Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 21 March 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 21 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.

FRIDAY 21st MARCH

1   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what special arrangements are in place for the payment of national insurance contributions for supermarket employees.

(104439)

2   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the number of self-employed workers in the UK in the last five years; and what proportion of workers this represents in each year.

(104437)

3   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the number of employees in supermarkets who are self-employed.

(104438)

4   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether officials from (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise who have access to records relating to electronic contacts between individuals have access to the content of such contacts; under what powers in (i) the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and (ii) other legislation access is permitted; how many requests for access were made in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(104521)

5   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to secure a common definition of employment status for tax, national insurance, tax credit and VAT purposes.

(104725)

6   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what pilots he has conducted under the European Directive on VAT reduction tested; what the results were; and how these results compare with similar pilots in other EU states.

(104727)

7   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of VAT evasion in the building repairs and maintenance industry Customs and Excise have (a) investigated and (b) secured additional VAT payments from in the last three financial years.

(104726)

8   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has introduced to compensate private welfare agencies for the loss of input VAT recovery as a result of changes to VAT exemption.

(104531)

9   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what notice was given of changes to VAT exemption for welfare services.

(104529)

10   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to treat the provision of welfare services as being zero rated for VAT purposes rather than exempt.

(104530)

11   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 19th March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

(104559)

12   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the aggregates levy on (a) companies in the extraction industries, (b) the environment in the vicinity of quarries and (c) the quantity of recycled building materials being used.

(104544)

13   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purpose the table Cost of European flights appears in section 3.7 of the current Treasury Budgeting Guidance; and if he will make a statement.

(104429)

14   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether costs incurred by the United Kingdom in providing emergency, reconstruction and other forms of aid in post-conflict Iraq will be met by diverting funds from existing spending programmes within the budget of the Department for International Development.

(104681)

15   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Romsey, of 28th February, Official Report, column 747W, on the Child Tax Credit, what the source is for the estimate on childcare tax credit take-up.

(104534)

16   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14th March, Official Report, column 429W, on regional cultural consortiums, if she will estimate the administrative costs for each consortium for (a) January to April 2003 and (b) financial year 2003-04.

(104701)

17   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17th March, Official Report, column 516W, on the Arts Council of England, what the (a) total administrative cost, (b) total grant-in-aid allocation, (c) regional administrative cost and (d) regional grant-in-aid allocation has been in each financial year since 1999-2000.

(104700)

18   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures she will introduce to allow (a) hearing impaired and (b) other disabled people to use digital TV, radio and telephone services.

(104528)

19   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect the Licensing Bill will have on the playing of (a) darts, (b) pool, (c) skittles and (d) other games in public houses.

(104422)

20   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations her Department has received on the impact of the Licensing Bill on games in public houses; and if she will make a statement.

(104423)

21   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th March, Official Report, column 530W, on Land Sales (Ashford), what the potential clawback in the sale of part of Ashford barracks to the Westbury Homes and Wimpey consortium was; and if he will make a statement.

(104629)

22   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rules he has made about serving members of the armed forces talking to the media; and what plans he has for revising them.

(104563)

23   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations have been made to him about the operation of the (a) PAX and (b) RPAX insurance schemes; and what plans he has to augment these schemes for reservists being called up during the current crisis.

(104674)

24   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) recommended time is and (b) average time has been between reservists' arrival at their designated mobilisation centre and their deployment.

(104671)

25   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what counselling and support services are available to the partners and families of reservists who have been called up for action the armed forces; and what plans there are to extend existing counselling and support services to cater for the partners and families of reservists who have been called up for action in the armed forces.

(104677)

26   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many mobilisation centres there are for each of the armed forces in (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Teesside and (c) the UK.

(104670)

27   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) recommended and (b) average times are between reservists being called up for duty and their arrival at the designated mobilisation centre.

(104680)

28   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to alter insurance provision for serving members of the armed forces when the existing PAX and RPAX insurance schemes expire.

(104675)

29   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what point in the call up process reservists are given information about insurance schemes available to members of the armed forces.

(104678)

30   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average age is of reservists called up to each of the armed forces.

(104672)

31   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists from (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Teesside and (c) the UK (i) have been called up, (ii) are in mobilisation centres for, and (iii) have been deployed to each of the armed forces.

(104679)

32   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what emergency measures are in place to ensure that reservists called up for regular service during times of conflict are not unduly penalised financially; and how these measures have changed since 1996.

(104676)

33   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information is made available to reservists at the time they sign up for reserve service in the armed forces about the financial measures in place following call-up.

(104673)

34   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists in Shrewsbury and Atcham have been called up from (a) the health profession, (b) the education profession, (c) transport services and (d) emergency services.

(104617)

35   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the United States on the use of British forces in a peace keeping role under NATO as part of the road map for peace in the Middle East.

(104668)

36   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to amend the Armed Forces Act 1955.

(104716)

37   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the cannisters washed up at Hurst in the western Solent last week and removed by the Royal Navy.

(104646)

38   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) funded into new types of munitions to be used by United Kingdom forces to replace (i) cluster weapons and (ii) weapons containing depleted uranium.

(104684)

39   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many United Kingdom military personnel are serving with the United Nations Command in Korea.

(104682)

40   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proposals he has to create lower council tax bands for residents of park homes.

(104436)

41   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received regarding the setting of lower council tax bands for residents of park homes.

(104435)

42   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of council tax collection and enforcement to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

(104516)

43   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the administrative costs of each (a) Regional Development Agency and (b) Government Office for the Region was in financial year 1999-2000; and what estimate he has made of their administrative costs in 2003-04.

(104655)

44   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) annual budget and (b) regional budget for each area-based initiative operating in the East Midlands region in each year since 2000.

(104641)

45   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the funding for the New Deal for Communities for each Government office of the region in financial year 2003-04.

(104642)

46   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 327W, on regional chambers, what the total funding given to each chamber was for financial year 1999-2000; and what the total funding given to the English Regions Network was in each financial year since 1999-2000.

(104640)

47   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list area-based initiatives operating in the North West region, giving the (a) annual budget and (b) regional budget for each in each year since 2002.

(104517)

48   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of progress in handing over the Millennium Dome to Anschutz Entertainment Group; when he expects the handover to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(104425)

49   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the monthly running costs of the Millennium Dome were in the last six months.

(104424)

50   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of (a) the capacity of Shropshire's Fire Service to maintain fire cover during the Fire Brigades Union strike on 20th March and (b) the number of military personnel able to provide fire cover.

(104619)

51   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many plans were (a) Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and (b) Kent County Council required to submit to central government in each year since 1997.

(104695)

52   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of central funding provided to (a) Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and (b) Kent County Council was ring-fenced in each year since 1997.

(104693)

53   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what (a) type and (b) value of (i) specific and (ii) special grants have been provided by central government to (a) Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and (b) Kent County Council in each year since 1997.

(104694)

54   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many public service agreements were entered into by (a) Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and (b) Kent County Council; and what level of funding has been provided that is contingent on them in each of the past two years.

(104691)

55   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many local partnerships were formed by (a) Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and (b) Kent County Council to implement central government initiatives; and what the level of funding for each was in each year since 1997.

(104692)

56   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the existing green-belt land in South Bedfordshire District Council will be maintained as such.

(104540)

57   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his written ministerial statement, of 5th March, Official Report, columns 82-83WS, on Social Exclusion Unit projects, whether he plans to publish the report on helping people into work in the most deprived areas in England before the end of 2003.

(104532)

58   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the authorised uses of the pupil identification number are; whether the use of the pupil identification number for non-education purposes is permitted; if he will bring forward legislation to prevent the use of the number for non-education purposes; and if he will make a statement.

(104519)

59   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money he has allocated to compensate for deficits in public sector pension schemes.

(104527)

60   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the expenditure per full-time equivalent pupil in English local education authority maintained (a) pre-primary, (b) primary and (c) secondary schools in 2002-03, broken down by authority.

(104506)

61   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average class size was for classes taught by one teacher in each year since 1999 for (a) pupils in Key Stage 1, (b) pupils in Key Stage 2, (c) primary schools and (d) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) each parliamentary constituency.

(104507)

62   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the completion rate was for students from (a) I Professional, (b) II Intermediate, (c) IIIN Skilled Non-Manual, (d) IIIM Skilled Manual, (e) IV Semi-skilled Manual, (f) V Unskilled and (g) unknown socio-economic backgrounds at universities in England in each academic year since 1997.

(104708)

63   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many part-time students in the 2002-03 higher education intake in England were eligible for the new package of grant support for part-time students.

(104705)

64   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students in the 2002-03 intake in higher education in England and Wales are estimated to come from families with an income under (a) £10,000 and (b) £20,480 per annum.

(104652)

65   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time students in the 2002-03 higher education intake estimated to have come from households with family income of less than £10,000 are (i) under the age of 21, (ii) under the age of 25, (iii) under the age of 30 and (iv) over the age of 30.

(104706)

66   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the completion rate for degrees was in each academic year since 1997.

(104703)

67   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, from which universities he has received representations recommending the setting of tuition fee levels at above £3,000 per annum; and what those representations were.

(104627)

68   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the (a) initial entry rate, (b) drop-out rate and (c) participation rate for higher education institutions in England was in each academic year since 1997.

(104707)

69   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many mature students have (a) applied for, (b) taken up, (c) dropped out of and (d) completed a degree course at universities in England in each academic year since 1997.

(104704)

70   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have access to the internet; and how many of these have access to the broadband internet.

(104588)

71   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures the Department has introduced to improve schoolchildren's access to computer technology.

(104587)

72   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schoolchildren there are with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) North East and (d) England.

(104584)

73   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what procedures are in place to identify schoolchildren with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

(104585)

74   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures have been introduced to help schoolchildren with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

(104586)

75   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether student musicians will be exempted from increased tuition fees.

(104508)

76   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 301W, on Sure Start, what the values of (a) [x] and (b) [y] in the technical note are; and if he will make a statement.

(104373)

77   Angela Watkinson (Upminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria are used in defining a local authority area as high cost for teacher recruitment purposes; and for what reasons Havering does not qualify as a high cost area.

(104375)

78   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will place in the Library a copy of the memorandum of understanding between the Learning and Skills Councils and the Local Government Association referred to in Making a difference—Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Schools—Second Report, published in March.

(104415)

79   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will place a copy of the flowchart of the specialist schools application procedure in the Library.

(104417)

80   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average class size was for (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each constituency in each of the last six academic years.

(104510)

81   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which databases and data sets key agencies have appropriate access to, as referred to in the document Making a difference-Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Schools-Second Report, published in March; and which agencies have had such access since October 2002.

(104416)

82   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the allocated programme costs are for each internal directorate of his Department in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.

(104419)

83   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what he estimates to be the cost of the joint LEA and DfES awareness campaign, to be run in April, to highlight key messages on attendance monitoring to local education authorities.

(104418)

84   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many qualified educational psychologists there were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the extent to which the need for qualified educational psychologists has been met in each of the last five years.

(104421)

85   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost of reaching each of the targets outlined in Making a difference—Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Schools— Second Report, published in March.

(104413)

86   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many educational psychologist training scheme places were available in each of the last five years; and how many were taken up.

(104420)

87   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress is being made in reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds from solvents.

(104549)

88   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the environmental consequences of the disposal of batteries.

(104548)

89   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking (a) to reduce waste arisings and (b) to facilitate the re-use of such arisings from the (i) agriculture, (ii) mining and quarrying, (iii) commercial and (iv) demolition and construction sectors.

(104546)

90   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is in respect of the introduction of a combined heat and power obligation.

(104553)

91   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of batteries were recycled in each year since 1997.

(104547)

92   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the initiatives undertaken by her Department since its inception to promote combined heat and power.

(104552)

93   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the ability of the private sector to achieve the targets for combined heat and power contained in the Energy White Paper.

(104556)

94   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the incidence of eutrophication in rivers.

(104545)

95   Mr Keith Bradley (Manchester, Withington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much compensation was given to farmers for (a) foot and mouth, (b) CJD and (c) animal disposal in each year since 1990 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

(104509)

96   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18th March, Official Report, column 639W, on English Nature, if she will estimate (a) the administrative cost for English Nature broken down by Government Region for financial year 2003-04 and (b) the amount spent in English Nature's Headquarters on the regions for financial year 2003-04.

(104699)

97   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held on 17th and 18th March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

(104558)

98   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the reasons for the absence of signs at Gatwick airport to warn travellers about regulations on the import of meat.

(104645)

99   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the budgets were in 2001-02 of (a) the Agricultural Wages Board, (b) the Agricultural Wages Committee England, (c) the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, (d) the UK Register of Organic Food Standards, (e) the Wine Standards Board of the Vintner's Company, (f) the Agricultural Dwelling House Authority, (g) the Hill Farming Advisory Committee, (h) the National Rural Development Forum, (i) the Rural Affairs Forum, (j) the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee, (k) Regional Flood Defence Committees and (l) the Regional Environmental Protection Advisory Committees; and if she will make a statement.

(104434)

100   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the marketing budgets were in 2001-02 of (a) the Meat and Livestock Commission, (b) Food from Britain, (c) the Sea Fish Industry Authority, (d) the Home Grown Cereals Authority, (e) the Milk Development Council and (f) the British Potato Council; and if she will make a statement.

(104432)

101   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 13th February, Official Report, column 884W, on Public Service Agreement, if she will publish the efficiency plans for each business area; and if she will make a statement.

(104372)

102   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Cuba.

(104583)

103   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his policy on the future of the UN Commission for Compensation; how much the outstanding claims are; and whether they will be paid.

(104533)

104   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on human rights in Turkey; and which cases were discussed.

(104631)

105   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he is having with the Greek government on resolving the conflict in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

(104634)

106   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Spain regarding Gibraltar; and what subjects were discussed.

(104632)

107   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the landmine clearance programme in Kosovo has been completed.

(104633)

108   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) men and (b) women have (i) appeared, (ii) been convicted and (iii) been sentenced at the war crimes tribunal in the Hague, broken down by nationality.

(104630)

109   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it is his policy to support a request by Taiwan to be given observer status at the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

(104635)

110   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for each British post abroad which operates a pre-sift system for people applying for visit visas, how many people (a) were advised to withdraw their applications and (b) followed that advice in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003 up to the latest date for which figures are available.

(104412)

111   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the United States on the use of NATO peacekeepers as part of the road map for peace in the Middle East.

(104669)

112   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on bilateral diplomatic relations with France.

(104710)

113   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with United States, European and Asian counterparts on North Korea in the last month.

(104683)

114
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 593W, on correspondence, when he will provide a substantive reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Walsall North of 16th December, ref GV100/79888/NS (98396).

(104351)

115   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures there are to monitor whether a terminally ill patient has received an assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia from (a) a member of the health care team and (b) a family member.

(104536)

116   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures are in place for NHS Direct staff dealing with patients' enquiries relating to assisted suicides or voluntary euthanasia.

(104537)

117   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS-funded training programmes provide guidance on dealing with patient requests for a medically assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia.

(104560)

118   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the authorised uses of the NHS number are; whether the use of the NHS number for non-NHS purposes is permitted; if he will bring forward legislation to limit the use of the number for non-NHS purposes; and if he will make a statement.

(104518)

119   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the decision was taken to devolve commissioning responsibility for head and brain injury rehabilitation services to health authorities and primary care trusts; and what assessment he is undertaking of the impact of that devolution on service provision.

(104721)

120   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds there are in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

(104525)

121   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients admitted to accident and emergency in Hull and East Yorkshire in the last 12 months waited longer than 12 hours prior to admission, transfer or discharge.

(104526)

122   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people who became ill from infection caused by travelling by plane, broken down by (a) common cold, (b) influenza and (c) other illnesses, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(104489)

123   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the (a) training and (b) criminal records checks undergone by nurses used by NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement.

(104648)

124   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what national deadlines were set for the expansion of NHS Professionals between November 2000 and January 2003.

(104649)

125   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the adequacy of the (a) facilities and (b) IT systems to support NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement.

(104651)

126   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the funding of NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement.

(104650)

127   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of patients waited less than 20 minutes for thrombolysis after arriving in hospital in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each NHS trust at the latest date for which statistics are available.

(104411)

128   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received and what research he has evaluated on the impact on human health caused by the presence of acrylamide in certain cooked foods; what action he proposes to take as a result; and if he will make a statement.

(104562)

129
N   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what limitations there are on the hours of NHS staff screening for cervical cancer.

(104188)

130   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on digital hearing aid provision on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(104561)

131   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what contingency plans the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is making for (a) cover for health professionals called up to serve in the Territorial Army and (b) the possibility of terrorist attacks.

(104618)

132   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the vetting of taxi drivers used as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust.

(104620)

133   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the employment of unlicensed taxi drivers as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust.

(104621)

134   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that drivers employed as sub-contractors are persons who can be trusted with the safety of their passengers.

(104622)

135   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the employment of taxi firms without an operator's licence as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust.

(104623)

136   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that vehicles used by taxi firms as sub-contractors are in a condition to transport patients safely.

(104624)

137   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that firms employed as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust hold an operator's licence.

(104625)

138   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Essex Ambulance Trust on the use of sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the Trust.

(104626)

139   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive the UK screening report into Type 2 High Risk diabetic screening.

(104569)

140   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he has received from the Medicines Control Agency about the possible link between the use of the drug Seroxat and suicide.

(104566)

141   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the withdrawal of the antidepressant Seroxat.

(104567)

142   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many coroners have written to him expressing concerns about the drug Seroxat; and how many have called for urgent inquiries.

(104565)

143   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive advice from the results of the nine inner city area pilot sites for screening for those most at risk of developing diabetes.

(104570)

144   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which funds centrally administered by his Department are only disbursed on evidence of minimum levels of spending on information technology; and if he will make a statement.

(104428)

145   Angela Watkinson (Upminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding has been made available for cosmesis in prosthetic services at Harold Wood Disablement Services Centre at Harold Wood Hospital in each of the last three years.

(104374)

146   Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) names and (b) fees for each contract of the management consultants currently employed by the NHS; and if he will make a statement on their role within the NHS.

(104654)

147
N   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on Government progress in persuading non-EU countries to host British asylum application processing centres.

(104239)

148   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what initiatives are being undertaken by the Experience Corps for volunteering in the constituency of Buckingham.

(104686)

149   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the Experience Corps that have been set up in the constituency of Buckingham; and how much funding each corps has received.

(104687)

150   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many enquiries he has received from residents of the Buckingham constituency about setting up Experience Corps in the last 12 months.

(104690)

151   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what initiatives are planned for the constituency of Buckingham funded by the Active Community Unit; and what target he has for involvement in volunteering of residents in the constituency.

(104689)

152
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many outstanding (a) standard and (b) enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosures there were in each of the last three months; and how many were over (i) three weeks and (ii) six weeks old in each month.

(103938)

153   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the terms of reference given to the privacy experts consulted in relation to the draft Code of Practice concerning access to communications data; what the cost was of this consultation; whether these experts were consulted in relation to the draft Code of Practice concerning the retention of communications data; and if he will make a statement.

(104406)

154   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what items of personal data which the Security Service has released to data subjects following requests under the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(104409)

155   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff the Interception of Communications Commissioner will have to supervise those who have access to communications data under the draft Code of Practice; and if he will make a statement.

(104407)

156   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with Wandsworth Borough Council on the Borough's policy on paying benefits to people living in the Borough and seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

(104636)

157   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women accused of being involved in terrorist activities are being held in prisons in England and Wales; and how many of those being held have appeared before a magistrate's court.

(104637)

158
N   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimates he has made of the need for funding to combat domestic violence against women in Surrey.

(104095)

159
N   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money has been received by Surrey councils to combat domestic violence in each of the last five years.

(104096)

160
N   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what sources of Government funding are available for councils to combat domestic violence who do not receive money under the Violence Against Women initiative.

(104097)

161   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Wellington in Somerset falls within the cluster area of Taunton and Bridgwater with respect to the housing of asylum seekers by the National Asylum Support Service.

(104698)

162   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18th March, Official Report, column 697W, on asylum seekers, whether it is a rule or a guideline that accommodation must be located within the defined area of a cluster.

(104702)

163   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of accidents caused each year by driving under the influence of drugs.

(104590)

164   John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which EU countries have compulsory drug-testing on arrest; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of adopting this policy.

(104589)

165   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff employed by the Audit Commission were responsible for inspecting the work of the police force in each year since 1997.

(104697)

166   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff were employed by (a) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, (b) the Police Standards Unit and (c) the Police Complaints Authority in each year since 1997; and how many were directly involved in inspections in each case.

(104696)

167   Mr Sio(r)n Simon (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes will be made to the definition of public funds in Rule 6 of the Immigration Rules to reflect (a) the forthcoming abolition of certain benefits and (b) the introduction of new Tax Credits.

(104440)

168   Mr Sio(r)n Simon (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a claim under the terms of Regulation 3(2) of The Tax Credits (Immigration) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003, No 653, by a couple including a person who is subject to immigration control will not be considered to be a breach of any restriction contained in a visa.

(104441)

169   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent research his Department has undertaken on the proportion of police resources deployed for frontline use compared to other countries; and if he will make a statement.

(104431)

170   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has undertaken on the density of police officers in the UK per (a) area and (b) head of population; which of these studies contained international comparisons; and if he will make a statement.

(104430)

171   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) heroin, (b) cannabis and (c) other illegal drugs used within the United Kingdom which come from Afghanistan.

(104685)

172
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Walsall North of 4th February regarding a constituent, ref 3664/3.

(104350)

173   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional funding her Department has allocated for the use of military quick impact projects in the period immediately after conflict in Iraq.

(104358)

174   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department will provide to the UN Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the event of war in Iraq.

(104365)

175   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department estimates to be the annual recurrent costs of maintaining a high level of preparedness for UN agencies.

(104362)

176   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimates her Department has made with the (a) Ministry of Defence, (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (c) Treasury on the possible costs of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict in Iraq.

(104354)

177   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many metric tonnes of food her Department estimates will be needed by the end of March for the Iraqi population; and how many metric tonnes of food she estimates will be available by the end of March.

(104369)

178   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whom her Department has seconded as full time Civil-Military Humanitarian Advisor to the Headquarters of UK 1 Division in Kuwait.

(104360)

179   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) governments and (b) international organisations her Department expects will contribute immediate humanitarian assistance in Iraq in the event of war.

(104367)

180   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the humanitarian response needed for Iraq in the event of any conflict she estimates will be covered by the sums provided by her Department to the (a) UNCHR, (b) UNICEF, (c) WFP, (d) WHO and (e) UNSECOORD.

(104363)

181   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what advice her Department has given the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces on how best to discharge their humanitarian responsibilities under the (a) Hague and (b) Geneva Conventions.

(104356)

182   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what responsibilities the military will have for the initial delivery of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict with Iraq.

(104359)

183   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to which governments her Department has made representations on contingency planning for the event of war in Iraq.

(104366)

184   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the number of Iraqi civilians likely to die from hunger and disease as a result of military conflict.

(104371)

185   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on how military strategy can minimise and mitigate the risks of conflict to the Iraqi people.

(104355)

186   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what preparations her Department has made to allow non-governmental organisations safe access to endangered populations in Iraq in the event of conflict.

(104370)

187   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what advice her Department has given the National Component Headquarters in Qatar on the humanitarian consequences of an Iraq conflict.

(104361)

188   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what effort her Department is making with (a) international financial institutions and (b) the international community to ensure that there is a suitable UN mandate in place to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort in Iraq in the event of conflict.

(104368)

189   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what secondments her Department is making to support the UN Joint Logistic Centre in the event of war with Iraq.

(104364)

190   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional contingency funds and expertise her Department has been granted to support the direct delivery of impartial humanitarian assistance by the international humanitarian community.

(104357)

191   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department intends to take to monitor the activities of the aid community in post-war Iraq.

(104377)

192   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with HM Treasury concerning Britain's financial burden in Iraq in the event that war-related infrastructure damage causes a significant reduction in oil revenue.

(104388)

193   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received concerning the return of external investors to Iraq after the end of any military campaign.

(104385)

194   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what evaluation she has made of the impact of the suspension of the UN Oil for Food programme on civilians' food needs in Iraq.

(104380)

195   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received concerning the protection of food supplies to Iraq in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq.

(104381)

196   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with EU member states concerning collective involvement in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq.

(104376)

197   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the current total volume is of unspent oil revenues in the escrow account of the UN oil-for-food programme; and what representations she has received concerning its distribution in the coming months.

(104393)

198   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures her Department will take to publish audited accounts in relation to the administration of aid funds in post-war Iraq.

(104387)

199   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has and steps she is taking to ensure that Iraq does not develop a long-term dependency on aid.

(104384)

200   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the nomination of an Iraqi national to administer Iraq's aid programme, with special reference to the oil for food programme.

(104379)

201   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the protection of Iraqi oil production facilities in the event of military action in Iraq.

(104392)

202   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received concerning the expansion of the oil for food programme to pay for reconstruction costs in Iraq.

(104389)

203   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure the protection of food supplies to Iraq in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq.

(104382)

204   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether a relief programme will come under the Prime Minister's plans for an oil revenue trust fund for the Iraqi people.

(104383)

205   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department intends to take in order to ensure that food distribution in post-war Iraq remains apolitical.

(104378)

206   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she plans and is taking to ensure that there is a satisfactory level of independent auditing of Iraq's oil for food programme in the aftermath of conflict.

(104386)

207   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received from non-governmental organisations regarding her Department's assistance with the provision of humanitarian relief in post conflict Iraq.

(104390)

208   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs concerning the coordination of the military and humanitarian strategy in the event of military action in Iraq.

(104391)

209   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reasons aid to Bangladesh decreased between 2000-01 and 2001-02; and whether it will be increased to the 2000-01 level in 2003-04.

(104643)

210   James Purnell (Stalybridge & Hyde): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to increase the effectiveness of the targetting at poverty reduction of EU development assistance.

(104573)

211   Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if the Lord Chancellor will ensure that Legal Services Commission funding for not-for-profit agencies continues to guarantee RPI increases in salary scales; and if he will make a statement.

(104505)

212   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether parents were informed of their child's participation in the Programme for International Student Assessment; and how parental consent was obtained.

(104515)

213   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the results of the (a) 2003 and (b) previous Programme for International Student Assessment will be considered by the review into the future of post primary education in Northern Ireland.

(104514)

214   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the objective is of the Programme for International Student Assessment; when it was authorised; and by whom.

(104511)

215   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total cost is of the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment.

(104513)

216   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which schools in Northern Ireland participated in the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA); on what basis these schools were selected; and what average length of time was taken for each school to complete the PISA.

(104512)

217   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what area of land is under organic management in Northern Ireland.

(104557)

218   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will instruct a minister from his Department to meet representatives of the grammar school sector in Northern Ireland to discuss arrangements relating to selection and entry to those schools; and if he will make a statement.

(104647)

219   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will amend the Ministerial Code to prevent ministers from attempting (a) to procure or prevent the appointment of any individual journalist to a position in the media and (b) to secure the promotion or dismissal of any individual journalist.

(104550)

220   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the ability of the present structure of Government departments, and allocation of responsibilities, to deliver sound environmental policies across Government.

(104555)

221   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the complaints made by him and his staff against (a) individual journalists and (b) media outlets since July 2001.

(104551)

222   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Prime Minister, how many meetings he has had with representatives of (a) the DUP, (b) the UUP, (c) the SDLP and (d) Sinn Fein since 13th January.

(104644)

223   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 18th March, Official Report, columns 761-2, on the information provided by Hussein Kamal on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, if he will place in the Library the text of the interview.

(104714)

224   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the procedure for announcing the appointment of the Master of the Queen's Music.

(104394)

225   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to her Answer of 17th March, Official Report, columns 515-16, on Iraq, whether the Attorney General provided the information contained in paragraphs 1-7 on his legal note on Iraq: Legal Basis for the Use of Force, to the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations in advance of Sir Jeremy Greenstock's remarks to the United Nations Security Council on UNSC Resolution 1441 (2002) on 8th November 2002.

(104715)

226   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason electricity from combined heat and power sources fed into the National Grid is subject to the Renewable Obligation.

(104554)

227
N   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the recent Office of Fair Trading report containing proposals to abolish the control of entry regulations for pharmacies.

(104240)

228   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what review of the availability of the small firms loans guarantee scheme she has carried out; and what the outcome was.

(104723)

229   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many loans were made under the small firms loans guarantee scheme in each region and nation of the UK in the last three financial years; and what the average size of loan was.

(104724)

230   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with Wainstones Ltd about the power station site at Langage, Plymouth; and if she will make a statement.

(104709)

231   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what rate of return will be expected on the trading fund of the Export Credit Guarantee Department; what proportion of guarantees by value she expects it to cover; and if she will make a statement.

(104427)

232   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the outstanding contingent liabilities of the Export Credit Guarantee Department; and if she will make a statement.

(104426)

233   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 24th February to the honourable Member for Dagenham, Official Report, column 298W, if he will list the bodies being consulted as part of his review of the 1999 Sactra report on Transport and the Environment.

(104653)

234   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the risk of a birdstrike to aircraft at the proposed Cliffe airport.

(104717)

235   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional research has been commissioned since the publication of the consultation on the future development of air transport in the South East on the risk of birdstrike to aircraft at the proposed Cliffe airport; and if he will publish the results.

(104718)

236   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many 20 metre high telecommunication masts (a) have been erected and (b) are planned in each Network Rail area; and what the purpose is of the masts.

(104539)

237   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which local authorities have challenged Network Rail's assumption that they have permitted development rights to erect their 20 metre high masts on Railtrack land; and whether local authorities have been successful in insisting that planning permission must be sought.

(104538)

238   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many names and addresses of vehicle (a) owners and (b) keepers have been disclosed over the last two years by the DVLA to a third party by virtue of that party showing reasonable cause for the disclosure; and if he will make a statement on (i) the number of cases where disclosure was made but was subsequently shown to be not for a reasonable cause and (ii) the action taken in such cases.

(104522)

239   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he (a) has had and (b) plans with members of York Council on the Rail Passenger Scheme proposed for new stations at Haxby and Strensall.

(104496)

240   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the total level of Rail Passenger Partnership funding to be paid by the Strategic Rail Authority during the financial year 2003-04, with particular reference to the nature of the schemes to which any such funding would be directed.

(104493)

241   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) amount and (b) source of funding (i) paid, (ii) contracted and (iii) agreed to be paid by non Strategic Rail Authority sources to supplement output statement (A) track and signalling, and (B) station schemes which have been (1) approved, (2) deferred and (3) cancelled.

(104498)

242   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research has been conducted into the link between ill-health from infection and travelling by plane; and if he will make a statement.

(104487)

243   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) research his Department has conducted and (b) action has been taken related to the recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome and the air industry.

(104484)

244   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) amount and (b) source of funding (i) paid, (ii) contracted and (iii) agreed to be paid by non Strategic Rail Authority sources, to supplement the Rail Passenger Partnership schemes set out on page 23 of the Strategic Rail Authority Annual Report 2001-02.

(104491)

245   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) amount and (b) source of funding (i) paid, (ii) contracted and (iii) agreed to be paid by non Strategic Rail Authority sources to supplement Rail Passenger Partnership Scheme applications of 2002-03 which have been (A) approved, (B) deferred and (C) cancelled.

(104494)

246   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the past and future undertaking of funding for rail freight through (a) Freight Small Schemes Fund, (b) incremental output statements for freight, (c) freight facilities grant and (d) track access charges; and if he will make a statement.

(104503)

247   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 4th February, Official Report, column 141W, on the Rail Passengers' Council, if he will set a time limit for the Strategic Rail Authority to supply the information sought.

(104410)

248   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the Strategic Rail Authority Performance Fund schemes (a) which have commenced, (b) where feasibility studies (i) have been completed and (ii) are continuing, (c) which have been placed on hold and (d) have been cancelled, indicating in each case funding from the Strategic Rail Authority (A) awarded, (B) approved and (C) projected in 2003-04

(104500)

249   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) legislation and (b) regulations govern travel by people with suspected infectious ill-health (i) from and within the UK and (ii) arriving in the UK on board aircraft.

(104504)

250   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the Strategic Rail Authority Freight Small Schemes Fund schemes (a) which have commenced, (b) where feasibility studies (i) have been completed and (ii) are continuing, (c) which have been placed on hold and (d) which have been cancelled, indicating in each case funding from the Strategic Rail Authority, (A) awarded, (B) approved and (C) projected in 2003-04.

(104501)

251   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) legislation there is and (b) measures are taken to prevent travellers with suspected infectious ill-health from travelling (i) from the UK and (ii) to the UK on board aircraft.

(104486)

252   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on future funding of Rail Passenger Partnership schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(104495)

253   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list those (a) councils and (b) rail passenger groups from which he has received representations since the publication of the Strategic Rail Authority Strategic Plan 2003; and what the nature of each representation was.

(104497)

254   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) location, (b) nature of the schemes, (c) amount of funding requested and (d) current stage of approval of Rail Passenger Partnership applications made to the Strategic Rail Authority in 2002-03, broken down into those (i) rejected, (ii) which reached pre-qualified status and (iii) which have had funding approved.

(104492)

255   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the past and future undertaking of incremental output statement (a) track and signalling and (b) station schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(104499)

256   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from the freight industry on the (a) Freight Small Schemes Fund, (b) incremental output statements for freight, (c) freight facilities grant, (d) track access charges and (e) potential changes in funding for each, during the financial year 2003-04.

(104502)

257   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme applications received by the Strategic Rail Authority in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 classified as (i) medium and (ii) major applications which received pre-qualified status; and what the total funding requested was in each case.

(104490)

258   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role the unit for addressing health issues affecting air passengers and crew announced by his Department on 6th March will have in examining the relationship between ill-health from infection and travelling by plane; what other work is (a) being conducted and (b) planned into this relationship; and if he will make a statement.

(104485)

259   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statistics are collected on incidences of ill-health in the British population as a result of infection caused by travelling by plane.

(104488)

260   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason and at whose expense a wooden fence is being erected adjacent to the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway near junction 11; and what the total cost is of such work.

(104582)

261   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 13th March, Official Report, column 259W, on railways, when he plans to publish the conclusion of his Department's investigations into personal security on trains.

(104667)

262   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what impact he estimates the European Commission's White Paper: European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide will have upon the (a) flexibility and (b) profitability of taxi cab drivers in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(104541)

263   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how his Department will incorporate the proposals made in the Commission's White Paper: European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide into domestic legislation to ensure that road safety is improved.

(104542)

264   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that the financial cost of the proposals in the European Transport Policy for 2010 White Paper will not be carried by drivers in the UK.

(104543)

265   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) private companies, (b) charitable and voluntary and (c) public sector organisations in the Buckingham constituency have adopted the two ticks symbol.

(104688)

266   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 18th March, Official Report, column 41WS, on British Sign Language, what the discrete programme of initiatives to promote British Sign Language will consist of.

(104638)

267   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many places he commissioned at the Rehab UK brain injury rehabilitation centre in the North East in each of the last three full financial years; how many places were allocated this year; and how many are planned for 2003-04.

(104722)

268   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their (a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003-04.

(104719)

269   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of those on each option of the New Deal for Young People went into a sustained job in the East Riding of Yorkshire (a) since the scheme began broken down by year and (b) in the last quarter for which figures are available.

(104524)

270   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures he has taken to eradicate the lag time inherent in setting of the income support mortgage interest rate.

(104523)

271   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the statement on British Sign Language, Official Report, column 41WS, what initiatives are planned to support this Statement.

(104639)

272   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many working age people are in work; how many employees there are; how many people are self-employed; how many are covered by a state second pension; how many have a private pension; and how many have no private pension in 2002-03.

(104564)

273   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of combined pension forecasting on encouraging people to save for their retirement.

(104571)

274   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what timescale he has proposed to settle the outstanding public sector part-time workers' pension cases.

(104568)

275   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the use of the (a) Post Office card account, (b) basic bank account and (c) direct payment into personal bank account of pensions and benefits in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05 and (iii) 2005-06.

(104574)

276   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 335W, on the New Deal, how many individuals embarked upon test trading under (a) the New Deal for Young People and (b) the New Deal 25 Plus, in each period listed.

(104628)

277   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners draw their benefits at (a) post offices and (b) banks or building societies in the Havant constituency.

(104578)

278   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit recipients have been sent letters asking them how they wish to receive their benefits following the switch to automated credit transfer, broken down by benefit.

(104581)

279   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who are accruing entitlement to the basic state pension, including effective accrual through home responsiblities protection, are not accruing entitlement to the state second pension or a funded pension through contracting-out arrangements.

(104576)

280   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answers to the honourable Member for Pendle, of 3rd March, Official Report, columns 878-9W, and 4th March, Official Report, columns 895-6W, on file stores, for what reason the (a) number of staff employed in the Department's file stores and (b) the cost of those stores has increased since 1998-99, with particular reference to the rises prior to the Department's name change.

(104535)

281   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) male and (b) female employees of his Department, its predecessor and its executive agencies have been over state pension age in each year since 1997.

(104580)

282   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit recipients who have been sent letters asking them how they wish to receive benefits following the switch to automated credit transfer have opted for payment by (a) an existing account, (b) a Post Office card account, (c) a basic bank account and (d) the exceptions service.

(104579)

283   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in the Havant constituency have migrated from over-the-counter benefit payments to automated credit transfer in each of the last 12 months.

(104577)

284   Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the differences between the rules on accruing entitlement to (a) the basic state pension and (b) the state second pension.

(104575)

285   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the authorised uses of the national insurance number are; whether the use of the national insurance number for non-tax or non-benefit related purposes is permitted; if he will bring forward legislation to prevent the use of the number for non-tax or non-benefit related purposes; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (104520)

286   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the costs were of producing the video sent to all registered bodies detailing the application procedures of security vetting procedures for school staff.

[Transferred] (104414)

287   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their (a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003-04.

[Transferred] (104720)

288   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will bring forward legislation to activate the offence associated with Enforced Subject Access in the Data Protection Act 1998; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (104408)

289   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change has been in the level of unemployment in the constituency of Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber since May 1997.

[Transferred] (104572)