Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001-02
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 16 October 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 16 October, 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.

TUESDAY 16th OCTOBER

1
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the total grants paid by each organisation responsible for allocating lottery proceeds, broken down by county in both absolute terms and pounds per thousand population.

(7502)

2
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the United Kingdom's ability to continue to manufacture aircraft.

(6505)

3
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to approve the development of the Future Offensive Aircraft Capability.

(6504)

4
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish an annual report on (a) future DU test firing proposals and (b) environmental testing results from the previous 12 months at the DERA testing facility at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire.

(6506)

5
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will publish his response to the public consultation on diving on maritime wrecks.

(8073)

6
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for each year since the area cost adjustment was introduced, what the standard spending assessment for each pupil was in (a) Bedfordshire, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) Cambridgeshire.

(6106)

7
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students were (a) entered and (b) completed higher education courses in each year since 1996.

(6107)

8
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children in Huntingdon have school meals provided by the local authority.

(6108)

9
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to restore the pay differential between school teachers and lecturers in further education.

(6109)

10
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils in Huntingdon have not had an offer of a secondary school place for September.

(6110)

11
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the class sizes were for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Huntingdon (i) on 31st March and (ii) in each year since 1996.

(6161)

12
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many lecturer vacancies there were in further education in Huntingdon (a) on 31st March and (b) in each year since 1996.

(6162)

13
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary teacher vacancies there were in Huntingdon (i) on 31st March and (ii) in each year since 1996.

(6163)

14
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers were employed in Huntingdon (i) on 31st March and (ii) in each year since 1996.

(6164)

15
   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance is provided for headteachers and school governors on the provision of counselling services based in schools.

(8104)

16
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was recovered, in the last year for which information is available, of the cost of education provided at public expense to those ineligible to receive such education; and how much is estimated to remain uncollected.

(7953)

17
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which categories of person having regard to age, marital status, duration of residence in the UK, immigration status, nationality and other characteristics, are eligible for (a) free statutory-age schooling, (b) free nursery education, (c) free education in colleges of further education and (d) education in higher education institutions, free other than through contributions to home students' tuition fees.

(7951)

18
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what powers exist to recover the cost of education provided at public expense to those ineligible to receive such education.

(7952)

19
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from Cambridgeshire in respect of the Rural White Paper.

(6175)

20
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans are in place for tackling foot and mouth disease in the late autumn period.

(6499)

21
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the United Kingdom's balance of trade was in (a) livestock, (b) meat products and (c) all foodstuffs for the years since 1997; and what estimate she has made of how this will change as a result of foot and mouth export controls.

(6500)

22
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incinerators have been built in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(8087)

23
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what controls the Government has implemented on emissions from incinerators in the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(8089)

24
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to encourage businesses (a) to recycle waste and (b) to use recycled materials in the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(8081)

25
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to dispose of waste arising from pyres used to incinerate livestock in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

(8092)

26
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to change the amount of household municipal waste generated in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

(8083)

27
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much municipal waste has been collected in each year since 1996; and if she will make a statement.

(8084)

28
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the increase of annual municipal waste in the United Kingdom in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(8093)

29
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when farmers can continue with normal farming practice after their land has been used for the incineration of livestock as part of the eradication of foot and mouth.

(8090)

30
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of pollution of land where incineration of livestock took place as part of the eradication of the foot and mouth epidemic; and if she will make a statement.

(8091)

31
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of councils in the United Kingdom have separate recycling collections; and if she will make a statement.

(8082)

32
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of UK household waste was disposed of through landfill in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

(8094)

33
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures the Government has taken to meet its target of recycling two thirds of all household waste by 2015; and if she will make a statement.

(8080)

34
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to promote renewable forms of energy in the United Kingdom in the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(8085)

35
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of levels of dioxin emissions from incinerators in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

(8088)

36
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what are the qualifications and licensing arrangements required of (a) professional slaughtermen and (b) persons slaughtering animals in herds affected by foot and mouth disease; what training arrangements were in place for forces personnel engaged to slaughter animals during the foot and mouth crisis; and what (i) licensed and (ii) otherwise qualified professional supervision was in place for casual slaughtermen engaged during the foot and mouth crisis.

(7499)

37
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from the Thalidomide Trust about issues arising from the Diageo Covenant.

(6166)

38
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the projected cost is to (a) UK and (b) Scottish industry of implementation of the Climate Change Levy over the next three years.

(6501)

39
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Palestinian administration about human rights abuses relating to women.

(8070)

40
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Jordanian Government about human rights abuses relating to women.

(8071)

41
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to promote the benefits of the use of animals in the testing of drugs.

(6508)

42
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) hospital medical staff, (b) consultants and (c) nursing and midwifery staff were employed at Hinchingbrooke Hospital on (i) 31st March and (ii) in each year since 1996.

(6174)

43
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on changes in the number of places in residential care homes.

(6173)

44
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the requirement for general practitioners in Huntingdon to take account of anticipated housing building in the area until 2011.

(6172)

45
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to reverse the trend in the number of residential care home places.

(6510)

46
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the additional funding for silicone cosmesis for prosthetic limbs announced in Autumn 2000 will be given to disablement service centres.

(8095)

47
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers he has to recover the cost of treatment under the NHS of persons ineligible for free treatment.

(7955)

48
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many young persons are in care and how many of those are (a) fostered and (b) otherwise cared for separately from their natural parents in each social services authority in England; and what percentage of the total under-18 population this represents.

(7503)

49
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was recovered, in the last year for which information is available, of the cost of treatment under the NHS of persons ineligible for free treatment; and how much is estimated to remain uncollected.

(7956)

50
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which categories of person, on the basis of age, marital status, duration of residence in UK, contribution record, immigration status, nationality and other characteristics, are eligible for (a) free emergency treatment in NHS hospitals, (b) free non-emergency treatment in NHS hospitals, (c) free treatment by NHS general medical practitioners, (d) free treatment by NHS dental practitioners and (e) NHS drug prescriptions.

(7954)

51
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support he has given to Cambridgeshire Constabulary to tackle drug-related crime.

(6169)

52
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to visit Huntingdon Life Sciences.

(6170)

53
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average number of police officers is per 10,000 of population in (a) England and (b) Cambridgeshire.

(6171)

54
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will instruct the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to return all passports and original documents by recorded delivery or registered post.

(8068)

55
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will monitor the length of time the security services take to complete security checks on those applying for (a) settlement in the UK and (b) naturalisation.

(8099)

56
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many compensation payments the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has made for the loss of passports and original documents, and at what cost, in each of the past 10 years.

(8069)

57
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he is taking to ensure that staff at the National Asylum Support Service understand the particular needs of asylum seekers with HIV and other long term illnesses.

(8076)

58
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers have been returned to Algeria in each of the last 10 years; and what guidance he gives for returning Algerians to that country.

(8074)

59
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has taken to ensure that the National Asylum Support Service disperses asylum seekers with HIV to areas where appropriate support is available to them.

(8077)

60
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what correspondence he has received from Mr Alan Bayle concerning his decision to resign from the Metropolitan Police Service; and what measures he has taken to address professional representations concerning training and supervision of the collection of forensic evidence.

(8079)

61
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants for asylum, broken down by country of origin, have had their applications refused in the last four years; and how many are known (a) to have left the United Kingdom and (b) to have remained within the United Kingdom.

(7118)

62
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress member states have made in ratifying and implementing the provisions of the conventions relating to the elimination of forced and compulsory labour covered by the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

(8072)

63
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the personal prerogative powers exercised by the Queen.

(8096)

64
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will make a statement on the timetable for (a) publication and (b) implementation of Boundary Commission proposals for Scotland.

(6498)

65
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the pricing structure for broadband used by BT and the cable companies.

(8103)

66
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with BT about introducing broadband; and if she will make a statement.

(8100)

67
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what comparable figures for broadband connection she has collated for the United Kingdom's G9 partners.

(8102)

68
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of the United Kingdom has access to broadband; and what forecasts she has made for its future introduction.

(8101)

69
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) post offices and (b) sub-post offices closed in each of the last 10 years in (i) total and (ii) Greater London.

(6765)

70
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many sub-post offices closed in the Huntingdon constituency in each financial year since 1995-96.

(6168)

71
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's plans to extend broadband telecommunicatons to rural areas throughout the UK.

(6496)

72
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what targets she has set for the percentage of the UK population able to gain access to broadband telecommunications by the end of this decade.

(6495)

73
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans are (a) in place and (b) under consideration to compensate proprietors of sub-post offices whose businesses become unprofitable after withdrawal of benefit payments by cash.

(6497)

74
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 20th July, Official Report, column 584W, to the honourable Member for Nottingham South, on energy, if she will ask the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to compile a report on the doorstep selling practices of gas and electricity suppliers.

(8075)

75
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the accessibility of polling stations to disabled people in the general and local elections in June.

(6509)

76
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations he has received from individuals and organisations in Cambridgeshire about the recommendations of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi Modal Study.

(6502)

77
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he expects to be able to make a decision on the recommendations of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi Modal Study.

(6503)

78
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to encourage the restoration of a coach service from Huntingdon to London.

(6167)

79
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what grants have been paid to the Isle of Wight Council for the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02; and if he will indicate which are hypothecated for a particular purpose.

(7957)

80
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what permissions to borrow have been given to the Isle of Wight Council for the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02; and if he will indicate which are for a specified project or projects.

(7958)

81
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discretionary payments can be made from the Advisors Discretionary Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(8098)

82
   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will change the limit on earnings which can be retained by people on job seeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement.

(8097)

83
N   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Huntingdon are in the New Deal programme; and how many were placed in employment up to June.

(6165)

84
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for changing the state retirement age.

(6507)

85
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money in excess of the proper calculation was paid by parents without care through the Child Support Agency to parents with care, in the last year for which information is available; and how much was recovered from parents with care and repaid to parents without care.

(7718)

86
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what powers exist to recover benefits paid to those ineligible to receive such benefits by reason of (a) fraud and (b) mistake.

(7959)

87
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money below the proper calculation was paid by parents without care through the Child Support Agency to parents with care, in the last year for which information is available; and how much was subsequently recovered and paid over.

(7719)

88
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was recovered, in the last year for which information is available, of the benefits paid to those ineligible to receive such benefits by reason of (a) fraud and (b) mistake; and how much is estimated to remain uncollected.

(7960)

89
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans the Government has to review planning policy guidance issued to councils regarding the siting of proposed new incinerators.

[Transferred] (8086)

90
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for entry clearance as (a) spouse and (b) fiance�e were received at British posts around the world in each of the last five years; and how many of those applications were refused because the entry clearance officer was not satisfied that the couple intended to live together permanently.

[Transferred] (8078)



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