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8 Nov 2005 : Column 310W—continued

TB

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what average percentage of funding allocated to direct budget support was attributed to the control and treatment of TB in the last year for which figures are available. [24454]

Mr. Thomas: DFID provides a significant part of its funding directly to Government budgets in support of their overall strategies for poverty reduction (Poverty Reduction Budget Support). DFID provided £339 million in 2003–04 and £423 million in 2004–05 in this way. Partner Governments may use some part of this funding directly for TB control activities, or for building up health services to diagnose and treat TB as well as other major causes of ill health. It is not currently possible to provide accurate estimates of the proportion of PRBS which is spent directly on TB control and treatment. This is because national Governments do not have financial accounting systems that trace the proportion of direct budget support spent on individual diseases.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Pay

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of differences between the value of pension provision of members of the armed forces and that of workers in comparable jobs in the private sector when settling the pay of members of the armed forces. [25065]

Mr. Touhig: The Armed Forces Pay Review Body, in their recommendations on the total remuneration package for the armed forces, make an adjustment to comparator earnings figures to take account of the higher relative value of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme benefits against that of the pension schemes of comparator organisations. The non-contributory nature of the scheme is one factor taken into account but a key factor is the early and fast accrual of benefits under the AFPS compared with those available in the civilian sector.
 
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Core Sites Initiative

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's Core Sites Initiative will be concluded; if he will publish an interim report on progress on the Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [23317]

Mr. Touhig: The initial categorisation was completed in December 2002. Since then we have set in train some major packages of rationalisation and, as reported in the Stewardship Report on the Defence Estate 2004, we have used the baseline data collected during the Core Sites work to help inform our planning toward an estate of the right size and quality. We are working now on producing a rationalisation plan to cover the whole estate that, once initiated, will facilitate further consolidation of defence activity on to a smaller number of more densely utilised locations. Future operational needs, technological advances, and organisational change will be key factors in our planning for the future estate. Each rationalisation proposal that emerges will be subject to full consultation in the normal way.

WALES

Carbon Management Programme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department will sign up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme. [23734]

Nick Ainger: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). The current DCA plan is to sign up to the Carbon Management programme, but has no date fixed for joining the scheme.

Carbon Offset Scheme

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much is due to be spent in (a) 2005–06 and (b) each of the next four financial years on the carbon offset scheme by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the number and distance of flights and related carbon dioxide emissions which are being offset in each case. [22391]

Nick Ainger: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and complies with its environmental policies. The DCA is considering adopting the Carbon Offset Scheme.

Sustainable Development

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to publish the next departmental sustainable development action plan. [22386]

Nick Ainger: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and operates within the DCA's action plan.

The DCA is developing a new action plan to be published this financial year, via its website—www.dca.gov.uk
 
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Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made of progress towards implementation of each target set in the last departmental sustainable development action plan. [22387]

Nick Ainger: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). It is covered by DCA action plans and reports. The DCA is developing a new action plan, based on targets laid out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The plan is to be published this financial year, via the DCA website—www.dca.gov.uk

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of (a) new building work and (b) refurbishment of buildings of (i) his Department and (ii) agencies of his Department, has been subject to environmental assessment using BREEAM and BREEAM98 since May 1997. [22388]

Nick Ainger: The Wales Office has had no major building refurbishment work, since it was established in July 1999.

Welsh Housing Quality Standard

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the funding for enabling Welsh councils to reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2012. [22984]

Nick Ainger: The Welsh Assembly Government's long-term vision is that everyone in Wales shall have the opportunity to live in good quality homes. To achieve this, steps are needed to ensure that existing housing meets the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Social landlords are expected to devise realistic programmes to bring their properties up to the standard by the end of 2012. The Assembly has an agreement with HM Treasury that enables housing authorities to pay off overhanging debt to the Public Works Loan Board, on transfer of stock to a registered social landlord.

Winter Deaths

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people aged over 65 years in Wales died in each year since 1997 as a result of the effects of the winter months; and if he will make a statement. [23039]

Nick Ainger: Estimates from the Office for National Statistics indicate that excess winter deaths of people aged 65 and over in Wales since 1997 have been as follows:
Number
1997–981,200
1998–992,670
1999–20002,660
2000–011,470
2001–021,460
2002–031,340
2003–041,480
2004–051,800




Note:
Estimates up to 2003–04 to the nearest 10, for 2004–05 to the nearest 100





 
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The Welsh Assembly Government has policies and actions to reduce the impact of cold winter weather on the health of older people. It funds the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which provides insulation and central heating in homes. The annual Keep Well This Winter campaign encourages older people to take extra measures to look after their health during the winter, such as having the flu vaccination, eating properly and taking appropriate exercise, by keeping warm and by keeping safe.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Sinn Fein Members (Allowances)

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Leader of the House what total amount of public money has been spent on additional cost allowance claims by Sinn Fein Members of the House of Commons since they became eligible to make such claims. [25479]

Mr. Hoon: Between 8 January 2002 and 31 March 2005, when Sinn Fein Members were eligible to claim allowances, the total of the additional cost allowance claimed by all Sinn Fein Members has been £211,041.


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