Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001- 02
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 23 May 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 23 May 2002, 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.

THURSDAY 23rd MAY

1   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what consultations the Ministerial Committee on the Universal Banking Service has had with outside organisations.

(59189)

2   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many times the Ministerial Committee on the Universal Banking Service has met over the past year; and when.

(59190)

3   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the land that his Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59062)

4   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58975)

5   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59318)

6   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many press releases were issued by his Department in each month between May and December 1997.

(59479)

7   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59480)

8   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of her Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from her Department to the Scotland Office.

(59525)

9   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times her Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59527)

10   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59526)

11
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding will be allocated to the regional development agencies in support of the tourism industry in the year 2002-03 by (a) her Department and (b) other Government agencies.

(58603)

12
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to ensure the continuing independence of the regional tourist boards.

(58599)

13
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what offers of financial support she has received for the proposed public-private coalition for the marketing of English tourism.

(58600)

14
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she expects a campaign to market English tourism to be launched.

(58598)

15
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department intends to allocate to the proposed public-private coalition responsible for the marketing of English tourism.

(58601)

16   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the administrative costs as a percentage of National Lottery income for each of the National Lottery distributing bodies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

(59304)

17   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the land that her Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59055)

18   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by her Department have a regional organisation; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58939)

19   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58990)

20   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58938)

21   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

(59317)

22   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many press releases were issued by her Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59500)

23   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many press releases have been issued by her Department to date in each month of 2002.

(59501)

24   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, why calculations of tax refunds being made to individuals identified as having been taxed incorrectly on retired pay awarded since 1952 do not take into account negative Treasury interest rates applied throughout the 1970s; and if he will make a statement.

(59288)

25   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason calculations of tax refunds being made to individuals identified as having been taxed incorrectly on retired pay awarded since 1952 have been based on simple interest; and if he will make a statement.

(59289)

26
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to take amenity considerations into account when responding to proposals for the operation of scheduled air services from RAF stations.

(57725)

27
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions ministers or members of his Department have met representatives of commercial airline companies to discuss the operation of scheduled services from RAF Leuchars.

(57726)

28
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is towards the use of front line RAF stations by commercial airlines operating scheduled services; and if he will make a statement.

(57727)

29
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proposals have been made and by which airline companies for the operation of scheduled service from RAF Leuchars.

(57728)

30
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to consult local interests before agreeing to the operation of scheduled services by commercial airlines from RAF Leuchars.

(57729)

31   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date his Department received reports and representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shibergan prison in Afghanistan; and what action his Department has taken.

(58828)

32   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on British military involvement in Afghanistan.

(59224)

33   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme.

(59196)

34   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to encourage recruitment to the Territorial Army.

(58866)

35   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he was advised, and by whom, that the named authors of a letter to The Times published on 13th May were not serving officers.

(58997)

36   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department informed The Times that the names of the officers purporting to have signed the letter published on 13th May were bogus.

(58998)

37   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the current operational status and serviceability of the RAF's four leased C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft.

(59278)

38   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list land within the Defence Estates portfolio that (a) is being offered for sale and (b) will be offered in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59068)

39   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements he is making to conduct an environmental impact assessment for the proposed asylum accommodation centre at Throckmorton; and when that assessment will be available to the planning authority.

(59085)

40   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what actions British forces in Afghanistan are undertaking to destroy heroin stockpiles.

(58915)

41   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department has (a) offered and (b) given to the Government and armed forces of Angola with regard to the planned integration of the UNITA rebel forces into the regular army; and if he will make a statement.

(58907)

42   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department has (a) offered and (b) given to the Government and armed forces of Angola (i) from April 2000 to April 2002 and (ii) since April 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(58911)

43   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58951)

44   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58950)

45   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58986)

46   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59316)

47
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purpose officials from his Department visited BioReliance in Stirling at the end of 2001; what other organisations were visited on the same basis; and on what dates these visits took place.

(57314)

48
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contact was made between his Department and BioReliance after the visit of his Department's officials in late 2001.

(57315)

49   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59486)

50   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59485)

51   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to raise the 10 per cent. postcode premium recognised in higher education funding to 20 per cent.

(59292)

52   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many lecturers in further education have lost their jobs in the last year; and in which institutions these cuts have been made.

(59287)

53   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what (a) teaching and (b) research funding for higher education establishments was given in the last academic year, broken down by (i) new universities and colleges of higher education and (ii) old universities.

(59290)

54   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what HEFCE funding for higher education institutions, divided into (a) new universities and colleges of higher education and (b) old universities there was in (i) this academic year and (ii) each academic year since 1995.

(59291)

55
N   Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what evaluation she has made of the value of breakfast clubs in enhancing the attendance and achievement of school pupils.

(56354)

56
N   Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the numbers of pupils excluded from schools.

(56347)

57   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59535)

58   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many times her Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59534)

59   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of the Department for Education and Skills, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from her Department to the Scotland Office.

(59536)

60   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of her Department's budgets for the current financial year remain unallocated; and under what budget headings this money falls.

(59105)

61   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what review she is undertaking of the capacity of secondary schools.

(59104)

62   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average cost of constructing a new one-form-of-entry 4-11 primary school has been in the last three years.

(59361)

63   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of maintained primary schools have a nursery.

(59362)

64   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much her Department spent on print and design costs in 2001-02.

(59365)

65   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pre-school places there were in the (a) public and (b) private sector in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001.

(59363)

66   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the effect of the European Agency Workers Directive on schools.

(59364)

67   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what types of specific (a) handicap and (b) special needs are defined as constituting special needs; and how many children there are with each specific type of handicap.

(58930)

68   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children with special educational needs are unable to read.

(58928)

69   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to provide appropriate educational facilities for children with autism; and if she will make a statement.

(58929)

70   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children with special educational needs there are at each of stages one to four of the Code of Practice.

(58925)

71   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children with statements of special educational need were taught in (a) maintained special schools and (b) other maintained schools in each of the last five years, broken down by local education authority.

(58926)

72   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average funding per pupil was for children in special schools in each of the last five years, broken down by local education authority.

(58927)

73
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the impact of the establishment of the Learning and Skills Council on the funding arrangements for school sixth forms.

(56357)

74   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list the land that her Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59056)

75   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many whole-time equivalent teachers were employed in Leeds schools in January.

(58885)

76   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the basis is for her statement that £60 million was spent on behaviour and truancy by the last Government.

(59283)

77   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58944)

78   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information she has collated on levels of non-attendance by (a) Asian girls, (b) Afro-Caribbean boys, (c) white working class boys and (d) pupils reliant on free school transport.

(59284)

79   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58989)

80   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many places will be available in pupil referral units for pupils of each age cohort in each local education authority in September.

(59282)

81   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer from the Deputy Prime Minister of 20th July 2001, Official Report, columns 461-2W on the Social Exclusion Unit, in which schools targets have been set for the reduction of truancy and which schools have met those targets; in what proportion of schools truancy was more than three per cent. above average in 2001 and what the current proportion is; and how many schools fall into each decile measured by the proportion of pupils days lost through (a) unauthorised absence and (b) all absence in the most recent year for which information is available.

(58933)

82   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by her Department have a regional organisation; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58945)

83   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

(59315)

84   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many press releases were issued by her Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59483)

85   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much expenditure her Department has incurred between 1997 and 1999 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of her Department.

(59482)

86   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002.

(59484)

87
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for the illegal use of veterinary medicines by (i) type and (ii) purpose in each of the last five years.

(58609)

88
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of the illegal use of veterinary medicines have been identified by (a) type and (b) the purpose for which they were used, in each of the last five years.

(58608)

89   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many affordable homes (a) were built and (b) are estimated to be built in (i) deep rural and (ii) mixed rural areas in each year from 1996 to 2016.

(58931)

90   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of her Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from her Department to the Scotland Office.

(59522)

91   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59523)

92   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times her Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59524)

93
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the past 12 months for which details are available raw sewage has been released into the sea from the Foreness Point sewage plant; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the telemetry used to monitor overflows at the Foreness Point sewage plant.

(58604)

94   Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will give farmers in England an option to apply the 20 day standstill only to animals brought onto the farm and to animals to be moved off, and not to the rest of the animals on the farm, on condition that they are kept separate and that laid down biosecurity measures are observed.

(59279)

95   Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to (a) amend and (b) lift the 20 day standstill requirement that was introduced following the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

(59280)

96   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to promote schemes which would encourage heat generation from renewable or coppiced wood crops.

(58904)

97   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to promote ethanol production from renewable or coppiced wood crops.

(58905)

98   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the land that her Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59058)

99   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her most recent estimate is of the total cost of establishing, operating, managing and monitoring the foot and mouth disease burial site at Throckmorton; and if she will make a statement.

(59272)

100   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Royal Society's report on developing UK policy for the management of radioactive waste.

(58900)

101
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice she has received from the Government Office for the South East on the use of her powers to create an order for a footpath under the flood arch on the A404 at Bisham, Berkshire, as a diversion of footpath Bisham.

(58825)

102
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the next deadline is for applications for agrimonetary compensation; how much she plans to claim; how that will be distributed; and if she will make a statement.

(58363)

103   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the letter of 11th September 2001 from the honourable Member for Torbay on behalf of Mr Moore of Paignton.

(58921)

104   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the letter of 11th September 2001 from the honourable Member for Torbay regarding foot and mouth.

(58922)

105   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the letter of 11th October 2001 from the honourable Member for Torbay on behalf of Mrs Cawood of Torquay.

(58923)

106   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the letter of 28th November 2001 from the honourable Member for Torbay on behalf of Mr Jones of Torquay.

(58924)

107   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58979)

108   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by her Department have a regional organisation; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58935)

109   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58934)

110   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

(59314)

111   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002.

(59481)

112   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will estimate the cost to the Environment Agency and local authorities of sandbag deployment in areas experiencing and prone to flooding in each of the last five years.

(59271)

113   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to tackle the problem of foreign companies unlawfully debiting credit cards in the UK.

(59181)

114   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Latvia Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59032)

115   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Customs Co-operation Committee (EEC-Turkey) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59047)

116   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Customs Section of the Joint Committee (EEC-Norway) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59053)

117   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Slovak Republic Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59026)

118   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Customs section of the Joint Committee (EEC-Switzerland-Liechtenstein) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59051)

119   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Customs Section of the Joint Committee (EEC-Iceland) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59052)

120   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the European Economic Area Joint Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59041)

121   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Poland Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59030)

122   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC—San Marino Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59043)

123   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Cyprus Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59045)

124   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-European Free Trade Association Joint Committee (and working parties) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59050)

125   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Canada Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59049)

126   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC—Malta Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59044)

127   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Korea Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59048)

128   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Russia Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59027)

129   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Czech Republic Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59029)

130   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Estonia Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59034)

131   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Romania Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59028)

132   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Hungary Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59033)

133   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Andorra Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59046)

134   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC—Bulgaria Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59035)

135   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC—Albania Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59036)

136   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Slovenia customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59025)

137   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Joint Committee (EEC—Switzerland) on the simplification of inspections and formalities (and working party) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59037)

138   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Joint Committees with the countries of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59040)

139   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the EEC-Lithuania Customs Co-operation Subcommittee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59031)

140   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times his office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) the department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59509)

141   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of the Treasury, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from the Treasury to the Scotland Office.

(59507)

142   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his Department since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59508)

143   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on contingency plans for the failure of (a) Equitable Life and (b) other major investment institutions.

(59106)

144   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average credit card debt owed by an adult in the UK.

(58871)

145   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employer-based credit unions were operating in the UK in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

(58869)

146   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many community-based credit unions were operating in the UK in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

(58870)

147   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 20th May, Official Report, column 90W, on customs officers, to what he attributes the rise in the proportion of complaints against HM Customs and Excise being upheld since 1997-98.

(59098)

148
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made recently of the competitiveness of the pound against the euro; and if he will make a statement

(58812)

149
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had since 1st January with other EU governments about British policy on the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58813)

150
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relative positions in the economic cycle of the United Kingdom in relation to the economy of the euro zone; and if he will make a statement.

(58790)

151
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances special advisers within his Department see draft answers to parliamentary questions; whether they make comments on these; and if he will make a statement.

(58806)

152
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what opinion polling has been carried out by his Department since 7th June 2001 into public attitudes to the euro; what the cost has been of such polling; if he will publish the results; and if he will make a statement.

(58796)

153
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether H M Treasury will be involving officials from other departments in the final evaluation of the five economic tests for euro entry.

(58803)

154
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals within HM Treasury were working on the preliminary technical work on the five economic tests on the latest day for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

(58801)

155
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether H M Treasury is involving officials from any other government departments in the preliminary technical work on the five economic tests for euro entry; and if he will make a statement

(58804)

156
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Treasury will be involved in the formal assessment of the five economic tests for euro entry; who they are; and if he will make a statement.

(58795)

157
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the time it will take to assess whether the five economic tests for euro entry have been met, from the time when the assessment is begun; and if he will make a statement.

(58793)

158
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the preliminary technical work so far completed on the five economic tests for the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58798)

159
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings (a) he, (b) his ministers and (c) special advisers have had since 1st January with Conservative honourable Members on the subject of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58816)

160
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department is making in working with other EU governments to reform the Stability and Growth Pact; and if he will make a statement.

(58811)

161
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the final report by Lord Penrose into Equitable Life; and if he will make a statement.

(57606)

162
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Cross-party Committee on Euro Preparations has met since 7th June 2001; what meetings are planned over the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

(58791)

163
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had since 1st January with (a) trade unionists, (b) business leaders and (c) the CBI, about Government policy on the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58817)

164
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to make a public statement when the preliminary technical work on the five economic tests for euro entry is completed and the formal assessment of the tests is begun; and if he will make a statement.

(58794)

165
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on tax harmonisation within the European Union.

(58814)

166
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to announce the appointment of the next Governor of the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement.

(58800)

167
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has started the assessment of the five economic tests for membership of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58807)

168
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed within the euro preparations section of H M Treasury; how many were employed on (a) 31st December 2000 and (b) 31st December 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(58809)

169
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the objective of the preliminary technical work on the five economic tests which is being carried out by the Treasury is; and if he will make a statement.

(58819)

170
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent work of the Cross-party Euro Preparations Committee.

(58792)

171
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent progress on the preliminary technical work relating to the five economic tests for membership of the euro.

(58808)

172
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals from the Bank of England are seconded to HM Treasury to work on the preliminary technical work on the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58799)

173
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had since 1st January with Ministers from the Department of Trade and Industry about the Government's plans for the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(58797)

174
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the outside academic work which has been commissioned since June 2001 by HM Treasury as part of the preliminary work on the assessment of the five economic tests for euro entry; and if will make a statement.

(58818)

175
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which (a) units and (b) individuals within H M Treasury will complete the work to establish whether the UK has met the five economic tests for euro entry; and if he will make a statement.

(58802)

176
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of British membership of the euro for British fiscal policy autonomy; and if he will make a statement.

(58815)

177   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the land that his Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59059)

178   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received about the mis-selling of endowment mortgages by (a) the Financial Services Authority and (b) the Financial Ombudsman (i) in the UK and (ii) in the Blackpool South constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(58830)

179   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints there have been about the Financial Ombudsman's handling of casework (a) in the UK and (b) in the Blackpool South constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(58831)

180   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the vehicle excise duty on cars according to the carbon dioxide rating.

(59373)

181   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what vehicle excise duty concessions are allowed to owners of cars with a cc rating of less than 1549; and if he will make a statement.

(59372)

182   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on when the Government intends to conduct a referendum on the euro.

(59543)

183   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected revenues from the North Sea are likely to be for 2002-03 based on an oil price of (a) $10, (b) $15, (c) $25, (d) $30 and (e) $35 a barrel at current US/UK exchange rates.

(59398)

184   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Treasury adjusted its oil revenue predictions after the discovery in January of the Buzzard field.

(59537)

185   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason he did not formally consult the oil industry prior to announcing changes to the fiscal regime in the 2002 Budget.

(59539)

186   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the GDP growth rate for Scotland was in each of the last five years for which data was available; what it is projected to be for this year; and if he will make a statement.

(59394)

187   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected revenues from the North Sea are likely to be for 2003-04 based on an oil price of (a) $10, (b) $15, (c) $25, (d) $30 and (e) $35 a barrel at exchange rates of £1/$1.40.

(59392)

188   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he expects to raise from employers' national insurance contributions by nation and region of the UK for 2002-03.

(59541)

189   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer with which companies he has had discussions regarding planning to build new gas pipelines to Bacton.

(58898)

190   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if a review date has been set when the effectiveness of the Sustainability Fund established by the Aggregates Levy will be assessed.

(59402)

191   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Treasury classes as a prudent and acceptable level of (a) deficit spending for the UK Government and (b) total national debt as a percentage of GDP.

(59389)

192   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the various rates of taxation for gas pipelines within the United Kingdom and on the rationale for the differences.

(58896)

193   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis he has made of which industries are most likely to benefit from the UK joining the European single currency market.

(59545)

194   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated effect would be on UK net borrowing for the current year if the UK GDP grows at (a) 1.75 per cent., (b) 1.5 per cent. and (c) 1 per cent. rather than the projected rate.

(59587)

195   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected revenues from the North Sea are likely to be for 2002-03 based on an oil price of (a) $10, (b) $15, (c) $25, (d) $30 and (e) $35 a barrel at exchange rates of £1/$1.50.

(59400)

196   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how he devised the UK GDP growth rate that was announced in the Budget.

(59395)

197   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Government will inform the public of the issues at stake before a euro referendum.

(59544)

198   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he predicts that the Scottish GDP growth rate will match the overall UK GDP growth rate.

(59397)

199   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected revenues from the North Sea are likely to be for 2002-03 based on an oil price of (a) $10, (b) $15, (c) $25, (d) $30 and (e) $35 a barrel at exchange rates of £1/$1.40.

(59399)

200   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Treasury has received from tax on gas pipeline tariffs in each year since 1997-98; and how much revenue the Treasury predicts it will receive from tax on gas pipeline tariffs in 2002-03.

(58897)

201   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Treasury predicts it will raise from the aggregates levy by (a) nation and (b) region of the UK for 2002-03.

(59540)

202   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if a review date has been set when the effectiveness of the aggregates levy at increasing the use of recycled aggregate will be assessed.

(59401)

203   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected revenues from the North Sea are likely to be for 2003-04 based on an oil price of (a) $10, (b) $15, (c) $25, (d) $30 and (e) $35 a barrel at current US/UK exchange rates.

(59391)

204   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what is being done to bring whisky duty in to line with other alcohol tariffs by level of alcohol content.

(59542)

205   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what levels of growth the Scottish GDP would have to attain in 2002-03 to keep pace with the projected EU average.

(59396)

206   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected revenues from the North Sea are likely to be for 2003-04 based on an oil price of (a) $10, (b) $15, (c) $25, (d) $30 and (e) $35 a barrel at exchange rates of £1/$1.50.

(59393)

207   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what UK net borrowing was in each year since 1992; and what the predicted UK net borrowing in each year from the current year to 2008 is.

(59390)

208   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives exist for oil companies to increase their exploration and appraisal drilling in the North Sea.

(59538)

209   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultation exercises the Treasury has launched in each year since 1997.

(59403)

210
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent research his Department has commissioned on the effects of company offshore tax havens on United Kingdom tax revenue.

(58211)

211
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the size of the usable surplus in the National Insurance Fund; and what restrictions there are on the future use of the Fund.

(58204)

212   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated annual storage costs are for each of the (a) 1921, (b) 1951, (c) 1961 and (d) 1971 decennial population census records for England and Wales; and which Department is responsible for paying those storage costs.

(59067)

213   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58974)

214   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58941)

215   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58940)

216   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the need for savers in the Savings Gateway to be able to access their funds and the Government's matched contribution to meet unexpected needs.

(59021)

217   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the number of low-income families who will benefit from the Savings Gateway once it is implemented nationally.

(58994)

218   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what tendering process was used to award Halifax plc partner status in the four Savings Gateway pilot projects.

(59019)

219   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow investments in the Savings Gateway to include methods of deposit other than cash.

(59020)

220   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he plans for private sector financial services providers and mutual societies in delivering the Savings Gateway.

(58995)

221   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the (a) open market model and (b) licensed-provider approach in delivering the Child Trust Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(59018)

222   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria have been used to determine the eligibility of families to participate in the Savings Gateway in the pilot areas of (a) Gorton, (b) Tower Hamlets, (c) Cumbria and (d) Cambridgeshire.

(59017)

223   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentive he will establish for a single service provider of the Savings Gateway to invest in and innovate the service.

(59022)

224   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what restrictions will be placed on the use of matured assets in the (a) Child Trust Fund and (b) Savings Gateway.

(59024)

225   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he plans for private sector financial services providers and mutual societies in delivering (a) deposit capability, (b) investment management and (c) advice and information when managing the Child Trust Fund.

(59023)

226   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of redress there will be for children born before the Child Trust Fund's deadline for tax free saving; and if he will make a statement.

(58993)

227
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 17th May, Official Report, column 806W, on national insurance contributions, if he will calculate for married women paying NICs at the reduced rate, (a) the value of the total employee contributions which would be paid by such women if they were subject to full rate Class I contributions instead, (b) the actual value of employee Class 1 contributions payable by such women and (c) the value of entitlement to contributory benefits attained by such women, on the same basis as these calculations are made for the self-employed.

(58518)

228   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59306)

229   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59488)

230   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press releases were issued by his Department in each month between May and December 1997.

(59487)

231   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information was provided by the French authorities to his Department concerning the visit of Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to that country recently.

(59199)

232   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what restrictions there are concerning visitors to those Palestinians under the supervision of British wardens in Jericho; and if this is consistent with the conditions of detention as stipulated under the agreement which ended Mr Yasser Arafat's confinement to his office in Ramallah.

(58958)

233   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the meetings of international organisations which the Zimbabweans who are listed on the UK/EU travel ban list are allowed to attend.

(58959)

234   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date his Department was contacted by the French authorities concerning the visit of the Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri; and what response his Department gave to the French.

(59198)

235   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had at the recent EU General Affairs and Defence meeting in Brussels on 13th and 14th May concerning progress on implementing the accord reached by Serbia and Montenegro to dissolve the Yugoslav Federation and form a new union.

(59089)

236   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received from European Government representatives since 11th March concerning Zimbabwean ministers attending meetings in Europe, while they are on the EU sanctions list.

(58960)

237   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent report he has received concerning the progress on implementing the accord reached by Serbia and Montenegro to dissolve the Yugoslav Federation and form a new union.

(59087)

238   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what access those Palestinians under the supervision of British wardens in Jericho have to (a) regular phones and (b) cellular phones; and if this is consistent with the conditions of detention as stipulated under the agreement which ended Mr Yasser Arafat's confinement to his office in Ramallah.

(58957)

239   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has recently discussed with the Argentine Government a change in sovereign status of the Falkland Islands.

(58954)

240   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the constitutional position of (a) the Falkland Islands and (b) Gibraltar.

(58955)

241   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Gibraltar's legal status within the European Union; and what recourse Gibraltar has with regard to disputes with other member states.

(59096)

242   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the conditions of detention of those Palestinians under the supervision of British wardens in Jericho.

(58956)

243   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how long the Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri was in the European Union.

(59197)

244   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the mandate of the EEC—Denmark—Faroe Islands Joint Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(59042)

245   Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Government of Oman about a constituent, Jonathan Lincoln Brown; and if he will make a statement.

(58932)

246   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date his Department received reports and representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shibergan prison in Afghanistan; and what action his Department has taken.

(58844)

247   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on co-operation between Kaliningrad and the European Union.

(59368)

248
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on forced movement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh by the Azerbaijan authorities.

(58048)

249
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the waiting time is for the spouse of a British National applying for a settlement visa in the UK from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

(57974)

250
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chief Prosecutor at the Hague Tribunal over funding of the Prosecutor's Office.

(58052)

251   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken since 5th April to help the implementation of the cease-fire agreement between the Government of Angola and the UNITA rebels; what reports he has received from his staff in the area about possible problems; what representations he has made to the Government of Angola with respect to creating a lasting peace; and if he will make a statement.

(58908)

252   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what part his Department played in brokering the cease-fire between the Government of Angola and the UNITA rebels signed in April; and if he will make a statement.

(58912)

253   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government priorities are for the European Council's meeting at Seville; by what standards he will judge the success of the meeting; and if he will make a statement.

(59101)

254   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the Government will be putting forward on the reform of the European Union's rotating presidency to the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement.

(59099)

255   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the stage it wishes the enlargement process to have reached by the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement.

(59103)

256   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's aims are for the promotion of environmental strategies in the European Union's external responsibilities at the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement.

(59100)

257
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the (i) level of risk posed by and (ii) stage of development reached by Iraq in the development of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

(58210)

258   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58977)

259   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59313)

260   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59499)

261   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59498)

262   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much expenditure his Department has incurred in 1997-98 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of his Department.

(59497)

263   Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason no information about the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters was passed to their families between 1977 and 1994.

(59326)

264   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanism will be used to monitor progress against the milestones contained in Standard Five of the National Service Framework for Older People, for every general hospital treating stroke patients to have a plan to introduce a specialised stroke service by April 2002.

(59351)

265   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the meetings he and his Ministers (a) have had and (b) propose to have with NHS trust and health authority chairmen and chief executives to discuss (i) reducing radiotherapy waiting lists and (ii) the associated financial implications of such action.

(59286)

266   Mr Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he last met the Government's National Cancer Director to discuss cancer treatment in the NHS; and how often such meetings take place.

(59285)

267   Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when decisions on the 'Options for Change' consultation on the future of NHS dentistry will be made; and if he will make a statement.

(59319)

268   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence he received of drug trials often not being carried out on older patients so drugs would not be designed to meet their needs, as published on page 6 of the NSF for Older People Interim Report on Age Discrimination; and if he will place the evidence in the Library.

(58852)

269   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence he received of age discrimination in staffing ratios, as set out on page 6 of the NSF for Older People Interim Report on Age Discrimination; and if he will place the evidence in the Library.

(58853)

270   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when Lord Laming will respond to the Victoria Climbie inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

(58847)

271   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the evidence found of areas and services considered to be affected by implicit age discrimination, as set out in table 4, page 7 of the NSF for Older People Interim Report on Age Discrimination.

(58856)

272
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place the eligibility criteria for free continuing care adopted by each strategic health authority as from 1st April in the Library.

(57926)

273
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he intends to issue guidance to strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and local authorities on the resolution of disputes regarding assessment for free continuing care and registered nursing care, following Cowl v Plymouth City Council, CA 14th December 2001 and the new Pre-Action Protocol of the Adminstrative Court.

(57929)

274   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the Fair Access to Care Services guidance.

(58845)

275   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what further work his Department is undertaking to ensure that he receives greater detail about individual policy age discrimination, as set out in paragraph 13, page 6 of the NSF for Older People Interim Report on Age Discrimination.

(58854)

276   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the evidence found of council policies identified in audits that could be age discriminatory, as set out in table 3, page 7 of the NSF for Older People Interim Report on Age Discrimination.

(58855)

277   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he collects and monitors regarding Standard 1 of the NSF for Older People as set out in the NSF for Older People Interim Report on Age Discrimination, page 10, paragraph 27.

(58851)

278   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place a copy of the Q4 2001-02 (a) emergency readmissions and (b) delayed discharge figures in the Library, broken down by (i) age, (ii) region, (iii) health authority and (iv) reason.

(58846)

279   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what Government funding has been made available in the last 12 months to promote management of continence by (a) constituency and (b) region.

(59114)

280   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will amend the Health and Social Care Act 2001 so that its powers cannot apply to the wider use and disclosure of genetic data without the consent of the patient; and if he will make a statement.

(59221)

281   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to regulate the use and disclosure of genetic data; and if he will make a statement.

(59222)

282   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in relation to the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002, what steps he will take to inform patients about (a) the disclosure of personal data to cancer registries and other bodies and (b) their right to object to such processing of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

(59220)

283   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he proposes to take if health professionals refuse to provide personal data to cancer registries and the like without the consent of the patient as required under the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002.

(59219)

284   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of extra spending announced for the NHS in the recent Budget will be allocated for treatment of and research into diabetes.

(59324)

285   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department plans to invest into long term cures for diabetes type one over each of the next five years.

(59322)

286   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much type one diabetes has cost the NHS in treatment over each of the last five years.

(59323)

287   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of the Department of Health, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from the Department of Health to the Scotland Office.

(59510)

288   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59511)

289   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times his Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59512)

290   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the certification and registration of still-born babies of between 18 and 24 weeks gestation.

(59162)

291   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the correlation between operating theatre space and staffing levels in (a) Somerset and (b) Somerset and Dorset Strategic Health Authority.

(59353)

292   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about the change in the number of care home beds in Somerset since 1997.

(59354)

293   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what requirement there will be on those in the health service providing supervision and treatment to personality disordered offenders in the community to collaborate with other statutory and voluntary agencies in the provision of services and sharing of information.

(59016)

294   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how ongoing support and supervision will be arranged for personality disordered offenders discharged into the community and managed primarily by health services.

(59015)

295   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that chartered psychologists are able to make a leading contribution to (a) the development of services for personality disordered offenders and (b) future revisions of mental health legislation.

(59014)

296   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reciprocal rights NHS patients have for treatment in other EU countries.

(59186)

297   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the right of local communities to establish or convert existing hospitals into foundation hospitals.

(59094)

298   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what structural reorganisations have taken place in the NHS since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the total cost to the NHS of structural reorganisation programmes since 1997.

(59093)

299   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the implications of the European Agency Workers Directive for the NHS.

(59095)

300   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to extend the pilot for the overseas treatment of NHS patients to the Epsom & Ewell constituency.

(59092)

301   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much debt incurred by health authorities has been taken on by primary care trusts.

(59091)

302   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which organisation is responsible for the disposal of the remaining NHS mental hospital sites in Epsom.

(59090)

303   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on progress towards renegotiating NHS consultants' contracts.

(58868)

304   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 14th May to the honourable Member for Falkirk East, Official Report, column 618W, on haemophilia, if he will make a statement on the length of time the Government is taking to make a decision on whether to make recombinant clotting factors available to all haemophiliacs.

(58848)

305
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department has taken following the review of NHS provision of chiropody and podiatry services.

(58516)

306
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to publish the review of chiropody services (Feet First II); and if he will make a statement.

(58517)

307
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to strategic health authorities and primary care trusts on the provision of chiropody services; and if he will make a statement.

(58515)

308   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the land that his Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59054)

309   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in reducing the use of bank staff within the NHS.

(59185)

310   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many sudden unexpected deaths from epilepsy there were in (a) Blackpool, (b) the North West and (c) the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(58834)

311   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what facilities and support are available to epilepsy sufferers and their families in the Blackpool area.

(58835)

312
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Tunbridge Wells, of 2nd May requesting a meeting to discuss the MRI scanner facilities at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

(58610)

313
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to mitigate the financial penalties on Carers Groups caused by the abolition of local inspection units.

(57608)

314
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason children given measles, mumps and Rubella vaccinations singly have the Rubella vaccination first.

(57528)

315
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if MMR is included in the research into the causes of autism undertaken by his Department.

(57529)

316
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representatives of parents' organisations participate in his Department's studies of immunisation policy.

(57530)

317   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the proposed accommodation centres will be required to register with the Care Standards Commission.

(59183)

318   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if children in accommodation centres wil have access to local child and adolescent mental health services.

(59182)

319
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on clinical negligence claims faced by the NHS; and how many claims there have been in each year since 1995.

(58209)

320   Ian Stewart (Eccles): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to introduce legislation to ban the import of oral tobacco products.

(58901)

321   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children are in (a) public and (b) private foster care in each authority; and of those, what proportion are out-of-area placements.

(58840)

322   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58943)

323   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies exist in (a) clinical psychology and (b) psychiatry in each health authority.

(58841)

324   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58942)

325   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58983)

326   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new chiropody/podiatry episodes of care were begun in each of the last five years in (a) the South East region (b) East Sussex, Brighton and Hove and (c) Eastbourne.

(59215)

327   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were discharged from NHS chiropody/podiatry lists in Eastbourne in each of the last five years.

(59214)

328   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines are in place for the appointment of MS nurses.

(59216)

329   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects that the NICE guidelines on MS services will be issued.

(59217)

330   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the centres at which the drugs Avonex, Betaferon, Copaxone and Rebif will be provided to MS patients; and how many MS patients are waiting to be assessed for treatment with these drugs.

(59212)

331   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59467)

332   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the franchise plan that he approved when appointing the new Chief Executive of the Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals Trust.

(58838)

333
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department assumed responsibility for the awarding of the contract to supply the UK Government with smallpox vaccine; and for what reason the management of this process was transferred to his Department from the Ministry of Defence.

(57376)

334
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what selection criteria the contract to produce smallpox vaccine for the UK Government was awarded.

(57377)

335
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which organisations and companies were considered by his Department when awarding the contract to produce smallpox vaccine for the UK Government; what contact his Department had with each of these organisations or companies prior to the awarding of the contract; when officials from his Department visited each organisation to assess the facilities for making the vaccine; by what criteria each of the facilities was assessed; which other organisations were (a) considered, (b) contacted and (c) visited prior to the creation of a shortlist of organisations; and on what criteria the final shortlist was compiled.

(57378)

336   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59503)

337   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59502)

338   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many London residents, broken down by ethnic origin and offence, were issued with a custodial sentence at magistrates' courts in the last 12 months.

(58906)

339   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many instances in the last 12 months the Metropolitan Police have been requested to attend the administrative removal of failed asylum seekers in London.

(58919)

340   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans Her Majesty's Immigration Service has for equalities training for teams engaged in administrative removals.

(58920)

341   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria the National Asylum Support Service uses to assess the (a) existence and (b) suitability of accommodation for those leaving induction centres.

(58917)

342   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been in National Asylum Support Service accommodation in each of the last 12 months.

(58916)

343   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of those who stayed in the Home Office induction centres in the last 12 months now reside in London.

(58918)

344   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes organised by (a) the Youth Justice Board and (b) in conjunction with the Youth Justice Board.

(58850)

345   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he last met the Chief of Youth Justice Board to discuss issues relating to youth justice.

(58849)

346   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases involving young people as defendants have been thrown out of magistrates' courts in each month in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

(58891)

347   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the trend in the number of court cases that are adjourned one or more times, and the effect that these adjournments have on other parts of the court service.

(58858)

348   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of promoting an increase in the number of solicitors specialising in youth justice cases as a means of decreasing levels of crime and re-offending.

(58857)

349   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of cases in magistrates' courts involving young people as a defendant (a) went ahead at the first hearing, (b) were adjourned once before the case is heard and (c) were adjourned more than once before the case is heard in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(58859)

350   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the recent trend in court cases involving young people which (a) are adjourned and (b) do not end in a conviction.

(58890)

351   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of restorative justice programmes in cutting re-offending by young offenders in each of the police authorities in the UK since 1997.

(58889)

352   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the draft Codes of Practice which relate to the use and retention of communications data as defined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; if he has revised his estimates on the costs to industry of the retention of such data; and if he will make a statement as to why the draft Code of Practice which relates to retention of communications data has not yet been issued.

(59265)

353   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure that police force computers contain a complete copy of the Electoral Roll on their local force computers; and if he will make a statement.

(59260)

354   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the kinds of public authorities likely to be granted access to communications data; how frequently he estimates each kind of organisation will seek access to communications data; and if he will make a statement.

(59258)

355   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his ID entitlement card provisions will be published.

(59259)

356   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce an amendment to (a) the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and (b) the Code of Practice in relation to Communications Data to prohibit the subsequent onward disclosure of communications data to third parties which are not authorised directly by him to receive such data; and if he will make a statement.

(59264)

357   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the revised certificate he signed last December with respect to Section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 has been used by the Security Service in relation to its functions; and if he will make a statement.

(59261)

358   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many subject access requests have been received by the Security Service since the right of access afforded by the Data Protection Act 1998 came into effect; how many of these requests were from data subjects who were not employed or contracted to the service; and what requests for access have resulted in personal data being obtained by data subjects.

(59263)

359   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many vehicles' details are recorded on the Police National Computer; what data categories describe these vehicles and what types of markers are used in connection with vehicles; and how many vehicles (a) carry a particular marker and (b) fall within a particular category.

(59256)

360   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with respect to the criminal conviction certificates to be issued by the Criminal Records Bureau, whether he will issue advice to employers requesting access to such certificates of job applicants; whether he plans to extend the statutory Code of Practice which cover other certificates to the criminal conviction certificate; whether he has undertaken research into the impact of the certificate on recidivism; if he will describe the activities, other than employment and visa applications, where the criminal conviction certificate is likely to be used; and if he will make a statement.

(59266)

361   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) vehicle, (b) criminal record and (c) combined vehicle/criminal checks were undertaken on the Police National Computer in the last year; and how many checks in other categories were undertaken.

(59267)

362   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if organisations which choose to disclose personal data to the Security Service in a way which is subject to Section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 are given a copy of the revised certificate signed by him last December; and if he will make a statement.

(59262)

363   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals who consent to the police taking their (a) fingerprints and (b) DNA samples are informed that if consent is withdrawn then the fingerprints or samples might not be destroyed; and if he will make a statement.

(59268)

364   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, how many times the Metropolitan Police Force sought access to communications data in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

(59257)

365   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when funding approval was given for a CCTV scheme in Arthurs Hill, Newcastle; and how much funding has been drawn down for it.

(59195)

366
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the management of Landmark and Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool in housing asylum seekers.

(58613)

367
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the performance of NASS in relation to its monitoring of contracts for asylum seekers in Liverpool.

(58614)

368   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the possible use of Sully Hospital in Cardiff to house asylum seekers.

(58837)

369   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidences of street crime were reported (a) to the police in Lancashire and (b) in each police authority area in Wales in each year since 1997.

(58836)

370   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans, he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of his Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from his Department to the Scotland Office.

(59513)

371   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59514)

372   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times his Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59515)

373   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on the future structure of (a) drug action teams and (b) crime and disorder partnerships in areas with two-tier local authorities.

(59088)

374   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of those detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14th February and who had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21st May, how many were due to be questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood but were not questioned before removal.

(59218)

375   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14th February had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21st May.

(59254)

376   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many detainees were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14th February.

(59253)

377   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what basis detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14th February were selected for questioning by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood.

(59251)

378   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of those detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14th February and who had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21st May, how many had been questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood.

(59250)

379   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14th February have been (a) selected for questioning and (b) questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood.

(59252)

380   Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what date the backlog team set up by the Home Office Pay and Pensions Service will have dealt with all requests for pay details from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in respect of its employees and pensioners which were outstanding on 21st May.

(59255)

381   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have successfully applied for asylum in the past two years.

(58874)

382   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have applied for, and been refused, asylum in the last two years.

(58873)

383   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers living in Glasgow, Cathcart constituency are awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.

(58872)

384   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have been removed from the UK following their failure to be granted asylum in the past two years.

(58875)

385   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of officers who were employed by the North Devon and Cornwall Police Force five years ago are Devon and Cornwall police officers this year; and if he will make a statement.

(59302)

386   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the training period is for (a) police officers and (b) special constables; and if he will make a statement.

(59303)

387   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special constables were actively working in Devon and Cornwall in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

(59300)

388   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average number of voluntary constables was in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(59301)

389   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are employed by the Devon and Cornwall Police Force; and if he will make a statement.

(59366)

390   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have left the Devon and Cornwall Police Force in each of the past 10 years; and of those who have left, how many (a) retired, (b) left for medical/health reasons, (c) had their employment terminated and (d) left for other reasons; and if he will make a statement.

(59367)

391
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many probation and drugs treatment services have adopted oral fluid testing for drug abuse.

(58514)

392
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) accuracy of the methods used for testing for drug abuse; and if he will make a statement.

(58513)

393
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the Government's pledge to bring 100,000 more criminals to justice.

(56386)

394
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the status of Sikhs within the Statutory Code of Practice on the Duty to Promote Race Equality.

(57975)

395
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time is for a response to a request for information from the Democratic Republic of Congo in cases for applications for a settlement visa for spouses of UK nationals.

(58050)

396
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what targets he sets for his Department to respond to a request for information from an overseas post in cases for applications for a settlement visa for spouses of UK nationals.

(58049)

397   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff will be employed at asylum accommodation centres; and if he will list the numbers of (a) teachers, (b) health care staff and (c) social workers within the total.

(59075)

398   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on local (a) labour markets and (b) small businesses of the establishment of asylum accommodation centres in remote rural locations; and if he will make a statement.

(59273)

399   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 11th March, Official Report, column 718W, on asylum accommodation centres, what evaluation has taken place of bids to develop and operate asylum accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement.

(59369)

400   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the land that his Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59057)

401   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the nature of the educational facilities and curriculum he plans for asylum accommodation centres.

(59275)

402   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, where on Throckmorton airfield he proposes to build the asylum accommodation centre.

(59274)

403   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision he has made with his Department's budget for the construction and running of asylum accommodation centres in each of the next three financial years.

(59076)

404   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what voluntary activity away from the sites of asylum accommodation centres he considers appropriate for residents of such centres; and if he will make a statement.

(59277)

405   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the nature of the sleeping arrangements planned for asylum accommodation centres is for (a) single men and (b) families; and if he will make a statement.

(59276)

406   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what formal offer has been made to QinetiQ for the purchase of land for an asylum accommodation centre at Throckmorton; what the size of such offer is; and if he will make a statement.

(59370)

407   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements he is making to inform local communities in the area of sites proposed for asylum accommodation centres about these centres and to consult with them about their impact.

(59083)

408   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Defence Estates organisation about its planned disposals of land and the suitability of such land for use as an asylum accommodation centre.

(59070)

409   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what incentive payments he is planning to make to staff employed at asylum accommodation centres.

(59074)

410   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements he is planning for the housing of the staff who will be employed at asylum accommodation centres.

(59073)

411   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contingency plans he has for the use of the facilities if the evaluation of the asylum accommodation centres show the centres are not performing satisfactorily.

(59072)

412   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how he will evaluate the performance of asylum accommodation centres; and how long after the opening of the centres the evaluation will be completed.

(59071)

413   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long planning authorities will have to respond to notification from his Department about proposals to build an asylum accommodation centre in their area; and what timetable there will be for subsequent non-statutory planning inquiries.

(59084)

414   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representations he has received supporting the establishment of an asylum accommodation centre at Throckmorton, Worcestershire.

(59086)

415   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will announce the (a) names of the successful bidder for the construction of asylum accommodation centres and (b) value of each contract awarded.

(59077)

416
N   Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 25th April from the honourable Member for Woking concerning Morreale, ref M1098006.

(58810)

417
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the fines imposed on private sector contractors within the Prison Service for not meeting targets have been (a) paid and (b) overturned on appeal in each of the last three years.

(58389)

418
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff were employed by the Prison Service in each of the last five years.

(58391)

419
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prison officers have left the service within (a) one year and (b) two years of starting in each of the last five years.

(58390)

420
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff (a) were recruited to and (b) left the Prison Service in each of the last five years.

(58392)

421   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58976)

422   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration is given to ease of access for family visits in placing prisoners.

(58843)

423   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of prisoners in each prison are (a) married or in long term relationships, (b) have children under 18 and (c) both.

(58842)

424   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58937)

425   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58936)

426   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59312)

427   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59496)

428   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of his Department.

(59494)

429   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many press releases have been issued by his Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59495)

430   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representatives of UK law enforcement agencies will be present in Japan and South Korea during the FIFA World Cup.

(59270)

431   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many football supporters resident in the West Midlands have been banned from travelling to the FIFA World Cup.

(59269)

432   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent action the Government has taken to protect women in Afghanistan.

(59081)

433   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of food shortages in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and what aid is being provided by the UK Government.

(59352)

434   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, on what date her Department received reports and representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shibergan prison in Afghanistan; and what action her Department has taken.

(58829)

435   Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid the UK has allocated to Sierra Leone in each of the last five years.

(59200)

436   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support Her Majesty's Government is providing in the rebuilding of Angola.

(58913)

437   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what actions Her Majesty's Government is undertaking to extend the availability of affordable anti-AIDS/HIV drugs in Southern Africa.

(58914)

438   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Angola; what emergency aid is (a) being delivered and (b) planned by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

(58909)

439   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money her Department has (a) pledged and (b) delivered to (i) the new Government of East Timor, (ii) non-governmental organisations in East Timor, (iii) multi-lateral programmes specifically aimed at East Timor and (iv) multi-lateral programmes including East Timor; and if she will make a statement.

(58910)

440   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to assist those countries which have signed up to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to protect children's rights to freedom from violence.

(59404)

441   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what efforts her Department is making to ensure that the commitments made in the UNGASS, World Fit for Children, outcome document are implemented in the countries her Department works in.

(59405)

442
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to meet the UN pledge of wealthy countries to spend 0.7 per cent. of national income on international aid.

(58213)

443
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his Answer of 11th April, Official Report, column 616W, on Israel, what the outcome was of the meeting between the Task Force and Minister Eliezer.

(58519)

444
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his Answer of 11th April, Official Report, column 616W, on Israel, what the final cost of the damage to projects in the area administered by the Palestinian Authority that have been funded by the UK on a bi-lateral basis is; and what plans he has to call for financial compensation.

(58520)

445   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58981)

446   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

(59310)

447   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many press releases were issued by her Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59477)

448   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much expenditure her Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of her Department.

(59476)

449   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002.

(59478)

450   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the land that his Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59061)

451   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement about Government policy on the acquisition of additional Public Record Office storage space to facilitate the transfer of the (a) 1921, (b) 1951, (c) 1961 and (d) 1971 census records from the Registrar-General's Department to the Public Record Office.

(59065)

452   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the provisional timetable is for the transfer of the (a) 1921, (b) 1951, (c) 1961 and (d) 1971 decennial population census records for England and Wales to the Public Record Office.

(59066)

453   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58978)

454   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58949)

455   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58948)

456   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58984)

457   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59311)

458   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of his Department.

(59473)

459   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59474)

460   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59475)

461   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the President of the Council, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58991)

462   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers or functions of UK government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within their remit from those departments to the Scotland Office.

(59504)

463   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Prime Minister, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his office since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date the representation was made.

(59505)

464   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Prime Minister, how many times his Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 broken down by (a) the Scottish Executive department approached, (b) subject of the representation and (c) date the representation was made.

(59506)

465
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Prime Minister, what opinion polling has been carried out into the public's attitude to the euro since June 2001; what the cost has been of such polling; if he will publish the results; and if he will make a statement.

(58611)

466   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Prime Minister, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Office were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58973)

467   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans she has to propose legislation on the application of the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to unstructured personal information in manual form, so that the rights of access granted to data subjects are the same in Scotland as they are in England; and if she will make a statement.

(59207)

468   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times her Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59533)

469   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59532)

470   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans she has to seek the transfer of the administration of reserved powers or functions of UK government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within their remit from those departments to the Scotland Office.

(59531)

471   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans her Department has to consult on the use of postal and electronic voting in future elections.

(58883)

472   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which organisations representing young people her Department regularly consults.

(58882)

473   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what input she has into the findings and presentation of Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland prior to its publication.

(59379)

474   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much it cost the Government to produce the Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland report in each year since its inception.

(59378)

475   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what ministers have an opportunity to view and comment on Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland prior to its publication.

(59380)

476   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if work has begun on Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland for 2000-01.

(59381)

477   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the differential levels of taxation for different gas pipelines within Scotland and England.

(58892)

478   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58987)

479   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

(59309)

480   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many press releases were issued by her Department in each month from the creation of her Department in July 1999 to 2001 inclusive.

(59471)

481   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002.

(59472)

482   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Solicitor General, what plans she has to propose changes to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to align its provisions with the Council of Europe Recommendation on Freedom of Information; and if she will make a statement.

(59206)

483   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the mandate of the Joint Committee on the Agreement between Switzerland and the EEC on the processing traffic in textiles is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

(59038)

484   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the mandate of the Joint Committee on the Agreement concerning products of the clock and watch industry between the EEC and Switzerland is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

(59039)

485   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to create an independent regulator for the holiday industry; and if she will make a statement.

(59097)

486   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will express the full and final offers of compensation for respiratory disease and vibration white finger as a percentage of live and deceased receipts for each constituency on the Damages paid, broken down by constituency, page of her Department's Coal Health Claims website.

(58839)

487   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to what extent export credit support is conditional upon a percentage of sourcing of UK content; how that content is measured, assessed and monitored; and whether the percentage of UK content varies between categories and sectors of exports.

(59194)

488
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what location is being considered for the Fourth Generation Light Source CASIM project; and if she will make a statement.

(58612)

489   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from her Department to the Scotland Office.

(59516)

490   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times her office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59518)

491   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59517)

492   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outcome was of the Internal Market, Consumer and Tourism Council on 21st May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

(59177)

493   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what meetings she has had with environmental groups on nuclear power since 1st January 2001.

(59299)

494   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she intends to take on the Royal Society's recommendation that there should be an urgent safety review of nuclear waste management to take into account the possibility of extreme terrorist intervention.

(58899)

495   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions regarding the change in the North Sea fiscal regime have been conducted with PILOT since the announcement of the 2002 budget.

(59386)

496   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government is doing to ensure that existing pipeline capacity is fully utilised.

(59383)

497   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that existing pipeline capacity is fully utilized.

(58894)

498   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many global companies have headquarters in Scotland.

(59377)

499   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much free capacity there is in each pipeline in St. Fergus.

(58893)

500   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many fabrication jobs there are in Scotland; and how many there were for each of the previous five years.

(59384)

501   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many fabrication jobs there are in Scotland; and how many there were in each of the previous five years.

(58895)

502   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how PILOT's stated goals are likely to be affected by the change in the North Sea fiscal regime.

(59387)

503   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many consultation exercises the Department has launched in each year since 1997.

(59376)

504   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions regarding the change in the North Sea fiscal regime were conducted with PILOT prior to the announcement of the 2002 Budget.

(59385)

505   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how the Government has assessed the likely effects of reduced industry cash flow due to North Sea taxation changes on exploration and appraisal drilling in the North Sea.

(59375)

506   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much free capacity exists in each pipeline that goes to St. Fergus.

(59382)

507
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices there were in each constituency in each year since 1995; and how many in each constituency in each year covered a population of 10,000 or less.

(58212)

508
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the proposed European Commission Directive on temporary workers.

(58205)

509
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement specifying government commitments made under current negotiations for the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services.

(58203)

510   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to review the future of Launch Aid.

(59406)

511   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58988)

512   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58946)

513   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by her Department have a regional organisation; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58947)

514   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking to comply with Government policy on age discrimination.

(59213)

515   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

(59308)

516   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002.

(59493)

517   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many press releases were issued by her Department in each month between May and December 1997.

(59492)

518   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that private bus companies continue to provide comprehensive local bus services to small communities.

(59208)

519   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what impact the financial position of National Air Traffic Services is having on the building of the new Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick.

(59178)

520
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer of 16th May, Official Report, column 798W, on the rural population, if he will estimate (a) the number of population increase and (b) the number of households projected in (i) deep rural and (ii) mixed rural areas by 2016.

(58779)

521
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer of 16th May, Official Report, column 799W, on the starter home initiative, how many key workers will receive financial support in small rural settlements with a population of (a) 3000 or less, (b) 3001-5000 and (c) 5001-10,000.

(58778)

522
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what advice he provides to local authorities on developing their outline business case for submission in bidding rounds for PFI housing schemes.

(57928)

523
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what criteria are used by the interdepartmental Project Review Group in assessing bids from local authorities for PFI housing schemes.

(57927)

524   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, further to his Answer of 16th May, Official Report, column 802W, on mobile home owners, since when compensation booklets have been made available at public exhibitions, inquiries and on request to those whose property may be required or affected by road construction.

(59193)

525   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to amend electoral registration forms issued by electoral registration officers to ensure that voters are informed that the details they provide may be recorded on police computers and other public sector databases.

(59170)

526   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the impact of wider statutory disclosures of name and address details from the electoral roll on the willingness of individuals from (a) ethnic, (b) religious and (c) other minority groupings to register for the vote.

(59171)

527   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, in relation to data matching exercises undertaken by the Audit Commission and local authorities, how many individuals' personal data have been processed in data matching exercises in connection with fraud; how many cases have been identified as part of that data matching exercise as being possible cases of fraud requiring further investigation; how many cases, after investigation, were deemed likely to be fraudulent; how many cases were prosecuted; what the total cost were of data matching exercises, including staff and computer costs; and what the estimated total savings to the public purse are and what multiplier was used in this calculation.

(59209)

528   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many names and addresses of vehicle owners and keepers have been disclosed by the DVLA to third parties by virtue of that party showing reasonable cause for the disclosure over the last three years; if he will break down these disclosure statistics by categories of reasonable cause; and if he will make a statement on the number of cases where disclosure has been subsequently shown to be not for a reasonable cause, with the action taken in these cases.

(59169)

529   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many prosecutions have been undertaken for non-registration with electoral registration officers; and if he will make a statement about the future of this offence in relation to access to electoral roll data without the consent of the voter.

(59172)

530   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what further self-certification schemes are being planned for the construction industry; and whether they will be subject to public consultation.

(59188)

531   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59520)

532   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of his Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from to his Department the Scotland Office.

(59519)

533   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many times his Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59521)

534   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether inspection bodies operating in the UK railway systems are accredited by UKAS.

(59168)

535   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether UKAS accredited personnel certification is used for those undertaking track maintenance and safety.

(59166)

536   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether the announcement of proposals for the reform of local government funding will include indicative figures on the impact of local authorities grant positions of the proposals.

(59163)

537   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the announcement of the review of local government funding and the implementation of the conclusions from that review.

(59164)

538   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the sub-contractors employed by Railtrack operate quality management systems certified by UKAS accredited certification bodies.

(59167)

539   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the review of local government funding will be followed by a period of consultation with local authorities before final decisions on changes to the funding formulas for local authority grants are implemented.

(59165)

540   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people applied to the Fire Service in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) ethnic origin.

(58902)

541   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list (a) the contractors and (b) sub-contractors responsible to Railtrack for maintenance of the track for each operating zone; what changes have taken place since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(59325)

542   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many fire stations there were in (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1997.

(58903)

543   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which local authorities have debt-free status and have retained their housing stock.

(58996)

544
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the cost of maintaining the Millennium Dome, including security costs, has been (a) since its closure and (b) in each of the last three months for which figures are available.

(58605)

545   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the viability of aerial tramways in the UK.

(59360)

546   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the total projected cost was of the Birmingham North Relief Road agreed between his Department and the consortium that is responsible for it.

(59330)

547   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of road tolls on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads on the level of road useage on other roads.

(59328)

548   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if it is his policy to modify the provisions of the Railways Act 1993 in relation to Railway Administration.

(59333)

549   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether (a) he and (b) his officials have met directors of Network Rail since they announced their bid for Railtrack.

(59357)

550   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate his Department has made of changes to road useage that will arise from the opening of the Birmingham North Relief Road.

(59331)

551   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 requirement in the Commercial Loan Agreement for the Railtrack Administrator to repay commercial loans in September.

(59358)

552   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the major transport investment projects that have been given final go-ahead by his Department since 7th June 2001.

(59359)

553   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which of the Uff-Cullen recommendations have been implemented.

(59356)

554   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimates have been made of the total annual revenue from the Birmingham North Relief Road.

(59329)

555   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what legal powers he will hold to require Network Rail to change the nature of the use of sub-contractors for network maintenance.

(59332)

556   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the amounts that could be raised by the introduction of road tolls on motorways.

(59327)

557   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the GNER franchise will next be advertised.

(59355)

558
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if it is his policy that regional tourist boards should remain independent of regional assemblies created under proposals outlined in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions.

(58602)

559   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to consult on plans for extending the use of postal and electronic voting in local and national elections.

(58884)

560   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what progress has been made in developing technology to limit the speed of motor vehicles on public roads.

(58878)

561   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many community councils were operating in England in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

(58877)

562   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what consultation his Department has initiated on the extension of the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds.

(58867)

563   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the condition of the railway track on the line between Liverpool Street and Colchester.

(58992)

564   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what guidance he gives to local authorities and to elected mayors on the timing sequence of traffic lights on trunk roads to ensure that congestion is minimised.

(59107)

565   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will take steps to introduce during non-rush hour periods which have a light vehicle flow traffic lights which are switched to show only a flashing amber light in each direction

(59184)

566   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will have discussions with his US counterpart on the measures used there to reduce traffic congestion without increasing taxation; and if he will make a statement.

(59108)

567   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action he intends to take to reduce the number of pedal cyclists who ride through red traffic lights.

(59109)

568   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he expects passenger rail services to begin between Edinburgh Waverley and the proposed Edinburgh Park station.

(59201)

569   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many and what total amount of fines were imposed on those who failed to register on the electoral register in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(58966)

570   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much public expenditure was incurred in organising the 2001 General Election in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield; and if he will make a statement.

(58967)

571   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many cases of failure to register on the electoral register have been prosecuted in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(58965)

572   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action he is taking to increase the take up of (a) postal voting and (b) proxy voting to increase turnouts in elections; and if he will make a statement.

(58964)

573   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action is being taken to increase the numbers registered on the electoral register; and if he will make a statement.

(58971)

574   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action is being taken to publicise the need to register on the electoral register; and if he will make a statement.

(58970)

575   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the (a) numbers and (b) percentage of residents who were not registered on the electoral register in (i) the UK, (ii) Greater London and (iii) Enfield in each of the last five years.

(58972)

576   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission regarding a review of election law; and if he will make a statement.

(58963)

577   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will estimate how much expenditure was undertaken in compiling the electoral register in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(58969)

578   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will estimate how much income was derived from the electoral register in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(58968)

579   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the land that his Department (a) is offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

(59060)

580   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what measures he intends to take to improve road bridges over railway lines as a result of the Great Heck accident.

(59371)

581   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the arrangements to secure rail freight through the Channel Tunnel; and who will pay for them.

(59069)

582   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people have been (a) killed and (b) injured in road traffic accidents along the A5 road between Shrewsbury and Wrexham in each year since 1992.

(59223)

583   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether train operating companies' driving staff are required to carry, and complete when they judge necessary, report forms detailing irregularities, incidents and other matters related to safe operation of the railways which are the responsibility of rail companies, their contractors and their sub-contractors.

(58860)

584   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries caused by domestic fires were recorded by each fire authority in each of the past 10 years.

(59203)

585   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries caused by domestic fires were recorded by fire authorities broken down by age range (i) 0-5, (ii) 6-10, (iii) 11-20 and (iv) 21 plus in the last 10 years.

(59204)

586   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many fires in multiple occupation homes were recorded by fire authorities in each of the past 10 years.

(59205)

587   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many domestic fires were recorded by each fire authority in each of the past 10 years.

(59202)

588
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on progress in establishing a Lancashire-wide groundwork.

(57607)

589   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent forecasts of future trends in UK port traffic have been made by his Department; and what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient port capacity will be available to meet predicted demand.

(58832)

590   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what studies his Department has carried out to assess the likely contribution of port development to (a) integrated transport policy and (b) wider sustainable development objectives.

(58833)

591
N   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what revised guidance he has issued about the siting and operation of speed cameras.

(58826)

592
N   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what representations he has received over the past six months about the condition of the railway track between Colchester and London Liverpool Street from (a) Railtrack, (b) train operating companies, (c) rail unions and (d) others; and if he will make a statement.

(58615)

593
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what research his Department has commissioned into the prevention of rail failures and accidents.

(58207)

594
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to commission research into the dangers posed by the use of hands-free mobile phones whilst driving.

(58202)

595
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to meet the airlines to discuss the quality of cabin air in domestic and international flights.

(58206)

596   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which proposals for new ports are under consideration that fall into the category of major infrastructure projects as defined by the Government's consultation paper, New Parliamentary Procedures for Processing Major Infrastructure Projects.

(58888)

597   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what proposals for (a) airports, (b) runway extensions and (c) airport terminal extensions of which he has been notified fall within the category of major infrastructure projects as defined in the Government's consultation paper, New Parliamentary Procedures for Processing Major Infrastructure Projects.

(58887)

598   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which current proposals for road schemes in excess of 30 kilometres in length are (a) in the targeted programme for improvement, (b) recommended by multi-modal studies and (c) supported in local transport plan settlements.

(58886)

599   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58961)

600   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what steps he is taking to (a) safeguard the secrecy of the ballot, (b) protect voters from intimidation and (c) ensure that postal votes are completed by the voter to whom they belong, in postal ballots.

(59174)

601   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58982)

602   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has for adding the Island Line to the London to Portsmouth railway franchise.

(59176)

603   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of where the cost of providing affordable housing in sites suitable for market-price housing is borne.

(59175)

604   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58962)

605   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, in what areas Neighbourhood Wardens operate; and what access other areas have to opportunities to develop such schemes.

(59173)

606   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59307)

607   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59491)

608   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many press releases were issued by his Department in each month between May and December 1997.

(59490)

609   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of his Department.

(59489)

610   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58985)

611   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the development of statutory money purchase illustrations and composite annual pension benefit statements.

(59063)

612   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to ensure that computers processing benefit data contain a complete copy of the Electoral Roll; and if he will make a statement.

(59211)

613   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals' personal data have been processed in data matching exercises in connection with benefit fraud; how many cases were identified as part of that data matching exercise as being possible cases of benefit fraud requiring further investigation; how many cases after investigation were deemed likely to be fraudulent; how many cases were prosecuted; what the total costs were of all data matching exercises, including staff and computer costs; and what the estimated total savings to the public purse are and the multiplier used in this calculation.

(59210)

614   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has in place to educate benefits claimants regarding the use of automated credit transfer when it is introduced for payments in 2003.

(59191)

615   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times his office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59528)

616   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of the Department for Work and Pensions, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from his Department to the Scotland Office.

(59529)

617   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his Department since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

(59530)

618
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for each (a) month and (b) quarter over the past four years, how many people were contracted out of SERPS; and what proportion of the workforce are contracted out.

(58524)

619
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are contracted out of the additional pension; and what the equivalent number was in each of the last five years.

(58522)

620
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for each of the past five years, how many people were contracted out of SERPS; and what proportion of the workforce were contracted out.

(58521)

621
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of the workforce are contracted out of the additional pension, broken down by level of income.

(58523)

622   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Glasgow, Cathcart have found employment as a result of the New Deal for Lone Parents.

(58881)

623   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families with children in Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have moved out of poverty since 1st May 1997.

(58876)

624   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people in Glasgow, Cathcart have found full-time work as a result of the New Deal.

(58879)

625   Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Glasgow, Cathcart have found full-time work as a result of the New Deal for the over-50s.

(58880)

626   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd April, Official Report, column 202W, on the verification framework, if he will place a copy of 'The Cost of the Verification Framework', DSS Operational Research, Analytical Services Division 2A, published in April 2001, in the Library.

(59320)

627   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 24th April, Official Report, column 340W on single room rent, if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent research by the Rent Service showing the average single room rent increases for the UK.

(59321)

628
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the company practice of dishonouring final salary pension schemes.

(58051)

629   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost is for services provided by consultants engaged by Remploy over the past 12 months, broken down by (a) consultancy firm and (b) individual projects.

(59249)

630   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what purposes consultants have been engaged by Remploy in the past 12 months.

(59248)

631   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which firms of consultants are engaged by Remploy.

(59247)

632   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many firms of external consultants have been engaged by Remploy between April 2001 and March 2002; and if he will list them.

(59246)

633
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what advice and information will be provided by staff in the new pension centres to encourage (a) new and (b) existing pensioners to (i) claim the minimum income guarantee and (ii) receive payments directly from post offices.

(58208)

634   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of ordinary written Questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

(58980)

635   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58952)

636   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by his Department have a regional organisation; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(58953)

637
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20th May ref 57511 on pensions, what the latest years for which estimates are available on a basis consistent with that used in the 1998 Pensions Green Paper to provide estimates for 1998 are for (a) GAD and DWP data on state spending on pensions and (b) ONS estimates of the size of private pensions in payment; and what the estimates are in both cases.

(58805)

638   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

(59305)

639
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the starting salary is for a decision maker within the Department.

(58606)

640   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of his Department.

(59468)

641   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002.

(59470)

642   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

(59469)

643   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Minister for Women, what estimate she has made of the number of female councillors.

(59080)

644   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Minister for Women, what the Government is doing to decrease the pay differential between men and women in the Civil Service.

(59082)

645   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Minister for Women, what steps the Government has taken to remove the barriers to women's membership of Parliament.

(59079)

646   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Minister for Women, what steps the Government has taken to decrease the pay differentials between men and women.

(59078)

647   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she expects to consult on the withdrawal of child benefit in respect of truancy.

[Transferred] (59281)

648   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on trends in credit card fraud over the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (59179)

649   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle credit card fraud.

[Transferred] (59180)

650   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Government aims to achieve within the European Union's educational competence at the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (59102)

651   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the Government's policy is on when it is appropriate for it publicly to consult on potential changes in legislation; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (59374)

652   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses have been required to supply information on their returns to the Office of National Statistics in each of the past three years.

[Transferred] (59187)

653   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what information businesses are required to supply to the Office of National Statistics; and in which legislation this requirement lies.

[Transferred] (59192)

654   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full time staff members at HM Customs and Excise have responsibility for ensuring that questions from quarry operators regarding the provisions of the aggregates levy are answered.

[Transferred] (59388)

655   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the criteria are for eligibility for exemption from taxation of vehicles used by disabled people; whether such exemption will be extended to non-disabled people who make occasional use of the vehicle; and what evidence there is of abuse of the concession.

[Transferred] (59064)