Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 24 June 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 24 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 24th JUNE

1   Geraint Davies (Croydon Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much the Treasury would receive per year if aviation fuel was taxed at the same rate as fuel used by the private motorist; and how much income was received from passenger taxes in 2002-03.

(121614)

2
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone & Hythe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the proposed move to HICP of the trend in the gap between the RPIX measure of inflation and the HICP measure of inflation.

(121566)

3   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to promote and develop the use of credit unions; and if he will make a statement.

(121632)

4
N   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much production and printing of the 2003 Budget Report and its accompanying notes cost; and how many copies of the 2003 Budget Report have been sold at the full cover price.

(121507)

5   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how long it takes on average to (a) complete and (b) process the application form for child tax credit; and whether his Department has a target for the number of applications to be processed.

(121581)

6   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter the tax treatment of tax exempt saving products.

(121575)

7   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) payments have been made and (b) responses have been received from the Government of Israel following the implementation of the Community Customs Code (Council Regulation EEC no 2913/92).

(121671)

8   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support she makes available for (a) community football and (b) other sports-related activities; what Government funding such schemes will receive in each Government Office region in 2003-04; and if she will make a statement.

(121634)

9   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has for the storage and archiving of past records of licensing magistrates after licensing responsibility is transferred to local authorities.

(121574)

10   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected service life was of the BL755 when it entered service; and whether projects are under way to extend its service life.

(121602)

11   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel concerning a new generation jet fighter project in collaboration with the Netherlands.

(121676)

12   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government concerning the purchase of stinger missiles.

(121678)

13
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to enable British forces in Iraq to operate effectively under extreme temperatures.

(121415)

14
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the university population of students in 2010 will be on the assumption of 50 per cent. participation by those in the age group 18 to 30 years.

(121018)

15
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information he has collated on the contingent liabilities to public funds arising from an increase in student loans to cover the tuition fees of students and reflecting the interest subsidy offered on these loans.

(121019)

16
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 7th May, Official Report, column 695W, whether he has set a date for the launch of the Teachernet emergency planning website; and what the cost has been of developing the website.

(121562)

17   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to put Area Child Protection Committees on a statutory footing.

(121620)

18   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to allow graduates to teach in UK schools without (a) teacher training and (b) qualified teacher status.

(121589)

19   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will define qualified teacher status and instructor status for people wishing to teach in schools in England and Wales.

(121590)

20   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many graduates were teaching in English schools without qualified teacher status in each year since 1997-98.

(121591)

21   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent consultations she has had with (a) the Scottish Fishing Federation, (b) representatives from the Scottish fishing industry and (c) Scottish stakeholders on the protection of the Darwin Mounds.

(121647)

22   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Lewes of 1st May, Official Report, column 461W, on the Darwin Mounds, when the consultation on the legislation to apply the Habitats Directive to offshore areas will begin.

(121648)

23   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to use the emergency powers available under the new Common Fisheries Policy framework regulation, (EC) No 2371, in relation to the protection of the Darwin Mounds.

(121649)

24   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to designate the Darwin Mounds as a Special Area of Conservation.

(121650)

25   John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has undertaken into the damage done to the Darwin Mounds in the last three years.

(121651)

26   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 10th June, Official Report, column 803W, on Pakistan, how many people from Pakistan have applied for a visit visa in a third country since the visa section in Islamabad was unable to accept applications; how many were successful; how many people from Pakistan have sought prior agreement for a visit visa from a mission in a third country; by what means they may seek such prior agreement; and if he will make a statement.

(121599)

27   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on human rights abuses in Kenya.

(121616)

28   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 10th June, Official Report, column 793W, when the UK Government gave the IAEA the information upon which it based its assessment that Iraq sought to procure substantial quantities of uranium from Africa.

(121588)

29   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the International Atomic Energy Agency invited the Government to provide evidence to counter the International Atomic Energy Agency conclusion in its 7th March Report to the UN Security Council that the allegations that Iraq sought to procure uranium from Africa were unfounded.

(121670)

30
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the programme for the state visit of President Putin; and for what reason special events for members of both Houses have not been included in the programme.

(121561)

31
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens employed as lorry drivers were arrested and detained in France and then subsequently released in each year since 1997.

(121362)

32   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding restriction of fishing off the coast of the Gaza Strip in Occupied Palestinian Territories.

(121665)

33   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Ghanaian Government concerning the visit of the President of Liberia to their country.

(121667)

34   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with colleagues in the European Union concerning the imposition of sanctions on Israel if Phase I of the Road Map for Peace is not adhered to.

(121668)

35   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel regarding environmental damage in the Occupied Palestinian Territories following the pollution of water supplies, destruction of trees and laying waste of agricultural land.

(121669)

36   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel concerning food shortages in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the dependence on international aid.

(121672)

37   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel regarding the building of the security wall and fence during Phase I of the Road Map for Peace.

(121673)

38   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel regarding the continuation of the settlements programme during Phase I of the Road Map for Peace.

(121674)

39   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the EU demand for reparations from Israel for damage done to projects and infrastructure paid for by the European Union.

(121675)

40   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel concerning arbitrary detention of young Palestinians.

(121677)

41   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 9th June, Official Report, column 687W, on hospital food, what methods his Department will use to monitor the effectiveness of phase II of the Better Hospital Food Programme.

(121595)

42   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 9th June, Official Report, column 681W, on continuing care, how many people may have been wrongly denied full NHS funding for continuing care based on local information, broken down by strategic health authorities.

(121596)

43   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the most recent measurements are from the Phase I Better Hospital Food Programme's six key targets.

(121618)

44   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist neurological nurses there were in each NHS region for (a) TIA, (b) epilepsy, (c) multiple sclerosis, (d) movement disorder, (e) head injury, (f) Parkinson's and (g) Alzheimer's in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

(121621)

45   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) funded and (b) un-funded specialist neurological registrars there were in each NHS region in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

(121622)

46   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 9th June, Official Report, column 688W, on long-term care, what plans he has to issue new continuing care guidance to local authorities.

(121652)

47   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how NHS hospitals, carrying out private treatment for the replacement of knee and hip joints, account for the parts used for (a) private treatment and (b) NHS treatment.

(121645)

48   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he will take to ensure that information collected about patients as part of the charging policy on insurance payments within foundation hospitals (a) will not be passed to other agencies and (b) will meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

(121646)

49   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the operation of the national system for reporting and preventing accidents and errors in the NHS and the work of the National Patient Safety Agency.

(121635)

50   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to tackle incidents of clinical negligence resulting from identity errors occurring in NHS facilities.

(121636)

51   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the system of prescription charging; and if he will make a statement.

(121637)

52   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) young and (b) old sufferers of osteoporosis there are; what programmes there are to target the condition; what funding is allocated for to such programmes; what (i) research and (ii) treatment facilities there are in each of the Government Office regions; and if he will make a statement.

(121638)

53   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to develop mental health treatment and support services for vulnerable groups, with particular reference to (a) women, (b) children and (c) members of minority ethnic communities; and if he will make a statement on the funding and nature of schemes (i) in operation and (ii) being developed.

(121639)

54   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost was to the NHS of medical negligence in each year since 1997, broken down by Government Office region; and if he will make a statement.

(121640)

55   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost of back pain was to the NHS in the last year for which figures are available; what research is being conducted into the management of such pain; how many treatment centres are available in (a) England and (b) each Government Office region; what the average referral time is for patients diagnosed with back pain and related conditions; what plans there are to provide additional resources to tackle this condition; and if he will make a statement.

(121643)

56   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advertising campaigns his Department is (a) conducting and (b) planning for the next 12 months; and how much is being spent on each campaign in each advertising medium.

(121644)

57   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to alert people to the dangers of skin cancer and over-exposure to UV radiation.

(121685)

58
N   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been paid to Microsoft in licensing fees by the NHS in each of the past three years.

(121508)

59   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on how the target for reducing the average waiting time for untreated psychosis to three months, as proposed in the NHS Plan, will be met.

(121582)

60   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest average waiting time for untreated psychosis is in England; and whether the NHS Plan target of all young people who experience a first episode receiving the early and intensive support they need will be met by 2004.

(121583)

61   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were treated for mental health problems in each primary care trust in 2002.

(121584)

62   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) organisations and (b) individuals who have responded to the consultation exercise on the draft Mental Health Bill.

(121585)

63   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what health checks have been made on children at (a) infant schools, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools in each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

(121586)

64
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many responses have been received by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to the sixth edition of their code of practice; and how many were from (a) individual patients, (b) clinics and (c) professional bodies.

(121359)

65
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in each year from 1999; and what the salary costs were in each of those years.

(121360)

66
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority staff members there were with media responsibilities in each year since 1999; and what their salary costs have been in each year.

(121361)

67
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received on the Government issuing an apology for internment of Italian citizens resident in the UK during World War II.

(121413)

68   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 5th June, Official Report, column 946W, on passports, how may special file section staff have been employed in each regional office in each of the last five years.

(121597)

69   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many kilograms of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine were seized by Merseyside Police in each of the past five years; and how many arrests were made in each year.

(121624)

70   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department makes money seized from drug dealers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 available to fund additional places in drug rehabilitation clinics for addicts.

(121625)

71   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have been denied parole in each of the last five years on the sole basis that they deny their guilt; if he will make it his policy to end this practice where risk of reoffending is deemed minimal; and if he will make a statement.

(121626)

72   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have been offered a place on a sex offender's training programme and declined to participate in each of the past five years; and what effect this has on a prisoner's privileges.

(121627)

73   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are being taken to monitor domestic internet sites for potential threats to national security; and what resources are being devoted to this task.

(121641)

74   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how effective the Experience Corps (TEC) project has been to date; how many people have participated; what the average age is of participants; what range of placements they are assisting with; what benchmarks are being used to determine the effectiveness of the project; how much money has been allocated to the scheme each year; what TEC activity exists in the Government Office North East region; and if he will make a statement.

(121642)

75
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, ref 118911, how many outstanding extradition requests have been made by the United Kingdom to each member of the European Union and EU accession states; and when the original extradition request was made in each case.

(121557)

76   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether all statutory health and safety standards are applied throughout the Parliamentary Estate; and whether all manual workers on the Parliamentary Estate have been fully trained in health and safety legislation.

(121592)

77   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the last full health and safety audit of the Parliamentary Estate was carried out; where honourable Members may inspect it; and when the next audit is due.

(121593)

78   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action UK forces are taking to ensure that children in Iraq are receiving an education; and if she will make a statement.

(121615)

79
N   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his Answer of 11th June, Official Report, column 773W, on UN Mine Action Service, if he will provide a breakdown of (a) objectives, (b) locations and (c) costs of mine action centres in Sudan funded by the Department; if he will list organisations which are receiving resources from the Department to carry out humanitarian demining in Sudan; if he will list the Department's humanitarian priorities for mine action in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

(121506)

80
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the dates of the suspension of long-term development aid projects the Department supported in Zimbabwe.

(120507)

81
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial resources the Department has allocated to Zimbabwe Police Organisational Development since 1997; how they were spent; and if he will make a statement.

(120508)

82
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the sterling value was of Land Rover Defenders was exported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police by the Department; and if he will make a statement.

(120509)

83
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many Land Rover Defenders were exported for use by the Zimbabwe Republic Police as part of a development project supported by the Department between 1997 and 2002.

(120510)

84
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assurances the Government received from the Government of Zimbabwe about the use of the Land Rover Defenders exported for use by the Zimbabwe Republic Police; and if he will make a statement.

(120511)

85
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the composition of the working group established by the Department of Education to formulate proposals on the way forward for transfer procedure from primary to secondary education.

(121453)

86   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Juvenile Justice Centre at Lisnevin, Millisle, County Down will close; why the closure has been delayed; how many admissions there have been to Lisnevin since November 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(121587)

87   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many autistic children have (a) received and (b) refused applied behaviour analysis teaching in (i) the Southern Health and Social Services Board and (ii) the Belfast Board Area.

(121604)

88   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the publication of the Isaacs Report and its implications for Northern Ireland.

(121605)

89   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many brain banks (a) exist and (b) have existed in Northern Ireland; and where.

(121606)

90   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether payment is made for the transfer of organs, tissue and other materials between hospitals.

(121607)

91   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether Northern Ireland has a facility to deal with growth hormone research.

(121608)

92   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will initiate an investigation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Anatomy into missing organs in Northern Ireland.

(121609)

93   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many transfers (a) out of and (b) into Northern Ireland of retained brains and brain tissue have taken place in the last 12 months; and whether transfers have taken place outside the United Kingdom.

(121610)

94   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what relationship with mainland (a) hospitals and (b) research facilities brain banks in Northern Ireland have had.

(121611)

95   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) valid full and provisional driving licences, (b) British passports, (c) Translink smart passes and (d) electoral identity cards are held by residents in Northern Ireland.

(121612)

96   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the failure rates at Vehicle Inspection centres were (a) before and (b) after the introduction of the new computerised testing system.

(121613)

97   Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to amend the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

(121594)

98
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the role of Cabinet-level champion for older people; and if he will make a statement.

(121017)

99   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Prime Minister, what procedures exist for investigations to be carried out into cause of deaths in custody in British detention centres in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(121603)

100   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Prime Minister, which Minister will answer for issues relating to the overall devolution settlement in the Commons.

(121684)

101
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 17th June, Official Report, column 164W, on Tariq Aziz, under what powers Tariq Aziz is held; and what time limits there are to holding him in custody without charge.

(121462)

102
N   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will raise with President Putin during his visit to the UK (a) the general situation in Chechnya and (b) the safety of Chechens deported from the UK to the Russian Federation.

(121505)

103
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling): To ask the Prime Minister, whether he saw the document Iraq—its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation (a) in draft and (b) in final form before it was made public.

(121558)

104
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling): To ask the Prime Minister, whether the document Iraq—its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation was seen by the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committtee (a) in draft and (b) in final form before it was made public.

(121559)

105
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling): To ask the Prime Minister, whether the document Iraq—its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation was seen by the Cabinet Secretary (a) in draft and (b) in final form before it was made public.

(121560)

106
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling): To ask the Prime Minister, whether, at the time he made his statement on Iraq on 3rd February, Official Report, columns 21-31, he had been informed of the nature of the non-intelligence sources used to compile the document Iraq—its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation.

(121564)

107
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling): To ask the Prime Minister, whether, at the time he made his statement on Iraq on 3rd February, Official Report, columns 21- 38, he had been informed of which officials in his Prime Ministerial department were involved in compiling the document Iraq—its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation.

(121565)

108
N   David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will discuss with the US President measures for immediate progress in (a) the provision of essential services, (b) the payment of salaries and (c) other related matters in the administration of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(121414)

109   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) accreditation and (b) regulatory measures are in place to protect the general public, with particular reference to vulnerable groups, from unscrupulous tradesmen.

(121666)

110   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list British companies contracted to work in the natural gas and water industries in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

(121679)

111
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the widening of the M42.

(121291)

112   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate how long it takes on average to (a) complete and (b) process the application form for the Vehicle Excise Duty Exemption Certificate; and whether his Department has a target for the number of applications to be processed.

(121576)

113   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate how long it takes on average to (a) complete and (b) process the application form for Vehicle Excise Duty; and whether his Department has a target for the number of applications to be processed.

(121577)

114   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate how long it takes on average to (a) complete and (b) process the application form for a driving licence; and whether his Department has a target for the number of applications to be processed.

(121579)

115
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many organisations signed up to be Age Positive Champions in each of the last 12 months.

(121016)

116   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the proposed timetable is for bringing existing clients into the new Child Support Agency scheme.

(121617)

117   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on the payment of disability living allowance to UK citizens who emigrate (a) within the EU and (b) outside the EU.

(121619)

118   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants in receipt of UK basic state pension (a) now, (b) five and (c) 10 years ago were resident (i) in EU countries, (ii) in Commonwealth countries, (iii) in the USA and (iv) elsewhere in the world outside the UK; what assessment he has made of the trend of pensioners settling overseas and its implications for UK state pension policy; and if he will make a statement.

(121573)

119   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate how long it takes on average to (a) complete and (b) process the application form for financial assistance from the Child Support Agency; and whether his Department has a target for the number of applications to be processed.

(121578)

120   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate how long it takes on average to (a) complete and (b) process the pension credit application form; and whether his Department has a target for the number of applications to be processed.

(121580)

121
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when (a) the Department and (b) the National Audit Office last audited the working practices of the benefits office in Chatham; and if he will make a statement.

(121503)

122
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints have been received by his Department about delays and working practices at the benefits office in Chatham.

(121504)

123
N   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to exclude convicted criminals from membership of the House of Lords.

(121563)

124
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what recent discussions he has had on the effect of the Government of Wales Act 1998 on the office of the Secretary of State for Wales in respect of devolving further powers; and if he will make a statement.

(121033)

125
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what timetable he proposes for consultation on the review of electoral systems; and if he will make a statement.

(121292)

126   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures are in place to ensure that on-line gambling operators are not used as a vehicle for the laundering of illegally obtained funds.

[Transferred] (121633)

127   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many kilograms of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis were seized by HM Customs and Excise whilst being imported into the UK in each of the last five years; and what percentage of each substance was seized at the Port of Liverpool.

[Transferred] (121623)

128   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the quantity of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis that escaped detection while being imported into the UK.

[Transferred] (121680)

129   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what investigations have been carried out into unverified prepayments by GCHQ in respect of procurement of projects and services since the Intelligence and Security Committee's investigation; what the nature of the accounting misapplications and unverified monies was; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121598)

130   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken to ensure that GCHQ will be able to produce resource accounts that reflect a true and fair record of expenditure.

[Transferred] (121600)

131   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken to establish that equipment missing from the GCHQ Fixed Asset Register did not contain classified material.

[Transferred] (121601)