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 12 December 2002

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 12 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.

THURSDAY 12th DECEMBER

1   Hugh Bayley (City of York): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if the area cost adjustments for (a) local education authority education, (b) police, (c) general local government and (d) other local services are calculated on the same basis; and if he will place in the Library the formula for calculating area cost adjustment weightings and the weightings derived from the formula for (i) each local authority area receiving area cost adjustment, (ii) the City of York and (iii) North Yorkshire County Council.

(87159)

2
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government will meet the costs currently borne by those tenants not eligible for housing benefit through rent pooling following its introduction of Supporting People (a) for all tenants and (b) for those in sheltered accommodation.

(86812)

3
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the Government's recent announcement of maintenance and management allowances for council housing, with specific reference to the outcome for Stroud District Council.

(86813)

4   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the timetable is for Wandsworth Borough Council to deposit a new draft revised (second stage deposit) unitary development plan incorporating the recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate issued to the Council on 6th March.

(87113)

5   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of homeless people have suffered from (a) physical assault and (b) mental abuse whilst living on the streets since 1997.

(87192)

6   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many homeless people are living rough, broken down by health authority.

(87203)

7   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what support he gives to homeless people discharged from hospital.

(87206)

8
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if the research being conducted by Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners to assess the implementation of PPG3 was commissioned through open tender; what the cost is of this research; and what assessment of possible conflicts of interest was made.

(86919)

9
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received from the Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty on wind farms in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

(86871)

10
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities he met, and on what dates, in connection with the local authority grant formula consultations.

(86893)

11
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether an environmental impact assessment is required for applications to amend planning permissions where such an assessment (a) was required and (b) would have been required had it not predated the introduction of environmental impact assessments.

(86872)

12
N   Tony Cunningham (Workington): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much lottery funding has been received in the last three years in (a) the Workington constituency and (b) Cumbria; and what the average amount of lottery money received in each constituency was in that period.

(86918)

13
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what account the Heritage Lottery Fund takes of correspondence from the public in reaching its decisions; and if she will make a statement.

(86842)

14
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations her Department has received regarding the project to restore Avro Vulcan XH558.

(86840)

15
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what lottery money has been earmarked for (a) events and (b) causes commemorating the centenary of the first manned flight; and if she will make a statement.

(86844)

16
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how often the Heritage Lottery Fund has reversed a decision not to award lottery funding to a cause; what reasons were given; and if she will make a statement.

(86843)

17
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations the Heritage Lottery Fund has received regarding the project to restore Avro Vulcan XH558.

(86841)

18
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total volume was of nuclear waste produced and requiring storage by (a) his Department and (b) military installations in each year since 1990, broken down by (i) the level of waste and (ii) whether the waste is in temporary or permanent storage; and if he will make a statement.

(86416)

19
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many decommissioned nuclear submarines have been awaiting waste treatment and storage for each year since 1990; where they are; what steps are being planned to tackle the task; and if he will make a statement.

(86417)

20
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made since 1972 concerning the risk of cancer amongst the (a) military personnel and (b) civilian population surrounding the British nuclear testing in the Monte Bello Islands in the 1950s; and if he will make a statement.

(86877)

21
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to mark the Bicentennial of the Battle of Trafalgar.

(86959)

22   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many employees at West Freugh Airfield and Range were employed by (a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) QinetiQ and (c) other contractors on 24th July.

(87136)

23   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the proposed savings over 25 years by QinetiQ in respect of test and evaluation services are broken down by (a) site and (b) expense category.

(87135)

24   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 9th December, Official Report, column 17, what plans he has to bring the training and mobilisation of the RAF reservists together with those of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines at the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre, Nottingham.

(87220)

25   Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 7th November, Official Report, column 477W, when he will write to the honourable Member for Reading East.

(87217)

26   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what major (a) variations and (b) delays there have been to the private finance initiative contract for the (i) Tidworth Water and Sewerage, (ii) RAF White Fleet, (iii) MHE Vehicles and (iv) Hazardous Stores Information System; what the cost has been of the changes; whether the partners in the PFI were required to meet these costs; and if he will make a statement.

(87132)

27   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many expressions of interest he has received from contractors for the environmental enhancements of the AS90; and whether decisions have been made on the award of the contract.

(87043)

28   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made with the development of camouflage nets for the Challenger II tank; what estimate he has made of the costs of development; and what trials have been carried out.

(87045)

29   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what problems have been experienced with the environmental enhancements to the AS90; what progress has been made; and if he will make a statement.

(87044)

30   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the cost of completing the environmental enhancements to the AS90 will remain within the expected budget; when he expects the enhancements to be completed; and whether he has set a deadline for completion.

(87042)

31   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts the Department has placed with Enron since 1997.

(87112)

32   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

(87180)

33   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military personnel and (b) civil servants there are in his Deparment, broken down by region.

(87152)

34   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the monetary ceiling of the Reserves' Hardship Fund.

(87060)

35   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much he estimates introduction of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 will cost in respect of (a) staff training costs, (b) other recurrent costs and (c) capital costs over the quinquennium from September 2002, broken down by local education authority.

(87116)

36   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the disposition of TEC assets.

(87115)

37   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what evaluation his Department has made of the education maintenance allowance pilots; and if he will publish the findings.

(87196)

38   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the elements of the standards fund for the current financial year, showing the total (a) spent and (b) budgeted under each heading.

(87193)

39   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the schools in the top tenth percentile by examination performance at (a) A-level, (b) GCSE and (c) SATs results, which have applied unsuccessfully for Beacon School status.

(87194)

40   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of school budgets was spent on school transport in each local education authority area in the last 12 months.

(87207)

41   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his oral Answer to the honourable Member for Ashford on 9th December, Official Report, column 28, whether all schools will be fully funded in respect of the cost of payments to teachers on the upper spine of performance related pay.

(87200)

42   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria will be used to allocate the new fund to assist schools applying for specialist status which have encountered difficulties in raising funds.

(87195)

43   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the elements of the standards fund for each of the next two years showing budgeted expenditure under each head for each year.

(87199)

44   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the additional cost if the number of specialist schools rose to (a) 50 per cent., (b) 75 per cent. and (c) 100 per cent. of all maintained schools.

(87197)

45   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the specialist schools which have lost specialist status, with the date of the decision in each case and the reason for it.

(87198)

46
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many local authorities' provisional star ratings in the education comprehensive performance assessment have been adjusted after the Audit Commission had signed off the data on performance indicators this year; and which of these authorities' ratings were adjusted (a) upwards and (b) downwards.

(86750)

47
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether further education lecturers on Silver Book contracts are entitled to receive money from the Teacher Pay Initiative.

(86958)

48   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions his Department has had with the Learning and Skills Council to enable local councils to take advantage of full end-year flexibility in respect of the Local Initiative Fund and other programme budgets.

(87031)

49   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the common funding approach to be adopted by the Learning and Skills Council for 2003-04 and subsequent years.

(87032)

50
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what evidence he has assessed on the use of classroom assistants to mind classes in place of teachers.

(86493)

51
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether he plans to amend the conditions of service of supply teachers.

(86492)

52
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what evidence he has assessed on the change in the number of supply teachers hours worked in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools over the last two years for which figures are available.

(86491)

53
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the timetable is for the National Audit Office Review of the establishment of the Connexions Service arising out of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

(86990)

54   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidelines her Department has laid down for class sizes in practical subjects.

(87150)

55
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the statement by the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, Official Report, 5th December, columns 1065-1084, what (a) the total spending on schools and (b) the total government support for spending on schools is from all sources for the Isle of Wight Council in (i) 2001-02, (ii) 2003-03 and (iii) 2003-04.

(86961)

56
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the cost is per year of educating an excluded child in a pupil referral unit.

(86876)

57
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Walsall North of 29th October regarding a constituent.

(86874)

58
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many locations there are where (a) acid and (b) other discharges from (i) mine, (ii) landfill sites, (iii) radioactive waste storage sites and (iv) animal burial mounds workings have been identified as (A) exceeding permitted levels and (B) resulting in poor river quality in nearby river courses broken down by individual sites, in each year since 1997; what action has been taken or is planned as a result; and if she will make a statement.

(86411)

59
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to allow third parties to take court action against projects on environmental grounds; and if she will make a statement.

(86413)

60
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimates she makes, in respect of the last year for which figures are available, of the number of albatrosses killed within United Kingdom waters as a by-product of fishing by (a) Spanish and (b) other vessels; what percentage of the United Kingdom population this represents; and what steps she is taking to prevent such deaths.

(86415)

61
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) volume by weight and (b) total value of the export from the United Kingdom of pesticides produced in the United Kingdom, broken down by those which are (i) legal and (ii) illegal to use within the United Kingdom in each year since 1990.

(86419)

62
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what average level of nitrates there has been (a) within river courses and (b) in drinking water in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990, broken down by river course, type and region.

(86407)

63
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the historical data which she collates on snowfall; and what the predicted future annual number of days when there is snowfall are for (a) London and (b) Edinburgh in (i) 2010, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2030 and (iv) 2050.

(86408)

64
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment has been conducted by (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency of the risk to river water quality from discharges from (i) abandoned mine workings, (ii) landfill sites, (iii) radioactive waste storage sites and (iv) animal burial mounds; and if she will make a statement.

(86409)

65
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the (a) European Directives and (b) other regulations under which pollution to rivers from discharges from (i) abandoned mine workings, (ii) landfill sites, (iii) radioactive waste storage sites and (iv) animal burial mounds are covered.

(86410)

66
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the predicted changes in the frequency of the number of days when there is snowfall in the United Kingdom under future scenarios of climate change, including regional variations.

(86412)

67
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has of the number of (a) christmas cards and (b) christmas trees that were recycled in each year since 1990; what support she provides to local authorities with regard to the recycling of Christmas cards; and if she will make a statement.

(86414)

68
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent research has been (a) conducted for her Department and (b) assessed by her Department on a potential link between drinking water and blue baby syndrome; what representations have been received; what discussions have taken place; and if she will place copies of the research in the Library.

(86418)

69
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what regulations control United Kingdom companies' (a) production and (b) export of pesticides which would be classified as illegal to use within the European Union; what recent changes have taken place and are planned to these regulations; and if she will make a statement.

(86420)

70
N   Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total annual cost of the common agricultural policy was to (a) consumers and (b) taxpayers in the United Kingdom in the most recent year for which figures are available; what estimate she has made of the cost per person per week; and if she will break down the total cost to consumers by product.

(86991)

71   Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the rate of piglet death in (a) farrowing crates and (b) non-crate systems.

(87056)

72   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what basis she provides funding to assist a business in England proposing to recycle agricultural film waste; and what account she will take of recycling facilities in Scotland when reaching such a decision.

(87219)

73   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is towards reintroduction of a levy scheme on agricultural farm products on a (a) compulsory and (b) voluntary basis.

(87124)

74   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what forms of agricultural waste will be subject to the Waste Framework Directive.

(87127)

75   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 progress within the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders Forum.

(87126)

76   Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the second round of consultation on marine environment high risk areas will take place.

(87063)

77   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to encourage corporate environmental reporting.

(87134)

78   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on promoting sustainable energy sources; and if she will make a statement.

(87133)

79   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to increase recycling rates from (a) household and (b) business and industry waste.

(87131)

80   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the outcome was of the Environment Council on 10th December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

(87183)

81   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to amend the law to allow the Environment Agency access to farm census information and IACs returns.

(87182)

82   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on (a) 21st November, (b) 24th November and (c) 30th November; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks; and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

(87030)

83   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated by central government to promote kerbside collection of refuse in each of the last 10 years.

(87156)

84   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer why his Department omitted Bermuda from its list of Caribbean overseas territories submitted to the December meeting of ECOFIN in the document Savings—Report from the United Kingdom.

(87201)

85
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of the working families tax credit who are paid below the minimum wage; and what recent work his Department has undertaken to prosecute firms paying below the minimum wage.

(86914)

86   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with ministers on government departments and their agencies taking advantage of full end-year flexibility in relation to their programme budgets.

(87033)

87
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what contingency plans have been made to help pensioners in the event of Equitable Life going into liquidation.

(86506)

88   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

(87176)

89   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place the minutes of the Public Services Productivity Panel for calendar years 2000 to 2002 in the Library.

(87211)

90   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the revenue collected by the Large Business Office in each of the last five fiscal years was (a) tax, (b) interest and (c) penalties; and if he will make a statement.

(87210)

91
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 28th November, Official Report, columns 466W-467W, on the Post Office Card Account, what alternative arrangements will be available in April 2003 for Child Tax Credit recipients who will not be able to use the PIN number associated with a post office card account.

(86989)

92
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proposition of new mortgage lending in each of the last 12 months which has been at (a) variable and (b) fixed rates; and if he will make a statement.

(86988)

93
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much will be ring fenced for recycling programmes in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

(86760)

94
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he forecasts will be raised (a) in the UK and (b) in Scotland from the landfill tax in each financial year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

(86758)

95
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised (a) in the UK and (b) in Scotland by the landfill tax in each financial year since 1997-98.

(86759)

96
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much will be allocated to the budget for the Scottish Executive to encourage recycling in Scotland in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

(86761)

97
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the relatives of the Bali bomb victims, who went to Bali in the aftermath of the bombing, were assisted by his Department with the costs of (a) hotels and (b) telephone calls to the United Kingdom; and what assistance was provided towards funeral costs.

(86836)

98
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what personnel and equipment his Department's Emergency Response Team has.

(86838)

99
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department's Emergency Response Team was put on alert immediately following the Mombasa bombing.

(86837)

100
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made by his Department in setting up a Bali appeal fund; and if he will make a statement.

(86839)

101   Ann McKechin (Glasgow, Maryhill): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the Final Report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(87049)

102
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of external suppliers his Department paid in (a) accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) where no such conditions exist, within 30 days of receipt of an undisputed invoice in each of the last five years.

(86878)

103
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost per hospital meal was (a) before and (b) after implementation of the Government's Better Hospital Food programme; and if he will make a statement.

(86881)

104
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of (a) GP surgeries and (b) other surgeries were connected to NHS net in each of the last four years.

(86879)

105
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many MRSA patients were recorded in NHS hospitals in each of the last eight years; how many and what proportion of NHS hospitals recorded MRSA outbreaks; and how many and what proportion of NHS hospitals have full-time staff dedicated to the prevention and control of MRSA and related infections.

(86683)

106
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 5th December, Official Report, column 965W, on frictional discharges, what his definition is of minimal levels of delayed transfers by 2006; and if has set a target to achieve this level.

(86920)

107
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd December, Official Report, column 754W, on CRB checks, what assessment he has made of the effect on running costs of (a) children's homes, (b) residential care homes and (c) nursing homes of (i) delays to and (ii) postponement of Criminal Records Bureau checks.

(86921)

108
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK with a neurological condition.

(86882)

109
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the (a) efficiency gains and (b) other value for money gains of personal social services expenditure that have been achieved, broken down by region, in each of the last three years.

(86880)

110
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he measures the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS trusts; and how many mixed-sex wards there are in (a) each region and (b) England.

(86875)

111
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 5th December, Official Report, column 975W, on care home registrations, for what reasons information on the (a) average length of time and (b) number of care home applications to be registered and processed by the NCSC is not available; and when he expects this information to be available.

(86922)

112
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the hospital trusts which have had their star rating increased following the publication of the national tables in July.

(86937)

113
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospital trusts which previously had a three star rating lost one or more stars in the tables published in July.

(86938)

114
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if hospital trusts with deficits will be entitled to (a) apply for foundation status and (b) obtain foundation status.

(86936)

115
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with private companies on digital hearing aids; and whether he has communicated information on his discussions to NHS trusts.

(86757)

116   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is on the disclosure of health records by NHS trusts to third parties.

(86756)

117
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Carers' Rights Day; and if he will make a statement.

(86996)

118   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes to the number of (a) private care beds and (b) council care beds he expects to occur in Chorley Council area over the next five years.

(87048)

119   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether prisoners in (a) Garth and (b) Wymott prisons are included in the funding calculation for Chorley South Ribble PCT.

(87046)

120   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care beds there are in the Chorley Council area; and how many he estimates there will be in each year from 2003 to 2008.

(87047)

121   Mr Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of Welsh resident patients who have had their discharge from hospital in England delayed, in each hospital with more than 20 patients in this category.

(87157)

122   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that homeless people are able to register with a general practitioner.

(87205)

123   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of homeless people suffered from (a) chest infections (b) leg sores and (c) asthma in the last 12 months.

(87191)

124   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of homeless people suffered from diabetes in the last 12 months.

(87208)

125   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of homeless people suffered from tuberculosis in each year since 1997.

(87187)

126   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has carried out on the longevity of homeless people.

(87188)

127   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in NHS hospitals are homeless, broken down by health authority.

(87202)

128   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients whose address was listed as no fixed abode were admitted to NHS hospitals between (a) December 1998 and January 1999, (b) December 1997 and January 1998, and (c) December 1996 and January 1997.

(87209)

129   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of homeless people used accident and emergency units at hospitals in the last 12 months.

(87190)

130   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what regular health checks are carried out on children living in temporary accommodation.

(87186)

131   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of homeless people are addicted to (a) alcohol and (b) drugs.

(87204)

132   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is his Department's policy to encourage homeless people to register permanently with a general practitioner.

(87189)

133   Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the legislative process for the legalisation of denturism will be completed; when he last met the General Dental Council to discuss this; and if he will make a statement.

(87158)

134   Mr Greg Pope (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, during the last year for which figures are available, how many letters from honourable Members were replied to (a) within six months, (b) within six to nine months, (c) within nine to 12 months and (d) in over 12 months; and what was the average time taken by ministers in the Department to reply to honourable Members' correspondence in that period.

(87051)

135   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the frequency of assisted dying in the UK in the last 10 years.

(87034)

136
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultants have accepted National Health Service posts as international fellows as a result of the initiative whereby Sir Magdi Yacoub was appointed as the Government's Special Envoy for the National Health Service; and in which specialities.

(86751)

137
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the FSA has taken to identify imports of turkeys from Brazil that have been treated with antibiotic furazolidine; and whether all poultry imported in 2002 from Brazil has been treated with furazolidine.

(86935)

138
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce an administrative centre to check that the commitment to reduction, refinement and replacement in experimentation is being adhered to.

(86802)

139
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to legislate to update scientific procedures using animals.

(86753)

140
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress he has made in implementing the Government's commitment to reduction, refinement and replacement of animals in experiments.

(86752)

141   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passports were issued to children in (a) the care of UK local authorities and (b) long-term foster care during each of the last five years.

(87123)

142   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on procedures used to issue passports to children in long-term foster care; and what assessment has been made of the extent of delays in the process.

(87218)

143   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he plans to review procedures for issuing passports to children in long-term foster care with birth parents who are not contactable.

(87125)

144
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many local authorities contributed to the cost of recruiting, training and equipping local neighbourhood special constables for duty in their area in each year since Section 2 of the Police Act 1996 came into operation.

(86916)

145
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to what extent each local authority has used powers under Section 33 of the Police Act 1966 to help fund new community support officers; and how many such officers are employed.

(86915)

146   Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 7th November, Official Report, columns 824-825W, when he will write to the honourable Member for Reading East.

(87216)

147   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Government funding has been made available for community support officers in Chorley; and how many officers it has provided.

(87054)

148   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reported crimes there were in the Chorley Council area in the last three years, broken down by ward.

(87053)

149   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests have been made in Chorley in the last 12 months; and which custody suites have been used.

(87055)

150
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers his Department has to ignore tree preservation orders imposed by Wychavon District Council on trees on land adjacent to Long Lartin prison; and if he will make a statement.

(86917)

151
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Walsall North of 28th October regarding a constituent, Ref 22821/2.

(86873)

152   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the fairness of political party registration in Nigeria; and what impact the registration of political parties in Nigeria has made on the country's transition to democracy.

(87173)

153   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what correspondence she has had with the government of Burundi regarding alleged human rights violations against children held in detention centres; and if she will make a statement.

(87171)

154   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on recent levels of malnutrition among children in Gambia.

(87172)

155   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funds the government of the Republic of Congo has made available for (a) prevention and (b) treatment of HIV/AIDS.

(87169)

156   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the impact which population growth is having on the ability of Ethiopia to reach the United Nations' millennium development goals.

(87174)

157   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress she has made with including HIV/AIDS education within African school curriculum projects supported by her Department.

(87170)

158
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the governments of those countries through which the River Nile flows on effecting a common policy towards water use.

(86754)

159   Eric Joyce (Falkirk West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department will be taking to support the recent peace agreement between the Transitional Government of Burundi and rebel group the FDD and to encourage peace talks between the Transitional Government of Burundi and rebel group the FNL.

(87149)

160   Eric Joyce (Falkirk West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding commitment was made by the United Kingdom at the November Geneva Round Table Donors' Meeting on Burundi; and what conditions were placed on the fulfilment of this commitment.

(87145)

161   Eric Joyce (Falkirk West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to support the Transitional Government of Burundi since November 2001.

(87148)

162   Eric Joyce (Falkirk West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding commitment was made by the United Kingdom to Burundi at the Geneva Round Table Donors' Meeting of December 2001; what conditions were placed on the fulfilment of this commitment; and what proportion of this funding has been paid to date.

(87147)

163   Eric Joyce (Falkirk West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding commitment was made by the United Kingdom to Burundi at the Paris Donors Club Meeting of December 2000; what conditions were placed on the fulfilment of this commitment; and what proportion of this funding has been paid to date.

(87146)

164   Ann McKechin (Glasgow, Maryhill): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the Final Report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(87050)

165   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Lancaster and Wyre of 2nd December, Official Report, column 530W, if she will list the principles underpinning the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

(87221)

166   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings she has had with (a) companies, (b) governments and (c) new governmental organisations regarding the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative since the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

(87212)

167   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which member states of the African Union have adopted the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.

(87215)

168   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which countries have notified the chairman of the NEPAD heads of state and Goverment Implementation Committee that they wish to participate in the African Peer Review Mechanism.

(87214)

169   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of her Department's budget was spent on (a) reproductive health and (b) HIV/AIDS in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02.

(87052)

170   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made on the African Peer Review Mechanism within NEPAD on (a) economic values, (b) governance values and (c) corporate values.

(87213)

171   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many civil servants are employed by her Department; and how much money was spent by her Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

(87177)

172
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the successful applicants in the recent competition for clerical posts with the Police Service of Northern Ireland were (a) Roman Catholic and (b) others; and how many of these successful applicants have been offered a post.

(86960)

173   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the funding arrangements for partnerships between statutory bodies and the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.

(87057)

174   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what initiatives in and between Northern Ireland Government Departments are in place to encourage and facilitate the voluntary sector in delivery of services.

(87058)

175   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will raise the state of the Scottish fishing industry at the Copenhagen Summit.

(87130)

176   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the civil defence grant allocations by local authority, in (a) cash and (b) real terms; and if she will make a statement on civil defence in Scotland.

(87035)

177   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the list of proposed post office closures, as part of the Urban Reinvention programme, will be announced.

(87175)

178   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices there were in (a) the Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency, (b) the City of Edinburgh local authority area and (c) Scotland, in each year since 1992.

(87166)

179   Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the volume of trade between the UK and Mozambique was in the last year for which figures are available; what recent estimate she has made of UK investment in Mozambique; and what steps she has taken to encourage trade between Mozambique and the rest of the Commonwealth.

(87062)

180   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the ability of the UK steel industry to meet the demands of the future aircraft carrier project.

(87122)

181
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what arrangements are made for citizens who have applied to serve as lay members of employment tribunals and have been turned down to be briefed about the reasons for their rejection.

(86505)

182   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by her Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

(87181)

183   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much carbon dioxide is produced on average by an individual aircraft per mile travelled, broken down by aircraft type.

(87185)

184   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer given to the honourable Member for Carshalton and Wallington on 9th December, Official Report, column 32-33W, on the future development of air transport, how many (a) questionnaires and (b) written letters were received in response to the consultation from Scotland by (i) 30th November and (ii) 10th December.

(87168)

185   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many aircraft departed from (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow and (c) Prestwick airports in each month since January 2000, broken down by aircraft type.

(87167)

186   Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the consequences for the demand for flying of a 1 per cent. increase in the cost of flying per annum; and what assessment he has made of the consequences for (a) air pollution, (b) greenhouse gases, (c) noise and (d) wildlife if the demand for flying is halved.

(87061)

187
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the Head of the Accountancy Profession at his Department engaged in (a) correspondence, (b) discussions and (c) meetings with (i) his Department's Ministers or officials and (ii) Treasury ministers or officials in relation to the establishment of Network Rail from October 2001 to September 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(86846)

188
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if the Head of the Accountancy Profession at the Department for Transport participated in meetings about the establishment, design and accounting for the successor organisation for Railtrack, between September 2001 and 4th July 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(86845)

189   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what funds he has allocated for rail track and station improvements in the last three years; and how much of this funding has been spent in North Wales.

(87155)

190
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements there will be for pensioners to get documents verified for the purposes of claiming benefits without posting them to regional Pension Service centres.

(86883)

191
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of pensioner households in receipt of housing benefit but not minimum income guarantee who will be entitled to the pension credit; and what efforts he is making to ensure they claim the pension credit.

(86885)

192
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria will be placed on deciding eligibility to a home visit from the Pension Service; and which benefit forms the visiting officers will be trained to help pensioners with.

(86884)

193
N   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in the Eastern region will benefit from the pensions tax credit.

(85280)

194
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the £10 earnings disregard for war disablements pensioners in receipt of income support was last uprated; and what has been the cumulative increase in the retail price index since that date.

(86311)

195
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list each (a) social security benefit and (b) revenue and capital disregard that has not been uprated since (i) 1997, (ii) 1992 and (iii) 1990.

(86312)

196
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the employers' liability insurance review.

(85271)

197
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) recorded and (b) estimated level of fraud has taken place through benefit payments at post offices in each of the last 10 years.

(86811)

198   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a claim for Disability Living Allowance in respect of ME may be classified as relating to mental illness.

(87128)

199
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many successful home visits to claimants were made by local authority benefit fraud officers in each of the last three years.

(86992)

200
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many surplus properties his Department (a) has and (b) will have over the next 10 years; what their value is; and if he will make a statement.

(87000)

201
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many telephone calls were made to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline in (a) January, (b) February and (c) March in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, and (iv) 2002.

(86994)

202
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on (a) buildings maintenance and (b) accommodation capital projects in each of the past three years.

(87001)

203
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were employed in the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002; and how many are employed there.

(86999)

204
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the benefits budget is for this financial year, broken down by English region.

(87002)

205
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets for the reduction of benefit fraud have been set since 2000; and what performance has been against each target.

(86997)

206
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since 1st October 2002; and what percentage received a substantive reply on the requested date.

(86993)

207
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the investigation of monthly random samples of cases in each benefit agency area has shown the level of fraud and error to be in (a) income support and (b) job seeker's allowance, in each of the past six months for which figures are available.

(86998)

208
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time is which his Department allows for consultation with pensioners' practitioners about proposed changes to pensions law.

(87004)

209
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will commission research into the levels of take-up of invalid care allowance.

(86995)

210
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many New Deal participants found work in his Department (a) in the year to April 2000, (b) in the year to April 2001, (c) in the year to April 2002 and (d) in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(87003)

211
N   Mr Ivan Henderson (Harwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners within the Harwich Constituency will benefit from the introduction of the pension tax credit in October 2003.

(85252)

212
N   Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list (a) the key performance targets and (b) other performance measures, and the levels of performance against those measures, (c) the further quality improvement measures, (d) the contractual milestones agreed for each of the key improvement projects and (e) the other contractual improvements that have been secured in respect of SchlumbergerSema; and, for each of the last 12 months, on how many occasions a financial remedy has been applied to SchlumbergerSema, and how much on each of those occasions.

(85382)

213   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

(87179)

214   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to increase maternity pay to parents of premature babies.

(87151)

215
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to pay funds into the pension schemes of the ASW workers at Sheerness and Cardiff.

(85262)

216   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

(87178)

217
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her officials have had with representatives of (a) British water companies and (b) Water UK on water retention around the Nile basin.

[Transferred] (86755)

218   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, why ecological cars licensed prior to March 2001 do not benefit from the lower road tax applicable to vehicles in this class registered post March 2001.

[Transferred] (87114)

219   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will include traffic wardens in those eligible for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

[Transferred] (87184)

220   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many teenage pregnancies there were in each (a) constituency and (b) county in the last 12 months.

[Transferred] (87154)

221   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies were born with a low birth weight, broken down by local authority, in each of the last three years.

[Transferred] (87153)

222   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if Mr Liam Campbell and Mr Michael McKevitt have been awarded legal aid in respect of civil charges due to be brought against them relating to the bomb attack in Omagh on 15th August 1998.

[Transferred] (87059)

223   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ethnic minority members in the Wycombe constituency were in employment in (a) spring 2001 and (b) spring 2002.

[Transferred] (87129)