Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001-02
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 24 October 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 24 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.

WEDNESDAY 24th OCTOBER

1
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is in respect of disposals from the Government Art Collection.

(10078)

2
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if Her Majesty's Government will recompense the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority for the costs it incurred in respect of the athletics stadium at Picketts Lock; and if she will make a statement.

(10151)

3
   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what further measures are to be initiated to help prevent violence and hooliganism at sporting events.

(9986)

4
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many responses she has received following publication of Sir Alan Budd's Gambling Review; and how many of these refer to Recommendation 70.

(9968)

5
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the likely impact of implementing Recommendation 70 in Sir Alan Budd's Gambling Review.

(9969)

6
   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will discuss with Scottish ministers the locating of national athletics facilities for the United Kingdom in Scotland.

(10149)

7
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations she has received about plans for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

(9973)

8
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the level of museum attendance was (a) last year, (b) this year and (c) projected for next year.

(10186)

9
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria relating to quality of programmes and schedules she applies to decisions on granting and renewing television broadcasting licences.

(10204)

10
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the loss of the venue for hosting the World Athletics Championships on the future of an Olympic bid from the United Kingdom.

(10180)

11
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has made for the celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

(9972)

12
   John Mann (Bassetlaw):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to allow school children free tickets to the Commonwealth Games to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

(9998)

13
   Mr Andrew Rosindell (Romford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to ensure equality among London boroughs for future distributions of awards by the Community Fund.

(10228)

14
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish her policy on future commercial radio licences as they affect Torbay and South Devon.

(9979)

15
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action he has taken to sell submarines in the last two years; with whom he negotiated; and if he will make a statement.

(10138)

16
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to improve retention rates within the armed forces.

(10067)

17
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to recruit more people from Commonwealth countries to the armed forces.

(10066)

18
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give the operational name, location and strength of all operations underway by UK armed forces overseas; and if he will make a statement.

(9987)

19
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in publicising and demonstrating assistance offered to veterans of the armed services by central and local Government.

(10215)

20
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many road traffic accidents involving service personnel have taken place in the last 12 months on (a) MoD property and (b) public roads in which driver's fatigue has been identified as a significant factor; and if he will make a statement.

(10217)

21
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his strategic priorities as Minister for Veterans' Affairs are.

(10216)

22
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the employment implications for United Kingdom companies with special reference to Astrium Ltd. of the awarding of his Department's Skynet 5 Military Satellite Communications contract to a majority UK-based communications company.

(10169)

23
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to announce the name of the company making the successful bid in his Department's Skynet 5 Military Satellite Communications contract; and if he will make a statement.

(10168)

24
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the Paradigm Secure Communications consortium's bid to be awarded his Department's Skynet 5 Military Satellite Communications contract; and if he will list the names of the companies which have submitted bids.

(10171)

25
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria he is using to assess the bids for the awarding of his Department's Skynet 5 Military Satellite Communications contract.

(10170)

26
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average pupil funding per head was in each local education authority in each of the last three years.

(10075)

27
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the achievements of pupils of comparable ability in areas of (a) selective secondary education and (b) comprehensive secondary education.

(10074)

28
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list (a) the number of pupils in each sixth form and (b) the indicative budgets for each school sixth form in 2002-03 for every school with a sixth form in Worcestershire.

(10205)

29
   John Mann (Bassetlaw):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children received a statement of special educational needs in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) England in the last year.

(9999)

30
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many places were provided in early years settings for (a) three-year-olds and (b) four-year-olds; how many were taken up; and how many children were identified by the local Early Years Plan as in need of early years education, broken down by local education authority, in the last 12 months.

(9905)

31
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the value was, for each local education authority found to be failing by OFSTED, of additional payments from her Department to assist improvement of local education authority management in the last 12 months.

(9908)

32
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list, for each local education authority found to be failing by OFSTED, (a) the date of inspection, of report, and of receipt of action plan by her Department, (b) the date of second inspection, of report, and of receipt of action plan by her Department, (c) the date of subsequent milestone events such as decisions to involve private partners in the management of local education authority services, to award, implement or terminate contracts with private partners, and to assist in or restructure the local education authority and (d) the names of partners to whom contracts have been awarded.

(9909)

33
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which honourable Members were given (a) notice of and (b) briefing on the content of Lord Haskins' report prior to 12.30 p.m. on 18th October.

(9951)

34
N   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the independent veterinary risk assessment commissioned by her Department into the resumption of foxhunting following the foot and mouth outbreaks.

(9468)

35
   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will respond to Lord Haskins' report, Rural Recovery after Foot and Mouth Disease.

(10069)

36
   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will respond to the Rural Task Force report, Tackling the Impact of the Foot and Mouth Disease on the Rural Economy.

(10068)

37
   Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the overall improvements in energy efficiency as reported by each energy conservation authority in England for the last year for which figures are available.

(10212)

38
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to the proposals from the European Commission to remove the authorisation for the anti-coccidial drugs Nicarbazin and Dimetridazole.

(10206)

39
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many contracts have been concluded between her Department and farms infected by foot and mouth near Thirsk for the cleansing of their premises.

(10179)

40
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on animal welfare of the implementation of the licensing provisions for the movement of livestock.

(10178)

41
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received relating to her Department's advice to farmers on the licensing provisions for livestock movements.

(10177)

42
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to enable livestock to reach their winter accommodation before winter weather sets in.

(10181)

43
   Mr Andrew Rosindell (Romford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to increase accessibility to the countryside for those living in inner cities.

(10001)

44
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she received from the Arthur Rank Foundation and industry bodies about the price and availability of (a) fodder and (b) grazing for livestock (i) in the UK and (ii) on the Isle of Wight.

(9910)

45
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals were slaughtered as a result of foot and mouth disease, broken down by those from infected farms and those culled for protective purposes, weekly since March.

(9911)

46
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason it was decided to dispose of items of silver originally ordered for the Privy Council; and if he will make a statement.

(10082)

47
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will withdraw from sale the Privy Council silver due to be sold at public auction on 30th October; and if he will make a statement.

(10076)

48
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the (a) silver, (b) paintings, (c) sculptures, (d) books and (e) other works of art disposed of by his Department at auction or by private treaty in each of the last five years.

(10081)

49
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, of which assets held by his Department he plans to dispose.

(10079)

50
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Privy Council silver which is up for sale was offered to public institutions before the decision to dispose of the items at public auction.

(10083)

51
   Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to penalise Government departments which do not dispose of assets that do not produce a return.

(10077)

52
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each year since 1979, what the total sum was, in real terms, of public expenditure spent by the (a) Scottish Office, (b) Scotland Office and (c) Scottish Executive that was negotiated externally from the block grant and Barnett Formula; and what was for each year (i) the single largest item of such expenditure and (ii) the total amount of such expenditure.

(10126)

53
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 1251W, how much money in real terms has been spent in Scotland on policy areas which are the responsibility of (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) the Scotland Office and (c) other UK Government departments since 1st July 1999.

(10125)

54
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the bank accounts which have been frozen since 11th September on the grounds of terrorist associations.

(10080)

55
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what dates the (a) President and (b) Prime Minister of (i) Latvia, (ii) Estonia and (iii) Lithuania visited the UK in the last five years; what future visits are planned; and if he will make a statement.

(9988)

56
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on changes to the budget for the British Council between 1997 and 2001.

(9971)

57
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what pay increases have been awarded to auxiliary nurses each year since April 1997.

(10214)

58
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate has been made of the financial effect on the NHS of delayed discharge problems in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(9716)

59
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds have been occupied in each health authority area in England and Wales in each of the latest nine months for which figures are available as a result of delayed discharges.

(9717)

60
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS as a result of delayed discharges from hospitals in the last 12 months.

(9718)

61
   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) national average waiting time and (b) Avon Health Authority waiting time was for glaucoma and cataract operations in the last 12 months.

(10070)

62
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in each health authority contracted MRSA in each of the years 1995 to 2000.

(9238)

63
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money has been spent employing feng shui experts in his Department in the last 12 months.

(9239)

64
   Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he will take to encourage primary care organisations to consider the recommendations in Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis, published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July.

(10210)

65
   Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the cost to the Health Service of dealing with osteoporotic fractures in each of the last three years.

(10211)

66
   Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the impact which recommendations in the Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis, published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July, could have on reducing the number of fractures which the health service has to deal with.

(10208)

67
   Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the impact which recommendations in Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis, published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July, could have on reducing the cost to the National Health Service of dealing with fractures.

(10209)

68
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce new legislation on sexual offences further to protect mentally handicapped victims.

(10072)

69
   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds are available in residential care in South Tyneside.

(9985)

70
   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many elderly people are waiting for beds in residential care in South Tyneside.

(9984)

71
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of making digital hearing aids universally available amongst the hard of hearing.

(10189)

72
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on levels of NHS audiology provision and the availability of digital hearing aids.

(10188)

73
   Mr Andrew Rosindell (Romford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to increase the availability of digital hearing aids.

(10002)

74
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list, by police authority, the number of reported incidents of domestic violence for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(10213)

75
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people he estimates are resident in this country on the basis of (a) indefinite leave to remain, (b) exceptional leave to remain first granted before 31st March 1996 and (c) full refugee status.

(10175)

76
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list for each local authority area in London (a) police establishment as of 31st March 1993, (b) police establishment as of 31st March 1997, (c) police establishment as of 31st March 2001, (d) police establishment as of 31st September 2001 and (e) projected target establishment for 31st March 2002.

(10176)

77
   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are employed at Yarls Wood Immigration Detention Centre, broken down by (a) contractors employed by outside firms, (b) his Department's officials and (c) those in other categories.

(10184)

78
   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the expected date for the opening of the Yarls Wood Immigration Detention Centre.

(10183)

79
   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the cost of the construction of Yarls Wood Immigration Detention Centre.

(10182)

80
   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations his Department has received about the proposed operation of immigration snatch squads; what assessment he has made of the consequences for public order; and if he will make a statement.

(10150)

81
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from France concerning the activities of Islamic fundamentalist extremists in the United Kingdom with particular reference to individuals and groups with Algerian connections; and if he will make a reference.

(10085)

82
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the criminal law relating to common purpose with reference to the issues of (a) terrorism and (b) the activities of Islamic fundamentalist extremists; and if he will make a statement.

(10084)

83
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many recent representations the National Asylum Support Service has received in relation to management and support services at Landmark and the Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool; and what the nature of those representations was.

(10207)

84
   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance the Government gives to departments in cases involving the loss of personal identity documents (a) when they are being held by departments and (b) in other circumstances.

(10073)

85
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if foreign employees of Europol are immune from prosecution while on duty in the UK.

(9966)

86
   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been imposed in the London Borough of Bromley and at what cost to public funds.

(9996)

87
   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of policing in the London Borough of Bromley was in each of the last five years, indicating how much of this comes from (a) council tax and (b) the Government.

(9992)

88
   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many notifiable offences there were in the London Borough of Bromley in each of the last five years.

(9993)

89
   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police served in (a) the London Borough of Bromley and (b) the Orpington sector of Bromley; and what the establishment figure was in each year since 1996.

(9997)

90
   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the crime clear-up rate was in the London Borough of Bromley in each of the last five years.

(9994)

91
   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many curfew orders have been imposed on young people in the London Borough of Bromley.

(9995)

92
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend offences which involve aggravation by racial hatred to include aggravation by religious hatred; and if he will make a statement.

(9896)

93
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many custody arrests were made in (a) Evesham and (b) Droitwich Spa in the last three years.

(10143)

94
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he will take to assist (a) North Yorkshire Police and (b) other forces to tackle the impact of early retirement on officer levels.

(10185)

95
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning The Experience Corps Limited and funding for local volunteer bureaux.

(10187)

96
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to fund police pensions over the next 10 years.

(9974)

97
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many resignations there were from the police force in the year to March (a) 1997 and (b) 2001 due to (i) medical and (ii) other reasons.

(9724)

98
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officers were serving in the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police on (a) 1st August and (b) 1st October.

(9726)

99
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were in the Metropolitan Police Force area in (a) March 1997 and (b) March 2001; what the difference between these two figures adjusted for boundary changes is; and if he will make a statement.

(9719)

100
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future role of police constables.

(9720)

101
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his proposals for the use of non-police personnel for policing tasks.

(9721)

102
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about his proposals for reform of police working conditions.

(9723)

103
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis about extra funding to cover the present security situation; and if he will make a statement.

(9725)

104
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police were available for active duty in the Metropolitan Police Force area in (a) March 1997, (b) March 1999, (c) March 2000, and (d) March 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(9727)

105
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the turnover rate was for special constables in each constabulary in England in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(10145)

106
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people convicted of assaulting (a) ambulance personnel and (b) other emergency services' personnel in the last 12 months for which figures are available received a (i) custodial sentence, (ii) community service order and (iii) fine.

(9989)

107
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received during the last 12 months on the impact of the price of goods manufactured by prisoners on similar products made by commercial businesses outside; and if he will make a statement.

(10144)

108
   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has held with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Trade and Industry, to co-ordinate initiatives to reduce crime through sport and recreation.

(10141)

109
   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many priorities he has set each police authority in England and Wales in the last three years.

(10142)

110
   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of funding is available from his Department for initiatives to reduce crime through sport and recreation.

(10140)

111
   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has held with professional sports clubs about using sports initiatives to reduce crime.

(10139)

112
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 24th July from the honourable Member for Torbay regarding Mr Tuci of Chelston, Torquay.

(10137)

113
   Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on humanitarian relief to Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in Pakistan and the surrounding regions.

(9981)

114
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what changes she plans to her policy on eradication of poverty in the third world.

(6444)

115
N   Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress she has made in working with her counterparts in (a) Europe and (b) other western nations to reduce the burden of debt in less developed countries.

(6120)

116
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what recent changes he has made to judges' transport arrangements applying to those using judges lodgings to make them more effective; what the savings from the changes are; and if he will make a statement.

(9970)

117
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will require Islamic marriages entered into by persons who are UK citizens to be registered in the UK.

(9990)

118
   John Barrett (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations the Government has received from (a) organisations and (b) individuals, calling for greater protection of (i) dementia sufferers and (ii) other vulnerable groups from door-to-door and telephone salespeople.

(10153)

119
   John Barrett (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action the Government is taking to protect (a) dementia sufferers and (b) other vulnerable groups from door to door and telephone salespeople.

(10154)

120
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from (a) the firework industry and (b) local authorities regarding fireworks being stored in unlicensed premises and sold illegally door to door.

(9791)

121
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what checks are undertaken (a) at ports of entry to ensure that bulk supplies of fireworks entering the UK are destined for licensed storage facilities and (b) to ensure that such supplies reach those facilities.

(9790)

122
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from the firework industry regarding illegal storage of fireworks in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Lancashire and (c) Leicestershire; and what action she has taken in response to those reports.

(9793)

123
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from (a) the firework industry and (b) local authorities on (i) the 14 day rule allowing storage of fireworks for private use and (ii) the enforcement of fireworks safety and storage regulations.

(9792)

124
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to heighten public awareness of (a) the dangers of fireworks and (b) the effects of fireworks on animals.

(9240)

125
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to restrict the use of fireworks to a limited time period.

(9241)

126
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to restict the decibel level of fireworks.

(9242)

127
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to review firework legislation; and if she will make a statement.

(9243)

128
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what control the Government has over fireworks bought on the Internet; and if she will make a statement.

(9244)

129
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the cost met from public funds of the legal action taken by the previous Secretary of State, the Right honourable Member for North Tyneside, against Associated Newspapers.

(10146)

130
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of the population in Lancashire were employed in the (a) manufacturing sector and (b) service sector for each of the last five years.

(10087)

131
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what role the Institute of Management and the Institute of Directors play in contributing to policy decisions.

(10094)

132
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings Ministers have had with the Institute of Directors in each of the last five years.

(10092)

133
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings Ministers have held with the Institute of Management in each of the last five years.

(10093)

134
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many inquiries the Small Business Service has had from the Chorley constituency.

(10089)

135
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses have been started in the Chorley constituency with the help of the Small Business Service.

(10090)

136
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much funding has been made available to companies by the Small Business Service.

(10091)

137
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the number of cases dismissed by employment tribunals on the grounds that they were scandalous, frivolous or vexatious in each of the past 10 years.

(9728)

138
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims for compensation for Icelandic trawlermen have been rejected; and how many remain to be decided.

(9977)

139
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) number and (b) total amount of compensation claims paid to Icelandic trawlermen, broken down by port.

(9980)

140
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims for Icelandic trawlermens' compensation are not yet dealt with; and what legal advice she has received on the validity of this delay.

(9978)

141
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for each year from 1990 to 2001, what proportion of commercial payments have been late.

(10133)

142
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when a decision will be made on how many customers the Universal Bank should serve.

(10129)

143
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many British businesses invoice in euros.

(10131)

144
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for each year between 1979 and 2001, what was (a) the total and (b) the proportion in world terms of accumulated foreign investment in (i) Britain, (ii) the Eurozone and (iii) the remaining developed countries.

(10132)

145
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what are the latest estimates of the cost of the Universal Bank for (a) the predicted 2 million and (b) the 6 million prospective customers.

(10130)

146
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions since May 1997 (a) she and (b) her predecessors have overruled the advice of the Director-General of the Office of Fair Trading.

(10135)

147
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many anti-competitive behaviour cases are being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.

(10136)

148
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices were closed in each quarter of each financial year for 1979-80 to 2000-01

(10134)

149
   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the cost to date of advisers on the PPP for London Underground.

(10152)

150
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action is being taken by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) other parts of his Department to ensure that bulk fireworks entering the UK are taken to licensed storage facilities; and what checks are made at the port of entry.

(9788)

151
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations he has received from the firework industry on the control and monitoring of bulk supplies of fireworks entering the UK, with particular reference to checks at ports of entry.

(9789)

152
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations he has received from (a) the firework industry and (b) local authorities regarding reports of illegal storage of fireworks in (i) the West Midlands, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Leciestershire; and what action he has taken in response to those representations.

(9787)

153
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much investment has been made in the (a) East Coast main line and (b) West Coast main line in each of the last 15 years.

(10128)

154
   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will introduce greater freedom for local councils to charge for mandatory services.

(10071)

155
   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he intends to direct local authorities to undertake local referenda to ascertain the public support for directly elected majors in cases where council has decided to pursue another form of local government under the Local Government Act 2000.

(10124)

156
   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to issue revised guidance on factors affecting the imposition of speed restrictions on roads.

(10000)

157
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much land owned by English Partnerships designated for affordable housing units has been sold without a requirement for the same number of affordable housing units to be built; how much of such land has been designated for affordable low cost housing in Chorley; and how much of such land has been sold for housing in Chorley in each of the last three years.

(10095)

158
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the organisations consulted by his Department in the recent consultation on pedestrian protection; and if he will place in the Library a summary of the responses received.

(9975)

159
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the additional manufacturing costs for each vehicle if all new cars were to meet the four tests developed by the European Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Committee; and what scientific advice he has received on the proposal for a two-stage negotiated agreement on this subject.

(9976)

160
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much private money was invested in equity share issues by Railtack; what is the cumulative value of dividends paid out on that equity; and if he will estimate the cumulative interest payable on the same amount of gilt edged stock.

(10147)

161
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent meetings he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority to discuss recent developments affecting Railtrack.

(10173)

162
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, under the new arrangements proposed for Railtrack and the railway sector, to what extent (a) train operating companies and (b) Railtrack would have responsibility for safety.

(10174)

163
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the implications for the planned improvements to the East Coast Main Line of the decision to put Railtrack into administration.

(10172)

164
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the Permanent Secretary to the DTLR had a meeting with the DTLR's press officer, Charlotte Morgan, about her conduct in relation to complying with requests from Ms Jo Moore.

(9898)

165
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if (a) his special advisers and (b) his Department's press office commented on the report on engineering standards on the London Underground by Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd. commissioned by Bob Kiley (i) before and (ii) after the report had been published by Transport for London and London Transport.

(9902)

166
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the matters that his special advisers have (a) given to the press or briefed the press about and (b) commented on, relating to the conduct of Bob Kiley in his capacity as London Transport Commissioner or Chairman of London Transport, since the General Election.

(9900)

167
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the matters that his Department's communications department have (a) briefed the press about and (b) commented on, relating to the conduct of Bob Kiley in his capacity as London Transport Commissioner or Chairman of London Transport, since the General Election.

(9899)

168
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the responses to the consultation paper on development of the needs indices, used in the allocation of housing capital resources to local authorities and registered social landlords, will be published.

(9903)

169
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the Permanent Secretary to the DTLR had a meeting with the DTLR's director of communications, Alun Evans, about his conduct in relation to complying with requests from Ms Jo Moore.

(9897)

170
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the procedures for Ministers approving comments to the press made by (a) his Department's press office and (b) special advisers.

(9901)

171
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what proposals he has to allow local authorities to borrow against the value of their housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

(10127)

172
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 892W, on East-West Transport links, if the London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study is considering East-West rail links between Cambridge and Bedford, and Bedford and Milton Keynes.

(10065)

173
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many sets of traffic lights there were on West Quay Road, Southampton, between Mountbatten Way and Weston Esplanade in (a) October 2001 and (b) 1997 for (i) westbound and (ii) eastbound traffic.

(9783)

174
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average journey time was for (a) westbound and (b) eastbound traffic on West Quay Road, Southampton, between the Westen Docks entrance and Town Quay in (a) October 2001 and (b) October 1997.

(9785)

175
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to compensate Railtrack employees holding shares in Railtrack plc.

(9906)

176
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment has been made of how the additional traffic lights in West Quay Road, Southampton have contributed to improve traffic flows to and from destinations (a) in Southampton and (b) on the Isle of Wight.

(9786)

177
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what volume of traffic was carried by West Quay Road, Southampton (a) westbound and (b) eastbound in (i) October 2001 and in (ii) October 1997.

(9784)

178
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what consultations took place with the Isle of Wight Council before the (a) improvements to West Quay Road, Southampton, and (b) approval by his predecessors of the most recent local plan for Southampton.

(9907)

179
   John Cryer (Hornchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department can invite staff to remain in post beyond the normal retirement age; and what is the final age at which such staff must retire.

(10148)

180
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what state benefits foreign nationals are entitled to when given exceptional leave to remain in the UK.

(9965)

181
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates he has made of the number of carers in work during term time who do not qualify for invalidity care allowance for looking after an invalid student during college vacations because of the operation of the rules governing the calculation of earnings.

(9991)

182
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the comparative values of pension funds of typical 60-year-old males each year since 1997, in cash and real terms.

(9950)

183
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes she has to assist economic transition of socially vulnerable groups in countries participating in the EuroMed process.

[Question Unstarred] (6118)

184
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which laws prohibit the use, production, possession and transfer of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological materials which could be used as weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (9904)

185
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many successful prosecutions for incitement of racial hatred there have been.

[Transferred] (9967)

186
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of gross domestic product was generated by the (a) manufacturing sector and (b) service sector in each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (10088)

187
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of the population was employed in the (a) manufacturing sector and (b) service sector for each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (10086)

188
   Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice the Department of Social Security gave to the Association of British Civilian Internees Far East Region in November 2000 on the interpretation of which categories of clamaint could count as British in order to qualify for the ex gratia payments announced on 7th November 2000.

[Transferred] (10226)