Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 28 November 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 28 November 2002, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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

THURSDAY 28th NOVEMBER

1
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his policy is on the use of public funds to support campaigns for (a) referendums on regional government and (b) a particular outcome in a referendum campaign.

(83847)

2   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what criteria are applied to give an area neighbourhood renewal status; and where such areas are located, broken down by constituency.

(84183)

3   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many planning appeals for developments with densities greater than the local planning authority considered reasonable have been allowed in each of the last three years.

(84465)

4   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what safeguards there will be to stop trade distortion and unfair competition in the proposed new powers to allow local authorities to trade; and how full cost recovery will be included in the pricing of services or goods traded.

(84426)

5   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he plans to alter the affordability rules to enable authorities in areas of high housing costs to build more affordable homes.

(84428)

6   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, for what reason the proposal in the draft Local Government Bill to merge new domestic rates and rates support grant has been dropped in the published bill.

(84418)

7   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much money his Department has set aside under clauses 40 and 41 of the draft Local Govenment Bill in each of the next three years to meet future payments of overhanging debt payable to (a) public works loans commissioners and (b) other lenders; and what the criteria will be for deciding whether such payments should be made.

(84417)

8   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what arrangements are to be put in place under proposals for business improvement districts for a minimum threshold of businesses voting in the ballot; and what safeguards will be put in place for low-turnover businesses to pay the levy.

(84415)

9   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what reason underlies his policy on the abolition of the statutory safeguards relating to local authorities' powers to borrow in relation to charging and trading.

(84427)

10   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the effect that the combined policies of pooling capital receipts, transferring surplus housing revenue accounts and resource equalisation will have on the ability of those authorities affected to deliver the existing range of services to the public; and how much will be redistributed in any one year under each of these three mechanisms.

(84420)

11   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the costs will be of setting up the new Valuation Tribunal Service; what the running cost will be each year; and how many employees it will have.

(84422)

12   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, by how much total expenditure would be increased if all parish and town councils in England increased the maximum £3.50 per elector multiplier as specified in section 137(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 up to £5.00 as specified in the draft Local Government Bill; and by how much audit best value and other compliance costs for parish and town councils have increased in each of the last two years.

(84421)

13   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the new housing strategy which will be prepared for each local authority under the Local Government Bill will be required to consider the aims and objectives contained in the existing homelessness strategies; what arrangements will be made for (a) the public, (b) registered social landlords, (c) the private sector and (d) other non governmental bodies involved in housing to participate in the preparation of the strategy; and what estimate he has made of the compliance cost.

(84412)

14   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he plans that each order laid before the House under Clause 97 of the Local Government Bill relating to charging and trading will (a) contain a provision for the Secretary of State to revoke such an order and (b) specify the circumstances for such a revocation.

(84424)

15   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list those authorities where the shortfall from handling stock transfer has resulted in an overhanging debt payment from his Department; and how much each of those payments amounted to.

(84416)

16   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, under clause 99 of the Local Government Bill relating to the Audit Commission assessment of English Local Authorities Performance, whether the Audit Commission will be free to set its own criteria; and what appeal mechanism there will be against a particular assessment.

(84425)

17   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many complaints have been received about the Standards Board since it was set up; and how many of these were upheld.

(84423)

18   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the maximum amount is that the abolition of 50 per cent. discount council tax on (a) second and (b) empty homes will raise; what proportion (i) billing and (ii) precepting authorities will be able to retain; how a distinction between empty and abandoned homes will be made; and what the estimated compliance costs are of these changes.844141
19   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the arrangements will be for transferring subsidies from those authorities with surplus housing revenue accounts to those authorities in deficit under the proposals in the Local Government Bill; what proportion of that surplus will be affected; whether it will be varied on an annual basis; and what effect this transfer will have on the ability of those surplus authorities to deliver their own housing strategies.

(84419)

20   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what criteria will be contained in the new formula for calculating housing revenue account subsidies under the Local Government Bill; how much his Department has allocated over the next three years for this; and whether authorities receiving central Government subsidy will be debarred from receiving subsidies from those authorities that have surplus housing revenue accounts.

(84411)

21   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how an empty home will be defined under the provisions of the Local Government Bill; what steps he took to ensure that evidence collected during the course of investigations to determine whether a home is empty is compatible with an individual's right to privacy under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

(84413)

22   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if his Department will fully fund the new discretion to be given to local authorities to reduce council tax on hardship grounds.

(84490)

23   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what support he will provide to local authorities for the provision of winter quarters for showmen.

(84481)

24
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many submissions have been received in the consultation period on the reform of the SSA.

(82951)

25
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received on the likely effect of the draft Regional Planning Guidance on the Warrington area; and if he will make a statement.

(83892)

26   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what effect the abolition of section 24(3) of the Housing Act 1985 as it relates to England will have on the level of public sector and regulated rents; what the Government's rent restructuring policy is; and what the effect will be on the landlord's ability to repair property subject to regulated rent where rent increases are held below the rate of inflation.

(84431)

27   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the impact that the changes proposed to the Social Security Administration Act 1992, relating to the rent rebate subsidy limitation on those local authorities where housing rents are above a certain level as described on page 41 of the explanatory memorandum of the Local Government Bill; and based on the present criteria, how many more affordable houses could potentially be built if all rents were allowed to rise to market levels.

(84430)

28   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, for what reason the Government is seeking to repeal subsection 7 of section 140B of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to give him additional powers to determine the level of rent rebate subsidy, rent allowance subsidy and council tax benefit subsidy; and whether local authorities will be required to provide information on these subsidies to the (a) ODPM and (b) Department of Work and Pensions.

(84432)

29   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government plans to set up a rent restructuring authority.

(84429)

30   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, who will pay for a settlement of the firefighters' pay dispute above four per cent.

(84214)

31   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent evaluations have been undertaken of the effectiveness of the Regional Co-ordination Unit and Government Office network; and if he will make a statement.

(84149)

32   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions in the last 12 months the BBC has paid goodwill cheques to the victims of maladministration of licence fee collection.

(84468)

33   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations she has received from and discussions she has had with (a) Sport England, (b) UK Sport, (c) Special Olympics Great Britain and (d) other organisations and individuals, regarding the allocation of funding for Special Olympics Great Britain from (i) Sport England and (ii) UK Sport.

(84409)

34   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will write to the honourable Member for Portsmouth South regarding his Answer of 7th November, Official Report, column 454W, concerning service personnel medical records.

(84151)

35   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will write to the honourable Member for Portsmouth South regarding his Answer of 7th November, Official Report, column 483W, concerning the new aircraft carriers.

(84152)

36   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will write to the honourable Member for Portsmouth South regarding his Answer of 7th November, Official Report, column 457W, concerning the Warship Modernisation Project.

(84153)

37   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to replace Green Goddess fire engines.

(84161)

38
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets have been set in relation to his commitment to implement the recommendations of the Medical Manning and Retention Review; if he will publish (a) the Review recommendations and (b) the proposed pay scales for personnel in the Defence Medical Services; and if he will make a statement.

(83467)

39   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what offshore medical facilities would be available in the event of operations in the Gulf.

(84364)

40   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the terrorist threat to Royal Navy warships (a) in home waters and (b) overseas.

(84365)

41   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures he is taking to redistribute to other warships duties formerly allocated to HMS Nottingham.

(84374)

42   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the state of availability is of Royal Navy amphibious groups.

(84367)

43   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the order for the batch 2 Astute class submarines will be placed.

(84376)

44   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about (a) preparations for and (b) the sustainability of, a Royal Naval Task Force for possible operations against Iraq.

(84361)

45   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trained (a) officers and (b) other ranks have left the Royal Navy in each of the past five years; what estimate he has made of likely future trends; and what steps he is taking to reduce the numbers of trained personnel leaving the Royal Navy.

(84370)

46   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the scheduled decommissioning dates for each of the last Hunter class minesweepers.

(84378)

47   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the warships (a) currently and (b) scheduled to be, fitted with low-angle, close-range machine guns for protection against suicide attacks.

(84363)

48   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the future of HMS Nottingham.

(84372)

49   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason HMS Sheffield has not been retained in service following the damage to HMS Nottingham.

(84373)

50   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) the target and (b) the actual recruitment figures were for Royal Navy personnel in each of the past five years.

(84371)

51   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision he has made to protect warships from suicide attacks by terrorists in high-speed small craft.

(84362)

52   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which ships were on deployment on (a) 1st November 2000, (b) 1st May 2001, (c) 1st November 2001, (d) 1st May 2002 and (e) 1st November 2002.

(34375)

53   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the effect of the firefighters' dispute on (a) naval training and (b) naval deployment.

(84366)

54   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark will commence sea trials.

(84377)

55   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy submarines armed with cruise missiles are available for deployment to the Gulf.

(84368)

56   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what effect the firefighters' strike has had on the planned deployment of HMS Manchester on anti-terrorist patrol duties.

(84369)

57   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much (a) has been spent on naval procurement in each of the last five financial years and (b) is scheduled to be spent on naval procurement in each of the next five years.

(84379)

58   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military commitments have been made to the Afghan Government to assist in developing a stable democracy in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(84194)

59   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK troops are committed to United Nations peacekeeping missions.

(84196)

60   Alice Mahon (Halifax): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) preparing tanks for desert conditions, (b) enhancing medical support to improve hygiene conditions in field hospitals, (c) speeding up the purchase of temporary disposable accommodation, (d) improving military ambulances, (e) extra training in service and (f) communications and call up of reservists, in the event of war with Iraq.

(84133)

61   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what quantities of plutonium, arising from British experiments at Maralinga in South Australia, remain buried in the desert; what environmental monitoring is conducted of these sites; and what representations have been received from Aborigines who live in the area in respect of the impact on their land.

(84268)

62   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of the Defence Vetting Agency on its performance in 2001-02 towards its key target 3 on counter terrorist checks.

(84265)

63   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value of his Department's nuclear waste and decommissioning liabilities is; and what provision has been made to discharge them.

(84266)

64   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been of preparation to move (a) service personnel and medical auxiliaries and (b) military equipment to locations in the Gulf regions in the last 12 months.

(84215)

65   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will offer saliva tests to assess the extent of exposure to radiation experienced by British service personnel and medical auxiliaries present at atmospheric nuclear weapons tests.

(84258)

66   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has conducted into the levels of internal radiological contamination of British service personnel and medical auxiliaries who were present at atmospheric British nuclear tests; and if he will arrange for the relevant documents to be posted on his departmental website.

(84269)

67   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent by his Department, in each year since 1972, on monitoring the health impact of radioactive emissions on British service people and medical auxiliaries from (a) atmospheric nuclear tests, (b) other nuclear tests and (c) radiological experiments.

(84259)

68   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evaluation has been made of the possible health impact on British service personnel and medical auxiliaries of inoculations and other prophylactics provided to those being prepared to deploy to the Gulf region, to protect against chemical or biological toxins.

(84264)

69   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many Jewish schools have Section 91 agreements with their LEAs: what representations he has received on behalf of Jewish denominational schools in respect of the abolition of Section 91 agreements; and if he will make statement.

(84246)

70   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will review the decision to abolish Section 91 agreements; and if he will make a statement.

(84245)

71   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the cross-subsidy effect top-up fees for higher education would have between high cost degree courses and lower cost degree courses.

(84143)

72   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the cost savings that could be achieved by allowing private institutions to run courses leading to an award or a degree.

(84144)

73   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what definition of a degree he uses.

(84142)

74   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what regulations prevent private institutions from awarding degrees; what (a) advice and (b) representations he has received on allowing private institutions to award degrees; and if he will place copies in the Library.

(84141)

75
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the likely impact on education in Warrington of each of the five options in the consultation on the Review of Revenue Grant Distribution.

(83893)

76
N   Laura Moffatt (Crawley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on shared delivery of education between schools and sixth form colleges and further education colleges for post-16 students.

(81966)

77   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the block grant to each of the higher education institutions was for research in the last year.

(84394)

78
N   Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish the evidence submitted during the consultation process relating to hunting.[R]

(83383)

79   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it the policy of the Government to outlaw (a) industrial trawling and (b) pair trawling for pelagic species.

(84464)

80   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her estimate is of the number of cetaceans killed as a result of fishing by-catch in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

(84463)

81   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her assessment is of the relative number of (a) beef, (b) dairy and (c) sheep sales being concluded (i) through a registered auction mart and (ii) by private farm to farm sale in each of the last three years.

(84166)

82   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many qualified valuers were paid (a) per day and (b) per valuation during the foot and mouth outbreak.

(84165)

83   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the role of auction marts in increased bio-security.

(84167)

84   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason UK landing cards have not been amended to reflect bio-security measures.

(84168)

85   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to introduce voluntary disposal bins for meat products at UK immigration points.

(84163)

86   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the operational effectiveness of the 20 day rule.

(84164)

87   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the insurance industry about continuing flood cover.

(84186)

88   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will reassess the risks of the reintroduction of rabies via the Pet Passport scheme.

(84242)

89   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department has collated about the level of toxins found in farmed salmon; what assessment she has made of the risk to human health; and if she will make a statement.

(84187)

90
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she has received representations about the possibility of waste-based fishing quotas.

(83898)

91   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets she has set in relation to the creation of energy by the use of biomass.

(84197)

92   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many representations she has received on the effects of the 20 day standstill rule in relation to the movement of animals; and if she will make a statement.

(84188)

93   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial incentives are available for those who wish to grow biomass crops.

(84198)

94   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects that the United Kingdom will meet its emission standards under the Kyoto Protocol.

(84191)

95   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of fuel poverty in rural areas.

(84137)

96   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has evaluated into the effect of the three-year-old Cod Recovery Programme in the Irish Sea on cod stocks.

(84451)

97   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will end the moratorium imposed on Horticulture Research International regarding scientific staff; and if she will make a statement.

(84136)

98   Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Inland Revenue's guidance that the words substantial extent in the Capital Gains Tax Act 1992, Schedule A1, paragraph 22A(1) means 20 per cent. or more, to what the 20 per cent. figure refers.

(84483)

99   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the target time is for response by National Savings and Investments to correspondence from members of the public; and what has been the performance of the Department in responding to letters in each of the last three months.

(84466)

100   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money the United Kingdom has paid to the European Union in total in each financial year since 1997; how much the UK has received from EU sources in each year; and how much has been returned under the terms of the Annual Rebate.

(84383)

101   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much research and development funds were provided by central Government to institutions in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland, in the last year for which figures are available.

(84393)

102   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the (a) names and (b) terms of reference of the independent specialist assessors appointed to judge the tests on euro membership; and if he will make a statement.

(84148)

103   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-assessment tax returns were (a) issued, (b) received, (c) waiting to be processed and (d) processed in each month since 1st July 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(84162)

104   Mr Robert Walter (North Dorset): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints there have been about the Investment Ombudsman's handling of casework in the last two years; how many have been successful; and how many have failed.

(84262)

105
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding changes that may be necessary to the child tax credit claim form.

(83951)

106
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which body will be responsible for dealing with (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit appeals.

(83952)

107   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will visit Cyprus to discuss with the two communities the future of Cyprus and the EU.

(84285)

108   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Austrian election.

(84185)

109   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the Convention on the Future of Europe.

(84385)

110   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals have been submitted by the Government on a Draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union.

(84384)

111   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress in the Convention of the Future of Europe.

(84391)

112   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made by the High Commission in Islamabad to the Pakistani Government after 17th July concerning the rape victim Shakeela Siddique and her treatment at the hands of the authorities.

(84407)

113   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Pakistani Government concerning the violence perpetrated against Christians and other minorities by Muslim extremists in Pakistan.

(84406)

114   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress is being made in reviving negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

(84171)

115   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the UK Government will ensure that there is no division of Cyprus as part of a settlement.

(84172)

116   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will urge the Pakistan Government to (a) take tougher action against extremists and (b) protect religious minorities.

(84127)

117   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what report he has received regarding the quantities of missile material stocks held by (a) each of the four nuclear weapons states party to the non-proliferation treaty, (b) Israel, (c) India, (d) Pakistan, (e) Democratic People's Republic of Korea and (f) Iraq.

(84219)

118   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UNMOVIC inspectors in Iraq are British; and whether there are plans to increase that number.

(84263)

119   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the head of the United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission on the availability of suitably qualified inspectors for its mission in Iraq; and whether the United Kingdom has assisted UNMOVIC with the provision of monitoring equipment.

(84217)

120   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on support for Al Qaeda in Iraq.

(84405)

121   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the British Government has made to the Government of Nigeria on the stoning to death of those convicted of adultery.

(84433)

122   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to promote voluntary organ donations and the carrying of donor cards.

(84173)

123   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance NHS Chief Executives have been given regarding the need for preservation of public health microbiology in relation to the proposed establishment of a Health Protection Agency.

(84253)

124   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has held with representatives from the Public Health Laboratory Service in relation to the creation of a Health Protection Agency.

(84250)

125   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of how the outputs of Public Health Laboratory Service Groups of laboratories will be sustained from April 2003.

(84252)

126   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what cost-benefit analysis has been carried out by his Department into laboratory transfers from the (a) Public Health Laboratory Service, (b) National Radiological Protection Board, (c) Centre for Applied Microbiology Research and (d) National Focus for Chemical Incidents to a Health Protection Agency.

(84251)

127   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the transfer of management of Public Health Laboratories has been excluded from his regulatory reform proposals.

(84254)

128
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what methodology was used in indicating the increase in the number of people being supported in care homes in the next three years as set out in the document Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The next three years.

(83465)

129   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of outbreaks of Norwalk-like viruses in NHS hospitals.

(84146)

130
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the organisations from which he has received representations regarding the proposed delayed discharge fines.

(83848)

131
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff in each (a) local authority, (b) primary care trust and (c) health authority in England will be required to implement the proposed fines for delayed discharge.

(83850)

132
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the impact on the number of delayed discharges of the introduction of fines over the next three years.

(83852)

133
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the NVQ level 4 registered managers award for care homes; and if he will make a statement.

(83763)

134
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the available capacity in the training sector to provide (a) care staff with NVQ level 2 and (b) registered managers with NVQ level 4, by 2005.

(83764)

135
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many households received older person home care in each of the last five years.

(83765)

136   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost of hospital outbreaks of Norwalk-like viruses to the NHS.

(84147)

137
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk from Botox injections.

(83849)

138
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the costs to local authorities of the proposed fines for delayed discharge.

(83851)

139   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are affected by (a) obesity, (b) depression, (c) coronary heart disease, (d) stroke and (e) poor nutrition, in each health authority; and if he will make a statement.

(84184)

140   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department makes available to support smoking cessation; and what cost benefit analysis has been conducted of this spending.

(84454)

141   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place a copy of the most recent annual national survey of lifestyle conducted by his Department in the Library.

(84467)

142   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to his Department was in 2001-02 of conducting a national survey of lifestyle; and what benefits have resulted therefrom.

(84461)

143   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department makes available to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables.

(84460)

144
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many occasions the response time to category A calls to the East Midlands Ambulance Trust took (a) over 30 minutes and (b) over one hour, in (i) the County of Rutland and (ii) the Melton Borough Council area, in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(83012)

145   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the complete phasing out of mixed wards at Epsom Hospital.

(84272)

146   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Government has changed the price at which it is offering to sell land at Horton Hospital in Epsom to local housing associations during the past two years.

(84273)

147   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he next intends to meet the Chairman of the BMA.

(84453)

148   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for assessing the proposal to build a new hospital at Pease Pottage.

(84134)

149   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on support for each of the amendments passed by the European Parliament to the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive when next the Council of Ministers considers the Directive.

(84212)

150   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive on employment in the retail sector; what representations he has received on the issue from (a) the National Association of Health Stores, (b) Consumers for Health Choice, (c) Holland and Barrett Retail and (d) general nutrition centres; and if he will make a statement.

(84213)

151   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed by the Medicines Control Agency at each major salary grade; what the total wage bill of the Agency is; what its total income is from (a) charges and (b) other sources; and what plans he has to submit the Agency to (i) greater control, (ii) closer scrutiny and (iii) enhanced accountability.

(84211)

152   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the costs arising to manufacturers from (a) Medicines Control Agency fees, (b) the costs of document preparation, (c) the storage of batches for testing, (d) analysis cost and (e) annual licence fees for (i) a simple herbal product with one ingredient and (ii) a complex herbal product containing several ingredients, in connection with the submission of applications for registration under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

(84210)

153
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients are being treated under the pilot schemes for enhanced external counterpulsation for angina; which hospitals are involved in the pilots; and what the cost is of a course of treatment.

(83588)

154   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been conducted into the United Kingdom congenital malformation database since it was established.

(84256)

155   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what health studies have been carried out in the United Kingdom population on the impact of radiation, following the Chernobyl accident in April 1986.

(84257)

156   Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place a copy of the report by Dr Kirkup on Mersey Regional Ambulance Service in the Library.

(84283)

157   Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the National Service Framework for Diabetes.

(84282)

158   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce a judicial direction that consent means free agreement.

(84288)

159   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the list of reverse presumption situations in the White Paper Protecting the Public at paragraph 31 will be exhaustive.

(84289)

160   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the need to revise (a) short-term and (b) long-term predictions of growth in the prison population in light of the Criminal Justice Bill; upon what information such an assessment was made; what action his Department intends to take to meet changes in the growth of the prison population; and if he will make a statement.

(84248)

161   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action his Department is taking to ensure that where prisoners are enrolled in a course offering (a) education and (b) basic skills training, such prisoners are not moved to a different prison before completion of their course.

(84249)

162
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on preventative measures to tackle the misuse of (a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) cannabis, (d) ecstasy, (e) amphetamines, (f) LSD, (g) heroin, (h) cocaine and (i) crack cocaine, in each of the last five years.

(83466)

163
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy to allow the same person to be, at the same time, the chief executive of the Passport Agency and of the Criminal Records Bureau.

(83899)

164
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mean delay for checks on volunteers was under the old system of police checks in the last 12 months of its operation; and what the mean delay for such checks has been in relation to volunteers under the new arrangements instituted by the Criminal Records Bureau in the last 12 months.

(83900)

165   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recent investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher.

(84204)

166   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the number of man hours lost as result of the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher.

(84207)

167   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce the time spent by police officers on paperwork and administrative tasks; and if he will make a statement on police morale.

(84208)

168   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the origin of the regulation, regarding staff information on a whiteboard, which led to the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher.

(84205)

169   David Maclean (Penrith & The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the time taken to complete the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher; and what assessment he has made of (a) the costs of the investigaton and (b) the impact upon police morale.

(84206)

170   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pathologists on the Home Office Register of Forensic Pathology have been removed from the list since its creation.

(84279)

171   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many years each member of the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology has served; and how many members have retired.

(84278)

172   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what means a coroner may alert the appropriate authorities of perceived professional shortcomings of a forensic pathologist.

(84281)

173   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what means he monitors the performance of forensic pathologists.

(84280)

174   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology's Disciplinary Tribunal recused itself before the completion of its hearing on the one occasion in the last 10 years on which it has met; what the consequences were of its recusal; and what subsequent professional activity has been undertaken by the pathologist who was the object of the complaint.

(84275)

175   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place the terms of reference of the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology, the list of current members and a copy of the Board's Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures in the Library.

(84274)

176   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to whom the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology reports; and if he will place the most recent report of the Board in the Library.

(84277)

177   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology has met since its creation; and if he will place minutes of its meetings in the Library.

(84276)

178   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conferences on the subject of drugs have been attended by ministers and senior civil servants since May 1997; who the organisers were of each conference; and what financial support from central government sources was provided for each occasion.

(84222)

179   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the balance, in terms of Government support, between the harm reduction and harm prevention approaches to drug education.

(84221)

180   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what hospitality has been accepted by his officials from organisations lobbying for the liberalisation of the drug laws since 1997.

(84220)

181
N   Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effect of interference with juries on the outcome of prosecutions in the Crown Court in the last five years.

(82004)

182   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what appraisal she has made of the level of aid going to Afghanistan in relation to (a) the number of refugees returning and (b) the number of school children.

(84200)

183   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what efforts the Government is making to assist in the process of having open and democratic elections in Afghanistan in December 2003.

(84201)

184   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had on the subject of the transfer of aid to Afghanistan from humanitarian to reconstruction projects; and if she will make a statement.

(84199)

185   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much economic aid was paid to Afghanistan in 2001 and what the projected figure is for 2002; and if she will make a statement.

(84195)

186   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if it is her Department's policy to continue to give most aid to non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan.

(84286)

187   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps are being taken to register Afghan adults so as to ensure universal suffrage in future elections.

(84203)

188   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the last census of the Afghan population was; and what discussions are taking place on the question of a new one.

(84202)

189   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what new steps she is taking to ensure that the people of Afghanistan will have sufficient supplies and resources to survive the winter.

(84145)

190   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on progress with reviewing (a) the boundaries of local authorities in England and (b) the boundary between Wychavon and the City of Worcester.

(84169)

191   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions have taken place between Government departments and the owners of the IFI/Richardsons Plant in Belfast over the announcement of the plant's closure.

(84387)

192   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to increase penalties for joy riders and car thieves.

(84381)

193   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money Northern Ireland has received from (a) Special European Programmes and Initiatives, (b) the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, (c) the European Regional Development Fund, (d) the European Social Fund and (e) all European Union sources, in each financial year since 1997.

(84388)

194   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations have been made by the Government to the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of its involvement in the decision to close the IFI/Richardsons Plant in Belfast.

(84386)

195   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money allocated to Northern Ireland from the European Union has (a) been passed on to Northern Ireland as additional expenditure and (b) been retained by Her Majesty's Treasury, in each year since 1997.

(84389)

196   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much Northern Ireland has contributed to the United Kingdom's share of European Union contributions in each financial year since 1997.

(84390)

197   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many vacancies there are for the post of Chief Inspector in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(84138)

198   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the successful candidates chosen after the recent competition for Chief Inspector posts in the Police Service of Northern Ireland have turned down two or more offers of postings.

(84139)

199   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the joint response from the Department for the Environment and Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to the Review of Regional Museums; and when he will issue a statement on this matter.

(84125)

200   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the funding for conducting fair employment cases through the tribunal system will be introduced.

(84130)

201   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action will be taken to address the equality gap between Catholics and Protestants in the workforce identified in the statistics published by the Equality Commission on 21st November.

(84128)

202   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the proposals on the Taskforce on the long term unemployed will be implemented.

(84132)

203   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discrimination cases involving Government departments, non-departmental government bodies and agencies were settled out of court in each of the last three years where confidentiality clauses were invoked.

(84126)

204   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Government will implement the recommendations contained in the review of the Civil Service.

(84131)

205   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the statistics published by the Equality Commission on 21st November in respect of employment patterns in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(84129)

206   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what arrangements are made for publishing the proceedings of the Policing Board; and on what date minutes of proceedings were placed on the Policing Board web site in each month since the formation of the board.

(84209)

207   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of Provisional IRA activity along the roads of South Armagh; and what action he intends to take.

(84458)

208   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the extent of asbestos used in the construction of school buildings.

(84457)

209   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to remove the disused telecommunications mast located on property at Killinchy Primary School.

(84452)

210   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent instructions he has given to the press offices of the PSNI on the provision of information to Members; what reasons underlay these instructions; and what provision exists to provide honourable Members with up-to-date security-related information.

(84455)

211   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will provide compensation to the Northern Ireland scallop industry following the recent imposition of a retrospective ban on the Irish Sea scallop grounds; and when he intends to re-open the fishery.

(84456)

212   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the Northern Ireland Prison Service staff that have applied to the SPED scheme, have (a) received their SPED certificates and (b) been granted a place on the SPED scheme.

(84480)

213   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have approached the Fair Employment Commission in each of the last five years; how many cases were taken on by the Fair Employment Commission in each year; how much compensation was paid out by the Fair Employment Commission in each year; how much money was invested in the construction of the new Fair Employment Commission headquarters; and what asssessment he has made of whether the Fair Employment Commission has sufficient funding to fulfil its obligations in the current year.

(84450)

214   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he plans to take to address the manpower issues within the PSNI identified in the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in regard to the first inspection of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(84459)

215
N   Mrs Marion Roe (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how long patients in Northern Ireland are expected to wait for their first appointment with a specialist after an urgent referral by their GP for suspected breast cancer; and if the two-week target contained in the NHS Cancer Plan applies to patients in Northern Ireland.

(82481)

216   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what grants were given for research to (a) Queens University, (b) St. Mary's University College, (c) Stranmills University College and (d) the University of Ulster in the last 12 months.

(84395)

217   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the President of the Council, if he will review the £200 allocation from public funds under the Resolution of the House of 29th November 1971, to honourable Members who have secured one of the first 10 places in the Private Members' Bill ballot.

(84410)

218   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Prime Minister, what research papers his policy unit has produced on allowing private institutions to award degrees; what costings the Unit has made of the cost implications; and if he will place copies in the Library.

(84140)

219
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Prime Minister, what system he adopts for assessing the performance of members of the Government; and to what extent he uses a system based on self-assessment.

(84118)

220
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance she has issued to the CPS on approaching members of the Royal Family for statements when they may be material witnesses in a prosecution.

(82008)

221
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Solicitor General, what reports from the police she has received relating to the dissection of a cadaver in public by Professor Guenter von Hagens; and if she will make a statement.

(83917)

222   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many EU directives have been brought in as a consequence of the UK signing up to the Social Chapter; and if she will list them.

(84247)

223   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the annual pay negotiations for employees in the Insolvency Services will be concluded.

(84462)

224   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outcome of the Competitiveness Council held in Brussels was on 26th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

(84392)

225
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the impact on British industry of the US steel tariff.

(83918)

226
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the level of (a) manufacturing output and (b) employment in the manufacturing sector in each of the last five years were in each region of the UK.

(83922)

227
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the required (a) capacity and (b) capability of steel production in the UK is in order to meet UK manufacturing needs.

(83920)

228
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she has taken to ensure that Government contracts support UK manufacturing.

(83924)

229
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on changes in the size of the manufacturing sector in the UK in the last five years.

(83919)

230
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to hold a manufacturing summit (a) in the UK and (b) elsewhere.

(83923)

231
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the level of (a) manufacturing output and (b) employment in the manufacturing sector in the North West were for each of the last five years.

(83921)

232   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made in improving the UK's competitive position in the solar photovoltaics industry; and if she will make a statement.

(84482)

233   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many representations she has received in the last 18 months on the timing of payment of claims to ex-miners for compensation for respiratory disease.

(84284)

234   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the provisions in force to ensure that exporters of renewable energy goods are protected against the risks of non-payment.

(84193)

235   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent initiatives there have been to encourage entrepreneurs to (a) develop and (b) export renewable energy goods and services.

(84192)

236
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures the Government is taking to end the illegal sale of goods at car-boot sales.

(83587)

237   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the level of BNFL-funded nuclear waste decommissioning and radioactive remediation liabilities.

(84267)

238   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the case for the introduction of a support system for solar electricity by establishing a tariff that pays a higher price per KWh for solar electricity generated.

(84216)

239   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the cost to small business over the past two years of the increase in the turnover threshold above which a business must undertake on annual statutory audit; and if she will make a statement.

(84261)

240   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to increase to £4.8 million the turnover threshold above which a business must undergo an annual statutory audit.

(84260)

241
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the compatiblity with WTO rules of the level of Governmental support to Canadian engine manufacturers in the context of the competition to provide engines for the A400M; and if he will make a statement.

(83954)

242
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the extent to which her Department achieved its targets in each year since 1997.

(84117)

243   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much (a) the staffing and (b) the overall budget of the SRA has changed in each year since its inception.

(84271)

244   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much money was paid to (a) Deutsche Bank, (b) Slaughter and May and (c) Ernst & Young, during Railtrack Administration.

(84270)

245
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many times the Prestige oil tanker has docked in the UK in the last 10 years; what safety measures are in place governing entry into UK docks for oil tankers; what measures he is taking to improve safety measures on oil tankers; what plans he has to work with European partners to bring forward the date for outlawing single-hulled oil tankers; and if he will make a statement on the reduction in size of the largest oil tankers in order to improve safety.

(83151)

246
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he has recently assessed the change in the rates of injury from accidents for children cycling as a result of wearing helmets.

(83897)

247   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what measures he plans to take to reduce congestion on motorways; and what research he has conducted into the change in the speed of motorway traffic since 1998.

(84243)

248   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he plans to bring forward legislation to introduce Traffic Managers; how many Traffic Managers he intends to appoint and what the relationship will be in London between the Traffic Manager, Transport for London, the Mayor of London, and Boroughs of London and utility companies.

(84240)

249   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what steps he has taken in pursuit of the recommendations to appoint a Secretary of State Representative, made in Lord Donaldson's Report of March 1999 on Command and Control, a Review of Salvage and Intervention.

(84241)

250   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what powers a Traffic Manager will have; what plans he has to change the role of the Highways Agency; and what discussions he has had with the insurance industry on the implications of removing vehicles soon after an accident.

(84244)

251   Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 25th November, Official Report, column 70W, what assessment he has made of the sufficiency of the long-term grant together with fare revenues to fund the proposed public private partnership.

(84408)

252   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will ensure that the Welsh mining industry is provided with financial assistance on a basis similar to the English Partnerships National Coalfield Programme; and if he will make a statement.

(84189)

253   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what sum is paid to Wales under the Coalfields Regeneration Trust; and what the budget is for England and Wales.

(84190)

254   Tony Cunningham (Workington): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department is doing to encourage those who wish to have their benefits paid through the Post Office.

(84255)

255   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will implement new guidelines for assessments by the Child Support Agency for existing clients.

(84170)

256
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, under what circumstances a person making a fresh claim for housing benefit in one of the proposed pilot areas for housing benefit reform after the pilots have begun will receive less housing benefit than under the existing rules.

(83955)

257
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families on income support have more than one child which satisfies the criteria for entitlement to the disability premium.

(83949)

258   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate (a) how many and (b) what percentage of housing benefit claimants' housing benefit entitlement meets less than 100 per cent. of their rent due, because of (i) income from employment, (ii) other income, (iii) rent restrictions, (iv) non-dependent deductions and (v) other reasons, broken down by (A) local authority (B) housing association, and (C) private sector tenure.

(84360)

259
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Department has drafted a letter for child benefit claimants regarding the legal obligation to ensure their children attend school; and if he will make a statement.

(83950)

260
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received regarding changes that may be necessary to the minimum income guarantee claim form.

(83953)

261   David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the process a customer will go through to ensure benefits are paid into (a) a new Post Office card account and (b) a bank account, when their DWP benefit book ends.

(84290)

262   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Cabinet Office, what the total budgets are of (a) the Social Inclusion Unit, (b) the Charter Mark and Beacon Unit, (c) Office of Public Services Reform, (d) Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (e) Public Service Team, (f) Performance and Innovation Unit, (g) Centre for Performance and Management Studies, (h) No. 10 Policy Directorate, (i) Government Information and Communication Service, (j) Economic and Domestic Secretariat, (k) Intelligence and Security Secretariat, (l) Civil Contingencies Secretariat, (m) Ceremonial Secretariat, (n) Central Secretariat, (o) Chief Scientific Adviser, (p) European Secretariat, (q) Defence and Overseas Secretariat, (r) Regulatory Impact Unit, (s) Central Policy Group, (t) Communication Group, (u) Corporate Services, (v) Women and Equality Unit and (w) Equality Secretariat, for (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04 and (iii) 2004-05; and if he will make a statement.

(84150)

263   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of the British members of the UNMOVIC inspection team in Iraq have experience with United Kingdom weapons of mass destruction.

[Transferred] (84218)

264   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what extra resources have been deployed in the defence of Gibraltar this year.

[Transferred] (84382)

265   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the occasions since the 1977 Tripartite Safeguards Agreements between the UK-Euratom-IAEA came into force, that nuclear materials have been withdrawn from safeguards under the provisions of Treaty Article 14; what type and quantity of nuclear materials were involved in each case; and which withdrawals were permanent.

[Transferred] (84135)

266   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the pilot carried out in Bristol on seller's packs for house sales.

[Transferred] (84380)