Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 3 March 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 3 March 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.

MONDAY 3rd MARCH

1
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many named day written questions were tabled to the Office between 15th October 2002 and 24th February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures are in place to monitor performance on answering (i) Parliamentary Questions and (ii) ministerial letters.

(99458)

2   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on ethnic diversity within the Civil Service.

(100767)

3   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with representatives from local government about widening the Civil Service fast-stream programme to cover local government; and if he will make a statement.

(100592)

4   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what level of appraisal is required at each grade within the senior Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

(100590)

5   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Asian employees there have been in the senior Civil Service, broken down by department, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(100593)

6   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) civil servants and (b) senior civil servants were dismissed for poor performance in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(100591)

7
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost has been for official vehicles for (a) the Prime Minister's Office, (b) the Official Opposition Leader's Office and (c) the Office of the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in each year since 1995.

(100131)

8
N   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many official vehicles have been at the disposal of (a) the Government, (b) the Official Opposition and (c) the Liberal Democrats in each year since 1995; and at what cost.

(100130)

9   Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the cost to (a) insurance brokers and (b) the insurance industry of complying with the Insurance Mediation Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(100679)

10   Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the decision that the Insurance Mediation Directive will be administered by the Financial Services Authority under a statutory regime.

(100678)

11   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of his Department's measures to tackle income inequality in Northampton.

(100801)

12   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the predicted population is for (a) Northamptonshire, (b) Borough of Northampton, (c) Northampton South constituency and (d) other Parliamentary constituencies in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

(100800)

13   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Northampton South will be entitled to the new child tax credit and working tax credit; and of these, how many (i) have applied for them and (ii) have returned their claim form.

(100788)

14   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) death rates and (b) age adjusted death rates for (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland for each year since 1997.

(100734)

15
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of full-time workers in (a) Scotland, (b) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (c) Great Britain have hourly earnings gross pay (i) including and (ii) excluding overtime below (A) £7.97, (B) £7.32, (C) £5.38 and (D) £4.10 for the categories (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) all female workers, (7) all manual, (8) non-manual and (9) all workers.

(99977)

16
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) Scotland and (b) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland (i) weekly median earnings and (ii) the per cent. distribution of earnings for those earning (A) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (B) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed, broken down by the categories (1) all manual, (2) all non-manual, (3) all workers, (4) male manual, (5) male non-manual, (6) all male workers, (7) female manual, (8) female non-manual and (9) all female workers.

(99978)

17   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimates are for revenue raised by the five per cent. insurance levy on employers' liability insurance with regard to the construction industry (a) since its inception, (b) for the financial year and (c) for the next financial year.

(100669)

18
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the basic rate of insurance premium tax.

(100248)

19   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net revenue implications of changes to VAT treatment of services connected with the care and protection of children and young people by independent fostering agencies.

(100833)

20   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what notice was given to independent fostering agencies about changes to VAT treatment of services connected with the care and protection of children and young people and reclamation of VAT on inputs purchased.

(100780)

21
N   Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 100 and over are living independently in the UK.

(100558)

22
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rates of participation in the labour market were of people aged between (a) 18 and 35, (b) 35 and 50, (c) 50 and 65 and (d) 65 and 75, in (i) 1992, (ii) 1982 and (iii) 1973.

(100452)

23
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the participation rate is of people in the labour market aged between (a) 18 and 35, (b) 35 and 50, (c) 50 and 65 and (d) 65 and 75.

(100451)

24
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected participation rates of people in the labour market are, given current trends, for the year 2012.

(100453)

25   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the proposed timescale is for the development of a third EU Money Laundering Directive.

(100612)

26   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how companies are selected by the Office of Government Commerce for the list of Sustainable Timber Products and Supplier Information; how often the list is updated; how companies who would like to supply such products to Government can be added to the list; and what action will be taken if evidence becomes available that suppliers on this list are dealing in timber from (a) illegal and (b) unsustainable sources.

(100577)

27   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Northavon of 10th February, Official Report, column 604W, how much each mailshot to potential new tax credit claimants has cost.

(100764)

28   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposal in his consultation document on the tax treatment of pension funds for a £1.4 million limit on tax exempt pension in savings includes (a) funded public sector schemes and (b) unfunded public sector schemes.

(100795)

29   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the National Statistician on the different accounting practices that will be followed for the new tax credits by (a) his Department and (b) the Office of National Statistics.

(100798)

30   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in receipt of the working families tax credit receive it via their employer.

(100790)

31   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when the results of the WFTC/DPTC evaluation programme will be released.

(100793)

32   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) Grade I and (b) Grade II listed buildings there are in (i) Northamptonshire and (ii) the Borough of Northampton; and what public funds, with particular reference to Lottery funds, have been spent on them in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(100804)

33
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will place in the Library a statement of the (a) criteria applied and (b) circumstances surrounding the playing fields which have been sold since May 1997, and those in relation to which sale was prevented.

(100329)

34   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list lottery grants awarded to projects connected with (a) mental health amongst young people and (b) combatting anti-social behaviour.

(100773)

35   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action she is taking to increase the number of (a) Muslim and (b) Asian people involved in (i) sport and (ii) contact sports; and if she will make a statement.

(100587)

36
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will meet a delegation from Rotherham Rugby Football Union Club to discuss rugby union.

(100242)

37
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money was invested in the Remote Influence Minesweeping System before the project was cancelled in April 2002; why the project was cancelled; and if he will make a statement.

(99802)

38
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the in service date for Battlegroup Thermal Imaging has been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

(99799)

39
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) operational field trials for BOWMAN, and (b) the conversion of the first unit to the communications system, are on target to take place this year; and if he will make a statement.

(99800)

40
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision to use a conventional procurement route for the Primary Casualty Receiving Ship was made; and if he will make a statement.

(99801)

41
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a new In Service Date has been decided for the Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System; and if he will make a statement.

(99803)

42
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions since October 2002 coalition aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone in Iraq have (a) detected violations of the no-fly zones, (b) detected a direct threat to a coalition aircraft and (c) responded in self defence; how much ordnance was released in each month since October 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(99714)

43
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what stocks of depleted uranium weapons are held in the theatre of conflict around Iraq; and under what conditions they would be used.

(100278)

44
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what studies have been undertaken of the effects of the use of depleted uranium during the Gulf War of 1991 on (a) coalition forces, (b) Iraqi forces and (c) Iraqi civilians.

(100277)

45
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists participated in domestic security operations in January and February.

(99859)

46   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what types of main battle tanks are held by the UK armed forces; and of these how many are being used for (a) static displays and (b) target practice.

(100613)

47   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists have been called up who are employed at (a) Chorley hospital, (b) Preston hospital, (c) hospitals in the North West and (d) hospitals in the UK.

(100682)

48
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are for the development of a European strategic concept for defence.

(100286)

49   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department will undertake into the radiation effects of an X-bank radar on UK soil.

(100665)

50   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the US on the siting of (a) an X-bank radar and (b) interceptor missiles in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(100666)

51   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) risk assessments and (b) environmental investigations his Department will undertake into the possible effects upon the local environment of an upgrade at RAF Fylingdales.

(100664)

52   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterparts about the role of RAF Menwith Hill in US missile defence; and if he will make a statement.

(100667)

53
N   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the logistical operations in support of the deployment of UK forces to the Gulf.

(99861)

54
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy (a) ships and (b) personnel are being diverted from other operational tasks to ensure their availability for fire fighting duties in the event of a firefighter strike; and if he will make a statement.

(99851)

55   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration he has given to the impact on the armed forces of the potential use of hand-held surface to air missiles on aviation security.

(100718)

56
N   Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress in negotiations on construction of the new aircraft carriers.

(99860)

57   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many new residential dwellings were built in the Borough of Northampton in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03; and how many will be built in 2003-04.

(100807)

58   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his policy is on the capping of police authority council tax precepts for 2003-04.

(100732)

59   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what reasons underlie (a) his proposal to remove his functions under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 and (b) his decision not to seek to amend section 19.

(100716)

60   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what account he has taken of the Central Fire Brigades Council's Task Group report, The Fire Cover Review, drawing up the proposal to remove his functions under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947.

(100715)

61   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he has consulted the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council on the proposal to remove his functions under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947.

(100714)

62   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what procedure the Government will use if the Secretary of State's powers under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 are removed, to ensure that fire service emergency cover is maintained to a level deemed satisfactory by HM Fire Service Inspectorate.

(100717)

63   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action he is taking to improve the quality and range of applications for senior jobs in local government; and if he will make a statement.

(100594)

64   Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the retention rates are of pupils moving in to post 16 education in (a) education maintenance allowance and (b) non education maintenance allowance authorities.

(100599)

65   Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of education maintenance allowance and post 16 education on neighbouring local authorities.

(100598)

66   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with (a) the Scotland Office and (b) the Scottish Executive on measures to ensure that Scottish students will have proportionate access to Scottish university places if there is an influx of English and Welsh students subsequent to the reforms outlined in his statement of 22nd January to the House.

(100733)

67   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children in Northampton South are entitled to free school meals; and what the average is in English constituencies.

(100785)

68   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children per 1,000 are issued with a statement of special needs in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) Northampton.

(100806)

69   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many extra children in Northampton South will be entitled to free school meals when the child tax credit and working tax credit is introduced in April.

(100786)

70   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) pupils and (b) teachers there were in Northampton in (i) primary, (ii) middle and (iii) upper schools in (A) the latest period for which figures are available and (B) each of the past four years.

(100799)

71
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to prevent the sale of school playing fields provided for under-8s; and if he will make a statement.

(100327)

72   Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers (a) left the teaching profession and (b) there have been in (i) Sutton Coldfield and (ii) the UK in each year since 1997.

(100673)

73   Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teacher vacancies there were in Sutton Coldfield in each year since 1997.

(100674)

74   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding was allocated to the National Governors' Council in each year since 1998-99.

(100727)

75   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent on supporting parent governor representatives, including the costs of the e-mail network, website and conferences, since they were established.

(100728)

76
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Lewes of 24th February, Official Report, column 98W, on municipal waste, what percentage of household waste she anticipates will be recycled or composted by 2005 and what percentage of household waste will have value recovered by 2005 based on current achievements; and in respect of the waste recovery targets, what percentage of each target she estimates will be delivered by incineration.

(100386)

77   Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to develop a methodology to assess in regulatory impact assessments of new environmental protection measures the economic benefits of high environmental standards in order to implement the new Cabinet Office guidance Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact; and what category of benefits his Department will include when developing such a methodology.

(100605)

78   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Northampton South constituency, the effects on Northampton of her Department's policies and actions since June 2001.

(100809)

79   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to public funds of farm subsidies (a) in total and (b) per head of population in 2002-03.

(100610)

80   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about the effect of the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on Welsh Farming.

(100735)

81   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where (a) incinerators and (b) waste to energy plant, feature in the Government's waste hierachy.

(100692)

82   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the recycling rates for unitary authorities in England are; and what the improvement target for each is.

(100827)

83   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences to operate incinerators on farm premises have been issued in the last 12 months.

(100774)

84   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she plans to take with regard to meat imports contaminated with specified risk materials.

(100581)

85   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of specified risk material have been detected in meat imports into the UK from the EU over the past year.

(100580)

86   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations have been made to the Government of Myanmar regarding (a) human rights violations and (b) the use of forced child labour.

(100583)

87
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guarantees of autonomy have been offered to the Kurdish parties in Northern Iraq after any US-led invasion has taken place.

(100280)

88
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held with the Government of Iran concerning their approach to the Kurdish autonomous region of Northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(100281)

89
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guarantees have been given by the Government of Turkey that they will respect the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq following any US-led invasion.

(100279)

90
N   David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission in respect of regulation of financial services in Gibraltar.

(100560)

91
N   David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from the Government of Spain about (a) up-rating of the pension paid to Spanish pensioners who worked in Gibraltar prior to 1969, (b) payment of the household cost allowance to Spanish pensioners who worked in Gibraltar prior to 1969 and (c) reform of the Household Cost Allowance scheme operating in Gibraltar.

(10059)

92   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 28th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr John Meah.

(100683)

93
N   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote agreement with the Government of Spain regarding (a) better access to Gibraltar and (b) improved communications for the Territory.

(100557)

94
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for West Chelmsford will receive an Answer to his Question of 4th February, ref 95210; and if he will make a statement on the reason for the delay in answering.

(100132)

95
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who the members are of the group set up to identify problems faced by overseas nurses; what budget the group has; what findings it has so far presented; what findings have been published; what timetable the group will work to ; and if he will make a statement.

(99717)

96   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which statements he has made concerning social services where service developments and extra spending are to be met from the 6 per cent. real terms increase in the Personal Social Services spending.

(100672)

97
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Assistant Chief Nurse Officer have had about the recruitment of nurses from South Africa; what steps his Department is taking to ensure that no nurses from South Africa are actively recruited; what mechanisms he has in place with the South African Government to ensure that such a scheme is effective; and if he will make a statement.

(99759)

98   Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from organisations representing residents in care homes about the planned de-registration of homes; and if he will make a statement.

(100681)

99   Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards are in place to ensure that residential homes which de-register from the National Care Standards Commission are adequately inspected by an independent body.

(100680)

100   Mr Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will issue health warnings about the use of aspartame in food.

(100720)

101   Mr Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent review has been undertaken of the safety of aspartame.

(100766)

102   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Northampton South constituency, the effects on Northampton of his Department's policies and actions since June 2001.

(100811)

103   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the negotiations for public-private projects in regard to the Mental Health Acute Hospital in Northampton.

(100802)

104
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to encourage the use of homoeopathic treatments, where their effectiveness has been proven.

(99920)

105
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies he has considered that evaluate the worth of homoeopathic treatments for GP practices.

(99922)

106
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what incentives his Department provides to increase the numbers of homoeopathic practitioners that are professionally registered.

(99921)

107   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Department has published an Autumn Performance Report to show progress against the Department's PSA targets; and what reports it plans to publish before spring to show progress against PSA targets.

(100677)

108   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many public service agreements the Department (a) has met and (b) is on course to meet in the autumn.

(100676)

109   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) voluntary and (b) charitable organisations with which his Department held discussions in the past 12 months.

(100729)

110   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been successful in giving up smoking as a result of the Together programme; how many people have participated in the programme; how much the programme has cost since it was established; and what assessment he has made of its success rate.

(100784)

111   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 27th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Gorton Constituency Labour Party.

(100684)

112   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his Answer, ref 98156, what type of orthopaedic operations were carried out on NHS patients in Germany and France.

(100778)

113   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children are in foster care with (a) direct local authority foster carers and (b) foster carers from independent fostering agencies.

(100777)

114   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy to allow (a) the Children's Tsar and (b) the Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate to attend meetings with (i) individual honourable Members of Parliament, (ii) parliamentary groups, (iii) lobby groups and (iv) commercial companies.

(100663)

115   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Mental Health Bill will place a legal obligation on health and social services authorities to honour advance statements and advance directives.

(100781)

116   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many responses to the Draft Mental Health Bill there were from community health councils.

(100776)

117   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which recommendations of the Utting Report the Government has implemented in full.

(100779)

118   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 25th February 2003, on foster care allowance, why information is not held centrally with reference to his Answer to Question Number 96092.

(100691)

119   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis the governing boards of foundation hospitals will be constituted; and what role the Commissioners for Public Appointments will play.

(100765)

120   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the level of vacancies is for social workers in (a) elderly care, (b) children care and (c) mental health in (i) London, broken down by borough and (ii) England.

(100589)

121   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to provide opportunities for home care workers and health care assistants to train to become (a) social workers and (b) nurses; and if he will make a statement.

(100588)

122   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) physiotherapists worked at Northwich Park Hospital in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(100595)

123   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much direct funding from the Strategic or Regional Health Authority Northwich Park Hospital received in each of the last five years; and for what purpose.

(100596)

124   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been treated in (a) the accident and emergency unit at Northwich Park Hospital and (b) in total at Northwich Park Hospital, broken down by clinical speciality, in each of the last five years.

(100597)

125   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from the Community and District Nursing Association on elder abuse.

(100771)

126
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the West Kent National Care Standards Commission's report on Elvy Court Nursing Home, Sittingbourne will be published.

(100246)

127
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he will take on Southern Cross Healthcare's retention of the NHS funded nursing care element from fees paid by residents at Elvy Court Nursing Home, Sittingbourne.

(100245)

128   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there are in each police force area in England and Wales; and how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff there were in England and Wales in each year since 1996.

(100803)

129   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the levels of (a) reported crimes and (b) successful prosecutions brought in Northampton were in 2001-02.

(100805)

130   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women have been convicted of drug offences by courts covering the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

(100601)

131   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the resources made available to the Metropolitan Police in the current financial year.

(100602)

132   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what surveys his Department has made of the views of people living within the Metropolitan Police area on the efficiency of the police force; and if he will make a statement.

(100603)

133   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the crime detection rate has been within the Metropolitan Police Force area during each of the last five years.

(100600)

134   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many robberies were committed in each of the last five years within the Metropolitan Police Force area.

(100604)

135
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) robberies, (b) gun-related crimes and (c) recorded crimes there were in each police force area in Wales in each year since 1997.

(100247)

136
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding his Department will be providing (a) in 2003-04 and (b) in future years to the Midnight Basketball Scheme run by the National Playing Fields Association; and if he will make a statement.

(100328)

137   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the detection rate for burglaries in homes was in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

(100769)

138   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many burglaries per 1000 households there have been in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

(100768)

139
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests have taken place in (a) Chorley, (b) South Ribble and (c) West Lancashire in each of the last three years; to which custody suite were arrestees taken; and how many went to Magistrates' court.

(100383)

140
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the extension to police cells at South Ribble will change the cells' status.

(100384)

141
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many custody suites are operated by Lancashire Police; how many cells are in each; and where they are.

(100382)

142
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police cells have been taken out of action in Lancashire in the last 12 months.

(100385)

143
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timescale is for re-opening police cells that have been closed in Lancashire.

(100388)

144   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Bolton, South East of 11th October and 25th November 2002 and 8th January 2003 regarding the case of Mr Uones Mahmad Nizar (HO Ref N1030237).

(100582)

145   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 11th February, Official Report, column 717W, on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, when the Government expects to publish a summary of the responses to the consultation on draft guidelines.

(100671)

146   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason he has not replied to the letter to him dated 15th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs Huda Abdulwahed.

(100685)

147   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 17th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Roz Hughes.

(100687)

148   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 19th December 2002 from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Amir Chaudhry.

(100689)

149   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 20th December 2002 from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Mark Kissing.

(100686)

150   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons he has not replied to the letter to him dated 23rd December 2002 from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs Lutfi.

(100688)

151   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recommendations have been made by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary on the optimum number of probationers as a proportion of overall office numbers within a police force.

(100690)

152   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of (a) officers, (b) constables and (c) police area constables were probationers in each police force in each year since 1998-99.

(100730)

153   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of employing, training and developing a probationary police constable in the last year for which figures are available.

(100731)

154   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been prosecuted in the last 12 months for illegal importation of meat products in their personal luggage on arrival at UK airports.

(100782)

155   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration he has given to the impact upon the Metropolitan Police Service of the potential use of hand-held surface to air missiles on aviation security.

(100719)

156
N   Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether youth offending teams have responsibility for young prisoners who are also unaccompanied asylum seekers.

(100284)

157
N   Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new instructions have been issued to prison and social service staff as a result of the judicial review brought by the Howard League for Penal Reform on the Children's Act.

(100282)

158
N   Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that social services are fulfilling their responsibilities for looking after children who go into prison.

(100283)

159
N   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, after what period benefit payments are stopped in respect of asylum seekers who are refused asylum.

(99711)

160
N   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of asylum seekers have failed to comply with reporting requirements while awaiting (a) an initial decision and (b) removal.

(99712)

161
N   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date he received the report of the independent team led by Patrick Carter into the operation of the Criminal Records Bureau; when the report, or parts thereof, will be published; and what the key conclusions of the report are.

(99713)

162   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what further action he is taking to prevent racially and religiously motivated attacks on Muslims; and if he will make a statement.

(100584)

163   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with Her Majesty's Prison Service on the educational and religious needs of Muslims in prison; and if he will make a statement.

(100585)

164
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Minister of State responsible for immigration will visit Lee-on-the-Solent to meet residents in advance of any decision being taken on whether to apply for planning permission for an asylum centre at the Daedalus site.

(100158)

165   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what security measures are in place for (a) Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne and (b) Newhaven Port.

(100775)

166   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action she is taking to help those living in the Palestinian Authority area to (a) secure employment, (b) access healthcare provision and (c) improve opportunities for improving literacy and numeracy; and if she will make a statement.

(100586)

167   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Global Fund directors on the funding available for the third round of grants in October 2003; and if she will make a statement.

(100632)

168   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects the boundary commission to complete its review of constituency boundaries; and when the review will be implemented.

(100808)

169   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many people able to pay the (a) community charge or (b) council tax refused to do so in each of the last 10 years; and from how many people the taxes could not be recovered by attachment to earnings or benefits.

(100615)

170
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much waste has been imported from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland by council area in each of the last three years; and what revenue was generated by each council area as a result.

(99973)

171
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Department of Regional Development has been consulted by the authorities at Belfast City airport with regard to the hours of operation of that airport.

(99975)

172
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what legislation is in place on the importation of waste from another country.

(99972)

173
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to ensure that EU legislation regarding the importation of waste is complied with; and if he will list instances when this legislation has been breached in the last 12 months.

(99974)

174
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what procedures the Department of the Environment intends to follow on receipt of an application to amend the present planning agreement governing the operation of Belfast City airport.

(99976)

175   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been paid in resettlement grants to prisoners released under the early release scheme in Northern Ireland since the scheme began; and if he will make a statement.

(100616)

176   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff are employed in each of the North-South Implementation Bodies; and what the staff costs were in each year since the bodies were established.

(100723)

177   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the Non-Departmental Public Bodies in Northern Ireland; how many people are appointed to each; and who those serving on each are.

(100722)

178   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff are employed in the secretariat of the (a) North-South Ministerial Council, (b) British-Irish Council and (c) Civic Forum; and what the costs are in respect of such staff.

(100724)

179   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent on public relations consultants in each year since 1997.

(100725)

180   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent on (a) opinion polling and (b) research into the attitudes of voters in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

(100726)

181   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding has been allocated for the financial year 2003-04 for the (a) Assets Recovery Agency, (b) Organised Crime Taskforce and (c) Police Ombudsman; and what criteria were used to determine the financial priority given to each organisation.

(100675)

182
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Prime Minister, what the procedure was for approving and publishing the dossier entitled Iraq—Its Infrastructure of Concealment, Deception and Intimidation; and which minister had ultimate responsibility for its contents.

(100285)

183   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions she has had with the (a) Office of Fair Trading, (b) the Scottish Executive and (c) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in relation to their recommendation that the control of entry regulations for community pharmacy should be lifted and its application to Scotland.

(100609)

184   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive with regard to employers' liability insurance.

(100578)

185   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions she has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on its forthcoming report on employers' liability insurance.

(100579)

186
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking to establish a certification process for the import of colton from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(99715)

187
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps are being taken to implement effective regulatory import controls on natural resources from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (a) directly and (b) via other states, to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

(99716)

188   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage improvement in energy efficiency would be required to deliver from the household sector the (a) 5 MtC saving between 2002 and 2010 and (b) the 6 MtC saving between 2010 and 2020 identified in the Energy White Paper.

(100783)

189   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent meetings the Construction Department in her Department has had with the insurance industry to discuss rising premiums for employers' liability insurance; and if she will make a statement.

(100670)

190   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what study she has made of the effect of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 on British companies operating in the USA; and what representations she has made to US authorities on this issue.

(100755)

191   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the fees paid by her Department to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) KPMG and (d) Ernst & Young since January 2002.

(100832)

192   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many companies have been forced to revise defective accounts by the Financial Reporting Review Panel; and how many auditors have been disciplined as a result.

(100761)

193   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what inquiries her Department has made into the UK operations of Enron.

(100756)

194   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make it her policy to propose legislation to make company directors personally liable for the authenticity of company financial statements.

(100763)

195   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will appoint inspectors to investigate the accounting failures at Swiss Life.

(100831)

196   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the non-auditing services bought by public bodies sponsored by her Department from their auditors.

(100760)

197   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which public bodies sponsored by the Department are headed by former partners from Arthur Andersen.

(100743)

198   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will publish her Department's correspondence with the Accounting Standards Board over the implementation and compliance with FRS17.

(100762)

199   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will investigate how many UK companies trade through special purpose vehicles located in offshore financial centres.

(100757)

200   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when DTI inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of Queens Moat Houses; when the report was published; what the report cost; and what regulatory action was taken against the auditors.

(100829)

201   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many receiverships, administrations and liquidations that commenced (a) more than 20 years ago and (b) more than 10 years ago have not been finalised; for what reasons they have not been finalised; and what steps her Department takes to ensure timely completion.

(100828)

202   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will initiate an investigation into accounting failures at Amey.

(100754)

203   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial contribution the Government will be making to the operations of the Financial Reporting Council and its associated bodies.

(100830)

204   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will appoint inspectors to investigate the accounting and audit failures at (a) My Travel, (b) RBG Resources and (c) Slug and Lettuce.

(100744)

205   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the DTI inspectors' reports that have not yet been presented to Parliament but have been released to third parties.

(100759)

206   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals she has for investigating the extent of competition amongst the big-four accountancy firms.

(100758)

207
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the Office of Fair Trading report on Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance will be published.

(100244)

208   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which trust ports are classified as public corporations.

(100668)

209   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Northampton South constituency, the effects on Northampton of his Department's policies and actions since June 2001.

(100810)

210   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the gritting of back roads in Lancashire during the winter.

(100611)

211   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the A36 (Wylye Valley Relief Road) Scheme has been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

(100576)

212   John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consideration he has given to the impact of the potential use of hand-held surface to air missiles on aviation security.

(100721)

213   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will be able to provide an assessment of the changes to passenger mileage travelled by (a) bus, (b) coach, (c) train and (d) private car in the counties surrounding London consequent on the introduction of congestion charging.

(100746)

214   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the incidents of (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries recorded on the A27 between Lewes and Polegate in each of the last 10 years.

(100772)

215   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answers of 19th December 2002, Official Report, columns 999-1000W, on fairground safety, when the National Fairground Inspection Team was established; what its terrms of reference are; how many members it has; to whom it reports; and what recommendations it has made since its establishment.

(100770)

216
N   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overpayments of benefit have been written off in the last five years on the basis of concern for the health of the claimant.

(99456)

217
N   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of targeted audits carried out by medical services and categorised as grade C have been judged to be fit for purpose.

(99457)

218   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effect upon claimants' (a) income and (b) entitlement to income related benefits arising from the uprating of benefits by RPI.

(100736)

219   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his most recent estimate is of the number of pensioners with an income of (a) £200 to £210, (b) £211 to £220 and (c) £221 and above who are in receipt of (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit in Northampton.

(100787)

220   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations the Department has received from the Learning and Skills Council about the cancellation of a mother's child benefit due to receipt of a £40 per week grant through the modern apprenticeship scheme.

(100614)

221   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce the housing benefit allowance reforms to the social rented sector using different timetables for Scotland, Wales and England.

(100750)

222   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the new combined housing benefit/council tax benefit claim form to be introduced from April 2003; and whether it will be used for all claimants.

(100753)

223   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to prevent delays when the Pension Service start supplying local authorities with the assessed income figure for claimants.

(100747)

224   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the change has been in average (a) single room rent and (b) younger persons rent in Scotland, England and Wales since March 2002.

(100752)

225   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the expected changes to the IT that local authorities use following introduction of the housing benefit allowance pilots.

(100748)

226   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional training is planned for rent officers in preparation for the housing benefit allowance pilots.

(100749)

227   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to change the capital limits in housing benefit.

(100751)

228   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the effect the removal of benefit periods for pensioners from October will have on the operation of the Verification Framework.

(100745)

229   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many cases parents with care not on income support have voluntarily discontinued using the services of CSA to collect child maintenance in each of the last 12 months.

(100812)

230   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason tax credits are no longer included in the benefit expenditure tables available on the Department's website.

(100789)

231   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of benefit claimants he expects to be unable to receive their benefits into a bank or building society account, including a Post Office card account; what types of people he expects to fall into this category; and when the new arrangements for these people are likely to be announced.

(100796)

232   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in which month new claims to child dependency increases in each of the non-means tested benefits will be abolished for new claimants; and how many families in each subsequent year are expected to be affected by the change.

(100797)

233   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact he expects the move from benefit-based statistics to ones focused on client groups will have on the information available via written parliamentary questions.

(100791)

234   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he intends to (a) increase the Social Fund budget and (b) make other changes to the Social Fund, to cover potential cashflow problems for benefit claimants as they move to automated credit transfer.

(100794)

235   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason people must obtain a personal invitation document before requesting a Post Office card account application form; and why the application form is not sent out alongside the personal invitation document.

(100792)

236
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the review of the Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance scheme will be published.

(100243)

237   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Government procurement policy.

[Transferred] (100606)

238   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow Government departments to place orders with preferred suppliers.

[Transferred] (100608)

239   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of weighting value for money against ethical and socially constructive approaches to business in the selection of suppliers for government departments.

[Transferred] (100607)