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 24 October 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 24 October 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 24th OCTOBER

1   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the proportion of the cost of specialist residential placements for vulnerable children contributed by different health authorities is taken into account in financial allocations for social services to local authorities; and if he will take account of this matter in the process of determining the new funding formulae for local authorities.

(77084)

2   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what provision is being made for local authorities incurring additional costs from hiring agency staff whilst waiting for checks to be completed by the Criminal Records Bureau on permanent care workers.

(77088)

3   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action he plans to take to deploy additional fire prevention and emergency resources in Twickenham on dates for events to be held at the rugby stadium in the event of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union; and if he will make a statement.

(76927)

4   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action he plans to take to deploy additional military resources to (a) Greater London and (b) Inner London in the event of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union; and if he will make a statement.

(76928)

5
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the amount spent by local authorities on bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(76406)

6
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the progress of the Bed and Breakfast Unit in reducing the number of homeless families with children living in bed and breakfast accommodation.

(76405)

7   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the ability of local authorities to regulate the activities of private clamping and towing companies; and if he will make a statement.

(77333)

8   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment has been made of the impact of the implementation of the Private Securities Act 2001 on local authorities' ability to control the activities of private clamping and towing companies; and if he will make a statement.

(77334)

9   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what responsibilities under the Private Securities Industry Act 2001 he plans to give local authorities; what funding will be given for these extra responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

(77332)

10   Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what level of cross-border co-operation he anticipates between neighbouring fire authorities during a firefighters' strike.

(77112)

11   Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information he has received from the Chief Fire Officer of Somerset on his assessment of the adequacy of fire cover in areas of the Somerton and Frome constituency during a firefighters' strike.

(77111)

12   Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information he has (a) received and (b) requested from (i) chief fire officers and (ii) the Chief Inspector of Fire Brigades on their assessments of the adequacy of fire cover in fire authority areas during a firefighters' strike.

(77110)

13   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many units of affordable housing have been built in the Salisbury constituency in each year since 1997.

(77231)

14   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library a summary of the responses to his consultation on reform of local government finance.

(77027)

15   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to strengthen the powers of (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords compulsorily to purchase empty properties; and if he will make a statement.

(77105)

16   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to enhance the power of local authorities to deal with derelict empty properties; and if he will make a statement.

(77394)

17   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what evaluation he has made of the introduction of a compulsory leasing scheme for derelict empty properties; and if he will make a statement.

(77104)

18   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to extend the right of local authorities to purchase residential property on the open market; and if he will make a statement.

(77103)

19   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the use of fireworks on (a) the environment and (b) wildlife; and if he will make a statement.

(76958)

20   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will estimate the average costs to parish councils, broken down into bands according to size, of the internal audit work, in the new lighter touch audit scheme, which will be required to be carried out in addition to the main audit; and if he will make a statement.

(77051)

21   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proposals he has to lay before the House amendments to the Accounts and Audit Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/590).

(77052)

22   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to introduce legislation to limit the height of domestic hedges; and if he will make a statement.

(77048)

23   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on (a) events organised for, (b) planned release of documents at and (c) number of registrants for the Urban Summit in Birmingham at the end of October.

(77234)

24   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Castle Point of 17th October, Official Report, column 926W, on the green belt, if he will list the locations and number of hectares respectively of new green belt land earmarked since June 1997.

(77381)

25   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the members of the West Midlands Regional Assembly; where they are from; what their function is; how they were chosen; how they can be dismissed; what they cost; and how they are paid for.

(77097)

26   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to review planning guidance for renewable energy generation; and if he will make a statement.

(77385)

27   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he has contingency plans to allow the Armed Forces access to standard fire service fire engines during Fire Service strikes.

(77024)

28   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) public and (b) private sector homes were demolished in England in 2001-02 in each local authority area.

(77300)

29
N   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received regarding the funding of Beacon School, Falmouth under the Space for Sports and Arts in Schools programme.

(75291)

30   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with football authorities and the Department for Education and Skills about raising awareness in schools of racism in sport, with particular reference to football; and if she will make a statement.

(76926)

31   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many vehicles she and her ministers have access to, broken down by vehicle type; what the annual operating costs are for the last three financial years; how much it costs to convert a car so it is suitable for a minister; and if she will make a statement.

(76925)

32   Jim Dowd (Lewisham West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on when free to air digital services should include video provision for the Parliamentary Channel.

(77466)

33
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the press in each year from June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76850)

34
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many of the artifacts and collections in the British Museum were maintained at the right environmental condition in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02 and (e) 2002-03 to date.

(76601)

35
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much time the average visitor spent in the (a) World City Gallery and (b) London Before London exhibition in the Museum of London in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03 to date.

(76599)

36
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many football games she has attended since 26th November 2001 in her official capacity; and where those games took place.

(76603)

37
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the spending review for Sport England for the period 2003 to 2006 will be published; and if she will make a statement.

(76572)

38
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the spend per head was on (a) visitor catering, (b) retail and (c) the Super X Simulator in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03 to date.

(76602)

39
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many paintings were (a) lost, (b) stolen and (c) severely damaged while on loan from the National Gallery in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2002 to date.

(76600)

40
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) gold, (b) silver and (c) bronze medals have been won at major international championships by (i) teams and athletes supported via the UK World Class Performance Programme in (A) able-bodied and (B) disabled events in (1) 2000, (2) 2001 and (3) 2002 to date.

(76604)

41   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance the Government will give to Access Radio stations to set up; and whether they will be eligible for Lottery funding.

(76943)

42   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what controls will be placed on Access Radio stations to prevent competition with small local radio stations.

(76942)

43   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what level of profit Access Radio stations will be permitted to make.

(76945)

44   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what rules will govern the running of Access Radio stations.

(76946)

45   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what use is made of the former Gatekeeper's Room in Marble Arch.

(77293)

46   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she will recognise the Cornish language under the European Charter for Minority and Regional Languages.

(77398)

47   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the cost associated with her proposal to transfer licensing responsibilities from magistrates to local authorities.

(77397)

48   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Gulf War veterans from the Twickenham constituency have been seen by the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme; how many of these were assessed; how many were assessed as having a cancer; and if he will make a statement.

(76929)

49   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many condoms have been purchased by his Department for non-medical purposes in each of the last five years; and what his Department's planned requirement is for each of the next five years.

(77372)

50   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if SA80 rifles have been withdrawn from his Department's stocks for export.

(77371)

51
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the fatalities at the Deepcut Army Barracks.

(76908)

52
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of the beef supply contracts for the Ministry of Defence and its agencies are sourced from Scottish herds.

(76812)

53
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many posts were advertised in the press in each year since June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76856)

54
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what vaccination programmes were undertaken for UK armed forces in the build up to the Gulf War; and if he will make a statement.

(76290)

55
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list drug seizures made by Royal Navy vessels since 1997; where the seizures took place; what the value of each seizure was; and if he will make a statement.

(76289)

56
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what vaccination programmes for UK armed forces are (a) underway and (b) planned in advance of possible military action in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(76291)

57   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if (a) MoD Fire Service appliances and (b) QinetiQ fire appliances from Boscombe Down will be deployed to provide fire service cover to the civilian community.

(77232)

58   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Green Goddess fire engines will be deployed in Salisbury constituency; how many service personnel will man each appliance; and from what duties they have been withdrawn to provide fire service cover.

(77316)

59
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision will be made, and in what locations, for emergency fire services in rural Dorset in the event of a strike by firemen.

(76862)

60   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to respond to the recommendations of the Defence Scientific Advisory council on a review of the L21 A1 plastic baton round; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

(77102)

61   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received asking him to review the cases of soldiers who were shot for cowardice during the First World War; and if he will make a statement.

(77046)

62   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to conduct a pay audit on the non-industrial staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(77042)

63   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the pay settlement awarded to the non-industrial sector at his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(77041)

64   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reduce the number of civilians employed at RAF Innsworth; and if he will make a statement.

(77039)

65
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many, and what category of weapons have been (a) lost and (b) stolen from MoD units and establishments in each year since 1972.

(76671)

66
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many servicemen have had their post-operational tour leave cancelled as a consequence of preparing to train for firefighting duties.

(76668)

67
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many servicemen are absent without leave from their units; and what the figure was on 1st October 2001.

(76667)

68
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) soldiers, (b) sailors and (c) airmen have committed suicide in each year since 1972.

(76672)

69
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which departmental minister represented Her Majesty's Government at the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt.

(76669)

70   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 548W, he will assign monetary values to each of the items (a) to (e).

(77233)

71   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the McKinsey report on the future strategy for the Defence Logistics Organisation.

(77064)

72   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the employment implications of the Partnered Defence Supply Chain Initiative; and when he will be able to inform the House.

(77065)

73   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate she has made of the number of families not entitled to (a) income support and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance who will be passported to free school meals under the new tax credits scheme.

(77276)

74   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the arrangements will be for passporting families to entitlement to free school meals under the new tax credits scheme.

(77277)

75
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether higher education institutions will charge tuition fees to students who transfer to another institution in the current or next academic year as a result of regrading of this year's 'A' levels.

(76414)

76
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she will bring forward proposals for a replacement scheme for individual learning accounts.

(76546)

77
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the disposal of TEC assets to (a) the public sector and (b) private interests.

(76410)

78
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many modern apprenticeships have been under way (a) in total and (b) in each industrial sector in each year since the inception of the scheme; and how many persons have entered a programme in each of these years.

(76413)

79
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the offer of additional funds to further education colleges under (a) the Teaching Pay Initiative and (b) the College Pay Initiative; and what proportion of the remuneration of each full-time equivalent these aggregates represent if passed on in full.

(76416)

80   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what special assistance she proposes to provide to those local education authorities whose results in English and Mathematics for 11 year-olds in 2002 fell a long way short of the Government's 2004 target; and if she will make a statement.

(77340)

81   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether educational facilities in accommodation centres will have (a) a special educational needs co-ordinator and (b) classroom assistants trained to assist with special educational needs.

(76939)

82   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her estimate is of the number of (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants that will be required to teach a total of 120 children in Years 1 to 13 in accommodation centres.

(76940)

83   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether children in accommodation centres will be (a) allowed and (b) required to take GCSEs.

(76941)

84
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of candidates from independent schools achived A* or A grades in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(75254)

85
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her estimate is of the average expenditure on (a) secondary school places per pupil in the state sector and (b) secondary school places per day pupil in the independent sector; and if she will make a statement.

(75255)

86
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools have not been classed by OFSTED as well led over the last five years; and what proportion this is of all schools inspected.

(75256)

87
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her estimate is of the number of local education authorities where performance has been found to be unsatisfactory; if she will list these authorities; and if she will make a statement.

(75257)

88
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on whether the performance inequalities between (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools have narrowed since 1997.

(75258)

89
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what is the average mark required to pass GCSE (a) maths, (b) English and (c) history for each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(75259)

90
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what has been the total cost in each of the last four years of the performance related pay scheme for teachers, broken down by (a) administration costs, (b) payments to teachers and (c) other costs; how many of those who applied received the additional payments; and if she will make a statement.

(75260)

91
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of GCSE candidates achieved five or more A* to C grades in each year from 1987 to 2002; and if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying the change in performance.

(75261)

92
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her estimate is of the average proportion of GCSE marks accounted for by coursework; and if she will make a statement.

(75262)

93
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her estimate is of the total local and national government expenditure, per pupil, in state secondary schools in 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(76547)

94
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average mark needed to attain a grade (a) A, (b) C and (c) G in GCSE mathematics was in each year from 1987 to 2002.

(75263)

95
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many employees there were of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies; if she will estimate the annual (i) staff pay costs, (ii) buildings costs, (iii) administration costs and (iv) other cost for each; and if she will make a statement.

(76169)

96
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average mark needed to achieve an (a) A grade and (b) A* grade in GCSE mathematics was in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(76548)

97   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the education SSA is per head in secondary schools in Wandsworth.

(77289)

98   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress she has made in improving standards in secondary schools in (a) England and (b) Wandsworth.

(77287)

99   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils have been excluded from (a) state primary and (b) state secondary schools in the London Borough of Hillingdon at each of the key stages in each year since 1997.

(77294)

100   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to increase the earnings threshold at which student loans become repayable; and if she will make a statement.

(77056)

101   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action she is taking to encourage schools to promote recycling; and if she will make a statement.

(77215)

102
N   Mr Robert Walter (North Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to propose amendments to legislation regarding levies to the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board.

(76617)

103   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list, by local education authority, the percentage of children receiving extra funding from (a) area cost adjustment, (b) other deprivation, (c) ethnicity, (d) income support and (e) sparsity funding.

(77016)

104   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children aged between four and 18 years are in schools in local education authorities; if she will list the funding allocated to each school under her Department's proposed options; and if she will publish the deprivation allocation from Additional Educational Needs under the Government's options (a) with and (b) without any ethnicity-weighting factor.

(77160)

105   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her most recent estimate is of annual emissions of carbon dioxide in the UK; and what the level was in 1997.

(77461)

106   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what improvement in energy efficiency in domestic properties by 2010 she expects to result from local authorities' activities under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; what the predictions were in the UK Climate Change Strategy; and if she will make a statement on how the discrepancies will be addressed.

(77439)

107   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish her Department's review of local authority energy efficiency activity.

(77452)

108   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received from the Centre for Policy on Ageing (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77411)

109   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to ensure that (a) registered social landlords, (b) utility companies and (c) Government-run energy efficiency or fuel poverty schemes provide information to energy conservation authorities on the energy efficiency improvements carried out in their area; and if she will make a statement.

(77459)

110   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many local authorities are on course to meet the targets contained in their strategies under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; what measures she proposes to ensure that these targets are met; and if she will make a statement.

(77473)

111   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets are in force to reduce the consumption of energy within buildings occupied by central government; and if she will make a statement.

(77448)

112   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the local authorities she has contacted regarding underperformance on their targets under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, and indicate how these local authorities were identified.

(77455)

113   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) shelters, (b) bedsits and (c) houses in multiple occupation were registered as unfit for habitation in each year since 1997.

(77421)

114   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) single pensioners, (b) older couples and (c) families with children are recognised as fuel poor; and what the figures were in each year since 1997.

(77450)

115   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department received from the Treasury prior to the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill concerning the cost of a statutory target of 30 per cent. in domestic energy improvement by 2010.

(77406)

116   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 15th October, Official Report columns 581-2W, to the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire, whether the advice that she received on the implications of having a 30 per cent. improvement in domestic energy efficiency as a principal aim of the Home Energy Conservation Bill suggested that progress towards such a principal aim could legally be made by (a) new regulation and (b) energy efficiency programmes funded by bodies other than the Government.

(77440)

117   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to require local authorities to appoint an officer to work on strategies they have drawn up under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; and if she will make a statement.

(77472)

118   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received concerning the need for statutory targets for local government to be applied to energy conservation in the home.

(77417)

119   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department received from the Treasury concerning the saving to that Department as a result of the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77408)

120   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish the White Paper on Energy Policy.

(77476)

121   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the local authorities she has contacted regarding underperformance on recycling targets and indicate how these local authorities were identified.

(77454)

122   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to develop a new strategy for home energy efficiency.

(77444)

123   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what monitoring of (a) accuracy and reliability and (b) comparability her Department has carried out regarding the performance figures collected to show local authorities' progress on strategies drawn up under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

(77457)

124   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will make her next report to Parliament under section 3(4) of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

(77474)

125   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 15th October, Official Report, columns 581-2W, to the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire, on energy efficiency, what advice was received about the duties that having a 30 per cent. improvement as a principal aim would place on local authorities.

(77446)

126   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to meet the target of reducing energy used in the domestic sector by 12.5 per cent. by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(77464)

127   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received concerning the progress of energy conservation authorities towards meeting the 30 per cent. target in improvement in energy conservation by 2010.

(77419)

128   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the home energy conservation programmes which have (a) been delayed and (b) failed since 1997.

(77413)

129   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to ensure that the performance figures collected to show local authorities' progress on strategies drawn up under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 can be compared between authorities.

(77458)

130   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from (a) local authorities and (b) others on the ability of local authorities to meet their targets under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

(77468)

131   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with HM Treasury on the ways in which economic policies and instruments might be used to assist home energy efficiency.

(77470)

132   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with energy conservation authorities regarding her policy on home energy conservation.

(77415)

133   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what future reductions in CO2 emissions are expected by 2010 as a result of Government policy in (a) the domestic sector, (b) transport, (c) industrial sector, (d) the tertiary sector, (e) the public sector and (f) other changes.

(77463)

134   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions were held between her Department and the honourable Member for Brighton and Kempton (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77407)

135   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to develop energy efficiency indicators, targets and monitoring mechanisms for each sector of the economy.

(77471)

136   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received concerning the adequacy of (a) safety standards, (b) energy efficiency standards and (c) furnishing and fixtures standards regulations applied to homes of multiple occupancy; and if she will make a statement.

(77414)

137   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to strengthen the powers, and increase the funding of local authorities to enable them to play an enhanced role in local energy efficiency activities.

(77441)

138   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department received from (a) the Treasury and (b) other Government departments (i) prior to and (ii) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77405)

139   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will give an undertaking to eradicate fuel poverty by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(77416)

140   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department received from (a) pensioner groups, (b) Greenpeace, (c) the Association of the Conservation of Energy, (d) Friends of the Earth, (e) Help the Aged and (f) Age Concern, (i) prior to and (ii) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77402)

141   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of local authorities' progress towards meeting their targets under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; and if she will make a statement.

(77453)

142   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures are in place to monitor the number of (a) single pensioners, (b) older couples and (c) families with children who are fuel poor.

(77451)

143   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase public awareness of energy efficient products and services.

(77442)

144   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her assessment is of the change in carbon dioxide emissions that will result from households switching to digital television and the use of set-top boxes.

(77475)

145   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the saving in carbon dioxide emissions would be if energy efficiency in the domestic sector was improved by (a) five per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 15 per cent., (d) 20 per cent., (e) 25 per cent. and (f) 30 per cent. by 2010 based upon current levels.

(77465)

146   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire of 15th October, Official Report, columns 581-2W, on energy efficiency, if the legal advice obtained by the promoters of the Home Energy Conservation Bill regarding the legal force of a principal aim compared with a statutory duty was made available to her; what steps she took to determine the validity of the promoters' advice; and what her conclusions were about the validity of the advice.

(77447)

147   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to fund fully the costs to local authorities of meeting the targets that they have set in their strategies under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; and if she will make a statement on other policies and incentives which she intends to use to ensure that these targets are met.

(77438)

148   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she intends to offer further financial support to local authorities to assist them in meeting their targets under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

(77456)

149   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the robustness of the targets under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; what plans she has to strengthen them; and if she will make a statement.

(77469)

150   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the energy conservation authorities that are on target to meet the requirements of a 30 per cent. improvement in energy conservation by 2010.

(77420)

151   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to allow local authorities to set targets for the improvement of energy efficiency in stock transferred to registered social landlords.

(77460)

152   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department received from local authorities (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill; and if she will list these local authorities.

(77403)

153   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will commission an independent analysis of the likelihood of current Government policies being able to deliver a 20 per cent. cut in CO2 emissions by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(77467)

154   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made (a) on the Government sustainability index on climate change and (b) towards the Government's domestic target for a 20 per cent. reduction in CO2 emission based on 1990 levels; and if she will make a statement.

(77462)

155   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received from the Association for Public Health (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77410)

156   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received concerning the future of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77449)

157   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to expand existing domestic energy efficiency programmes.

(77443)

158   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the representations submitted to her Department from honourable Members (a) in support of and (b) against statutory targets prior to the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

(77404)

159   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures are in place to measure progress made in energy conservation in the home since the implementation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000.

(77418)

160   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received concerning the re-introduction of a bill aimed at improving domestic energy efficiency.

(77409)

161   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment procedures are in place to determine whether (a) shelters, (b) bedsits and (c) houses in multiple occupation are fit for habitation.

(77422)

162   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group about progress towards meeting the objectives of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy; and how she intends to respond.

(77445)

163
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to reply to a letter sent to her on 24th July by the honourable Member for South East Cornwall, regarding the Pesticides Residues Committee.

(76673)

164
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) number of applications made, (b) the amount spent per application and (c) the number of animals removed through the English Sheep Quota Scheme in 2002.

(76674)

165
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many unqualified people have been found guilty of impersonating a veterinary (a) surgeon and (b) student in each of the last 10 years.

(76615)

166
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the press in each year from June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76852)

167   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets her Department set for the testing of cattle for bovine TB during this year's summer months.

(77392)

168   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the spread of bovine TB to farming areas restocked with cattle following the lifting of movement restrictions imposed after the foot and mouth outbreak last year.

(77390)

169   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable her Department has set for the future publication of (a) DEFRA and (b) DEFRA-commissioned research into the epidemiology of bovine TB.

(77395)

170   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what actions her Department and the Bourne Group have undertaken to investigate the incidence of bovine TB in those areas which have been restocked with cattle since the culling and movement restriction policy following the foot and mouth outbreak last year.

(77388)

171   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the implementation of the amended TB Order.

(77391)

172   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that (a) NGOs and (b) the public may have access to all up to date bovine TB research funded and programmed by her Department.

(77389)

173   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those third countries with which the EU has concluded mutual fisheries agreements; and how much Community money has been granted to each state.

(77250)

174   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her policy towards Commission allowances for intervention stocks to be directed towards deprived persons; what categories of recipients exist; and in how many instances the Government has applied for such relief in the UK.

(77253)

175   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis her Department has made of the share of Community fish stocks, by species, that fall under UK (a) 12 and (b) 200 mile/median line limits.

(77252)

176   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on Directive 2002/36/EC (OJ L116, 3rd May 2002) as it relates to measures in the United Kingdom; and in what circumstances, with reference to Recital 8, (a) applicant states and (b) OCTs are included as European states for political definitions.

(77249)

177   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list instances where inoculation was authorised during the foot and mouth outbreak in lieu of culling.

(77251)

178   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her policy towards integrated EU coastal zone management, with particular reference to Treaty base; what measures are planned under this heading; and what checks for subsidiarity have been undertaken.

(77254)

179   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been carried out of the smallest non-domestic water supply source which might produce a financially viable return from customers.

(76937)

180   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated output is of the smallest non-domestic water supply source which would produce a financially viable return.

(76936)

181   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the percentage of municipal waste that will be recovered in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2015.

(77322)

182   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risks to (a) human and (b) animal health of disposing untreated catering food waste in landfill.

(77317)

183   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many mobile plant licences have been issued by the Environment Agency; and how many applications for such licences are pending.

(77325)

184   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average cost to a business of (a) obtaining and (b) maintaining a mobile plant licence for land remediation.

(77327)

185   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of 2001 suckler cow premium payments were outstanding (a) nationally and (b) in each region on (i) 31st August and (ii) 30th September; and if she will make a statement.

(77320)

186   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total monetary value is of the claims under (a) the beef special premium scheme 2001 and (b) the suckler cow premium scheme 2001 that have been refused by the Rural Payments Agency.

(77323)

187   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the volume of food waste previously sold to swill feeders which goes to landfill.

(77318)

188   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many claims for payment under (a) the beef special premium scheme 2001 and (b) the suckler cow premium scheme 2001 have been refused by the Rural Payments Agency; if she will publish an analysis of the reasons for such refusals; and if she will make a statement.

(77324)

189   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the development of alternatives to landfill for the disposal of catering food waste.

(77230)

190   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average time taken to process an application for a mobile plant licence for land remediation is.

(77326)

191   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects waste acceptance criteria to be (a) discussed and (b) agreed by the EU Council of Ministers.

(77321)

192   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total value was of 2001 suckler cow premiums outstanding at (a) 31st August and (b) 30th September.

(77319)

193
N   Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st October, (75916) if she will dismiss Mrs Jacquie Findlay and Professor Ian Smith, independent members of the Agricultural Wages Board.

(76815)

194
N   Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st October, (75916) what relevant qualifications Professor Ian Smith and Mrs Jacquie Findlay had for nomination as an independent member of the Agricultural Wages Board.

(76816)

195   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about the animal welfare standards in (a) pig and (b) poultry farms.

(76959)

196   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to direct grant monies towards wildlife-friendly agriculture; and if she will make a statement.

(77044)

197   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who the appropriate enforcing authority for the Hares Preservation Act 1892 is.

(77347)

198   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Wolverhampton South West of 17th October, Official Report, columns 898-900W, if she will list the stakeholders whom she met to discuss follow-up action to the Sustainability Summit in Johannesburg; and if she will place in the Library the papers produced for the meeting.

(77387)

199   Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what regulations there are and how they can be enforced by (a) the Environment Agency and (b) local councils, to prevent developers dumping contaminated waste on sites that are being recontoured and are not licensed tips.

(77241)

200   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he will send a full response to the letter dated 18th April from the honourable Member for Leominster on behalf of Mr A T F Brodie, a constituent.

(77025)

201   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of (a) families with children and (b) lone parents who will have relevant incomes as defined under section 7 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 of less than £13,230 a year for the purpose of calculating entitlement to child tax credit.

(77267)

202   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of (a) families with children and (b) lone parents who will be eligible for working tax credit and will have relevant incomes as defined under section 7 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 of less than £5,060 a year for the purpose of their calculating entitlement.

(77268)

203   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) families with children and (b) one-parent families will be eligible for the maximum rate of child tax credit.

(77269)

204   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the causes of the change in aggregate sales since April.

(77346)

205   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in tonnes in aggregate sales in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the aggregates levy.

(77345)

206   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken by Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland to combat non-payment of the aggregates levy on aggregate brought across the land border from the Republic of Ireland.

(77344)

207   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland has raised directly as a result of the aggregates levy since the aggregates levy was introduced in April and how much revenue Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland forecast would be raised before the introduction of the aggregates levy.

(77342)

208   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total weight of aggregate brought across the border from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland without payment of aggregates levy since April.

(77343)

209   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the Inland Revenue in determining an individual's tax code; and if he will make a statement

(77020)

210
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the Press in each year since June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76854)

211   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone & Hythe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 7th November 2001, Official Report, column 256W, and the assumption specified in paragraphs 2.30 and 2.52 of Budget 2002, what further assessment he has made of the start date for the current economic cycle, for the purpose of calculating the cyclically adjusted budget surplus or deficit; and what the calculations are on which that assumption is based.

(77373)

212   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of recent changes in UK property prices on his fiscal policy.

(77018)

213   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has made of extending the discretion to local authorities to charge the full rate of Council Tax on empty properties; and if he will make a statement.

(77106)

214   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the 2001 Census; and if he will make a statement.

(77401)

215   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England have received about the Confederacion Espan�ola de Caja Ahorros in each of the last 10 years.

(77227)

216   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the human rights implications of the forthcoming trial of Shener Levent of the Afrika newspaper in Northern Cyprus.

(77089)

217   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that communications between weapons inspectors working in Iraq with the United Nations are secure; and if he will make a statement.

(77280)

218   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Turkey about EU enlargement.

(77032)

219   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures are being taken to reconcile the CAP with the coming enlargement of the EU.

(77033)

220   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held on 21st to 22nd October; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

(76930)

221
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many posts were advertised in the press in each year since June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76857)

222
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what percentage of the beef supply contracts for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its agencies are sourced from Scottish herds.

(76813)

223   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has been made of the situation in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(77330)

224   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what humanitarian assistance is being provided to the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(77329)

225   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been made to the Government of Uganda to ensure that its remaining forces in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo cease partisan involvement in ethnic conflict; and if he will make a statement.

(77328)

226   Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the sequence of activities required to decrease tensions in the South Asian region.

(77284)

227   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of President Musharraf's ability to curb religious fundamentalism and terrorism in South Asia, with reference to the recent electoral success of religious extremist groups in two provinces of Pakistan.

(77021)

228   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the events supported by UK embassies to promote the Friends of Scotland initiative in the past year.

(77207)

229   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the events held in UK embassies to promote the Friends of Scotland initiative in the past year.

(77206)

230   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Cuba regarding the incarceration and treatment of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva; and if he will make a statement.

(77053)

231   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library the text of the resolution prepared by the United States and United Kingdom for the United Nations Security Council in respect of action to be taken against Iraq to permit international inspectors and to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.

(77222)

232   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when Her Majesty's Government was informed by the United States Government of the latter's knowledge of the most recent status of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme; and what action has been taken by the United Kingdom as a result of this knowledge.

(77221)

233   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans Her Majesty's Government has to mark United Nations Day.

(77237)

234   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Uganda regarding the raid on the offices of the Monitor newspaper.

(76974)

235   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UK companies were named in the report to the UN on 21st October by the UN Panel on Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as violating OECD guidelines; what representations have been made to these companies; and what action will be taken.

(77059)

236   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recommendations made by the report to the UN of 21st October by the UN Panel on Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with particular reference to the recommendation to impose financial restrictions on companies and individuals involved in abuses; and if he will make a statement.

(77058)

237   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to visit Poland.

(77365)

238   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Swedish Foreign Minister regarding (a) EU enlargement and (b) the euro.

(77364)

239   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the meeting between Baroness Amos and the honourable Member for Leicester East concerning Catherine Meyer.

(77367)

240   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many consular officials there are in Bali.

(77366)

241   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are for the British Government to request the use of Jordanian airspace and territory for the use of their planes and ground forces for military intervention in Iraq.

(77022)

242   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Syrian Government on potential British and US military intervention in Iraq; and what the policy of the Government of Syria is on the issue.

(77023)

243   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many respiratory illnesses were attributed to (a) low room temperatures in homes and (b) fungi and house dust mites produced by damp, cold conditions in homes in each of the last five years; and what recent representations her Department has received concerning the costs to the NHS of illnesses resulting from lack of heating in the home.

(77400)

244   Mr Roger Berry (Kingswood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to improve the training provision for GPs in relation to audiology and other ear, nose and throat services.

(77109)

245   Mr Roger Berry (Kingswood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent advice he has given to PCTs concerning the funding of mental health advocacy.

(77107)

246   Mr Roger Berry (Kingswood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to set national standards for waiting times in audiology services from time of referral to fitting.

(77108)

247
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the proposed NHS University.

(76411)

248
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been found guilty of impersonating a specialist in (a) obstetrics and (b) gynaecology in each of the last 10 years.

(76616)

249   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the cost of specialist residential placements for vulnerable children was contributed by health authorities in (a) Dorset, (b) Somerset and (c) Hampshire in (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02.

(77086)

250   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance the Department gives to health authorities in England on the criteria to use when deciding how much to contribute towards the cost of specialist residential placements for vulnerable children.

(77380)

251   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 798W, on prescription charges, if he will list the average prescription charge per prescription item dispensed for each year listed; and if he will make a statement.

(77031)

252   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the guidelines to the NHS regarding the provision of and access to latex-free material and equipment.

(77019)

253
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has established a foundation trust consultative group.

(76864)

254
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 922W, what the usual work is of each of the nine staff of his Department working full-time on foundation trusts.

(76848)

255
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the organizations which have advised him on the development of foundation hospitals; and if he will list the fees incurred by his Department in obtaining advice on the development of foundation hospitals.

(76811)

256   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of staff required to be employed in patient forums to replace community health councils; what his estimate is of the annual cost of running patient forums in England; and if he will make a statement.

(77427)

257   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will be able to provide legal advice to patient forums; and whether it will be specifically funded to do so.

(77423)

258   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide local premises for patient forums in England; and if he will make a statement.

(77426)

259   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to announce his funding plans for the ACHCEW for the remainder of its term.

(77429)

260   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what timetable has been set for the winding up of (a) community health councils and (b) the ACHCEW.

(77428)

261   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, through what mechanisms staff of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, deployed to patient forums, will be accountable to those forums and their local communities.

(77425)

262   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS trusts have so far established PALs services; what estimate he has made of the extent to which PALs services are functioning; and which trusts do not yet have a PALs service:

(77424)

263   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on the ability of (a) community health councils and (b) the ACHCEW to retain staff of (i) the absence of a date for abolition, (ii) the decision not to allow community health council staff to transfer to the successor bodies and (iii) the absence of committed funding for the remainder of their term of employment.

(77430)

264
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what investigations have taken place into hygiene standards at Wythenshawe Hospital following the outbreaks of MRSA in May and June.

(76643)

265
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cardiologists and trained anaesthetists able to perform trans-oesophageal echocardiograms are employed at Wythenshawe Hospital; and for what reason none were available on 13th May.

(76644)

266
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will investigate the procedures adopted by (a) Wythenshawe Hospital and (b) the Greater Manchester Health Authority when dealing with complaints about the treatment of Mr S. Ford of Warrington; and if he will make a statement.

(76647)

267
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason Wythenshawe Hospital scheduled an operation on Mr S. Ford of Warrington at a time when the relevant consultant was known to be away; how many times this has happened to other patients in the last year; and what procedures will be put in place to prevent such occurences in the future.

(76648)

268
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the reasons why Wythenshawe Hospital was short of theatre staff on 22nd March; how many staff were missing; what post each of them held; and, in each case, what the reason for absence was.

(76645)

269
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask the Commission for Health Improvement to investigate (a) the procedures in place for monitoring the number of times patients have operations cancelled at Wythenshawe Hospital, (b) the procedures which are involved when the hospital cancels a patient's surgery more than once and (c) the system used for ensuring patients are notified of a new date for surgery within 28 days.

(76646)

270
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to letters from the honourable Member for Warrington North dated 31st July, 20th August and 26th September concerning the case of Mr Stanley Ford.

(76649)

271
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many contacts his Department has had with (a) Wythenshawe Hospital and (b) Greater Manchester Health Authority concerning the case of Mr Stanley Ford; and if he will list, in each case, the date and nature of contact.

(76641)

272   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many drug related deaths were caused in the last five years by (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) cannabis, (f) alcohol, (g) solvents and (h) prescription drugs; and how many people have used NHS services to treat (i) addiction to and (ii) the adverse effects of using each of these drugs in each of the last five years.

(76938)

273   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the staff by grade and specialty in (a) the elderly care team, (b) the city team, (c) the rural team and (d) other categories in the Salisbury Mental Health Care team; and who funds each person.

(77315)

274   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were blocked in Salisbury District Hospital in each month since January 2001.

(77313)

275   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on the waiting list for counselling at Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service; and how long they are expected to wait for an appointment.

(77314)

276   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a summary of the responses to his consultation on a system of reimbursement around discharge from hospital.

(77028)

277
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people waiting more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months for (i) speech and language therapy, (ii) treatment for depression, (iii) occupational therapy and (iv) chiropody services; and if he will make a statement.

(76286)

278
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been waiting more than (a) three (b) six (c) nine (d) 12 (e) 18 and (f) 24 months between (i) referral by a GP for a diagnostic test and (ii) referral by a consultant for a diagnostic test; and if he will make a statement.

(75989)

279
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in each NHS Trust have been waiting more than (a) six, (b) 12, (c) 18 and (d) 24 months for (i) CT and (ii) MRI scans; and if he will make a statement.

(75991)

280
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been waiting more than (a) six, (b) 12 and (c) 18 months for radiotherapy treatment in each English health authority area.

(76036)

281
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people died in 2001 while on the waiting list for heart surgery; and if he will make a statement.

(75994)

282
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish guidance from his Department to NHS trusts and health authorities on the speed of processing of patients onto (a) inpatient and (b) outpatient waiting lists following (i) GP and (ii) consultant referral; and if he will make a statement.

(76288)

283
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether endoscopy tests are included in the waiting list figures for (a) inpatients and (b) outpatients; what guidance has been issued to hospital trusts and health authorities about exclusion of endoscopies from waiting list statistics over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(75985)

284
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether (a) CT scans and (b) MRI scans are included in figures for (i) inpatient and (ii) outpatient waiting times; and if he will make a statement.

(75986)

285
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are waiting for angiograms in each English health authority area; of these how many have been waiting three months or more; and if he will make a statement.

(75988)

286
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the letter sent to chief executives of NHS trusts in South East England in October 2001 by Mr Bob Ricketts, NHS Regional Director, on the subject of removal of patients waiting for endoscopies from NHS national waiting list statistics; and if he will make a statement.

(76287)

287
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are waiting for a neurophysiology (a) diagnostic test and (b) consultant appointment at (i) Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton and (ii) Yeovil District Hospital; how many of these have waited more than (A) three, (B) six, (C) nine, (D) 12, (E) 15, (F) 18 and (G) 24 months; and if he will make a statement.

(75990)

288
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether waiting times for radiotherapy are reported as part of the waiting times for (a) inpatients and (b) outpatients; and if he will make a statement.

(75992)

289
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals (a) include and (b) exclude angiograms from (i) inpatient and (ii) outpatient waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

(75993)

290
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) private and (b) local authority care homes for the elderly have (i) opened and (ii) closed in each year since 1997 in (A) England and (B) West Sussex.

(76914)

291
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many places in care homes for the elderly there were in West Sussex in each year since 1997.

(76915)

292   Mr George Osborne (Tatton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the decision to remove the licence from the single mumps vaccine was taken at a ministerial level; and if he will make a statement.

(77094)

293   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pharmacy dispensing contracts were issued in each of the last five years.

(77246)

294   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what investigation he has made into the (a) side effects associated with and (b) general safety of Seroxat; and if he will make a statement.

(76966)

295   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the safety of the anti-depressant drug Seroxat; and if he will make a statement.

(76965)

296   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the prevalence of the free supply of splints to disabled people on the NHS (a) nationally and (b) in Gloucestershire.

(76960)

297   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have died as a result of (a) smoking, (b) alcohol and (c) drugs, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(77050)

298   Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust in 2002-03 to date of agency nurses; and what the cost was in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02.

(77243)

299   Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how redundancy payments are calculated for executives of NHS trusts made redundant by trust mergers; and what the average such payment has been.

(77242)

300   Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the saving would be to the county health services in Worcestershire of moving elective ophthalmological day care surgery to the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre at Kidderminster from (a) Worcestershire Royal Infirmary and (b) Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

(77244)

301   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the British Association of Spinal Surgeons and the British Scoliosis Society about the recruitment and retention of spinal and orthopaedic surgeons.

(77224)

302   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of additional spinal and orthopaedic surgeons that will be needed within the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(77225)

303   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he plans to introduce a national service framework for audiology services; and if he will make a statement.

(77226)

304
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many married couples seeking to adopt children (a) have not yet been assessed for suitability and (b) have been assessed as suitable, but have not yet adopted a child.

(76693)

305
N   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will ensure that the parts of the Criminal Justice Bill for which he is responsible are subject to pre-legislative scrutiny on-line.

(75306)

306   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress his Department is making towards implementation of the Sexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997.

(77275)

307   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long it is taking on average for checks on care workers to be completed by the Criminal Records Bureau at the latest available date.

(77087)

308   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's involvement with the International Organisation for Migration; and the role he expects that organisation to take in the UK.

(77339)

309   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports have been made (a) to the UK and (b) from the UK to other countries under the Egmont Group arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

(77216)

310   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he has issued to public authorities about the procedures for the collection of communications data under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 with regard to industrial action; and if he will make a statement.

(77240)

311   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set up a public inquiry into the case of Mr Mal Hussain of the Ryelands estate in Lancaster and the role of the public authorities in protecting him from racial harasssment; and if he will make a statement.

(77338)

312   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on applications for asylum by individuals citing threats from a blood feud as a basis for their application; and if he will make a statement.

(77245)

313
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he next plans to meet Scottish Executive ministers to discuss the impact of the Government's asylum policies on Scotland.

(76911)

314
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the Press in each year since June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76855)

315
N   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what statistics are held by (a) the National Asylum Support Service and (b) the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate relating to the length of time asylum applicants have been in the UK before making an application for support.

(76918)

316
N   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of the asylum seekers who are supported by the National Asylum Support Service made in-country applications for asylum.

(76917)

317
N   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are being supported by the National Asylum Support Service; and of these how many have dependent children.

(76916)

318   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suspected victims of trafficking who have been deported have re-entered the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(77335)

319   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a copy of the application pack for candidates for the job of Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality; and if he will make a statement on the differences between this pack and those issued to applicants for this post on previous occasions.

(77431)

320   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those public bodies for which his Department is responsible where provision is made in the job description of the Chairman that the policies of the body be compatible with those of the Secretary of State.

(77432)

321   Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve the detection of crime and to increase the numbers of criminals brought to justice.

(76933)

322   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) notifiable offences and (b) convictions per notifiable offence there were for each of the last five years in (i) South Somerset and (ii) West Somerset; and what the average figures were in districts within the same departmental family of comparable policing areas.

(77017)

323   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what impact he estimates the focus on fight against urban crime will have on policing rural areas.

(76948)

324   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to absorb rural policing funds into the main formula by increasing the sparsity factor.

(76947)

325   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes are planned in government funding for Avon and Somerset Police between 2002-03 and 2003-04.

(76944)

326   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of those who have sought asylum in the United Kingdom in each month in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 have come from Somalia.

(77288)

327   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which professional organisations were consulted prior to the decision to withdraw asylum seekers' right to work.

(77118)

328   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what relevant statistical evidence of (a) crime rates, (b) illegal working and (c) health service demands was used to inform the decision to withdraw asylum seekers' right to work.

(77115)

329   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how he plans to monitor the effects of the change to asylum seekers' rights to work; and if he will undertake to review the situation should there be evidence that there is a detrimental effect on asylum seekers in terms of health, crime and illegal working.

(77114)

330   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he received concerning the right of new asylum seekers to get permission to work after six months being removed (a) before and (b) subsequent to the announcement.

(77117)

331   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Category D prisoners have been transferred from an open to a closed prison for breaching prison regulations in each year since 1997.

(77396)

332   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the regime in open prisons; and if he will make a statement.

(77393)

333   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the guidance on rules to protect the privacy of prisoners from identification in publications by other prison inmates.

(77412)

334   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the ability of Gloucestershire Constabulary to provide acceptable levels of policing during the forthcoming financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(77036)

335   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that an EU ban on publications which are deemed to be racist or xenophobic does not prohibit the publication of religious material; and if he will make a statement.

(77043)

336   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received on the grant settlement for Gloucestershire Constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

(77034)

337   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the grant settlement awarded to Gloucestershire Constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

(77035)

338   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been employed by Gloucestershire Constabulary in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(77037)

339   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to deal with the bailing of prolific offenders especially where there is a history of non-compliance; if he will offer guidance to magistrates in these matters; and if he will make a statement.

(77101)

340   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will issue a general guidance to chief constables that citizens who help the police and the prosecuting authorities by attending identity parades as witnesses should be entitled, without a supervising discretion, to their reasonable expenses and loss of earnings for so doing.

(77100)

341   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases his Department has granted leave to remain on an exceptional basis to victims of people-trafficking in the last five years.

(77383)

342   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the number of victims of people-trafficking who have been removed from this country and then been subsequently trafficked back to the UK or to other EU destinations in the last five years.

(77382)

343   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, if he will take steps to provide to honourable Members the facility of digital radio and television coverage from the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

(77030)

344   Hugh Bayley (City of York): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire; what response her Department and the international community have made to those needs; what steps are being taken to establish peace; and if she will make a statement.

(76923)

345
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many posts were advertised in the press in each year since June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76853)

346   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what organizations she met on her recent visit to Yugoslavia; and with whom she had discussions.

(77295)

347   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the US Government about the delivery of aid to Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

(76953)

348   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with ministers from other governments who promised aid to Afghanistan and are yet to deliver it; and if she will make a statement.

(76952)

349   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action she is taking to help end the war in Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

(77038)

350   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contribution her Department has made to (a) the World Food Programme for Saharawi refugees and (b) the additional appeal by the WFP for funding for Saharawi refugees in the last year.

(77399)

351   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what initiatives her Department supports to eliminate the poverty of urban street children in Ghana.

(76972)

352   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the governments of (a) Rwanda and (b) Uganda regarding illegal exploitation of natural resources by their citizens in the DRC; and what action these governments plan to take.

(77060)

353   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the governments of (a) Rwanda, (b) the DRC, (c) Uganda and (d) Burundi regarding border controls and their ability to monitor the flow of natural resources with particular reference to (i) diamonds and (ii) cotton.

(77061)

354   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights; and if she will make a statement.

(76969)

355   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department (a) has offered and (b) plans to offer the Government of Indonesia to assist with the (i) victims of the terrorist bomb in Bali and (ii) loss of livelihoods incurred by employees within the tourist sector in Bali.

(76975)

356   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action the Government is planning to implement the recommendations in the report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights.

(76968)

357   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between President Museveni and President Kagame in London last week.

(76970)

358   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the Government of Ghana regarding urban street children.

(76971)

359   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of her Department's budget has been allocated to (a) basic healthcare and (b) primary education in each year since 1997.

(76973)

360   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 15th October to the honourable Member for Banbury, Official Report, column 652W, what discussions the Government had with the Governments of (a) Angola, (b) Nigeria and (c) Sudan regarding becoming partners in the Transparency Initiative.

(77057)

361   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions (a) her Department and (b) other Government departments have had with participant governments regarding the development of national action plans in preparation for the establishment of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds.

(77062)

362   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the statutory provisions prohibiting the disclosure of Government information which have been introduced since May 1997.

(77090)

363   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will announce the result of his review of the status of papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII; and if he will make a statement.

(77029)

364   Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the name and date of closure of each magistrates' court that has closed since May 1997, by parliamentary constituency.

(77278)

365   Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many magistrates' courts in (a) England and (b) Wales opened in each year since 1997.

(77279)

366   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many people have visited the 1901 Census website since its relaunch; and if he will make a statement.

(77281)

367   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make statement on the case of Halloran v Delaney and its effect on funding personal injury cases.

(76931)

368
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proposals he has for improving access to justice in civil law disputes in respect of the socially excluded.

(75304)

369
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list, by country, the number of child abduction cases dealt with by his Department which exceeded the six week deadline for a hearing (a) in each year since 1998 and (b) in 2002 to date.

(76408)

370
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list by country the number of child abduction cases being dealt with by the Child Abduction Unit which have exceeded the six week deadline for a hearing and are awaiting a resolution.

(76407)

371   Mr George Osborne (Tatton): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what reason the decision on the planned closure of Knutsford Crown Court has been delayed.

(77093)

372   Mr George Osborne (Tatton): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects to make a decision on the proposed closure of Knutsford Crown Court.

(77092)

373   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to downgrade Cheltenham County Court; and if he will make a statement.

(77045)

374   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proposals he has to assist PACT.

(77369)

375   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the number of people in the Child Abduction Unit.

(77370)

376
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to set up a group to control the actions taken by pathologists in order to prevent errors in their work.

(76630)

377
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on his policy on coroners' post-mortems; and if he will permit bereaved relatives to claim organs retained by the coroner.

(76638)

378
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the names of the clergy who have officiated at the dignified disposal of retained organs at the Royal Victoria Hosptial since 1972.

(76634)

379
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, during what period Dr Molloy was the resident heart surgeon/consultant at the Royal Victoria Hospital; and during this time, what his heart surgery (a) death and (b) success rate was.

(76632)

380
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason a post-mortem report was not made available to the bereaved parents of Lee James Booth until 22nd July; and whether it is the normal practice for fluids to be administered by mouth so soon after major surgery.

(76650)

381
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when Mr William McKee was appointed (a) Chief Executive of the Royal Victoria Hospital and (b) Chief Executive of the Royal Group of Hospitals.

(76637)

382
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, where post-mortem forms (a) signed and (b) unsigned by relatives are stored; and for how many years they are kept in storage.

(76631)

383
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of retained organs at the Royal Victoria Hospital were (a) destroyed after a short period of time, (b) used for research, (c) sent to other hospitals and (d) stored at the Royal Victoria Hospital between 1972 and 2001.

(76640)

384
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will initiate an inquiry into (a) the loss of 10 years' records at the Royal Victoria Hospital and (b) the numbers of organs disposed of in clear-outs at the hospital's organ and tissue store.

(76635)

385   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards funding animal sanctuaries in Northern Ireland; and if money raised by licences will be used to help fund these bodies.

(76967)

386
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many organs were retained at the Royal Victoria Hospital between 1972 and 2001; what the ratio was between heart and other organs; and what definitions of (a) organs and (b) tissues were used.

(76636)

387
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when Dr Sodhi was employed as resident pathologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital; and how many hearts he retained after post-mortem during that time.

(76633)

388
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons have been held accountable for the errors in organ retention at the Royal Victoria Hospital; and what the ratio of organ retention was during the (a) pre-trust and (b) post-trust periods.

(76629)

389
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when an organ was last retained following a post-mortem performed at the Royal Victoria Hospital; and what access relatives have to information as to what happened to retained organs.

(76639)

390   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Prime Minister, when he intends to respond to the recommendation in the PIU Energy Review that departmental responsibility for energy efficiency and CHP policy be located with other aspects of energy policy.

(77434)

391   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with President Bush about the desirability of obtaining explicit UN approval for military action against Iraq.

(76932)

392   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart in respect of the sale of Hawk jets to India.

(77223)

393   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many e-postcards have been sent from the Friends of Scotland website in each month since it was first published.

(77212)

394   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what marketing her Department carried out on behalf of Friends of Scotland to promote the launch of the Friends of Scotland website.

(77210)

395   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff have been seconded from the private sector to work for the Friends of Scotland initiative since its inception in 2001; and from which organisations these individuals have been seconded.

(77203)

396   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) organisations and (b) individuals have registered to receive email updates from the Friends of Scotland website; and if she will list them by country of residence.

(77213)

397   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what expenditure has been budgeted for by her Department to support the Friends of Scotland initiative during the financial year 2002-03.

(77218)

398   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many visits the Friends of Scotland website has received in each month since it was first established.

(77209)

399   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the costs of meetings of the Advisory Board to Friends of Scotland since its inception in 2001 in terms of (a) travel expenses, (b) refreshment costs and (c) other expenses.

(77220)

400   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the events run (a) in Scotland, (b) in London, (c) in other locations within the UK and (d) outside the UK by Friends of Scotland since its inception in 2001.

(77204)

401   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list her Department's staff members working (a) full-time and (b) part-time for the Friends of Scotland Unit, broken down by location of work.

(77202)

402   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the dates and locations of meetings of the Advisory Board to Friends of Scotland since its inception in 2001.

(77219)

403   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the events her Department has run jointly with the Scottish Executive to promote Friends of Scotland and the GlobalScot initiatives.

(77205)

404   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on which date the Friends of Scotland website was established.

(77208)

405   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the (a) start-up and (b) maintenance costs of the Friends of Scotland website.

(77229)

406   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) organisations and (b) individuals have registered their interest in Friends of Scotland through the initiative's website since its inception; and if she will list them by country of residence.

(77214)

407   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the reasons given by organisations and individuals for registering their interest in the Friends of Scotland initiative, as submitted to the initiative's website.

(77211)

408   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Solicitor General, when she will reply to the letter of 17th September from the honourable Member for Nottingham North regarding Iraq.

(77266)

409
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how long Project Blue relating to British Energy has been under consideration in her Department.

(76692)

410   Jim Dowd (Lewisham West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on progress in completing the non-BT cable network, as set out in the terms of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

(77348)

411
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many small business closures there were in each year since 1997 in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

(76859)

412
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the press in each year from June 1999; and what percentage were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76858)

413
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans her Department has to compile figures for broadband connections broken down by individual constituencies.

(76910)

414
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to end the age differential in the operation of the national minimum wage.

(76913)

415
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she has received a submission from the Scottish Executive with respect to the Government's review of future energy policy.

(76912)

416   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what programmes she has to promote and disseminate information about forthcoming trade fairs and exhibitions in the UK to potential trade visitors from overseas; and how much such programmes cost in the last 12 months.

(77026)

417   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the number of energy companies using door-step selling to encourage people to switch companies; and what plans she has further to regulate door-step selling.

(77291)

418   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average value of a pharmacy dispensing contract when traded between owners has been in the last two years.

(77239)

419   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects to receive the report of the Office of Fair Trading investigation into pharmacy contract limitations.

(77261)

420   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received regarding the implementation of the EU Copyright Directive (2001/298/EC) (2); and if she will make a statement.

(76956)

421   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the likely effects of the EU Copyright Directive in terms of (a) the ownership of intellectual property and (b) access to information.

(76957)

422   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her Department's policy is regarding the export of arms to Israel.

(77054)

423   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has had following the recent award of an export licence for F16s to Israel; and if she will make a statement.

(77055)

424   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether (a) restrictions and (b) exclusions will apply to the nationality of the licensees contracted by the Liabilities Management Authority to manage (i) individual and (ii) multiple sites.

(77296)

425   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evaluation she has made of options available to introduce hydrogen-based fuel for transport.

(77236)

426   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the cost of creating and operating the Liabilities Management Unit has been to date; and what the projected cost of the LMU until its dissolution is.

(77298)

427   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on United Kingdom policy in respect of the court case brought by the Irish Republic at the permanent court of arbitration in The Hague on the non-disclosure of documents relating to the operation of the Sellafield MOX plant.

(77238)

428   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether her Department has sponsored research into the possible contribution of nuclear energy to the creation of hydrogen to power fuel cells.

(77235)

429   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 891, on wind farms, when she expects the UK windspeed database to be available on the departmental website; and whether her Department is collaborating with the ODPM in respect of brownfield site availability.

(77384)

430   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which facilities at Sellafield are licensed for the re-dissolution of unirradiated Mox fuel.

(77297)

431   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 21st October, which local planning authorities have been contacted this year by her Department regarding new gas storage facilities; and what responses have been received.

(77299)

432   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which recruitment consultants her Department uses for assistance in recruiting people to the Board of Ofgem; and if she will make a statement.

(77386)

433   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the offshore oil and gas industry on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive in that industry.

(77341)

434   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations her Department has received on the forum considering the implementation of the European Directive on Working Time in the offshore oil and gas industry.

(77336)

435   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of workers employed in the offshore oil and gas industry on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive in that industry.

(77337)

436   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what work her Department has conducted to evaluate the use of airships as mobile telecommunication platforms.

(77063)

437
N   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he next expects to meet representatives of teachers' unions to discuss road safety outside schools.

(75296)

438
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether he intends to publish the Strategic Rail Authority's advice on Central Railway's proposals.

(76415)

439
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the press in each year from June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76849)

440   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will review the Government's assessment of the viability of regional Eurostar rail services following the responses received to his consultation on future aviation policy.

(77255)

441   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he expects to announce plans to extend the East London Underground Line to stations in South London.

(77292)

442   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what action he proposes to take to improve road safety in buses and coaches before 2004.

(76951)

443   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 change in the number of injuries and fatalities in bus and coach transport between 1997 and 2001.

(76950)

444   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will introduce concessionary travel fares for people in rural areas attending training courses; and if he will make a statement.

(77047)

445
N   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list (a) the location of meetings he has organised during the consultation on The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK and (b) his criteria in choosing locations for the consultation.

(76642)

446   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of (a) the viability of and (b) the need for lengthening the existing runway at Birmingham Airport.

(77099)

447   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will withdraw the option for a second runway at Birmingham Airport.

(77098)

448   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families will lose entitlement to (a) income support and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance as a result of the introduction of child tax credit; and what estimate he has made of the average income of those families affected.

(77273)

449   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) couple families with children and (b) one-parent families will be passported to the Sure Start maternity grant under the new tax credit scheme.

(77270)

450   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the cost of replacing the double debt rule (Social Fund Direction 53), with a restriction based on just the amount owing.

(77272)

451   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the rules will be for passporting families to entitlement to the Sure Start maternity grant when the new tax credits come into force in April 2003.

(77274)

452   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who applied for a budgeting loan in 2000-01 had an outstanding Social Fund loan.

(77271)

453
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many occupational pensioners have protected claims to incapacity benefit because their initial date of claim preceded the inception of the disallowance of such pensions; and how many of such initial claimants have subsequently returned to work.

(76409)

454
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information he collates on the disability status of asylum seekers.

(76412)

455   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is possible for somebody to become financially worse off as a consequence of moving from a position of receiving income support and housing benefit and council tax benefit to a position of receiving incapacity benefit with the right to put a claim in for housing benefit and council tax benefit.

(77085)

456   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances incapacity benefit is means tested; and whether incapacity benefit is reduced if a man aged 61 has an occupational pension.

(76924)

457   Valerie Davey (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with autism and Asperger Syndrome applied for disability living allowance in 2001; how many were (a) successful in their application and (b) refused; and how many of those who were refused were later awarded disability living allowance on appeal.

(77283)

458   Valerie Davey (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which disability-specific national programmes his Department is funding for supported employment; and what plans he has to fund a national supported employment programme for people with autism and Asperger Syndrome.

(77282)

459
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to review the operation of pension entitlement for married women who have paid national insurance contributions at the reduced rate where no official advice was given as to the consequences of exercising this option.

(76817)

460
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many posts were advertised in the press in each year from June 1999; and what percentage of them were advertised in the Scottish press.

(76851)

461
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many cases where care and mobility needs have not changed the Disability Living Allowance periodic inquiry has resulted in lower entitlement with reference to the results from the first two years of periodic inquiry.

(76814)

462
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of (i) state pensions, (ii) MIG, (iii) attendance allowance and (iv) winter fuel payments in (A) Perth constituency, (B) Scotland and (C) the rest of the UK.

(76909)

463   Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funds have been allocated by his Department to prevent pensions and benefits claimants with (a) learning disabilities and (b) registered sight loss from being penalised following the introduction of Automatic Credit Transfer.

(76935)

464   Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures his Department has taken to prevent pensions and benefits claimants with (a) learning disabilities and (b) registered sight loss from being penalised following the introduction of Automatic Credit Transfer.

(76934)

465   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 24th July, Official Report, column 1570W, on incapacity reviews, what the findings were of the previous studies of sample cases.

(77247)

466   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps will be taken to assist people in hospitals or otherwise unable to get to banks because of illness to collect pensions from source after January 2003.

(77095)

467   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the Post Office has issued guidance but will not advise customers on the best route for the payment of benefits after January 2003.

(77096)

468   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how pensioners in rural areas without bank or building society accounts will be able to access pensions in January 2003.

(77091)

469   Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to help pensioners in rural areas without banks adjust to the move to benefits being paid to banks and building societies.

(76949)

470   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of housing benefit in the private sector in Wandsworth have to make up the difference between the amount received and the rent stated in their claim.

(77290)

471   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to close existing offices of the Benefits Agency and jobcentres in the Forest of Dean.

(77116)

472   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on his plans for the jobcentres and benefits offices in the Forest of Dean; and what steps he will take to ensure that there will be sufficient resources to guarantee the effectiveness of jobcentre plus and the Pension Service in the Forest of Dean.

(77113)

473   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the incidence of ageism in the workplace; and if he will make a statement.

(76961)

474   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the number of people required to retire from their jobs owing to reaching a certain age; and if he will make a statement.

(76963)

475   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will supply the National Pensioners' Convention with a copy of the Government's National Strategy on Pensions; and if he will make a statement.

(77040)

476   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to discourage ageism in the workplace; and if he will make a statement.

(76962)

477   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints have been received about late payment of benefits by the Harrow Benefits Agency in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(77228)

478   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money he estimates has been saved by the Government since the rules for backdating of benefits were changed.

(76976)

479
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps she is taking to encourage schools to apply for specialist engineering status.

[Question Unstarred] (75268)

480
N   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make a statement on the role of the Crown Prosecution Service in the Government's street crime initiative.

[Question Unstarred] (75301)

481   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase access to waterways for canoeists; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (76964)

482   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his position towards Directive 2002/67/EC (OJ L191, vol 45, 19th July 2002) on the labelling of foodstuffs containing (a) quinine and (b) caffeine; how many products on sale in the UK will be affected; and what cost assessment his Department has made of the cost of change in packaging.

[Transferred] (77248)

483   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement regarding the EU's requirements with regards to sausage skins.

[Transferred] (77049)

484   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what amendments are being proposed to the EU Directive on money laundering which allowed prior notification to the legal representatives of suspects; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (77217)

485   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many immigrant children have gone missing from social services care in each of the last five years; how many of these were suspected victims of trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (77331)

486   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to introduce a dog licensing scheme for owners; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (76954)

487   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she intends to adopt as Government policy the target of a 20 per cent. improvement in home energy efficiency by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (77433)

488   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the result of the Irish referendum and its implications for the EU.

[Transferred] (77368)

489   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reduce the complexity of the forms issued by the Health Benefits Division to be completed by students when reclaiming the cost of dental care; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (76955)