Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 10 April 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 10 April 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.

THURSDAY 10th APRIL

1   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many married couples' associated companies were affected in (a) 1996, (b) 1999 and (c) 2002 by the status of small companies tax relief introduced under the Finance Act 1972.

(108670)

2   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the status of married couples' associated companies in terms of small companies tax relief introduced under the Finance Act 1972.

(108671)

3   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates total central government spending on public sector IT will be over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

(108766)

4   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of customs duty applied to non-EU countries which import goods to the UK, with particular reference to the duty on goods imported from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.

(108034)

5   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether PFI and PPP building contracts have to meet environmental criteria set by his Department or by others, beyond the requirements of building regulations.

(108853)

6   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place to ensure that PFI and PPP building contracts meet high environmental standards.

(108852)

7
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people received income from self-employment (a) between £4,616 and £30,420 and (b) above £30,420 in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2002-03.

(108592)

8
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people excluding the self-employed he estimates will receive income from employment (a) between £4,616 and £30,940 and (b) above £30,940 in (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05.

(108591)

9   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to tax the gratuity a member of Her Majesty's armed forces receives when leaving the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

(108922)

10
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people excluding the self-employed received income from employment (a) between £4,616 and £30,420 and (b) above £30,420 in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2002-03.

(108590)

11
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were (a) starting rate, (b) basic rate and (c) higher rate tax payers in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2002-03; and how many he estimates will be in each category in (A) 2003-04 and (B) 2004-05 based on 2002-03 bandings.

(108589)

12
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people he estimates will receive income from self-employment (a) between £4,616 and £30,940 and (b) above £30,940 in (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05.

(108593)

13   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had regarding compulsory liability insurance with (a) the insurance industry, (b) British business representatives and (c) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

(108924)

14   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people he estimates in Suffolk are eligible for (a) the child tax credit and (b) the working tax credit; and how many people he estimates will take up these credits in 2003-04.

(108628)

15   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures, and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108856)

16   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Sport England's Lottery funding was allocated by its regional offices in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion was allocated by the central office of Sport England.

(108749)

17   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress is being made on the Digital Television Action Plan.

(108677)

18   Jim Knight (South Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the pill boxes which are being reviewed as part of English Heritage's Monuments Protection Programme.

(108879)

19   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff were employed by the (a) Broadcasting Standards Commission, (b) Independent Television Commission and (c) Radio Authority in each of the last five years; and what the annual budget was in each of those years in each case.

(108936)

20   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108871)

21   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision has been made by the British armed forces to clear unexploded bomblets from cluster bombs used in the war in Iraq.

(108684)

22   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research the Government has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned into the health effects of inhaling or ingesting depleted uranium dust.

(108685)

23   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed services personnel on average in the last five years were (a) barracked within the UK and (b) have a private residence that is not provided by the armed forces.

(108730)

24
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reserve notices have been issued to date.

(108203)

25
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel discharged following a manning control point review have been called up for service in all operations; and how many are currently serving on operations.

(108204)

26
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what procedures are in place for screening prisoners of war for diseases prior to their internment with other prisoners and contact with UK forces; and if he will make a statement.

(108205)

27   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what forms of Identification Friend or Foe equipment which distinguish between friendly and hostile ground forces have been evaluated by the Ministry of Defence; and whether he will introduce such a system.

(108851)

28   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the position regarding the possible sale to the US of the Chinook HC3 helicopters originally ordered for the RAF.

(108846)

29   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold an inquiry into the numbers of deaths of journalists during the current campaign in Iraq.

(108848)

30   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on incidences of friendly fire during the current campaign in Iraq.

(108849)

31   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has made to the USA concerning incidences of 'friendly fire' against British troops in Iraq.

(108850)

32   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered for the RAF (a) were delivered to the UK and (b) are flying in the UK.

(108847)

33   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance he will issue to members of the public who want to collect items and send them to (a) British service men and women serving in the Gulf and (b) Iraqi civilians including children, in order to assist their welfare; to what address items can be sent; what items are most needed by each group; what weight limits would be placed on any parcels; and when such deliveries may be likely to be appropriate.

(108903)

34   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108865)

35   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will publish a response to the consultation exercise on making tenancy deposit schemes mandatory.

(108742)

36   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to make it his policy to introduce enabling clauses for mandatory tenancy deposit schemes in this session.

(108743)

37   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the effects on users of closing the pilot project on the tenancy deposit schemes.

(108744)

38   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total value was of payments made to pay off overhanging debt in the financial years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

(108624)

39   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the level of discounts paid under the right-to-buy scheme was in the financial year 2002-03.

(108625)

40   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to raise the level of council tax as a percentage of total revenue expenditure.

(108750)

41   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the implementation of Supporting People; and which responsible authorities failed to fully implement Supporting People at the date of its commencement.

(108752)

42
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate the running of mobile home parks; and if he will make a statement.

(108518)

43   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the government grant per head for 2003-04 is for each London borough.

(108661)

44   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people in the Bury St Edmunds constituency have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy scheme; and what the total amount of funding was.

(108781)

45   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many retained firefighters there were at each fire station in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

(108782)

46   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Office, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108855)

47   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost to maintained schools of (a) setting up and (b) maintaining the ethnic monitoring programme required by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

(108844)

48   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to change the arrangement that allowed child carers to obtain a free Criminal Records Bureau check.

(108603)

49   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, based on latest admissions, whether he estimates that the universities of (a) Oxford, (b) Cambridge, (c) The London School of Economics, (d) Bristol and (e) The Royal Veterinary College would be allowed to charge top-up fees from the start if his proposals for higher education were implemented.

(108690)

50   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many supply teachers are working in (a) Jarrow, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England.

(108741)

51   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many supply teachers have worked in (a) Jarrow, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

(108740)

52   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the per pupil spending figure was in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) England in each year since 1997.

(108737)

53   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage supply teachers represent of the total number of teachers in (a) Jarrow, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England.

(108739)

54   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what capital spending there has been in schools in Amber Valley since May 1997.

(108736)

55   Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children in the (a) state maintained and (b) independent sector in Gloucestershire have statements in each year from year 1 to year 11.

(108772)

56   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will issue guidance to state-funded schools on flying the Union Flag on a daily basis.

(108669)

57   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of 16-18 year olds in (a) Suffolk and (b) Bury St Edmunds in education have gone on to further education in each of the last five years.

(108779)

58
N   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what new steps he is taking to improve the adult skills base of the UK workforce.

(108259)

59   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108866)

60
N   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications of an airport at Cliffe for sites designated under (a) the EU Birds Directive and (b) the EU Habitats Directive; and if she will make a statement.

(108435)

61   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what efforts her Department makes to trace the source of a bovine TB reactor in cases where the cattle was (a) not born on the holding and (b) brought onto the holding since the last bovine TB tests.

(108767)

62   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's latest estimate is of the number of (a) late bovine TB reactor tests and (b) bovine TB reactor cattle which were not collected within the Department's target collection time in each of the last 12 months for which records are available.

(108761)

63   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what animal welfare standards have been set by (a) her Department and (b) Professor John Bourne's scientific committee overseeing the Krebs field trials on bovine TB.

(108762)

64   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) earliest possible and (b) optimum time for the practical introduction of a vaccine to control the spread of bovine TB.

(108770)

65   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what efforts her Department is making to test cattle for bovine TB in those areas which have been restocked following the end of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.

(108747)

66   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of fallen stock in the last year which have been (a) removed by a hunt kennel, (b) buried on farm, (c) removed by the farmer to a rendering plant, (d) removed by contractor to a rendering plant, (e) subject to another form of off-farm disposal and (f) subject to other forms of on-farm disposal.

(108760)

67   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to alter the regularity of on farm bovine TB tests.

(108763)

68   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made in identifying a vaccine to assist in the control of bovine tuberculosis.

(106768)

69   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with (a) scientists undertaking research and development and (b) pharmaceutical companies regarding the timetable for developing a vaccine for the control of bovine TB within the last 12 months.

(108769)

70   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to make payments to farmers under (a) countryside stewardship, (b) environmentally sensitive and (c) other agri-environmental schemes.

(108765)

71   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice her Department has given to cooperative groups of neighbouring farmers assessing the prospect of purchasing jointly a biodigestor or incinerator to deal with fallen stock in respect of (a) siting and (b) the transport of dead stock from one member's farm to the farm on which the facility is sited.

(108774)

72   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) steps have been taken and (b) outcomes achieved to reduce the time taken to remove cattle which have had a bovine TB reactor from farms in (i) England, (ii) South-west region, (iii) Cornwall, (iv) Devon, (v) Gloucestershire and (vi) Staffordshire.

(108797)

73   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what payment levels are made under the (a) countryside stewardship schemes and (b) environmentally sensitive areas in respect of (i) repair of stone walls (per metre), (ii) hedging (per metre), (iii) mending and replacing of Cornish hedges (per metre), (iv) maintaining agreed grazing policy (per hectare), (v) protection measures for flora (per hectare), (vi) protection measures for fauna (per hectare), (vii) repair of stiles and footpaths and (viii) other common agreed payments.

(108729)

74   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what efforts her Department is making to prevent the spread of bovine TB through cattle movement (a) in foot and mouth affected areas which have been restocked since 2001 and (b) other areas.

(108746)

75   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the biosecurity risk of fallen wildlife in the countryside.

(108800)

76   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what opportunities her Department has to secure derogations to the on farm burial ban of fallen stock equivalent to those secured by the Scottish Executive.

(108759)

77   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the subject of the regulation banning on farm burial of fallen stock from 1st May in respect of (a) the challenges posed to farmers who have long distances to the nearest rendering plant and (b) the need for sufficient time for the Government to consult the industry on how it proposes to address the consequences of the ban.

(108758)

78   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the European Commission on the recent Thomsen Judgement in respect of the management of milk quotas with regard to (a) whether quotas are for the beneficial use of the named holder or the farm holding and (b) whether any beneficial trade in entitlements attaches to the landowner or tenant in the case of rented holdings.

(108771)

79   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what livestock movement restrictions apply to farms where (a) there has been a recent bovine TB reactor and (b) the farm is overdue for a bovine TB test.

(108748)

80   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the acceptability of on farm (a) bio-digestors and (b) incinerators to deal with future fallen stock after 1st May.

(108799)

81   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 28th March, Official Report, column 476-7W, on pesticide residues, how many tests were carried out on (a) British foods and (b) imported foods; what proportion of samples were found to have residues of banned substances; and what proportion of samples were found to have excessive residues of (i) pesticides, (ii) fertilisers, (iii) fungicides and (iv) other synthetic crop enhancers.

(108927)

82   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the value for money of (a) direct incineration and (b) rendering followed by incineration of carcasses under the Over Thirty Month Scheme.

(108928)

83   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of agricultural market price support on UK income distribution.

(108816)

84   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of agricultural trade barriers on legal and illegal migration to the EU.

(108815)

85   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the transitional arrangements are for the Common Agricultural Policy in relation to the forthcoming EU enlargement.

(108814)

86   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for South Holland and The Deepings of 27th March, Official Report, column 311W, on benzone, if she will make a statement on the chemical composition of benzone.

(108764)

87   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the cost to British industry of delays in the processing of authorisation applications by the Veterinary Medicine Directorate.

(108904)

88   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on British industry of disallowing alternative presentations of single products in the marketing authorisation of parent producers by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

(108907)

89   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the benefits of combining the Medicine Control Agency with the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, with reference to EU Directive 6565.

(108906)

90   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with EU states concerning the mutual recognition of veterinary medicines.

(108905)

91   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to (a) Suffolk County Council, (b) St Edmundsbury Borough Council and (c) Mid Suffolk District Council to assist with the costs of storing and processing of disposed refrigerators and freezers; and what plans she has to make further funds available.

(108777)

92   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108869)

93   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent contact British consular staff have had with the Spanish authorities regarding the case of Peter Devlin; what guidelines the Government issues to consular staff concerning intervention when a British national is arrested by Spanish authorities but awaits formal charge while the case is under investigation; what plans he and consular staff have to raise the case of Mr Devlin with the Spanish authorities again; and if he will make a statement.

(108594)

94   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of China on the repatriation of North Korean refugees.

(108696)

95   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate the number of Palestinians detained by the Israeli army since 27th March.

(108798)

96
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the resignation of Elizabeth Wilmhurst as one of his legal advisers.

(108316)

97
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what monitoring the UK is undertaking of the Nigerian elections, with particular reference to communal violence.

(107889)

98
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many cases of inter-communal violence the Department has investigated in Nigeria in the last six months.

(107890)

99   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the Christian population of the North-West Province of Pakistan of the adoption of Sharia law.

(108751)

100   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on human rights abuses in Western Sahara.

(108754)

101   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the Government of Morocco's recent statements on the proposals of Mr James Baker on Western Sahara.

(108753)

102   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the UN's decision not to re-appoint Mr Gerhart Baum as Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Sudan.

(108755)

103   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of cumulate origin for industrial products in advancing economic and political stability in the Middle East region.

(108646)

104
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action his Department is taking to restore peace in the Congo; whether it is his policy to bring about regime change in the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(108202)

105   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on whether the international debt accumulated by the Ba'ath Party regime in Iraq will continue to apply to a post-war administration.

(108901)

106   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Goverment is taking to promote peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(108902)

107   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the coalition forces have to increase Iraqi oil production to pre-1991 levels.

(108900)

108
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of the Congo following the reported massacre there; and if he will make a statement.

(108519)

109   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the (a) population and (b) total electorate was of each British overseas territory on 1st January.

(108660)

110   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for International Development regarding humanitarian aid to Montserrat.

(108657)

111
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) European partners on improving economic conditions in Moldova; and if he will make a statement.

(108121)

112
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the French Government concerning their stance on agricultural subsidies, with reference to the Doha round of world trade negotiations.

(108122)

113
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the the European Commission concerning the French Government's stance on agricultural subsidies, with reference to the Doha round of world trade negotiations.

(108123)

114
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's stance is on agricultural subsidies, with reference to the Doha round of world trade negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

(108124)

115
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what efforts the Goverment is making to combat the trafficking in women from Moldova to the EU; and if he will make a statement.

(108125)

116   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the response of the Government of Dubai was to his note verbale concerning the detention of Mr Atkinson; and what measures he took to follow up the note verbale.

(108656)

117   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 10th March, column 33W, what action he is taking to seek redress for the period of Mr Atkinson's detention from arrest to sentencing on 13th December 1999.

(108655)

118   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the reasons for Mr Raul Fernandes' dismissal from his employment at the British Embassy in Dubai on 5th March 2002.

(108632)

119   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the employment rights of locally-engaged British civil servants who serve abroad for a diplomatic mission; and what complaints procedure is open to them.

(108635)

120   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108858)

121
N   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to protect smaller local hospitals from becoming unable economically to carry out particular procedures and treatments in the face of competition from Foundation Trusts.

(108439)

122
N   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on whether Foundation Hospital borrowing, on the basis of income from trading it may establish with its non-protected assets, will be off the public sector borrowing requirement.

(108441)

123
N   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how hospitals in less prosperous areas will be empowered by the Secretary of State to obtain investment levels equivalent to those of Foundation Hospitals in more prosperous areas which sell non protected assets at high value.

(108440)

124
N   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether foundation hospitals will be able to set up limited companies with which to conduct trade with their non-protected assets.

(108520)

125   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of (a) setting up and (b) maintaining the ethnic monitoring programme required by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

(108845)

126   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the percentage of those registered with general practitioners who have (a) not responded to questionnaires for ethnic monitoring and (b) responded to ethnic monitoring questionnaires but declined to give details of ethnic or religious groups.

(108843)

127
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers he has to detain suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome; and on what basis he would exercise the power.

(108517)

128   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress have been made in reducing energy use in the NHS.

(108683)

129   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on embedding sustainable practice in the National Health Service.

(108652)

130   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress have been made in producing a low carbon economy in the NHS.

(108653)

131   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advances have been made in producing a sustainable transport policy for the NHS.

(108682)

132   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the NHS hospitals that have been designated as suitable places to treat Iraqi prisoners of war in need of healthcare.

(108644)

133   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of rubella were recorded in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) London in each year since 1997-98.

(108643)

134   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the NHS hospitals that have drawn up contingency plans for dealing with prisoners of war in need of healthcare; and whether such plans will be placed in the public domain.

(108645)

135   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the aggregate number was of agencies used by NHS trusts to recruit nurses in each year since 1997-98.

(108641)

136   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which agencies were used by NHS trusts to recruit nurses in 2002-03.

(108640)

137   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department gives to local authorities about charging for domiciliary care services for disabled children.

(108756)

138   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many, what proportion and which local authorities charge for services to disabled children; what criteria they use to set these charges; and what fee levels have been set.

(108757)

139   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many community pharmacies in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England were (i) closed and (ii) opened in each year since 1997.

(108738)

140   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he issues on action relatives may take should they wish to dispute a decision taken by doctors to end a patient's life by withdrawal of food or fluid when this action has not been requested by the patient.

(108662)

141   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the level of capital investment in the NHS has been in County Durham since 1997.

(108599)

142   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the annual costs to the trust boards of foundations hospitals of (a) maintaining and operating their lists of members and (b) conducting elections to the boards of foundation hospitals.

(108596)

143   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the individuals appointed to NHS trusts who live in the North Durham constituency.

(108595)

144   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the individuals appointed to NHS trusts and primary care trusts in Durham who have neither previously served on NHS trust boards nor held any other public appointment.

(108597)

145   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what figures he collates on how many NHS hospitals fly the Union Flag on a daily basis.

(108668)

146   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on accident and emergency services at (a) Harold Wood Hospital in the London Borough of Havering and (b) Oldchurch Hospital Romford.

(108663)

147   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many sex change operations were performed by the National Health Service in 2002.

(108666)

148   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many abortions were performed by the National Health Service in 2002.

(108667)

149   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of (a) cancer patients and (b) heart disease patients were successfully treated in (i) the London Borough of Havering, (ii) other London boroughs and (iii) the County of Essex in the last three years.

(108664)

150   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many tattoo removals were performed by the National Health Service in 2002.

(108665)

151   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients waited more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months for (i) heart operations, (ii) cancer treatment and (iii) hip replacements in each NHS hospital trust in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

(108776)

152   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department will issue guidance to (a) primary care trusts, (b) strategic health authorities and (c) local councils on how to respond to the Health Ombudsman's report on NHS funding for long term care.

(108775)

153   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken to ensure that medical practitioners in the UK have speedy access to medical records of new patients who are from overseas outside the UK, but within the EU; and what discussions have been held with the Home Office to minimise delay in obtaining such records, particularly in cases where there are serious mental health problems and illnesses.

(108634)

154   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure per head for mental health services was in each English county in the last five years; and how many (a) consultants and (b) nurses were engaged in mental health in each health authority area in the last five years.

(108637)

155   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time to see a consultant psychiatrist was in (a) England and Wales, (b) each county, (c) each primary care trust and (d) each health authority in each of the last three years.

(108633)

156   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure per head for mental health services in each primary care trust was in 2002-03.

(108638)

157   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure on locum GPs was as a percentage of total GPs' salaries in each (a) health authority, (b) primary care trust and (c) county in each of the last three years.

(108636)

158   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of patients waited over four hours in accident and emergency departments in acute care hospitals in Suffolk in each of the last four years.

(108627)

159
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 663W, on the Hillcroft site in Lymington, who negotiated on behalf of New Forest Primary Care Trust; whether the site was offered by tender; and whether the property was disposed of to the party which offered the highest sum.

(107887)

160   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how often parents may visit their children detained in Orchard Lodge and Standford House secure units.

(108617)

161   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108862)

162   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what parts of the Children Act 1989 which fall under his responsibility are failing to be implemented effectively as set out in paragraph 2.22 of Command Paper 5778.

(108602)

163   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Written Statement of 20th January, Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on Animals (Scientific Procedures), when he expects to conclude his Department's consultations with the scientific community with a view to reaching a final decision on possible amendments to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

(108811)

164
N   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral Answer of 2nd December 2002, Official Report, column 500, on police, what discussions he has had with the Thames Valley police force in relation to housing.

(108588)

165   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the types of research that Cambridge University plans to conduct at the proposed Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience; and if he will make a statement.

(108733)

166   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the need for the Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience at Cambridge University was decided; whether a cost-benefit analysis was used; and if he will make a statement.

(108732)

167   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the facilities will be for the accommodation and environmental enrichment of non-human primates at Cambridge University's proposed Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience; and if he will make a statement.

(108731)

168   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what grants are available for (a) renovation and (b) new build for police custody suites; what health and safety reports are made on custody suites; and when health and safety reports on custody suites are made available to the public.

(108813)

169   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers additional to the complement on 1st May 1997 were appointed to the Durham constabulary in each year since 1997.

(108600)

170   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of volunteers for victim support schemes remained in post one year after completion of basic volunteer training in the last two years.

(108773)

171   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drug treatment and testing orders have been made in (a) Derbyshire and (b) Amber Valley since they were introduced.

(108734)

172   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many parenting orders have been made in (a) Derbyshire and (b) Amber Valley since they were introduced.

(108735)

173   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the clear up rate for Suffolk Constabulary was for (a) burglary of dwellings, (b) violence against the person, (c) vehicle crime, (d) robbery and (e) sexual offences in each year since 1997.

(108780)

174   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the recorded crime rate in Suffolk was in each year since 1997, broken down by major category of crime.

(108631)

175   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many animals were used for experiments in 2002; and what plans he has to reduce that number.

(108630)

176   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) the total cost and (b) the cost per officer was of recruiting and training new police constables for each police service in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

(108639)

177   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the terrorist safeguards in place in the Solihull and Birmingham areas, with particular reference to (a) tools, (b) legislation and (c) funding.

(108801)

178   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what punishments juvenile girls in prisons who are pregnant may be subjected to.

(108619)

179   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether juvenile girls held in New Hall prison who are pregnant have been held in the segregation block as a punishment in the last two years.

(108620)

180   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the arrangements are for parents to visit their children detained in Medway, Rainsbrook and Hassockfield secure training centres.

(108623)

181   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the night sanitation arrangements are in Medway, Rainsbrook and Hassockfield secure training centres.

(108621)

182   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff are on duty at night in Medway, Rainsbrook and Hassockfield secure training centres.

(108622)

183   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether juvenile girls in prisons who are pregnant are given additional food.

(108618)

184   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many firearms have been handed in to police over the past five years in (a) Merseyside, (b) St Helens, (c) England and (d) London.

(108893)

185   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deaths by firearms have occurred in each of the last five years in (a) Merseyside, (b) St Helens, (c) England and (d) London per head of population.

(108890)

186   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the number of illegal firearms in circulation in Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

(108891)

187   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the processes of procuring illegal firearms in England; and what plans he has to tackle these processes.

(108892)

188   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes involving firearms have occurred in each of the last five years in (a) Merseyside, (b) St Helens, (c) England and (d) London per head of population.

(108889)

189   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108859)

190
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, what progress has been made in providing access for (a) honourable Members and (b) the general public to a comprehensive list of Members who have entered the House since 1979.

(108437)

191   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action she is taking following commitments made at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto; and if she will make a statement.

(108745)

192   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions the Government has had with the US administration on the effectiveness of the provision of untied aid for reconstruction in Iraq.

(108686)

193   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will support the development of micro-credit organisations to develop a sustainable economy in post-conflict Iraq.

(108689)

194
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have died in the conflict in the Congo since 1998; what action her Department is taking to deal with the humanitarian problems in the Congo; and if she will make a statement.

(108201)

195   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of ethnic strife between Kurds and Arabs in the north of Iraq.

(108883)

196   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether there are Oil For Food officials in Umm Qasr; and whether food is being distributed through the Oil for Food Programme in Umm Qasr.

(108874)

197   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what military strategy is in place to move humanitarian supplies quickly through Iraq.

(108885)

198   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what role is envisaged for other countries in (a) providing humanitarian aid and (b) providing peacekeeping troops in a post-war Iraq.

(108873)

199   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the role of her Department's officials seconded to the Ministry of Defence; and whether they will remain in the Ministry of Defence (a) for the duration of the war in Iraq and (b) to influence the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.

(108882)

200   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the timescale for the allocation of the money given to her Department by the Treasury for Iraq; and what this money is being spent on.

(108884)

201   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the US Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance regarding the role of her Department and her Department's officials in the reconstruction of Iraq.

(108875)

202   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108872)

203   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on (a) the development proposals for alternative sentences for those who genuinely cannot pay court fines, and (b) deductions from earnings and benefits for those who can pay court fines.

(108654)

204   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, in what geographical areas, and for what areas of law, the legal aid budget for 2002-03 is exhausted; how these budgets compare in real terms with those of the previous three years; and if she will make a statement.

(108841)

205   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement, in relation to the Lord Chancellor's Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108867)

206   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what provision there is for young people leaving Moderate Learning Difficulty schools in Northern Ireland; what research on this subject has been carried out or is planned; and when it is intended to publish such research.

(108877)

207   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what after schools provision there is in Northern Ireland for young people with Moderate Learning Difficulties; and what assessment he has made of the level of provision.

(108878)

208   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cattle were infected with tuberculosis in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months; what the average period of time taken to remove infected cattle from herds after receiving tuberculosis test results was in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on how the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is dealing with the problem.

(108876)

209
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many ex-RUC officers applied to become members of District Police Partnerships; how many were shortlisted; how many were deemed appointable onto the District Policing Partnerships; and how many were appointed to District Police Partnerships.

(108438)

210   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance he has issued to (a) Families Acting for Innocent Relatives and (b) other victims' organisations on the use of publicly-funded internet facilities to publish information.

(108658)

211   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108863)

212   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the President of the Council, if he will make a statement, in relation to the Privy Council, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108857)

213
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to provide medical facilities for civilians, including children, who have lost limbs during the conflict, when Iraq is fully liberated; and if he will make a statement.

(108545)

214   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108854)

215   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108868)

216   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the system for awarding commercial contracts for reconstruction in post-conflict Iraq under interim arrangements before a representative Iraqi Government is in place.

(108687)

217
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of the additional capital grant funding for sustainable energy technologies announced in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review and the 2003 Energy White Paper is intended for the (a) offshore wind, (b) biomass and (c) solar PV grant programmes.

(106225)

218   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether a claimant for compensation for vibration white finger or chest disease resulting from mine-working is entitled to interest accrued or other compensation if a cheque for payment is not forwarded promptly by the solicitor representing the claimant.

(108673)

219   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the extent of delays in miners' compensation payment caused by cheques failing to be promptly forwarded by solicitors to their clients.

(108678)

220   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what impact the establishment of IRISC offices in Cardiff has had on the processing of compensation claims in Wales.

(108672)

221   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what interests have been registered by the chair of One Northeast.

(108601)

222   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much One Northeast spent on external legal advice in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; which companies were engaged to provide such advice; and what fees were paid.

(108694)

223   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much One Northeast spent on external consultants in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; which (i) companies and (ii) individuals were employed; and what fees were paid.

(108693)

224   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the costs of establishing the new headquarters of One Northeast at Newburn Riverside were; and what estimate she has made of the annual running costs of the building.

(108695)

225   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much One Northeast spent on entertainment in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003.

(108692)

226   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on claims by surface workers exposed to coal dust for compensation for respiratory disease resulting from their work in the coal mining industry.

(108598)

227
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the total cost to her Department of the magazine, Dad.

(108522)

228
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the cost was to her Department of the advertisements in newspapers on 7th April on flexible ways of working.

(108521)

229
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the budget is for advertising (a) on the internet, (b) in broadcast media and (c) in newspapers for 2003-04.

(108523)

230   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been spent on supporting rural sub-post offices in Suffolk since 1997.

(108778)

231   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices and sub-post offices there were in Suffolk in each year since 1996.

(108629)

232   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices and sub-post offices there are in each Suffolk constituency; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work from paying benefits and pensions.

(108626)

233   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Patent Office's policy is on granting patents for human embryonic stem cells.

(108812)

234   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108870)

235   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff were employed by (a) the Radiocommunications Agency and (b) Oftel in each of the last five years; and what the annual budget was in each of those years in each case.

(108937)

236
N   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from the European Commission about the implications of an airport at Cliffe for sites designated under the (a) EU Birds Directive and (b) EU Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(108436)

237
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the current franchise negotiations, with particular reference to the (a) Great Anglian and (b) Great Western areas.

(107850)

238
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on plans to improve rolling stock in the Great Western and Wessex areas.

(107851)

239   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the issue of illegal use of off-road motorcycles in (a) the last three years and (b) the last six years.

(108612)

240   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals for a minimum age restriction for the use of off-road motorcycles.

(108616)

241   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will undertake a review of legislation relating to the illegal use of off-road motorcycles and other vehicles on public highways, cycle paths and pedestrian areas.

(108614)

242   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will publish the public consultation paper on off-road motorcycling; and what the remit of that consultation will be.

(108676)

243   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals for (a) a statutory driving licence for the use of off-road motorcycles and (b) a national registration scheme.

(108674)

244   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research evidence underpins the work of the Highways Agency in deciding the best environmental protection measures for major trunk road developments, with particular reference to motorway widening.

(108659)

245   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what preliminary assessment has been made of the risks of birds colliding with aircraft at the Midlands New Site proposed in The Future of Air Transport in the UK Midlands, with particular reference to the gull roost at Draycote Water.

(108886)

246   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research has been commissioned to assess the risks of birds colliding with aircraft at the Midlands New Site proposed in The Future of Air Transport in the UK Midlands; and what plans he has to commission further research.

(108887)

247   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessors were appointed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in December 2001 to observe the transitional arrangements made by Associated British Ports to overcome the strike by their former pilots on the Humber.

(108818)

248   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria were used to determine which potential airport development sites proposed in The Future of Air Transport in the UK were considered to have a level of risk of bird strike high enough to necessitate further research; and what plans he has to commission further research.

(108888)

249   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles on the M6 use the Thelwall viaduct each day.

(108896)

250   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has made to ensure that the Thelwall viaduct is opened as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement.

(108894)

251   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for re-routing traffic in the North West in order to minimise the disruption caused by the closing of the Thelwall viaduct.

(108899)

252   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic impact on local business of the closing of the Thelwall viaduct.

(108898)

253   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of how long it will take to repair the Thelwall viaduct; and if he will make a statement.

(108895)

254   Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the longevity of the Thelwall viaduct after the repairs; and whether there are plans to avoid similar problems in the future.

(108897)

255   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108861)

256   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108864)

257   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his written statement of 1st March, Official Report, column 41WS, on British Sign Language, what decisions have been reached regarding the allocation of funding for initiatives to raise awareness of British Sign Language; and how organisations may apply for funding.

(108802)

258   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his written Answer of 31st March, Official Report, column 607W, whether he plans to offer weekly benefit payments by direct payment to new recipients of retirement pension and child benefit.

(108817)

259   David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures he intends to take to enable people to work longer if they choose.

(108680)

260   David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the pension credit on the poorest pensioners.

(108688)

261   David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures he is taking to prevent fraudulent claims of benefits.

(108681)

262   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on his policy on the Central Office of Information's decision to reject a job application from a constituent of the honourable Member for Vauxhall, on the grounds that he is over the age of 60 and this contravenes their pension fund rules.

(108679)

263   Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd April, Official Report, column 844W, on Schlumberger Sema, for what reasons customers may be sent home unseen from their medical assessments; how many customers were sent home unseen between 1st May 2002 and 28th February, broken down by reason; and if he will make a statement.

(108842)

264   Jim Knight (South Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the progress his Department has made in respect of the Third Age Service.

(108881)

265   Jim Knight (South Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will increase the earnings threshold for dependent spouses in receipt of the unemployability supplement.

(108880)

266   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether guidance on pensions and benefits payments has been revised following experience with access to the PIN pads for Post Office card accounts by disabled people, with particular reference to those with sight problems.

(108648)

267   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to monitor the accessibility of the Post Office card account to disabled people as it is introduced.

(108651)

268   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that disabled customers who are unable to use the PIN pads for Post Office card accounts are informed that they can delay changing their payment method until an accessible alternative is in place.

(108650)

269   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what requirements relating to access for blind, partially sighted and other disabled people are included in Post Office Limited's contract with the Government to provide the card account system.

(108649)

270   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Disability Rights Commission and disability organisations about the compliance of the PIN pads for the Post Office card account with the provisions of the Disability Act 1995.

(108647)

271   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the work of his Department's Joint Working Unit.

(108691)

272   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years.

(108860)

273
N   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to reduce the number of days lost in school through unauthorised absence.

[Question Unstarred] (108242)

274
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the examination performance of specialist schools compared with other schools.

[Question Unstarred] (108246)

275
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make a statement on the introduction of local criminal justice boards.

[Question Unstarred] (108262)

276   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has commissioned into the environmental benefits of compulsory environmental liability insurance.

[Transferred] (108925)

277   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the Armed Forces pension scheme.

[Transferred] (108923)

278   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has commissioned into the impact compulsory environmental liability insurance may have on British businesses; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (108926)

279   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the level of ISIS funding and the projects it has funded in 2002-03.

[Transferred] (108604)

280   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of deaths were officially recorded as being a result of a hospital acquired or secondary infection in each year since 1997-98; and how many people were recorded as having died from such causes in each of those years.

[Transferred] (108642)

281   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions have been brought against owners of off-road motorcycles under the amendment to section 34 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

[Transferred] (108675)

282   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what review he has undertaken of the powers to enforce fixed penalty notices since 1st August 1999 for contravention of section 72 of the Highways Act 1972 by off-road motorcycles; and what lessons have been learnt from the first four years of the scheme.

[Transferred] (108611)

283   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will bring forward proposals for additional powers for police to confiscate vehicles used illegally off-road.

[Transferred] (108613)

284   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many charges for breach of the peace and causing a nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1993 have been brought by local authorities against the nuisance use of off-road motorcycles.

[Transferred] (108615)

285   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many owners of off-road motorcycles have been prosecuted successfully for failing to comply with the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 when riding such motorcycles on the highway.

[Transferred] (108605)

286   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions there have been against owners of off-road motorcycles using their vehicles on the highway in contravention of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

[Transferred] (108606)

287   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions have been brought against the owners of off-road motorcycles using their vehicles on the highway in contravention of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989.

[Transferred] (108607)

288   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions were brought against the owners of off-road motorcycles using their vehicles (a) on pavements or other pedestrian routes and (b) cycle paths under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, in the 10 years prior to the implementation of fixed penalty notices on 1st August 1999.

[Transferred] (108608)

289   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions have been brought against the owners of off-road motorcycles using their vehicles in contravention of the Road Traffic Act 1991.

[Transferred] (108609)

290   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fixed penalty notices have been issued under section 72 of the Highways Act 1835, in each year since 1st August 1999, broken down by (a) police and (b) local authority area.

[Transferred] (108610)