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 18 March 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 18 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.

TUESDAY 18th MARCH

1   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what mass decontamination exercises have taken place in the last five years.

(103835)

2   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the team looking at the Green Paper for Children at Risk have to recommend a review of educational and social institutions designed to provide a more nurturing environment for children whose lives are fragmented.

(103844)

3   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the team looking at the Green Paper for Children at Risk have for joint training for children's professionals in the core skills needed by those who work with children.

(103845)

4   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the team looking at the Green Paper for Children at Risk have to support parents in the transition to parenthood.

(103846)

5
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the stock of VAT registrations was in each city and district within the county of Tyne and Wear in 1996; what the (a) gross and (b) net alterations to that stock were in each subsequent year; what the net alterations to the stock were as a percentage of the 1996 stock; and what the stock of VAT registrations was in 2002.

(103732)

6
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many successful traces have been concluded by National Savings and Investments on dormant savings and investments in each month since November 2001.

(102935)

7
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the tracing service for dormant savings and investments by National Savings and Investments since its introduction.

(102936)

8
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much total assets have been successfully reunited with owners of dormant accounts in each month since May 2001 by (a) the British Banking Association and (b) the Building Societies Association.

(102937)

9
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue next intends to calculate the total amount held in dormant bank accounts.

(102938)

10
N   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what method was employed by the Inland Revenue in its 1997 study to calculate the total amount held in dormant bank accounts.

(102939)

11
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Financial Services Authority is able to allow pension providers to continue selling new pension policies that are not based on the parameters set by the Statutory Money Purchase Illustration regulations coming into force on 6th April.

(103545)

12   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tourists from overseas there were in the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin.

(103788)

13   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department has spent on support for youth sports (a) teams, (b) training and (c) organisations; and what other expenditure her Department has made on support for youth sports in the last 10 years.

(103853)

14   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many youth sports teams there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) age group of team members and (b) sport.

(103852)

15   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department is taking to reduce the incidence of clinical obesity in children, broken down by type of obesity; and how much her Department has spent on such measures in the last five years.

(103854)

16   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the impact of (a) foot and mouth disease, (b) events on 11th September 2001 and (c) the possibility of war in Iraq upon (i) the number of visitors to the UK from overseas, (ii) revenues from tourism and (iii) publicly funded support, broken down by region.

(103855)

17   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessments she has made of those cities other than London who are bidding or are expected to bid for the Olympic Games in 2012; and if she will place copies of those assessments in the Library.

(103851)

18   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what research her Department has undertaken regarding the estimated cost to the UK tourist industry as a result of the international crisis in the Middle East, broken down by (a) number of visitors by region of the world, (b) amount spent on goods and services and (c) value to the Exchequer; and if she will place a copy of the research in the Library.

(103850)

19   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent research her Department has undertaken regarding programming on (a) terrestrial, (b) cable and (c) satellite television channels; and if she will place copies in the Library.

(103818)

20   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent by overseas tourists in the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin.

(103848)

21   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent quantitative research and assessments her Department has undertaken relating to the news content of (a) terrestrial, (b) cable and (c) satellite news programmes; and if she will lay copies of those results in the Library.

(103787)

22   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the top 20 tourist attractions visited in the UK were in each of the last 10 years; and if she will break down the visitors by country of origin, on a proportional basis.

(103849)

23
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what special measures are being taken to vet the crews of ships chartered by his Department from overseas countries where there are security considerations.

(103638)

24
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance has been given to UK forces operating in the no fly zone in Southern Iraq on the holy places of the Shi'a in Nayjab and Kerbala.

(103735)

25   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UNMOVIC has requested information about sales of (a) materials and expertise relevant to the delivery of weapons of mass destruction and (b) missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometres from International Military Services Ltd.

(103834)

26
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value is of contracts with the United States for (a) rations, (b) clothing, (c) footwear and (d) logistical services for UK forces in the Gulf.

(103733)

27
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the protocol between the USA and UK governments whereby US planes can use RAF Fairford to undertake acts of war.

(103533)

28   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with (a) NATO counterparts and (b) other EU member states on the EU's future role, with particular regard to (i) humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and (ii) immediate response capability; and if he will make a statement.

(103867)

29   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the high and low pay banding system will apply to all members of HM forces; and if he will make a statement.

(103870)

30   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the recent progress of plans to create a Council of EU defence ministers; and what the functions of that Council are expected to be.

(103873)

31   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent the EU is involved in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

(103864)

32   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with other EU member states on the involvement of (a) Canada, (b) Russia, (c) Ukraine and (d) other countries in the European Security and Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement.

(103869)

33   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with representatives of Her Majesty's forces on the formation of a federation to represent the armed forces in negotiations over pay and working conditions; and if he will make a statement.

(103868)

34   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with full members of NATO on the involvement of (a) associate members and (b) partners in the work of the Satellite Centre; and if he will make a statement.

(103872)

35   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the relationship between the NATO Response Force and EU member states' responsibilities under the EU Headline Goals for defence-related issues.

(103871)

36
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the extent is of UK military deployment to Sierra Leone and the surrounding region during 2003; what estimate he has made of the costs of this deployment; and if he will make a statement.

(102942)

37
N   Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many responses were received by his Department to the consultation on the interest in holding a referendum on regional government in the North East.

(103142)

38   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the amount of (a) first and (b) second tranche Objective One monies spent in Wirral South as a percentage of the whole.

(103794)

39   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many protective suits for use in mass decontamination have been provided for the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade; and what proportion of the Brigade can be supplied with such suits.

(103836)

40   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many new special purpose vehicles for mass decontamination are (a) planned for and (b) in the hands of Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade.

(103837)

41   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what finance has been set aside for the funding of new special purpose vehicles for use in mass decontamination; and how many such vehicles, and at what cost (a) have been ordered and (b) are in the hands of fire authorities.

(103838)

42
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what evaluation has taken place of the effectiveness of shared home ownership schemes.

(102653)

43   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the administrative costs have been as a percentage of total spending of each Government Office of the Regions since 1999.

(103811)

44
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what statutory remedies there are to deal with unreasonable behaviour by local authority senior management against council employees.

(103537)

45
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will publish proposals under Section 3 of the Local Government Act 2000 for a code of conduct to protect employees of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

(103539)

46
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what advice the Government has received from the Health and Safety Commission on options for action to make a significant impact on preventing assaults, verbal threats and abuse in the workplace for employees of local authorities.

(103538)

47
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what statutory remedies are available to local authority staff who are victims of workplace bullying.

(103536)

48
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Manchester, Withington, 24th February, Official Report, column 346W, what percentage of students were eligible for student support in the years listed; and how many and what percentage of students were eligible for student support in each region of England.

(103472)

49   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to ensure that schools have at least one member of staff qualified to deal with bullying in school.

(103797)

50   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures he is taking to help staff work with parents to tackle bullying (a) in school and (b) outside school hours.

(103798)

51   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures he is taking to help reduce the incidence of bullying in schools.

(103796)

52
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of food purchased by the (a) MoD, (b) NHS and (c) DfES was locally sourced in the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(103348)

53
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, why the claim for a share of the 2003 EU financial package to tackle BSE and other animal diseases was submitted late by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

(103579)

54   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she will take to ensure that all imported meat complies with United Kingdom animal welfare standards before being slaughtered.

(103876)

55
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library a copy of the first annual report under the operating agreement signed by OFWAT, the Environment Agency, English Nature and Wessex Water on restoring sustainable flows to the Hampshire Avon Catchment.

(103540)

56
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 6th February, Official Report, column 373W, on climate change agreements, if she will place in the Library a summary of the information given to her Department by each sector with a climate change agreement.

(103781)

57
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to transfer provision from her Department's budget to that of HM Customs and Excise when Customs takes over responsibility for controls on illegal imports of animal and plant products.

(103782)

58   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her European colleagues concerning conservation of the dolphin population around UK shores; and if she will make a statement.

(103841)

59
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK Government is in regular contact with the Iraqi opposition group known as SCIRI and the militia forces under its control.

(103734)

60   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who the UK representatives are on the UN Compensation Commission; how much compensation has so far been disbursed, broken down by country of origin of the case; and how much has been committed to be disbursed (a) in total and (b) by country of origin of the case.

(103840)

61   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussion she proposes to have with Mr Denktash of Northern Cyprus on his views as to restarting discussions towards future negotiations on Cyprus.

(103799)

62   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with other European Union member states on human rights issues in Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

(103795)

63
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Iran about the possibility of a war between the US, UK and Iraq.

(103532)

64
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many interviews the inspectors appointed under UNSCR 1441 have conducted with Iraqi scientists in locations outside of Iraq in conditions assuring confidentiality and safety for the scientists and their families.

(103546)

65   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement of the costs associated with the military support being provided to enable the return of the UN arms inspectors to Iraq to the UN; and what arrangements are being made to pay the military costs falling to UN member states that enabled the return of the inspectors.

(103808)

66   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the steps taken to authenticate the documentation passed to the UN weapons inspectors referred to by Dr M El Baradei at the UN Security Council on 7th March, claiming that Iraq had attempted to buy uranium from Niger and elsewhere.

(103807)

67
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Liberian Government on instability in the Ivory Coast.

(102940)

68
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UN sanctions against Liberia in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

(102941)

69
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's expenditure on (a) translation and (b) interpreting services was in 2002; and how many companies were asked to tender for such work.

(103535)

70   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the Security Council resolutions (a) which have been vetoed by the United States in the last 30 years and (b) regarding Israel and the Occupied Territories which were supported by Her Majesty's Government but vetoed by the United States; and if he will make a statement.

(103856)

71
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Albanians have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted in Kosovo of being involved in the destruction of orthodox churches since June 1999.

(103461)

72
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what figures his Department has on the volume of heroin trafficked through Kosovo which was received in the United Kingdom in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and how many arrests have been made in Kosovo in respect of such trafficking.

(103460)

73
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance is available for Serbs who were forced to leave Kosovo to return to the province in respect of (a) accommodation and (b) security.

(103462)

74
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost of providing photodynamic therapy to (a) all patients for whom it is considered clinically appropriate who are suffering from classic wet age-related macular degeneration and (b) all patients for whom it is considered clinically appropriate who are suffering from either classic wet age-related macular degeneration or predominantly classic wet age-related macular degeneration.

(103188)

75
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to commission research into the effect of aspirin in reducing the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and oesophagus.

(103190)

76
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the time taken by NICE to carry out an appraisal of photodynamic therapy as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

(103189)

77
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, of 27th February, Official Report, columns 698-9W, on age-related macular degeneration, when his Department first asked NICE to carry out an appraisal of photodynamic therapy; and when he expects NICE to publish its final guidance.

(103191)

78
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of (a) adults and (b) children are registered with an NHS dentist in England; and what the figures were in May 1997.

(103731)

79   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of comments made by the coroner in the case of Mr Whitefield about the drug Seroxat; and what plans he has to request a review of the safety of Seroxat.

(103843)

80
N   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Office of Fair Trading report on control of entry regulations to the pharmacy market on his Department's strategy on the reclassification of medicines from prescription-only to pharmacy sale.

(103463)

81   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to upgrade his Department's plans in the event of deliberate release of biological weapons; and if he will make a statement.

(103866)

82   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on (a) external advisers and (b) consultants by his Department in each year since 1996-97.

(103815)

83   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 1203W, on Getting Ahead of the Curve, if he will estimate the short-term transitional costs in establishing the Health Protection Agency; how these costs will be incurred; and what proposals he has to cut services to meet these costs from within existing resources.

(103819)

84   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were diagnosed in each region as being clinically obese in each of the last 10 years.

(103803)

85   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has conducted into (a) the cost to the public sector and (b) the impact on public spending between 2003 and 2020 as a result of children currently classified as clinically obese; and if he will place copies of the research in the Library.

(103804)

86   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the findings of beef and pork DNA in Dutch chicken on sale in the United Kingdom.

(103878)

87   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he will take to ensure that all imported foodstuffs meet United Kingdom food standard regulations.

(103879)

88   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) other staff were employed at Chorley hospital in each of the last five years.

(103842)

89   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the standards imposed on the importation of chicken into the United Kingdom.

(103877)

90
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when mental health service improvements announced in the national service framework for mental health and the NHS plan in respect of (a) crisis teams, (b) assertive outreach programmes, (c) home treatment, (d) early intervention in psychosis and (e) primary care mental health teams will be launched in Salisbury.

(103080)

91
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Service Trust have to sell Century House in Salisbury; and if he will make a statement.

(103078)

92
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the clinical consultant caseload in Salisbury is (a) ward-based and (b) home-based; and if he will make a statement.

(103079)

93
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to discuss drugs treatment with primary care trusts.

(103534)

94
N   Mrs Marion Roe (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 20th November 2002, 2nd January, 6th February and 1st March relating to her constituent Mrs Margaret Jewell of Hoddesdon.

(103738)

95
N   Mrs Marion Roe (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 20th November 2002, 2nd January, 6th February and 13th March relating to her constituent Mrs Mary Jaggs of Hoddesdon.

(103737)

96   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that pharmacies are located conveniently for (a) those living in rural communities and (b) patients and their relatives who do not have access to a car.

(103789)

97   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pharmacies (a) opened and (b) closed during each of the past six years; and what progress has been made in expanding the number of pharmacies in the UK.

(103791)

98   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in broadening the range of services and advice provided by local pharmacies.

(103790)

99   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with primary health care trusts on the role of local pharmacies.

(103792)

100   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision has been made for treatment of children with scoliosis.

(103817)

101
N   Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Worcestershire West dated 8th August 2002 for which an acknowledgement was sent on 1st November 2002 (ref P01018533).

(103543)

102   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department has collated on the contribution of sub-optimal care factors to perinatal deaths in England in the last five years.

(103785)

103   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to review standards of (a) ante-natal and (b) perinatal care in England in relation to perinatal (i) mortality and (ii) morbidity.

(103784)

104   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department has collated on factors contributing to perinatal deaths in England over the last five years.

(103786)

105
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS secured from the disposal of the Hillcroft site in Lymington; and if he will make a statement.

(103482)

106   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the information on capital expenditure by his Department in each month since March 2002 provided to the Office for National Statistics for the purposes of the public finances first release; and if he will make a statement.

(103800)

107
N   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of children and young people who will be sentenced annually under each of the new proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill to (a) detention for life, (b) detention for public protection and (c) extended sentences.

(103077)

108   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will incorporate the Commission for Health Improvement into the new inspection regime for youth offending teams.

(103847)

109
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a list of (a) private sector providers of places for asylum seekers as at 31st December 2002, (b) the number of places with each provider, (c) the number of places in each Parliamentary constituency and (d) the number of places from each provider in each Parliamentary constituency.

(102907)

110
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision under the Terrorism Act 2000 he is using to prevent people from protesting at RAF Fairford.

(103483)

111   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th February, Official Report, column 780W, whether the figure for Special Branch officers includes the Metropolitan Police Special Branch.

(103833)

112
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 309W, on work permits, what discussions Work Permits (UK) had with the Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland on the application for a group work permit for lap dancers for the Movie Star Cafe� in summer 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(103641)

113
N   Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for West Worcestershire dated 20th September 2002 for which an acknowledgement card (ref 19910/2) was sent on 25 November 2002.

(103542)

114
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the Home Start schemes in South Devon that have received funding; and how much was awarded as earmarked in the 2002 Spending Review.

(103473)

115   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the extent to which the food needs of developing nations can be met without using genetically modified food; and if she will make a statement.

(103865)

116   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her written statement of 13th March, Official Report, column 21WS, on humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq, what the optimistic assumptions referred to are.

(103875)

117
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what consultation the Lord Chancellor's Department has conducted regarding the appointment of individuals to courts administration councils.

(102654)

118   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the administrative costs were of the Northern Ireland Office as a percentage of total spending since 1999.

(103810)

119
N   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the decision was made to provide funding for soccer in Northern Ireland; and who made that decision.

(103187)

120
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Cannock Chase, of 11th March, Official Report, column 156W, if he will list the individual sums of public money paid for (a) salaries, listing the offices held, (b) expenses and (c) Short Money; and what the value was of services in kind to the Conservative Party since 1997.

(103339)

121   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Prime Minister, whether he has revised his assessment of the threat posed by Iraq to the UK, following the statement on 7th March by the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency; if he will make a statement of the source for his assertion that Saddam Hussein has been trying to buy significant quantities of uranium from Africa; and what action he is taking to verify intelligence documents which he has relied upon in forming policy.

(103874)

122   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the administrative costs were of the Scotland Office as a percentage of total spending since 1999.

(103809)

123
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge & West Devon): To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make a statement on her role and responsibilities for providing legal advice to this House.

(103642)

124
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidance she has issued to the assessors of applications for funding to the LINK Programme in respect of the provision of feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

(101877)

125
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications for funding have been made to the LINK Programme in the current financial year; and what the (a) name, (b) subject and (c) cost is of each application which has been approved.

(101878)

126
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what management arrangements she has established for processing applications under the LINK Programme; and if she will make a statement.

(101879)

127   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with Corus regarding the UK steel industry; and what support and assistance she can provide to the UK steel sector.

(103859)

128   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the steel tariffs imposed by the US Government; and what discussions she has had with the US Government in relation to removing the tariffs on steel.

(103858)

129   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what impact she estimates the present difficulties in the UK steel industry will have on production for military contracts.

(103860)

130
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the total cost of the Your Guide project in post offices.

(103541)

131
N   Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received in opposition to the de-trunking of the A696 in Northumberland; and if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposal.

(102843)

132   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, columns 254-6, on London Underground, if he will provide figures for each (a) month and (b) week since March 2002 for which figures are available.

(103793)

133   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many lorry movements he expects to divert from Hull to Rosyth as a result of his Department's grant assistance for new RO-RO facilities in Rosyth.

(103839)

134
N   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he intends to publish the findings of his Department's review of the use of motorised wheelchairs on the highway.

(103736)

135
N   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce a requirement in law for compulsory third party insurance for users of motorised wheelchairs; and if he will make a statement.

(103640)

136
N   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received from (a) pedestrians and (b) motorists on the unsafe and dangerous use of motorised wheelchairs; and if he will make a statement.

(103639)

137   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what have been the administrative costs of the Wales Office as a percentage of total spending since 1999.

(103812)

138   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what public appointments have been made by holders of his office since June 1999 (a) individually and (b) jointly with other ministers.

(103813)

139   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the progress being made on Wales Office participation in the Knowledge Network project.

(103814)

140   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how his Department defines living in poverty; how many households (a) in the UK and (b) in each region are classified as having been in poverty in (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02; and how many households are expected to be in poverty in (A) 2002-03, (B) 2003-04, (C) 2004-05 and (D) 2005-06.

(103806)

141   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps have been taken to promote the use of (a) a Post Office card account, (b) a current account and (c) a basic account for receiving benefit payments following the introduction of ACT; and if he will make a statement.

(103801)

142   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to allow sub-postmasters to advise people on whether to open a Post Office card account for receiving benefit payments; and if he will make a statement.

(103802)

143
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will extend the scope of the Statutory Money Purchase Illustration Regulations that come into force on 6th April to include pensions sold to the public after that date.

(103544)

144
N   Mrs Marion Roe (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the honourable Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 18th December 2002, 16th January, 14th February and 13th March relating to the adoption of the approved code of practice on passive smoking at work.

(103688)

145   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 10th March, Official Report, column 94W, on the state pension, what assumptions on take up of the pension credit he made in coming to his answer; what other assumptions not listed in the footnotes were made for the purpose of arriving at his answer; and if he will make a statement.

(103816)

146   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many households received free TV licences in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02, broken down by type of licence; how many households are expected to receive free TV licences in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05 and (iv) 2005-06; and what the cost has been.

[Transferred] (103805)