Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 26 November 2002

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 27 November 2002 see Part 2 of this Paper.

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.

1   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much the Government spent on start-up costs for the (a) National Assembly for Wales and (b) Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(83792)

2   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the cost of the initial start-up costs of regional government in the North West of England; and what the breakdown of this sum is broken down by main budget heads.

(83787)

3   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) holding and (b) promoting a referendum on regional government in the North West of England.

(83788)

4   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the cost of the headquarters for a regional government in the North West of England; and what the breakdown of this sum is broken down by gain budget heads.

(83786)

5   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in North Devon; and if he will make a statement.

(83780)

6   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list new (a) companies, (b) work and (c) venues funded by her Department since 1998; and if she will make a statement.

(83747)

7   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of her Department's involvement in facilitating and promoting competitiveness of British creative industries (a) at home and (b) abroad; and if she will make a statement.

(83745)

8   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of her Department's promotion of quality tourism development which (a) is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable and (b) supports the Government's employment objectives; and if she will make a statement.

(83744)

9   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much has been (a) made available through her Department's Challenge Fund and (b) spent in each year since 1998-99 by each museum; and if she will make a statement.

(83734)

10   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much National Lottery grant funding was spent by (a) region and (b) regional body in the UK in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000, (iii) 2000-01 and
(iv) 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(83778)

11   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of distributing bodies' strategic plans for National Lottery funding on (a) capital and revenue schemes and (b) variations in regions of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

(83782)

12   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures she has taken to ensure public service broadcasters sustain quality and range of output; and if she will make a statement.

(83777)

13   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the performance of the funding councils for the performing and visual arts and for film; and if she will make a statement.

(83760)

14   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of her Department's non-departmental public bodies' (a) outputs, (b) efficiency, (c) access, (d) quality, (e) income generation and (f) private sector funding; and if she will make a statement.

(83750)

15   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has taken to transfer responsibility of the Heritage Grant Fund; and if she will make a statement.

(83755)

16   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of levels of (a) standards and diversity of broadcasting output, (b) broadcasting content being socially inclusive and (c) access to broadcast material; and if she will make a statement.

(83753)

17   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many educational sessions undertaken by arts organisations took place in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(83752)

18   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of her Department's role in facilitating and promoting the competitiveness of UK broadcast-related industries and the early take up of digital broadcast services; and if she will make a statement.

(83742)

19   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has taken to maintain the quality of exhibitions in major museums funded by her Department since the removal of entry charges; and if she will make a statement.

(83739)

20   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many new visitors attended the performing arts in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(83737)

21   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the New Audiences programme; and if she will make a statement.

(83736)

22   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what frameworks of support have been put in place by her Department for (a) heritage, (b) sport and (c) tourism; how much her Department has saved through these measures; and if she will make a statement.

(83758)

23   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many internet connections there were in public libraries in the UK in (a) 1998 and (b) 2002; what proportion of public libraries in the UK had internet connections in June 2002; and if she will make a statement.

(83751)

24   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the maximum level is of National Lottery grant funding that can be spent by regional bodies; and if she will make a statement.

(83749)

25   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many new opportunities to experience the arts were introduced in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(83748)

26   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of her Department's contribution to enabling access to the performing arts in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(83738)

27   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of museums' (a) collections care and (b) public access in each year since 1998; and if she will make a statement.

(83735)

28   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of her Department's efficiency review of national museums and galleries; and if she will make a statement.

(83761)

29   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of (a) the effectiveness of her Department's transfer of functions from the Director General of the Office for National Lottery to the National Lottery Commission and (b) the relationship between her Department and the National Lottery Commission; and if she will make a statement.

(83781)

30   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has taken to ensure devolution of decision-making for National Lottery funding grants; and if she will make a statement.

(83783)

31   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has taken to transfer responsibility for underwater archaeology; and if she will make a statement.

(83754)

32   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost of production was of the Annual Report 2002 of the National Endowment for Science and Technology; how many reports were produced; and if she will make a statement.

(83779)

33   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the performance of the national strategic body for museums, libraries and archives; and if she will make a statement.

(83759)

34   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the objectives of the Film Council; and if she will make a statement.

(83757)

35   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has taken to organize support for the built heritage sector; and if she will make a statement.

(83756)

36   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has taken to extend social inclusiveness by increasing the involvement of identified priority groups in each of the sectors her Department has responsibility for; and if she will make a statement.

(83746)

37   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proposals she has for a future regulatory system for broadcasting which recognises market and technological developments; and if she will make a statement.

(83743)

38   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what work she did with the British film industry to implement a new joint-funded strategy for the development of the industry by April 2000; and if she will make a statement.

(83741)

39   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) others visited each major national museum funded by her Department in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000, (iii) 2000-01 and (iv) 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

(83740)

40   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the targets for her Department's non-departmental public bodies' funding agreements announced since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

(83762)

41   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will exempt those in remote rural areas from the licensing fee following analogue switch-off if they are unable to receive digital television.

(83719)

42   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of analogue switch-off on remote rural areas.

(83718)

43   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what ordnance management guidelines his Department has on the clearing of the Archers Post training ground in Kenya.

(83702)

44   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what depth the Ministry of Defence surveys when carrying out clean-up operations in Archers Post, Kenya.

(83706)

45   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of magnetic profiling in searching for unexploded ordnance at military training areas.

(83704)

46   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what geophysical instrumentation the British army uses in clean-up operations at military training grounds.

(83708)

47   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the disposal cost of unexploded ordnance in the Archers Post training ground in Kenya is.

(83703)

48   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department uses (a) Global Positioning System and (b) magnetometry scanning methods in surveying unexploded ordnance at military training grounds.

(83707)

49   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hectares per day the British army clears of unexploded ordnance when they carry out clearing operations in Archers Post, Kenya.

(83705)

50
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to be able to make a statement on the recent crash of a preproduction Eurofighter Typhoon in Spain.

(83366)

51   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what basis his Department funds (a) the sea cadets, (b) the army cadets and (c) the air training corps; and if he will fund the sea cadets on an equal basis to the army and air training corps.

(83775)

52   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the implications of funding the sea cadets on the same basis as the army cadets and air training corps.

(83774)

53
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the difference between the incomes of non-graduates and graduates in the five years after graduation.

(82947)

54   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to increase the take-up of modern apprenticeships.

(83726)

55   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many modern apprenticeship places were taken up in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and how many were left vacant.

(83725)

56   Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of supermarket trolleys discarded off supermarket premises in the last year for which figures are available; what measures she plans to take to reduce off-site discarding of supermarket trolleys; and if she will bring forward proposals to levy an environmental charge.

(83699)

57
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the benefit of community supported agriculture to local communities.

(82788)

58
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) benefits to local farming communities of farmers markets and (b) the impact that farmers markets have on retailers.

(82789)

59
N   Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much financial support each local authority will receive during the current financial year to help with the disposal of refrigerators.

(83045)

60
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding has been allocated for TSE surveillance in 2003 in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland.

(83695)

61
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 19th November, Official Report, column 40W, on Animal Diseases (EU Finances), what estimate she has made of the sums of money that would have been received in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England, had the application been lodged in time.

(83694)

62
N   Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish the second progress report on the Rural White Paper.

(82786)

63
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made by his Department to (a) the Cayman Islands and (b) Bermuda seeking to encourage compliance with the EU Draft Savings Directive.

(83459)

64
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will institute an inquiry into the accuracy of (a) the census 2001 population figures and (b) the 2001 mid-year population figures.

(82946)

65
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance has been given to HM Customs and Excise on the identification and prevention of the illegal export of instruments of torture under then current legislation in each year since 1997.

(82943)

66
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what attempts illegally to export instruments of torture from the UK have been discovered by HM Customs and Excise; and what prosecutions have resulted from such discoveries in each year since 1997.

(82942)

67
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the working age employment rate was for (a) each government office region and nation of the UK and (b) each ward of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne at (i) April 2000, (ii) April 2001 and (iii) April 2002.

(83243)

68   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the IMF regarding the use of funds from the Azeri Oil Fund for the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

(83727)

69
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding (a) the role of Zimbabwe in the forthcoming meeting of the ACP-EU, and (b) the presence there of Zimbabwean ministers who are on the travel ban list.

(80603)

70
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for West Chelmsford of 16th July, Ref PO1012753, concerning NHS Professionals, the National Framework and anti-competitive practices.

(82945)

71   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what figures are provided to the Department by the NCSC regarding the average time it takes to open a new (a) residential and (b) nursing home; and if he will make a statement.

(83713)

72   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the success of the foster carer recruitment campaign launched in July 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(83712)

73   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish an expert group to consider the case for a compensation scheme for those persons infected with hepatitis C from NHS blood products.

(83367)

74
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the acute NHS trusts which indicated in 2001 that they were interested in becoming foundation trusts.

(82843)

75   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average response time was for ambulances in Clitheroe, Lancashire at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average response time was in each of the last five years.

(83789)

76   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are receiving dialysis treatments in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) England.

(83791)

77   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average response time is for ambulances in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) each NHS trust in England at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average response time was in each of the last five years.

(83790)

78   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on NHS nursing and midwifery staff in each year since 1996-97 in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region.

(83720)

79   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the baseline date was for the 24 and 48 hour access targets set out in the NHS plan; and what proportion of GP practices in England met the 24 and 48 hour access targets at that date.

(83717)

80   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on agency nursing and midwifery staff in the NHS in each year since 1996-97 in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region.

(83721)

81   Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what criteria members of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's Citizens' Council are selected; and how many members of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's Citizens' Council are over (a) 60, (b) 70 and (c) 75 years.

(83716)

82
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made on the implications of the deficits of the (a) South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and (b) Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust.

(83517)

83
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether those who have attained and passed Government-accredited training as an osteopath may call themselves an osteopath.

(82472)

.
84   Mr Ian Taylor (Esher & Walton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the honourable Member for Esher and Walton's letter of 19th June PO Ref: 1016938.

(83715)

85   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many extra (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) managers have been employed by NHS trusts using the extra money allocated for the improvement of cancer services.

(83701)

86   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the money pledged for improved cancer care has been taken up by primary care trusts and hospital trusts.

(83700)

87   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many parliamentary written questions last session were responded to within (a) a week, (b) two weeks and (c) three weeks.

(83785)

88   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of parliamentary written answers from his Department in the last session consisted of a promise to write to an honourable Member.

(83784)

89
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what differences in securing (a) town visits, (b) home leave and (c) early release under the tagging system there are between Scottish and English domicile prisoners held in prisons in England.

(83578)

90
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what differences in status and rights there are between Scottish domicile and foreign national prisoners held in prisons in England.

(83579)

91
N   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve procedures for the issue and implementation of Anti Social Behaviour Orders through the courts.

(81478)

92   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the average time it will take to determine applications for leave to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage for non-fast track cases for applications made in October; and what the average time taken was in each of the last five years.

(83772)

93
N   Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what extra support he plans to give to victims and witnesses as part of the Street Crimes Courts Initiative.

(81473)

94
N   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for reform of the law relating to the competence and compellability of witnesses in court proceedings.

(81469)

95   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the expected impact of the measures contained in the Queen's Speech on prison occupation in England and Wales.

(83714)

96
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much the European Development Fund paid for Zimbabwean government officials to attend the forthcoming meeting of the ACP-EU.

(80604)

97
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what volume of aid in the EU's aid budget has been unallocated in each of the last five years for (a) Africa, (b) Central America, (c) the Caribbean, (d) South America, (e) the Middle East, (f) South Asia, (g) the Far East, (h) the Central Asian Republics, and (i) Europe; and if she will make a statement on underspend in the EU aid budget.

(80605)

98
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what volume of aid in (a) Africa, (b) Central America, (c) Caribbean, (d) South America, (e) Middle East, (f) Asia and (g) European countries has been unallocated in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement on underspend in each of these budgets.

(80606)

99   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the World Bank regarding the application for funds from the International Finance Corporation for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

(83732)

100   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions her Department has had with the World Health Organisation regarding the availability of vaccinations for immunisation programmes in developing countries.

(83733)

101   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has for food aid aerial drops in Zimbabwe.

(83731)

102
N   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will allocate resources to the University of Ulster and Queen's University, Belfast in line with their performance in the Research Assessment Exercise.

(83460)

103   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he will take to bring forward a Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(83698)

104   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are waiting for an appointment for the dermatology clinic in the Down Lisburn Trust; what the average waiting time for an appointment is; what the longest time an individual has waited for an appointment is; and what further measures will be taken to reduce waiting times for an appointment with the dermatologists in the Trust.

(83709)

105   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the additional sum which would be required in Northern Ireland to satisfy the pay increase demands of firefighters in the province.

(83710)

106
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the President of the Council, if he will make a statement on his work as Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Biotechnology.

(81509)

107
N   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what his policy is on the extension of postal voting for elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies.

(81477)

108   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the impact of analogue switch-off in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

(83722)

109   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport relating to the impact of analogue switch-off; and if she will make a statement.

(83724)

110   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what meetings she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and (b) the Scottish Executive relating to the impact of analogue switch-off in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

(83723)

111
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the licence agreements that the Nuclear Safety Directorate negotiates with site operators contain provisions to deal with the accumulation and storage of nuclear waste material; and whether renegotiation of a licence agreement would be required where a site operator implemented a change of policy on nuclear waste material.

(82505)

112
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the Nuclear Safety Directorate has formal contingency arrangements in the event that a site operator is declared insolvent or put into administration; and if she will place a copy of these arrangements in the Library.

(82506)

113
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the licence agreements that the Nuclear Safety Directorate negotiates with site operators contain provisions to deal with a site operator being declared insolvent or being put into administration; and if she will place a copy of the relevant clauses in the Library.

(82507)

114
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications have been (a) made and (b) granted for export licences for (i) leg-irons and (ii) over-sized cuffs in each year since 1997.

(82940)

115
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many UK firms that have traditionally manufactured over-sized cuffs and leg-irons been subjected to inspection and investigation by her Department in each year since 1997.

(82944)

116
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what conclusions she has reached as a result of her review of the small firms loans guarantee scheme; and whether it will be extended to (a) services and (b) those with limited work or credit records.

(83462)

117
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what additional measures she proposes to take to implement the restraints in the (a) development, (b) testing and (c) spread of (i) missiles and (ii) space launch vehicles, in the new Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

(83461)

118   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact of analogue switch-off on remote rural areas.

(83776)

119   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with (a) the World Diamond Council and (b) representatives from the UK jewellers industries regarding promoting the Kimberley Process.

(83773)

120   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the UK companies involved in the consortium applying for an Export Credit Guarantee for the (a) Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the (b) Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline.

(83728)

121   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whan she expects the UN panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of natural resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo to present substantiated evidence regarding alleged breaches of the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises committed by UK companies, as listed in Annex III of their report.

(83730)

122   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans her Department has to conduct a social and environmental impact assessment of (a) the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and (b) the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline.

(83729)

123
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 20th November, reference 81766, which wards in Sittingbourne and Sheppey have breen selected as priority areas.

(83463)

124
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set by her Department in 1998, to enable transposition of 98 per cent. of EU Single Market measures into UK law by the end of 2000.

(83691)

125
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement in 1999 to 2002 to secure improvement in performance against a set of competitiveness indicators to be developed and published annually from 1999.

(83500)

126
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001-04, to achieve a significant rise in the proportion of innovating businesses.

(83689)

127
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement by the end of Parliament to increase to 1 million the number of SMEs wired up to the digital market place.

(83596)

128
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her pledge to connect Government services to broadband internet services; from which Department's budgets the money is being found; and what, prior to the announcement, it was planned to be spent on.

(83693)

129
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement in 1999-2002, to secure an increase in the number of successful high growth business start ups.

(83595)

130
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001-04, to achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across the Department.

(83685)

131
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001-04, to improve UK competitiveness by narrowing the productivity gap with the US, France, Germany and Japan over the economic cycle.

(83690)

132
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001-04, to deliver a measurable improvement in the business performance of Trade Partners UK customers.

(83686)

133
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 to increase by 50 per cent. the number of companies spun out by universities by 2001-02.

(83593)

134
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement in 1999 to 2002 to maintain or improve (a) levels of energy security, diversity and sustainability and (b) competitive energy prices.

(83601)

135
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 by her Department for achievement in 1999-2002, to maintain the UK as the prime location in the EU for foreign direct investment.

(83692)

136
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the targets set in 1998 for achievement in 1999-2002, with (a) improving support for exporters, (b) raising the quality of service, (c) generating additional exports and (d) enhancing the business image of the UK.

(83598)

137
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the (a) number and (b) type of Government services that will be connected to broadband internet services in each year before 2006.

(83684)

138
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the targets set in 2000 for achievement in 2001-04, to achieve (a) an increase in the number of people considering going into business, (b) an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms and (c) more enterprise in disadvantaged communities.

(83688)

139
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement in 1999 to 2002, to make the UK the best place in the world to trade electronically.

(83597)

140
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001-04, to improve the economic performance of all regions, as measured by the trend in growth of each region's GDP per capita.

(83687)

141
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for the period 1999-2002, to improve the overall international ranking of the science and engineering base in terms of (a) quality, (b) relevance and (c) cost-effectiveness.

(83594)

142
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what coordination he has organised between different Government regional offices on consultation relating to the proposals for a new airport at Cliffe; and if he will make a statement.

(83368)

143
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, in which local authority areas his Department has initiated (a) public meetings, and (b) exhibitions as part of the public consultation in respect of locating an airport at Cliffe.

(82497)

144
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will rank in order the closeness by proximity of each district local authority area within a 20 mile radius of prospective airport at Cliffe.

(82790)

145
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, for what reason he has not held public (a) meetings and (b) exhibitions in Thurrock as part of the public consultation on locating an airport at Cliffe.

(82787)

146
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he wrote to local authorities in Kent and Essex formally as part of the consultation exercise, inviting them to submit representations in respect of the proposal to locate an airport at Cliffe; and if he will list the authorities concerned.

(82791)

147
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the evidential basis was for his decision not to increase the earnings disregards for jobseeker's allowance; when this disregard was last increased; and what it would be worth if it had been uprated.

(83242)

148
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the budgets were for each Employment Action Team in the last five years; and what the out-turn expenditure was to April.

(83245)

149
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are used by each Employment Action Team to define the areas of special employment action.

(83244)

150
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the improvements in employability of those on each New Deal; and if he will make a statement.

(83514)

151
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of entrants to New Deal for Young People were functionally illiterate in (a) its first year and (b) the latest period for which figures are available.

(83512)

152
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total expenditure has been to date on (a) New Deal for Young People, (b) New Deal 50+ and (c) New Deal 25+.

(83516)

153
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have entered the New Deal gateway (a) once, (b) twice and (c) three times or more in respect of (i) New Deal for Young People, (ii) New Deal 50+, and (iii) New Deal 25+.

(83515)

154
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people had benefits withdrawn for failing to accept all options under (a) New Deal for Young People, (b) New Deal 50+ and (c) New Deal 25+.

(83511)

155
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents have found and retained work for more than four weeks on the New Deal for Lone Parents.

(83513)

156   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost of processing a CSA application has been in each year since its creation; and if he will make a statement on the results of the operational readiness review conducted in September and October into the modernisation of payments programme.

(83711)

157   Mr Bill Olner (Nuneaton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the range of Parochial Fees charged for funerals.

(83696)

158
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): To ask the President of the Council, what representations he has received on the seating arrangements in Westminster Hall.

[Question Unstarred] (81515)

159
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, under what circumstance export licences are granted for (a) over-sized cuffs and (b) leg-irons manufactured in the UK.

[Transferred] (82941)