Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001-02
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 15 January 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 15 January, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

TUESDAY 15th JANUARY

1
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many prosecution statements were taken in relation to television licence fee evasion and how many prosecutions there were for television licence evasion in each of the last four years.

(27691)

2
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many defendants were proceeded against at magistrates' courts in England and Wales for offences under the Wireless and Telegraphy Acts in each of the last four years; how many were convicted; and what was (a) the total of fines imposed and (b) the average fine.

(27690)

3
   Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many full length feature films the Film Council has financially supported in each year since its creation; what the total income for each of those films is; what estimate the Film Council has made of each film's total audience; and if she will make a statement.

(27754)

4
   Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money the Film Council received from Lottery Funds in the last financial year; what amount the Film Council allocated in the last financial year; what amount the Film Council allocated and paid out in the last financial year; and if she will make a statement.

(27753)

5
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many football clubs have set up supporters' trusts since July 2000; how many are planned; and how many supporters' directors have been appointed.

(27316)

6
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what expert advice the Heritage Lottery Fund seeks when making policy changes.

(27752)

7
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the development opportunities that would be made possible by commercial development of West Freugh airfield in Wigtownshire.

(27030)

8
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence contracts are out to tender; and what the estimated value of each contract is.

(27500)

9
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the use of British-built vehicles by the MoD police.

(27415)

10
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the three aircraft carriers.

(27499)

11
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the tri-partite agreement between the UK, India and Nepal to increase the pension paid to retired Gurkhas.

(27498)

12
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the benefits are of operating one Toyota and one Mitsubishi for the MoD police; and what competition there was for this requirement.

(27501)

13
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the results from the review of the MoD police and the Atomic Energy Police will be announced.

(27414)

14
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many special arrangements are in place to pay pensions to retired Gurkhas who are sick or disabled.

(27497)

15
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what vehicle the Chief Constable of the MoD police uses.

(27413)

16
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many training operations have taken place in Gibraltar in the last three years.

(27496)

17
N   Jim Knight (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what resources have been made available to his Department for the fulfilment of their obligations under PPG22 in advising district councils during the process of the issue of planning consent for an on-shore wind turbine.

(27333)

18
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government is making to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

(26528)

19
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Army Base Repair Organisation; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27820)

20
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Strategic and Combat Studies Institute; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27809)

21
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Analytical Services Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27825)

22
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Secondary Care Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27803)

23
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Estates; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27849)

24
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the National Codification Bureau; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27807)

25
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Directorate General Commercial Organisation; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27805)

26
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27808)

27
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Central Data Management Authority; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27824)

28
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the War Pensions Agency; how many employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27810)

29
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Disposal Services Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27814)

30
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Bills Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27823)

31
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Repository; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27804)

32
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Central Data Management Authority; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27821)

33
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Procurement Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27800)

34
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Meteorological Office; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27817)

35
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Scientific Advisory Council; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27802)

36
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Warship Support Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27811)

37
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Directorate of Standardisation; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27806)

38
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Hydrographic Office; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27815)

39
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Engineering and Science Group; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27813)

40
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the International Visits Control Office; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27816)

41
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Export Services Organisation; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27799)

42
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Ministry of Defence Police; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27818)

43
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27822)

44
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the British Forces Post Office; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27819)

45
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27812)

46
   Angus Robertson (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people work for the Defence Scientific and Technical Laboratory; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency are.

(27801)

47
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what effect the decision to purchase a tungsten armour piercing round will have on existing use of depleted uranium rounds; and if he will make a statement.

(27495)

48
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when building work will commence at Bovington in pursuit of his proposals to base a reconaissance regiment there.

(27721)

49
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he plans to introduce a similar measure to the US Montgomery GI Enhancement Act in the UK.

(27720)

50
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors contributed to his decision to procure a tungsten armour piercing round; and if he will make a statement.

(27494)

51
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the reconnaissance regiment will move in to Bovington.

(27723)

52
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to float Qinetiq.

(27416)

53
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to base a reconnaissance regiment at Bovington; and if he will make a statement.

(27719)

54
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of his proposals to base a reconnaissance regiment at Bovington.

(27722)

55
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) day nurseries, (b) playgroups, (c) childminders, (d) out of schools clubs and (e) holiday schemes have been provided in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997.

(27769)

56
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many OFSTED inspections have been carried out in schools in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997.

(27768)

57
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which education action zones have not published their accounts for (a) the year ended 31st March 2000 and (b) the year ended 31st March 2001.

(27685)

58
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she expects the East Manchester Education Action Zone accounts for the year ended 31st March 2001 to be published.

(27684)

59
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what time limits are set down for the production of accounts by education action zones.

(27686)

60
N   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list the specialisms that specialist colleges will cover following the March 2002 round of funding; if the Government has a target number for (a) each of the specialisms and (b) each round of applications in future years; and what plans she has to increase the funding available for specialist colleges following the increase in the number of specialisms.

(27492)

61
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress has been made on the evaluation of the Sure Start programme begun in 2001; and if she will make a statement.

(26817)

62
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when Warrington will be invited to submit a bid for another Sure Start project.

(26818)

63
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many speech therapists qualified for teaching children with special educational needs are in practice in each local education authority in England.

(27696)

64
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been made available by her Department to tackle air pollution in Buckinghamshire in each year since 1997.

(27791)

65
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many days of (a) moderate, (b) high and (c) very high air pollution there were (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in Buckinghamshire in each year since 1997; and if she will indicate the suspected causes of high and very high readings.

(27790)

66
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in Buckinghamshire towards meeting the National Air Quality Strategy targets.

(27788)

67
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many air pollution (a) passive diffusion tubes and (b) automatic monitoring sites were based in Buckinghamshire in each year since 1977.

(27789)

68
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the recommendations made by each of the working groups at the International Conference on Control and Prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease held in Brussels in December 2001; what plans she has to implement those recommendations in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

(27656)

69
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the honourable Member for West Chelmsford will be given a reply to his letter of 12th June 2001 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which was transferred to her Department on 18th June, concerning Dr Reza Hussain of St John's Hospital, Chelmsford.

(26357)

70
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her policy on the long-term management of the UK's nuclear waste.

(25892)

71
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of local authorities (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Scotland are on course to achieve a 30 per cent. improvement in home energy conservation by 2010.

(25893)

72
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) quantities, (b) radioactive components and (c) location of intermediate and high level waste in the UK in the last 12 months.

(25887)

73
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measurements are made of the radiation above background level around intermediate and high level nuclear waste storage facilities at Sellafield and Dounreay.

(25895)

74
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the policy initiatives her Department, or its predecessor departments have made since 1997 which affect parish and town councils.

(27663)

75
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the terms of reference for the Rural Affairs Forum.

(27658)

76
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those organisations that have been asked to participate in the Rural Affairs Forum, and give the names of the nominees.

(27657)

77
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish (a) minutes from and (b) reports to the Rural Affairs Forum.

(27313)

78
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many appeals against valuations for FMD compensation were outstanding on 8th January.

(27027)

79
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her estimate is of the financial losses incurred by UK farmers through animal movement restrictions preventing transport to market until after stock had passed 30 months of age.

(27028)

80
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional impact control measures have been introduced since the resolution of the blockade of foreign food imports at (a) Cairnryan and (b) elsewhere in 1998.

(27026)

81
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of blood tests taken from (a) sheep, (b) cattle and (c) other livestock during the foot and mouth outbreak tested positively for the FMD virus.

(27025)

82
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Fur Farming (Compensation Scheme) (England) Order 2001 (SI 2001, No 3853) reduces the compensation payable for the value of breeding stock where (a) the farmer elected to cease keeping mink after 1st October 2001 and (b) the farmer elected to cease keeping mink nine months before the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 comes into force.

(27757)

83
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Fur Farming (Compensation Scheme) (England) Order 2001 (SI 2001, No 3853) specifies (a) a fixed sum for the value of breeding stock, and (b) a fixed multiplier to determine qualifying income losses; and for what reason there is no appeal under the terms of the order to (a) arbitration and (b) to the Lands Tribunal.

(27751)

84
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total amount paid to farm businesses was in each of the last five years, indicating in each case the cost of administering the (a) arable area payment scheme, (b) suckler cow premium scheme, (c) hill livestock compensatory allowance, (d) hill farming allowance, (e) countryside stewardship scheme and (f) environmentally sensitive areas schemes.

(27758)

85
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Fur Farming (Compensation Scheme) (England) Order 2001 (SI 2001, No 3853) does not make provision for (a) the value of male animals and (b) the differential value of different breed of mink.

(27755)

86
   Patrick Mercer (Newark):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in the review of the UK's protected zone status for rhizomania; and if she will make a statement.

(27724)

87
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the difficulties facing councils in getting access to inland waters in England and Wales.

(27715)

88
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the gross receipts to the Treasury were of the windfall tax levied on Railtrack in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.

(27653)

89
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to exempt nuclear energy from the climate change levy.

(25889)

90
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his projection is for the funding required to match the modulated funds in the Rural Support Scheme.

(27029)

91
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 12th December 2001, Official Report, column 891W, on child benefit, what the yield would be for 2002-03 of taxing child benefit payments to (a) recipients paying tax at the higher rate and (b) higher rate tax payers in a couple where one partner receives child benefit, with child benefit rates at £26.25 per week for the first child and £17.60 per week for subsequent children.

(27317)

92
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his Answer of 18th December, Official Report, column 197W, on the Economic Stability Document, how many copies of the volume Reforming Britain's Economic and Financial Policy (a) have been printed and (b) are planned to be printed over the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

(25783)

93
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his Answer of 17th December, Official Report, column 32W, on capital gains tax, what estimates for the capital gains tax yield in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04 are used to derive the estimates for tax revenues contained in the pre-Budget Report of November 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(25784)

94
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if it is his policy to impose a fuel escalator if crude oil prices trade at a level sharply below that pertaining at the time of the 2000 and 2001 Budgets.

(26527)

95
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent action he has taken to prevent and deter drug-smuggling from Jamaica to the United Kingdom.

(26529)

96
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the level of drug-smuggling from Jamaica to the United Kingdom in the last five years.

(26530)

97
   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of PFI contracts made by his Department where an amount in excess of 90 per cent. of the capital value of the asset is recouped by the lessor out of the capital element of lease payments over the lifetime of the contract concerned; and if he will make a statement.

(27697)

98
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of allowing tax relief on pension contributions at the standard rate of income tax, regardless of the actual tax rate of the contributions.

(27688)

99
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people (a) are eligible for the WFTC and (b) claim the WFTC.

(27761)

100
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the honourable Member for West Chelmsford will be sent a reply to his letter of 3rd September 2001 on his constituent Mrs J. Chukwrah of Chelmsford.

(26358)

101
   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what power HM Government retains to make orders under section 3(1)(b)(i) of the Southern Rhodesian Act 1979.

(27750)

102
   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list all orders made under section 3(1)(b)(i) of the Southern Rhodesian Act 1979, stating the purpose of each order and its duration.

(27749)

103
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) companies, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) public sector organisations based in the Buckingham constituency have signed up to the Healthy Workplace Inititative; what information they have received, and at what cost to public funds.

(27781)

104
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people gave blood in Buckinghamshire in each financial year since 1997.

(27780)

105
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) deaths of vulnerable people, (b) hospital admissions and (c) readmissions in the Buckinghamshire Health Authority area in the last 12 months, which may be associated with (i) short and (ii) long term air pollution.

(27783)

106
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications for funding from the Healthy Living Centre initiative have been received from projects based in Buckinghamshire; and what the outcome was in each case.

(27782)

107
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on improved ambulance communications in the Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust area in each year since 1997.

(27785)

108
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed by Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust in each year since 1997; and what the average sickness absence rate for staff was (a) in the UK and (b) in Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust in each year.

(27784)

109
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many emergency calls were received (a) in the UK and (b) in Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust Area in each year since 1997.

(27787)

110
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust met its performance targets for responding to (a) Category A and (b) Category B/C emergency calls in each year since 1997.

(27786)

111
N   Mrs Annette L. Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the questions tabled by the honourable Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole for Answer on 21st November 2001, ref. 15786 and 15787, on NHS dentists.

(26894)

112
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest figures are for the Middlesex Hospital Trust area for the (a) total number of people waiting for hospital treatment and (b) total number of people waiting less than (i) 18, (ii) 15, (iii) 12 and (iv) 6 months for hospital treatment.

(26810)

113
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has comissioned in each of the last five years into the causes and treatments of age-related macular degeneration; what further research he intends to commission; and how much his Department has spent on this research in each of the last five years.

(26812)

114
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of falls as identified in Standard 6 of the National Service Framework for Older People.

(26816)

115
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people treated in the last year with photodynamic therapy in the private sector following a diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration in an NHS hospital.

(27033)

116
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the therapies licensed in the UK for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration; when they were licensed; how much the NHS has spent on them; and how many people have benefited from them in each of the last three years.

(26814)

117
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether photodynamic therapy of age-related macular degeneration is generally available within the NHS.

(26813)

118
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what legislation is in place to prosecute individuals who (a) neglect and (b) abuse vulnerable adults in care settings; and if he will make a statement.

(27034)

119
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people diagnosed each year with age-related macular degeneration.

(26815)

120
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to make an announcement on the appointment of a chief executive for the new Avon/Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Health Authority; and for what reason it has not been possible to make that appointment already.

(27314)

121
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Food Standards Agency's position is on the acceptable level of daily sodium intake for the general population; on what evidence the Food Standards Agency bases its policy on dietary salt consumption; and what recent advice the Food Standards Agency has given ministers regarding the recommended daily sodium consumption.

(27693)

122
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what public awareness campaigns the Food Standards Agency is undertaking to reduce daily human consumption of salt; how the Food Standards Agency communicates its recommended daily intake of sodium to the public; and what media outlets the Food Standards Agency uses to highlight its policy on salt and its recommended daily intake of sodium.

(27694)

123
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it is his policy that women who have suffered pre-menopausal breast cancer will be subject to automatic recall under the NHS breast cancer screening programme.

(27756)

124
N   Mr Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Appropriate Use of Blood Working Group will publish its report on the use of alternative blood therapies in place of transfusing blood.

(27502)

125
N   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will alter the NHS complaints procedure so that independent review bodies can investigate a complaint relating to more than one NHS body.

(26013)

126
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that honourable Members are notified of appointments to new health authorities and trusts covering their constituencies; and if he will make a statement.

(26819)

127
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to answer Parliamentary Question ref. 24038, tabled for Answer on 19th December 2001.

(26811)

128
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive a response from the UK screening committee on their assessment of high-risk screening for Type II Diabetes.

(27315)

129
   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of PFI contracts made by his Department in his Department where an amount in excess of 90 per cent. of the capital value of the asset is recouped by the lessor out of the capital element of lease payments over the lifetime of the contract concerned; and if he will make a statement.

(27699)

130
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures of performance he uses to judge the quality of care in accident and emergency departments.

(27716)

131
N   Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the criteria by which the money made available in 2002-03 to improve services for older people and speed discharge from hospital was allocated.

(27136)

132
   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to bring survival rates of British cancer patients into line with other European countries.

(27826)

133
N   David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter of 28th November 2001 from the honourable Member for Walsall North, regarding a constituent, Ref: P0001146.

(27311)

134
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his estimate is of the number of persons resident in the United Kingdom who are the subject of an unenforced deportation order; and if he will make a statement.

(27032)

135
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many child curfew orders have been issued to date; and if he will make a statement.

(27641)

136
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences were reported in the Metropolitan Police Force area between (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001.

(27644)

137
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the status is of the targets for reducing the consumption of class A drugs, as set out in the Ten-Year-Plan for Tackling Drugs Misuse; what plans he has to change the targets; and if he will make a statement.

(27647)

138
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list, for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme and 31st December 2001 inclusive, (a) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offfences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (A) received and (B) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (1) breached the conditions of the curfew, (2) disappeared and were recaptured, (3) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (4) had their licences revoked with reasons, (e) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including offences committed, by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement.

(27649)

139
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued to date.

(27642)

140
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in achieving the targets for reducing the consumption of class A drugs, as set out in the Ten-Year-Plan for Tackling Drugs Misuse; and if he will make a statement.

(27645)

141
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent by the Home Office on advertising in the past two years; what the cost and purpose of each advertising campaign was; which advertising agencies were involved in each campaign; and if he will make a statement.

(27648)

142
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many acceptable behaviour contracts have been issued to date (a) in total and (b) in each crime and disorder partnership; and if he will make a statement.

(27640)

143
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were per 1,000 population in the London area in (a) March 1997 and (b) September 2001.

(27643)

144
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many street crimes there were in the Metropolitan Police Force area in (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001.

(27646)

145
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners in the last year for which figures are available were studying Open University courses; and how many and what proportion of those prisoners were studying level 1 Open University courses.

(27639)

146
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of funding for prison education is provided from (a) Department for Education and Skills budgets and (b) Home Office budgets; what proportion of funding (i) goes directly to prisons from government departments and (ii) goes to prisons from the Prison Service; what proportion of funding is ring-fenced; what plans he has to change arrangements for prison education funding further; and if he will make a statement.

(27638)

147
N   David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 27th November 2001 from the honourable Member for Walsall North, regarding a constituent, Ref: 2123411.

(27312)

148
   Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she expects CDC, formerly the Commonwealth Development Corporation, to meet its target of 50 per cent. of its investment in Africa and poorer countries in Asia.

(27701)

149
   Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which minister is responsible for the CDC, formerly the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

(27700)

150
   Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether CDC, formerly the Commonwealth Development Corporation, submits an annual corporate plan for ministerial approval.

(27702)

151
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of overseas aid expenditure per capita in developing countries in each year since 1990; and if she will make a statement.

(26694)

152
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of the outstanding debts owned to the United Kingdom Government by developing countries, broken down by each country; how the total figure has changed since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

(26692)

153
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of bilateral country programme expenditure is directed to low income developing countries in the latest year for which information is available; if she will list the countries so defined as low income; and if she will make a statement.

(26686)

154
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on overseas development as a percentage of United Kingdom gross national product in each year from 1996-97 to 2003-04; and if she will make a statement.

(26688)

155
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she will list the developing country debts which have been cancelled since May 1997, broken down by country and by year of cancellation; and if she will make a statement.

(26691)

156
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on overseas development assistance in each of the poorest 20 countries in the world for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement.

(26690)

157
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of the percentage of children in primary schools in the largest 30 recipient countries for United Kingdom overseas aid in the latest year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

(26685)

158
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimates she has made of population growth in (a) developing countries and (b) low-income developing countries in each year since 1995; and if she will make a statement.

(26687)

159
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether it is her policy to raise overseas aid expenditure as a share of Gross National Product to the United Kingdom target of 0.7 to Gross National Product; by what date she expects to meet this target; and if she will make a statement.

(26689)

160
   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign.

(27759)

161
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will publish the tender specification prepared by the Public Record Office for contracting process for the design and build of the website for the 1901 Census online; and if he will make a statement.

(26804)

162
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the website for the 1901 Census will next be available for normal public access.

(26802)

163
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what consultations took place between Qinetiq and professional genealogists in the process of designing and building the website for the 1901 Census.

(26806)

164
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the final tender price of the contract won by Qinetiq from the Public Record Office to design, build and maintain the website for the 1901 Census was.

(26801)

165
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what consultations took place between the Public Record Office and professional genealogists in the preparation of the tender specification for the design and build of the website for the 1901 Census.

(26805)

166
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what representations the Public Record Office received on the proposal for and construction of the website for the 1901 Census.

(26807)

167
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what quality checks were built into the contract between the Public Record Office and Qinetiq.

(26803)

168
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8th January, to the honourable Member for Belfast North, Official Report, column 568W, on armed theft (Belfast), which Republican paramilitary groups the police believe were responsible.

(26820)

169
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how long trial records are kept for those charged with terrorist acts; what difference there is between the records kept for those found (a) guilty and (b) not guilty; and what the time limits are for keeping records for trials of (i) terrorists in Northern Ireland and (ii) other criminal trials.

(27659)

170
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the President of the Council, what proposals he plans to make to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons for improving the facilities for families in the House.

(25060)

171
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 9th January, Official Report, column 815W, whether a finding by the House of Lords Judicial Committee against an individual formerly awarded an honour, that the individual concerned was guilty of political corruption in the conduct of local government sufficient to lead to a substantial surcharge and disqualification from holding office, can amount to an offence which brings the honours system into disrepute sufficient to consider forfeiture of that honour; and if he will make a statement.

(27655)

172
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many applicants there were for the post of transport adviser in the No. 10 Policy Unit.

(27330)

173
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the procedure used in the appointment of Matthew Elson as transport adviser in the No 10 Policy Unit.

(27328)

174
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the remit of the No. 10 Policy Unit on transport policy.

(27329)

175
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps she is taking to encourage participation by the general public in Scotland in the review of MSP numbers.

(27141)

176
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of staff based at Dover House are not directly employed by the Scotland Office; and by whom they are employed.

(27424)

177
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she has met representatives of Railtrack since 5th October to discuss the upgrading of the West Coast mainline.

(27031)

178
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many Friends of Scotland she plans to recruit; and how many individuals have expressed interest in the scheme.

(27423)

179
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment she has made of HM CPS Inspectorate's Report on Inspection of the CPS in North Yorkshire; and if she will make a statement.

(27682)

180
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many representations her Department has received since the Trading Schemes Act 1996 to amend the definition of single tier established in the Fair Trading Act 1973, so that more than a single master franchise of a trading scheme may be permitted in the UK; if proposals permitting a change to exempt certain multi-level schemes were considered in her Department when drawing up S.I., 1997, No. 1887; if she will place in the Library details of her considerations in opting to maintain the single tier exemption in 1997; and if she will make a statement.

(26153)

181
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total cost to public funds was of the South East Euro Awareness Forum in each year since its establishment.

(27792)

182
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff are (a) employed by and (b) on secondment to the South East Euro Awareness Forum, indicating the company seconding staff in each case.

(27793)

183
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many events the South East Euro Awareness Forum has organised (a) in total and (b) in Buckinghamshire; how many participants there were (i) in total and (ii) from companies based in Buckinghamshire at each event; and what the cost to public funds was of each event.

(27794)

184
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total cost to public funds is of creating and maintaining the South East Euro Awareness Forum website.

(27798)

185
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses are listed on the South East Euro Awareness Forum database as intending to trade in euros; and what the cost to public funds of creating and maintaining the database is.

(27795)

186
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many calls the Euro Help Line set up by the South East Euro Awareness Forum has received (a) in total and (b) from individuals and companies based in Buckinghamshire since its establishment; and what the total cost to public funds of creating and maintaining the service is.

(27797)

187
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the publications issued by South East Euro Awareness Forum, indicating (a) the number of copies produced and (b) the cost to public funds for each item.

(27796)

188
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the Crown Post Offices in the United Kingdom, identifying those that are running at a loss.

(27650)

189
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the Crown Post Offices which have opened since May 1997.

(27651)

190
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will publish the gross running costs of the Crown Post Offices in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2000-01.

(27652)

191
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the projects and institutions benefiting from the Lottery money announced by the Government in March 2001 for research into renewable energy projects.

(25888)

192
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what were the changes in the export price of renewable energy generators (a) since the implementation of NETA and (b) in each year since 1997.

(25890)

193
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment has been made of the ability of the UK's intermediate and high level nuclear waste storage facilities to withstand terrorist attack.

(25891)

194
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she has taken to help intermittent suppliers adversely affected by NETA.

(25894)

195
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) annual cost of maintaining the nuclear waste storage facilities at Sellafield and Dounreay and (b) the forecast for the annual running and maintenance costs over the next 50 years.

(25896)

196
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the occasions in the last six months when (a) she, (b) her ministerial colleagues and (c) their private offices have had (i) meetings, (ii) telephone conversations and (iii) correspondence with executives of Consignia.

(27718)

197
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many council houses in Buckinghamshire have smoke alarms that are (a) mains powered and (b) battery powered; and in the case of battery powered alarms how many are powered by (i) a 1-year life replaceable PP3 battery and (ii) a 10-year life sealed unit lithium battery.

(27776)

198
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people in the constituency of Buckingham have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy scheme; and what the total amount of funding granted is.

(27775)

199
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people in the Buckingham constituency have benefited from the Starter Home initiative for key public workers; and what is (a) the average amount and (b) the total amount granted.

(27778)

200
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many homes in the Buckingham constituency were bought under (a) right to buy and (b) right to acquire in each year since their inception; and what the total revenue is generated under each scheme.

(27774)

201
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what percentage of dwelling fires attended by fire brigades in the Buckingham constituency occurred where a smoke alarm was installed but failed to operate.

(27777)

202
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many homeless households in the constituency of Buckingham have been resident in bed and breakfast accommodation in each year since 1997; and what percentage of them claimed social security benefits in each year.

(27770)

203
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many projects in the Buckingham constituncy have received funding from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund; and if he will list the beneficiaries.

(27779)

204
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many council houses have been empty in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997.

(27773)

205
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many council houses there are in the Buckingham constituency; and how many of these are owned by the local authority.

(27829)

206
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) local authority and (b) private traveller sites there were in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997.

(27771)

207
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many traveller caravans and families were on (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised sites in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997.

(27772)

208
N   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many trains run on the busiest sections of each line of the London Underground during (a) the busiest hour and (b) the busiest quarter hour during weekdays.

(27662)

209
N   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average number of carriages in each train on each line of the London Underground is.

(27661)

210
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he intends to make compensation adjustments as a result of the abolition of council tax benefit subsidy penalty for Devon County Council's settlement for 2002-03.

(27309)

211
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, by what percentage the £1.4 million Devon County Council will benefit from in 2002-03 will be reduced as a result of the abolition of council tax benefit subsidy penalty.

(27310)

212
N   David Burnside (South Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make it his policy that Northern Ireland is included in the national flags and symbols allowed to be displayed on the vehicle registration plates.

(27660)

213
N   Patsy Calton (Cheadle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the progress he has made with the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study; and when he will announce his decision and the first tranche of funding.

(27417)

214
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list those policy initiatives his Department or its predecessor departments have made in the field of planning and transportation since 1997 which have affected parish and town councils.

[R] (27654)

215
N   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the latest forecast of the Highways Agency is of the future congestion levels around junction 25 of the M5 in (a) one year, (b) three years, (c) five years and (d) 10 years time; and what plans he has to implement a separate junction on the M5 between junction 24 and junction 25.

(27493)

216
N   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, for what reason a TR110 statutory notice has been served on Taunton Deane Borough Council by the Highways Agency in connection with a planning proposal near Junction 26 of the M5.

(27491)

217
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he plans parish councils to have a role under the proposals relating to planning in his paper, Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change; and if he will make a statement.

(27503)

218
N   Mr John Horam (Orpington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will allow access to the Starter Home Initiative for key workers to teachers in further education colleges.

(26012)

219
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the estimated cost is of the building (a) repair and (b) maintenance backlog contained within the Asset Management Plan of each local authority; and if he will make a statement.

(25785)

220
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, by how much and over what periods of time he expects emissions from the transport sector to fall as a result of the Government's 10 year transport plan.

(26526)

221
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much public money was invested in the railways in each year from 1990.

(27695)

222
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he will answer the questions from the honourable Member for Maidenhead on the grant payment deed for (a) NGCL and (b) Renewco, Refs 22067, 22068 and 22069.

(27332)

223
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he met Matthew Elson prior to his appointment as transport adviser in the No. 10 Policy Unit.

(27331)

224
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will place a copy of the specification issued to interested parties for the contract to develop a national rail model in the Library.

(27325)

225
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 8th January, Official Report, column, 589W, on departmental consultants, when Oscar Faber are due to conclude their work on the development of a national rail model.

(27334)

226
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the budget of his Department is for the current financial year for the use of external advisers and consultants.

(27327)

227
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent discussions the Minister of Transport and his officials have had with their Austrian counterparts regarding Austrian road tax charges at point of entry.

(27717)

228
N   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to bring up to the national average the standard spending assessment for the over 65s in Devon for the financial year 2002-03.

(27308)

229
   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of PFI contracts made by his Department where an amount in excess of 90 per cent. of the capital value of the asset is recouped by the lessor out of the capital element of lease payments over the lifetime of the contract concerned; and if he will make a statement.

(27698)

230
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will publish the performance indicators for (a) the Metropolitan Line and (b) other London Underground lines for (i) each of the last 12 months and (ii) the last seven years.

(27712)

231
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many train breakdowns there were in each of the last seven years per underground line.

(27713)

232
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) redeployments, (b) retirements and (c) absence of London Underground staff on medical grounds there were (i) by underground line and (ii) in total in each of the last five years and in each of the last 12 months.

(27711)

233
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will publish the level of absence and the reasons for absences on each London Underground line and in total for the last five years and each of the last 12 months.

(27709)

234
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action is being taken to encourage local authorities in partnership with business operators and Transport for London to develop proposals for new train routes.

(27706)

235
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many proposals for new train routes have been presented to his officials from London local authorities in the last five years.

(27705)

236
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will publish the total overtime payments in each of (a) the last seven years and (b) the last 12 months for each underground line.

(27714)

237
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many staff are employed by Transport for London working (a) exclusively and (b) 50 per cent. of their time on new train routes in London.

(27704)

238
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what investment in new train lines is planned in each of the next five years within London.

(27703)

239
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many staff came in (a) one hour and (b) two hours late on each London Underground line and in total in (i) the last five years and (ii) each of the last 12 months; and what were the reasons given for the absence.

(27710)

240
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will publish the drop out rates of persons applying for management positions on the London Underground (a) within one month, (b) one to two months and (c) two to six months after the application was received, within the last 12 months.

(27708)

241
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how long it took on average to recruit new management staff for London Underground from (a) previous internal positions and (b) external positions in the last 12 months.

(27707)

242
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent representations he has received from the RMT on the competitiveness of the British merchant marine and related employment issues; and if he will make a statement.

(27637)

243
   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the future funding plans for the London Underground.

(27836)

244
   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans the Government has to improve the clarity for consumers of the new car fuel efficiency and emissions labels.

(27827)

245
   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what steps the Government is taking to make local councils more autonomous.

(27828)

246
N   Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in which years since 1972 his Department and its predecessors have had accounts qualified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General due to irregular expenditure; and if he will specify the irregular expenditure involved in each case.

(26152)

247
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in receipt of state benefits or state retirement pensions have had their benefits or pensions withheld as a result of them being in hospital in each of the last four years.

(26809)

248
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money has been saved by the social security budget in each of the last four years by the withholding of benefits for those who have been in hospital.

(26808)

249
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many persons convicted of benefit offences have received (a) custodial sentences, (b) community sentences and (c) other sentences since 1997.

(27692)

250
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how he will apply SI No. 3561 to ensure that in determining local reference rent, the Rent Service is not disadvantaging otherwise eligible claimants from more affluent areas.

(27421)

251
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consultations took place in the drawing up of SI 2001, No. 3561; when the LGA was informed of SI 2001, No. 3561; and for what reason the SI was not referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

(27420)

252
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many and which registration areas the Rent Service uses administrative boroughs to determine the locality by which the local reference rent is ascertained.

(27418)

253
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications and economic consequences of the Court of Appeal Judgement in the case of Regina (Saadat and others) v The Rent Service.

(27419)

254
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the purpose of SI No. 3561 is to allow the Rent Service to continue to use administrative boundaries to set local reference rent.

(27422)

255
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people who will, in October 2003, be in households in receipt of one or more of (a) pension credit, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit, (d) child tax credit, (e) working tax credit, (f) income support and (g) income-related jobseekers allowance.

(27689)

256
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate by how much it would be possible to raise the basic state pension for the over-75s, on a revenue neutral basis, and taking account of offsetting savings in expenditure on means-tested benefits and enhanced income tax revenue, if he were not to introduce the pension credit and were instead to spend the money on the state pension for the over-75s.

(27687)

257
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls have been received by each telephone helpline administered by his Department in each month since May 2000.

(27764)

258
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what performance standards he has set his Department and its agencies for 2002-03.

(27763)

259
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people living in lone parent families in each year since 1997 were in (a) the bottom 30 per cent., (b) the bottom 40 per cent. and (c) the bottom 50 per cent. of the income distribution.

(27765)

260
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money is estimated to have been overpaid in winter fuel payments in each year since 1997 (a) to people who have been paid more than they are entitled and (b) to people who are ineligible for the benefit; and how much of this money has been recovered.

(27762)

261
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which areas are piloting the provision in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 to reduce benefit for claimants who breach community service orders; and how many claimants in each area have been sanctioned since the pilots began.

(27767)

262
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent in total on the Targeting Fraud website.

(27760)

263
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK is being consulted about the handling of prisoners in custody in Afghanistan.

[Transferred] (27835)

264
   Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's policy is on issuing work permits to Lithuanian citizens; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (27830)

265
   Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investment the Government is making in retraining members of the Russian Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (27833)

266
   Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to change the rules governing the issuing of work permits to Lithuanian citizens; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (27832)

267
   Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work permits were issued by the Government in each of the last three years to Lithuanian citizens; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (27831)

268
   Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to facilitate the teaching of English to members of the Russian Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (27834)

269
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what action has been taken by each local authority in each of the last three years to increase benefit take-up; and how much each campaign has cost.

[Transferred] (27766)