Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2001- 02
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 28 October 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 28 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.

MONDAY 28th OCTOBER

1
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Advocate General, how many devolution cases have proceeded up to the Privy Council; and in what percentage of those she has intervened.

(77258)

2
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Advocate General, what is the total sum of court expenses incurred as result of her intervention in devolution cases since the inception of her Office.

(77259)

3
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Advocate General, what the (a) total cost and (b) budget provision for her Office has been each year since its inception.

(77260)

4
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Advocate General, how many devolution cases have been intimated to her since the inception of her Office.

(77257)

5
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Advocate General, in how many devolution cases she has intervened since the inception of her Office.

(77256)

6
N   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to review guidance to police forces and local authorities on unauthorised traveller encampments.

(75329)

7   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what role his Department expects local government to play in the delivery of (a) objectives agreed at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and (b) sustainable development; and what steps have been taken by his Department to encourage local action.

(77585)

8   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment his Department has made of the role of a legally binding framework relating to the delivery and auditing of sustainable development by local authorities.

(77584)

9   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps are being taken by his Department to allow local authorities to (a) increase self-determination and control and (b) increase local accountability of the delivery of sustainable development objectives.

(77583)

10   Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he currently expects to implement proposals in the planning green paper about public consultation; and if he will make a statement.

(77870)

11   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the Housing Associations; how many houses they have built and acquired over the last five years; and how many of these have been allocated to (a) those on their existing waiting list and (b) those outside their area.

(77871)

12   Ann Coffey (Stockport): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement about the timing of local elections in England in 2004.

(78132)

13   Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the basis on which monies under the Coalfields Regeneration Trust are allocated to England, Wales and Scotland.

(77975)

14   Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the allocations of the monies from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust were for (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02.

(77976)

15
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list those parish and town councils who have reported to him that they have had councillors resign rather than sign the new Standards Code.

(76993)

16
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with rural organisations on the subject of developing the capacity of parish and town councils to handle more of the planning process.

(76992)

17   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike.

(77670)

18
N   Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many green goddess fire engines will be allocated to (a) Staffordshire and (b) the Lichfield Tamworth district during industrial action taken by the FBU.

(77135)

19
N   Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will issue mobile radio communications equipment to crews operating Green Goddess fire engines to communicate with emergency control centres.

(77136)

20   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the guidelines to local authorities are for imposing council tax concerning servicemen with homes in the UK but who spend considerable amounts of time abroad on duty.

(77762)

21   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many units of affordable housing have been built in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997, classed by type.

(77758)

22
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average length is of firefighting training given to members of the armed services covering for the striking firefighters; whether all service personnel carrying out firefighting duties have been issued with protective clothing; under which health and safety guidelines the armed service personnel will be operating; what personal liability the members of the armed forces will have whilst attempting to rescue or help people in their firefighting role; and what life insurance he provides to armed service personnel carrying out firefighting duties.

(77262)

23
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on local authority reactions to his recently published proposals to deal with travellers.

(75344)

24
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to (a) restrict the marketing and use of fireworks during strikes by firefighters and (b) introduce special measures for areas with a high proportion of thatched properties; and if he will make a statement.

(77000)

25
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to make available the existing stock of Fire Service fire fighting vehicles and appliances to members of the armed forces in the event of a strike by firefighters; and if he will make a statement.

(76999)

26
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his estimate is of the number of fire fighting emergency vehicles which will be available in Somerset in the event of a firefighters strike; how many are available in a non-strike situation; and if he will make a statement.

(77002)

27   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what evidence has been collected into the difficulties faced by local authorities in dealing with fly tipping; and if he will make a statement.

(78083)

28   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidelines he issues to local authorities considering the construction of new educational facilities on (a) green belt and (b) metropolitan open land; and if he will make a statement.

(78081)

29   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the amount of brownfield land in (a) the London Borough of Enfield and (b) Greater London for the construction of new dwellings; how many new dwellings could be constructed; and if he will make a statement.

(78091)

30   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the cost of fly tipping to local authorities in (a) Greater London and (b) England and Wales in each of the last five years.

(78084)

31   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received to stengthen the legal powers available in local authorities to deal with fly tipping; and if he will make a statement.

(78085)

32   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received from the National Assembly for Wales concerning the Richard Commission on the Assembly's powers and electoral arrangements.

(77648)

33
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will take steps to ensure that the review of the code of practice adopted by the five mobile telephone operators includes the extent to which (a) members of the public, (b) school governors, (c) councillors and (d) other interested parties were consulted on siting and erection of mobile phone masts under Commitment 1 of that code.

(77003)

34
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library copies of the site share statistics for mobile telecommunications masts.

(77616)

35
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Tunbridge Wells of 24th June, Official Report, column 672W, on mobile phone masts, what assessment his Department and the Working Group have made of the proposed Deloitte & Touche review of the 10 Commitments voluntary code of practice adopted by the five mobile telephone operators.

(77004)

36
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list those constituencies in which Pathfinder for Housing Allowance is being made available.

(77549)

37   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans the Government has to introduce regulations restricting the ability of phone companies to erect base stations close to residential properties, schools and hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

(78034)

38   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether (a) planning permission and (b) public consultation is needed in order for phone companies to erect antennae on buildings; and if he will make a statement.

(78033)

39   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many representations he has received on health issues relating to mobile phone masts; and if he will made a statement.

(78035)

40   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the Cherry Report on Probable health effects associated with mobile phone base stations.

(78032)

41   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what local authorities are introducing smart card technology to improve access to and availability of concessionary fare schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(77938)

42   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will introduce a mechanism for ensuring local government ringfence monies for waste management as part of the new spending assessment.

(77513)

43
N   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether (a) professional firemen, (b) retained firefighters and (c) other publicly employed persons are insured, including the death in service provision, when dealing with a fire or other incident during a firefighters' strike.

(77607)

44   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what advice he gives local authorities and planning inspectors on how they should define whether a proposed development close to the edge of an existing conurbation in an (a) urban extension and (b) a new settlement.

(77864)

45   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he has taken to provide for emergency cover in the event of floods during any strike by fire brigade personnel.

(77793)

46
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list by constituency in Wales the number of (a) specialist breathing apparatus rescue teams and (b) rescue equipment support teams that will be available in each in the event of a Fire Brigade strike.

(77436)

47
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list by constituency in Wales the number of Green Goddesses that will be available in each in the event of a Fire Brigade strike.

(77437)

48   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will introduce financial incentives and penalties to encourage achievement of regional targets for renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

(78143)

49   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what development projects in the UK receive funding from the (a) European Investment Bank and (b) European Regional Development Fund and when these projects will be completed; and what development projects in the UK with funding from the (i) European Investment Bank and (ii) European Regional Development Fund will start in the next six months.

(77676)

50   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many lives were lost due to fires in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in each of the last 20 years.

(77891)

51
N   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) fire stations and (b) fire appliances there were in East Sussex in the last 12 months.

(77794)

52   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many emergency calls were responded to by the fire brigade in each of the last five years in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne.

(77889)

53
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will include the Prison Service as one of the organisations to receive the Golden Jubilee Medal from Her Majesty the Queen.

(77807)

54
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Football League and National Conference League on the subject of transfers.

(76981)

55
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with those organisations that certify the standards of bed and breakfast accommodation with the aim of trying to get agreed standards.

(76980)

56   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77657)

57   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she had with Sport England about North Taunton Sports Centre; and if she will make a statement.

(77757)

58   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her Answer of 26th September, Official Report, column 131W, on Sport England, if she will list the projections for UK Sport's income from the National Lottery for (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06.

(78267)

59   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 26th September, Official Report, column 131W, on Sport England, if she will provide a breakdown of projections for Sport England's World Class funding programme for (a) performance, (b) potential, (c) start and (d) capital in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05 and (iv) 2005-06.

(78266)

60
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76563)

61   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of Lottery applications were successful in Shrewsbury & Atcham in each year since the Lottery's inception; and if she will make a statement.

(77861)

62   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate she has made of the level of problem gambling in the UK.

(77517)

63   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tests for EPO have been conducted in the UK during (a) the Commonwealth Games and (b) other sporting events; and if she will make a statement.

(77518)

64   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of sporting facilities in London; and if she will make a statement.

(77519)

65   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received from football clubs over the collapse of ITV Digital; and if she will make a statement.

(77960)

66   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to his Department is of (a) the new security developments to the main entrance to RAF Menwith Hill and (b) the road development and road widening to the main entrance to Menwith Hill.

(77768)

67   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) arrests, (b) reports with a view to charges, (c) prosecutions and (d) successful prosecutions there have been since 1996 under the (i) RAF Menwith Hill Military Land Byelaws 1996 and (ii) the RAF Fylingdales Military Land Byelaws 1986.

(77767)

68   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many breaches of security there have been at (a) RAF Menwith Hill, (b) RAF Fylingdales, (c) RAF Lakenheath, (d) RAF Molesworth, (e) Barford St John, (f) RAF Croughton and (g) RAF Fairford in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(77770)

69
N   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to repair HMS Nottingham on her return to the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(77082)

70
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will make a statement on the final contractual terms and other arrangements for Carlyle Investments to become the strategic partner for QinetiQ.

(77378)

71   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what alternative locations were considered for the new antenna installed on Akrotiri SBA, Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77920)

72   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultation was held with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus over the decision to build the new antenna at Akrotiri SBA; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77923)

73   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment was made of the possible impact on the health of the local Cypriot population of the new antenna installed at Akrotiri SBA, Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77922)

74   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) representations were received and (b) environmental impact assessment was made concerning the decision to instal the antenna in the Akrotiri SBA, Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77919)

75   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment was made of the likely impact on wildlife including migratory birds, of the new antenna at Akrotiri SBA Cyprus.[R]

(77921)

76
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to allow members of the Territorial Army to become eligible for senior positions.

(77068)

77
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to allow war widows and widowers to keep their pensions on re-marriage.

(76983)

78
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to review the recent settlement paid out to ex-service pensioners.

(76985)

79
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes he plans to make to war pensions.

(76982)

80
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on recent findings of investigations into the effectiveness of the SA80.

(77067)

81   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77661)

82   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many fire service vehicles there are at Norton Manor Camp; and what fire service appliances kept at Norton Manor Camp will be deployed to provide fire service cover to the civilian community.

(77763)

83   Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action his Department is taking to ensure that the timber based board products and furniture is from legal and sustainable sources; and if he will make a statement.

(78069)

84   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships at sea on deployment have the full crew complement; and if he will make a statement.

(78297)

85   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests by service personnel for access to their medical records there have been since the Gulf War; and if he will make a statement.

(78280)

86   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what circumstances Service personnel military medical records are not made available to their civilian doctor when requested; and if he will make a statement.

(78279)

87   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF squadrons have their full complement of (a) pilots and (b) ground crews; which squadrons do not have a full complement of (i) pilots, (ii) ground crew; and if he will make a statement.

(78270)

88   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action has been taken to ensure that all military medical records will be accurately maintained and secured; and if he will make a statement.

(78285)

89   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army regiments are running at more than (a) five and (b) ten per cent. below their recommended complement of non-commissioned officers; and if he will make a statement.

(78274)

90   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests by service personnel for access to their medical records since the Gulf War have been granted; what reasons have been given for refusing service personnel access to their military medical records; and if he will make a statement.

(78281)

91   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel are not serving because of illnesses acquired on deployments in (a) Sierra Leone, (b) Saif Sareea, (c) Afghanistan, (d) Kosovo and (e) Macedonia; and if he will make a statement.

(78284)

92   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many commissioned officers are serving on (a) HMS Invincible and (b) HMS Illustrious; and if he will make a statement.

(78296)

93   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army regiments are running at more than five per cent. below their recommended complement of enlisted men; and if he will make a statement.

(78275)

94   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether service personnel military medical records are available to their civilian doctor if requested; and if he will make a statement.

(78278)

95   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army regiments are running at more than (a) five and (b) ten per cent. below their recommended complement of commissioned officers; and if he will make a statement.

(78273)

96   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action has been taken to ensure that vaccinations and preventative medicinal measures are properly reported on service personnel medical records; and if he will make a statement.

(78276)

97   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel have been (a) discharged and (b) retired early from the RAF after being in service in (i) Sierra Leone, (ii) Saif Sareea, (iii) Afghanistan, (iv) Kosovo and (v) Macedonia as a direct result of their involvement in the deployments; and if he will make a statement.

(78287)

98   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships at sea on deployment have a crew complement of more than five per cent. less than the full crew complement; and if he will make a statement.

(78300)

99   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) commissioned and (b) non commissioned officers are serving on ships in refit or not in service, broken down by ship; and if he will make a statement.

(78299)

100   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many general surgeons are available to the (a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

(78282)

101   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether military medical records are made available once service personnel (a) have completed their military service and (b) are deceased; and if he will make a statement.

(78271)

102   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether all service personnel have direct access to their military medical records; and if he will make a statement.

(78277)

103   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non commissioned officers are serving on (a) HMS Invincible and (b) HMs Illustrious; and if he will make a statement.

(78298)

104   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many doctors were serving in (a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(78272)

105   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army regiments are running at more than 10 per cent. below their recommended complement of enlisted men; and if he will make a statement.

(78283)

106   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army personnel have been invalided out of the Army when deployed in (a) Sierra Leone, (b) Saif Sareea, (c) Afghanistan, (d) Kosovo and (e) Macedonia as a direct result of their involvement in the deployments; and if he will make a statement.

(78286)

107
N   Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures his Department is taking to enhance the network-centric capability of the armed forces.

(76863)

108   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to make a decision on the PFI contract in respect of the Royal Engineers establishments at Chatham and Minley.

(77933)

109   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to supplement the Fleet Air Arm with additional pilots from foreign and commonwealth countries in order to achieve full manning for the 150 F35 aircraft, once they are acquired.

(77935)

110   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military units have had post-operational leave cancelled or postponed in order to provide personnel for Operation Fresco.

(77930)

111   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy ships have been taken out of service in order to release personnel for Operation Fresco.

(77932)

112   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements have been made to maintain ships taken out of service to release personnel for Operation Fresco.

(77931)

113   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimated saving that his Department will make as a result of the early withdrawal of the Sea Harriers in 2006, from the time of their withdrawal up to the introduction of the F35.

(77934)

114   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the companies which have submitted bids for the military trucks contract; and when an announcement on the award of the contract will be made.

(77601)

115   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the statement by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 17th October, Official Report, column 570, when the letter to the honourable Member for North Essex on the relationship between NATO and the European Security and Defence Policy will be sent; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(78102)

116   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the UK contribution to the proposed NATO rapid deployment force unit will be; and if he will make a statement.

(77811)

117   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the membership of the International Interoperability Council is; what its objectives are; and if he will make a statement on its method of proceeding.

(77791)

118   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements have been concluded that will allow the non-EU European NATO members and other countries which are candidates for accession to the EU to contribute to EU military crisis management.

(77814)

119   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the anthrax innoculation programme offered to (a) Navy, (b) Army, (c) Air Force and (d) other Ministry of Defence personnel is compulsory.

(78101)

120   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what permanent arrangements have been put in place to formalise structures and procedures for consultations between EU and NATO; and if he will make a statement.

(77815)

121   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the US Administration regarding NATO's plans to set up a rapid deployment force unit; and if he will make a statement.

(77810)

122   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the Defence White Paper.

(77788)

123   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of (a) Navy, (b) Army, (c) Air Force and (d) other Ministry of Defence personnel (i) are fully vaccinated and (ii) have commenced a vaccination programme against anthrax; and if he will make a statement.

(78100)

124   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to publish proposals on armed forces pension and compensation arrangements; and what consultation process he envisages following such publication.

(77790)

125   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the European Rapid Reaction Force will be operational; and if he will make a statement.

(77812)

126   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the question raised in the note by Mr M. Barnier to members of Convention on the future of Europe, CONV 264/02, as to whether an undertaking of collective defence should be enshrined in the Treaty on European Union.

(77817)

127   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to publish the findings of the inquiry into armed forces personnel issues.

(77789)

128   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe will play in cases where an EU-led crisis operation does not use NATO assets.

(77816)

129   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the definitions of (a) European Security and Defence Policy and (b) European Security and Defence Identity.

(77813)

130
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76564)

131   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence personnel have been trained on equipment introduced in the last 10 years; and what scope there is for training more to help with the current firefighters' strike.

(77502)

132   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members there are of the Defence Fire Service; and what equipment introduced in the last 10 years it has at its disposal.

(77501)

133
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what actions he took to obtain tenders for the refurbishment of six ex-Republic of South Africa SA330 Puma aircraft before announcing his intention to place the main structural contract with Eurocopter of France; and what steps he took to ascertain what other companies were capable of undertaking this work.

(77120)

134   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the effect of enlargement on military contributions to the EU designated peacemaking and peacekeeping forces.

(78117)

135   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set up a public inquiry into the health risks of the release of zinc cadmium sulphide and radio-xenon from the Atomic Research Establishment, Harwell, by scientists from the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in 1961; and if he will make a statement.

(78155)

136
N   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in the event of a fire fighters' strike what disposition of service personnel and Green Goddesses will be made for the protection of the people and their property in the Solihull constituency; and where they will be stationed.

(77782)

137
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to introduce targeted maintenance support for less wealthy students.

(77749)

138
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what evidence (a) from the UK and (b) from overseas she has assessed on the effect of top up fees on levels of participation in higher education.

(77750)

139
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to raise the repayment threshold for student loans.

(77748)

140
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the impact of top up fees on improving access to higher education.

(77751)

141
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if it is her policy to permit universities to charge top up fees to students.

(77752)

142
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she intends to publish the review of student funding.

(77754)

143
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will consult students on the findings of the review of higher education.

(77753)

144   Mr Roger Berry (Kingswood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on access to higher education of the introduction of top-up fees.

(77857)

145
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether students with (a) the University for Industry and (b) the National Health Service University will be treated as participating in higher education.

(76818)

146
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions her Department has had with the OCR Board in respect of this year's Technology Paper III.

(77647)

147
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance was issued to schools this year in respect of changes to the Technology Paper III exam.

(77646)

148   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Government will publish its review of student funding.

(77908)

149   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans the Government has to introduce targeted maintenance support for students from low-income families.

(77907)

150   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans the Government has to raise the repayment threshold of student loans.

(77910)

151   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans the Government has to allow universities to charge students top-up fees.

(77909)

152   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions she has had with university vice chancellors and principals about the introduction of top-up fees; and which universities have informed her of their intention to introduce top-up fees.

(77682)

153   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many school days were lost due to teachers being unable to gain clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau before the first day of the new school year in the North West of England.

(77632)

154   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers were unable to gain clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau before the first day of the new school year in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England.

(77631)

155   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77656)

156   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Government will consult students on the outcome of the review of higher education.

(77778)

157   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Government will publish its review of student funding.

(77777)

158   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils have been excluded from state (a) primary and (b) secondary schools at each of the key stages in each year since 1997 in Somerset.

(77764)

159   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Government will raise the repayment threshold for student loans.

(77781)

160   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Government plans to allow universities to charge students top-up fees.

(77779)

161   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will reintroduce targeted maintenance support for those students from the poorest backgrounds.

(77780)

162   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what resources have been earmarked for research start-up in new medical schools.

(77488)

163
N   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the annual budget for the Connexions service is, broken down by region.

(77350)

164
N   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people have visited Connexions, seeking advice, in each region in which it operates.

(77349)

165
N   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent to date by the Connexions service on (a) literature design, (b) printing of literature and (c) consultancy fees related to the production of literature for each region in which it operates.

(77352)

166
N   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what grants have been made to voluntary organisations working with young people by the Connexions service, for each region in which it operates.

(77351)

167   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she expects to announce the results of the review into higher education spending.

(77536)

168   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many SENDIST and IAP members there were as at the end of June; how many SENDIST and IAP members had received any training as at the end of June in their forthcoming disability-related duties; what type and quantity of training they had received respectively; and what measures the Department has put in place to ensure that all SENDIST and IAP members will be able to perform their legal duty effectively when hearing claims of disability discrimination relating to exclusions.

(77860)

169
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her policy is on the introduction of top-up fees for tuition at English universities; and if she will make a statement.

(77493)

170   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils were educated in pupil referral units, and for how many hours on average per week, in (a) the London Borough of Enfield, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(78080)

171
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list the projects to which her Department has allocated funding in the Kingston upon Hull North constituency since 1997, indicating the amount in each case.

(76561)

172
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76565)

173   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what weight she gives to an increase of pupils with statements of special education needs when evaluating the educational results of a school when assessing a renewal application for beacon status.

(77747)

174   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools have not been successful in reapplying for beacon status.

(77746)

175   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations she has received supporting the extension of the work of classroom assistants into some aspects of teaching; who was consulted before the proposal was announced; and how many representations (a) for and (b) against she has received.

(77678)

176   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children have been excluded from (a) state primary and (b) state secondary schools in West Kent at each of the key stages, in each year since 1997.

(77503)

177
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd April, Official Report, columns 133-4W, on male fish, if she will publish the findings of research into endocrine disruption in marine life; and if she will make a statement.

(77375)

178
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd April, Official Report, column 133W, on male fish, if she will make a statement on the outcome of discussions with the Environment Agency and the water industry regarding sex change in male fish.

(77374)

179
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 21st October, reference 75837, on the Rural White Paper,if she will list the funding schemes administered by the (a) regional development agencies and (b) Countryside Agency on behalf of her Department; and if she will list the amount spent through each scheme.

(77066)

180
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much of the money available under Rural Transport Partnership was spent in 2001-02 and 2002-03 broken down by (i) date and (ii) county.

(77083)

181
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hours have been spent by DEFRA staff at UK air and seaports assessing biosecurity since the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak.

(77538)

182
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library the documentation and advice given in respect of tax treatment of grants given under the Foot and Mouth Recovery Fund.

(77539)

183
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to introduce amnesty collection bins for food products at UK air and seaports.

(77540)

184   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the biosecurity measures, introduced by the Government at UK air and seaports since the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak.

(77541)

185
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of halons remain in service in the United Kingdom and of this tonnage, how much comprises (a) H1301 and (b) H1211.

(77564)

186
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure atmospherically friendly products are being promoted as a preferable option to fire extinguishing systems which contain HFCs.

(77565)

187   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost and potential savings at different initial levels of energy efficiency of property of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

(77590)

188   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the objectives are of the Forestry Commission's support of the Wood for Good campaign.

(77579)

189   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) discussions she has had, (b) representations she has received and (c) meetings she has attended in relation to energy efficiency improvements by the cold sector.

(77558)

190
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department regulates the use of SF6 and its emissions in electricity transmission and distribution in the United Kingdom.

(77567)

191   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research has been conducted by her Department on assessing the role of consumer choice in product purchase and its impact on energy efficiency and total energy demand from domestic electrical appliances.

(77594)

192   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) assessment has been made and (b) discussions have taken place or are planned by her Department of the political declarations emerging from the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg from (i) the Inter-Parliamentary Union, (ii) local government groups and (iii) regional government groups.

(77561)

193   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with other governments which are party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to ensure that the proposal to list mahogany on Appendix II of CITES received the two-thirds majority required for the listing.

(77580)

194   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contribution the Wood for Good campaign is making towards the goal of ensuring that all timber into the UK is from legal and sustainable sources.

(77581)

195   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps have been taken to develop national coalitions to assist in the delivery of (a) outcomes of the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and (b) additional non-binding agreements or pledges made by the UK Government relating to the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

(77578)

196   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to (a) attend and (b) support events relating to outcomes of the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

(77595)

197   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to consult on the (i) outcomes of the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and (ii) steps planned by the UK Government to take forward implementation of the outcomes; and which individuals or organisations have been or will be consulted as part of this process.

(77574)

198   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) assessment she has made, (b) discussions she has had or plans and (c) representations she has received in relation to the research conducted by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on the cost-effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

(77591)

199   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list Type II agreements in place relating to the delivery of (a) sustainable development and (b) outcomes of the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

(77577)

200   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to (a) develop a system for monitoring of and (b) produce guidelines for Type II agreements relating to the delivery of objectives relating to the delivery of (i) sustainable development and (ii) outcomes of the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

(77576)

201   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what agreements were reached at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg relating to chemicals.

(77572)

202   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which individuals and organisations who were consulted by her Department in relation to (a) Prepcom meetings and discussions relating to the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg; and (b) the negotiations and involvement of the UK Government delegation at the World Summit.

(77573)

203
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has undertaken to ascertain whether halons from fire-extinguishing systems made illegal after 2003 should be (a) destroyed and (b) recycled to critical users.

(77562)

204   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) number, (b) location, (c) socio-economic characteristics and (d) amount applied for of those households who have applied unsuccessfully for grants under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since it began operating.

(77587)

205
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of banning the use of SF6 in car tyres and double glazing.

(77566)

206   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps were taken by her Department to promote the use of the precautionary principle in discussions at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg; and if she will make a statement on the outcomes of these discussions in taking forward its use in documentation and agreements emerging as a result of the Summit.

(77575)

207   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what Energy Efficiency Index targets have been set for the United Kingdom cold sector as part of the market transformation programme; and what role has been played by the Department in (a) setting and (b) meeting the targets.

(77556)

208   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the UK did not have a stand at the Umbuntu Village and the NASRAC exhibition space at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

(77569)

209   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) number, (b) location, (c) socio-economic characteristics, and (d) amount received of those households who have qualified for grants under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (i) since it began operating and (ii) allocated for future periods.

(77588)

210   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment (a) has been made and (b) is planned of the effects of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on reducing fuel poverty (i) to date and (ii) under the fuel poverty strategy.

(77589)

211   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost-effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in reducing fuel poverty amongst owner-occupiers and private sector tenants.

(77586)

212   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library copies of the minutes from meetings of the Market Transformation Programme, attended by her Department.

(77557)

213   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding the Government has allocated to the Forest Stewardship Council in each year since 1997.

(77582)

214   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Office of Deputy Prime Minister in relation to the role of local government in the delivery of objectives agreed at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg; and what the outcomes of the discussions have been.

(77563)

215   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the rules for assessing energy savings of appliances under the Energy Efficiency Commitment Scheme.

(77592)

216   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the outcomes to date of the Energy Efficiency Commitment Scheme; what further steps are planned; and what (a) consultation on and (b) assessment of the scheme (i) has taken place and (ii) is planned.

(77593)

217   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Quinquennial Review of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has been completed.

(77859)

218
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with EU entrant countries on CAP reform.

(77305)

219
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government will respond to the foot and mouth inquiries.

(77304)

220
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the continuing development of GM fish.

(77306)

221
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of failure to obey the 20 day rule there have been, resulting in (a) fines and (b) warnings.

(77303)

222   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representation she has received from egg packers and their trading associations regarding the impact the absence of contracts between egg packers and supermarkets is having on the security of the egg industry for themselves and the producers.

(77775)

223   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has, in line with the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food's recommendations, to undertake a formal review of the Supermarkets' Code of Practice in order to increase the certainty and security for egg producers by altering the Code in relation to contractual arrangements between egg packers and supermarkets.

(77776)

224   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77665)

225   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the local authorities who (a) have and (b) have not produced a policy statement under High Level Targets for flood and coastal defence.

(77618)

226   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on banning the use of animals in circuses; and whether she will include a ban on animals in circuses in the new Animal Welfare Bill.

(77492)

227   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on dairy farming in Lancashire.

(77602)

228
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to receive the report of the Risk Assessment Group which she established to study illegal meat imports.

(77356)

229
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to announce to Parliament her Department's response to the Anderson and Follett Reports.

(77134)

230   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action will be taken to eliminate the discharges of Technetium-99 from Sellafield into the Irish Sea.

(77599)

231   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will press for a review of the protected Designation of Origin procedure affecting non-generic products; and if she will make a statement on the recent decision in respect of feta cheese.

(77832)

232
N   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will answer the letters of 15th March and 21st August from the honourable Member for Penrith and the Border, on Mr D. Armstrong of Wigton, Cumbria and Mr W.K. Graham of Sillan, Cumbria.

(77550)

233   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will answer the letters of 11th June and 13th August from the honourable Member for Penrith and The Border on behalf of Mrs J.Kerr of Wigton, Cumbria.

(77551)

234
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76566)

235   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take on the EU Biofuels Directive; what discussions she has had with those in the agriculture industry on the potential for production and use of non-food crops; and if she will make a statement.

(77939)

236   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessments she has made of the appropriateness of using growth promoters in livestock and poultry.

(77624)

237   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) live sheep and (b) live pigs have been exported from the United Kingdom to date in 2002 for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding; and how many (A) sheep and (B) pigs in each of these categories were exported to each individual country of destination.

(77508)

238   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library full versions of the two DEFRA reports into the economic viability of Sellafield.

(77547)

239   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts over reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

(77941)

240   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates ministers in her Department have held meetings with members and officials of the United States Administration since 8th June 2001; where each meeting was held; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which United States Administration department attended each meeting; and which members and officials from the United States Administration attended each of these meetings.

(78151)

241   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent measures her Department has taken to ensure that the National Building Standards (Government Works) standard has been amended to reflect Government policy on timber procurement; and if he will make a statement.

(77673)

242   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many waste incinerators are planned by wate disposal authorities; what the capacity is of each incinerator planned; and what information she collates on the contractual arrangements for waste disposal.

(77745)

243   Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role she proposes for English regional assemblies in the governance of fisheries out to 12-nautical miles from the baseline.

(77644)

244   Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the transitional time to be granted to Poland following the country's forthcoming accession to the European Union in order to be integrated fully into the (a) Common Fisheries Policy and (b) Common Agricultural Policy; and the (i) fisheries and (ii) agricultural subject areas covered by that transitional period.

(77645)

245
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of duty in each EU member state in respect of red diesel.

(77542)

246   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the taxation and national insurance to be raised as a result of the measures covered by IR35 in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04; and when that estimate was made.

(78106)

247   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what taxation and national insurance revenues have been raised as a result of the measures covered by IR35 in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02.

(78105)

248   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals pay tax and national insurance following PAYE/NIC rules as a result of the measures covered by IR35

(78107)

249
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the legal liability of those using Digicerts.

(77130)

250
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what information must be supplied by applicants for Digicerts; and what protection is given concerning the use of such information.

(77129)

251
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the application of the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 to information supplied under the New Export System; and what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Equifax digital application procedure with the Act.

(77123)

252
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the award of the contract to Equifax as a supplier of Digicerts.

(77128)

253
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the role of Digital Certificates in the new export system; and if he will list Government approved Digicert-issuing bodies.

(77133)

254
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) individuals and (b) organisations may apply for Digicerts.

(77131)

255
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government has carried out an audit of Equifax data systems.

(77124)

256
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what agreements must be entered into by those applying for Digicerts from Equifax and whether (a) UK and (b) US law governs the use of Digicerts supplied to UK companies by Equifax.

(77127)

257
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the use of Digicerts supplied by Equifax to UK firms must comply with USA export law and regulations, with particular reference to those imposing trade sanctions on other countries.

(77126)

258
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the New Export System for non-European Community exports.

(77132)

259
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Digicerts supplied to UK companies by Equifax can be used in the course of exports to (a) Cuba and (b) Iran.

(77125)

260
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the value of the tax exemption on the cost of charges and commissions included in life insurance products in the last 12 months.

(77677)

261
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Treasury over the impact of the taxation of foot and mouth relief for small businesses, with particular reference to those involved in tourism.

(77307)

262   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike.

(77669)

263   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many community amateur sports clubs (a) have applied and (b) are registered with the Inland Revenue for tax exemptions; and if he will list those registered.

(78013)

264   Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of healthcare systems funded by charges and private medical insurance; and if he will make a statement.

(78071)

265
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) oral and (b) written communications took place between the Financial Services Authority in the UK and the Guernsey Financial Services Commission between 1st December 2000 and 30th April 2002 on the subject of the (i) risk characteristics and (ii) disclosure and regulation relating to Split Capital Trusts; and if he will make a statement.

(77495)

266
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to hold an investigation into the erroneous figures on the value of United Kingdom pension contributions which have been published by the Office for National Statistics over the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

(77001)

267
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the actions taken by the Financial Services Authority to address investor concerns about the fall in value of the Split Capital Trust market in the UK over the last two years.

(77494)

268   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards reform of the arrangements for the control of inflation of the European Central Bank.

(78087)

269   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations have taken place with the Financial Services Authority regarding concerns over misselling of split capital trusts; and if he will make a statement,

(78086)

270   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions she has had with (a) credit unions and (b) financial services organisations regarding the establishment of a central services organisation for credit unions; and if he will make a statement

(78078)

271   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation has taken place regarding the introduction of a (a) baby bond and (b) savings gateway; and if he will make a statement.

(78092)

272   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding (a) fiscal and (b) other support for church restoration and repairs.

(77833)

273
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76557)

274   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person is eligible for working families tax credit, when reapplying, if their average weekly hours worked falls below the 16 hour threshold as a result of the person taking two weeks' paid leave.

(77820)

275   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of retail businesses that accept the euro in payment for goods and services.

(77625)

276   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry regarding the position of small businesses.

(77940)

277   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to implement Commission Recommendation 2002/590/EC on Statutory Auditors' Independence.

(78127)

278   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of the National Changeover Plan to date; what the money has been spent on; and what further expenditure is planned.

(78121)

279   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answers of 22nd October, Official Report, column 213W, on estate sales, when Parliament was informed of the sales to Mapsley Steps Ltd; and whether the Watch House (Customs House), Cowes, has been sold.

(78292)

280   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 24th October, ref 75675, if he will list schemes and initiatives sponsored by his Department which are not the subject of national roll-out.

(78293)

281   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his assessment is of the aggregate liability of public funds for PFI schemes concluded in each year since 1997.

(78294)

282   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his assessment is of the capital value of PFI schemes concluded in each year since 1997.

(78295)

283   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance and regulations the Financial Services Authority has issued to personal pension providers under the FSA Review of Personal Pension Sales in circumstances where a guarantee of a future calculation of possible financial loss has been favoured over immediate financial recompense being made to a policyholder, with respect to (a) calculation and payment of transfer values in respect of a guranteed policy and (b) reflection of such guaranteed liabilities by personal pension providers for (i) accounting, (ii) financial statement and (iii) regulatory purposes.

(77883)

284   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what protections exist under the FSA Review of Personal Pension sales in circumstances where a financial loss was recompensed through augmentation of an investor's policy and that policy has subsequently had (a) a Market Value Adjustment reduction applied and (b) a Transfer or Exit penalty applied.

(77882)

285   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the duration of the current economic cycle.

(77886)

286   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what source data was used to support the statistic cited in his Department's 2002 departmental report that 87 per cent. of main departments' performance targets had been met or partially met by 2002.

(78139)

287
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether representatives of his Department will attend the meeting on 7th and 8th November between foreign ministers of the European Union and the Southern African Development Community in Maputo, Mozambique; and if he will make a statement.

(77302)

288
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Denmark concerning the decision to move the meeting on 7th to 8th November between foreign ministers of the European Union and the Southern African Development Community from Copenhagen to Maputo, Mozambique; and if he will make a statement.

(77358)

289
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department was informed of the decision to move the meeting on 7th and 8th November between foreign ministers of the European Union and the Southern African Development Community from Copenhagen to Maputo, Mozambique; whether his Department was consulted; what his assessment of the situation was; what advice he gave to other European Union countries concerning the decision; whether he agreed to the relocation; and if he will make a statement.

(77301)

290
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the countries of the Southern African Development Community concerning the attendance of Zimbabwean officials at the meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (a) when it was scheduled to take place in Copenhagen and (b) since it was moved to Maputo, Mozambique; and if he will make a statement.

(77312)

291
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the attendance of representatives of the Zimbabwean Government, targeted under the European Union's travel ban, at the meeting on 7th to 8th November between foreign ministers of the European Union and the Southern African Development Community in Maputo, Mozambique; what his policy was on their attendance at the meeting when scheduled for Copenhagen; whether other international meetings have been relocated during 2002 to enable members of the Zimbabwean Government to attend; and if he will make a statement.

(77357)

292   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Cameroon; and whether he has identified an improvement since the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture visited that country in 1999, with particular reference to the use of torture.

(77629)

293   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been made to the Turkish Cypriots concerning (a) the imprisonment of journalist Shener Levent and Lavant of Afrika" newspaper, (b) the outstanding charges against Shener Levent in the military court, (c) the outstanding charges against Ozker Ozkur and Izzet Izcan, political party leaders, in the military court and (d) the use of military court against opponents of the Denktash regime and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77925)

294   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress is being made towards establishing discussions between the communities in Cyprus on property rights as part of a settlement; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77911)

295   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the request by Turkey for a date for the commencement of the accession process to the EU to be given at the Copenhagen summit; and if he will make a statement.

(77914)

296   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when Lord Hannay has visited (a) Cyprus, (b) Greece, (c) Turkey and (d) the United Nations in the last 12 months for discussions on the Cyprus problem; and who he met on each occasion.[R]

(77916)

297   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.[R]

(77927)

298   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Turkey and (b) Greece, concerning the prospects of a settlement in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77912)

299   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress is being made by the technical committees established under UN auspices to look at aspects of the Cyprus problem relating to constitutional and treaty matters; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77915)

300   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the status of Cyprus' application to join the EU.[R]

(77926)

301   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to extend the benefits of EU membership to Cypriot inhabitants of the SBAs, Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77924)

302   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what bicommunal events and activities his Deparmtent and the British Council have supported in Cyprus in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(77913)

303
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of (a) abductions and (b) slavery in the Sudan.

(76987)

304
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a further statement on Amina Lawal.

(76991)

305
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the law and order situation in Bangladesh.

(76989)

306
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian authorities, with specific reference to Jenin.

(76988)

307
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many honourable Members have made representations to him on the subject of alleged human rights abuses in Nigeria.

(76990)

308
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in the Malagasy Republic.

(76986)

309   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike.

(77667)

310   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the latest estimate is of how much of Afghanistan's poppy fields have been destroyed; and what the UK is doing to help the Afghanistan government combat the production of opium.

(77929)

311   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the mandate of the Convention on the future of Europe Working Group on Defence is; and if he will make a statement.

(77818)

312   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the question raised in the note by Mr M Barnier to Members of the Convention on the Future of Europe, CONV 264/02, as to whether an undertaking of collective defence should be enshrined in the Treaty on European Union.

(77819)

313
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representatives from his Department will attend the Bishket Global Mountain Summit from 29th October to 1st November 2004.

(77796)

314
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76549)

315   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when (a) his Department and (b) Ministers were informed of plans to introduce an EU top level domain; and if he will make a statement on the accuracy of his Department's initial press briefings on this subject.

(78126)

316   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those organisations funded by committees' money compaigning to end the death penalty; if such organisations compaign in the United States; and what representations he has received from (a) the US Government (b) individual US states thereon.

(78124)

317   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those reports produced to date by the EU Institute for Security Studies, with security caveat grading.

(78122)

318   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions, there have been breaches of security with respect to security covered EU documents in the last three years.

(78123)

319   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the legal basis of Directive 2001/84/EC on art resale rights; at what point right of veto was waived by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

(78118)

320   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide a break down of salaries of officials of the European Commission by (a) pay grade and (b) number.

(78115)

321   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the European Union offices outside of the EU, indicating the number of permanent staff; what the annual running cost is, of each office; what the diplomatic status of staff is; and if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department and them.

(78116)

322   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those cases over the past 10 years where a staff member of the European Commission has been suspended; on what grounds; and what was the nature of the final settlement of the case.

(78302)

323   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that weapons inspectors are reintroduced and active in Iraq as soon as is possible.

(77509)

324   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement regarding the sale of arms to Israel.

(77510)

325
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which countries the Government categorises as using torture.

(76919)

326   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts concerning the Common Agricultural Policy.

(77944)

327   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many representations his Department has received concerning the non-payment of pensions (a) by the Zimbabwe Government to British citizens and (b) to former British citizens in Zimbabwe; and what discussions he has had concerning the non-payment of pensions by the Government of Zimbabwe.

(77943)

328   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that individuals on secondment from the private sector in embassies are marked as such in the Diplomatic List, listing the firm from which they originated and the dates of their secondment.

(78156)

329   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures are taken to prevent conflicts of interest involving secondees from the private sector to British embassies.

(78157)

330   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library copies of the reports compiled by the secondee from British Nuclear Fuels following his secondment to the British Embassy in Sweden between September 1999 and February 2000 to review the energy market in that country and identify opportunities for UK companies.

(78158)

331   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Libary copies of the reports compiled by the secondee from Barrow International to the British Consulate in Auckland, New Zealand in 2001 into export opportunities in the New Zealand marine industry for British companies.

(78153)

332   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what committee within his Department overseas the placement and monitoring of secondments from outside organisations to his Department.

(78154)

333   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard contract letter which is drawn up between his Department and secondees from private companies before they start their secondment.

(78152)

334
N   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the statement by the honourable Member for Tottenham of 22nd October, Official Report, column 61WH, on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, how the £2 million on research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2001-02 has been spent; and if he will make a statement.

(77679)

335   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects of parallel trading in the British pharmaceutical industry; and if he will make a statement.

(77480)

336
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which further NHS trusts will receive extra central resources for staff training and technology in audiology services.

(77376)

337   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his action to support the care needs of older members of the Chinese community in London.

(77630)

338   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to continue the pilot project for dealing with small clinical negligence claims; and if he will make a statement.

(77917)

339   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many sexually transmitted infections have been recorded in girls (a) under the age of 16 and (b) under the age of 18 since commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy; and what these figures are, expressed as a percentage of (i) those girls to whom contraception including emergency contraception, has been provided through the strategy and (ii) the total number of girls in each age range.

(78066)

340   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy commenced; how many girls in England and Wales (a) under 16 years of age and (b) under 18 years of age expressed as a total figure and as a percentage of the total number of girls, in each age range, have been provided with (i) contraception and (ii) emergency contraception in schools, pharmacies, family planning clinics and other establishments authorised to provide contraception since the commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

(78003)

341   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many boys in England and Wales (a) under 16 years of age and (b) under 18 years of age, expressed as a total figure and as a percentage of the total number of boys in each age range, have been provided with contraception in schools, pharmacies, family planning clinics and other establishments authorised to provide contraception since the commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

(78004)

342   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many abortions have been performed on girls (a) under the age of 16 and (b) under the age of 18 since commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy; and what these figures are, expressed as a percentage of (i) those girls to whom contraception, including emergency contraception, has been provided through the strategy and (ii) the total number of girls in each age range.

(78065)

343   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which (a) pharmacies and (b) supermarkets in England and Wales are authorised to provide emergency contraception, including the so-called morning after pill, to teenagers under the age of 16 years; since when each business has been authorised to do so; and on what terms the provision of emergency contraception is authorised.

(78070)

344   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many conceptions have been recorded in girls (a) under the age of 16 and (b) under the age of 18 since the commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy; and what these figures are expressed as (i) a percentage of those girls to whom contraception, including emergency contraception, has been provided through the strategy and (ii) a percentage of the total number of girls in each age range.

(78005)

345   Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which schools in England and Wales are authorised to provide (a) contraception and (b) emergency contraception to their pupils; since when each school has been authorised to do so; and in which schools and on what terms (i) contraception and (ii) emergency contraception is available to girls and boys under the age of 16 in these schools.

(78067)

346
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with organisations and individuals proposing mutual solutions to healthcare.

(76995)

347
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the relationship between foundation status and public interest companies funded on mutual principles.

(76994)

348
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what timetable he proposes for the changes to social services departments announced recently.

(76996)

349   Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when CHCs will be abolished; and what support is being given to staff of CHCs in the transition to new arrangements.

(78148)

350   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77658)

351   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were blocked in Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust beds in each month since January 2001.

(77761)

352   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the recommended thresholds for (a) providing child protection services, (b) instigating child protection inquiries and (c) convening initial child protection conferences are.

(78041)

353   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to establish area child protection committees on a statutory basis.

(78037)

354   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who is carrying out the Suicide and Open Verdict on the Railways Report; and when it is expected to be published.

(78048)

355   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what use child protection registers are put; and how he expects this to change in the next three years.

(78038)

356   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were identified as being involved in prostitution in each of the past five years.

(78015)

357   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many child protection officers who had been in post for more than one year were active in each London borough and metropolitan borough in the last year.

(78018)

358   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of NHS facilities have workplace nurseries attached.

(77996)

359   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals he plans to bring forward to improve the sharing of information between agencies to help safeguard vulnerable children.

(78045)

360   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to promote the availability of drinking water and adequate toilet facilities in schools to combat enuresis.

(78095)

361   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the Prison Service mental health teams to have completed their review of the physical cell environment to reduce ligature points in (a) young offender institutions and (b) adult prisons.

(78046)

362   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prison healthcare workers have acquired an NVQ in custodial care.

(77999)

363   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many suicides have occurred in accident and emergency departments in each of the past five years.

(78002)

364   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of accident and emergency departments do not have access to child protection registers.

(78024)

365   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which voluntary organisations and charities departmental Ministers have met since the beginning of June.

(78093)

366   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to tackle the problem of smoking in prisons.

(77997)

367   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the Chief Inspector of Social Services does not publish an annual report into how well children are being protected from harm.

(78019)

368   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of prisoners have been vaccinated against hepatitis B; and how many had been vaccinated in 2000.

(77998)

369   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many area child protection committees do not have representatives from youth offending teams; and if he will set a deadline for all area child protection committees to include representatives from youth offending teams.

(78039)

370   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the review of the domiciliary oxygen service to be concluded.

(78094)

371   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the underlying reasons are behind the change in the number of occupational therapy first eposides of care from 2001-02 to 2000-01.

(78060)

372   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many child protection officers were active in each London borough and metropolitan borough in each of the past five years.

(78017)

373   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the Child Protection Register contains those children who are on social services department client index as a consequence of being regarded as at risk.

(78027)

374   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the role of child and adolescent mental health services is with regard to safeguarding vulnerable children.

(78036)

375   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have attempted suicide in each of the past five years and have been admitted to hospital as a consequence.

(78047)

376   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who the Children's Rights Director is.

(78042)

377   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many initial contacts per district nurse there were in each of the past five years.

(78056)

378   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the 10 most frequently prescribed items of community equipment are.

(78057)

379   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what central Government targets have been set for ambulance services; and what assessment has been made of whether they are being met.

(78097)

380   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 795W, what access to information on a patient's religious affiliation a hospital chaplain will have in the event of needing to administer the last rites to an unconscious persion in extremis.

(78301)

381   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what levels of IT service will be required to implement payment-by-results.

(79098)

382   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many serious case reviews were carried out by each area child protection committee in each of the last five years.

(78023)

383   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in meeting the Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation target on suicide reduction.

(78050)

384   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role the Department of Health and its statutory agencies will play in truancy sweeps.

(78028)

385   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to try to reduce suicide levels amongst farmers.

(78001)

386   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were in receipt of meals-on-wheels in each of the last five years.

(77995)

387   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many CAMHS psychiatrists were employed in each strategic health authority in each of the past five years.

(78020)

388   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the main criteria is for placing a vulnerable child who has been a client of a social services department on a child protection register.

(78031)

389   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of children on child protection registers do not have allocated social workers.

(78026)

390   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children at residential and boarding schools are on child protection registers.

(78040)

391   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take in respect of locations at which suicide is frequently committed.

(78049)

392   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role the Department of Health plays in ensuring adequate child protection amongst vulnerable families living in army garrisons.

(78029)

393   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in each of the last five years have left local authority care and within five years (a) committed suicide and (b) attempted suicide.

(78051)

394   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were waiting to be referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in each quarter in the last two years.

(78030)

395   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he intends to publish the results of the Independent Sector Usage Survey.

(78099)

396   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings Ministers have had with representatives of the Ghanaian Government in 2002.

(77994)

397   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the Health Authorities Preparation of Proposals for Pilot Schemes (Personal Medical Services) (Amendment) Directions 2002 were laid before the House on 21st October.

(78072)

398   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason social services departments are not always contactable by accident and emergency departments during the evenings.

(78025)

399   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new targets have been introduced to speed up the delivery of community equipment and the time taken to make minor adaptations.

(78059)

400   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many overseas surgical teams have been brought to the UK by the NHS; where they have worked; and how many operations they have carried out.

(78096)

401   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the Government intends to ensure that the safeguarding of vulnerable children takes place at a primary care level and that GPs participate to an extent which does not impinge upon them carrying out other clinical duties.

(78021)

402   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he plans to take to ensure that area child protection committees receive sufficient funding to discharge their responsibilities.

(78022)

403   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what means the National Institute for Mental Health in England will identify suicide hotspots; and who will have responsiblity to take action in respect of them.

(78000)

404   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact of the patents on breast cancer genes owned by Myriad Inc on testing for hereditary breast cancer; and what negotiations his Department is involved in with Myriad on this issue.

(77878)

405   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on objections made to the European patent office to the patents on breast cancer genes owned by Myriad Inc.

(77877)

406   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies he has funded this year to consider the impact of patenting biotechnology inventions on health care provision; for what purpose such studies were funded; and when they will be published.

(77875)

407   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has received for stem cell research; and how many have been awarded.

(77490)

408   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether the patents system as it applies to biotechnology inventions continues to operate in the public interest; and if he will make a statement.

(77876)

409   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources are being allocated to the setting up of the stem cell bank.

(77491)

410   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to support stem cell research to combat disease.

(77489)

411   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the number of nurses working on NHS Direct at each grade.

(77603)

412   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Spanish nurses have worked in the NHS in each of the last three years in (a) the UK, (b) Lancashire and (c) the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust.

(77606)

413   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Spanish nurses are working in the NHS in (a) the UK, (b) Lancashire and (c) the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust.

(77605)

414   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether nurses operating on NHS Direct are able to give only pre-set answers to queries.

(77604)

415   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of the proportion and number of children with a mental health disorder; and what the budget for child and adolescent mental health services is.

(77837)

416   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 13th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton with regard to Anne Franke.

(78043)

417   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the organizations being consulted by the Food Standards Agency about the revision of the Jams Regulations.

(77821)

418   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time taken to test a consignment of imported poultry meat for the presence of nitrofurans has been in the last year for which figures are available.

(77825)

419   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the Government did not secure reserved descriptions in the EC Jams Directive (2001/113/EC) for (a) curd, (b) flavour curd, (c) lemon cheese and (d) mincemeat.

(77822)

420   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement about the incidence and the levels of nitrofurans detected in poultry meat imported from Brazil.

(77823)

421   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the maximum penalties are for breaches of the Jams Regulations; and what the maximum penalties he intends for breaches of the EC Jams Directive (2001/113/EC).

(77824)

422   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total running costs of NHS organisations serving (a) the Vale of York constituency and (b) North Yorkshire were in 1997; and what the total is now.

(77835)

423   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed to carry out the administration for NHS services for residents of (a) the Vale of York constituency and (b) North Yorkshire in 1997; and how many are employed now.

(77834)

424
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76550)

425   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what pilot studies are being undertaken in NHS hospitals to demonstrate innovative ways of complying with the requirements of the Working Time Directive.

(77506)

426   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications of extending the Working Time Directive to junior doctors (a) for medical workforce planning and (b) on their training; and if he will make a statement.

(77505)

427   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to announce whether to site a replacement permanent MRI scanner at Pembury hospital.

(77559)

428   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on medical staffing rotas of extending the Working Time Directive to junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.

(77504)

429   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the British Medical Association concerning derogations for junior doctors from the Working Time Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(77507)

430   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to fund research into finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

(77617)

431   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what further steps he plans to take to increase provision of NHS dental services in Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

(77937)

432   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Finnish nurses are employed by the NHS.

(77623)

433   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department was informed that the outline plans for the Paddington Health Campus had not taken into consideration all points in the National Service Framework; and what assessment he has made of the additional space required to meet those requirements.

(77971)

434   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what further cardiac surgical services are planned in West London; and when they will be operational.

(77970)

435   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had in the last six months with the management of the Paddington Health Campus.

(77958)

436   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial recompense has been provided to Mr Eric Sorenson the former project director of the Paddington Health Campus following his resignation on 4th October.

(77957)

437   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed in English CHCs in each of the last three years; and what the projected number is of staff to be employed by the Patients Forum when they commence.

(77969)

438   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care home places are available in the London Borough of Hillingdon; what percentage change this represents on figures for each of the last three years; and what the forecast is for care home places for the coming year.

(77959)

439   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff that are currently employed by English CHCs are likely not to be employed by the new Patient Forums; and what redundancy schemes have been put in place for those staff.

(77973)

440   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the closure of care homes.

(77512)

441   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to increase the number of GPs in the NHS.

(77511)

442
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many persons were suffering from arthritis in each of the last ten years.

(77537)

443   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many administrators there are as a ratio of the number of clinical staff in the Leicestershire Health Trust.

(77947)

444   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current salary is of the Chief Executive of the Leicestershire Health Trust.

(77948)

445   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many PET scanners there are in England and at which hospitals.

(77945)

446   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost is of a PET scanner to the National Health Service.

(77946)

447   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many organs are retained at Leicestershire hospitals from deceased persons.

(77962)

448   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people contacted MRSA and in which hospitals in 2001.

(77963)

449   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals (a) he and (b) his Ministers visited since June 2001.

(77964)

450   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the case of the late Mr John Hall, with specific reference to the date, time and place of the disposal of his brain by Leicester Royal Infirmary.

(77961)

451   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will propose that any bill arising from the Criminal Justice White Paper is subject to pre-legislative scrutiny online.

(77783)

452   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) anti-terrorist officers were involved in the security operation at Barrow-in-Furness for the docking of the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal vessels in September; and if he will make a statement.

(77771)

453   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what costs were incurred by (a) Cumbrian police and (b) his Department in the security operation at Barrow-in-Furness for the docking of the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal vessels in September.

(77772)

454
N   Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to fund Youth Inclusion programmes beyond their initial three year period.

(76977)

455   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Cameroon applied for asylum in the UK in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) to date this year; and what percentage was successful in each year.

(77628)

456   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to Chief Constables about the possibility of Police forces being (a) prosecuted and (b) sued for the consequences of insufficient health and safety training of their officers involved in various policing situations.

(77487)

457   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce an offence of corporate manslaughter; and if he will make a statement.

(77918)

458
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to put forward new sentencing arrangements for motorists who (a) kill and (b) seriously injure a cyclist.

(77071)

459   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the levels of street crime in Lancashire.

(77635)

460   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there are in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) Wales.

(77634)

461   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special constables there were in each police force in England and Wales on (a) 1st September 2002 and (b) 1st September of each of the last five years.

(77640)

462   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of robbery there were in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(77638)

463   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special constables there are in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) Wales.

(77639)

464   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike.

(77666)

465   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-operational staff are employed by the police in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) Wales.

(77636)

466   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of violent crime there were in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(77633)

467
N   Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Department has to open a camp for asylum seekers in Lichfield District.

(77560)

468   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been employed by (a) Avon and Somerset Constabulary and (b) West Somerset Division in each of the 10 years for which figures are available.

(77760)

469   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long it has taken on average for checks on care workers to be completed by the Criminal Records Bureau in the last six months.

(77759)

470   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of (a) boys and (b) girls under the age of 16 in young offender institutions in each of the past five years have been children in local authority care.

(78064)

471   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many assaults on children under the age of 16 have occurred at each young offender institution in each of the past five years.

(78062)

472   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those resident in each young offender institution have been referred, whilst resident, to child protection services in each of the last five years.

(78061)

473   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which agency is responsible for investigating deaths in custody which take place while in young offender institutions.

(78058)

474   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of childen under 16 who left young offender institutions to return to the community in each of the past five years has had residential accommodation arranged prior to discharge.

(78063)

475   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young offender institutions do not possess in-house child protection protocols and committees.

(78016)

476
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reduce the prison population.

(75316)

477   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list community amateur sports clubs that are now registered as charities.

(78012)

478   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many community amateur sports clubs (a) have applied and (b) are registered with the Charity Commission as a community amateur sports club.

(78014)

479
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is given to (a) judges and (b) magistrates on the imposition of sentences involving electronic tagging; and if he will make a statement.

(76998)

480
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted persons were subject to electronic tags as at (a) 30th September 2001 and (b) 30th September 2002.

(76997)

481   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on the maximum distance persons in police custody should be transported between the place of arrest and a custody suite.

(77766)

482   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been arrested in the Chorley constituency in each of the last three years.

(77765)

483   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of damage to property were caused by fireworks in (a) the last 12 months and (b) each of the preceding five years.

(77972)

484   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 3rd September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton with regard to Tabasum Raja and Asif Kamal.

(78044)

485
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is planning to strengthen the capability of the Customs and Immigration services to deal with trafficking in illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement.

(77498)

486
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to establish a new crime fighting fund to target the illegal drugs trade; and if he will make a statement.

(77497)

487
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his estimate is of the number of (a) notifiable offences, (b) convictions and (c) convictions as a percentage of notifiable offences for each year from 1990-91 to 2001-02, (i) in total for England and (ii) broken down by police authority; and if he will make a statement.

(77500)

488
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminals have been brought to justice in each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

(77499)

489
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his estimate is of the ratio of police officers to notifiable offences for each of the Police Authorities in England for the latest year for which statistics are available; and if he will make a statement.

(77496)

490   Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drivers of police cars were caught exceeding the speed limit by speed cameras in the last year when not attending to an emergency call.

(77830)

491   Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drivers of police cars that were caught exceeding the speed limit by speed cameras in the last year when not attending to an emergency call were prosecuted.

(77829)

492   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers from Sri Lanka have been repatriated in each month for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(78077)

493   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent information on in-country conditions in Sri Lanka have been received from (a) other Government departments and (b) other organisations relating to the return of failed Tamil asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

(78082)

494
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76562)

495
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the projects to which his Department has allocated funding in the Kingston upon Hull North constituency since 1997, indicating the amount in each case.

(76560)

496
N   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whom he plans to send to represent the Government at the 46th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs to be held in April 2003; and what issues the Government expects to raise at the session.

(77355)

497
N   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress with reducing (a) crime affecting older people and (b) the fear of crime amongst older people.

(75313)

498
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of convictions were entered on the Police National Computer within three days of the conviction in the last six months.

(77119)

499
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken to input conviction data on the Police National Computer, broken down by force, was in the last six months.

(77122)

500
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of police forces met the target of three days between conviction and entry of that conviction on the Police National Computer over the last six months.

(77121)

501   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of women illegally trafficked to Britain against their will for use in vice rings in the last 12 months.

(77554)

502   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken by the Government to curb the number of women illegally trafficked to Britain against their will for use in vice rings.

(77555)

503   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests were made in connection with security arrangements for the Turnberry Bilderberg meeting; if the status of one arrested individual as special constable was consequently revoked; what the costs of policing this event were; what arrangements were made for the use of military transport for security of attendees; how many Bilderberg events have taken place in the UK requiring notification of his Department; when the next such is planned; and if he will make a statement.

(78119)

504   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information on UK nationals is held on the Schengen Information System; and how many nationals this covers.

(78120)

505   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the timetable through which (a) his Press Office, (b) his staff and (c) he were informed of proposals in the European Commission for the establishment of Common EU border policing.

(78125)

506   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of progress in each of the five policing priority areas in England and Wales.

(77548)

507
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letter dated 9th July from the honourable Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Mr A Innes of Banff.

(77309)

508
N   Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed by the Nottinghamshire Police on (i) 31st March 1997, (ii) 31st March 1998, (iii) 31st March 1999, (iv) 31st March 2000, (v) 31st March 2001, (vi) 31st March 2002 and (vii) 31st September 2002; and what the projected number is for 31st March 2003.

(77353)

509   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce plans to ban smoking in public places.

(77808)

510   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will respond to the letters of the honourable Member for the Isle of Wight dated 24th May and 24th July under his reference V1008944/2.

(78074)

511   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he last met (a) the Acting Chairman of the CRE and (b) Mr Gurbux Singh, in an official capacity.

(77967)

512   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the names of the commissioners of the CRE, their dates of appointment and their remuneration.

(77966)

513   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in which publications the post of Chairman of the CRE has been advertised.

(77965)

514   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle human trafficking into the United Kingdom.

(78149)

515   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been put in place to ensure that the redevelopment of 2 Marsham Street, London will be covered by Government requirements to ensure timber purchased is from legal and sustainable sources.

(77675)

516   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he will take to ensure that the contractors in the expanded prison building programme comply with Government requirements regarding the use of timber from legal and sustainable sources; and if he will make a statement.

(77672)

517   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what timber has been purchased and used in the re-development of 2 Marsham Street, London; and who supplied the timber.

(77674)

518   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to offer funding to local retail crime prevention initiatives in town shopping centres and secondary shopping areas.

(77977)

519   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidences of retail crime there were in each of the metropolitan boroughs in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(78138)

520   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of the money allocated to his Department in this year's Budget will be used to tackle retail crime.

(78133)

521   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of (a) shoplifting, (b) armed robbery and (c) assaults in high street shops there were in the past 12 months.

(77981)

522   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of recorded crime in the last three years have been classed as retail crime, broken down by police force.

(77980)

523   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of violent assault there were against (a) rail workers, (b) benefits agency staff and (c) retail staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(77978)

524   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the correlation between retail crime and drug abuse.

(78129)

525   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the correlation between retail crime and street crime.

(78135)

526   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many instances of violence to retail staff were recorded in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(78134)

527   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures his Department is taking to tackle retail crime.

(78136)

528   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information he has collated on how many shops in high street shopping centres in England and Wales have CCTV systems.

(77979)

529   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to make retail crime a best value indicator for police force performance.

(78137)

530   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of violent crime was against shop staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(78130)

531   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of retail crime was to (a) business, (b) local authorities and (c) the police in each of the past three years; and what information he has on the amount spent by the retail sector on crime prevention measures in each of the last three years.

(78131)

532
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make an assessment of the effect of changes to the sitting hours of the House on the working conditions and remuneration of servants thereof.

(77435)

533   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) UN Force and (b) MONUC representatives are in the Democratic Republic of Congo; what plans there are to send British troops there; what plans there are to increase the number of MONUC representatives; and if she will make a statement.

(77641)

534   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the governments of (a) Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) Rwanda and (c) Uganda regarding the situation in the DRC; and if she will make a statement.

(77642)

535   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) financial and (b) other assistance her Department (i) is providing and (ii) plans to provide to the Government of DRC; and if she will make a statement.

(77553)

536
N   Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge & Chryston): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made on the Government of Belize's application for relief under the Commonwealth Debt Initiative.

(77622)

537   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the UK Government is intending to seek an assurance that training on human rights will become a permanent component of police training programmes in the Southern African Development Community region.

(77773)

538   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77664)

539   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the UK overseas aid budget is allocated to (a) basic health provision and (b) education.

(78073)

540   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with counterparts in other nations who have signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(78006)

541   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the UK's contribution towards achieving the goals of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and what representations she has received about the UK contribution.

(78011)

542   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much the Government has contributed to the Education for All plan for each of the last seven years for which records are available.

(78009)

543   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings officials have attended to discuss progress towards meeting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (a) with organisations and Government departments within the UK and (b) with organisations in other countries.

(78008)

544   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what target sum she has agreed with her counterparts in other countries should be set for the total budget for the World Bank Education for All programme.

(78010)

545   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to increase the proportion of overseas aid the UK allocates to (a) basic health provision and (b) education.

(78007)

546   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what priority is given to (a) the creation of local institutions and (b) building capacity in local communities within third world poverty and development programmes; and if she will make a statement.

(78090)

547   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about the re-establishment of functioning legal institutions in (a) Rwanda and (b) Burundi.

(78089)

548
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representatives from her Department will attend the United Nations Bishket Global Mountain Summit from 29th October to 1st November 2004.

(77795)

549
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76551)

550
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she and her Department have to meet representatives of the Libyan Government.

(76920)

551   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money was pledged by Her Majesty's Government to Afghanistan to help rebuild that country since October 2001; how much money has been paid by Her Majesty's Government to bodies in Afghanistan tasked with rebuilding that country; what percentage of money pledged to Afghanistan was promised to non-governmental organisations; and what percentage of money pledged to NGOs in the rebuilding of Afghanistan has been paid.

(77942)

552   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with the Norwegian and Sri Lankan Governments about the peace process in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

(77514)

553   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action she is taking to provide support for (a) demining and (b) the resettlement of displaced people in Sri Lanka.

(77515)

554   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support she is providing for projects to tackle poverty in southern Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

(77516)

555   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) estimated number of people reliant on food aid and (b) estimated amount of food aid required by the WFP is over the next six months for (i) Mauritania, (ii) Mali, (iii) Senegal, (iv) Eritrea and (v) Ethiopia.

(77610)

556   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support education in the Fast Track countries on the list.

(78219)

557   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how her Department is helping small coffee producers in developing countries to diversify into alternative livelihoods following the sustained decline in world prices.

(78054)

558   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the impact of the low price of unprocessed coffee on the livelihoods of coffee producers.

(78052)

559   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will recommend extending TIRPS implementation deadlines for all developing countries.

(78220)

560   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the UK Government and other donor countries are taking to address the shortfall in funds to the WFP and UNHCR in Afghanistan.

(78216)

561   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department will announce what resources it will put into the Fast Track Initiative on Education.

(78218)

562   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the UK Government and other key donors are taking to address the shortfall in funding to the Afghan Government for promoting Afghanistan's recovery.

(78215)

563   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of the new money announced for International Development in the CSR will be spent on basic education; and how much this represents in real terms.

(78217)

564   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if it is her policy to support (a) co-operation between coffee producing governments to stop more beans entering the market than can be sold and (b) the scheme agreed by coffee producing governments to reduce supply by increasing the quality of coffee traded.

(78053)

565   Tony Worthington (Clydebank & Milngavie): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to assist producer countries in capturing more value from agricultural commodities.

(78055)

566   Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much was awarded in fines in each of the last 12 months and what percentage of such fines have been (a) collected and (b) written off by each magistrates' court in Greater Manchester; and what assessment the Lord Chancellor has made of the impact of court enforcement officers in fine enforcements.

(77809)

567
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to use his statutory powers to open the records relating to the 1911 Census in England and Wales.

(77806)

568
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on regional appeals tribunals.

(77069)

569   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if the Public Guardianship Office public service agreement contains assurances about the time it would normally take to deal with cases; and if he will make a statement.

(77774)

570   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike.

(77668)

571
N   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Wrexham of 8th August, in respect of Mr and Mrs Jones.

(77310)

572   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will require that, when an award of damages to a minor is invested, the principal sum is guaranteed in the event of a fall in the value of the investment.

(77649)

573
N   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will instruct the Chief Executive of the Court Service to reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Wrexham of 8th August, in respect of Mr and Mrs Jones.

(77311)

574
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76552)

575   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77659)

576
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether (a) members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and (b) ministers in the Northern Ireland Assembly are receiving their salaries for the period of the suspension of the Government.

(77354)

577
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions have taken place between the Northern Ireland Office and the Fire Brigades Union on strike action by firefighters.

(77626)

578
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures will be in place to give fire cover in the North Down constituency if the Fire Brigades Union takes strike action.

(77627)

579   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the Business Manifesto issued by the Confederation of British Industry for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(77600)

580   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will announce a new hospital for Downpatrick in December.

(77597)

581   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps will be taken to improve levels of funding to the Down Lisburn Trust by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board.

(77596)

582   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper delivered on 8th October to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in relation to the cases of Jordan, McKerr, Kelly & Others v UK, and Shanaghan v UK; and if he will list the members of the group of officials established to consider the Government response to these cases.

(78146)

583
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76553)

584   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consultancy fees (a) the Policing Board, (b)The RUC/PSNI and (c) the Northern Ireland Office have paid in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 and to which companies; what the purpose was of the consultancy contracts; and what estimates he has made of consultancy fees for the next two financial years.

(78145)

585
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the South Eastern Education and Library Board made application to the Chancery Court in connection with the status of the former Castle Gardens Primary School building in Newtownards; and when the ruling by the Chancery Court is expected.

(77077)

586
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made with investigations concerning the transferring of ownership of the car park in Frederick Street, Killyleagh from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to the Roads Service with a view to improving the facility.

(77078)

587
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made with provision of a pedestrian crossing in Catherine Street in Killyleagh.

(77080)

588
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures have been taken in the past four years to address the illegal importation of fireworks into Northern Ireland; and what further plans he has with regard to addressing the illegal importation of fireworks into Northern Ireland.

(77075)

589
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will complete an audit of buildings owned and leased by Government departments and agencies in Northern Ireland, which have asbestos as a component of their construction; and if he will make a statement.

(77076)

590
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will erect signs in Killyleagh, directing motorists to the car park in Frederick Street.

(77074)

591
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made with the construction of traffic calming measures at Frederick Street and Braeside Gardens in Killyleagh.

(77079)

592   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Prime Minister, what the anticipated cost is of one-off redundancy payments to Scottish MPs losing their seats as a result of the proposed reduction in the number of Westminster constituencies; from what budget they will be paid; and if he will make it his policy to extend such payments to English MPs who lose their seats as a result of the redrawing of boundaries by the Boundaries Commission.

(77956)

.
593   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77663)

594
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76554)

595   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Solicitor General, when the Department of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland received papers on the investigation into the death of Robert Hamill; and when he expects a decision on prosecution to be made.

(77619)

596   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many personnel, at what cost, and how many Royal Navy vessels were involved in the security operation at Barrow-in-Furness for the docking of the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal vessels in September.

(77769)

597   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the planned expenditure for the South East England Development Agency on (a) corporate entertainment and (b) conferences was during the financial year 2002-03.

(77858)

598   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps will be taken in respect of the decommissioning, dismantling and clearance of nuclear magnox reactors in Great Britain.

(77598)

599   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) operating costs and (b) number of visits were for the Export Market Information Centre in London is in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000 and (iv) 2000-01; what research of customers took place in each of those years; what costs were incurred by that research; and if she will make a statement.

(78103)

600   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the OPCW last carried out an inspection at (a) CBD Porton Down and (b) the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham; if she will place the results in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

(78110)

601   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of (a) United Kingdom GDP and (b) the United Kingdom workforce the consumer goods and business and consumer services sector accounts for; and if she will make a statement.

(78109)

602   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) financial and (b) other support was provided for the Process Improvement Master Class in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-00 and (iii) 2000-01; what budget there is for 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(78262)

603   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to ensure that the British Energy Trading arrangements work effectively in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

(77481)

604   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) DTI, (b) FCO, (c) other Government departments, (d) secondees and (e) other staff work within the Joint Export Promotion Directorate; and if she will make a statement.

(78113)

605   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on the Iron and Steel Employees Readaption Benefits Scheme in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-00 and (c) 2002-01; what the budget is for 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(78290)

606   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the booklets on best practice on raising finance, 'Money and Machines' and 'Informed Investment in Modern Production Machinery' were reprinted.

(78303)

607   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much financial assistance has been given to the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force in each of the last five years; what future support is planned in the next two years; when the Task Force is next due to report; what assessment has taken place of the effectiveness of the Task Force; and if she will make a statement.

(78265)

608   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the trials will begin in Cornwall of the new Commercial Kiosk Service; how long the trial is due to last; which companies will be providing the (a) hardware, (b) software and (c) training of staff; and if she will make a statement.

(77485)

609   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much the Government has invested, broken down by financial year, in British Aerospace plc for development of the new airbus A340-500/600 wing; and if she will make a statement.

(77904)

610   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many titles are featured in the Export Publications Catalogue; what the website address is for the catalogue; what the running costs were for financial years (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000 and (d) 2000-01; and if she will make a statement.

(78114)

611   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made by the Information Society Technologies programme; what costs have been incurred since its start up broken down by financial year; what the budget allocated was in each financial year; when the programme is due to finish; and if she will make a statement.

(78108)

612   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with Ofgem about guaranteeing long-term security of energy supply; and if she will make a statement.

(77483)

613   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) financial and (b) other support was provided to the Industry Forum in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-00 and (iii) 2000-01; what budget there is for 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(78263)

614   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much levy was received by the Government in financial years (a) 1998-99; (b) 1999-00 and (c) 2000-01 in respect of (i) the Airbus A320 Launch Aid, (ii) the Airbus A330/340 Launch Aid, (iii) RB211-535 aeroengine, (iv) V2500 aeroengine, (v) EH101 helicopter and (vi) Lear 45 executive jet; and if she will make a statement.

(77901)

615   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has received from businesses and individuals about the services operated by Parcel Force; and if she will make a statement.

(77478)

616   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much financial assistance has been given to the sensors technology, through the Link sensors for industrial applications programme in each of the last five years; what support is planned in the next two years; when the programme is next due to report; what assessment has taken place of the effectiveness of the programme; whether the programme has a website; and if she will make a statement.

(78264)

617   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many industrial facilities the OPCW has inspected since its inception; and if she will make a statement.

(78111)

618   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the Post Office is to be bound by the Urban Counter Cover Obligation; how this obligation will be assessed, and by whom; and if she will make a statement.

(77486)

619   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much financial assistance has been given in each of the last five years to (a) the British Printing Industries Federation, (b) the Booksellers Association, (c) London Fashion Week, (d) the Designer Fact File and (e) the Education Pack for Schools in the Clothing and Textile industries; what assistance is planned for the next three years; and if she will make a statement.

(78261)

620   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much financial assistance has been given, broken down by financial year, to the British Printing Industries Federation; what future support they will enjoy; and if she will make a statement.

(78309)

621   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much the Government has invested broken down by financial year, in Rolls-Royce plc for development of the next generation Trent aeroengines; and if she will make a statement.

(77905)

622   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact on other electricity generators of the rescue package for British Energy; and if she will make a statement.

(77482)

623   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of total turnover exports accounted for in the United Kingdom aerospace industry in the financial years (a) 1998-99; (b) 1999-00 and (c) 2000-01; and if she will make a statement.

(77900)

624   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many export development counsellors recruited from the private sector were in place in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000 and (d) 2000-01; and if she will make a statement.

(78112)

625   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much funding the Government will provide for the Commercial Kiosk Service; and if she will make a statement.

(77477)

626   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment has taken place of (a) Stockholding 2000, (b) Export Strategy and (c) Benchmarking club training initiatives; what costs were associated with each project in each year since 1997-98; and if she will make a statement.

(78268)

627   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the IEA has met to discuss the possible scenarios arising from a conflict in Iraq; who the members of the IEA are; and if she will make a statement.

(78289)

628   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on the Your Guide project; and if she will make a statement.

(77755)

629   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on the UK's subscription to the (a) WTO, (b) Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat, (c) International Energy Agency, (d) International Atomic Energy Agency, (e) Safeguards Support Programmes and (f) Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-00 and (iv) 2000-01; what the budget is for 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(78291)

630   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much of the Government funding of £35.1 million over four years in the 1998-99 publication Trade and Industry, The Government's Expenditure Plans, Sectoral Activities section 1.2 has been (a) allocated and (b) spent; which projects received funding, with the amount allocated per project; which projects were refused funding; and if she will make a statement.

(77903)

631   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial assistance was provided by the Government to the (a) Shipbuilding Intervention Fund and (b) Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-00, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02; what amounts are outstanding under the HSCGS; what amounts have been written off under the HSCGS; what assessment has taken place of (A) the SIF and (B) the HSCGS; and if she will make a statement.

(78269)

632   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many Rural Transfer Advisors are in place; what plans she has to increase this number; what their objectives are; who is managing them; and if she will make a statement.

(77484)

633   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of UK GDP the communication and information industries represent; and if she will make a statement.

(77906)

634   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) budget allocation and (b) staff allocation is for the Support at Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad section; and if she will make a statement.

(78104)

635   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from firms involved in the generation and sale of electricity in the United Kingdom, in response to the funding package put in place to support British Energy; and if she will make a statement.

(77479)

636   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) target and (b) actual time to complete licence assessments by the Export Control Organisation is for (i) applications where other government departments are consulted and (ii) applications not circulated to other government departments; and if she will make a statement.

(78288)

637   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was invested by the Government, broken down by financial years, in the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme; whether the programme is still live; what assessment of the programme has taken place and at what cost; and if she will make a statement.

(77902)

638   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans the Government has to provide assistance to the Post Office Rural Network; and if she will make a statement.

(77756)

639
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the annual value is of export credit guarantees issued to (a) Qatar, (b) Bahrain, (c) the United Arab Emirates and (d) Oman since 1995; how many guarantees were issued in each year; what percentage of guarantee value each year was in each export sector; and if she will list each project of more than £10 million supported by those guarantees.

(77377)

640
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the timetable is to be announced for the programme of financial support for rural post offices.

(76978)

641
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with Consignia on a definition for different types of sub post office.

(76979)

642   Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many successful prosecutions have been made by local authority trading standards departments against licensees or landlords for delivering short measures in each of the last five years.

(77570)

643   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77662)

644   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects solicitors dealing with mining and compensation claims to have received the chronic bronchitis and emphysema pensions model on computer disc.

(77974)

645   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which private companies are involved in administration of the Community Development Venture Capital Fund in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland.

(78147)

646   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what role her Department is playing in international collaboration aimed at harmonising practice on the patenting of biotechnology inventions.

(77873)

647   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidelines she has issued on the benchmarks used for assessing the patentability of biotechnology inventions; and what implications these guidelines have for future patenting of DNA sequences identified by data-mining techniques.

(77874)

648   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that stringent criteria for patenting biotechnology inventions are applied at the European patent office.

(77872)

649   Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many letters she received between 1st August and 15th October advocating the inclusion of the Development Box in the Government's negotiations on the WTO Agreement on Agriculture; and if she will make a statement.

(77787)

650   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made on (a) the consultation on measures to tackle the misuse of fireworks announced by the Consumer Minister on 1st March and (b) the proposal to enable local authorities to refuse or revoke a licence of a retailer where the licensee is not considered to be a fit person for the sale of fireworks.

(77968)

651   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many work permit holders given leave to enter the United Kingdom in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 were employed in the IT sector; and what proportion of IT workers employed were admitted for the purpose of taking up a job in the sector.

(77936)

652   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many successful prosecutions for failure to pay the national minimum wage there have been in (a) the London Borough of Enfield, (b) Greater London and (c) the United Kingdom since its introduction; and if she will make a statement.

(78088)

653
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76555)

654   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many radiation leaks there have been from each UK nuclear power station and nuclear reprocessing plant in each of the last 20 years.

(77544)

655   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representation she has received from the Nordic countries on radiological pollution from Sellafield.

(77543)

656   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the contributions street markets make to the United Kingdom economy; how many people are (a) directly and (b) indirectly employed in such markets in the United Kingdom; and what assistance she gives to help protect and expand street markets in the United Kingdom.

(77552)

657   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representation she has received concerning the decommissioning of Sellafield in the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

(77546)

658   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which counties of the UK have been most affected by radiological leaks from Sellafield.

(77545)

659
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government is taking to promote broadband technology in Aberdeenshire.

(76651)

660   Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the number of wind turbines which will be needed in the British Isles to meet the Kyoto commitments on sustainable energy.

(77863)

661   Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact decommissioning nuclear sources will have on the number of wind turbines which will be needed in the British Isles.

(77862)

662   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will place in the Library a copy of the standard contract letter which is drawn up between TradePartnersUK and secondees from private companies before they start their secondment.

(78150)

663   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what further action she plans to take to ensure the target of 10GW of CHP by 2010 is achieved; and if she will make a statement.

(78140)

664   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will introduce (a) fixed net metering, (b) a feed in tariff and (c) loans for those wanting to install a solar photovoltaic system.

(78141)

665   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress she has made on EU wide discussions on liberalising energy markets; and if she will make a statement.

(78214)

666   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to introduce legislation to allow the development of offshore wind farms outside the 12-mile territorial limit; and if she will make a statement.

(78142)

667   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the sites identified by her Department for the construction of wind powered electricity generators.

(78068)

668   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 711W, on railways, how many miles of new rail track, excluding repairs to existing track, have been constructed since May 1997.

(77786)

669
N   Mr Keith Bradley (Manchester, Withington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what consultation meetings have been held in the Manchester area regarding the future development of air transport in the UK; and which (a) organisations, (b) honourable Members and (c) other people were invited to the meetings.

(77081)

670
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Government's (a) policy and (b) advice on the use of hand-held mobiles whilst driving.

(77070)

671
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to issue guidance on the forms of traffic calming.

(77073)

672
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to extend the number of cycleways, especially in rural areas.

(77072)

673   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike.

(77671)

674   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will examine the safety of the junction of the A59 in Lancashire at the Clitheroe and Sabden turnoffs and fund changes to it.

(77654)

675   Mr Ivan Henderson (Harwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which UK shipping companies have benefited from the tonnage tax since its introduction.

(77928)

676   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which is the competent authority to determine the requirements for (a) the fitting of and (b) the use of seat belts in buses and coaches in the UK.

(77879)

677   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the detrunking programme will end; and what additional resources will be made available to local highways authorities in (a) England and Wales, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) the City of York to cover their additional responsibilities from that time.

(77836)

678
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76556)

679   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) condition of and (b) need for infrastructure schemes on the West Coast Main Line north of Preston.

(77609)

680   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the signalling arrangements envisaged in the Strategic Rail Authority's Consultation document West Coast Strategy will have to be replaced with ERTMS technology to meet EU requirements.

(77614)

681   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of asking train and freight operating companies to purchase cheaper rolling stock than that envisaged in the Strategic Rail Authority's consultation document West Coast Strategy.

(77612)

682   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the cost of concentrating possessions in periods close to public holidays outlined in the Strategic Rail Authority's consultation document on the West Coast Strategy to the tourist industry in (a) the North West and (b) Blackpool.

(77613)

683   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate his Department has made of the additional costs that train and freight operating companies will need to bear to meet rolling stock requirements envisaged in the Strategic Rail Authority's consultation document on the West Coast Strategy; and from what sources these costs would be met.

(77608)

684   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimate his Department has made of the likely final level of compensation that will be paid to (a) each passenger train operating company, (b) each freight train operating company and (c) the Royal Mail as a result of (i) the proposed decision to establish a fast line speed maximum of 125 miles per hour rather than 140 miles per hour and (ii) the proposed rolling stock requirements outlined in the Strategic Rail Authority's consultation document West Coast Strategy; and from what sources such compensation would be paid.

(77611)

685
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will require Railtrack to consult local authorities on removal of trees from the trackside.

(77615)

686   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd October (ref 74930) what provisional estimates his officials have made of the proportion of take-offs from the possible Cliffe Airport that would take-off towards the east, with reference to wind direction patterns.

(77831)

687   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether the Severn Tunnel will remain open in the event of a fire brigade strike.

(77792)

688   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent representations he has received about upgrading the A12 between London and Ipswich.

(77681)

689   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he will publish his response to the consultation process on the London to Ipswich Multi Modal Study.

(77680)

690   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77660)

691   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the salary costs are of political appointments made by him in 2002-03; and what the figures were in each of the last three years.

(77637)

692
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76558)

693
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the official British contribution to mark the forthcoming European Year of Disabled People.

(76819)

694
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the introduction of the proposed changes in the CSA; and what assessment he has made of the impact upon the parent with responsibility of its proposed changes.

(77308)

695
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to compel local authorities to give disregard for housing and council tax benefit to ex-service personnel.

(76984)

696   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what preparations he has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

(77655)

697
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in his Department for jobs located in (i) London and (i) the South East between 1st April 2001 and 31st March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

(76559)

698   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the maximum permitted levels of radiation exposure are for (a) workers in the nuclear industry and (b) members of the public; and how many times these have been exceeded in each of the last 20 years.

(77643)

699   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, columns 634-5W, on benefit payments, how the figures quoted relate to his Department's PSA target on the proportion of parents with care on income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who receive maintenance for their children; and if he will make a statement.

(78075)

700   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Harwich, of 21st October, Official Report, column 14, on the Universal Bank, what alternative arrangements he will put in place for those people who will not be able to use the PIN number associated with a Post Office card account.

(78076)

701   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, as at 1st October how many people received benefits and pensions, from his Department paid in cash at Post Offices; and how many of these, at date of commencement or other point prior to 1st October, have been offered the opportunity to have their benefits or pension paid directly into a bank account.

(77881)

702
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 635W, on child maintenance, for what reason the figure given was on a different basis to his Department's PSA target; and if he will make a statement.

(77784)

703
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 21st October, to the honourable Member for Harwich, Official Report, column 14, on the Universal Bank, what alternative arrangements he will put in place for those people who will not be able to use the PIN number associated with a Post Office card account.

(77785)

704   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Cabinet Office, what the consequences for Phase One of the UK Online Interactive project were of the end of ITV Interactive's involvement.

(77885)

705   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Cabinet Office, for what reason UK Online Interactive is (a) being solely provided on British Sky Broadcasting digital television and (b) not being provided on BBC digital television.

(77884)

706   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Cabinet Office, what reports his Department has published on executive agencies' and executive NDPB's performance against targets since the Executive Agencies 1999 Report and the Executive NDPBs 1999 Report.

(78128)

707   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what role her Department played in the development of the non-paper on trade liberalisation at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg; and what outcomes emerged from discussions relating to this non-paper involving her Department.

[Transferred] (77568)

708   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps have been taken to produce an annual report on progress towards the Millennium Declaration.

[Transferred] (77571)

709   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consultancy fees the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland paid in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001 and to which companies; what the purposes of the consultancy contracts were; and what estimate she has made of consultancy fees in the next two financial years.

[Transferred] (78144)

710   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information will be provided to pensioners regarding the introduction and use of Post Office card accounts; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (78079)

711   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what progress has been made on the EU Bus Directive; and if he will make a statement on the future use of double decker buses in the UK.

[Transferred] (77880)

712   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people reaching retirement age in each of the last 10 years had private self-employed pensions.

[Transferred] (77887)

713   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many holders of private pension funds have taken tax-free lump sums in each of the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (77888)

714   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people contributed to private self-employed pension funds in each of the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (77890)