Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 29 January 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 29 January 2003, 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.

WEDNESDAY 29th JANUARY

1   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the standard size of settlement is that is used for (a) village shop rate relief, (b) the Right to Buy scheme and (c) the Right to Acquire scheme; if he will list those areas that are designated under the Right to Buy scheme; when they were designated; for each of them, what size of settlement is exempt; how many council houses each involves; and how many qualifying registered social landlord houses each involves.

(94405)

2   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many houses have been bought in (a) the Right to Buy scheme and (b) the Right to Acquire scheme in the last six years; and what proposals he has to amend the exemptions in rural areas in either scheme.

(94406)

3   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will establish a special fund for the allocation of resources to the most affected local authorities for dealing with flytipping, tyres, obsolete refrigerators and abandoned cars; and if he will make a statement.

(94517)

4   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will impose as an additional requirement upon the City of London Corporation, as part of the local government grant allocation settlement, provision for the effective removal from forest and other open space land for which it is responsible rubbish which has been flytipped, obsolete tyres and refrigerators and abandoned cars, from its own resources; and if he will make a statement.

(94518)

5   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the changes to the Right to Buy in the London Boroughs of (a) Havering, (b) Barking and Dagenham and (c) Greenwich.

(94215)

6   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on new developments on flood plains in the Thames Gateway.

(94217)

7   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport with regard to planned developments in the Thames Gateway.

(94218)

8   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the number of persons needed in the house building profession.

(94216)

9   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many armed forces breathing apparatus rescue teams and rescue equipment support teams were on fire cover during the strike by members of the Fire Brigades Union on 21st January.

(94219)

10   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what calculations underlie his assessment that last year's right-to-buy sales will result in a long run cost of some £850 million; and whether he offset the lifetime rental subsidy in his calculations.

(94301)

11   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list for each official meeting he has held at his official residences since June 2001, (a) who were the attendees, (b) what subjects were discussed and (c) what were the dates; and if he will place the visitor books from his official residences in the Library.

(94307)

12   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people have bought homes under the right-to-buy scheme in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year for which figures are available since the scheme began.

(94298)

13   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on how the development of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has been influenced by lessons from the Adult and Community Learning Fund.[R]

(94466)

14   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what response his Office has made to the Greater London Enterprise report Developing new approaches to the measurement of deprivation.

(94522)

15   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the claim in the recent Greater London Enterprise report, Developing new approaches to the measurement of deprivation, as to the amount of money that London has lost in Neighbourhood Renewal Funding as a result of the changes to deprivation ranking.

(94524)

16   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to ensure that the calculation of deprivation indexes take account of local crime rates.

(94521)

17
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many working days have been lost in his Department and its predecessors owing to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000, (iv) 2000-01, (v) 2001-02 and (vi) 2002-03 to date.

(93573)

18   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many affordable homes for (a) rent and (b) low cost home ownership were completed in 2001-02; and if he will make a statement.

(94212)

19
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the impact on the Government's regeneration policies of the decision in the case of Rowlinson v Warrington Borough Council.

(92351)

20
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what advice he plans to issue to (a) regional planning bodies, (b) local authorities and (c) the planning inspectorate on the implementation of PPG3, following the decision in Rowlinson v Warrington Borough Council.

(92352)

21   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many firefighters serve in the Cleveland fire brigade; what percentage are from ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement.

(94229)

22   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information he has collated on the (a) rent charges for former council homes that are being let by private landlords and (b) rent levels for similar council-owned properties; and if he will make a statement.

(94505)

23   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with members of the Commonwealth regarding the future of the forthcoming Cricket World Cup to be played in Zimbabwe; and if she will make a statement.

(94268)

24   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has for a national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Coronation; and what discussions she has had with Buckingham Palace about a celebration.

(94205)

25   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the union of England and Scotland in 2007.

(94269)

26   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the conditions under which armed forces personnel may obtain (a) payment of (i) university fees and (ii) other expenses and (b) repayment of university-related debts previously incurred in civilian life; how many (A) men and (B) women obtained such payments in the last academic year; and what the total cost of such payments was.

(94483)

27   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Harrier programme.

(94431)

28   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many jobs he estimates will be (a) created and (b) maintained as a consequence of the announcement on the Harrier order.

(94432)

29   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the practicability of Iraqi (a) aircraft and (b) missiles using (i) chemical weapons and (ii) biological agents to attack Royal Navy warships.

(94533)

30   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will fit Goalkeeper or Phalanx systems to Type 23 frigates.

(94543)

31   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious are in extended readiness and refit simultaneously.

(94556)

32   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason HMS Fearless was withdrawn from service prior to HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark entering service.

(94553)

33   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the defence of Royal Navy vessels against air attack during a possible conflict with Iraq.

(94531)

34   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the facilities which will be available to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel on deployment to the Gulf as part of the Operational Welfare Package.

(94538)

35   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational status is of each of the Swiftsure class submarines; and when each is expected to be paid off.

(94552)

36   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for how long the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines components of the Middle East Task Force will be able to maintain the deployment.

(94529)

37   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason HMS Ark Royal is not carrying (a) Harrier GR7s and (b) Harrier FA2s .

(94555)

38   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Royal Navy (a) paid off each of the O-class RFA tankers and (b) brought into full operational service their Wave-class replacements.

(94546)

39   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the ability of Sea Harriers to function in an air defence role in Gulf conditions before deciding not to include them in the Task Force.

(94532)

40   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to fill the capability gap arising from the late delivery of the Astute class submarines.

(94551)

41   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his latest assessment is of the level of air threat to British naval forces in the Gulf in the event of hostilities with Iraq.

(94534)

42   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether further reductions in Royal Navy (a) warships and (b) submarines are envisaged in consequence of the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review.

(94544)

43   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the terrorist threat to (a) Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruitment offices and (b) Royal Navy and Royal Marines museums since September 2001.

(94541)

44   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Fearless was last at sea as an operational vessel.

(94554)

45   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he plans to build a second Ocean class commando carrier.

(94548)

46   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Royal Navy (a) paid off each of its ocean and coastal survey ships and (b) brought into full operational service HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise.

(94545)

47   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on (a) the levels of deployment to and (b) pattern of activities in Afghanistan of Royal Marines since 2001.

(94539)

48   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to fulfil the landing platform helicopter role when HMS Ocean is not available.

(94550)

49   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on pay differentials between Royal Navy personnel engaged on firefighters duties during the present strike and the striking firemen.

(94536)

50   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Harrier GR7s have recently been subject to engine problems.

(94557)

51   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Ocean is due to undergo her next refit.

(94549)

52   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the capability of the Royal Navy to mount a seaward defence of British military bases (a) in Gibraltar and (b) in Cyprus following the assembly of the Middle East Task Force.

(94547)

53   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the capacity of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines to engage in operations other than in the Gulf with the personnel and equipment not despatched to the Gulf.

(94530)

54   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the terrorist threat to the Royal Navy since 2001 has (a) restricted public access to RN warships paying courtesy calls and (b) reduced the number of such calls.

(94540)

55   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) chemical and (b) biological weapons have been identified as parts of Saddam Hussein's chemical and biological warefare arsenal since the end of the Gulf War.

(94535)

56   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if Fleet Air Arm anti-submarine warfare helicopters have been taken out of storage for use as troop carriers.

(94542)

57   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 21st January, Official Report, column 209W, when the Italian authorities declined to grant the use of a viable radio frequency from Lagopatria for the British Forces.

(94312)

58   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what mandatory jurisdiction OFSTED has over independent schools.

(94387)

59   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what jurisdiction OFSTED has over the (a) accommodation and (b) fabric in independent schools.

(94388)

60   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps OFSTED has taken to ensure that independent schools comply with the health and safety at work legislation.

(94389)

61   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Government's policy is on requiring school governors to inform those (a) in schools and (b) formerly in schools that they have been exposed to asbestos.

(94383)

62   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what improvements have taken place within the system of safety inspections of schools since Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools' statement in December 2001.

(94384)

63   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Government's policy is on investigating past asbestos exposures in (a) state and (b) independent schools.

(94385)

64   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his definition is of experience of higher education in respect of the target for 50 per cent. of all 18 to 30 year-olds to experience higher education by 2010.

(94499)

65   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the class sizes for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Haltemprice and Howden in each of the last five academic years.

(94304)

66   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students (a) paid tuition fees and (b) were exempt from paying tuition fees at Hull University in each year since 1997.

(94297)

67   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of students at Hull University he estimates will be eligible for maintenance grant under The Future of Higher Education White Paper.

(94306)

68   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers have left the teaching profession in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997.

(94305)

69   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students attending Hull University have taken out student loans in each year since 1997; and what is the total amount of money borrowed.

(94296)

70   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how the Department has ensured that lessons from the Adult and Community Learning Fund contributed to the development of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.[R]

(94471)

71   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Department's annual expenditure on (a) the Adult and Community Learning Fund and (b) the Union Learning Fund was in each of the four years up to and including 2002-03.[R]

(94468)

72   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of projects supported by the Adult and Community Learning Fund were based on voluntary and community-based organisations in each year since 1999.[R]

(94470)

73   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what independent evaluations have been undertaken of the Adult and Community Learning Fund since its inception.[R]

(94467)

74   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how the Department has ensured that the Adult and Community Learning Fund influenced the strategic planning of local learning and skills councils.[R]

(94472)

75   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans are in place for (a) the Adult and Community Learning Fund and (b) the Union Learning Fund beyond 2004; and if he will make a statement.[R]

(94469)

76   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of curriculum changes at secondary level on criterion-referenced examination marking procedure.

(94325)

77   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the subjects offered in the Advanced Extension Awards; and what plans he has to extend the range of subjects on offer.

(94290)

78   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that pupils participating in vocational training schemes are guaranteed work placements with commercial employers.

(94316)

79   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on his objectives of (a) increasing the number of specialist schools and (b) moves towards a broader curriculum.

(94315)

80   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of curriculum changes at secondary level on the future duration of the undergraduate degree course.

(94313)

81   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the student take-up of Advanced Extension Awards was in 2002; and what percentage of those candidates were in each grade boundary.

(94291)

82   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the completion rates were for the modern apprenticeship programmes in each year since their inception.

(94314)

83   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether it is his target to increase participation in higher education (a) towards and (b) to 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30.

(94324)

84   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to (a) improve the standards of modern apprenticeships and (b) expand their provision.

(94317)

85   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list each school in the Wycombe constituency that has been in special measures in each year since 1997.

(94419)

86   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total education formula spending for Essex was for 2003-04; and what the standard spending assessment for education for Essex was for 2002-03.

(94460)

87   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the use of his powers to intervene in local education authorities as to the amount such authorities spend on education.

(94461)

88
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his estimate is of the (a) cost and (b) annual budget of the Arts and Humanities Research Council; and if he will make a statement.

(93746)

89
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the (a) annual budget and (b) powers of the proposed Access Regulator for higher education institutions will be; and if he will make a statement.

(93747)

90
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, with reference to his recent White Paper Cmnd 5735 on The Future of Higher Education, what plans he has to ensure that students from the poorest backgrounds will not be deterred from applying to universities which charge the maximum graduate contribution per year; and if he will make a statement.

(93748)

91
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on his plans to raise the proportion of young people in higher education to 50 per cent.; and by when he estimates this target will have been achieved.

(93749)

92   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by members of the Delivery Unit.

(94353)

93   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many reports his Department has been commissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months.

(94347)

94   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001.

(94349)

95   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when Ministers from his Department last met (a) the Prime Minister and (b) his officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings.

(94360)

96   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 were cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit.

(94351)

97   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets.

(94361)

98   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the Unit.

(94363)

99   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the reports he has made since June 2001 to the Delivery Unit.

(94355)

100   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Permanent Secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit.

(94356)

101   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on (a) class sizes and (b) teacher retention in the London Borough of Havering.

(94206)

102
N   Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the transfer of powers for student finance in Wales to the Assembly.

(93765)

103   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he has taken to identify the special educational needs of children born to (a) crack cocaine and (b) cocaine-addicted mothers.

(94214)

104   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when OFSTED'S service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

(94208)

105   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) flood precautions taken by responsible authorities in Bedfordshire prior to and during the flooding between 2nd and 5th January, and (b) the inquiry process following those floods; and if she will make a statement.

(94495)

106   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact on river levels and flooding of the speed of run-off from the built environment.

(94496)

107   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of flooding in Bedfordshire from 2nd to 5th January, with particular reference to the rivers (a) Great Ouse, (b) Ivel and (c) Flit; and if she will make a statement.

(94497)

108   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking on producing flood plain maps that take into consideration existing and planned flood defences.

(94299)

109   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department will take over cases where insurance companies are not honouring the Statement of Principles on flood insurance.

(94310)

110   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total income was from farming in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 including FMD compensation and other FMD payments; and what she expects it to be in 2003.

(94424)

111   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average net income of dairy farmers was in 2000-01; and what she expects the figure to be in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.

(94425)

112
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average annual direct subsidy receipts were for farmers in each EU member state from (a) 2000 to 2002, (b) 1997 to 1999 and (c) 1994 to 1996.

(93571)

113
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farms in each member state are (a) under 50 hectares, (b) between 51 and 150 hectares, (c) 151 to 250 hectares, (d) 251 to 350 hectares, (e) 351 to 450 hectares, (f) 451 to 550 hectares and (g) 551 hectares and over.

(93572)

114
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on special project schemes in each region in each of the last 10 years.

(93743)

115
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to rationalise the special projects scheme; and if she will make a statement about her plans for its future.

(93745)

116
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to review the recommendations laid out in the Report on the Future of Farming and Food and her Department's response to it in the light of the recent proposals for Common Agricultural Policy Reform.

(93742)

117
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) farm birds and (b) wild birds have been spotted on (i) special projects and (ii) non-special projects land in each region in each of the last 10 years.

(93744)

118
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Transco on compensation payments for farmers affected by the Mawdesley to Warrington gas pipeline; and what estimate she has made of (a) the loss of income to farmers and (b) the number of compensation claims that are still outstanding as a result of the construction of the Mawdesley to Warrington gas pipeline.

(92297)

119   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are being taken to compensate those affected by loss of earnings caused by the closure by the Food Standards Agency of cockle beds in Boston and Skegness.

(94222)

120   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures the Department can take to remove veterinary inspectors who misuse their powers.

(94515)

121   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Office of Water Service's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

(94207)

122   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet the honourable Member for Nottingham North to discuss the Strelley/Broxtowe Sure Start and its loss of underspends caused by building delays.

(94519)

123   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to open (a) the banking money transmission service and (b) central clearing to all major clearing banks.

(94380)

124
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the Inland Revenue regime for life insurance and tax exempt savings plans; and when he will next meet the Association of Friendly Societies.

(93974)

125   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the powers and resources of the Financial Services Authority to investigate the accounting practices of companies.

(94520)

126   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on making individual pension schemes compulsory.

(94252)

127   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives he is putting in place to encourage employers to take on employees of 60 years and older; and if he will make a statement.

(94251)

128   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average price received was during HM Treasury's recent programme of gold disposals.

(94504)

129   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was informed before the agreement to sell the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise offices to Mapeley that they were to be owned by a company based in a tax haven; what allowance for the cost advantages that gave the company was made in the rent agreed; whether bidding was open to British-based companies; and what access he has to the accounts of the new owner.

(94488)

130   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department's plans for liberalisation of financial markets in the European Union, as set out in the Government's White Paper on European economic reform, Realising Europe's Potential: Economic Reform in Europe, February 2002, depend on (a) wider membership of European economic and monetary union amongst all EU states and (b) British membership of EMU.

(94394)

131   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on (a) the duration of a possible war in the Middle East and (b) its effects on (i) the performance of the UK economy and (ii) the public sector finances.

(94401)

132   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of the removal of Advanced Corporation Tax relief on the value of the FTSE 100 share index.

(94391)

133   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the value of the FTSE 100 index.

(94392)

134   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of business investment was in each quarter since 1997.

(94396)

135   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 21st November 2002, Official Report, column 280W, on PPP and PFI, what plans he has to review the system of assessing whether a PFI deal is on or off balance sheet.

(94423)

136   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of (a) business, (b) the insurance sector and (c) the pension fund sector on the value of the FTSE 100 share index.

(94390)

137   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 23rd January, Official Report, column 428W, on EU (Economic Reform), what discussions his Department has had with its European counterparts regarding (a) the steps for economic reform in the EU detailed in the Government's White Paper on European economic reform Realising Europe's Potential: economic reform in Europe", February 2002 and (b) general economic reform in the EU.

(94429)

138   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the money allocated to departments by HM Treasury is directly dependent upon departments achieving the targets set in their public service agreements.

(94428)

139   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned into the long-term effect of a drop in business investment on the (a) competitiveness, (b) productivity and (c) purchasing power parity of the UK economy.

(94399)

140   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of mortgage equity withdrawal was in each quarter since 1997.

(94395)

141   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 22nd January, Official Report, column 412W, on insurance, what plans he has to discuss the development of a new insurance standard with the International Accounting Standards Board.

(94422)

142   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential loss in tax revenue resulting from lower telephone call prices following the Competition Commission Report on mobile termination charges.

(94393)

143   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect the proposals in The Future of Higher Education will have on the UK economy with particular reference to (a) the housing market and (b) the banking industry.

(94398)

144   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by members of the Delivery Unit.

(94331)

145   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Government's contingent liabilities.

(94342)

146   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 have been cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit.

(94332)

147   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001.

(94333)

148   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Permanent Secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit.

(94336)

149   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to list the Government's contingent liabilities in his forthcoming Budget statement.

(94343)

150   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when Ministers from his Department last met with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) his officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings.

(94337)

151   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets.

(94338)

152   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 20th January, Official Report, column 50W, on the Public Service Agreement, whether the annual planning round of his Department uses Public Service Agreements as a direct measure of the staffing levels required to run his Department; and if he will publish the guidelines used by the Treasury Management Board.

(94376)

153   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the reports which he has made since June 2001 to the Delivery Unit.

(94335)

154   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) international and (b) domestic travel costs were of each Treasury Minister in each year since 2000.

(94377)

155   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to implement the findings of the Higgs report; and if he will make a statement.

(94340)

156   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criteria which Government liabilities must meet if they are not to be included in estimates of public borrowing.

(94341)

157   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what target he has for the proportion of businesses which will be prepared for euro entry at the time of his Department's assessment on whether Britain meets the five economic tests for euro entry.

(94344)

158   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department next intends to conduct a survey of the proportion of businesses prepared for membership of the euro.

(94345)

159   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reports his Department has been commissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months.

(94334)

160   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the Unit.

(94339)

161   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce his decision on government proposals to introduce the compulsory rotation of accounting firms.

(94246)

162   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will consult on proposals for the landfill tax escalator rate.

(94570)

163   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the landfill tax credit scheme on the economic viability of (a) incineration of waste and (b) recycling and recovery.

(94559)

164   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 22nd January, Official Report, column 420W, on Public Services Productivity, if he will list the members of the Public Services Productivity Panel that attended each meeting since January 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(94375)

165   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have been dealt with by the tax credits helpline in each month since it was established.

(94239)

166   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the tax credits helpline has cost to operate since it was established.

(94240)

167   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what specialist training is given to tax credit helpline operators on the (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit.

(94242)

168   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls have been received by the tax credits helpline in each month since it was established.

(94243)

169   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which days of the week, and for how many hours on each of those days, the tax credits hotline is operational.

(94244)

170   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed by the tax credits helpline; and of that number, how many are employed as claim line operators.

(94236)

171   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what performance targets have been set for the tax credits helpline; and what have been the monthly performance levels against those targets since the helpline was established.

(94237)

172   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to representatives and members of the Malawian Government concerning the arrest and trial of journalist Maganizo Mazeze; and if he will make a statement.

(94254)

173   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (a) he has and (b) his Department have had with the Peruvian Government on its response to the Peruvian Constitutional Court's ruling to overturn in part four anti-terror legislative decrees; and if he will make a statement.

(94262)

174   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) European Union colleagues, (b) the Government of Cyprus and (c) the Government of Turkey on the state of the reunification negotiations in Cyprus.

(94257)

175   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) representatives of his Department in Nairobi have had with (i) representatives of the Government of Kenya in London and (ii) members of the Government of Kenya about the killing of Mr William Mwaura Munuhe; what reports he has received linking the murder to Mr Felicien Kabuga; what assistance (A) his Department and (B) the UK Government is providing to the authorities in Kenya in this matter; and if he will make a statement.

(94258)

176   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on (a) the nature of the attack on the town of Beam in Liberia and (b) the identity of the perpetrators; what discussions he has had or is planning to have with (a) representatives of the Liberian Government and (b) the Liberian Government on Liberia's strategy to deal with this event; and if he will make a statement.

(94260)

177   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received from his Department's representative in Lima on the Peruvian Constitutional Court's ruling to overturn in part four anti-terror legislative decrees; what advice his Department is issuing on the ruling's legal and security implications; and if he will make a statement.

(94261)

178   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if Gibraltar will be included in a referendum on the Single European Currency.

(94204)

179   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the effect on the UK of terrorism in North Africa and the measures he is taking to combat this.

(94247)

180   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library the document being circulated by the Prime Minister's Representative at the Convention on the Future of Europe describing the role of the proposed President of the European Council.

(94474)

181
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what evidence he has received of (a) drug trafficking and (b) white slavery in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

(93618)

182
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of the number of Serbs who have fled Kosovo since KFOR forces entered the province; and what his estimate is of the numbers who have returned.

(93619)

183
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Orthodox Churches in Kosovo have been destroyed since KFOR forces have been present in the Serbian province; and what steps are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice.

(93620)

184   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population affected by dental fluorosis in areas where the water supply is (a) fluoridated and (b) not-fluoridated.

(94248)

185
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average salary was for chairs of primary care groups in England in the year to 31st October 2002.

(93968)

186
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the use of mobile dental services; and what plans he has to expand such services.

(93969)

187
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will answer the parliamentary questions numbered (a) 82781, (b) 84772, (c) 87547, (d) 88559, (e) 88564, (f) 89789, (g) 91130, (h) 91129 and (i) 91126.

(93829)

188   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what health provision his Department provides to prisons in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

(94320)

189   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many delayed discharges from St George's Hospital, Tooting, there were in 2002.

(94323)

190   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) male and (b) female inmates are being held in Rampton and Broadmore secure hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

(94318)

191   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospitals in the Greater London area provide accident and emergency services; and if he will make a statement.

(94322)

192   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on health facilities for people living in hostels in Greater London.

(94319)

193   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the children's hospices in Greater London.

(94321)

194   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many delayed discharge patients there were in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust in the last year for which figures are available.

(94300)

195   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money is available to primary care trusts from central government for the provision of digital hearing aids; and how much money the East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust needs to provide as a top up to government grant.

(94309)

196   Barbara Follett (Stevenage): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has undertaken and commissioned on the appropriateness of a three years out of five rule to assess clinical competence; and if he will make a statement.

(94233)

197   Barbara Follett (Stevenage): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the professional advisory committees; and what discussions he has had with the Health Professions Council on its proposals for professional liaison groups.

(94230)

198   Barbara Follett (Stevenage): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Health Professions Council on the training that new entrants to the register will need to ensure that they will be competent to the required minimum standard within the two year period; and if he will make a statement.

(94232)

199   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 14th January Official Report, column 523W, on fair trade, if his Department will establish rules to support the Government's position on fair trade.

(94558)

200   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the demand was for inpatient beds in inner London hospitals in each year since 1990.

(94289)

201   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the NHS budget has been spent on mental health in each year since 1997.

(94417)

202   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many adverse reactions to (a) herbal medicines and (b) vitamins and minerals there have been in each year since October 1996.

(94225)

203   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many accident and emergency departments of NHS hospitals in England and Wales have introduced see and treat systems for patients; and what the average waiting time before treatment has been since their introduction.

(94463)

204   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many accident and emergency departments of NHS hospitals in England and Wales use the triage nurse system for patients; and what the most recent average waiting time has been before treatment.

(94462)

205   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the future provision for midwifery training; and if he will make a statement.

(94267)

206   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of prescriptions via the NHS were for patients receiving jobseeker's allowance in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(94265)

207   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patient prescriptions claimed to be receiving jobseeker's allowance in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(94266)

208   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to place his cancer funding tracking exercise on a permanent footing.

(94516)

209   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001.

(94366)

210   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the Unit.

(94327)

211   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 have been cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit.

(94365)

212   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by Members of the Delivery Unit.

(94364)

213   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Permanent Secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit.

(94369)

214   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many reports his Department has been comissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months.

(94367)

215   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the reports made since June 2001 by his Department to the Delivery Unit.

(94368)

216   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets.

(94371)

217   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when Ministers from his Department last met (a) the Prime Minister and (b) officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings.

(94370)

218   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board will require overseas doctors applying to work in general practice in the UK to undergo familiarisation training as at present.

(94403)

219   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures the Government will take to ensure that the interests of general practice are properly represented on the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board and its subcommittees.

(94402)

220   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to reply to the letter of Mr D F D Malein of Milford on Sea of 16th December 2001.

(94220)

221   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to identify mothers who use (a) crack cocaine and (b) cocaine during pregnancy.

(94213)

222
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been the cost of the NHS International Fellowship Scheme.

(94050)

223   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many probation officers were in post, excluding probation service officers, in each year since 1997; and how many (a) offences and (b) offenders the probation service dealt with in each year since 1997.

(94489)

224   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the conditions under which police officers may obtain (a) payment of (i) university fees and (ii) other expenses and (b) the repayment of university-related debts incurred before joining the police service; how many (A) men and (B) women obtained such payments in the last academic year; and what the total cost of such payments was.

(94482)

225   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) pay and (b) career development incentives there are for prison officers to assist prisoners in (i) obtaining educational and vocational qualifications and (ii) developing emotional and parenting skills; and what plans he has to change these incentives.

(94491)

226   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) pay and (b) career development rewards available to probation officers, for personal success in reducing re-offending by offenders assigned to them; and what plans he has to change them.

(94492)

227   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers in each police force area were disciplined for unauthorised disclosure of information to the media in the last year for which figures are available.

(94493)

228   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what definition he uses of (a) operational and (b) policy issues in relation to the police service and its accountability to local communities.

(94487)

229   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the relationship between the budget of individual prisons and the number of educational and vocational qualifications obtained by their inmates.

(94490)

230   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received concerning (a) workloads and (b) resources in the probation service.

(94486)

231   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children there were in (a) custody and (b) secure accommodation in September in each year since 1997; and how many of those in custody were aged (i) under 14, (ii) 14 to 16 and (iii) 16 to 18.

(94485)

232   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he intends to re-open the Yarlswood remand centre to detainees from April; and if he will make a statement.

(94498)

233   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to publish part of the report of Mr Stephen Moore into the disturbance at Yarlswood on 14th February 2002.

(94494)

234   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers whose applications are awaiting determination have received work permits in each of the last three years.

(94481)

235   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many telephone calls were received by the honourable Members' hotline at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last six weeks.

(94480)

236   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many searchers are employed at Lunar House to seek out documents in respect of which honourable Members request information on behalf of constituents.

(94479)

237
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the guidelines with regard to the protocols for attaching anti social behaviour orders to criminal proceedings will be made available.

(92173)

238
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of domestic assault have been reported to Merseyside Police Authority in each year since 1996; how many and what percentage of such cases were withdrawn by (a) the police complainant and (b) the victim complainant before the case was referred to the CPS; how many cases were pursued by the CPS after the victim complainant had withdrawn the complaint; and how many cases were accepted by the CPS where the only complainant was the police complainant.

(92174)

239
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been sentenced to life imprisonment under section 109 of the Powers of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 in each month during which the Act has been in force.

(93965)

240
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women prisoners have children who are (a) under five years old and (b) under 18 months old.

(93967)

241
N   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women serving prison sentences gave birth (a) in prison and (b) in hospital in each of the last five years; and how many were allowed to keep their babies in prison.

(93966)

242   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has taken to encourage more members of the ethnic minorities to join the police service; and if he will make a statement.

(94273)

243   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal activities involving air pellet guns were successfully prosecuted in each year since 1990; what the average age was of individuals successfully prosecuted using these weapons; and if he will make a statement.

(94228)

244   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many documented motor vehicle pursuits the police made in each year since 1997, broken down by police force; how many (a) fatalities, (b) collisions and (c) injuries occurred as a result of these pursuits; and if he will make a statement.

(94275)

245   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pellet and air guns were sold in each year since 1990, broken down by region; how many crime incidents involved an air or pellet gun in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

(94227)

246   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers serve in the Cleveland police force; what percentage of these officers are from ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement.

(94272)

247   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were successfully prosecuted for assaulting shop workers in each of the last five years; how many of these were registered as drug abusers; and if he will make a statement.

(94274)

248   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what access he will give honourable Members to the restricted aspects of Sir John Wheeler's Report on Policing at UK Airports 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(94459)

249   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what statistics are to be collected by the Criminal Justice Policy Unit; in what form; and how frequently information so obtained will be published.

(94326)

250   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London regarding crimes committed on (a) the London Underground and (b) London buses; and if he will make a statement.

(94203)

251   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the police stations in Lincolnshire in each year from 1997 to 2002.

(94264)

252   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000.

(94249)

253   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes committed in Lincolnshire were drug-related in each year from 1997 to 2002.

(94202)

254   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted criminals in the Lincolnshire police authority area were re-offenders in each year from 1997 to 2002.

(94224)

255   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences were recorded by the Lincolnshire police force in each year since 1997, broken down by category.

(94201)

256   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000.

(94234)

257   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff the Lincolnshire police force had in each year since 1997.

(94245)

258   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding was made available for the rehabilitation of drug offenders in each year from 1997 to 2002 in (a) Boston and Skegness, (b) Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) England.

(94226)

259   Angela Watkinson (Upminster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many banned visitors were arrested for possession of illegal drugs and subsequently charged, over the last three years for which figures are available.

(94526)

260   Angela Watkinson (Upminster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which prisons and institutions visitors were banned for smuggling drugs during 2001-02; how many bans pertained to each prison; and for what periods of time.

(94525)

261   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department is sending observers to the third World Social Forum in Porto Alegre; and if she will make a statement.

(94255)

262   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid her Department is giving to Peru in 2002-03; which projects in Peru are run directly by her Department; which projects her Department participates in; and if she will make a statement.

(94259)

263   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the belief in and fear of supernatural phenomena in southern Malawi; what assessment her Department has made of the impact the resulting violence toward strangers could have on the distribution of food aid; what meetings (a) she and (b) representatives from her Department have had with the aid agencies that (i) are delivering aid to Malawi and (ii) are planning to deliver aid to Malawi; whether this matter was raised in the meetings; and if she will make a statement.

(94263)

264
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Foreign Office regarding the attendance of President Mugabe at a Franco-African Summit in February.

(93970)

265
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Foreign Office regarding the renewal of the EU travel ban on (a) Robert Mugabe and (b) other Zimbabwean Government officials.

(93972)

266
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her latest assessment is of the number of people facing food shortages in Zimbabwe.

(93973)

267
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the French Government regarding the renewal of the EU travel ban on (a) Robert Mugabe and (b) other Zimbabwean Government officials.

(93971)

268   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many places are (a) retained and (b) proposed in the new academic intake, by Queen's University, Belfast for foreign nationals studying medicine.

(94433)

269   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether children in their immediate pre-school year will be offered funding through the Pre School Education Advisory Group scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(94434)

270   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding has been allocated to each of the education and library boards for pre school education for 2003-04

(94435)

271   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) full-time regular, (b) part-time and (c) reserve members there are of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(94506)

272   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the future development of the Giant's Causeway.

(94452)

273   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will place in the Library a copy of the researched reply promised to Lord Williams of Mostyn on 31st January 1994, Official Report (HL), column 1167; and if he will make a statement.

(94503)

274   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the reasons were for the delay in replying to Written Questions tabled by the honourable Member for Thurrock on 9th January; and if he will make a statement.

(94477)

275   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much per annum the PSNI charges Belfast City Airport for the cost of policing; and if he will make a statement.

(94456)

276   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions and to what extent the RUC and PSNI has trained and supervised constables of the Northern Ireland Airport Police in accordance with the undertaking given by the Government on 14th February 1994, Official Report, column 667; and how many officers have been trained in each case.

(94465)

277   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the name of the security committee is, referred to on 14th February 1994 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Official Report, column 692; what its constitution is; how frequently it has met in each year since the enactment of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994; and if he will make a statement.

(94454)

278   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the last occasion was on which the RUC and PSNI formally agreed the level of security at the Belfast International Airport, in accordance with the undertakings given to Parliament on 14th February 1994 by the Government, Official Report, column 692; and if he will make a statement.

(94455)

279   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what joint consideration the Home Office, the Department for Transport and the Northern Ireland Office have given to the contents of Sir John Wheeler's Report into Policing at UK Airports 2002, with particular reference to policing at (a) Belfast International, (b) Belfast City and (c) Derry-Eglington airports; and if he will make a statement.

(94453)

280   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he has made the owners of Belfast International Airport aware of their responsibility under the original sales prospectus to meet appropriate security charges determined by and after regular surveys made by the RUC and PSNI, as stated by the Government on 31st January 1994, Official Report (HL), column 165; and if he will make a statement.

(94502)

281   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if, prior to the sale of the Belfast City Airport, he will arrange for the PSNI to review (a) policing requirements and (b) financial charges to the operators in order that this may be taken into account by prospective purchasers.

(94457)

282   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on which occasions the RUC and PSNI have been consulted by the management of the Belfast International Airport about reductions in policing levels at the airport, since the undertakings given by the Government on 14 February 1994, Official Report, column 691, that such prior consultation would take place; and if he will make a statement.

(94464)

283   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions in the past six months Customs have apprehended travellers at the Belfast International Airport carrying illegal substances and had to seek police support from outside the airport in order to assure custody.

(94458)

284   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many complaints against the police were received by the ICPC and Police Ombudsman in each year since 1994; how many were upheld; how many case papers were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions; how many prosecutions were initiated; how many were successful; how many internal disciplinary proceedings were initiated; and how many led to action being taken.

(94420)

285   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the numerical and percentage breakdown by perceived community origin of staff employed by (a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) the Inland Revenue, (c) HM Customs and Excise and (d) the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

(94421)

286   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answers of 12th December 2002, Official Report, column 411W, and 16th January 2003, Official Report, column 785W, on armed forces and police widows, for what reason UDR and RIR widows have not received compensation at a comparable level to the sums paid to RUC widows in November 2000.

(94231)

287   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the President of the Council, when the Privy Council Office's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

(94209)

288
N   Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Prime Minister, which elements of the costs of private visits made overseas by the Prime Minister are met by (a) the Government and (b) himself.

(94105)

289   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the union of England and Scotland in 2007.

(94270)

290   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans she has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the union of England and Scotland in 2007.

(94271)

291
N   Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many working days have been lost in her Department due to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000, (iv) 2000-01, (v) 2001-02 and (vi) 2002-03 to date.

(93574)

292   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Solicitor General, what principles she takes into account when considering whether the use of military force is permitted under international law.

(94379)

293   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what advice her Department gives to (a) consumers, (b) investors and (c) businesses on issues of (i) human rights, (ii) environmental protection, (iii) the use of forced labour and child labour and (iv) crime and corruption in overseas countries.

(94484)

294
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications have been received by potential renewable energy exporters for the £50 million in ECGD cover to be available from April; and what extra resources have been allocated within the DTI to encourage applications from the renewable energy sector in the UK.

(94149)

295
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the £50 million of ECGD cover to be allocated to renewable energy exporters from April 2003 will be available to exporters of energy from waste technology to the developing world, including municipal mass burn incineration.

(94150)

296   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what studies the Government has made into the savings in greenhouse gases in respect of wind energy produced by onshore wind turbines.

(94378)

297   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what initiatives her Department has undertaken to encourage broadband Internet access in rural areas.

(94308)

298   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to support flue gas desulphurisation technology in power plants.

(94293)

299   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she has taken to encourage coal burn in power plants equipped with sulphur dioxide abatement equipment.

(94294)

300   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what account she has taken in reviewing the Government's long-term energy proposals of the need for coal fired generation as an effective contribution to UK energy production.

(94295)

301   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of whether the disparity in the charging and cost regimes operated by different police forces in respect of UK airports (a) constitutes a distortion in the market and (b) conflicts with UK and EU competition policies; and if she will make a statement.

(94523)

302   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what advice her Department issues on UK investment into Peru; when and for what reason this advice was last updated; and if she will make a statement.

(94256)

303   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has received about the practice of retentions in the construction industry; and if she will make a statement.

(94221)

304   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 22nd January, Official Report, column 367W, on the electricity industry, why Modification P95A to the Balancing and Settlement Code was rejected; and if she will make a statement.

(94527)

305   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 27th January, ref. 86201, if she will name (a) the firm of recruitment consultants retained by the Department under a call-off contract which assisted with the process of appointment of the combined post of Director General of Gas Supply and Director General of Electricity Supply and Chairman-designate of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority and (b) the other appointments with which the firm assists.

(94537)

306   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 27th January, ref 86192, if she will list the independent interview panel members, with their qualifications, for (a) recent appointments of non-executive members of the Ofgem Board and (b) the appointment of the Chair of Ofgem; and if she will list all the members of the interview panels for (i) the appointment of non-executive members of the Ofgem Board in each of the last three years and (ii) those members of the interview panel for the appointment of the Chair of Ofgem.

(94528)

307   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when (a) the Postal Services Commission's, (b) OFGEM's and (c) the Office of Telecommunications' service delivery agreements for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

(94211)

308   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he will respond to the proposal submitted by London Regional Metro.

(94512)

309   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he has received a costed funding proposal for the SRA/TfL Crossrail project.

(94513)

310   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many applications for short period licences were received in 2002; and how many were determined later than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months after the date of application.

(94501)

311   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average time in the last year taken to determine applications for short period driving licence renewals was where the medical condition of the applicant had to be considered.

(94500)

312   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, for what reason his Department did not issue a definitive response to the inspector's report on the A63 Grade Separated Junction proposal from the Highways Agency.

(94426)

313   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many (a) minor, (b) serious and (c) fatal injuries there were at the A63 Melton junction in each year since 1997.

(94303)

314   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many drivers have broken the speed limit as detected by speed cameras at the A63 Melton junction in each year since they were introduced.

(94302)

315   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd January, ref 91765, what response his Department has given to the proposals for a directive on seat belts for coach passengers.

(94473)

316   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when he estimates that the EU directive on seat belts for coach passengers will take effect in the UK.

(94437)

317   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many cars have been converted from petrol to hydrogen fuel in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(94278)

318   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what steps he has taken to encourage the fuel conversion of cars from petrol to hydrogen; and if he will make a statement.

(94279)

319   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what percentage of petrol stations in the UK provide hydrogen fuel; and if he will make a statement.

(94281)

320   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people were successfully prosecuted for running a taxicab without a taxi licence in each year since 1990; what the average sentence was for first time offenders of this offence; and if he will make a statement.

(94276)

321   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the need for air marshals on aeroplanes, with specific reference to (a) the number stationed on a plane during a flight, (b) the estimated cost of one plane journey with air marshals and (c) domestic flights; and if he will make a statement.

(94277)

322   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much has been provided by the Government in grants for converting cars from petrol to hydrogen; and if he will make a statement.

(94280)

323   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 were cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit.

(94350)

324   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the reports he has made since June 2001 to the Delivery Unit.

(94354)

325   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by members of the Delivery Unit.

(94352)

326   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the Permanent Secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit.

(94359)

327   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets.

(94362)

328   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the Unit.

(94357)

329   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many reports his Department has been commissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months.

(94346)

330   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001.

(94348)

331   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when Ministers from his Department last met (a) the Prime Minister and (b) his officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings.

(94358)

332   Joyce Quin (Gateshead East & Washington West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when his Department will reply to the letter of 22nd July 2002 from the Right honourable Member for Gateshead East and Washington West relating to Railtrack and CalSolutions Limited.

(94436)

333   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how much his Department and its predecessors spent on consultants in each year from 1997.

(94235)

334   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the Office of the Rail Regulator's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

(94210)

335   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proposals he has to increase tidal and wave generated electricity in Wales.

(94253)

336   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prosecutions of independent schools have been made by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last ten years; and of the independent schools that have been prosecuted, what the results have been.

(94382)

337   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are taken to ensure that asbestos surveys are carried out by experts and that their safety guidance is found in independent schools.

(94386)

338   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many inspections have been made of independent schools by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last ten years; and of those inspections, how many of the schools (a) have subsequently had an asbestos survey carried out by an expert and (b) have followed HSE guidance on asbestos.

(94381)

339   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many driving licences have been removed from non-resident parents for failure to pay child support to parents with care since this measure was introduced; and what the date was in each case.

(94430)

340   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will decide whether to re-examine his decision with regard to invalid care allowance paid to Mrs P Hedges of Buckfastleigh, South Devon.

(94223)

341   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer, net of savings in means-tested benefits and of non-introduction of the pension credit and of additional income tax revenue, of an increase of £5 per week in the basic state pension together with the introduction of age additions of £5 per week at age 75-79 and £10 per week at age 80 years and over, on the basis that the age additions for those aged 75 to 79 and 80 years and over are paid in full, regardless of contribution record.

(94404)

342   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many successful new claims for incapacity benefit and its predecessor benefits were made by (a) men and (b) women in each of the last 25 years.

(94238)

343   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new claims for incapacity benefit and its predecessor benefits were refused because of inadequate contribution records for (a) men and (b) women in each of the last 25 years.

(94241)

344   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Cabinet Office, how many information technology projects have been through the Office of Government Commerce Gateway Review process.

(94311)

345   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December 2002, Official Report, column 892W, on contingency planning, what alternative back-up communication medium is available in the event of failure with or unavailability of the Public Switch Telephone Network as the principal and common medium for communication between emergency services throughout the UK; and what plans the Government has to introduce a more secure medium than the current PSTN as the principal and common medium for communication between emergency services throughout the UK.

(94514)

346   Joyce Quin (Gateshead East & Washington West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects on the regeneration of North Greenwich of the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (94478)

347   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the NHS budget has been spent on learning disability in each year since 1979.

[Transferred] (94418)

348   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) terms of reference and (b) guidelines have been set for the Government's review of the relationship between companies, their accountants and the awarding of consultancy contracts.

[Transferred] (94397)

349   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of small businesses on the creation of business improvement districts.

[Transferred] (94400)

350   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Cabinet Office, how many people have been employed by the Delivery Unit in each year since its inception.

[Transferred] (94328)

351   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Cabinet Office, how many staff from his Department worked for the Delivery Unit in each year since the Unit's inception.

[Transferred] (94330)

352   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Cabinet Office, what the cost has been of the relocation of the Delivery Unit to the Treasury.

[Transferred] (94329)

353   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the governments of (a) Gibraltar, (b) Jersey, (c) Guernsey and (d) the Isle of Man regarding the Single European Currency.

[Transferred] (94200)

354   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what effect she expects the redefinition of what constitutes an island by statisticians working for the European Commission to have on the structural funding received by regions in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (94475)

355   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will ensure that there is parity of treatment between police forces and airports on the charges forces make to airport operators for providing policing; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (94476)

356   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list UK sulphur dioxide emissions in each year since 1997.

[Transferred] (94292)

357   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives he is putting in place to encourage young people to invest in (a) individual pension schemes and (b) individual savings accounts; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (94250)