. These projects are essential for our economic future and bring benefits through better services but they are also controversial because they can affect the lives of people living near them.

I am therefore announcing today a package of measures to streamline the procedures and reduce unnecessary delays while safeguarding public consultation and involvement. Delay is costly and perpetuates uncertainty. Lengthy inquiries make it difficult and costly for people to be properly involved.

The package comprises national policy statements and an improved regional framework for considering individual projects, new parliamentary procedures for approving projects, improved public inquiry procedures and reform of the arrangements for compulsory purchase and compensation.

We propose that up-to-date statements of Government policy should be in place before major projects are considered in the planning system. This will help to reduce unnecessary debate at inquiry and has the potential to save a significant amount of inquiry time. The nature and approach of policy statements may vary from case to case. There would normally be prior public consultation on them so that people have the chance to comment and make an input to the policy proposed.

Last year, we put in place revised arrangements for preparing Regional Planning Guidance (RPG), incorporating regional transport strategies. The process of reviewing RPG has been completed in two regions and is well advanced in another five. RPG will help to provide greater certainty as regards the broad location of new development and the need for infrastructure improvements at the regional level.

These arrangements will be complemented and enhanced by the findings of the multi-modal studies of transport corridors currently under way. These will feed in to reviews of the transport elements of RPG during 2002-03. Under our new arrangements for RPG preparation we have enhanced the openness and inclusiveness of the process, including improved consultation and the chance for people to have their say, with a public examination before an independent panel.

Approval in principle for major infrastructure projects should be a matter for Parliament. Procedures will be developed which allow that. These will give people the right to object before Parliament debates the issues. Detailed aspects will be examined at a subsequent public inquiry if Parliament approves the project. We want the overall process for deciding projects to be shorter and more focused while ensuring that people affected have a full right to make their views known.

We shall introduce legislation to achieve this when a suitable opportunity arises. We shall consult beforehand on proposals for the details of the new procedures. In the meantime, we are initiating a fundamental review of the Transport and Works Act 1992, the effectiveness of whose procedures is essential to delivering rail, tram and other forms of infrastructure falling within its scope.

Public inquiries are and will remain an important feature of the planning process. They are a tried and tested way of exploring the issues in public and giving people the chance to make an input to decisions. We shall improve the procedures for dealing with major projects at inquiry by way of further changes over and above the streamlining measures we introduced for planning inquiries generally last August. These will include stricter time-tabling and more clearly focused terms of reference, supplemented by a range of measures to tackle issues more flexibly and manage the inquiry process better.

In the light or responses to our 1999 consultation paper on streamlining the processing of major projects through the planning system, we also propose to add to inspectors' powers to deal with matters pre-inquiry. We do not intend to proceed with proposals to abolish the right of parties to cross-examine others. We shall bring forward new rules to implement the changes as soon as practicable. Similar changes will also be made where necessary for projects proceeding under other statutory regimes, such as the Highways Act 1980.

The implementation of major infrastructure projects sometimes depends on the compulsory acquisition of land. We propose to improve the operation of the compulsory purchase and compensation system so that it is more efficient, effective and fair. We are examining the compensation arrangements for people affected by proposed developments. The report of a fundamental review of the laws and procedures was published last year. The Law Commission have begun to look at how the legislation can be consolidated, codified and updated. We intend to make a policy statement on the way forward in the autumn. We shall also be publishing a new advice manual and good practice guide for everyone involved in the operation of the procedures.

A modern infrastructure system is essential to promote enterprise and competitiveness and underpin our economy. the measures I have announced today will help to get projects in place more quickly by streamlining the procedures and cutting unnecessary delay while ensuring that the process remains open and fair and democratically accountable.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Prime Minister when he will respond to the Intelligence and Security Committee's interim report for 2000-01. [6190]

The Prime Minister: I have today laid the Government response to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report before Parliament.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new aircraft his Department plans to procure for the RAF; and if he will make a statement. [1203]

Dr. Moonie: Including aircraft on order, we currently plan to acquire 232 Eurofighter multi-role aircraft; 25 A400M transport aircraft; 25 C130J transport aircraft; 21 Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft; eight Chinook Mark 3 support helicopters; 22 Merlin Mark 3 support helicopters, and five modified Global Express jets to carry Airborne Stand-Off Radar. We will also lease four C-l7 transport aircraft.

In addition, there are several projects where the exact number of aircraft which the RAF will use has still to be determined. These include: the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft; the Future Joint Combat Aircraft; the Future Offensive Air System; the Support, Amphibious and Battlefield Rotorcraft; and the UK Military Flying Training System programmes. Some of these programmes are planned to involve PFI solutions where the aircraft will not be owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): My right hon. Friend will understand that many Labour Members are pleased that he was able to sign the memorandum at the Paris air show, (committing the United Kingdom to purchase 25 of the new A400M aircraft) but can he confirm that, in procurement of this or any other aircraft, the Department will always take account of the opinions of aircrew and ground crew in particular? That will ensure that we have a sustainable, well maintained product that will do what this country needs it to do - provide adequate defence.

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon): I can give my hon. Friend the assurance that he seeks. In coming to what were difficult decisions about the right choice of heavy lift aircraft for the Royal Air Force, we took account of the views of the RAF, those who are responsible for servicing those aircraft and, crucially, the military leadership, which required us to make available a strategic heavy lift capability.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the levels of basic skills among adults. [907]

John Healey: The latest wide-scale assessment of the level of basic skills among adults was carried out in 1996 as part of the international Adult Literacy Survey. This found that around 20 per cent. of adults in Great Britain performed at the lowest of five levels of literacy skill. Lord Moser drew upon this in his report, "A Fresh Start", to estimate that up to seven million adults have difficulties with literacy and perhaps more with numeracy.

The Government launched their strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills on 1 March this year. As part of our strategy we intend to collect better information on the scale of basic skills need, including through pathfinder projects already established in the nine English regions and through a national survey.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the rural mobile police station initiative proposed for north Yorkshire.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I welcome the introduction of a mobile police office in north Yorkshire, which was launched on 29 May this year. It will give a high-visibility police presence in rural areas. The cost of the police office will be covered by a £186,000 grant from the Government's Targeted Policing Initiative.

Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made by his Department in extending the concessionary bus travel scheme to men between the ages of 60 and 65 years. [451]

Ms Keeble: As announced in the Gracious Speech on 20 June 2001, Official Report, column 33, we intend to bring forward a Bill during the present Session to amend the relevant legislation.

Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO