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Mr. Hoon: The Government have devoted much time, not always—if the hon. Gentleman will forgive me for saying so—with the support of Opposition Members here or in the other place, to the question of affecting judicial sentences. The Government have had some real difficulty with Opposition Members when we have sought to consider the ways in which judges impose sentences. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that it has been a strong tradition that sentencing is a matter peculiarly for judges to determine, and is not a matter for Members of Parliament or indeed Ministers. However, we believe, and I hope that the hon. Gentleman shares this view, that in some areas sentencing has not always reflected the views of the community. That is why we have taken steps to impose standards and ensure that sentencing reflects the views of the wider community. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will in future support the Government's initiatives in that respect.

Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Lab): Tomorrow I shall meet officers from Lancashire county council in an attempt to secure funding for Carnforth Connect, which is an award-winning rural public transport scheme. It is a bus service that links Carnforth station with villages in my constituency, such as Silverdale and other villages to the north, and is very popular with local residents. However, when I ask Lancashire why it is cutting the service, it says that it is not getting enough Government funding and, of course, when I ask the Transport Minister, I am told that Lancashire has received adequate funding. May we have an early debate on rural transport and how we may obtain more funding?

Mr. Hoon: The Government have put a significant amount of extra money into rural transport services—
 
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[Interruption.] I hear the usual comments from the Opposition, but I would be happy to answer any questions on the issue from Opposition Members, whose party cut transport support, not least in rural areas. Lancashire and other local authorities must manage the extra funds that they have received. Overall, local authorities have received a 39 per cent. increase in funding since 1997 in real terms. It is a question of local authorities using that money in a way that they judge to be appropriate. I do not accept my hon. Friend's observation that insufficient funding has been provided, but I will ensure that the issue is drawn to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

Sir George Young (North-West Hampshire) (Con): Before the Christmas recess, I asked the Leader of the House to use his influence to secure for Labour Members a free vote on smoking. I am grateful to him for his success. Can he tell us when the debate will take place? Can he think of other items in the Government's legislative programme that have caused equal distress and can he think of any reason why the convenient solution of a free vote on a manifesto commitment could not usefully be extended?

Mr. Hoon: One of the joys of this job since the privilege of my appointment has been listening to right hon. Members who had distinguished careers in previous Governments advocating courses of action that they would never have advocated when they were Ministers. At least, if they had advocated them they would have been quickly told to think again by their Chief Whip. If they advocated them twice, no doubt their Prime Minister would have given them a reason for not pursuing the matter. It is an intriguing suggestion, but I do not recall the previous Conservative Government ever making such an offer.

Hugh Bayley (City of York) (Lab): It is important for environmental reasons to get more people to use public transport, and that means keeping fares low. However, in many areas there is a virtual monopoly, despite the introduction of competition, with just one company providing almost all the local bus services. Would it be possible to have a debate about local bus services and whether it would be right to give local authorities greater powers to regulate fares?

Mr. Hoon: As I indicated in an answer a few moments ago, the issue of local rural bus services is of crucial importance to people. There has been a significant increase in the number of such services, largely as a result of Government assistance. My hon. Friend is right to recognise that the question of fares is important, and I shall draw it to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

Mr. Ben Wallace (Lancaster and Wyre) (Con): Last week, we heard that another prosecution against a member of the armed forces serving in Iraq—a trooper in the 22nd Special Air Service—had been dropped. On all previous occasions, either the Minister for the armed forces or the Solicitor-General came to the House to give us details about why the case had been dropped. Will the Leader of the House press on his colleagues the
 
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need to come to the House to answer questions about this case and to give more detail about why such cases are constantly brought, at great expense to the taxpayer, and why they seldom, if ever, result in a prosecution?

Mr. Hoon: I recognise the hon. Gentleman's genuine concern about the armed forces and possible prosecutions, but if he considers carefully he will realise that it is vital that not elected politicians and Ministers but independent prosecutors judge whether it is appropriate to bring proceedings and, if proceedings are brought, the extent to which they should be continued. I hope that he agrees that it is in the interests of the armed forces that such matters should be decided independently and not be the subject of political comment.

Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): May we have a debate or a statement next week on the conclusions of the report by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality about the claim that people are being granted indefinite leave by the immigration and nationality directorate on the basis of their good looks? According to the civil servant concerned, a pretty young Brazilian girl would get a two-year extension but an ugly man would not have an extension. Speaking for the second category, and bearing in mind the backlog of 221,000 cases at IND, is that a change of Government policy and, if not, may we have clarification as soon as possible?

Mr. Hoon: I have had cause to congratulate my hon. Friend on his expertise in this matter on previous occasions. He draws to my attention something with which I was not familiar, but I am sure that the Home Secretary will be interested in his observations and I shall certainly ensure that the question is put before my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Nigel Dodds (Belfast, North) (DUP): May we soon have a debate in Government time about pension reform, following the publication of the Turner report? We know that a heated debate is going on within the Government, but it would be useful to have a debate in the House on provision for tomorrow's and today's pensioners, not least so that we can highlight the iniquity of the Government's growing dependence on means-testing to deal with the situation, which is a problem for many pensioners.

Mr. Hoon: I have previously indicated in answer to such questions the importance that the Government
 
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attach to pension reform, the Turner report and the need for debate both on the Floor of the House and in the country. I accept the force of the hon. Gentleman's argument and am sure that in due course there will be opportunities to debate those important questions.

Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): Members on both sides of the House will welcome the stated aims of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill, which was published yesterday. Will my right hon. Friend give the date for Second Reading? From press comment, I take it that it will be in February, but will it be the earlier or latter part of the month?

Mr. Hoon: I was about to congratulate my hon. Friend on his excellent work on behalf of the House in chairing the Regulatory Reform Committee, but in the light of his question perhaps I should invite him to recognise the need to reduce the level of detail with regard to some aspects of our legislation. Perhaps he could wait a few short weeks for the detail he requests.

Mr. John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) (Con): The Leader of the House will have read with sadness and alarm, as I did, the National Audit Office report on school standards, which reveals that 1,557 schools are performing badly, that many of them have performed badly for a considerable time and that some local authorities do not act on that. Indeed, as you will remember, Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said yesterday that 1 million children are being failed by our school system. The whole House will share my sadness and alarm. I have no doubt that Members on both sides of the Chamber want to do the best for our children, but the Government must do better. We need an early statement so that we can debate the matter, for we must not fail the next generation.

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