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Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004 to question no.167068, to what uses the tobacco grown in EU countries is put; and what proportion was exported from the EU in the last period for which figures are available. [171184]
Alun Michael: Tobacco grown in the EU is used in the manufacture of tobacco products for consumption within the EU and for export.
In 2002, production of tobacco in the EU was 334,000 tonnes. EU exports of raw tobacco to third countries were 189,131 tonnes (about 57 per cent. of EU production).
Sources:
1. Production dataFAO statistical database. 2. Trade dataEurostat.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Government funding is provided to the Woodcraft Folk; what the purpose of that funding is; and what its constitution and governance arrangements are. [170752]
Alun Michael: The records for Defra's main funding streams to voluntary organisations show no payments to the Woodcraft Folk. We do not keep records of payments from other parts of Government.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the relationship is between the Woodcraft Folk and the Co-operative Party. [170757]
Alun Michael: As I was not aware of any relationship I have consulted the General Secretary of the Co-operative Party who has confirmed that there is no connection between the Party and the Woodcraft Folk.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his Department's policy to source all sea bass used in catering outlets for which his Department is responsible from hand-line fishermen rather than pair trawlers. [167540]
Yvette Cooper: The purchasing policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reflects the Government's policy. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 April 2004, Official Report, column 1344W.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the deprivation indicators for the electoral wards in the City of Newcastle as designated in 2003. [171157]
Yvette Cooper: There are 37 indicators underpinning the Index of Multiple Deprivation. These fall into seven separate dimensions of deprivation (income, employment, health, education, barriers to housing and services, crime and living environment). Further details on these indicators can be found in the full report on the Indices of Deprivation 2004, which is available at www.odpm.gov.uk/indices.
While the Indices of Deprivation 2000 was produced at ward level, the new IndicesThe Indices of Deprivation 2004have been produced at Super Output Area, lower layer.
A decision was taken to explore another base geography for the Indices to overcome the problems associated with frequent ward boundary changes and the inconsistency in the size of wards. This new base geography is intended to be more stable over time and more consistent in size. The decision to use Super Output Areas was taken after an extensive period of consultation.
Super Output Areas cover between 1000 and 3000 people and are, in most cases, smaller than wards. They allow us to better identify small pockets of deprivation and provide a richer picture of local variations in deprivation. They will also help to ensure that the Government continues to focus its efforts on tackling disadvantage at those areas most in need.
Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he received the report by the Electoral Commission on Guildford Borough Council Elections of 1 May 2003, The Integrity and Security Report; and when and in what form he will publish the report. [171747]
Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 29 April 2004, Official Report, column 1226W. The statutory evaluation report referred to is the only report that the Electoral Commission has published on the all-postal pilot election held in Guildford in May 2003.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on plans to remove the fire control from the Gloucestershire Tri-Service Centre at Quedgley; [172365]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the performance of the Fire Service of a move away from the Gloucestershire Tri-Service Centre at Quedgley; and if he will make a statement. [172366]
Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 4 March the Government's response to the consultation exercise on regional fire and rescue control rooms. The regional control centres will be able to communicate effectively with police and ambulance controls as well as with each other. They will provide a unified, resilient national network and enable enhanced service delivery by all Fire and Rescue Authorities. No decisions have yet been made on the location of the new regional control centres, and there are no specific plans in respect of any existing control rooms.
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless persons applications were made to the District of Easington Council in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; and how many were accepted and housed in each year. [170118]
Yvette Cooper: Information reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by Easington District Council in relation to its activities under homelessness provisions of Housing Acts is in respect of households rather than persons. A summary of the latest data supplied by Easington DC is tabled as follows.
Applications | Acceptances(3) | Housed 2 | |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | 166 | 81 | 49 |
2002 | 343 | 178 | 117 |
2003 | 756 | 337 | 81 |
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2004, Official Report,
11 May 2004 : Column 212W
column 1331W, on Green Belt, how many applications for development on Green Belt land have been refused planning permission since 1 May 1997. [172481]
Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what conditions must be fulfilled before a council may apply to transfer management of its housing stock to an arm's length management organisation; and whether the council is required to demonstrate that it is performing to the Government's satisfaction. [172283]
Keith Hill: A local authority requires the approval of the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985 to enter into an agreement for its housing stock to be managed by an Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO). The criteria for approval are set out in "Guidance on Arms Length Management of local authority housing" issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in March 2003. The performance of the local authority is not a relevant criterion, though the performance of the ALMO must be rated at least 2* (good) by the Housing Inspectorate to qualify for additional funding.
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