Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 4 February 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 4 February 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.

TUESDAY 4th FEBRUARY

1   Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action he is taking to ensure that current reforms in land use planning will take into account UK obligations under the EC Water Framework Directive.

(95669)

2   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95718)

3
N   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will announce the conclusions of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Study.

(95631)

4   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) the construction industry to inform local communities of the design of new buildings planned in their area.

(95730)

5   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) the construction industry, (b) architects and (c) local authorities to improve the quality of design of new buildings.

(95729)

6   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to require local authorities to publish full details of major new construction work in the local press before planning permission is granted.

(95666)

7   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to penalise local authorities who make it difficult for local residents to gain access to information regarding planned significant construction work in their neighbourhood.

(95665)

8   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to introduce new standards for the design of new buildings in areas of special historic interest, with particular reference to the City of London.

(95660)

9   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to ensure that local residents have the opportunity to see (a) plans and (b) artists' impressions of the quality of design of new constructions proposed in their area, before final planning permission is given.

(95667)

10   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by her Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95708)

11   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what communications she has had with Jarvis plc regarding the consequences of the design of their new headquarters on the architectural heritage of the Smithfield area of the City of London.

(95663)

12   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to what extent her Department has been consulted on the construction work in progress in the Smithfield area of the City of London.

(95662)

13   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent involvement she has had in the oversight of new construction in historically sensitive areas of the City of London.

(95664)

14   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what costs she estimates will be incurred by North Staffordshire churches and village halls under the live music proposals in the Licensing Bill.

(95731)

15
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what advice was given to the English Cricket Board about the policy of Ministers on the English team playing matches in Zimbabwe at the meeting on 5th July.

(95621)

16
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the reports to date from the BBC about development of the Digital Curriculum made before Government approval was given.

(95623)

17
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what agreements were made between the Director General of the BBC and Pearson Ltd about the development of a digital curriculum prior to Government approval being given.

(95625)

18
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when Ministers first informed the English Cricket Board of the Government's opposition to an England cricket team playing matches in Zimbabwe.

(95622)

19
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Director General of the BBC authorised development of the Digital Curriculum prior to the Government approval being given.

(95624)

20
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the state of repair is of (a) HMS Trafalgar and (b) HMS Nottingham; what the estimated cost of repairs is for each; when they are scheduled to be back in the operating fleet; and if he will make a statement.

(95032)

21
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what personal portable radio equipment, other than Clansmen, is issued to troops deploying to the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

(95136)

22
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provisions he has made for the air defence of naval ships in the event of hostilities in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

(95135)

23
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets have been set for DARA regarding aircraft serviceability rates; and if he will make a statement.

(95137)

24   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95720)

25   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the names and flag states of the merchant ships chartered in support of the current military deployment in the Mediterranean and Gulf regions.

(95672)

26
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the drawdown of RAF Buchan.

(94915)

27
N   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the air defence Type 45 Destroyer will have the ability to hit targets on land.

(95542)

28
N   Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the Sector Skills Development Agency meeting its target of licensing eight sector skills councils by 31st March; and if he will make a statement.

(95540)

29   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95722)

30   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the proposed funding for schools to employ classroom assistants; when this money will be paid; and how much each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in (i) Lincolnshire, (ii) Nottinghamshire, (iii) Leicestershire and (iv) Boston and Skegness constituency will receive.

(95703)

31   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the proposed funding for schools to employ persons under the rural area student teacher placement apprenticeship scheme; when this money will be paid; and how much each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in (i) Lincolnshire, (ii) Nottinghamshire, (iii) Leicestershire and (iv) Boston and Skegness constituency will receive.

(95704)

32
N   Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the planned capitation per pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for each shire education authority in 2003-04.

(95033)

33   Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to consult on the creation of formal links between river basin management planning and land use planning during the process of implementing the Water Framework Directive.

(95670)

34
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she is taking to halt the approval process for GM rape and maize before the European Commission set out in the European Union Directive of 17th October 2002.

(94916)

35
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of genetically modified hybrid maize exhibiting glysophate and insect resistance (NK603 x MON 810).

(94917)

36
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the notification of (a) genetically modified oilseed rape (GT73) by the Dutch Government and (b) genetically modified maize (NK603) by the Spanish Government; and what representations she has made to those governments and the European Commission.

(94934)

37   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by her Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95710)

38   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when a decision will be made regarding the future of the internal drainage boards and their role.

(95707)

39   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when a decision will be made regarding the flood and coastal defence review.

(95706)

40   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to refurbish Nobel House; and when the refurbishment is due to take place.

(95733)

41   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when all government suppliers will be issued with guidance regarding government requirements to procure timber from legal and sustainable sources.

(95734)

42   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action the Environment Agency is taking to ensure that the Welsh Environment Agency repairs the flood defence barrier by the Bunch of Carrots pub at Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire.

(95656)

43   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the reply to the honourable Member for Birmingham Selly Oak, Official Report, 23rd January, column 431W, on public service pension schemes, whether statutory change is required to implement proposals for raising the pension age in public service schemes; and whether such a proposal has been put to staff representatives.

(95682)

44   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many health insurers have had their mutual trading status withdrawn; and how many policyholders were affected by this decision.

(95699)

45   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to encourage pension schemes such as the Pension Exchange scheme offered by the financial services company Berry, Birch and Noble.

(95647)

46   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to assess the efficiency of police authorities, using the methodology set out in the HMT Public Services Productivity Panel Paper, Improving Police Performance: A New Approach to Measuring Police Efficiency (HMT, April 2000); and if he will make a statement.

(95728)

47   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the changes in the level of child poverty between 1979 and 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(95723)

48   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to equalise the upper earnings limit of national insurance contributions with the higher rate threshold of income tax; and if he will make a statement.

(95727)

49   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent. between 1998-99 and 2004-05 on an after housing costs basis; and if he will make a statement.

(95725)

50   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to align further the income tax and national insurance systems; and if he will make a statement.

(95726)

51   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95712)

52   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason interviews with FCO officials have been suspended in Nairobi for Somali nationals seeking family reunion with relatives who have been granted settlement in the UK.

(95653)

53   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95717)

54
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the state of the Brussels process concerning Gibraltar.

(95629)

55
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what salary is paid to each primary care trust chief executive in England; and what the average salary for chief executives of primary care groups in England was in the year to 31st October 2002.

(95210)

56
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Health Service Ombudsman's ruling on the Squire case on the Government's policy on those suffering from (a) dementia and (b) Alzheimer's.

(95211)

57   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to maintain the work on health and safety carried out by the Public Health Laboratory Service after 1st April.

(95697)

58   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many service level agreements will be required after 1st April to ensure the continuance of the work done by the Public Health Laboratory Service on pneumococcal disease.

(95668)

59   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department takes to ensure that medical devices which are due to be appraised by NICE have been assessed by clinicians.

(95688)

60   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to announce the funding allocation for the Health Protection Agency.

(95737)

61   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department provides extra funds for clinicians to assess new medical technologies before they are appraised by NICE.

(95683)

62   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that preparations for establishing the Health Protection Agency do not add significantly to the workload of the agencies responsible for responding to acts of bioterrorism.

(95694)

63   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to agree the National Assembly of Wales funding for the Health Protection Agency.

(95671)

64   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department has started making arrangements to fast-track verteporfin PDT treatment for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.

(95686)

65   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that accommodation used for public health work is protected when the management of public health laboratories transfers to local NHS trusts.

(95696)

66   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure on the Department of Health website was in each of the last five years.

(95689)

67   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times his Department's (a) website and (b) website search engine crashed in each of the last three years; and what the length of time of each outage was.

(95691)

68   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to maintain the benefits of bulk procurement in the Public Health Laboratory Service when laboratories are transferred to the National Health Service.

(95674)

69   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the terms and conditions to be offered to new recruits in the Health Protection Agency after 1st April will be determined.

(95735)

70   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which primary care trusts provide drug eluting stents for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

(95684)

71   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what figures are collected on the reasons for people over the age of 75 being admitted to hospital as an emergency readmission within (a) 14 days and (b) 28 days of their discharge from hospital.

(95692)

72   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for provision of verteporfin PDT for patients with predominantly classic CNV associated with wet age-related macular degeneration.

(95685)

73   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of a technology appraisal has been by NICE since its establishment.

(95687)

74   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for the continuance of work undertaken by the Public Health Laboratory Service on pneumococcal disease, when the laboratory network is reformed.

(95698)

75   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what transitional funding will be allocated to the Health Protection Agency in 2003-04 to cover redundancies; and what estimate he has made of the number of likely redundancies.

(95677)

76   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the ease of use of the Department of Health website.

(95690)

77   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to publish the result of the consultation on the creation of the Health Protection Agency.

(95693)

78   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to define the individual responsibilities of the various agencies responsible for responding to acts of bioterrorism are clear once the Health Protection Agency is established.

(95695)

79   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide funding for a clinical study into the (a) optimum treatment regimens, (b) long-term outcomes, (c) quality of life and (d) costs of verteporfin PDT for patients with predominantly classic CNV associated with wet age-related macular degeneration.

(95678)

80
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines are in place to moderate the levels of salt in processed food.

(94285)

81
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) obligatory and (b) voluntary packaging symbols exist to advise consumers of salt levels in processed food.

(94286)

82   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total drugs bill was for the (a) hospital and community health service and (b) family health service for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(95736)

83   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95716)

84
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria his Department has for identifying whistle-blowing inside the Health Service; and what mechanisms are in place for a whistle-blower, whose case has been dismissed by a trust, to have his case examined by the Department.

(94935)

85
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter dated 5th December 2002 from Graham Rutt of Lutterworth, a constituent.

(95627)

86
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the use of percutaneous coronary interventions over coronary artery bypass grafts.

(95636)

87
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what extent funding for coronary heart disease will be allocated to purchase new medical devices for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

(95635)

88
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cardiac interventionists his Department plans to recruit from abroad.

(95633)

89
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cardiac interventionists his Department has recruited from abroad.

(95634)

90
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a substantive answer to his letter of 9th December, ref PO1021593.

(95435)

91
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many documents relating to applications for leave of entry to the UK were lost by the Immigration Service in the last twelve months; and if he will make a statement.

(95632)

92
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time was before the initial determination of asylum claims (a) in the most recent period for which figures are available and (b) in each year since 1997.

(95569)

93   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 14th December from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs Emilia Chinweokwu Unegbu-Kirby.

(95673)

94   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the links between crime levels and (a) poverty, (b) income inequality, (c) legal drug abuse, (d) illegal use of drugs and (e) family break-up; and if he will make a statement.

(95724)

95   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95715)

96   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions there have been in each of the last 10 years against those who target (a) vehicles and (b) buildings with graffiti.

(95661)

97   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people residing in Boston and Skegness (a) have had their initial application for asylum rejected and have submitted an appeal, (b) have applied for asylum and (c) have had an asylum appeal rejected.

(95705)

98   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent advice his Department has issued to procurement staff regarding the procurement of timber from legal and sustainable sources.

(95732)

99
N   Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many working days have been lost in his Department and its predecessors owing to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in each year since 1997-98.

(94936)

100
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the remarks made by the Deputy Director General for Policy in the Home Office at a conference in London on asylum with respect to the Coniston Hotel.

(95543)

101
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the consultation on the Coniston Hotel as an asylum centre will be conducted independently of the NASS.

(95544)

102
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what procedure the House of Commons Commission has established to enable honourable Members to find out the current number of cases which are being dealt with by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

(95568)

103
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many working days have been lost in her Department and its predecessors owing to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in each year since 1997-98.

(94937)

104   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the cost of cancellation of the total global debts of the heavily indebted poor countries.

(95655)

105   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which companies supply timber and timber products to his Department.

(95701)

106   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95719)

107
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions the Prime Minister had with the Prime Minister of Spain at their meeting on 30th January, on Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

(95628)

108   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by her Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95709)

109   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, why the trade agreement talks with the Emirate of Qatar were suspended; and whether the talks have been resumed.

(95680)

110   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many inquiries have been carried out each year since 1995 to check whether export credit guarantees cover has not been offered on commissions.

(95681)

111
N   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she is taking to ensure transparency in the credit card market.

(95434)

112   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by her Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95711)

113   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total public subsidy to the (a) rural and (b) urban post office network is.

(95659)

114
N   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what reports he has received in the last fortnight relating to the standard of maintenance and safety of London Underground track; and if he will make a statement.

(95576)

115   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the decision was taken by the British Transport Police to close the station concourse area at Newcastle Central Station after 11.00 p.m.; and what plans he has to continue this arrangement.

(95679)

116
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to increase safety on rural roads.

(94735)

117
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many people have been killed on rural roads in the last four years in (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the Coventry area.

(94736)

118
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what further steps he will take to reduce speeding traffic in rural areas.

(94737)

119
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to (a) encourage cyclists and (b) improve the cycling infrastructure in the UK.

(94738)

120   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95714)

121
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the financial status of Central Railways Group and of its ability to fund the proposed Central Railway; and if he will make a statement.

(95630)

122   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which government organisation is responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage legislation on UK registered ships; what efforts are being made to ensure compliance; and how many cases were dealt with by the relevant body in each year since the legislation took effect.

(95676)

123   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what criteria must be satisfied before foreign seafarers serving on UK-registered vessels trading in UK waters are covered by the national minimum wage.

(95675)

124
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 27th November 2002, column 269W, on no-fly zone (Scotland), if emergency measures will be introduced to increase no-fly zones over the (a) Dounreay and Chapelcross facilities, (b) Faslane and Rosyth facilities and (c) petrochemical plants if the United Kingdom becomes involved in a war against Iraq.

(95043)

125
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 27th November 2002, Official Report, column 269W, on no-fly zone (Scotland), what the reason was for the delay in applying temporary flying restrictions over the Hunterston and Torness Power Stations; and for what reasons no flying restrictions were applied over petrochemical facilities in Scotland after 12th September 2001.

(95044)

126
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 27th November 2002, Official Report, column 269W, what plans he has to introduce an increased no-fly zone over (a) Dounreay and Chapelcross, (b) Faslane (c) Rosyth and (d) petrochemical facilities in Scotland.

(95042)

127   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95721)

128   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what action the Welsh Environment Agency is taking to repair the weakness in the flood defence barrier by the Bunch of Carrots pub at Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire.

(95654)

129
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disability living allowance appeals were successful on (a) reconsideration and (b) aural tribunal for people whose main disabling condition is deafness in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales since 1997.

(95273)

130
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of people (a) with a disability and (b) whose main disabling condition is deafness received disability living allowance in the United Kingdom in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2002.

(95541)

131
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disability living allowance applications were refused at (a) initial application, (b) reconsideration and (c) aural tribunal in each year since 1997.

(95626)

132   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to improve access to government information about disabled people for organisations in the voluntary sector which have been contracted to deliver (a) Workstep, (b) Job Broking and (c) other programmes under the New Deal for Disabled People.

(95702)

133   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed introduction of university top-up fees on the pension contributions of those under 40 years of age.

(95648)

134   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

(95713)

135
N   Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what support is being made available to protect the rural post office network in Scotland.

[Question Unstarred] (94192)

136   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 879, on Victoria Climbie�, when the recommendations from the Laming Inquiry will be implemented.

[Transferred] (95700)

137   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will introduce urban proofing for all government policies.

[Transferred] (95658)