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 5 July 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 5 July, 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 5th JULY

1
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his responsibilities include monitoring the performance of departments other than his own against targets set out in departmental annual reports; and if he will make a statement.

(2676)

2
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the cross-departmental and other units run from within his Department, listing in each case (a) the reports which they have published to date and (b) the topics on which they are engaged; and if he will make a statement.

(2678)

3
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish recent representations made by the independent television sector concerning proposed new BBC digital services; and if she will make a statement.

(2410)

4
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received regarding an independent public inquiry into the impact of foot and mouth disease on the tourism industry; and if she will make a statement.

(2414)

5
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures she has taken to ensure transparency and public accountability in the process of determining approvals for proposed new BBC digital services.

(2412)

6
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the correspondence between her Department and the BBC concerning the BBC's proposals for new digital services.

(2411)

7
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the effect on the level of take up of digital television of proposed new BBC digital services.

(2416)

8
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what evidence she has received from the BBC that the Corporation's proposed new digital services will enhance the take up of digital television.

(2409)

9
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures she is taking to safeguard the contents of the house of the late William Roberts R.A. for public display.

(2413)

10
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what materials were deposited in the sea off the North Cornish coast when CWE Nancekuke was decommissioned.

(2664)

11
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what sea monitoring has been undertaken since CWE Nancekuke was decommissioned.

(2665)

12
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will make a statement on the environmental assessment being undertaken at RAF Portreath.

(2666)

13
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what point the military clearance operation in North Kenya was suspended after the unexploded ordnance specialist left the area.

(2795)

14
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the procedure is for the clearing of civilians before and after military training in the Archer's Post and Dol Dol training areas of North Kenya.

(2784)

15
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the lot numbers of the munitions used by the British Army at Archer's Post and Dol Dol in Kenya.

(2781)

16
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the recent preliminary report by David Taylor concerning the Archer's Post training area in Northern Kenya.

(2783)

17
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will take responsibility for the deaths and injuries caused by unexploded ordnance in the Archer's Post and Dol Dol areas.

(2780)

18
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision his Department has made to stop civilian entry into the testing grounds that the British Army use in Archer's Post and Dol Dol in Northern Kenya.

(2794)

19
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library information about the percentage of all ammunition fired by the British Army in training that does not detonate.

(2782)

20
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will ensure that all signs outside training areas used by the British Army in Kenya are intelligible to people who cannot read.

(2791)

21
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which foreign training sites are being used by the British Army; and at what percentage of those sites the British Army uses live ammunition.

(2793)

22
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if any of the unexploded ordnance found in the Archer's Post and Dol Dol training areas were from the British Army.

(2792)

23
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will amend the means by which charges for services provided by the Defence Export Services Organisation are calculated to ensure that the full cost is recovered.

(2709)

24
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the United Kingdom is part of the Netherlands-led consortium to purchase precision guided missiles from the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

(2723)

25
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which issues in the negotiations on ITAR exemptions (a) have been agreed and (b) remain unresolved; and if he will make a statement.

(2718)

26
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made with NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative since the Washington Summit in 1999.

(2531)

27
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will assess the benefits of recruiting RNZAF combat pilots made redundant as a result of the New Zealand Defence Review to fill gaps in RAF combat pilot strength.

(972)

28
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Harriers are held in attrition reserve.

(960)

29
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Harrier FRS1s have been converted to FA2 standard.

(961)

30
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list each operational warship of the Royal Navy, together with its scheme of complement total, and the number of trained men on board each vessel.

(962)

31
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Fleet Air Arm's inventory is of each type of Lynx helicopter; and how many are operationally available.

(963)

32
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if all Royal Navy warships put to sea with their full weapon outload; and if he will make a statement.

(964)

33
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Harrier air frames have been used for spare parts in order to ensure other aircraft are operational.

(959)

34
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if Type 23 frigates were procured to replace Type 22 frigates; and if he will make a statement.

(958)

35
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Merlin helicopter will be cleared for night-time active sonar dipping operations; and if he will make a statement.

(957)

36
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Fleet submarines are operational.

(965)

37
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Harrier conversions are currently underway; and how many more Sea Harriers will be converted to FA2 standard.

(966)

38
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of each of the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates.

(967)

39
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of studies indicating significant operational advantages in fitting Link 16 to the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR7 fleets.

(968)

40
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Harriers engines have been upgraded to 1161 standard.

(969)

41
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason he has decided not to install Link 16 on the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR7 fleets.

(970)

42
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason he has decided not to install Link 16 on naval platforms.

(971)

43
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the prime contractors and their partner companies who have responded to the invitation to negotiate on the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project; what locations they have specified for their main operating base; and if any of the bids include any role for DERA or QUINETIQ at Boscombe Down airfield.

(867)

44
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many compensation payments to internees in Japanese wartime prison camps have yet to be paid; how many have been paid; how many are being investigated; and how many of these are on grounds of the need to prove nationality.

(2706)

45
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the future use of Otterburn training area in the Northumberland National Park.

(868)

46
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes there have been to the definition of British when applied to civilians eligible for Her Majesty's Government's ex-gratia payments to former prisoners of war and internees of the Japanese from 1941 to 1945 since 7th November 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(2672)

47
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time teaching vacancies there are in (i) secondary, (ii) primary and (iii) special schools in Surrey; and if she will make a statement.

(2415)

48
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funding per pupil was provided to grant maintained schools in Surrey in the year immediately prior to the end of grant maintained status; and what funding per pupil those schools receive in the current financial year.

(2543)

49
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of national spending on teachers' remuneration was spent on supply teachers in the last year for which figures are available.

(2535)

50
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the impact of the withdrawal of capital funds for the completion of Blenheim High School in Epsom and Ewell as a consequence of the Government's abolition of grant maintained status.

(2533)

51
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the future of funding for school sixth forms following the introduction of learning and skills councils.

(2534)

52
   Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans the Government has to restore college lecturers' pay levels to parity with the teaching profession.

(2675)

53
N   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to improve teacher recruitment and retention; and if she will make a statement.

(880)

54
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers were employed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Stoke-on-Trent in each year since 1997.

(2667)

55
   Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of the Teacher Training Agency budget was spent in (a) the Northern Region and (b) Stockton in the last financial year.

(2515)

56
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the Marsh Report into the veterinary profession's right to dispense prescription-only medicines.

(1984)

57
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many qualified veterinary surgeons were employed by the State Veterinary Service in each year since 1979.

(1983)

58
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received on the risk to tigers in Thailand and the performance of the authorities in that country in enforcing agreements for the survival of the species; what representations Her Majesty's Government has made on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

(2724)

59
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the Waste Incineration Directive on the UK biomass industry, with particular reference to the thermal recycling market.

(2537)

60
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the protocols and guidance notes for the disinfection of all buildings, including sheds with cobbled floor and slurry pits, following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(2766)

61
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the availability of vaccine as the basis for an eradication policy of foot and mouth disease.

(2579)

62
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many contractors have had their contracts terminated because of (a) incompetence, (b) financial irregularities and (c) disagreements with her Department's officials.

(2765)

63
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration the Government has given to varying compensatory valuations at different stages of the foot and mouth outbreak.

(2546)

64
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will use the veterinary laboratories at Stormont for foot and mouth blood testing as a supplement to Pirbright.

(2739)

65
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals were killed as part of the 3km cull in Cumbria.

(2548)

66
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what circumstances farmers and others were asked to sign secrecy or confidentiality agreements with her Department in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic.

(2758)

67
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information she has collated on the possibility of foot and mouth disease false negatives arising from slaughtered animals because of contamination from disinfectant.

(2744)

68
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many premises that were confirmed as being infected with foot and mouth have subsequently received negative results from blood tests.

(2568)

69
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many foot and mouth blood samples are awaiting processing at Pirbright; and what is the time from submission from the farm to confirmed result.

(2738)

70
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many foot and mouth disease carcasses are being stored pending rendering.

(2756)

71
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish the details of every foot and mouth disease pyre and burial site in Cumbria.

(2752)

72
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her estimate is of (a) the tonnage of ash to be taken away from and (b) the number of locations of pyre sites in Cumbria.

(2753)

73
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many jobs have been lost as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak in (a) the agricultural industry and (b) rural businesses.

(2570)

74
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the level of infection of foot and mouth disease in the national flock of sheep.

(2576)

75
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many farms in (a) England and (b) Cumbria livestock have been slaughtered as a result of classification as (i) infected premises (ii) dangerous contacts, (iii) slaughter on suspicion and (iv) contiguous.

(2565)

76
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how long foot and mouth vaccination lasts after administration to livestock.

(2553)

77
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration the Government has given to providing compensation to those farmers who have not had livestock subjected to a cull but whose businesses have been severely affected by movement restrictions.

(2762)

78
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the contractors under contract to her Department in (a) Cumbria and (b) England.

(2764)

79
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates over the last 10 years, MAFF/DEFRA contingency plans for foot and mouth disease were submitted to the EU or DoE/DETR.

(2761)

80
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of the national (a) flock of sheep and (b) herd of cattle has been culled as a result of the slaughter eradication policy.

(2554)

81
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farms in the United Kingdom were not culled as a result of appeals or interventions by owners of livestock.

(2771)

82
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the risk of infection of foot and mouth via the wild animal population, with particular reference to deer, hedgehogs and rats.

(2556)

83
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her assessment is of when foot and mouth disease will be eradicated in the United Kingdom.

(2551)

84
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the source of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and what provisions have been put in place to avert another outbreak.

(2545)

85
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what confidentiality or secrecy agreements temporary veterinary inspectors have to sign on joining her Department.

(2759)

86
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations the Government have received regarding the efficacy of vaccination in efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease.

(2580)

87
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library the report entitled Vipers, which was presented to the EU in August 2000.

(2770)

88
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many foot and mouth suspected cases that resulted in slaughter on suspicion (a) in Cumbria and (b) nationally subsequently received negative results from blood tests.

(2569)

89
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates her Department hired or used helicopters in the last six months; and what the purpose was of each use.

(2751)

90
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals are awaiting slaughter on British farms under the over thirty month scheme due to foot and mouth restrictions.

(2574)

91
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the countries which have had foot and mouth disease in the last six months from which Britain is importing meat or meat products.

(2747)

92
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many rural businesses have closed since the start of the foot and mouth outbreak.

(2571)

93
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people on her Department's controlled or contracted premises since 26th February (a) have been illegally killed, (b) commited suicide and (c) died as a result of an accident.

(2736)

94
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list (a) the number and (b) country of origin of vets who returned home from MAFF/DEFRA service and had not been paid before their departure from the United Kingdom.

(2746)

95
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the verification procedures used in countries with foot and mouth disease to ensure that meat exported to the United Kingdom from the non-infected part of the country is not contaminated.

(2748)

96
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list (a) the numbers of vets and (b) the country from which they came who have been assisting with the foot and mouth crisis from February to date.

(2745)

97
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations have been made to the Government by temporary veterinary staff about the efficacy of the (a) biosecurity measures taken by the agricultural industry, (b) disinfecting operation and (c) contiguous cull operation.

(2550)

98
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the protocols or guidance for the removal of ash from a foot and mouth disease burn site.

(2755)

99
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many jobs have been lost in Cumbria in the (a) agricultural sector and (b) tourist industry as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak.

(2552)

100
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what strategy the Government plans to put in place to alleviate the effect on employment in farming communities arising from the foot and mouth outbreak.

(2547)

101
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what records are maintained of visits to farms by her Department's vets carrying out precautionary inspections.

(2760)

102
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the official figures for foot and mouth disease include calves and lambs slaughtered.

(2735)

103
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the purpose of the building being erected at the Hall Burn site at Longtown, Cumbria.

(2754)

104
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) firms of contractors and (b) individuals are engaged in the dismantling, disinfection and reassembly of milking parlours on farms in Cumbria.

(2772)

105
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the protocols and guidance notes for the disinfection of milking parlours following foot and mouth disease.

(2768)

106
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date it is estimated that the last milking parlour on currently infected premises will be disinfected and reinstated ready for use.

(2769)

107
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made that vaccinated animals can act as virus carriers of foot and mouth disease.

(2578)

108
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her latest plans to save hefted sheep flocks in the Lake District.

(2743)

109
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals have been slaughtered as a result of being classified as contiguous to premises which were confirmed as infected with foot and mouth and later received negative blood test results.

(2567)

110
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to protect (a) pedigree and (b) hefted sheep against infection by foot and mouth disease.

(2557)

111
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates over the last 20 years divisions or regions of MAFF/DEFRA were tested or updated on the contingency plans for foot and mouth disease.

(2800)

112
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many infected premises in each county of (a) England and (b) Scotland tested negative in the laboratory.

(2803)

113
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence she has received of a slaughter team in Yorkshire cutting off the ear of a live bovine in order to get an ear tag.

(2799)

114
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assesssment the Government has made of the need to protect hill flocks; and what plans there are to do so.

(2558)

115
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations the tourist industry has made to the Government over its handling of the foot and mouth outbreak.

(2572)

116
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations have been made to the Government by other countries who have suffered a foot and mouth outbreak.

(2566)

117
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to assist small farms following the foot and mouth outbreak.

(2555)

118
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the total cost of the disinfecting operation in relation to foot and mouth disease as a result of (a) infected premises culls and (b) contiguous premises culls.

(2549)

119
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of suspect cases reported in Cumbria as foot and mouth were tested; and how many of those farms received a positive test reaction.

(2763)

120
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what precautions the Government has taken to ensure that the United Kingdom is not subject to a further outbreak of classical swine fever.

(2544)

121
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will (a) send every farm from which samples were taken for foot and mouth disease testing a copy of the results of the tests and (b) publish those results together with the names, addresses and holding numbers of the farms.

(2750)

122
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of ring vaccination as an eradication policy for foot and mouth disease.

(2575)

123
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the need to reopen the over thirty month scheme.

(2573)

124
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what inspections her officials have made of countries with foot and mouth disease which are exporting meat and meat products to the United Kingdom; and if she will place the inspector's report in the Library.

(2749)

125
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average rate of (a) false negatives and (b) false positives in foot and mouth samples is from (i) cattle, (ii) sheep and (iii) deer.

(2757)

126
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) sheep and (b) cattle have been slaughtered for foot and mouth disease control on welfare reasons, broken down into (i) breeding stock and (ii) prime/fat stock.

(2734)

127
   Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the consultation exercises that have been undertaken over the last five years on farm animal biotechnology and cloning; what decisions have been made following these exercises; and which issues are still under consideration.

(2562)

128
   Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposal to prevent the movement of new animals from a farm for 20 days during the short market season, on farmers owning rams and breeding sheep; and if she will make a statement.

(2670)

129
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that British companies spending money on corrupt practices overseas are not able to claim such expenditure as legitimate business expenses for tax purposes.

(2710)

130
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the categories of information and statistics sought by the ONS from businesses and individuals by way of requests for information.

(2512)

131
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the (a) name, (b) company, (c) grade, (d) directorate, (e) start and end dates and (f) brief job description for each person seconded into his Department from the private sector.

(2677)

132
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from organisations in Derbyshire concerning the proposed changes to the landfill tax credit scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(2511)

133
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been received from the Government of the Russian Federation concerning Her Majesty's Government's recent proposals to the Security Council of the United Nations on smart sanctions on Iraq.

(2707)

134
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library copies of the recent proposals by Her Majesty's Government to the Security Council of the United Nations concerning smart sanctions on Iraq.

(2733)

135
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the occasions in the last five years in which the United Kingdom's veto power in the United Nations Security Council has been (a) used and (b) threatened publically to be used; and what the subject matter was on each occasion.

(2708)

136
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for imports to Iraq have been blocked in the United Nations Sanctions Committee for (a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to nine months, (d) nine to 12 months and (e) more than one year.

(2712)

137
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on recent developments regarding land distribution in Zimbabwe.

(2715)

138
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recommendations that United Nations Special Envoy, James Baker, has recently made regarding the future of Western Sahara.

(2714)

139
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made regarding the decision by the Zimbabwean authorities not to extend the work permit of the reporter David Blair.

(2716)

140
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was discussed when he met Morgan Tsvangerai on 2nd July.

(2717)

141
   Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the case of Ian Stillman; and what action he has taken on his behalf.

(2674)

142
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the procedure is for issuing a death certificate for a British citizen who dies abroad.

(2484)

143
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the applicant KB under Dhaka reference 59569 will be called for interview.

(2487)

144
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the United Nations Security Council to delay a decision on sanctions against Iraq for another five months.

(2671)

145
N   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the report on the NHS complaints procedure produced by York Health Economics Consortium; for what reasons it is a confidential report; and what the expected timescale and action plan is for implementing changes to the complaints procedure.

(1985)

146
   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the amount of money available to student nurses in receipt of a full bursary.

(2684)

147
   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact of the bursary system on the recruitment and retention of student nurses.

(2685)

148
   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received to extend the availability of loans to student nurses in receipt of a full bursary.

(2683)

149
   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many student nurses were in receipt of a bursary in the (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2000-01 academic years; and how many of those have dropped out of training in each year.

(2681)

150
   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on increasing the value of bursaries for student nurses.

(2682)

151
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the principal duties of the London NHS Housing Co-ordinator; and what targets have been set and what resources have been allocated to the post holder.

(2688)

152
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Woodspring, of 25th June, Official Report, column 26W, on overseas nurses, what the nature of these representations were; to what countries his Department intends to extend the initiative offered to Spain; what countries have turned down the opportunity to enter into a similar agreement; what reasons they gave for turning down such an opportunity; and if he will make a statement.

(2701)

153
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons for the delay were in the emergency services provision in respect of the death of Mr Shiblu Rahman on 1st April in Bow; and if he will make a statement.

(2720)

154
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what investment his Department is making in services to combat bowel cancer.

(2522)

155
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many expressions of interest his Department has received about introducing NHS walk-in centres.

(2523)

156
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the use of chrysotile asbestos in environmental projects for which his Department is responsible.

(2521)

157
N   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if residents of nursing homes receiving attendance allowance will receive that allowance at the same rate after the introduction of the Government's planned contributions to nursing care.

(2028)

158
   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of the costs of providing additional security measures at Ashworth Special Hospital which arose out of the Fallon Inquiry and the Tilt Report.

(2806)

159
   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much it cost to erect a new security fence at Ashworth Special Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(2805)

160
   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources have been allocated for additional security measures at Ashworth Special Hospital arising out of the Tilt Report; and if he will make a statement.

(2807)

161
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government intends to implement the White Paper on Reforming the Mental Health Act; and what plans it has to consult further to ensure that new legislation meets the needs of mental health service users.

(2713)

162
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the level of access to NHS dentistry by September.

(2539)

163
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the arrangements that he intends to put in place from October to ensure homeowners will no longer be required to sell their homes to pay for their long-term care.

(2540)

164
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the pilot schemes for the availability of digital hearing aids on the NHS; and if he will extend access to digital hearing aids on the NHS.

(2541)

165
   Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the interim report on the supply of residential and nursing home care in England will be published.

(2673)

166
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which return to nursing course covers health visitors.

(2486)

167
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the further investment announced in March to improve the recruitment and retention of general practitioners and nurses was allocated to the North Staffordshire Health Authority.

(2669)

168
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the police's role was in the provision of emergency treatment for Mr Shiblu Rahman on 1st April in Bow; if his murder is being regarded as a racial incident; what representations his family have made to the Metropolitan Police and how they have responded; and if he will make a statement.

(2719)

169
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of drug-related murders in (a) London, (b) England and (c) the UK in each of the last 10 years; and if he will provide the figures for last year in London, broken down by Metropolitan Police district.

(2711)

170
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted prisoners have asked for a review of their cases on the basis of re-examination of evidential material for DNA proof; what the response to those requests has been; and if he will make a statement.

(2731)

171
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide extra financial resources for HMP Wandsworth for improvements.

(2530)

172
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women have been sentenced to imprisonment for murder by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

(2527)

173
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been electronically tagged in England and Wales.

(2524)

174
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women have been sentenced to imprisonment by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months for abuse of children.

(2526)

175
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will divert resources from the provision of further prison establishments towards the care of mentally ill prisoners in secure specialist premises outside normal prisons.

(2532)

176
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers who were serving within the Metropolitan Police and were dismissed from the service because of misconduct in each of the last three years, are now in receipt of a police pension.

(2529)

177
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women are being held in detention in England and Wales pending the hearing of their asylum appeal; and if he will make a statement.

(2525)

178
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals have been extradited from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

(2528)

179
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on preparations for Holocaust Memorial Day 2002.

(2702)

180
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has published a country assessment of Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

(1506)

181
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of new asylum seekers, by nationality, were sent to Oakington Reception Centre in the last three months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(1508)

182
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of asylum applications sent to Oakington Reception Centre who have a negative initial decision, have had that decision overturned on appeal; and if he will make a statement.

(1510)

183
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a summary of the submissions made in response to the Government's review of asylum vouchers, indicating which individuals and organisations favoured abolition of vouchers; and if he will make a statement.

(1638)

184
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his plans to reform immigration legislation.

(1505)

185
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what updates to Immigration and Nationality Directorate country assessments have been made in the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

(1507)

186
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of asylum seekers sent to Oakington Reception Centre have had their case dismissed, broken down by nationality; and if he will make a statement.

(1509)

187
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reform the no-change policy in relation to asylum vouchers; by what date he intends to publish the findings of the review of asylum vouchers; and if he will make a statement.

(1511)

188
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many community orders relating to young offenders have been (a) breached and (b) revoked since 1st April 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(2360)

189
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to require youth offender teams to collect data for breaches and revocations of the different types of community order made against young offenders.

(2359)

190
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) Jamaican, (b) Barbadian, (c) Guyanese, (d) Canadian and (e) Australian nationals were admitted as visitors during each month in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 to the latest available date; and how many of these, from each country, were admitted with leave for less than six months.

(2520)

191
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for extensions of stay were received in each month in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 to the latest available date by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate from (i) Jamaican, (b) Barbadian, (iii) Guyanese, (iv) Canadian and (v) Australian nationals admitted for less than six months as visitors; and how many were (A) granted and (B) refused.

(2519)

192
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders in the Shrewsbury division of West Mercia Constabulary.

(2536)

193
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in (i) Staffordshire and (ii) Stoke-on-Trent.

(2668)

194
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what he calculates to be the threshold level of turnover of charities needed to trigger full annual audits if the current provision had been indexed in line with that applied to company audits since its introduction.

(2786)

195
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to uprate the threshold level of annual turnover for charities triggering full annual audits.

(2785)

196
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are located in Southend; and how many have been sent to Southend from other areas.

(2309)

197
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 28th June, Official Report, column 126W, on asylum seekers, if central records are maintained of the number of asylum seekers dispersed under the disperal arrangements of 1999; and what duty authorities concerned have to keep in touch with the dispersed persons.

(2308)

198
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action his Department is taking to combat economic crime; and if he will make a statement.

(2687)

199
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made for the cost of (a) credit card fraud, (b) other fraud and (c) all economic crime in each of the last six years.

(2686)

200
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on Russia's response to the World Bank's request for information about the budgetary impact upon it of the Chechnya war; and if she will make it her policy to use the World Bank to encourage that country to apply for redevelopment support for the Chechnya area.

(2726)

201
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to Russia to seek funding from the World Bank for redevelopment in Chechnya; and if she will make a statement.

(2725)

202
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with representatives from the Commonwealth Development Corporation regarding the adoption of OECD guidelines for multinational companies; and if she will make a statement.

(2283)

203
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department's study on the cost of internet access in developing countries will be completed.

(2287)

204
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress she plans to make with the process of debt relief at the G8 Summit in Genoa.

(2291)

205
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list, for each of the last three years, the deals established by the Commonwealth Development Corporation broken down by (a) country and (b) project.

(2285)

206
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list those less developed countries which are members of the World Trade Organisation; and what progress has been made with the establishment of a fast-track accession process to the WTO.

(2289)

207
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the enhanced integrated framework pilot project to improve the efficiency of trade-related technical assistance to least developed countries; and what plans she has to develop a more extensive initiative.

(2293)

208
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to visit Southern Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

(2284)

209
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made in her Department's commitment to increase its support for WTO capacity building projects.

(2288)

210
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategy papers in reducing poverty.

(2292)

211
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the least developed countries that have been targeted for investment by the CDC in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(2286)

212
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the UN Aids Conference in New York.

(2290)

213
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the performance of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.

(911)

214
N   Barbara Follett (Stevenage):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress has been made with the reform of bailiff law.

(918)

215
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how long it takes foot and mouth blood samples to be processed at the Stormont Laboratory.

(2737)

216
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will publish the protocols and guidance notes for the disinfection of milking parlours in Scotland following foot and mouth disease.

(2767)

217
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations have been made by the Government to the Post Office about its proposal to charge a levy for the use of ATM machines in sub-post offices.

(2362)

218
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans the Government has to ensure that customers of banks and building societies which are not participating members of the Universal Bank are able to withdraw cash from post offices free of charge.

(2361)

219
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total of (a) premiums received and (b) claims paid by the Export Credits Guarantee Department was in each business area in each of the last 10 financial years.

(2732)

220
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is her estimate of the value of shares which privatised companies were given the power to obtain compulsorily but which the shareholder refused to sell since 1991; what has happened to those shares and what the arrangements are under which they are held; what plans the Government has to end this compulsion element; and if she will make a statement.

(2721)

221
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the legal costs to date are in respect of the claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger; and what the expected future costs are.

(2775)

222
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what has been the cost of claims settled in respect of (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger; and what the anticipated cost is of all outstanding claims.

(2774)

223
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many widows' claims are outstanding in respect of their late husbands' claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema, broken down by area and month since 1999.

(2773)

224
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many interim payments were offered in respect of claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema by area and by month since 1999.

(2778)

225
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to improve the process for claimants suffering from chronis bronchitis and emphysema and who have made a claim for compensation in the North East area.

(2777)

226
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is his estimate of the time which will be taken to settle all claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger.

(2776)

227
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the average length of time taken from an interim payment in respect of a claim for chronic bronchitis and emphysema being offered to payment being received, broken down by area in each of the last three years.

(2779)

228
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the cost to industry of implementing the EU directive establishing a framework for informing and consulting employees.

(2513)

229
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the compatability of the EU directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees with the protocol on the application of subsidiarity and proportionality of the Treaty of Amsterdam; and if she will make a statement.

(2514)

230
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the contribution that solar power can make to meeting the United Kingdom's energy needs.

(2538)

231
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library the guidance, regulations and circulars relating to the levels of service which the Post Office must maintain in rural areas.

(2742)

232
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Post Office on maintenance of rural deliveries in areas of foot and mouth disease.

(2740)

233
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many premises in Cumbria are not receiving a postal service to the door because of foot and mouth disease.

(2741)

234
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what support her Department is giving to EMDA's involvement in regeneration in Warsop and Warsop Vale.

(2222)

235
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list by source, the targets for renewable energy by (a) 2003, (b) 2005 and (c) 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(2517)

236
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on phasing out nuclear power stations.

(2788)

237
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many former miners in Merseyside have (a) received final compensation payments, (b) received interim compensation payments and (c) undertaken a medical assessment and are awaiting payment for (i) vibration white finger and (ii) respiratory diseases.

(2029)

238
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average duration is between medical assessment and final compensation payment for former coal miners seeking compensation for (a) vibration white finger and (b) respiratory diseases.

(2010)

239
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what average compensation payment has been paid to former miners suffering from (a) vibration white finger and (b) respiratory diseases.

(2011)

240
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on progress made in processing miners' compensation claims.

(2030)

241
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will provide the figures for the fourth quarter of 2000-01 of service disruptions due to failures in trains, signals, points and track.

(2728)

242
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will publish the actual figures for the amounts the private sector is investing in London Transport under existing contracts.

(2729)

243
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the proposed stakeholders meeting of London Underground and the Health and Safety Executive's review of the Public Private Partnership will take place, and in which location.

(2730)

244
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations he has received about the full value for money analysis in respect of London Underground proposals; what has been the response to them and by whom; and if he will make a statement.

(2727)

245
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he expects the North Circular Road improvement programme to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(2722)

246
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the impact of the rules which apply to bus and coach operators over the payment of fuel duty and the eligibility for the fuel duty rebate system.

(2516)

247
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what his estimate is of the number of vehicles on British roads (a) without insurance and (b) which have not passed their MoT; how many vehicles without insurance were involved in accidents in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has of the number of vehicles without insurance on UK roads over the next five years.

(2787)

248
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what consideration was given to bus and rail travel concessions for the disabled in Scotland and Wales when guidance on this subject was last issued.

(2663)

249
   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people used the London Underground in each of the years 1971 to 2000.

(2506)

250
   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will use the London Underground in the next 10 years.

(2507)

251
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the cost of reimbursing local authorities for their concessionary travel schemes in (a) London, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales if the age requirement for men and women is equalised at 60.

(2802)

252
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many permanent dwellings were completed in Slough by (a) private companies, (b) registered social landlords and (c) the local authority in each of the last five years.

(2518)

253
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what timescale is foreseen on the use of a special purchase vehicle on private leased housing in Warsop and Warsop Vale.

(2223)

254
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate (a) the sale and (b) the running of mobile homes and parks; and if he will make a statement.

(2482)

255
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to initiate research into voter turnout at the 2001 General Election; and if he will make a statement on the efforts to improve voter turnout in local, general and European elections.

(2801)

256
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners are subject to a reduction in their state retirement pension because they have been in (a) an NHS hospital and (b) a similar institution and treated as being an NHS patient, for over 52 weeks.

(2303)

257
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average amount of state pension and benefits lost by pensioners subject to hospital downrating rules was in the last year for which figures are available.

(2307)

258
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in hospital for 52 weeks or more and subject to the hospital downrating system receive less than 20 per cent. of the basic pension rate.

(2305)

259
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people experienced a reduction in (a) their state retirement pension and (b) one or more means-tested benefits due to being in hospital for (i) six weeks and (ii) 52 weeks in the last year for which figures are available.

(2304)

260
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he intends to implement the changes to the invalid carers allowance detailed in his Department's press release dated 3rd October 2000.

(2796)

261
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the annual cost of abolishing the rules regarding the reduction of state pensions, other contributory benefits and income-related benefits for (a) claimants and (b) pensioners.

(2306)

262
   Ross Cranston (Dudley North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Dudley North are in the New Deal programme; and how many had been placed in employment under the New Deal up to the end of June.

(2564)

263
   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) retired and (b) drew their state pension in each year since 1996; how many people are over (i) 60, (ii) 65, (iii) 70, (iv) 75 and (v) 80 years; how many people are (A) eligible for the minimum income guarantee for pensioners and (B) actually claiming the minimum income guarantee for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

(2804)

264
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what response he plans to make to the ending of the Social Security Agreement with Australia.

(2542)

265
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances the minimum income guarantee is payable when the claimant is abroad.

(2485)

266
N   Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what advice she gives to parents of children who have applied to go to a particular school, failed to gain a place, failed at an appeal and are due to attend a school they did not choose.

[Question Unstarred] (895)

267
N   Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish):    To ask the Solicitor General, what discussions she has had with the CPS on prosecution policy in respect of forging signatures on applications to vote by post at the last election.

[Question Unstarred] (915)

268
   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information the Government has received regarding the health implications of vaccinated meat entering the food chain.

[Transferred] (2577)

269
   Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to modify the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 following developments in genetic modification.

[Transferred] (2559)

270
   Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Home Office inspectors were employed with (a) veterinary and (b) medical qualifications to implement the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in each of the last five years; and how many establishments are designated under the Act.

[Transferred] (2563)

271
   Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been issued on the assessment of applications to produce animals by nuclear transfer cloning under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

[Transferred] (2561)

272
   Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to consult on the banning of genetic modification of non-human primates.

[Transferred] (2560)

273
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the mortality rates are at age 55 to 60 years, broken down by (a) class, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic ranking.

[Transferred] (2797)

274
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average life expectancy is for those aged 60 years, broken down by (a) class, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic classification.

[Transferred] (2798)