 House of Commons |
Session 2001-02 Publications on the internet The Order Book |
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Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 28 November 2001
Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 28 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. |
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| 1 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of his and other Government department's progress in meeting the Government's targets for providing services online. |
| (19066) | |
| 2 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what action his Department has taken to promote good practice in the creation and development of local authority websites. |
| (19064) | |
| 3 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times since November 2000 Ministers from the Cabinet Office have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet locally based businesses. |
| (19076) | |
| 4 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what measures are being taken to ensure that local authority websites are accessible to those with a range of disabilities; and which organisations have been consulted on this issue. |
| (19065) | |
| 5 | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance she gives to Camelot on the designation of Lottery outlets. |
| (19109) | |
| 6 | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received from retailers in each of the last five years with regard to the allocation of Lottery outlets; and what appeals procedure exists for retailers who have been rejected as Lottery providers. |
| (19110) | |
| 7 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times since November 2000 Ministers from her Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet with locally based businesses. |
| (19070) | |
| 8 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the films which were made in the UK; and how many shot footage in the Teesside region in the last five years. |
| (19069) | |
| 9 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent action she has taken to support and develop the UK film industry. |
| (19068) | |
| 10 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what was the English Heritage budget for church repairs for each financial year from 1997-98 to 2003-04; and if she will make a statement. |
| (19346) | |
| 11 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her Answer of 31st October, Official Report, column 758W, what precedent exists for awarding the Jubilee Medal to non-service men and women, particularly to those working in the emergency services. |
| (19092) | |
| 12 | Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to introduce further measures to monitor DARA's ability to control the agency's progress in improving turn around times. |
| (19184) | |
| 13 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total revenue his Department has received in each of the last 10 years as a result of providing places on UK military courses to overseas servicemen. |
| (16142) | |
| 14 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the number of ex-servicemen who are rough sleepers; and if he will make a statement. |
| (16143) | |
| 15 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many servicemen occupying married quarters were divorced in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. |
| (16144) | |
| 16 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when and where elements of the Civil Affairs Group have been deployed on operations; and what the number of personnel involved was. |
| (18870) | |
| 17 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to deploy elements of the Civil Affairs Group to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. |
| (18871) | |
| 18 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the composition and capabilities of the Civil Affairs Group. |
| (18869) | |
| 19 | Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 259W, on threshold allowance awards, how many teachers received threshold back pay in the 2000-01 financial year in each local authority; how many teachers have paid higher rates of tax because their threshold back pay was held up to the 2001-02 financial year in each local authority; and what was (a) the average, (b) the shortest and (c) the longest time between head teacher and assessor approvals of threshold by each local authority. |
| (19250) | |
| 20 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance she has issued to (a) local education authorities and (b) schools in respect of (i) their responsibilities for the preservation of school records and (ii) their co-operation with local public records offices in order to maintain the integrity of school records for the purposes of historical research; and if she will make a statement. |
| (15831) | |
| 21 | John Cryer (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in which education action zones McDonald's has been a partner. |
| (19108) | |
| 22 | John Cryer (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information she has on which schools, in education action zones in which McDonald's has been a partner, have used that company's schools resource packs. |
| (19107) | |
| 23 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of university lecturers are employed on a part-time basis; and what plans she has to increase the use of part-time lecturers. |
| (18673) | |
| 24 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the ability of part-time lecturers to provide quality support to their students. |
| (18674) | |
| 25 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the latest figures are for the average pay of university lecturers; and what plans she has to increase this amount. |
| (18672) | |
| 26 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on teacher housing; and if she will make a statement. |
| (18886) | |
| 27 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria were used to allocate the Recruitment and Retention Fund. |
| (19377) | |
| 28 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many Government initiatives offer additional funding which require schools to lodge specific applications. |
| (19404) | |
| 29 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of total school spending in England and Wales is spent on schemes and improvements instigated by her Department. |
| (19343) | |
| 30 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent representations she has received on the cost to schools and LEAs of threshold pay. |
| (19339) | |
| 31 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason the Recruitment and Retention Fund is limited to two financial years. |
| (19340) | |
| 32 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many statutory (a) plans and (b) reports (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools complete annually. |
| (19403) | |
| 33 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers are receiving threshold pay; and how many are expected to be eligible in 2002-03. |
| (19353) | |
| 34 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her Answer of 22nd November, Official Report, column 465W, on teaching reforms, for what periods the (a) current and (b) new special grants apply; if schools will receive permanent increases to their budgets to cover the cost of threshold pay; and if she will guarantee that no school will lose out financially when special grants for threshold pay come to an end. |
| (19192) | |
| 35 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the estimated total cost of threshold pay is in 2001-02. |
| (19352) | |
| 36 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of total school spending in England and Wales is allocated to teacher salaries and related costs. |
| (19379) | |
| 37 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance she provides to schools to help education professionals identify students affected by the impact of domestic violence. |
| (19099) | |
| 38 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what support she offers to education professionals to help them deal with the impact of domestic violence on their students. |
| (19100) | |
| 39 | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to increase funding allocated to deal with children diagnosed with difficulties in the autistic spectrum disorders. |
| (18910) | |
| 40 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the bids for funding submitted under Round Three of the Agricultural Development Scheme, broken down by region, stating the value of each bid. |
| (18874) | |
| 41 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding from Round Three of the Agricultural Development Scheme will support projects outside areas directly affected by foot and mouth disease. |
| (18872) | |
| 42 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates between 1st December 2000 and 20th February (a) MAFF officials and (b) trading standards officers visited Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall; what the purpose of the visits was; and what reports they submitted. |
| (18876) | |
| 43 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average cost to farms of applying the provisions of the EU waste directive; and if she will make a statement. |
| (18875) | |
| 44 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the outcome of bids for funding under Round Three of the Agricultural Development Scheme. |
| (18873) | |
| 45 | Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will extend the deadline for the Electricity for Enterprise grant scheme for those areas affected by foot and mouth disease which has prevented work going ahead. |
| (19000) | |
| 46 N | Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer to question 16584 (answered 21st November 2001), how much of the £92 million outlined in the Rural White Paper for the Rural Bus Challenge and Rural Transport Partnership programme was spent in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02; and how much each individual initiative has received. |
| (18782) | |
| 47 N | Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 319W, on the rural White Paper, if she will list the measures she will be using to determine the indicator. |
| (18780) | |
| 48 N | Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 321W, what work (a) has previously been done and (b) is being done to measure information on business start-ups. |
| (18675) | |
| 49 N | Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 320W, on rural parishes, if she will list those parishes deemed to be (a) vibrant, (b) active, (c) barely active and (d) sleeping. |
| (18779) | |
| 50 N | Mrs Annette L. Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress is being made in respect of (a) finalising measures to manage waste refrigeration equipment and (b) announcing assistance and advice for local councils consequent upon the impact of EC regulation 2037/2000. |
| (18556) | |
| 51 N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 321W, on rural employment, if she will list the jobs by (a) category and (b) proportion that people have done in rural areas in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000 and (vi) 2001. |
| (18783) | |
| 52 N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 322W, on civic amenities, how many (a) food shops, (b) post offices, (c) cash points, (d) primary schools and (e) GP surgeries within 4km of rural housholds (i) opened and (ii) closed in 2000. |
| (18777) | |
| 53 N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 322W, on market towns, what has been the progress of the Countryside Research Project to assess the health and viability of market towns; and if she will make a statement on the different economic and social indicators that are being considered. |
| (18778) | |
| 54 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the size of the fox population in England (a) at the latest available date and (b) in November 2000. |
| (15830) | |
| 55 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the total landings of black fish (a) before and (b) since the implementation of the designated ports regulations. |
| (19282) | |
| 56 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) Welsh Assembly with regard to (i) temporary tie-up schemes for fishing boats engaged in the hunt for pressure stock, (ii) the future of decommissioning schemes, (iii) the future of the European Common Fisheries policy, (iv) the allocation of total allowable catches and (v) controls on the landing of black fish. |
| (19280) | |
| 57 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the need for (a) consolidation and (b) updating of the legislation and regulations under which sea fisheries committees operate. |
| (19276) | |
| 58 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the budget requirements of sea fisheries committees which seek to fulfil their full range of statutory duties. |
| (19277) | |
| 59 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made in implementing the recommendations accepted by MAFF in its response to the Eighth Report from the Agriculture Select Committee, Session 1998-99 on sea fishing. |
| (19278) | |
| 60 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her estimates are for the total landings of black fish in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales, (d) England and (e) the UK in each of the last 10 years for which records are available, by (i) gross tonnage and (ii) value. |
| (19281) | |
| 61 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with colleagues in other Government departments on (a) the level of illegal meat imports to the UK and (b) the effectiveness of controls and enforcement measures at (i) ports, (ii) airports and (iii) elsewhere to tackle illegal meat imports; and what assessment she has made of the need for further action. |
| (19284) | |
| 62 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department made towards establishing a long-term sea fishing strategy for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) England. |
| (19279) | |
| 63 N | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on government responsibilities on (a) global warming and (b) Kyoto. |
| (15991) | |
| 64 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what impact impending EU legislation will have on the UK waste management strategy. |
| (19053) | |
| 65 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times Ministers from her Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet locally based businesses. |
| (19067) | |
| 66 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of UK municipal waste was recycled in the last 12 months. |
| (19051) | |
| 67 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets the Government has set for domestic waste recycling. |
| (19052) | |
| 68 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in encouraging companies to reduce packaging. |
| (19054) | |
| 69 | Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for each country where foot-and-mouth disease exists (a) what regions are affected, (b) what is the amount of (i) sheep meat, (ii) beef, (iii) pig meat and (iv) other meat products imported directly to the UK since the first outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom this year and (c) what additional bio-security measures have been implemented to check imports from that country since February. |
| (19246) | |
| 70 | Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make additional fnancial assistance available to UK sheep farmers. |
| (19249) | |
| 71 | Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to require (a) restaurants and (b) fast-food outlets to disclose the country of origin of the meat in the meals which they serve. |
| (19248) | |
| 72 | Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to make insurance against outbreaks of foot and mouth disease compulsory for livestock farmers. |
| (19247) | |
| 73 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has had regarding timely payment of amounts under the countryside stewardship scheme; and if she will make a statement. |
| (16145) | |
| 74 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the target date for the payment of amounts under the countryside stewardship scheme at the end of this calendar year. |
| (16146) | |
| 75 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take into account the financial situation of rual enterprises in setting target dates for payments under the countryside stewardship scheme at the end of this year. |
| (16147) | |
| 76 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to privatise the distraint work of the Inland Revenue; and if he will make a statement. |
| (18236) | |
| 77 | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of those businesses providing statutory maternity pay to their employees have made a claim to be reimbursed in each financial year since 1996. |
| (19111) | |
| 78 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures are in place for (a) handling tax discs and (b) disposal of personal possessions in private cars which have been disposed of by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at Channel ports. |
| (19398) | |
| 79 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what records HM Customs and Excise are required to keep of the number of private cars seized by them; and what plans he has to change that requirement. |
| (19396) | |
| 80 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures are in place for the audit and reporting of (a) the number of private cars impounded by HM Customs and Excise at Channel ports, (b) personal possessions contained in private cars impounded by HM Customs and Excise at Channel ports and (c) disposal of tax discs in cars disposed of by HM Customs and Excise. |
| (19402) | |
| 81 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue from the disposal of private cars and personal possessions in those cars was retained by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each of the last five years. |
| (19400) | |
| 82 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was raised from the disposal of personal possessions in private cars disposed of by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each of the last five years. |
| (19399) | |
| 83 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much compensation was paid in each year since 1995 to drivers and their families from costs arising from cars wrongly impounded by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, including (a) consequential costs arising from loss of use of a car, (b) loss of items in the car, (c) loss of earnings and (d) travel costs incurred in collecting the car from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. |
| (19401) | |
| 84 | Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many private cars were impounded by HM Customs and Excise at Channel ports in each year since 1995; and how many have been released to their owners by HM Customs and Excise following appeals by the car owners. |
| (19397) | |
| 85 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Inland Revenue make enquiries into family backgrounds in advance of looking at the financial affairs of the individual into whom they are enquiring. |
| (18889) | |
| 86 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the imposition of VAT on certain Scout uniforms. |
| (19338) | |
| 87 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the (a) sections and (b) those of grade 3 and above in the Treasury which receive copies of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise short-term receipts forecasts and state for each recipient the use to which the information is put. |
| (18552) | |
| 88 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish for each month of the current financial year the error rate occurring between the projected tax and VAT receipts and those which actually resulted. |
| (18550) | |
| 89 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the way in which the Treasury uses the short-term forecasts of tax receipts provided by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue. |
| (18554) | |
| 90 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve the short-term forecasting of tax receipts. |
| (18549) | |
| 91 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the methodology used to produce the levels of current receipts shown in table C4 of Budget 2001 and show how this related to the contents of paragraph C17, C18 and C19 of Budget 2001. |
| (18553) | |
| 92 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff are used by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise to produce the monthly short term forecasts of tax receipts; and what the annual costs for this exercise are. |
| (18551) | |
| 93 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement listing the facts and information used by (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs & Excise to produce the short-term forecasts of tax and receipts referred to in the letter of 27th September sent to the Right honourable Member for Fylde. |
| (18555) | |
| 94 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last met European Commissioner Bolkestein; and if he will make a statement on the issues discussed. |
| (19367) | |
| 95 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Commissioner Bolkestein regarding distortions to the working of the Single Market caused by the level of UK excise duty rates. |
| (19368) | |
| 96 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Commissioner Bolkestein regarding HM Customs and Excise policy of policing at ports of entry. |
| (19369) | |
| 97 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has been able to reach agreement with Commissioner Bolkestein regarding the confiscation of vehicles and goods from suspected smugglers before conviction. |
| (19370) | |
| 98 | John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what effects the proposed changes in the landfill tax credit scheme will have on parish council-led regeneration projects. |
| (19342) | |
| 99 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, what guidelines the (a) National Audit Office and (b) Treasury issue on how to classify who bears the risks and rewards associated with an asset. |
| (19189) | |
| 100 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the information and guidance available to the (a) parishes with listed churches and (b) Customs and Excise VAT Department on the recovery mechanisms for VAT paid on repairs to listed places of worship since April. |
| (19345) | |
| 101 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 267W, on the accounting treatment of the successor organisation to Railtrack, on what date he received a reply from the Office of National Statistics; and if he will place in the Library advice given by the ONS on the accounting treatment of other possible successor organisations to Railtrack. |
| (19183) | |
| 102 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, if he will place in the Library the classification of each asset reverting to the public sector for PPP contracts signed in the last 12 months; and what was their aggregate value. |
| (19185) | |
| 103 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, what proportion of PPP contracts by value in 2000-01 were classified as (a) finance leases and (b) operating leases; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19188) | |
| 104 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, what his estimate is of the contribution to public sector net investment made by PPPs in each financial year from 1997-98 to 2003-04. |
| (19187) | |
| 105 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, if he will place in the Library the aggregate value of capital assets expected to revert to public sector ownership in each of the next 25 years; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19186) | |
| 106 | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of terrorist organisations based in Yemen. |
| (19131) | |
| 107 | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Yemen concerning the (a) international coalition against terrorism and (b) policy of the Government of Yemen towards terrorist organisations. |
| (19128) | |
| 108 | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions since 1st May 1997 a Minister in his Department visited Yemen; when these visits took place; where was visited; and what discussions took place during these visits. |
| (19129) | |
| 109 | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens are held in prisons in Yemen; on what date they were imprisoned; and, in each case, what the duration of the sentence handed down to them was. |
| (19130) | |
| 110 | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the US Government, (b) the United Nations and (c) other coalition partners concerning (i) terrorist organisations in Yemen and (ii) the policy of the Government of Yemen towards such organisations. |
| (19127) | |
| 111 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government to seek a halt to military operations in the Papua province of the country. |
| (19334) | |
| 112 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government to (a) set up an independent commission to investigate recent atrocities in West Papua and (b) encourage the army and police security forces to collaborate fully with it. |
| (19333) | |
| 113 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the involvement of special forces within the Indonesian police and army in the assassinations and murders reported in West Papua in recent weeks. |
| (19332) | |
| 114 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government following reports of anti-civilian attacks by the Brimob force of the Indonesian police. |
| (19336) | |
| 115 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the activities of the Brimob force within the Indonesian Police in West Papua; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19335) | |
| 116 N | Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on evidence he has received concerning attacks on opposition MDC supporters in Zimbabwe; and what implications this has for free and fair presidential elections in 2002. |
| (18088) | |
| 117 N | Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations (a) his Department and (b) international organisations to which the UK belongs, have made to the Government of Zimbabwe on the approval of a Public Order and Security Bill and the operation of free media. |
| (18090) | |
| 118 N | Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish evidence he has received indicating violations of human rights by government ministers in Zimbabwe. |
| (18089) | |
| 119 N | Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Zimbabwe; and what steps he will take to ensure (a) the conditions of the land reform deal negotiated at Abuja, Nigeria are honoured and (b) the criteria for Commonwealth membership are maintained. |
| (18255) | |
| 120 | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Nepal; what assistance he has given to Nepal in the last 12 months; and what advice is being given to tourists visiting Nepal. |
| (18903) | |
| 121 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next proposes to meet his Spanish counterpart as part of the Brussels process. |
| (18894) | |
| 122 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the geographical limits of the administrative area of Gibraltar as defined in Article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht. |
| (18898) | |
| 123 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the main objectives of the European Council's summit at Laeken. |
| (18896) | |
| 124 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement (a) on the membership of the convention due to be established at Laeken and (b) what the Government hopes to achieve at the Laeken summit. |
| (18895) | |
| 125 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when (a) he and (b) one of the Ministers in his Department visited Gibraltar in the last four years and when (i) he and (ii) one of the Ministers in his Department propose to do so. |
| (18899) | |
| 126 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment was made at the recent meeting in Barcelona between himself and his Spanish counterpart of the level of cross-border smuggling from Gibraltar. |
| (18897) | |
| 127 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the Laeken European Council. |
| (19091) | |
| 128 N | Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will give details of the issues he raised with regard to Tibet during the meeting with the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister on 30th October; and what the response of the Chinese Government was. |
| (18879) | |
| 129 | Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the Government is taking to make the EU embargo on arms exports to the Great Lakes Region legally binding. |
| (18907) | |
| 130 N | Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Zimbabwe regarding the proposed introduction of a new Public Order and Security Bill in Zimbabwe. |
| (18878) | |
| 131 | Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take to address the variation in the death rate from stroke in hospitals in England. |
| (18915) | |
| 132 | Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that the stroke standard published within the National Service Framework for Older People is implemented across different health and social care settings. |
| (18916) | |
| 133 | Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the handling of the case of Mrs Violet Christine Mitchell by the Royal Surrey County Hospital in September; and when he will reply to correspondence from (a) Jane Cole of 13th and 28th September and 15th November and (b) the Right honourable Member for South West Surrey. |
| (18888) | |
| 134 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average annual rate of pay is for (a) nurses and (b) doctors (i) in the NHS and (ii) in the private sector. |
| (18676) | |
| 135 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest figures are for the shortfall in (b) doctors and (b) nurses in the NHS. |
| (18677) | |
| 136 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many foreign doctors and nurses have been recruited into the NHS in the last year; and how many British doctors and nurses are in training. |
| (18678) | |
| 137 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will assess the effectiveness of the neonatal screening programme for haemolglobinopathies to be introduced next year; and what criteria he will use. |
| (19103) | |
| 138 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he plans to (a) alter and (b) review the list of exempted conditions for prescription charges. |
| (18891) | |
| 139 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on housing for nurses; and if he will make a statement. |
| (18887) | |
| 140 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessments he has made of the effectiveness of (a) genetic, (b) pre-conceptual and (c) ante-natal counselling offered by the NHS in relation to (i) sickle cell, (ii) thalassaemia and (iii) other haemoglobinopathies. |
| (18893) | |
| 141 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many bone marrow transplants were carried out in the United Kingdom during the past five years in relation to (a) sickle cell, (b) thalassaemia and (c) other haemoglobinopathies; and with what success rate. |
| (18902) | |
| 142 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Standing Medical Advisory Committee has to issue a further report on sickle cell, thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies. |
| (18892) | |
| 143 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the Wycombe constituency are affected by (a) sickle cell, (b) thalassaemia and (c) other haemoglobinopathies. |
| (18890) | |
| 144 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what partners in the community and voluntary sector are working with his Department on the neonatal screening programme for haemoglobinopathies in the Wycombe constituency. |
| (19104) | |
| 145 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have (a) been tested for digital hearing aids and (b) had them fitted under the NHS in (i) England and (ii) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency. |
| (19058) | |
| 146 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Gateshead Health NHS Trust's nursing cadet scheme; and what plans there are to encourage other NHS trusts to practice similar recruitment techniques. |
| (19060) | |
| 147 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the work of the National Patients Safety Agency. |
| (19057) | |
| 148 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times since November 2000 Ministers from his Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet with locally based businesses. |
| (19075) | |
| 149 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research is being carried out into the medical impact of aluminium on the human body (a) via its use as a food packaging material and (b) in terms of its presence in drinking water. |
| (19077) | |
| 150 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which health authorities are participating in the pilot study areas investigating systems to report failures and near misses. |
| (19059) | |
| 151 | Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is being taken to reduce the incidence of patients' medical notes being mislaid. |
| (19182) | |
| 152 | Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many more hours per week newly-qualified consultants will be required to work in the NHS during their first seven years than before. |
| (19181) | |
| 153 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he has taken to ensure that the vetting measures contained within the Protection of Children Act 1999 are full complied with. |
| (19101) | |
| 154 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Victoria Climbie Inquiry will publish its findings. |
| (19378) | |
| 155 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what monitoring of social service departments he has undertaken to ensure that the vetting procedures laid out in the Protection of Children Act 1999 are undertaken. |
| (19102) | |
| 156 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individuals from organisations which may vet but are not required to do so under the Protection of Children Act 1999 have been vetted. |
| (19098) | |
| 157 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many social services departments have not complied fully with the Protection of Children Act 1999. |
| (19095) | |
| 158 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he has taken to ensure that employers of childcare workers report to the police suspicions concerning a childcare worker under the provisions of the Protection of Children Act 1999. |
| (19094) | |
| 159 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individuals have been vetted under the Protection of Children Act 1999. |
| (19096) | |
| 160 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions have been brought under the Protection of Children Act 1999 of (a) employers who fail to vet applicants for childcare jobs and (b) individuals who have been banned from working with children applying to do so. |
| (19097) | |
| 161 | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research the Government has recently commissioned (a) on the risks of contracting human BSE from surgical instruments and (b) on how the NHS should deal with patients exposed to such risk through medical treatment; and when the results will be published. |
| (18909) | |
| 162 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the number of occasions on which private minibuses have been hired for police patrol purposes; and what assessment he has made of the cost compared with that of using police vehicles. |
| (18908) | |
| 163 | Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many sites for accommodation centres for asylum seekers have now been identified; where they are located; and when the location of the others will be secured. |
| (19112) | |
| 164 | Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of his Department's preferred providers of accommodation for asylum seekers there are; and what conditions they must (a) fulfil and (b) maintain in order to qualify for their status. |
| (19113) | |
| 165 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been taken in the past five years to strengthen the protection from stalkers available for women. |
| (18668) | |
| 166 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times since November 2000 ministers from his Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constitutency to meet locally based businesses. |
| (19056) | |
| 167 | Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money has been given to the West Midlands Police Service by his Department in each of the last eight years. |
| (18912) | |
| 168 N | Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Fourth Report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Session 2001-02 on Access to Official Information: Declarations made under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, HC 353. |
| (15988) | |
| 169 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is making available to the people of Tuvalu. |
| (19251) | |
| 170 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many times since November 2000 Ministers from the Lord Chancellor's Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet with locally based businesses. |
| (19074) | |
| 171 N | Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Government's policy is in regard to (a) organised crime and (b) community policing in Northern Ireland. |
| (16305) | |
| 172 N | Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans the Government has to ensure the viability of Belfast International Airport. |
| (16306) | |
| 173 N | Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if the post of Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be advertised internationally. |
| (16307) | |
| 174 N | The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who was consulted before the proposed badges for the Police Service of Northern Ireland were designed; and at what cost. |
| (18877) | |
| 175 N | Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the work of the Delivery Unit. |
| (15976) | |
| 176 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Prime Minister, what guidance he has provided to inform the work of the Delivery Unit. |
| (15996) | |
| 177 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the number of organisations, bodies and individuals who have made a submission to the PIU Energy Review. |
| (15993) | |
| 178 N | Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, of 14th November, Official Report, column 783W, on travel costs, for what reasons the estimated cost of his travel on Concorde on 7th November will not be made available till the end of the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. |
| (18237) | |
| 179 N | Mrs Annette L. Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what advice she is giving to (a) retail outlets who previously have collected old refrigerators when supplying new refrigerators to customers and (b) small retail businesses who have previously collected the old refrigerators from large retail outlets and then sold them as second hand items, consequent upon changes coming into effect in relation to EC regulation 2037/2000. |
| (18557) | |
| 180 | Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outcome was of the Internal Market, Consumer and Tourism Council held in Brussels on 26th November; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. |
| (18900) | |
| 181 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what controls there are to ensure that British arms manufacturers who manufacture arms abroad are regulated properly. |
| (18670) | |
| 182 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on sustainable development in relation to arms purchasing. |
| (18671) | |
| 183 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures contained in the Export Controls Bill will control the activities of British brokers in supplying arms if they make a deal outside of the United Kingdom. |
| (18669) | |
| 184 | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which Ministers in her Department have visited Yemen since 1st May 1997 and on what dates; what visits are planned by her Department's Ministers to Yemen; and what dates have been arranged for future visits. |
| (19126) | |
| 185 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the terms of reference are for the review of nuclear liabilities being undertaken by her Department; and which other government departments are involved in the review. |
| (19259) | |
| 186 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 163W, on BNFL, if she will list the reasons for the commercial sensitivity and whether throughput capacities of BNFL's other production plants are publicly available. |
| (19331) | |
| 187 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what annual operational cost savings have been achieved in (a) electricity generation and (b) reprocessing as a result of the integration of BNFL and Magnox Electric. |
| (19254) | |
| 188 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 12th November, Official Report, column 163W, on BNFL, whether the purchase prices paid by BNFL to acquire companies in the US include payments to settle outstanding claims against each company and the acquisition of other financial liabilities. |
| (19330) | |
| 189 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what savings have been made in Magnox-related liability estimates since the Government transferred its shareholding in Magnox Electric to BNFL. |
| (19253) | |
| 190 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her assessment is of the total amount of money BNFL Inc. has lost in (a) the Hanford River Protection project, (b) the East Tennessee Technology Park, (c) BNFL Savannah River Corporation, (d) Rocky Mountain Remediation Services and (e) the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment project in Idaho Falls. |
| (19256) | |
| 191 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether her Department has carried out an independent assessment to determine the future commercial viability of BNFL Inc. |
| (19255) | |
| 192 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the total remuneration, including bonuses, paid in the last financial year to (a) Paul Miskimin, President of BNFL Inc. and (b) Charles Pryor, President and CEO of Westinghouse Electric. |
| (19257) | |
| 193 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial losses have been made by BNFL plc in each of the last two years; and how have these losses been financed. |
| (19252) | |
| 194 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultants have been retained by her Department to advise on the review of BNFL's nuclear liabilities. |
| (19258) | |
| 195 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 163W, on BNFL, by how much the final cost of constructing the Sellafield MOX plant differs from the carrying value in the latest BNFL published account. |
| (19329) | |
| 196 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times since November 2000 Ministers from her Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet with locally based businesses. |
| (19073) | |
| 197 N | Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total (a) direct and (b) indirect government support for the energy sector, including oil and gas production, was in each year since 1990. |
| (18831) | |
| 198 N | Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 327W, on rural bus services, how much of the money outlined in the Rural White Paper for the Rural Bus Challenge and Rural Transport Partnership programme was spent in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02; and how much each initiative has received. |
| (18781) | |
| 199 N | Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 327W, on rural bus services, if he will specify (a) the size of the samples for rural areas and (b) the areas the samples were carried out in (i) 1992 to 1994, (ii) 1995 to 1997 and (iii) 1998 to 2000. |
| (18680) | |
| 200 N | Mrs Annette L. Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 14th November, Official Report, column 738W, on cash incentive scheme payments, if he will raise the maximum cash incentive grant to council tenants to buy their own homes in Poole to a level comparable, in relation to average house prices, to the level offered in London and the South East. |
| (17729) | |
| 201 N | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which planning authority will be charged with (a) monitoring and (b) enforcing compliance with the flights ceiling imposed as a condition for Heathrow Terminal 5. |
| (18664) | |
| 202 | Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what further plans he has to consult tenants regarding the introduction of rent restructuring from April 2002; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19040) | |
| 203 | Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will publish representations he has received from (a) the local authority associations, (b) organisations representing tenants' interests and (c) registered social landlords regarding the implementation of the rent restructuring proposals in April 2002. |
| (19039) | |
| 204 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, by what methods the local strategic partnerships assess needs of the local people and find those who are often excluded. |
| (18666) | |
| 205 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what measures he has taken to increase the number of buses which have disabled access ramps: and if he will make a statement on disabled access on all forms of public transport. |
| (18679) | |
| 206 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what guidelines govern the eligibility of local authorities for neighbourhood renewal funding. |
| (18667) | |
| 207 N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the powers the local strategic partnerships will have to carry out their tasks. |
| (18665) | |
| 208 N | Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Quinquennial Review of the Ordnance Survey. |
| (17985) | |
| 209 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the relative success of best value performance indicators which depend on the measurement of (a) inputs, (b) outputs and (c) outcomes. |
| (19275) | |
| 210 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what timetable he has set for implementing the results of his review of the operation of best value for local government. |
| (19273) | |
| 211 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which of the Best Value performance indicators (a) apply to the Council of the Isles of Scilly and (b) do not apply because of (i) its size, (ii) its geographical location and (iii) other reasons. |
| (19372) | |
| 212 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which of the best value performance indicators measure (a) inputs, (b) outputs and (c) outcomes. |
| (19274) | |
| 213 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the applicability of best value indicators to local authorities, with particular reference to size of authority. |
| (19285) | |
| 214 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what his Department's budget was for (a) payments to Railtrack and (b) investment in the rail infrastructure in 2001-02; and what the projected outturn is. |
| (18935) | |
| 215 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average cost is in (a) overall terms and (b) cost per mile of light rail schemes (i) under consideration by the Government and (ii) in development. |
| (19347) | |
| 216 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much was Railtrack's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006. |
| (18956) | |
| 217 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on Railtrack's cashflow position. |
| (18937) | |
| 218 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if Railtrack will be permitted to raise investment funding from any other source apart from the Government during the administration period. |
| (18934) | |
| 219 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on how the (a) Government and (b) Railtrack Administrator will replace the £445 million due to be raised by Railtrack as part of the Renewco arrangement. |
| (18951) | |
| 220 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has received from the Railtrack Administrator about the minimum time required to end Railtrack's administration. |
| (18940) | |
| 221 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the responsibilities are of the Railtrack Administrator in determining the future of the company. |
| (18950) | |
| 222 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what public subsidy to Railtrack in administration has been requested by the Administrator for the period 7th October to the end of the 2001-02 financial year. |
| (18953) | |
| 223 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he last met the Rail Regulator. |
| (18943) | |
| 224 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd November, Official Report, column 381W, on train operating companies, if the Draft Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority mention the 80 per cent. target for freight. |
| (19191) | |
| 225 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much money the Administrator of Railtrack has said will be required for renewals, maintenance and operating expenses for Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006. |
| (18945) | |
| 226 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if Railtrack will be out of administration by 2004. |
| (18942) | |
| 227 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he last met the Chief Executive of the Strategic Rail Authority. |
| (18959) | |
| 228 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what payments were made from (a) the Treasury, (b) his Department, (c) the SRA and (d) the Rail Regulator to Railtrack between 1996 and 5th October 2001; and if he will list the dates on which these payments were made and what they were for. |
| (18948) | |
| 229 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the total amount of public funding is for light rail and tram schemes within the £180 billion total for the 10 year plan. |
| (19350) | |
| 230 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what is the Government's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006. |
| (18958) | |
| 231 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the anticipated minimum amount of time needed to complete the Railtrack administration. |
| (18939) | |
| 232 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimates the Railtrack Administrator has made of the final cost of completing the West Coast mainline modernisation. |
| (19001) | |
| 233 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if Railtrack administration will last more than two years. |
| (18941) | |
| 234 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what information his Department has collated about Railtrack's creditors and their willingness to grant further credit to the company in administration. |
| (18938) | |
| 235 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, on what date Railtrack formally requested additional investment funding from the Government above the amounts in the Regulator's most recent review. |
| (18955) | |
| 236 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what payments have been made to Railtrack in administration since 7th October by (a) the Treasury, (b) his Department, (c) the SRA and (d) the Rail Regulator. |
| (18944) | |
| 237 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what was the most recent estimate by Railtrack of the total cost of the West Coast Main Line modernisation prior to administration. |
| (18954) | |
| 238 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much was the Railtrack administrator's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006. |
| (18957) | |
| 239 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what payments were scheduled to be made to Railtrack from 5th October until 5th April 2006, from (a) the Treasury, (b) his Department, (c) the SRA and (d) the Rail Regulator; and if he will list the dates on which these payments were due to be made and what they were for. |
| (18947) | |
| 240 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, on what date his Department last discussed Railtrack administration with (a) the Treasury and (b) the No 10 Policy Unit. |
| (18936) | |
| 241 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what statutory powers govern his right of veto over the recommendations of the Railtrack Administrator about the future of the company; and if he will make a statement. |
| (18949) | |
| 242 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much money had been allocated to Railtrack for renewals, maintenance and operating expenses for Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006 prior to administration. |
| (18946) | |
| 243 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd November, Official Report, column 498W, on light rail and tram schemes, which other schemes could open before 2006. |
| (19132) | |
| 244 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average estimated length of time is from first submission of a proposal to the Department to completion of a new light rail project independent of an existing system. |
| (19351) | |
| 245 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the payment of £162 million by the SRA to Railtrack in administration subsequent to the abandoning of Renewco. |
| (18952) | |
| 246 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what his policy is on the Airtrack proposal. |
| (19337) | |
| 247 | Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd November, Official Report, columns 386-7W, on roads (Surrey), if he will provide similar figures for each (a) county, (b) unitary authority and (c) metropolitan area in England and Wales. |
| (19270) | |
| 248 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he intends to publish revised guidance to highways authorities on speed policy. |
| (19272) | |
| 249 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he intends to review guidance to local planning authorities on securing affordable housing through the planning system. |
| (19271) | |
| 250 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many times Ministers from his Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet locally based businesses. |
| (19071) | |
| 251 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action his Department recently has taken to promote good practice in the creation and development of local authority websites. |
| (19061) | |
| 252 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what measures he has taken to ensure that local authority websites are accessible to those with a range of disabilities; and which organisations have been consulted. |
| (19062) | |
| 253 N | Mr David Lammy (Tottenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his assessment of the performance of New Deal for Communities programmes. |
| (15994) | |
| 254 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact of energy saving regulations on (a) new buildings, (b) refurbishment of existing buildings, (c) domestic buildings and (d) non-domestic buildings. |
| (19105) | |
| 255 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent measures he has taken to ensure that buildings insulation targets are met. |
| (19106) | |
| 256 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average turn-around time is for processing by a local authority of a correctly submitted planning application. |
| (19079) | |
| 257 | Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many local authorities achieved a six week turn around time from receipt of a correct planning application to a decision in the last 12 months. |
| (19080) | |
| 258 N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what progress the Social Exclusion Unit has made in reducing the number of rough sleepers. |
| (15995) | |
| 259 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the special advisers in his Department. |
| (19344) | |
| 260 | David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the home search and survey process in the house sale market; and what plans he has to improve the system. |
| (18914) | |
| 261 | David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many private homes were sold in each of the last five years, broken down by region. |
| (18913) | |
| 262 N | Mr Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the levels and effects of Social Exclusion in the South Wales Valleys. |
| (15998) | |
| 263 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the achievement of an annual efficiency gain. |
| (19011) | |
| 264 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost of the reintroduction of common pay scales across his Department. |
| (19262) | |
| 265 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs of the publicity campaign for the minimum income guarantee. |
| (18991) | |
| 266 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the percentage of computer systems supporting pensions and income support delivery to be replaced. |
| (19030) | |
| 267 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional cost savings measures referred to on page 75 of the 2001 Departmental Report were taken to enable the War Pensions Agency to operate within its running cost allocation in 2000-01. |
| (19118) | |
| 268 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the percentage of departmental business transactions to be carried out electronically. |
| (19014) | |
| 269 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost to public funds in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of regulations introduced by his Department in 2000-01. |
| (19261) | |
| 270 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what methods and outlets were used in 2000-01 to publicise entitlement to winter fuel payments. |
| (18986) | |
| 271 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the delivery of the New Deals for the unemployed lone parents and disabled people. |
| (19037) | |
| 272 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the reduction by March 2002 of benefit losses from fraud and error. |
| (19010) | |
| 273 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the saving from the PRIME contract with Trillium for estate management services. |
| (18988) | |
| 274 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on performance in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 against the public service agreement target for average pensioner income as a percentage of average earnings. |
| (19019) | |
| 275 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what was the capital budget welfare to work figure for 1998-99 that was not specified in Table 11 on page 102 of the 2001 Departmental report. |
| (18906) | |
| 276 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the saving from the ACCORD contract for strategic outsourcing of IS and IT services. |
| (18989) | |
| 277 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the reduction of sickness absence rates by 2003. |
| (19003) | |
| 278 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for changing the ratio of public expenditure to private expenditure on pensions. |
| (19020) | |
| 279 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the target saving in 2000-01 from the recovery of overpaid benefits was achieved. |
| (18997) | |
| 280 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the performance target was for the CSA to reduce its outstanding work by 31st March; and if it was achieved. |
| (19125) | |
| 281 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of the national teleclaims service for retirement pension. |
| (19264) | |
| 282 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the reduction of the number of children in households with no-one in work. |
| (19042) | |
| 283 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the establishment of payment arrangements in child support cases. |
| (19047) | |
| 284 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the timescale for processing minimum income guarantee claims following the submission of the required evidence. |
| (19025) | |
| 285 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the expenditure of £2 million for the training of additional local authority fraud investigators will be made in full in the current financial year. |
| (19263) | |
| 286 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the reduction of the amount of money that is incorrectly paid in minimum income guarantee. |
| (19024) | |
| 287 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the breakdown of the costs of the publicity campaign for the New Deal for Lone Parents. |
| (18979) | |
| 288 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the expected saving in 2001-02 from the security and control programme. |
| (19002) | |
| 289 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the breakdown of the costs of the publicity campaign to tackle benefit fraud. |
| (18985) | |
| 290 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the public service agreement target for the reduction of the average cost of processing minimum income guarantee claims and the maintenance of the caseload. |
| (19026) | |
| 291 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of the Expert Help Team set up to assist in the improvement of housing benefit delivery. |
| (19008) | |
| 292 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the public service agreement target for reducing losses from fraud and error. |
| (19035) | |
| 293 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of measures to meet the aspirational diversity targets referred to on page 35 of the 2001 Departmental Report. |
| (18976) | |
| 294 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of the (i) Integrated Enquiry Service, (ii) Shared Fraud Hotline, (iii) local authority departmental information teams and (iv) overpayment recoveries in respect of housing benefit. |
| (19009) | |
| 295 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if proposals for public service agreement targets for the reduction of sickness absence rates were discussed and agreed with the Cabinet Office by June 1999, as referred to on page 22 of the 2001 Departmental Report. |
| (19015) | |
| 296 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the public service agreement target for reducing by 2002 the number of lone parents dependent on income support. |
| (19036) | |
| 297 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for minimising the regulatory burden on employers in respect of pension and child support arrangements. |
| (19021) | |
| 298 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the (a) costs and (b) benefits of the ONE pilots introduced in June and November 1999. |
| (19038) | |
| 299 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for access to funded second pensions. |
| (19044) | |
| 300 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the costs and functions of the Model Office referred to on page 70 of the 2001 Departmental Report. |
| (19122) | |
| 301 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Benefits Agency met its target to contribute to the reduction in public sector sickness by reducing absences by 10 per cent. from 1998 public service agreement baseline levels. |
| (18993) | |
| 302 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the CSA met its performance target in 2000-01 for the accuracy of the cash value of all assessments. |
| (19124) | |
| 303 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of the diversity and equal opportunities framework for action. |
| (18982) | |
| 304 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for increasing employment rates of disadvantaged areas and groups. |
| (19043) | |
| 305 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the saving from the contract for IS and IT services to deliver new wide area network services. |
| (18983) | |
| 306 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the provision of pension forecasts by employers and pension providers. |
| (19022) | |
| 307 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what were the figures for compensation payments to landlords that were not specified on page 103 of the 2001 Departmental report. |
| (18905) | |
| 308 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 from the cancellation of the debt management system. |
| (18995) | |
| 309 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the level of compliance by absent parents with agreed child support arrangements. |
| (19048) | |
| 310 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for increasing the collection of maintenance from non-resident parents who pay the CSA's collection service. |
| (19018) | |
| 311 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the speed and extent of access to occupational health and rehabilitation services. |
| (19004) | |
| 312 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for reducing the average cost of processing retirement pension claims. |
| (19027) | |
| 313 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what was the figure for expenditure on the housing benefit under occupation pilot that was not specified on page 103 of the 2001 Departmental report. |
| (18917) | |
| 314 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress since the publication of the Departmental Report 2001 towards the public service agreement target for the payment by the Department for goods and services. |
| (19005) | |
| 315 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost of benefit fraud in each of the last four years. |
| (19007) | |
| 316 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the roll-out of new IT equipment to staff of the Benefits Agency and the Child Support Agency. |
| (19028) | |
| 317 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for investment in modernisation. |
| (19013) | |
| 318 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the expected saving from the proposed merger of the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service. |
| (18978) | |
| 319 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the public service and service delivery agreements developed in the Corporate Serving Directorate of his Department in 2000-01. |
| (19265) | |
| 320 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for reducing the number of children in poverty by at least a quarter by 2004. |
| (19078) | |
| 321 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost of the partnership with Knowsley Local Authority to introduce e-mail links through digital television. |
| (18984) | |
| 322 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the public service agreement target for the ratio of in-work income from earnings and benefits to out-of-work benefits in 2001-02. |
| (19033) | |
| 323 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for access for disabled people with broken work records to second pensions. |
| (19045) | |
| 324 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the modernisation of service delivery. |
| (19032) | |
| 325 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target of achieving an accuracy rate for assessments and reviews in child support cases of not less than 90 per cent. |
| (19046) | |
| 326 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 of work undertaken on the development of a new working age agency. |
| (19006) | |
| 327 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 of compensation payments for maladministration by the CSA. |
| (18994) | |
| 328 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the public service agreement target for value for money. |
| (19034) | |
| 329 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the transition into work and reduction of dependence on benefits of people with disabilities. |
| (19016) | |
| 330 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the progress towards meeting the public service agreement target for the percentage of Benefits Agency customers whose benefits are paid into their bank accounts. |
| (19031) | |
| 331 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the expected reduction in the monetary value of error (a) in income support and (b) jobseekers allowance in 2001-02. |
| (18980) | |
| 332 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the completion of a new assessment of liability to pay child support maintenance. |
| (19017) | |
| 333 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the development of better measures of efficiency. |
| (19023) | |
| 334 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the saving arising from his Department's public private partnership for the support of IT needs. |
| (19260) | |
| 335 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the provision of an electronic claiming facility for benefit claimants. |
| (19029) | |
| 336 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will quantify the public service agreement target for employment over the economic cycle. |
| (19049) | |
| 337 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many television advertisements were paid for by expenditure on the revised Pensions Education Campaign. |
| (18981) | |
| 338 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the expected reduction in debt in 2001-02 from cases of overpayment. |
| (18987) | |
| 339 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the control of central costs and overheads. |
| (19012) | |
| 340 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the cost in 2001-02 of the Departmental Investment Strategy. |
| (18977) | |
| 341 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the saving from the PFI/PPP deal for IS and IT services to underpin child support reforms. |
| (18990) | |
| 342 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the costs and functions of the process learning centres referred to on page 70 of the 2001 Departmental Report. |
| (19123) | |
| 343 | Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to review the council tax benefits restriction scheme; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19041) | |
| 344 | Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what account is taken of the impact of (a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit thresholds when changes are made to the level of permitted earnings for those with mental health problems. |
| (19391) | |
| 345 | Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the impact of the benefit system on people with mental health problems; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19392) | |
| 346 | Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if it is his policy to consult (a) individuals and (b) organisations representing people with mental health disabilities when sickness benefits regulations are (i) reviewed and (ii) implemented; and if he will make a statement. |
| (19393) | |
| 347 | Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to review the rules on permitted earnings. |
| (19380) | |
| 348 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the soft skills promoted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on how they relate to hard skills. |
| (18904) | |
| 349 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what reductions are applied to a payee's (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) state retirement pension, (d) invalidity benefit and (e) income support during a period of in-patient (i) NHS hospital treatment and (ii) private hospital treatment. |
| (19114) | |
| 350 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what reductions are applied to an entitled person's (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit during a period of in-patient (i) NHS hospital treatment and (ii) private hospital treatment. |
| (19115) | |
| 351 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what reductions are applied to a liable person's liability to pay (a) rent and (b) council tax during a period of in-patient hospital treatment. |
| (19116) | |
| 352 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times Ministers from his Department have visited (a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency to meet locally based businesses. |
| (19072) | |
| 353 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the trends in the numbers of those receiving benefits relating to unemployment in the last 12 months. |
| (19395) | |
| 354 | Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Amber Valley will be affected by the measures contained in the pre-Budget announcement. |
| (19093) | |
| 355 N | Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department monitors the impact of its policies on women. |
| [Question Unstarred] (15974) | |
| 356 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what Government expenditure on directly commissioned research into (a) sickle cell, (b) thalassaemia and (c) other haemoglobinopathies was in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000. |
| [Transferred] (18901) | |
| 357 | Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to credit card issuers on reporting credit card fraud. |
| [Transferred] (18999) | |
| 358 | Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the level of under-reporting of credit card fraud in each of the last five years. |
| [Transferred] (18996) | |
| 359 | Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of credit card fraud in each of the last five years (a) by level and (b) by number of incidents. |
| [Transferred] (18998) | |
| 360 | Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 276W, on Railtrack, if he will place in the Library advice he has received on contingency plans if the Company Limited by Guarantee fails to achieve a credit rating of A/A2. |
| [Transferred] (19190) | |
| 361 | Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on standards of conduct and competence concerning the advertising and selling of hearing aids to elderly and vulnerable customers; and if she will make a statement on the plans for independent scrutiny of the hearing aid industry. |
| [Transferred] (18992) | |
| 362 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what work is being done by the Children and Young People's Unit to include young people in Whitehall policy formulation. |
| [Transferred] (19055) | |
| 363 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will table a motion under Standing Order No. 117(6) to refer (a) the progress made by regional development agencies in fulfilling their objects, (b) the role of regional chambers in scrutinising RDAs, (c) the contribution made by RDAs in addressing strategic transport issues, (d) the progression made with economic regeneration of EU Objective 1 regions, (e) the issues and concerns raised about the forthcoming Regional White Paper and (f) other matters, to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs. |
| [Transferred] (19266) | |
| 364 | Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) method and (b) criteria he will use to apportion and spend the additional £300 million for social services departments to assist in tackling winter pressures. |
| [Transferred] (19283) | |
| 365 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the timetable to publish the implementation of European Commission packaging directives. |
| [Transferred] (19050) | |
| 366 | David Wright (Telford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average cost of charges to (a) sell and (b) buy a house has been in each of the last five years broken down by region. |
| [Transferred] (18911) | |
| 367 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the recommendations of the War Pensions Agency's 1999 DMA study were implemented in 2000-01. |
| [Transferred] (19120) | |
| 368 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the recommendations of the 1999 War Pensions Agency Prior Options Review relating to the regulations of the War Pensioners' Welfare Service and the partnership opportunities associated with the management of Ilford Park Polish Home were implemented by 31st March. |
| [Transferred] (19117) | |
| 369 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the service performance standards published in the War Pensions Agency's Service first charter were achieved in 2000-01. |
| [Transferred] (19121) | |
| 370 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the War Pensions Agency met its target to generate efficiency during 2000-01 to absorb the effect of pay and price pressures. |
| [Transferred] (19119) | |
| 371 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of WFTC fraud; and if he will make a statement. |
| [Transferred] (18884) | |
| 372 | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many investigations have been conducted into WFTC fraud; and how many successful prosecutions there have been since the commencement of the scheme. |
| [Transferred] (18885) | |
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| © Parliamentary copyright 2001 | Revised 28 November 2001 |