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Pensions

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) funded and (b) unfunded public sector pension schemes for which her Department, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies are responsible; when the last actuarial valuation was of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and if she will make a statement. [104921]

Ms Hewitt: The Department, its agencies, and most of its non-department public bodies (NDPBs) subscribe to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). There is no participation in the management of the scheme's assets and liabilities and the Department's, its agencies' and NDPBs' contributions to the scheme are determined by the scheme.

Some of the regional development agencies (RDAs), NDPBs sponsored by the Department, participate in the English Partnerships Pension Scheme. Again there is no participation in the management of the scheme's assets and liabilities, the RDAs contributions to the scheme are determined by the scheme.

The Department and NDPBs also operate a number of unfunded pension schemes. There is no fund of investments for these schemes. However, the schemes are run and accounts prepared as though a fund does exist. There are notional portfolios of investments that are deemed to be similar to that of a sample of UK funded pension schemes and the notional investment return and market value are determined by reference to the average performance of such a portfolio. The schemes are subject to review by the Government Actuary's Department.

The unfunded pension schemes are as follows:

£ million

			As at 31 March 2002
Name of pension scheme	Date of last valuation	Notional valueof assets	Liabilities	Surplus (deficit)
UKAEA pension schemes
The Combined Pension Scheme	31 March 2000	4,570.8	2,613.0	1,957.8
The Principal Non-Industrial Superannuation Scheme	31 March 1998	545.2	320.0	225.2
The Protected Persons Superannuation Scheme	31 March 1999	75.5	35.0	40.5
Research Council's pension scheme	31 March 1997	979.0	842.0	137.0

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The Medical Research Council, an NDPB of the Department, operates a funded pension scheme: The Medical Research Council Pension Scheme. The scheme is subject to review by the Government Actuary's Department. The last actuarial valuation for the scheme was completed in respect of the scheme's position at 31 March 2001. At the date of the latest actuarial valuation, the market value of the assets was £596 million. There was a deficit of assets over liabilities of £12.5 million.

Post Offices

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department is providing funds for the payment of bonuses to network development managers who achieve a target number of Post Office branch closures under the Urban Network Reinvention Programme; and what the value of each bonus is. [107377]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 4 April 2003]: The Department is providing funds only for compensation payments and investment grants under the Urban Network Reinvention Programme. Post Office Ltd. is funding its costs for administering the programme. Decisions relating to staff management and remuneration arrangements are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. (POL), and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write direct to the hon. Member.

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the additional subsidy to the rural post office network announced in late 2002 will be paid to rural sub-postmasters as extra pay; and how much will be given to Post Office Ltd. to run the rural network. [107379]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 4 April 2003]: Rural post offices across the UK will benefit from the £450 million package of financial support for the rural post office network that I announced on 2 December 2002. £66 million per annum will be used to maintain income levels for sub-postmasters (through maintaining the 'assigned office payment' (AOP), which is the fixed part of sub-postmaster pay). £79 million in year 1, and £74 million per annum in years 2 and 3 will be used to fund the front line services necessary for every rural post office to operate, including IT and cash handling and distribution. Additionally, there will be a flexible fund of £25 million—£5 million in the first year and £10 million per annum for years 2 and 3—to modernise service delivery and pilot innovative ways of delivering services.

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations she has made to the European Commission regarding the delay in granting confirmation for the £450 million government support for rural post offices; [108133]

(2) if she will make a statement on the progress made in securing European Commission confirmation

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for the £450 million government aid for rural post offices. [108134]

Mr. Timms: The £450 million of assistance for the rural post office network announced in December for the period beginning April 2003–06 is subject to State Aid approval. We submitted our notification to the Commission in December for clearance.

The timetable for state aid clearance is a matter for the European Commission. DTI is working to ensure that the questions and issues raised by the Commission are responded to as quickly as possible. We are confident in our case and anticipate approval in due course.

Staff Union Duties

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106732]

Ms Hewitt: In my Department and its agencies in 2002, 178 people were allocated 795.5 days. Not all the allocations were taken up. The cost of paid leave was £37,000.

Information for non-departmental public bodies is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Street Works

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place with the Department of Transport with reference to proposed street works legislation. [107809]

Mr. Timms: There have been various discussions at ministerial and official level as to the scope of future street works legislation, including with interested parties.

Working Hours

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policy on (a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible. [107608]

Ms Hewitt: In my Department and its agencies the standard working week is 41 hours gross (36 net of lunch breaks) in London and 42 hours gross (37 net) outside of London.

It is left for individual management units to determine core hours on the basis of the business needs of the Unit. We actively encourage flexible working, both in terms of hours worked and in the way in which the work is done.

Comparable information is not held centrally in respect of non-departmental public bodies and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AIDS (Southern Africa)

Mr. Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Government intend to contribute to the fight against the spread of the AIDS epidemic in southern Africa and the treatment of those who have contracted it. [107164]

Clare Short: HIV/AIDS is a major challenge in southern Africa, and is a priority for my Department's funding in the region. DFID's programmes include support for prevention, treatment, care and support, and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS. My Department has approved large new commitments to combat HIV/AIDS in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; a new £30 million, four-year multisectoral HIV/AIDS programme for South Africa is awaiting approval. We also support a SADC HIV/AIDS programme (£7.5 million over four years) covering Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana, and have recently approved a further £6 million for work across Africa to support connections between on-going regional work and funding some new regional initiatives, such as working on orphans and vulnerable children. In addition to direct support for HIV/AIDS programmes, DFID is increasingly mainstreaming efforts to combat HIV/AIDS into all development programmes.

We have also contributed significantly to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria from which many of the countries of southern Africa will benefit.

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