Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001-02
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 28 June 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 28 June, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

THURSDAY 28th JUNE

1
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Regional Co-ordination Unit.

(1433)

2
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on the recent division of regional responsibilities between different departments.

(1473)

3
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) budgets and (b) administrative costs were for each of the Government Offices for the Regions for each financial year since their establishment; and what their planned budgets and administrative costs are for the next two years.

(1435)

4
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley & Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many diary appointments for the Secretary of State were cancelled on her taking office.

(1269)

5
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the proposals for (a) Pickett's Lock athletics stadium and (b) Wembley Stadium.

(1427)

6
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to enable religious organisations to obtain a local digital licence.

(1573)

7
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his policy is regarding the change from analogue radio licences to digital licences for (a) Christian broadcasters and (b) non-Christian broadcasters.

(1574)

8
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his policy is on the renewal of Premier Christian Radio's analogue licence and its replacement by a digital licence.

(1575)

9
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the recent agreement between his Department and the Horizon consortium to market spare training capacity in the RAF/Training Group Defence Agency.

(1594)

10
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors underlay his decision to rename the Future Carrier-Borne Aircraft programme the Future Joint Combat Aircraft programme.

(1596)

11
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in relation to the memorandum of understanding between the UK and United States governments to participate in the next development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter.

(1595)

12
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the change of specification was that led to the decision not to publish the October 1999 report of the DSAC on the injury potential of the L21A1 plastic baton round at the 1 metre minimum range of engagement.

(1097)

13
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure under the Defence Military Assistance Fund relating to (a) Zimbabwe, (b) South Africa, (c) Jordan, (d) Egypt, (e) Pakistan, (f) Indonesia, (g) Brazil, (h) Kuwait, (i) Malaysia, (j) Nigeria, (k) Oman, (l) Taiwan, (m) Thailand, (n) Turkey and (o) the United Arab Emirates for (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000 indicating separately the amounts used to support defence sales.

(1309)

14
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to increase the speed with which her Department communicates with honourable Members.

(1300)

15
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley & Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to review the effects of the Greenwich judgement, particularly with regard to the number of out-of-borough pupils in schools in the London Borough of Bromley.

(1270)

16
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley & Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils in the London Borough of Bromley have not had an offer of a secondary school place for September.

(1268)

17
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many new posts of teaching assistant she plans to fund during the current financial year; how such funding will be distributed; and what Staffordshire's share will be.

(1337)

18
   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if the disqualification for serving as a councillor on the local education authority applies equally to teaching staff of (a) foundation schools, (b) voluntary aided schools and (c) community schools.

(1334)

19
   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will have discussions with other relevant Ministers about introducing legislation to make agency teaching staff subject to the same disqualifications from serving as councillors on their local education authority as teaching staff directly employed by the schools or local education authority.

(1335)

20
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she intends to issue the White Paper on education reform.

(1572)

21
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many vacancies there are for mathematics teachers in English secondary schools.

(1614)

22
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the pupil to teacher ratio was in secondary schools (a) in 1997 and (b) in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(1611)

23
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students obtained GCSE and A-level examinations in (a) Urdu, (b) Bengali, (c) Gujerati, (d) Hindi, (e) Mandarin, (f) Cantonese and (g) modern languages in each of the last five years.

(1299)

24
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers are qualified to teach (a) Urdu, (b) Bengali, (c) Gujerati, (d) Hindi, (e) Mandarin, (f) Cantonese and (g) modern languages; how many teacher training places are available for the teaching of such languages; and if she will make a statement on her policy on the teaching of such languages in schools.

(1396)

25
N   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations were received by her Department and by its predecessor Department about the impact of foot and mouth restrictions on the use of unpasteurised milk for specialist cheese production; what the scientific basis was for restricting this use of unpasteurised milk; and what response she has made.

(1176)

26
N   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to compensate individual households and communities adversely affected by the Druridge Bay burning site and the Widdrington carcase disposal site in Northumberland.

(1175)

27
N   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations (a) she and (b) her predecessor received about extending the date limit on harvesting potatoes on set-aside land in Northumberland following exceptionally wet weather; and if extensions have been granted.

(1173)

28
N   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to reply to the letter to her predecessor from the Right honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, dated 3rd May about compensation in respect of pigs for Mr. I. Thompson, of Red Row, Morpeth.

(1174)

29
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many submissions were made to the consultation on the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy; how many of these responses recommended that the definition of fuel poverty should use a form of disposable income; and if she will make a statement on the Government's plans for assessing and responding to the consultation.

(1319)

30
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ensure that (a) the energy efficiency rating of a home and (b) advice on how to improve it is made available to potential house purchasers at the point of sale; and if she will make a statement.

(1318)

31
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the European Commission's proposals to (a) reduce the UK national ceiling for beef special premium claims and (b) reduce the stocking density limits.

(1592)

32
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the European Commission's proposal to introduce anti-dumping tariffs on urea fertiliser originating from non-EU countries.

(1591)

33
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received proposing the introduction of a regulatory regime for underground storage tanks used by petrol retailers; and if she will make a statement.

(1589)

34
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will establish a new petroleum authority (a) to regulate and (b) license companies providing offsite wetstock monitoring to ensure they have adequate professional indemnity insurance.

(1576)

35
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received calling for the introduction of third party monitoring of wetstock at petrol retailers.

(1577)

36
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many field visits and inspections were made by environmental health officers to petrol retail outlets using underground storage tanks during each of the past five years.

(1581)

37
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to commission a full condition audit of underground storage tanks in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

(1578)

38
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many leakages from underground storage tanks have been reported in each of the past five years; how many have resulted in prosecution; how many have caused environmental damage; and if she will make a statement.

(1583)

39
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what initiatives are being undertaken to ensure that petrol retail site managers are fully trained to assess wet-stock risks.

(1582)

40
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to introduce a new licensing agreement for petrol retailers using underground storage tanks.

(1590)

41
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many underground storage tanks are considered to be at risk of leakage in the UK.

(1580)

42
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial aid is available to small independent petrol retailers to help upgrade underground storage tanks and pipes to avoid future leakages; and if she will make a statement.

(1579)

43
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many petrol retailers have been prosecuted in each of the past five years for not reporting leakages from underground storage tanks.

(1588)

44
N   Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the EU regarding the ban on fishmeal being fed to livestock.

(439)

45
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research he intends to commission to establish the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies, including borax, in relation to the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(1424)

46
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated administrative cost is of the recent changes to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

(1428)

47
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many civil servants were employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in April 2001; and how many will be employed by the Department of Environment & Rural Affairs once departmental restructuring is completed.

(1468)

48
   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many CAP grants were paid directly into foreign banks in each year from 1997 to date; and how much money was paid in each year.

(1401)

49
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children, resulting from an increase in the threshold level of income at which working families' tax credit starts to be withdrawn to (i) £120, (ii) £150 and (iii) £200.

(1563)

50
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 in child benefit and the family premium in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit, for each family in which there is at least one child aged three or under.

(1568)

51
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of increasing the threshold level of income at which working families' tax credit starts to be withdrawn to (a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200.

(1561)

52
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average increase in the income of (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £15 and (iii) £20 in the rate of child benefit and the child allowances in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit, for each child aged three or under.

(1570)

53
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £15 and (iii) £20 in the rate of child benefit and the child allowances in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit for each child aged three or under.

(1571)

54
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the impact on the incomes of (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase in the threshold level of income at which working families' tax credit starts to be withdrawn to (a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200.

(1562)

55
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average increase in the income of (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 in child benefit and the family premium in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit for each family in which there is at least one child aged three or under.

(1567)

56
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many, and what percentage, of public service agreements negotiated to date contain an explicit commitment to deregulation and a reduction in administration.

(1644)

57
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what ways public service agreements negotiated to date enjoin government departments to raise the quantity and quality of regulatory impact assessments.

(1645)

58
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department spent to counter fraud in the working families' tax credit in nominal terms and expressed as a percentage of the total working families' tax credit expenditure in the last three years.

(1151)

59
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his preferred rate of entry is for the pound against the euro.

(1640)

60
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many jobs there were in the manufacturing industry in May (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

(1641)

61
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the rate of growth of telecoms and computer sectors was in the five years to December 2000; and what his forecast is for the next two years.

(1643)

62
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his forecast is for the balance of payments in goods for the current year.

(1639)

63
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which would be lost in currency dealing in the City of London if the pound were abolished.

(1612)

64
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of revenues telecoms companies in the UK paid in tax and licence fees in 1997; and what proportion they pay in the current year.

(1615)

65
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the policy of zero rating new property developments; and what plans he has to introduce VAT on such developments.

(1312)

66
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce zero rating on house improvements and adaptations; and if he will make a statement.

(1313)

67
N   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of the recent cut in duty on low sulphur petrol and cut in ultra-low sulphur diesel.

(606)

68
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the responsibilities and role are of (a) regional chambers, (b) local authorities, (c) regional development agencies and (d) the EU Committee of the Regions is in the National Handover Plan and preparing for the euro.

(1402)

69
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is regarding recognition of Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(1437)

70
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is regarding the recommendations contained in James Baker's report to the UN Security Council concerning the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(1438)

71
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is towards the right of self-determination of the population of Western Sahara through a United Nations-sponsored referendum; and if he will make a statement.

(1436)

72
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects the environmental impact assessment study of the Chagos Islands to be completed and published.

(1052)

73
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what actions are being taken by his Department to establish a permanent secretariat for the Antarctic Environmental Protocol signatories.

(1056)

74
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what monitoring of the legal proceedings against General Pinochet in Chile is being undertaken by his Department.

(1051)

75
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has held with the US Government concerning the right of return of the Ilois people to Diego Garcia.

(1053)

76
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the Government's policy on establishing a UN tribunal on Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

(1403)

77
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what efforts are being made to investigate war crimes and human rights abuses in Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

(1404)

78
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support he gives to NGOs and human rights groups investigating war crimes and human rights abuses in Rwanda and Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

(1405)

79
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) the deadline dates for submission of UK Periodic Report obligations under the United Nations system and (b) the expected dates and location of sessions of supervisory and reporting bodies are for each of the next five years.

(1146)

80
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the indicative expenditure ceilings agreed in March 1999 of (a) an enlarged Community with six additional members and (b) the existing 15 member states.

(1601)

81
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to renegotiate the Nice Treaty to deal with the objections of the Irish people.

(1558)

82
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the responsibilities of the Minister for Trade.

(850)

83
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to launch the UK consultation process for the Future of Europe debate.

(851)

84
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to continue the Your Britain, Your Europe campaign; and what budget has been set for this initiative.

(852)

85
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he discussed the proposals for peace in the Middle East put forward by the director of the CIA during his recent visit to Gothenburg.

(853)

86
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of the EU and the US on the issue of ballistic missile defence; and if he will make a statement.

(854)

87
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the status of his Department's rebuttal unit on EU issues.

(856)

88
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had during his recent visit to Gothenburg regarding the situation in Macedonia.

(857)

89
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on (a) the conclusions of the Gothenburg Summit as they relate to the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty and (b) how the process of enlargement will be pursued.

(858)

90
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what meetings he has had since his appointment with (a) the President of the European Commission and (b) representatives of the forthcoming Belgian EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement.

(859)

91
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it remains the Government's policy that qualified majority voting should not be extended to border controls, defence, taxation, social security, own resources matters and treaty amendments.

(956)

92
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) the EU, (b) USA and (c) developing countries concerning the forthcoming UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

(1302)

93
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will be attending the UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in July; and if he will make a statement.

(1303)

94
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made to ensure that all British Dependent Territories citizens have been offered British citizenship and the right of abode.

(1304)

95
   Andy Burnham (Leigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have presented to the NHS Walk-In Centre at Leigh Infirmary since it opened; and of these how many had to be referred on to a local casualty department for treatment.

(1329)

96
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the General Social Care Council will publish the timescales for registering each category of social care worker.

(1177)

97
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 25th June, Official Report, column 24W, on the General Social Care Council, concerning the General Social Care Council, if he will list each category of social care worker it is planned to register and how many (a) there are in total in each category and (b) are qualified.

(1262)

98
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 25th June, Official Report, column 24W, on the General Social Care Council, if he will set out his reasons for not requiring the General Social Care Council to develop an interim register that covers all unqualified social care workers.

(1261)

99
N   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in improving food labelling.

(594)

100
N   Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the safety of milk and milk products, with particular regard to the foot and mouth outbreak.

(588)

101
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the countries of origin of staff first employed by the NHS in the past year.

(1152)

102
N   Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure the labelling of processed food products includes the mention of genetically modified organisms where they are used.

(593)

103
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the prescribing rates in the last three years for which figures are available for atypical, anti-psychotic medication.

(1586)

104
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the cumulative additional investment on mental health care over three years from 1999 has been allocated (a) for each year, (b) between health and social services and (c) between different government initiatives and programmes.

(1464)

105
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the proportion of total NHS spend used to provide mental health services in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

(1463)

106
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will make allocations to health authorities under the mental health framework for 2001-02; and what is the total amount to be allocated.

(1462)

107
   Ian Lucas (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what disclosure he requires from consultants employed by the National Health Service of those consultants' income from private medical practice.

(1422)

108
N   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the regulations covering the clarity of food labelling.

(595)

109
   Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds there were in the Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals in Reading in May 1997; how many there are now; and how many are forecast for June 2004.

(1605)

110
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses left service in the NHS in the last two years.

(1609)

111
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors left service in the NHS in the last (a) two and (b) four years.

(1610)

112
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many acute beds were available in the NHS in England in (a) May 1997 and (b) June 2001; and how many are forecast for June 2004.

(1607)

113
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nursing and residential care home beds there (a) are and (b) were in May 1997 in England.

(1608)

114
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on recent press reports about the presence of thiomersal in vaccines.

(1406)

115
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has given to GPs about the potential danger of thiomersal in childhood vaccines.

(1407)

116
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research is being undertaken to investigate the effects of thiomersal in vaccines on children and links with autism.

(1408)

117
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to exclude thiomersal from vaccines in future.

(1409)

118
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will define the role and terms of reference of the Commission for Health Improvement.

(1410)

119
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of hospitals has met the target set down in the National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease requiring hospitals to set up an agreed hospital-wide protocol for the management of suspected and confirmed heart failure by April; and what measures he intends to take to ensure that the targets are met at the earliest possible opportunity.

(1411)

120
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of primary care teams have met the target set down in the National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease requiring every primary care team to have (a) all medical records and hospital correspondence held in a way that allows them to be retrieved rapidly in date order, (b) appropriate medical records that contain easily and (c) a systematically developed and maintained practice-based CHD register which is actively used to provide structured care to people with CHD; and what measures he intends to take to ensure that the targets are met at the earliest possible opportunity.

(1412)

121
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance has been issued to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to enable it to develop a clinical guideline on the investigation and management of heart failure.

(1413)

122
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will indicate (a) when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will commence its work into the investigation and management of heart failure, (b) whom the institute will invite to participate in the production of a clinical guideline and (c) when he anticipates that the institute will produce clinical guidelines into the investigation and management of heart failure; and if he will make a statement.

(1414)

123
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if Temodal has received approval from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; what plans he has to increase its availability to NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

(1415)

124
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if Herceptin has received approval from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; what plans he has to increase its availability to NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

(1416)

125
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if Campath has received approval from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; what plans he has to increase its availability to NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

(1417)

126
N   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will break down by region for each of the last 12 months the additions to the organ register.

(236)

127
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals he has to extend the provision of complementary and alternative medicine, with particular reference to acupuncture, chiropractice, homeopathy, herbal medicine, osteopathy and therapeutic touch, in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

(1423)

128
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deaths were recorded (a) in prison, (b) in young offender establishments and (c) in other places of custody in each of the last 10 years; how many in each category were suicides; and how many deaths in custody in each of the last 10 years have resulted in disciplinary proceedings being brought against custodial officers.

(1585)

129
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted juveniles aged 15 and 16 years have been given (a) a custodial sentence and (b) a non-custodial sentence in each of the past 10 years; and what has been the reconviction rate in each category.

(1682)

130
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many juveniles aged 15 and 16 years have been remanded (a) in adult prisons and (b) in total in each of the last 10 years; and what has been the average period of their detention.

(1681)

131
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases in each police authority have been investigated relating to the deliberate infecting of farms with foot and mouth disease since 21st February.

(1593)

132
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish the findings of his Department's review of the asylum voucher system.

(1321)

133
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what percentage of cases where fire alarms were present in dwellings on fire in 2000 they (a) raised the alarm, (b) operated but failed to raise the alarm and (c) failed to operate altogether in the Humberside fire authority area.

(1470)

134
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been (a) rejected and (b) rejected as a result of being incorrectly completed in each year since 1995.

(1469)

135
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it remains his policy to end the use of prisons to hold asylum seekers by October.

(1466)

136
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will grant permission for Mr Saptal Ram, of HMP Wellingborough, to visit his mother in hospital each day.

(1172)

137
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the situation of asylum seekers Mr and Mrs Eric Noussavou, placed in the Palace Hotel, Southend on 16th May 2000 by the London Borough of Barnet; and for what reason letters from their solicitors, to his Department on 6th February and 23rd May have not been replied to.

(1095)

138
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how often anti-social behaviour orders have been used; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.

(1421)

139
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to reduce crime in rural areas, with particular reference to Leicestershire.

(1425)

140
   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the percentage of substantive family applications which received an initial decision within two months in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(1599)

141
   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the method for recording failed asylum seekers as leaving the country was changed to include dependants in the total figures; when the change in recording measures was published; and if he will make a statement.

(1600)

142
   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average time taken for an initial decision to be made on asylum applications by single applicants without dependants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(1598)

143
   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of asylum applications included dependants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(1597)

144
N   David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 19th April regarding a constituent, ref. G2793286, PO4790/01.

(1096)

145
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action she is taking to encourage economic development in the Palestinian Authority areas.

(1274)

146
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to encourage tourism in Montserrat.

(1314)

147
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessments have been made of volcanic activity and dome buildings in the Soufrie�re Hills volcano in Montserrat.

(1315)

148
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations have been made to the Montserrat Government concerning the withdrawal of benefits from elderly people living with their relatives.

(1316)

149
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made in providing sporting facilities in Montserrat.

(1305)

150
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made in providing post-16 education for children in Montserrat.

(1306)

151
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance is being given to Montserratians paying mortgages on empty homes in the south of the island.

(1308)

152
   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to review the out of pocket expenses of jurors.

(1418)

153
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he plans to introduce legislation to implement the proposals in 'Making Decisions' (Cm 4465).

(1476)

154
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Royal Ulster Constabulary officers who were present at the scene of the death of Robert Hamill on 27th April 1997 (a) have since left and (b) continue to serve, in the RUC.

(1055)

155
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what correspondence he has received from the Oversight Commissioner in the last 12 months; and if he will place copies of correspondence and reports in the Library.

(1099)

156
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what dates periodic reports containing objectives and timetables have been provided to the Oversight Commissioner by (a) the Government, (b) the Police Service, and (c) the Police Authority for Northern Ireland; and on what dates periodic progress review meetings on implementation of change in policing arrangements have been held with the Oversight Commissioner attended by (i) Government ministers and officials, (ii) the Chief Constable, (iii) the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, and (iv) others in the 12 months following appointment of the Oversight Commissioner.

(1145)

157
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what changes were made to the terms of reference of the Oversight Commissioner following passage of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000; what instructions he issued subsequently concerning the work of the Commissioner; what meetings he has had with the Commissioner; and what decisions were made at each meeting.

(1143)

158
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the job description and personal specification are for the post of Senior Legal Advisor on Human Rights to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and what bodies and institutions were consulted about (a) the terms of reference of this post and (b) the text and placement of the advertisement.

(1100)

159
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what dates he received reports from the Oversight Commissioner concerning each periodic review of progress in implementation of police reforms set out in the Patten report.

(1098)

160
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by what means non-governmental organisations and victims' support groups may assist in monitoring implementation of the Patten reforms on policing.

(1144)

161
   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will define departmental and ministerial responsibilities for disability issues.

(1642)

162
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out, for each department where responsibilities have been changed since 8th June, the areas of responsibility that have been transferred (a) from and (b) to each department from other departments; and what new responsibilities have been assigned.

(1156)

163
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the Cabinet champions he has appointed to date.

(1155)

164
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the ministers in each Government department with responsibility for European affairs.

(855)

165
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the items discussed and the conclusions reached during his meeting with the President of the European Commission on 25th June.

(1148)

166
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what reports the Commission (a) has submitted and (b) intends to submit to the Secretary of State under section 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; if he will place the reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(1443)

167
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will make a statement on the Commission's plans to conduct a review of the administration of the General Election of 7th June under section 5 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and when the Commission estimates that the review will be completed.

(1444)

168
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Commission intends to publish its plans for spending on public awareness campaigns under section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(1445)

169
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his Department's expenditure was on Antarctica in each of the past five years.

(1054)

170
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has for UK involvement in the recently announced US research project into clean coal technology; and if she will make a statement.

(1442)

171
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if progress on the development of clean coal technology will be included in the Energy Review; and if she will make a statement.

(1441)

172
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many export licences were issued, broken down by category, for military and security equipment to Israel (a) between 29th September and 31st December 2000 and (b) between 1st January and 31st May.

(1616)

173
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Indian Government concerning the BAe Systems bid to supply Hawk jets; and what is the value of the BAe bid.

(1307)

174
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she intends to announce her decision in respect of the entitlement of sacked miners to pension rights.

(1336)

175
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning reform of planning laws affecting business.

(1429)

176
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) budgets and (b) administrative costs were for each of the regional development agencies in England for each financial year since their establishment; and what their planned budgets and administrative costs are for the next two years.

(1434)

177
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on progress in implementing a national public transport information system.

(1420)

178
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what is the total allocation of funds for the Finsbury Park Single Regeneration Budget for its lifetime; and how much has been spent to date.

(1047)

179
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) families and (b) individuals in bed and breakfast accommodation were placed there by local housing authorities; how many (i) families and (ii) individuals are regarded as homeless; how many (1) families and (2) individuals are on housing waiting lists; and how many (x) families and (y) individuals are on transfer lists, in each London borough.

(1049)

180
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what studies his Department is undertaking as to the accountability of registered social landlords; and if he will make a statement.

(1080)

181
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the expenditure from central government sources was on (a) repairs to council properties and (b) capital improvements to council properties in each of the last five years and for the current year.

(1048)

182
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) dwellings were completed, (b) new council properties there were, (c) new housing association properties there were and (d) new co-operative properties there were in each London borough for each of the last five years.

(1050)

183
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce legislation requiring persons selling a house to provide a pack of information to prospective purchasers.

(1317)

184
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent representations he has received on the question of planning controls on the conversion of public houses to fast food restaurants.

(597)

185
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will rule out the widening of the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 16 in Staffordshire.

(1333)

186
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will require the preparation of an environmental impact assessment when the widening of motorways is proposed.

(1332)

187
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will ensure that the conclusions of the multi-modal study into the transport corridor between the Midlands and Manchester are published in time to be taken into account in the formulation of the new regional planning guidance for the West Midlands.

(1330)

188
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his policy on the widening of motorways.

(1331)

189
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the signals passed at danger incidents at Shenfield in the last two years.

(1474)

190
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what his forecast is of the likely rate of increase in road traffic in the next four years.

(1606)

191
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what proportion of freight went by (a) road and (b) rail in May (i) 1993, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001.

(1613)

192
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the capital expenditure for the London Underground was for each year since 1994.

(1604)

193
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what was the increase in road transport journeys in the last four years; and what change was made to the capacity of the road network during the same period.

(1602)

194
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the PPP will be signed for the London Underground.

(1603)

195
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the process is of allocation of funds from (a) the Railway Development Fund and (b) the Freight Strategy.

(1400)

196
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what monies have been allocated to Scotland from the Freight Strategy.

(1399)

197
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, for how many years the Railway Development Fund will run.

(1440)

198
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what monies have been allocated to Scotland from the Railway Development Fund.

(1397)

199
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, over how many years the Freight Strategy is to run.

(1398)

200
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he plans to equalise the age of qualification for the national concessionary bus fares scheme.

(1419)

201
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities a discretionary power to levy 100 per cent. council tax on long-term empty homes within their area; and if he will make a statement.

(1471)

202
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he intends to commission a strategic study on the environmental impacts of aviation in the UK to match the strategic study of the economic impacts of aviation included in the Developing Aviation White Paper process.

(1587)

203
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the information leaflets available to report ice falls from aeroplanes; and what plans he has to make them more widely available.

(1301)

204
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what discussions his Department has had with British Airways concerning plans for a runway to be built along the northern perimeter of Heathrow airport.

(1310)

205
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he expects to make a decision on a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport.

(1311)

206
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what proposals he has for improvement to the A5 between the M69 and A47 Longshoot junction.

(1426)

207
   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what statistics he collates about the safety of different forms of transportation and the costs in each case of undertaking further measures to improve safety.

(1472)

208
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans the Government has to revise the housebuilding targets published in the regional planning guidance for (a) the West Midlands, (b) the South East and (c) East Anglia; and if he will make a statement.

(1279)

209
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning planning permission for the construction of new municipal incinerators; and if he will make a statement.

(1285)

210
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he intends to bring section 141 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 into force; how many persons who are (a) eligible and (b) registered to vote he estimates will be disenfranchised as a result; and if he will make a statement.

(1290)

211
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the extent to which housebuilding targets detailed in a regional planning guidance are binding on local authorities.

(1295)

212
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the estimated administrative cost was of the merger of the Departments of the Environment and Transport in 1997.

(1430)

213
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he plans to publish (a) and Green and (b) a White Paper on regional government in England.

(1324)

214
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans the Government has to change the electoral system (a) in the Greater London Authority, (b) for the election of directly-elected mayors and (c) for the election of local councillors.

(1281)

215
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans (a) he and (b) his Ministers have to (i) address and (ii) visit the EU Committee of the Regions.

(1298)

216
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the electoral system planned for the election of regional assemblies in England outside London.

(1275)

217
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what responsibilities his Department has for the sale of the Millennium Dome and the regeneration of the Greenwich site; and if he will make a statement.

(1323)

218
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the special advisers in his Department together with their date of appointment and their responsibilities; which of them are authorised to speak to the media; and if he will make a statement.

(1288)

219
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the change in the amount of empty council housing in England.

(1294)

220
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the operating results of Ordnance Survey were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(1325)

221
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much public money within central government has been allocated for administrative costs associated with Best Value in local government in the forthcoming year.

(1291)

222
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning reform of planning laws; and if he will make a statement on the Planning Green Paper.

(1431)

223
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the Government plans to publish a draft regional planning guidance for (a) the North West and Merseyside, (b) the North East and (c) the East Midlands.

(1277)

224
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will state the estimated cost of the administration of Best Value in the Fire Service in the last financial year.

(1283)

225
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what responsibilities Lord Falconer has for the sale of the Millennium Dome and the regeneration of the Greenwich site; and if he will make a statement.

(1322)

226
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the proposed regional assemblies in England outside London will levy a precept on council tax.

(1280)

227
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the recent division of regional responsibilities between different government departments.

(1286)

228
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much public money has been allocated for administrative costs associated with Best Value in the Fire Service in the forthcoming year.

(1292)

229
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning the creation of regional assemblies.

(1297)

230
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the annual costs to business resulting from the provisions on the availability of the full and edited electoral register in the draft Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(1289)

231
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans his Department has to give an equity stake to residents in (a) council housing and (b) non-municipal social housing; and if he will make a statement.

(1328)

232
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the use and conduct of postal voting during the general and local elections in June.

(1282)

233
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many civil servants were employed by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions in April 2001; and how many it is anticipated will be employed by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions once departmental restructuring is completed.

(1467)

234
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the (a) budgets and (b) administrative costs were for each of the regional chambers in England for each financial year since their establishment; and what their planned (i) budgets and (ii) administrative costs are for the next two years.

(1276)

235
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the responsibilities are of each Minister in his Department.

(1327)

236
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what reasons underlay the decision to publish the Local Authorities (Executive and Alternative Arrangements) (Modification of Enactments and Further Provisions) (England) Order 2001 on 18th June, revoke it on 19th June and publish the Local Authorities (Executive and Alternative Arrangements) (Modification of Enactments and Other Provisions) (England) Order 2001 on 19th June.

(1477)

237
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to undertake local government restructuring (a) before and (b) after the introduction of regional assemblies in England outside London.

(1296)

238
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the estimated administrative cost is of the recent changes to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(1432)

239
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the trend in the number of priority homeless acceptances in England since 1997.

(1293)

240
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the areas of responsibility that have (a) been transferred from his Department to other departments and (b) been transferred to his Department from other departments since 8th June.

(1439)

241
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the Government plans to publish a definitive version of regional planning guidance for (a) the South West and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside.

(1278)

242
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the estimated cost to central government was of the administration of Best Value in local government in the last financial year.

(1284)

243
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the operating loss or profit of the QE2 Centre was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(1326)

244
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will conduct an inquiry into the sale of Nutts Farm caravan site by Swale Borough Council; and if he will make a statement.

(1147)

245
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many housing benefit recipients are in receipt of working families' tax credit.

(1564)

246
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact on the estimated number of housing benefit claimants also in receipt of working families' tax credit, if the working families' tax credit threshold was increased to (a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200.

(1565)

247
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's most recent estimates are for expenditure on (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) severe disablement allowance, (d) the short-term component of incapacity benefit, (e) the long-term component of incapacity benefit and (f) the earnings-related component of incapacity benefit for (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03.

(1154)

248
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's actual expenditure was on (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) severe disablement allowance, (d) the short-term component of incapacity benefit, (e) the long-term component of incapacity benefit and (f) the earnings-related component of incapacity benefit for (i) 1999-2001 and (ii) 2000-01.

(1163)

249
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims were made for severe disablement allowance in each of the 12 months up to and including March 2001.

(1157)

250
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how people in long-term residential care who are (a) state-funded and (b) self-funded will benefit from the introduction of the pensions credit.

(1260)

251
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's original forecasts were for expenditure on (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) severe disablement allowance, (d) the short-term component of incapacity benefit, (e) the long-term component of incapacity benefit and (f) the earnings-related component of incapacity benefit for (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02 and (iv) 2002-03.

(1162)

252
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) claims and (b) awards have been made for severe disablement allowance in each of the 12 months up to and including March 2001.

(1161)

253
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates he has made of the administrative costs of housing benefit for each London borough for each of the past three years.

(1046)

254
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent on countering fraud in family credit, and what the estimated savings were in the last three years.

(1149)

255
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department spent countering fraud in (a) income support and (b) jobseekers' allowance, in nominal terms and expressed as a percentage of the relevant benefit expenditure, in the last three years.

(1150)

256
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the checks made on continuing claims for benefit with respect to national insurance are done through access to Inland Revenue records.

(1153)

257
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women claimed incapacity benefit in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage this represents of the total claims.

(1475)

258
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners with preserved rights who are ineligible for local authority support.

(1320)

259
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the number of pensioners in Wales eligible for the minimum income guarantee.

(1584)

260
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for New Forest East of 25th June, Official Report, column 35W, on pensioner poverty, if he will set out how the Government have ensured that no pensioner has to live on less than £92.15 a week.

(1560)

261
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the value of unclaimed winter fuel payments for the winter of 2000-01 and the number of entitled recipients who failed to claim their entitlement by the 31st March deadline.

(1159)

262
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out his strategy for identifying those who have failed to claim their entitlement for winter fuel payments in the winters of (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000; and if he will set out the reasons for which a deadline was applied to claims for winter 2000-01.

(1158)

263
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer, net of savings on means-tested benefits, of increasing the rate of invalid care allowance to the level of the basic state pension.

(1460)

264
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the way in which the pension credit will operate for claimants whose entitlement to the basic state pension is below 100 per cent.

(1461)

265
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Blackpool South of 25th June, Official Report, column 33W, on the pension credit, if he will estimate how many of the responses to the formal consultation process did not welcome the proposals.

(1559)

266
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out the basis for his oral statement of 25th June, Official Report, column 372, about the number of pensioners who will benefit from the proposed pension credit; and if that total includes pensioners with no private pension income who receive the minimum income guarantee.

(1160)

267
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which House of Commons Minister in his Department will have responsibility for matters relating to (a) the Child Support Agency, (b) the integrated child credit, (c) childcare, (d) maternity/paternity pay and (e) the Appeals Service.

(1465)

268
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will initiate a public inquiry into the cause and handling of the foot and mouth epidemic.

[Question Unstarred] (586)

269
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on further plans to encourage countryside conservation and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

[Question Unstarred][R] (590)

270
   Mr Ian Taylor (Esher & Walton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the review of planning policy for mobile phone masts.

[Transferred] (1478)

271
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost of increasing child benefit and the child allowance in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit for each child aged three or under by (a) £10, (b) £15 and (c) £20.

[Transferred] (1569)

272
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost of increasing child benefit and the family premium in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit by (a) £10, (b) £20 and (c) £30 for each family in which there is at least one child aged three or under.

[Transferred] (1566)

273
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of maintaining the former Department of the Environment buildings at Marsham Street has been in each year since 1997; and what the anticipated cost is in the forthcoming year.

[Transferred] (1287)