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 3 December 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 3 December 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.

TUESDAY 3rd DECEMBER

1
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84787)

2
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84927)

3
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will increase the level of subsidy provided to local authorities for pensioners bus passes.

(84600)

4
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how the assumed inflation rate following the introduction of Supporting People will impact upon rent levels and service charges for local authority sheltered accommodation if its actual rate of inflation is greater.

(84944)

5
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the relationship between local authorities and tenant management organisations with specific reference to those local authorities seeking to pursue a large scale voluntary transfer of their stocks.

(84816)

6
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the split between housing revenue account and supporting people budget, with specific reference to local authority sheltered accommodation from April 2003 onwards.

(84943)

7
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the impact on rents in sheltered accommodation owned by local authorities of its introduction of Supporting People.

(84942)

8
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how transitional housing benefit will operate in the case of local authority sheltered accommodation with specific reference to those authorities that have previously used rate fund monies.

(84945)

9
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on advice he is offering to local authorities on the issue of tenant management organisations, with specific reference to those which are choosing to pursue large scale voluntary transfer; and whether this advice has changed following the case of Westminster City Council—Pimlico Village Housing Co-operative.

(84817)

10   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many letters he has had (a) in support of and (b) in opposition to the establishment of a regional assembly in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber, (ii) the South East, (iii) the South West, (iv) the East of England, (v) the West Midlands, (vi) the East Midlands and (vii) the North West; what his estimate is of the cost of a referendum on regional government in each of those regions; what research he has commissioned into the likely outcome of a referendum on regional government in each of those regions; and what his estimate is of the cost of local government reorganisation in each region should regional government be established.

(85341)

11
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire.

(85130)

12
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much central funding has been given by his Department to (a) Buckinghamshire County Council, (b) Chiltern District Council, (c) Amersham Town Council and (d) Chesham Town Council in each year since 1st January 1996.

(85131)

13
N   Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the proposed merger of the rate support grant and national non-domestic rates.

(85226)

14
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001-02.

(84792)

15
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has carried out a regulatory impact analysis of the effect of the proposed changes in the Communications Bill, with specific regard to the introduction of access radio; and what assessment she has made of the impact on existing local commercial radio stations, if (a) access radio is fully funded out of the public purse and (b) access radio is allowed to raise revenue through selling advertising slots.

(84818)

16   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the sale of counterfeit and illegal music album sales; and if she will make a statement.

(85305)

17   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many illegally produced music singles and albums she estimates to have been sold in the UK in 2002.

(85307)

18   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the total cost in 2001 of illegal sales of music singles and albums; and what measures she is taking to prevent this.

(85306)

19
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the use of United States Air Force personnel based at RAF bases to fight fires during the firefighters' strike.

(84744)

20
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussion his Department has had with the Australian Government concerning cancer risk amongst the civilian population surrounding the British nuclear testing in the Monte Bello Islands in the 1950s; and if he will make a statement.

(85172)

21
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military units in active service, (b) reserve military units and (c) Territorial Army units have specialised CBW decontamination training.

(83530)

22
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001-02.

(84795)

23
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84936)

24
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what occasions in the past five years units have been detached from a battalion of the foot guards and attached to another battalion to bring that latter battalion up to strength for the purposes of operational deployment, giving in each case (a) the length of the period of detachment and (b) the date of the detached unit's return to its own battalion.

(85229)

25
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what occasions in the past five years battalions of the foot guards have been brought up to strength for operational deployment by the attachment of units from other battalions, identifying for each occasion (a) the deployed battalion and (b) the source and size of the attached unit.

(85228)

26
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when in the past five years battalions of the foot guards have been deployed for operational purposes.

(85227)

27
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what contingencies extra money has been allocated to his Department, as referred to by the Chancellor in his statement on the Pre-Budget Report; and if he will make a statement.

(85122)

28   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which years since 1990 a civilian firefighter has been (a) employed at and (b) resident in Deepcut Army Barracks; and what financial arrangements cover (i) salary and (ii) accommodation.

(85321)

29
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what working definition of Gulf War Syndrome he used in order to assess whether such a condition existed.

(85003)

30
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001-02.

(84791)

31
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84940)

32
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money was spent in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire through the Standards Fund in 2001-02 on class size reduction.

(85129)

33
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils have been excluded from schools in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1st January 1996.

(85128)

34
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the pupil/teacher ratios were for (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1st January 1996.

(85126)

35
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of classroom teachers are on the top of the main scale or have progressed through the upper pay spine in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire.

(85127)

36   Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of children with Statements have a transition plan.

(85316)

37
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of sixth formers in schools in Sittingbourne and Sheppey went to university in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000 and (d) 2000-01.

(85006)

38
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many units there are to deal with excluded pupils aged under 11 in (a) Kent, (b) East Kent education division, (c) Sittingbourne and (d) Sheppey; and if he will make a statement.

(85000)

39
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the desalination of sea water for drinking water purposes.

(84743)

40
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out the process which will apply in respect of the public consultation exercise on modification.

(84727)

41
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what work her Department is doing to ensure that the proposed Water Bill will fully implement the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive on water abstraction management.

(84738)

42
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been conducted for (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency on sites which (i) have been damaged by water abstraction and (ii) are threatened by continued water abstraction since 1995; and if she will list the locations of these sites.

(84734)

43
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the sites where action has been taken by (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency since 1995 on SSSIs which (i) have been damaged and (ii) are threatened with damage from water abstraction, and in each case list the nature of this action.

(84735)

44
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to what extent she intends the proposed Water Bill to include a duty on abstractors to use water efficiently, as required by the EC Water Framework Directive.

(84739)

45
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the countries from which timber was obtained for the refurbishment of Nobel House; and what steps she has taken to ensure that the timber used was derived from legal and sustainable sources.

(84732)

46
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to publish the conclusions of the GM field trials experiment; and if she will make a statement on the timetable for decisions regarding future public policy in respect of the commercial cultivation of GM crops and the extent to which field trials will inform such decisions.

(84728)

47
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the abstraction management requirements are which the UK must implement in order to comply with the EC Water Framework Directive.

(84737)

48
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many water abstraction licences were revoked in each year since 1995; and if she will list (a) the holder of the licence, (b) the location of the licence, (c) the reasons for the action, (d) the total water volume of the original licence and (e) the amount of compensation paid as a result, in each case.

(84736)

49
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84800)

50   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimates she has made of the use of (a) waste incineration, (b) landfill dumping and (c) recycling of household waste in (i) Lancashire, (ii) the North West of England and (iii) the UK.

(85328)

51   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many representations from (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England she has received regarding the loss of cattle-passport slips by the Cattle Movement Service.

(85338)

52   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans there are for new landfill sites for the disposal of household waste in England.

(85326)

53   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the proportion of household waste (a) buried in landfill sites, (b) incinerated and (c) recycled in each local authority in England.

(85327)

54   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what actions she has taken regarding the loss of cattle-passport slips by the Cattle Movement Service; and if she will make a statement on the loss of the slips.

(85339)

55   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the (a) environmental and (b) financial implications of (i) waste incineration, (ii) landfill dumping and (iii) recycling of household waste.

(85329)

56
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 20th November, Official Report, column 166W, on organic farming schemes, if she will list the beneficiaries under the Organic Farming Scheme and the Organic Aid Scheme as a proportion of the total number of (a) farms and (b) farmers, broken down by region.

(85344)

57   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her strategy for horticultural renewal and development.

(85216)

58   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) cost and (b) annual salary will be of restructuring HRI after its quinquennial review.

(85218)

59   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish Professor Sir Colin Spelling's Vision for Horticulture.

(85217)

60
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding has been available for the maintenance of long-distance trails in each of the last four years; what estimate she has made of the cost per kilometre of (a) restoring and (b) maintaining long-distance trails; and what budget is available for the repair and maintenance of the Ridgeway.

(85213)

61   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the funding for the Horticultural Research Institute for the next five years.

(85214)

62   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost was of the East Malling Organic Horticultural Research Unit; and when it was completed.

(85215)

63
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evaluation is being relied upon by her Department in respect of the possible link between badgers and the spread of bovine tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement.

(84239)

64   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government is doing to control the sale of endangered animal parts for Eastern herbal medicines.

(85386)

65
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the European Commission in respect of its supervision of Lloyds between 1978 and 1988; and if he will make a statement.

(84995)

66
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the European Commission in respect of the audit system in place at Lloyds of London between 1978 to 1988.

(84993)

67
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84928)

68
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government has taken to mark the 25th Anniversary of the European Court of Auditors.

(84819)

69
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Office of National Statistics decided to classify certain major trust posts as public bodies requiring their financial transactions to be included in the PSBR; and what reasons were given for the decision.

(85123)

70
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current status of discounts allowable under the climate change levy.

(84811)

71
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has carried out into the operation of the climate change levy, with specific reference to (a) manufacturing, (b) the service sector and (c) small and medium sized enterprises.

(84810)

72
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the financial cost to the British manufacturing industry of the climate change levy.

(84813)

73
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he is giving to manufacturers who wish to reduce the impact of the climate change levy by introducing combined heat and power.

(84815)

74
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the CBI on the issue of the climate change levy.

(84814)

75
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice and instructions the Treasury gave during the last six months to (a) members of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee and (b) their staff on the relevance of house prices to the setting of interest rates; and what advice he has given since his pre-Budget statement.

(85222)

76   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 27th November, Official Report, column 326, whether the proportion of an individual's pension fund that is allowed to be taken as a tax free lump sum on retirement will remain the same.

(85223)

77
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Government of Spain in relation to compulsory purchase of property belonging to British citizens in the regions of Valencia.

(85173)

78
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what infraction proceedings against Her Majesty's Government are being taken by the EU Commission; and when they commenced.

(84994)

79
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84785)

80
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84930)

81
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list Health Authorities/PCTs that have received funding from the Cancer Care Plan for specialist palliative care, announced in May 2000, together with the amounts received.

(84996)

82
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost per week is of (a) keeping a person in hospital and (b) keeping a person in a nursing home.

(84807)

83   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the extent of the use of cotton and other non-barrier textiles in operating theatres in the NHS.

(85296)

84
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library copies of responses to the consultation on the complaints procedure for children in care, Listening to People.

(84806)

85   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the role of effective laundry practice in preventing healthcare-associated infections.

(85295)

86
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the amount of over-prescribing of antibiotics in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(84802)

87
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his definition is of frictional discharge; and what the level of frictional discharge was in the last 12 months.

(84805)

88   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the proportion of premature deaths in England in 2001 attributed to nosocomial infections.

(85297)

89
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications were received by the Social Work Admissions System in each of the last five years.

(84808)

90
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what precautions are in place to track the research being undertaken in UK research laboratories by (a) home and (b) foreign students in fields that could be misdirected into CBW development; and if he will make a statement.

(83533)

91
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84934)

92
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84797)

93   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of children with tooth cavities in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England; in each of the previous five years.

(85330)

94
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many trained nurses there were in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1st January 1996.

(85136)

95
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the ratio was of NHS general dental practitioners to population; and how many NHS general dental practitioners there were in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1st January 1996.

(85135)

96
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to publish the Diabetes National Service Framework.

(85219)

97   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients whose operation was cancelled on the day of surgery did not receive a new binding date for an operation within 28 days in each quarter of the last year; and what arrangements were put in place to provide these patients with treatment at a time and hospital of their choosing.

(85302)

98   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the proposed review of the workings of NHS Professionals.

(85300)

99   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the nursing wage bill was spent on temporary nursing staff in (a) England and (b) each NHS region in each of the last six years.

(85298)

100   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of breast cancer patients have been waiting less than two months between urgent referral and the start of treatment in (a) England and (b) each NHS region.

(85301)

101   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what methods are used to measure progress against the targets for increases in capacity of the equivalent of treatment for (a) 100,000 patients in 2002-03 and (b) 200,000 in 2003-04; and what assessment he has made of progress towards these targets.

(85343)

102   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to date of NHS Professionals.

(85299)

103   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government is doing to regulate herbal remedies that it estimates could endanger people's health if taken in large enough quantities.

(85387)

104   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government is doing to investigate sporadic CJD.

(85388)

105
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will extend the guarantee of employment under Shifting the Balance of Power by a further 12 months for CHC staff; what his policy is on the terms of 'CHC Transition Issues: Human Resource Framework' issued by his Department in November 2001; and if he will make a statement on the TUPE rights of CHC staff.

(84404)

106
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the abolition date is for community health councils.

(84444)

107
N   Jonathan Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will decide whether Maidstone and Weald primary trust will be allowed to take forward their proposal for a 48 bed interim care centre at the former Linten Hospital site; and if he will make a statement.

(84009)

108
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the overspending by the Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust.

(85224)

109
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to label turkeys imported from Brazil that have been treated with nitrofuran antibiotic furazolidone drug.

(85004)

110
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters from honourable Members, in Session 2001-02 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

(84804)

111
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will write to the honourable Member for Sutton and Cheam regarding the Criminal Records Bureau.

(84809)

112
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to bring forward legislation to allow the police to confiscate sealed alcohol containers from under age drinkers in public places.

(84803)

113   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time was for care home managers' and owners' applications to be registered and processed by the NCSC; and how many applications have been outstanding in each of the last six months for which figures are available.

(84997)

114
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funds have been allocated for the next financial year to cover CBW civil contingency planning in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(83532)

115
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84931)

116
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001-02.

(84784)

117   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what follow-up is planned to the Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the HMCPS/IHMIC joint investigation into the investigation and prosecution of cases involving allegations of rape.

(85313)

118   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how frequently the Government policy on domestic violence has been changed since 1997; and when it is next scheduled to be updated.

(85314)

119   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcome was of the study that considered expanding Victim Support's helpline to 24 hours referred to in Annex 1 of the joint Home Office/Women's Unit publication, Living without fear: An integrated approach to tackling violence against women.

(85312)

120   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if there is a standard model for the role of domestic violence officer in the UK.

(85315)

121   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what statistics regarding domestic violence are tracked at UK level.

(85311)

122
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff were employed by Thames Valley Police in each year since 1st January 1996.

(85134)

123
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used by the police to determine whether to (a) prosecute and (b) refer for disconnection those suspected of hoax calls to the emergency services.

(85175)

124
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals suspected of hoax calls to the emergency services have (a) been arrested and (b) had their telephones disconnected since 22nd November.

(85174)

125   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are on the Sexual Offenders Register; and how many were on the register in 1997.

(85384)

126
N   Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the honourable Member for Woking's letters of 18th September, 24th October and 14th November concerning a constituent, Mr Raja Munir, and his application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

(85031)

127
N   Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports he has received during the last 12 months from the Chief Inspector of Prisons about immigration removal and detention centres; when he intends to respond to them; and if he will publish the reports and his responses.

(85030)

128
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters from honourable Members, in Session 2001-02 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

(84752)

129
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total budget of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84932)

130
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84799)

131   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the Government is doing to help those suffering from AIDS and HIV in the developing world.

(85389)

132
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84786)

133
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the total budget of (a) the Lord Chancellor's Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84929)

134
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84796)

135
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84935)

136
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proposals the Northern Ireland Office has to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Princess Victoria off the coast of County Antrim.

(85032)

137
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will extend the consultation period for submissions on the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Inquiry in Northern Ireland.

(85034)

138
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the suicide rate in North and West Belfast.

(85033)

139
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proposals he has to prevent vacant properties in Northern Ireland falling into decay and dereliction.

(84998)

140
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of empty dwellings in Northern Ireland (a) in Belfast, (b) in Derry and (c) outside Belfast and Derry, broken down by (i) county and (ii) district council areas.

(84999)

141
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Prime Minister, from which countries timber was obtained for the refurbishment of 12 Downing Street; and what steps he took to ensure that the timber used was derived from legal and sustainable sources.

(84733)

142
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Prime Minister, how many honourable Members have been invited to bring children from their constituencies to a tea party at 10 Downing Street; how many have accepted; and what criteria are applied to choosing invitees.

(85124)

143
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Prime Minister, what the total budget of his Office is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84926)

144
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Prime Minister, how many honourable Members have been invited to nominate adults from their constituency to tour the main State Rooms and Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street and the State Room at 11 Downing Street; how many have accepted; and what criteria are applied to choosing invitees.

(85125)

145
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Prime Minister, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84788)

146   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the responsibilities of (a) the Department of Work and Pensions, (b) HM Treasury and (c) the DTI for (i) minimum wage policy and (ii) social security policy; and if he will make a statement.

(85304)

147
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84794)

148
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Solicitor General, what the total budget of (a) the Attorney General's Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84937)

149
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Solicitor General, what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84801)

150
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Solicitor General, how many individuals suspected of hoax calls to the emergency services have been referred for prosection to the Crown Prosecution Service since 22 November.

(85176)

151
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what emergency measures are in place to deal with a release of radioactive material from the nuclear facilities at Dungeness.

(84745)

152
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much electricity was returned to the national grid last year as a result of net metering arrangements.

(84731)

153
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the number of homes operating on net metering; and if she will take steps to increase this number.

(84729)

154
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she has taken to satisfy herself that (a) the normal emission levels from nuclear facilities on the northern coast of France and (b) the emergency procedures in place at nuclear facilities on the northern coast of France, are consistent with proper protection of the UK environment.

(84746)

155
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what support since 1997 her Department has provided to facilitate the development of (a) geothermal, (b) wave, (c) tidal and (d) solar energy technologies.

(84730)

156
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of licensed electricity suppliers fulfilled all of their obligations under the Renewables Obligation through the purchase of green certificates in 2001.

(85319)

157
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many of the most recent development plans of local authorities in England and Wales make specific mention of renewable energy plans; and how many of these include technology-specific policies.

(85320)

158
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) type, (b) quantity and (c) total value of components supplied to India under Export Licence OIEL No. 45 of 6th September 2001; and if she will make a statement.

(83531)

159
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84793)

160
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total budget of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84939)

161
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals she has to introduce targeting of programmes and aid to promote energy efficiency.

(84812)

162   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices in Lancashire are open for less than full-time hours; and what the corresponding figure was for 1997.

(85340)

163
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) post offices and (b) sub post offices there were in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in (A) 1975, (B) 1980, (C) 1985, (D) 1990, (E) 1995, (F) 2000, (G) 2001 and (H) 2002.

(85133)

164
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many homes in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire were without power after the storms in October; and for how long in each case.

(85132)

165   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the music industry, (b) local authorities and (c) other individuals and bodies regarding the sale of illegal and counterfeit music albums.

(85310)

166   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for trading counterfeit goods, broken down by type, under the Trademarks Act 1994, in each year since 1994.

(85308)

167   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for trading counterfeit goods, broken down by type, under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, in each of the last 10 years.

(85309)

168
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she last met representatives of the mining unions to discuss issues relating to the payment of miners' compensation claims.

(84319)

169
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims for compensation for respiratory disease were made by ex-miners in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; how many claimants died before receiving final payments, in each year; and how many claims for compensation for respiratory diseases there are.

(84313)

170
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average payment made to ex-miners in compensation for respiratory disease was in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; and how many claims were settled in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001, in each constituency.

(84314)

171
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims by ex-miners for compensation for respiratory disease were settled using the fast-track procedure; and what the average payment was under the fast track procedure in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

(84315)

172
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many ministers whose responsibilities have included the payment of miners' compensation have been in post since 1997.

(84316)

173
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many medical examination centres are operational for examining ex-miners who have lodged applications for compensation for respiratory disease; and how many there were in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

(84317)

174   Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government is doing to combat illegal working practices and how many companies have been prosecuted since 1997 for such practices.

(85385)

175
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 26th November, Official Report, column 228W, on priority areas how many (a) hospitals, (b) GP surgeries, (c) schools, (d) police stations, (e) local authority agencies and (f) other public sector places will SEEDA be upgrading to broadband in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency; and how much of the SEEDA Broadband fund (i) has been and (ii) will be spent in Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

(85002)

176
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 26th November, Official Report, column 228W, on priority areas if she will place in the Library the broadband strategy that SEEDA is implementing; and what discussions SEEDA has had with BT to upgrade their exchange on the Isle of Sheppey so broadband can be delivered there.

(85001)

177
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will press the EU to set a maximum size for oil tankers allowed in EU waters.

(84742)

178
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if she will press the European Commission to bring forward the date on which the use of EU waters by single hull oil tankers will be forbidden.

(84741)

179
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what help the UK Government has made available to (a) the Spanish and (b) the Portuguese authorities to help tackle the environmental repercussions of the Prestige oil disaster.

(84740)

180
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what he estimates to be the total costs to public funds of contesting the action brought by Essex County Council, Kent County Council and Medway District Council in respect of the Airports Consultation.

(85220)

181
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84933)

182
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84798)

183   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what recent calculations he has made of the average cost to the passenger per mile of travel on each of the primary rail routes.

(85323)

184   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the operation of the franchise for the West Coast main line.

(85335)

185   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what estimates he has made of the environmental impact of a journey between London and Manchester by (a) rail, (b) air and (c) car.

(85336)

186   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many traffic accidents resulted in a fatality in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

(85342)

187   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what hospitality was received by (a) ministers and (b) his special advisers from each rail franchise holder over the past 12 months.

(85333)

188   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many trains (a) arrive at and (b) depart from Preston station each day.

(85325)

189   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what his latest estimate is of the completion date of the West Coast main line upgrade.

(85334)

190   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans there are for increasing capacity at (a) Clitheroe and (b) Preston railway stations.

(85324)

191   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if there is special provision for ministerial cars to use bus lanes in guidelines issued by his Department.

(85332)

192   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average age of rolling stock is in each of the rail operating companies; and what proportion is (a) over 10 years old, (b) over 20 years old and (c) over 30 years old.

(85337)

193
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will introduce adoptive powers to make it an offence to allow vehicles to be parked on verges and footpaths.

(85170)

194
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will bring into force Section 19a of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it an offence for motor vehicles other than heavy commercial vehicles to park on verges and footways or the land between carriageways on any urban road.

(85171)

195
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will hold a public exhibition of the proposals for an additional runway at Heathrow in Spelthorne during the extended period of consultations.

(85225)

196
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001-02.

(84790)

197
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84938)

198   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the new system for calculating child maintenance payments will be extended to all Child Support Agency cases.

(85322)

199
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001-02.

(84789)

200
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002-03.

(84941)

201
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the Crown censures which have been issued in respect of breaches of Health and Safety legislation in the last five years.

(85221)

202   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people over retirement age lived below the poverty line in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England, (c) Wales and (d) the UK, in each of the last five years.

(85331)

203
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in his Department have taken part in training weekends in the past 12 months; and at what cost (a) in total and (b) per person on average.

(85120)

204
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money has been spent on staff training in his Department in the past 12 months; and how many staff took part.

(85121)

205   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library the local reference rents for each size of property in each locality of each of the local authorities invited to be a pathfinder in the housing benefit reforms.

(85303)

206
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Cabinet Office, what the membership of the scientific panel established by the Strategy Unit to consider the issue of genetic modification is; and which members have undertaken work for the biotechnology industry.

(84726)

207
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the nitrofuran antibiotic furazolidone is banned for use in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (85005)

208   Mr George Galloway (Glasgow, Kelvin): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the cost was to public funds of the Bain Inquiry into the firefighters' wage claims; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (85318)

209   Mr George Galloway (Glasgow, Kelvin): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the remuneration and expenses paid to each of the members of the Bain Inquiry into the firefighters; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (85317)