Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 10 June 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 10 June 2003, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

TUESDAY 10th JUNE

1
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the borrowing authorisation of £50.4 million of the Dover Harbour Board is included in the Government's PSBR; and if he will make a statement.

(118596)

2
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by the Royal Mint in response to the verdict of an inquest jury on 2nd May, that one of its employees was the victim of unlawful killing; and if he will make a statement.

(118597)

3   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been incorporated into (a) £5, (b) £10, (c) £20 and (d) £50 notes to enable blind and partially sighted people easily to distinguish between them.

(118644)

4   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on further mechanisms that would enable blind and partially sighted people more easily to distinguish between banknotes.

(118645)

5   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to introduce additional mechanisms to enable blind and partially sighted people easily to distinguish between banknotes.

(118646)

6   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation has been undertaken with groups representing blind and partially sighted people on the effectiveness of measures to enable them to distinguish between banknotes.

(118647)

7   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the funds raised by the Aggregates Levy has been paid (a) directly by the Government and (b) via another party in respect of work carried out for the Government.

(118643)

8
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ex-servicemen and women have presented with asbestos related diseases (ARDs); how many more the Government forecasts will present with ARDs; and if he will make a statement.

(117370)

9
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK military personnel are in Colombia; and under which command they operate.

(118599)

10
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training facilities are offered to members of the Colombian military in (a) the UK and (b) Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

(118600)

11
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the status of the Ministry of Defence's Depleted Uranium Oversight Board; what its membership is; who they are representing; and if he will place in the Library recent deliberations and statements made by the Board.

(117596)

12
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the appointment of Dr Chris Bushy to the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board, and explain the representative purpose of this appointment.

(117597)

13   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the procedures that Defence Estates will follow on the disposal of the site of HMS Dryad.

(118628)

14   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investigation has been conducted into the circumstances of the death of Paratrooper Andrew Kelly in army barracks in Basra on 8th May.

(118636)

15   Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent UK scientists will collaborate with the US National Nuclear Security Administration's weapons laboratories in research and development into potential new and modified nuclear weapons capabilities under the Advanced Concepts Initiative.

(118630)

16   Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether scientists at the Atomic Weapon Establishments are continuing their collaborative work with the United States on hydrodynamic and primary certification testing.

(118631)

17   Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the recent meeting between the UK and US nuclear weapon scientists referred to as Stocktake.

(118632)

18   Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the UK (a) will contribute data to and (b) use US data gathered from the Advanced Concepts Initiative research and development work.

(118633)

19   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will publish the results of the 2001 English House Condition Survey.

(118650)

20   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will commission research into the impact of overcrowding on the health of those families living in one or more bedrooms below the bedroom standard.

(118651)

21   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the secondary legislation and guidance envisaged by the draft Housing Bill; which have been published; and when he will publish the remainder.

(118652)

22
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd May, Offical Report, column 1002W, on document costs, what the budget was allocated to each policy team, for expenditure on documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers in 2002-03; and what budget he has allocated to individual policy teams for expenditure on documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers in 2003-04.

(118604)

23
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd May, Official Report, column 1002W, on document costs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of publications which were not handled through the Department's publicity division in each of the last five years for which information is available.

(118605)

24
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) Public Relations and (b) media consultants to his Department in each of the last five years for which information is available.

(118606)

25
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his written Answer of 22nd May, Official Report, column 1002W, on document costs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of Public Relations and media consultants in the publication of documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers in each of the last five years for which information is available.

(118607)

26
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the merits of the value added methodology used (a) in his Department's evaluation of the performance of specialist schools and (b) in the 2002 secondary school performance tables; and if he will make a statement.

(116503)

27   Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will create a register of people unsuitable to work as nannies.

(118622)

28   Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make it his policy to give statutory backing to the draft Code of Practice for Nanny Agencies.

(118655)

29   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of British adults had the lowest (a) numeracy and (b) literacy levels as defined by the OECD in each year since 1997.

(118634)

30   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with organisations responsible for employing A level markers; what assessment he has made of whether they are employing sufficient numbers, and of the quality needed, to carry out the job; and if he will make a statement.

(118653)

31
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated total cost of mapping the countryside under the Countryside and Right of Way Act 2000 was in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) to date; and if she will make a statement.

(118349)

32   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that animals which are unfit for transport are not exported from the UK; and if she will make a statement.

(118654)

33
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her forecast funding of the Countryside Agency is for (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; and if she will make a statement.

(118602)

34
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding she expects the Countryside Agency to give the Rural Transport Partnership in Gloucestershire in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; and if she will make a statement.

(118603)

35
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total value was of funding allocated to the reduction of opium poppy output in Afghanistan in each of the last three years; and what proportion came from (a) UK funds, (b) EU funds and (c) other sources.

(118588)

36
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's total budget for Afghanistan has been in each of the last three financial years; what the projected budget is for the year ahead; and how funds have been allocated.

(118589)

37   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the High Court's statement on whether the situation of detainees in Camp X-ray complies with fundamental principles recognised by international law.

(118624)

38   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the US Government about their plans for the future of detainees held at Camp X-ray, Guantanamo Bay.

(118625)

39   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what legal (a) protection and (b) status the British citizens detained in Camp X-ray have.

(118626)

40   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the term unlawful combatants in relation to detainees held in Camp X-ray, Guantanamo Bay.

(118627)

41
N   Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

(117931)

42   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received regarding the proposed sale of the consular residence in Pacific Avenue, San Francisco; and if he will make a statement.

(118638)

43
N   Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many seasonal agricultural workers scheme permits have been issued during 2003 (a) in total and (b) from the United Kingdom Embassy in Ukraine.

(118355)

44
N   Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress is being made with the issuing of seasonal agricultural worker scheme permits from UK embassies overseas.

(118356)

45
N   Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many days the UK Embassy in Ukraine was open in May 2003 to issue seasonal agricultural workers scheme permits.

(118357)

46
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 6th May, Official Report, column 567W, on democratisation, what proportion of the (a) Global Conflict Prevention Pool, (b) Human Rights Project Fund, (c) the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, (d) British Council, (e) Africa Conflict Prevention Pool and (f) Global Opportunities Fund monies provide assistance directly to women.

(118056)

47   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much NHS travel expense fraud has been identified in each of the last five years.

(118641)

48   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the scale of travel expense fraud in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(118642)

49
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the use and abuse of alcohol in other EU countries with special reference to (a) binge drinking and (b) young people.

(117823)

50
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent research he has commissioned into the treatment of alcohol abusers in the European Union.

(118608)

51
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what comparative research he has commissioned into the costs to health services in the EU of alcohol abuse.

(118609)

52   Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will allow on prescription conserving devices for domiciliary oxygen.

(118620)

53   Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will announce the results of the review of domiciliary oxygen services initiated in March 2000.

(118621)

54
N   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting time is for a hearing aid appointment at (a) the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and (b) the Princess Royal Hospital.

(117598)

55
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what priority his Department is giving to reducing the incidence of the theft of goods from heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

(118594)

56
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many thefts of goods from heavy goods vehicles with a value in excess of £10,000 took place in each of the last three years.

(118595)

57   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government will spend on drug treatment in 2003-04; and what proportion of this will be spent on methadone maintenance programmes.

(118635)

58
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has commissioned on the safety of the Airwave Communications police communications system.

(118348)

59
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the number of work permits for the leisure and hospitality industry.

(118351)

60
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work permits were issued for non-EU residents for the leisure and hospitality industry in each yer since 1999.

(118352)

61
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a response to his letter of 14th May regarding a constituent.

(118586)

62
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his Department's total budget for Afghanistan has been in each of the last three financial years; what the projected budget is for the year ahead; and how funds have been allocated.

(118587)

63
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what role his Department is playing in the reduction of opium poppy output in Afghanistan.

(118590)

64   Mr Tony Colman (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance the Department is providing to projects to help widows in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq, (c) Nigeria and (d) Angola.

(118648)

65   Mr Tony Colman (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance the Department is providing (a) directly, (b) through its partner organisations and (c) through NGOs to include widows in the future development of institutions and local government in (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Nigeria and (iv) Angola.

(118649)

66
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what restrictions are placed on aid payments to Colombia; and if she will make a statement.

(18598)

67
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid the Department is giving towards the refurbishment of Baghdad Museum and its Sumerian collection.

(118591)

68
N   Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what part the UK is playing in tackling the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

(117947)

69
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he will make a statement on the findings of the Chilcott Report into the break-in at Police Special Branch Castlereagh station on 17th March 2002.

(118442)

70   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in promoting cultural diversity since the suspension of the Assembly.

(118623)

71
N   Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the final cost was of the recent work to resurface the section of the Newry/Dundalk Road at Killeen, Newry.

(116960)

72
N   Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the contract for the resurfacing of the section of the main Newry/Dundalk Road at Killeen, Newry was awarded to the lowest tender.

(116961)

73
N   Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the lowest tendered price was for the recent resurfacing of the section of the main Newry/Dundalk Road at Killeen, Newry.

(116962)

74
N   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 4th June, Official Report, column 150, what steps have been taken by the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to establish the identity of the individuals within the SIS who have been speaking anonymously to the media; what form the investigations have taken; what the terms of reference are; who is leading the investigation; when it is expected to report; to whom it will report; and whether the conclusions of the investigation will be made public.

(118585)

75
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will undertake to inform the House that editing has taken place in the event that he exercises his power to edit a report of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

(118444)

76
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Prime Minister, who has been invited to the aid donors meeting on Colombia to be held on 10th July.

(118601)

77
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 4th June, Official Report, column 156, what process will be used in the trials of senior Iraqi figures, with particular reference to Mr Tariq Aziz; and when he expects such trials to take place.

(118592)

78
N   Angela Eagle (Wallasey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the vires of section 7.3 of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003.

(118583)

79   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact on British business of the proposed sale of the consular residence in San Francisco by the Foreign Office.

(118637)

80
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to transfer responsibilities for Government activities to the Post Office.

(118350)

81
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she has carried out to encourage British Industry to prepare for the export potential provided by the entry of the 10 accession countries into 2004.

(118353)

82
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the export potential provided by the 10 accession countries; and if she will make a statement in terms of the effect on GDP.

(118354)

83
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what trust ports are classified as public corporations.

(118593)

84
N   Mr Neil Turner (Wigan): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects work on the Thelwall viaduct on the M6 will be completed; and who will bear the costs incurred.

(115245)

85
N   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the review of Ombudsman services in Wales; and when he will publish his response to the review.

(118584)

86   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to inform pensioners of their eligibility for the pension credit; and what the costs of such plans are.

(118629)

87
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland if the UK joins the euro at the present exchange rate.

[Transferred] (118443)

88   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of levels of corruption within the British intelligence services; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (118639)

89   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Prime Minister, whether he has identified corrupt activity within the intelligence services in the United Kingdom over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (118640)