Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001-02
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 27 November 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 27 November, 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 27th NOVEMBER

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much is being spent on the refurbishment of the Bishop of Chichester's palace; for what reason rooms hitherto publicly accessible in the palace are being converted into private rooms; and if he will make a statement.

(18368)

2
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many formal notices her Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18772)

3
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many companies took part in the bidding process for the public relations contract with NMEC for the Millennium Dome; and who was on the panel for appointing the consultancy firm.

(18659)

4
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the value, per annum, of the contract held between the New Millennium Experience Company and Cardew Consultancy; what sum in total has been paid to Cardew Consultancy by the New Millennium Experience Company since Cardew were employed by NMEC; what period the present contract between the New Millennium Experience Company and Cardew runs for; what services Cardew presently provides for the New Millennium Experience Company; what assessment he has made of those services; and if she will make a statement.

(18658)

5
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18769)

6
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence contracts made between 1997 and 2001 are expected to over-run in (a) cost and (b) time.

(17242)

7
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the use of cost-plus contracts.

(17243)

8
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on (a) partnering, (b) smart acquisition, (c) post-costing and (d) should-cost-data in UK defence procurement.

(17244)

9
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of defence procurement deals were put to competition in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(17245)

10
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the responsibilities of the integrated project teams in procurement; and if he will make a statement.

(17246)

11
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of contracts (a) had an agreed fixed price at the start and (b) arrived to cost and on schedule in the last 12 months.

(17247)

12
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what types of cluster bombs are used by the British army; and what stockpiles of each are held.

(18352)

13
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the US Defence Secretary over the use of cluster bombs.

(18353)

14
   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which classes of documents fall within the Deemed Destroyed Range of the War Pensions Agency.

(18849)

15
   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what years the War Pensions Agency has destroyed records of servicemen and women who served in the Army Catering Corps.

(18847)

16
   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what years the War Pensions Agency has retained records of servicemen and women who served in the Army Catering Corps.

(18848)

17
N   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) armour piercing and (b) hard target penetrator warheads containing depleted uranuim have been tested in Wales in each of the last 10 years.

(17485)

18
N   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many depleted uranium shells have been used in the Afghan conflict.

(17486)

19
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd November, Official Report, column 373W, on the Territorial Army, for what reason the decision was taken to re-tender for the national advertising contract.

(18842)

20
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 13th November, Official Report, column 630W, if he will list the representatives of the veterans community who attended his task force meeting on 6th November.

(16141)

21
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action her Department is taking in relation to infant classes of 31 or more.

(18527)

22
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she expects her Department's inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the release of the 2001 Key Stage results to conclude; and if she will publish the report.

(18526)

23
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to issue revised guidance to schools and local education authorities regarding disciplinary arrangements for pupils found (a) in possession of, (b) dealing in and (c) under the influence of illegal drugs.

(18364)

24
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 345W, on Early Years Excellence, (a) on what date and (b) by what means her Department fulfilled the promise made in the letter of 20th June to Somerford Infant School concerning their expression of interest.

(18662)

25
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many formal notices her Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18771)

26
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what advice she gives to local authorities on acceptable time limits for pupils to spend out of school following permanent exclusion for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; what information she has by local authority on (i) numbers and (ii) length of exclusion in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

(17914)

27
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information she has collated on the length of time it is taking to re-mark A levels on appeal; and if she will make a statement.

(17913)

28
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the latest assessment of the level of dioxins in ash produced by each of the large scale municipal incineration plants.

(18547)

29
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out the penalty arrangements which will apply in the event of local authorities failing to meet the Government's targets for recycling.

(18541)

30
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the health implications of using recycled ash in building materials.

(18546)

31
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the quality of the Environment Agency's methods of testing incinerated material for dioxins.

(18545)

32
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the toxicity of ash at large scale municipal incineration plants.

(18544)

33
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tests have been carried out by the Environment Agency on dioxin emissions at the Ribblesdale plant of Castle Cement in the past 12 months; and if she will publish the findings.

(18543)

34
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to apply the same dioxin emission limits to cement kilns burning waste as apply to purpose built incinerators.

(18542)

35
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she takes to ensure genetically modified salmon cannot escape from confinement into the wild.

(18366)

36
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many formal notices her Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18765)

37
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the adequacy of the fresh water supply available to the UK.

(16981)

38
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where are the UK's main water sources; and what plans there are to create desalination plants.

(16982)

39
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in how many cases in each of the last three years food imports have been (a) impounded and (b) destroyed; what type of foodstuff was involved; what the point of entry was; and what the resultant legal or other outcomes were.

(18363)

40
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's use of the Animal Health Act 1981 to act against the importation of animal diseases.

(18361)

41
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the roles of (a) her Department, (b) the Food Standards Agency, (c) local authorities, (d) port health authorities and (e) other relevant public agencies, in the control of food imports.

(18362)

42
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimates she has made of the increase in the use of recycled aggregate as a consequence of the introduction of the aggregates levy.

(17925)

43
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list by county the amounts paid to farmers in England and Wales for the last five years for each of the (a) CAP and (b) UK schemes for which she is responsible.

(17652)

44
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of her Department's budget is spent on promoting energy saving.

(17430)

45
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many ministerial engagements (a) were cancelled between 1st January and 31st May and (b) have been cancelled since 1st June.

(18037)

46
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many residential dwellings have been tested for radon emissions since 1988 in (a) Devon and (b) England and Wales; and what percentage of the dwellings tested were owned (i) privately and (ii) by the local authority or housing associations.

(18357)

47
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans have been made for the production of a Crown piece to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

(18548)

48
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Crown Estate has spent on corporate hospitality in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

(18535)

49
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18761)

50
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions Office will respond to the request made by Mr Welch of Burton, Christchurch to be able to make self-employed national insurance contributions.

(18653)

51
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 272W, on Equitable Life, if he will inform the honourable Member for Christchurch as soon as the response has been sent to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

(18661)

52
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with representatives of the aggregates industry regarding the proposal for a green discount on the introduction of the aggregates tax.

(18354)

53
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the direct environmental (a) costs and (b) benefits arising from the introduction of the aggregates levy.

(17924)

54
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the aggregates levy on the environmental aspects of quarrying which are not dealt with by existing regulatory controls.

(17923)

55
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, against what criteria the ONS was determining the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts.

(18775)

56
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what advice the ONS gave the Treasury on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts.

(18774)

57
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has further to encourge the recycling of aggregates (a) by means of the aggregates levy and (b) by other means.

(18425)

58
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the environmental (i) costs and (ii) benefits of the supply of aggregates from coastal super quarries compared to that from other types of quarry.

(18426)

59
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts regarding an increase in their development assistance budget in relation to their gross national product.

(18188)

60
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what development assistance spending has been as a percentage of gross national product in each of the last 20 years.

(18189)

61
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on churches' liability to pay VAT on repair work when situated within a designated conservation area.

(18035)

62
   John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what conditions attach to exports from Israel arising from agreements with the EU for (a) goods manufactured or produced in Israel and (b) goods manufactured or produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories of Palestine; and if he will make a statement.

(18865)

63
   John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action has been taken to prevent Israel from labelling goods exported to the UK which have been made or produced in settlements in Palestine as manufactured or produced in Israel; and if he will make a statement.

(18866)

64
   John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with EU ministers concerning Israel's export to the EU of goods manufactured in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories; and what action has been taken by the EU.

(18864)

65
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, under what circumstances MI6 may decide that major decisions it takes need not be communicated to him; and what mechanism exists to ensure such decisions are in the public interest.

(18536)

66
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what deadlines the EU has placed for full responses by the Israeli authorities to EU post verification requests for certificates of origin for goods alleged to be from illegal settlements; what the deadlines are; and what actions are available to the EU in the event of full responses not being received.

(18655)

67
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps were considered by EU foreign ministers at the 19th November General Affairs Council to stop the import into the EU under preference of goods labelled as made in Israel but which originate in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories; what decisions were taken; and what the reasons for these decisions were.

(18654)

68
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the results of the EU Association Council held on 20th November in respect of the implementation of the EU Association Agreement.

(18523)

69
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he had made an assessment by the time of the EU-Israel Association Council of 20th November of Israel's responses to post verification requests by the EU in respect of imports suspected to originate outside the internationally recognised borders of Israel; and if he will give details of that assessment.

(18657)

70
N   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Israeli authorities responded fully to EU post verification requests for certificates of origin for goods alleged to be from Israeli settlements by the time of the EU-Israel Association Council on 20th November; if he will give details of the responses received; and on what date they were received.

(18656)

71
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18763)

72
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) assessment he has made of and (b) representations he has received in relation to incidences of physical attacks on British lorry drivers at French ports.

(17648)

73
   John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had recently with NICE on the implementation of section 6 of the National Service Framework for Older People regarding standards for services related to falls and osteoporosis.

(18862)

74
   John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and the management of hip fractures will be included in the clinical guidelines on the assessment and prevention of falls to be published by NICE; and if he will make a statement.

(18863)

75
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the growth pressures on the wheelchair service; in which geographical areas these are unusually intense; and if he will make a statement on future funding.

(18349)

76
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18768)

77
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he is offering local authorities on the impact of the closure of care homes.

(18359)

78
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the private care homes industry.

(18358)

79
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will launch an initiative to provide help and advice for private care home users through (a) a telephone hotline service and (b) local health/social services teams.

(18360)

80
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will provide a substantive answer to PQ No. 11888 on scanners in acute hospitals in the North West Region.

(18369)

81
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the future of health action zones; and when he will announce the funding for future years.

(17915)

82
   Mr George Osborne (Tatton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to the health (a) risks and (b) benefits of salt consumption.

(18860)

83
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 31st October, Official Report, column 828W, on asylum seekers, if he will list the local authorities participating in the children in need census.

(17821)

84
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 31st October, Official Report, column 828W, on asylum seekers, how many local authorities claimed grant for (a) under 16 year olds, and (b) 16 and 17 year olds in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, and (iv) 2000.

(17822)

85
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14th November, Official Report, column 875W, on asylum seekers, what representations he has received to extend the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 so that local authorities have (a) duties and (b) powers to assist 18 to 21 year old unaccompanied asylum seeking children cared for under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

(17812)

86
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances MI5 may decide that major decisions it takes need not be communicated to him; and what mechanism exists to ensure such decisions are in the public interests.

(18537)

87
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18764)

88
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he next intends to meet with French authorities to discuss the operation of checks conducted at French ports to prevent illegal immigrants entering the United Kingdom.

(17653)

89
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received in relation to the operation of checks conducted at French ports to prevent illegal immigrants entering the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(17647)

90
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is towards the creation of a new offence of aggravated possession of prohibited drugs.

(18365)

91
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the length of time taken to respond to a request for an upgrade of exceptional level to remain to indefinite leave.

(17912)

92
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances (a) British nationals and (b) those with indefinite leave to remain would find their children under the age of 18 years refused entry clearance when they can demonstrate that they can support these children and offer adequate accommodation.

(18036)

93
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on (a) delays at Liverpool office of the Nationality Department, (b) their cause and (c) production of naturalisation certificates.

(17911)

94
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are being held in Northern Ireland in each (a) prison and (b) other location permitted to do so.

(18855)

95
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been detained for more than seven days in the last two years in Northern Ireland; and on what grounds these individuals were detained.

(18857)

96
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been granted in each of the past two years in Northern Ireland; and how many applications await adjudication.

(18859)

97
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been detained for more than six months in Northern Ireland.

(18856)

98
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have sought refuge in Northern Ireland in the last two years broken down by (a) gender, (b) adult/child status, (c) country of origin and (d) country from which they entered the UK.

(18858)

99
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on pilot schemes funded by the Community Legal Service to support Citizens' Advice Bureau staff to advise prisoners on (a) welfare benefits and (b) debt management.

(18852)

100
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the number of suspected terrorists who he expects to be detained under the Anti-Terrorism Bill; and if he will make a statement.

(18850)

101
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals relating to suspicious financial transactions have been referred to NCIS in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions have resulted.

(17916)

102
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the impact of agricultural export subsidies of (a) the EU and (b) other countries in the developed world on the economies of the countries which her Department is committed to help; and what plans she has to phase out the subsidies.

(17921)

103
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to act to make developed countries' exports for the developed world (a) tariff and (b) quota free.

(17919)

104
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

(17920)

105
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to the Government of Uzbekistan regarding their policy on British and French humanitarian aid entering Afghanistan.

(18195)

106
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the outcome was of the international meeting held in Washington on 20th November on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

(18194)

107
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action her Department is taking to address the issue of (a) conflict diamonds and (b) exploitation of other minerals from conflict zones.

(18191)

108
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding their policy on allowing aid agencies to distribute emergency food supplies to those affected by the famine.

(18190)

109
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the UN Addendum report on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding the involvement of Uganda and Rwanda.

(18187)

110
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding their involvement in mineral exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(18186)

111
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has in place to assist Afghan refugees when they return to their home towns inside Afghanistan; and what plans she has to take account of the needs of women and children in planning and implementing refugee assistance activities.

(18196)

112
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to provide long-term support to de-mining operations in Afghanistan.

(18193)

113
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will increase financial assistance to humanitarian projects to provide basic healthcare assistance and clean water to internally displaced persons living in Angola.

(18192)

114
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the 10 oldest pieces of legislation that are in force.

(18367)

115
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what (a) number and (b) percentage of advice providers listed in the Community Legal Service Directory have failed to make a positive commitment in writing to the aims and objectives of the Community Legal Service and to commit to making a Quality Mark application by the deadline of October; and if he will break these figures down (i) with reference to type of advice provided, (ii) with reference to client group and (iii) excluding legal firms.

(18846)

116
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he intends to remove advice providers without Quality Marks from the Community Legal Service directory; and what target he has set for the (a) number and (b) percentage of advice providers who should have a Quality Mark by this date.

(18845)

117
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much funding the Community Legal Service has received in each year it has been in existence; and what (a) amount and (b) percentage of this has been given directly to advice providing organisations in the form of grants to help them improve and develop their services.

(18844)

118
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) burden to an advice provider of applying for a Quality Mark; and what plans he has to offer small voluntary organisations help to meet these costs and burdens.

(18843)

119
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18762)

120
N   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many (a) liquidated and (b) unliquidated default summonses were issued by Gravesend County Council in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

(18428)

121
N   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many default summonses were issued by Gravesend County Court (a) between 1st October 1998 and 31st March 1999, (b) between 1st April and 30th September 1999, (c) between 1st October 1999 and 31st March 2000, (d) between 1st April and 30th September 2000, (e) between 1st October 2000 and 31st March 2001, (f) between 1st April and 30th September 2001 and (g) since 1st October 2001.

(18427)

122
N   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many cases were dealt with by Gravesend County Court in each six month period beginning from January 1999.

(18429)

123
   Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to provide a permanent location for Employment Tribunals in North Wales.

(18868)

124
   Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to improve court buildings in Wales.

(18867)

125
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the Intellegence Services Commissioner could uphold a complaint to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

(18538)

126
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what mechanism exists to ensure that the operation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is (a) achieving its desired ends and (b) being used in a manner consistent with the safeguards contained in the Act.

(18525)

127
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Prime Minister, what action has been taken to reform the UK honours system since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(18254)

128
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he has made to the United Nations Security Council to establish an international criminal tribunal to try the perpetrators of the attacks on 11th September; and if he will make a statement.

(18851)

129
   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will request from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning the inventory of the weapons decommissioned by the IRA.

(18861)

130
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many formal notices her Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18770)

131
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with other departments and Government bodies to encourage them to increase their use of renewable energy.

(18350)

132
N   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what changes in board membership there have been in each of the regional development agencies in the last 12 months.

(18371)

133
N   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons Mr Hugh Morgan Williams has been removed from the board of One North East; and if a representative of the North East CBI is to be appointed in his place.

(18370)

134
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what are the location of the pilot plants using (a) pyrolysis and (b) gasification.

(17425)

135
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what initiatives the Export Control Office is taking to reduce the processing time of licence applications.

(17427)

136
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her policy is on (a) the location and movement of satellites and (b) the movement of spacecraft; and if she will make a statement.

(17431)

137
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the objectives of the proposed Liabilities Management Agency.

(17423)

138
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to encourage competition in the energy market in Europe.

(17426)

139
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason reference to sustainable development does not appear in the long title of the Export Control Bill.

(17428)

140
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what enquiries she has made into the competition practices of National Rail Supplies, Railtrack and Railtrack's contractors.

(18540)

141
N   Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment her Department has made of the European Commission's estimate of the number of jobs that would be created directly and indirectly by the Galileo Project; and what measures her Department is taking through (a) providing development and validation funding and (b) other measures, to ensure the UK maximises its ability to benefit from jobs created; and if she will make a statement.

(18524)

142
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the UN initiative, UN Global Compact, and its implications for companies operating in Sudan.

(17917)

143
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to discuss with her European counterparts the introduction of legislation to hold companies accountable for their activities overseas.

(17918)

144
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the grant schemes to be administered by her Department following its restructuring under each of the five portfolio headings.

(18528)

145
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list those business grant schemes administered by her Department which she proposes to abolish.

(18530)

146
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the grant schemes administered by her Department.

(18529)

147
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the terms of appointment of the business members of her Department's Strategy Board will be; and if members will receive remuneration.

(18532)

148
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects to appoint her Department's Strategy Board; and if she will make a statement.

(18531)

149
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria will be used to select the business members of her Department's Strategy Board.

(18533)

150
N   David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will take steps to ensure the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council provide more staff at the Energywatch office in Birmingham to deal with calls and enquiries.

(18663)

151
N   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what he estimates to be the maximum capped rent payable in 2002-03 at current prices for tenants in (a) four bed, (b) three bed, (c) two bed, (d) one bed and (e) bedsit properties.

(19660)

152
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

(18767)

153
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many houses were built by the 10 largest housing associations in each of the last three years; how many are projected for next financial year; and what grant was payable to each association in each of those years.

(18351)

154
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to impose 50 mph speed limits on motorways; and if he will make a statement.

(17649)

155
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on reducing speed limits on motorways in order to increase traffic flows.

(17651)

156
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what factors underlay the decision to introduce variable speed limits on motorways.

(17650)

157
   Ann Keen (Brentford & Isleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to provide for the subsidisation of public transport use for ME sufferers.

(18830)

158
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the costs to British business of the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive.

(17424)

159
   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will take steps to limit vehicle performance by the introduction of mandatory design standards for vehicles.

(18853)

160
   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many home zones are (a) in force and (b) under preparation or development, broken down by local authority.

(18854)

161
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the press interviews he gave between 5th and 12th October.

(18776)

162
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what advice the ONS gave his Department on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts.

(18773)

163
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the decisions outstanding on the establishment of RenewCo as at 1st October.

(18760)

164
N   Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many public inquiries into planning applications have lasted more than (a) one month and (b) three months in each of the last five years.

(17356)

165
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will give updated quarterly figures on new claims for incapacity benefit and the total case load.

(18539)

166
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice, how long it took to respond.

(18766)

167
N   Dr Jack Cunningham (Copeland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal for Young People in the Borough of Copeland in the year to September, giving the (a) number participating, (b) investment involved and (c) number who moved on to full-time employment.

(17984)

168
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the cost of payment of winter fuel allowances to fully-funded residents of residential and nursing homes.

(18087)

169
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of men of working age were claiming sickness-related benefits by constituency in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1990, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001.

(17395)

170
N   Barbara Follett (Stevenage):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received from Afghan women about their role in the future government of Afghanistan.

[Question Unstarred] (15430)

171
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the most cost-effective ways in which (a) industry and commerce and (b) domestic consumers can reduce electricity consumption.

[Transferred] (17429)

172
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent assessment he has made of the environmental performance of the UK quarry industry in comparison with (a) other EU and (b) non-EU countries.

[Transferred] (17922)

173
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what financial provision his Department gives local authorities and housing associations to undertake remedial work on housing stock to protect against radon emissions.

[Transferred] (18355)

174
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many discretionary grants have been awarded for remedial work to reduce the risk from radon emissions in (a) Devon and (b) England and Wales since 1996; and what has been the total cost.

[Transferred] (18356)

175
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times Mr Graham Mills, a professional clay pigeon competitor has (a) been stopped by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and (b) had his house raided by Customs and Excise.

[Transferred] (18534)