Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 25 June 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 25 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.

WEDNESDAY 25th JUNE

1   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations there are in England; and how many there were in 1997.

(121866)

2   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage the take-up of working tax credit.

(121823)

3   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those eligible for working tax credit in the Redcar constituency have applied for it.

(121824)

4   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for working tax credit submitted (a) before and (b) after the deadline are unpaid in the Redcar constituency; and when he expects all claims for working tax credit for the Redcar constituency to be dealt with.

(121825)

5   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of (a) benefits and (b) tax credits was (i) in the UK, (ii) in the North East region and (iii) in the Tees Valley as a percentage of GDP in the last year for which figures are available.

(121826)

6   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to check that information lines for related benefits listed in working tax credit award notices are operational; and what systems he has in place to correct inaccuracies.

(121992)

7   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in value added tax was in each financial year since 1991-92.

(121735)

8   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) average amount of value added tax paid per household and (b) the average change per household in value added tax paid was in each financial year since 1991-92.

(121736)

9   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Truro and St Austell of 10th June, Official Report, column 746-47W, on council tax, what the council tax was as a percentage of gross income for (a) pensioner households and (b) non-pensioner households in each income decile in England for the financial year 2001-02.

(121737)

10   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what economic instruments the Treasury plans to use to internalise the environmental costs of goods; and if he will make a statement.

(121986)

11
N   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hours a week sniffer-dogs are used to identify illegal meat imports at (a) ports and (b) airports.

(121628)

12   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from (a) business leaders and (b) mortgage providers in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed use of fiscal regulators instead of monetary policy with regard to the United Kingdom joining the euro.

(121913)

13   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to tax lump sum payments payable to the spouses of the pensioners who do not live for five years after their retirement.

(121796)

14   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to remove stamp duty for first-time buyers.

(121730)

15   Laura Moffatt (Crawley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been reimbursed for bank charges incurred as a result of delayed payment of tax credits.

(121720)

16   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue would be generated if the top rate of tax were (a) 45 per cent., (b) 50 per cent. and (c) 60 per cent. for those with incomes over £100,000.

(121995)

17   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional revenue would be generated if the top rate of tax were (a) 45 per cent., (b) 50 per cent. and (c) 60 per cent. for those with incomes over £100,000 and the threshold for paying higher rates were raised to (i) £35,000 and (ii) £40,000.

(121996)

18   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much illegal drugs were seized by HM Customs and Excise in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost of such operations was.

(122012)

19   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when Sport England will issue a grant to Dorrington Recreation Association to support their application for funding a new hard play area.

(121861)

20   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what use was made of British military (a) field hospitals and (b) medical resources to treat Iraqi civilians; and if he will make a statement.

(121893)

21
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the findings of the investigation into the mobile laboratories in Iraq.

(121021)

22   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money has been raised for British servicemen through the UK Gulf Forces Trust Fund.

(121799)

23   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the status of the A400M programme.

(121872)

24   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the landing gear system procurement for the A400M; when he expects to announce the awarding of the contract for the landing gear system for the A400M; and from which suppliers the equipment will be procured.

(121873)

25
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides there were in military prisons in each year since 1990 by (i) members of the armed forces and (ii) members of the armed forces in custody awaiting trial; and how many serious self mutilations and injuries there were amongst members of the armed forces awaiting custodial sentences over the same period.

(120512)

26   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British aircraft were lost during the recent conflict in Iraq.

(122005)

27   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British soldiers lost their lives during the recent conflict in Iraq.

(122006)

28   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the cost was of the Adjudication Panel hearing held at the Inglenook Hotel, Pagham, Bognor Regis, on 10th and 11th June; and how much of the total figure was for the cost of legal counsel.

(121947)

29   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what additional funding he has made available to (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and (b) Shropshire County Council in respect of increased costs of record checks by the Criminal Records Bureau.

(121726)

30   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on per capita funding for North East Lincolnshire social services departments in the last five years; and what the per capita funding for unitary authorities in the south-east was in each of the last five years.

(121718)

31   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the pilots, trials and research studies funded by his Department which have been conducted since 2002, indicating (a) the title, summary and duration of the pilot or trial, (b) the target population and total number of participants and (c) when each pilot, trial or research finding was published; and if he will list the research bodies and organisations outside his Department which were involved in each pilot, trial or research study.

(121777)

32   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much council tax was uncollected for the London boroughs at the latest date for which figures are available on (a) a cash basis and (b) a percentage basis.

(121778)

33   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which regional assemblies he has visited since May 2002.

(121780)

34   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proposals he has to reduce the levels of poverty in London; and if he will make a statement.

(121781)

35   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many socially rented houses have been built in rural areas in each year since 1997.

(121782)

36   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been relocated out of London since May 2002.

(121783)

37   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to commission a study into the use of referendums on government policies.

(121784)

38   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of staff employed this represents.

(121785)

39   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people sit on the boards of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in England; who is on more than one non-departmental public body, who they are and which organisations they serve in.

(121786)

40   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many complaints concerning his Department's (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) executive agencies have been received by the Parliamentary Ombudsman each year since 1997; and how many complaints were upheld.

(121787)

41   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many complaints concerning his Department have been received by the Parliamentary Ombudsman since May 2002; and how many complaints were upheld.

(121788)

42   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much money his Department's non-departmental public bodies distributed (a) in the last financial year, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago.

(121789)

43   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the length of time was between local inquiries being completed and the decision from the inspector and the determination by his Department in each case of called-in application since May 2002.

(121790)

44   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidance he has given to local authorities on (a) the safety of waste incinerators and (b) the risks of fire at waste incinerators.

(121791)

45   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies the Government is required (a) to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) to publish the response to advice supplied by them.

(121792)

46   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily.

(121793)

47   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many works of art from the Government art collection are on loan to each Minister in his Department.

(121794)

48   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been paid by (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organisations for which he is accountable to staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches which did not proceed to tribunals or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals or courts in (A) the current year and (B) each of the two previous years; and how many staff received payments in each case.

(121795)

49   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the estimated cost of running his Departmental office was for each year since it was established, broken down by (a) telephone bills, (b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other; and what the estimate for the current year is.

(121807)

50   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the targets for his Department's waste minimisation strategy are.

(121808)

51   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what new, additional positions have been created in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since May 2002.

(121809)

52   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the meetings that he has had with Hull City Council since May 2002.

(121810)

53   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, from which local authorities he has received representations on mobile phone masts since May 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(121811)

54   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities he has visited since May 2002.

(121812)

55   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the geographical locations are of the place of work of civil servants within his Department; and how many civil servants worked at each location in (a) May 2002 and (b) May 2003.

(121813)

56   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to increase the number of allotments; and if he will make a statement.

(121814)

57   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many houses there were in the rented sector (a) in total and (b) broken down by region in (i) May 2003 and (ii) May 1997.

(121815)

58   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many special needs houses there are in England, broken down by (a) Parliamentary constituency, (b) local authority area and (c) region.

(121816)

59   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to increase the number of special needs houses in England; and if he will make a statement.

(121817)

60   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of blocks of multi-storey flats over 10 floors high in England; and where they are located.

(121818)

61   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of people living in multi-storey blocks of flats in England.

(121819)

62   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of multi-storey blocks that have been demolished and replaced with lower density dwellings in the last five years.

(121820)

63   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, on how many occasions since May 2002 ministers in his Department have passed (a) honourable Members' letters and (b) honourable Members' questions to agencies for response; and what percentage of the total number of letters and questions received this represents.

(121821)

64   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether there is a requirement on a local authority to offer to the original owner (a) land and (b) property it has acquired for a development project which is subsequently not proceeded with.

(121881)

65   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will encourage housing associations operating in the same district to merge for reasons of management control; and if he will make a statement.

(121882)

66   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what powers he has to investigate the management by a housing association of its properties; and what the procedures are for initiating such an investigation.

(121883)

67   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Minister for Children has responsibility for child law reform.

(121822)

68   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what age range the Minister for Children's responsibilities cover.

(121827)

69   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Minister for Children has responsibility for (a) children in prison, (b) asylum-seeker children and (c) children of domestic violence victims in refuges.

(121828)

70
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that community cohesion is emphasised within the school environment.

(121024)

71   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 10th June, Official Report, column 784W, on specialist state schools, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of modern foreign languages as a catalyst for whole school improvement compared to other subject specialisms.

(121779)

72   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make an assessment of whether the acquisition of modern foreign language is (a) a generic and (b) a specialist skill.

(121800)

73   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he will reply to the Question from the honourable Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton of 30th April on the estimated number of entrants aged under 21 to modern languages courses at higher education institutions from 2003 to 2008.

(121801)

74   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, to whom complaints of maladministration against local training and skills councils should be addressed.

(121905)

75   Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress the Government is making in establishing sector skills councils.

(121744)

76   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the annual change has been for each of the last 10 years in the proportions of students from different socio-economic backgrounds (a) entering higher education, (b) completing each year of study and (c) successfully completing a course of study.

(121754)

77   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent (a) qualitative and (b) quantitive analysis has been made of the (i) barriers to entry to higher education and (ii) reasons for withdrawal from higher education before successful completion of a course of study in relation to the different socio-economic background of students.

(121755)

78   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportional change the Government expects in (a) the number of (i) foundation degrees and (ii) part-time study and work-based degrees and (b) the proportion of students choosing to live at home while studying on the basis of the proposals in the White Paper The Future of Higher Education.

(121756)

79   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent representations he has received regarding the compulsory teaching of one modern language between the ages of 14 and 16.

(121752)

80   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the relationship is between (a) Connexions, (b) LEAs, (c) young offenders institutions, (d) Jobcentre Plus and (e) learning and skills councils.

(121776)

81   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has carried out on the effect of top-up fees on (a) existing and (b) future veterinary students.

(121862)

82   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many new classroom assistants were appointed in the UK in the 2002-03 academic year in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special needs schools.

(122007)

83   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of university students from England paid the full amount of tuition fees for the academic year 2002-03.

(122008)

84   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students in the UK dropped out of university during the academic year 2002-03.

(122010)

85   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent research he has conducted into the percentage of primary school children who play truant without their parents' knowledge.

(122015)

86   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on truancy levels for children of (a) primary and (b) secondary school age in March (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003.

(122016)

87   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action she has taken to ensure that the UK's international policies protect endangered species.

(121904)

88
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the Government plans to encourage the establishment of whale sanctuaries in the (a) Pacific and (b) South Atlantic.

(121020)

89   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on Government plans to investigate options for charging schemes for household waste with (a) the Local Government Association and (b) other stakeholders.

(121980)

90   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those industries for which the Government plans voluntary agreements to reduce waste and increase the use of recycled materials and the recyclability of products.

(121981)

91   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those stakeholders her Department (a) has held discussions with and (b) intends to hold discussions with on a voluntary agreement for the recycling of waste consumer batteries.

(121982)

92   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable there is for producing voluntary agreements on household hazardous waste after June 2004.

(121983)

93   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the progress of plans for a study of the potential of deposit refund schemes in the United Kingdom to promote (a) refuse and (b) waste minimisation.

(121984)

94   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will review the assistance the Government gives to charity shops in promoting the reuse of goods; and if she will make a statement.

(121985)

95   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 17th June, Official Report, column 209W, if she will make a statement on the contents of the register used to provide the information in her Answer of 17th March, Official Report, column 506W, and distinguish it from the data held as part of the Environment Agency Register of Waste Management Licences, which are kept under part 2 of the Environment Protection Act 1990.

(121997)

96   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people are employed by her Department in (a) Taunton and (b) Somerset.

(121977)

97
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent in each year since 1995 (a) as a Department and (b) through grants to external bodies on (i) the promotion of and (ii) research into biotechnology.

(121653)

98
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent in each year since 1995 on the promotion of (a) genetically-modified and (b) organic produce.

(121654)

99   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations have been received on the issue of fallen stock collection from (a) individuals and (b) organisations in Wales.

(121721)

100   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the predicted unit-cost is of (a) collection and (b) disposal of fallen stock under the new scheme for farmers in Ogmore.

(121722)

101   Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which facilities will serve the farmers of (i) Bridgend and (ii) Ogmore constituencies for (a) collection and (b) disposal of fallen stock.

(121723)

102   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what part (a) CEFAS, (b) her Department and (c) other British fisheries experts played in the EU research report issued in the week beginning 16th June; and what account was taken of the impact of de-commissioning and days at sea limitation on fish stocks.

(121719)

103
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the antibiotics to which marker genes used in the production of genetically modified crops convey resistance and the medical uses of those antibiotics.

(121657)

104
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which antibiotic marker genes are no longer in use in the genetic modification of plant crops.

(121658)

105
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the antibiotic marker genes, and the antibiotics to which they convey resistance, that are in use in the genetic modification of plant crops.

(121659)

106
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in phasing out the use of antibiotic marker genes in the genetic modification of plant crops.

(121660)

107   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will make a decision on the future of Horticulture Research International Efford; and if she will make a statement.

(121743)

108   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had on strengthening the EU sanctions against Burma; and what his policy is on the UK introducing unilateral sanctions.

(121758)

109   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise the issue of assaults on democracy and human rights in Burma at the UN Security Council.

(121759)

110   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on how many people have been killed in the recent action by the Burmese junta on members and supporters of the National League for Democracy; and how many people are in prison.

(121760)

111   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote human rights in Sudan.

(121915)

112   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Burmese Government regarding the detention of Aung San Suu Ki; and if he will make a statement.

(121916)

113   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone.

(121917)

114   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the US about British nationals held in Guantanamo Bay; when he expects them to be charged; what he expects them to be charged with; and what maximum penalty he expects will apply.

(121848)

115   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the amount of cocaine reaching the UK from (a) Colombia and (b) the remainder of South America; and if he will make a statement.

(122003)

116   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to curb the opium trade in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

(122004)

117   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has held in 2003 with President Mbeki of South Africa regarding sanctions against the Zanu PF regime in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

(122019)

118   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) recent meetings he has held and (b) meetings he plans to hold with EU leaders in 2003 to discuss the effect of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

(122020)

119   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) recent meetings he has held and (b) meetings he plans to hold with the leaders of (i) Namibia, (ii) Nigeria, (iii) Kenya and (iv) Botswana to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

(122021)

120   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to extend the application of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

(122022)

121   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer, Official Report, column 427W, on care standards, when he expects to commence consultation on draft guidance.

(121746)

122   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many posts are filled at the (a) Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority and (b) Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust.

(121989)

123   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his most recent assessment is of the safety of anti-depressant drugs.

(121863)

124   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his investigation into selective seratonin uptake inhibitors will recommence.

(121864)

125   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of patients waited up to (a) four weeks, (b) 13 weeks and (c) 26 weeks for their first outpatient appointment for cardiology following GP referral; and how many patients were waiting for over 13 weeks at quarter end in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region in each quarter since Q1 1997.

(121747)

126   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets have been set on the maximum length of time patients should wait for their complaints to be resolved; and what the performance against these targets was in the last year for which figures are available.

(121750)

127   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) targets he has set and (b) guidance he has issued relating to the treatment of patients who have had their operation cancelled more than once.

(121751)

128   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were referred by their GP for drug addiction treatment in the last two years.

(121839)

129   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GPs are permitted to prescribe (a) heroin and (b) methadone.

(121840)

130   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on NHS dentistry in Gloucestershire.

(121874)

131   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the use of (a) temporary nurses and (b) locum doctors in the NHS in Gloucestershire.

(121875)

132   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the contribution of hospices in Gloucestershire to the work of the NHS.

(121876)

133   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on NHS deficits in Gloucestershire.

(121877)

134   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the results of the NHS GP survey in Gloucestershire.

(121878)

135   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what working definition of personal care is used when determining whether a patient is receiving personal care or nursing care, in order to determine eligibility for funding that care.

(121880)

136   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) the impact on junior hospital doctors in North Yorkshire of the Working Time Directive, (b) the impact on local hospitals of the implementation of the Working Time Directive and (c) the change in the number of junior doctors the NHS will require in North Yorkshire.

(121753)

137   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much, and what percentage, of the NHS budget was spent on NHS dentistry in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

(121993)

138   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what extent NHS dentists are expected to carry out a soft tissue examination; how long this procedure takes; and if he will make a statement.

(121994)

139   Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made in making screening services for cystic fibrosis available to all new mothers and pregnant women.

(121733)

140   Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on prescribing by midwives.[R]

(121867)

141   Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Birthrate Plus system for computing staffing requirements for maternity units.[R]

(121868)

142   Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in the appointment of the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Hospitals.[R]

(121869)

143   Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evaluation he proposes to make of the first wave of NHS foundation trusts prior to deciding whether (a) to support the creation of more such trusts and (b) to expand foundation trusts beyond the hospital sector.[R]

(121870)

144   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to accommodate asylum seekers in a camp in (a) Croatia and (b) another eastern European country outside the EU; whether the occupants of such camps would have rights under the law of the country where the camp is located; what legal system would apply to the occupants; and whether he will be responsible for ensuring the rights of occupants under (i) the Convention on Refugees and (ii) the European Convention on Human Rights.

(121757)

145   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims from claimants living in the Redcar constituency have been refused since May 2002; and in how many cases deportation is pending.

(121829)

146   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum refusals (a) in Redcar and (b) in England have resulted in deportations since May 2002.

(121830)

147   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases of asylum refusals (a) in Redcar and (b) in England no further action has been taken but all benefits to the asylum seeker have been stopped since May 2002.

(121831)

148   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will call for a report on the (a) cost and (b) outcome of Durham and Cleveland Police's Operation Icebolt; and if he will make a statement.

(121884)

149   Jim Dowd (Lewisham West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress of the Public Safety Radio Communications Project; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the operation of the system on the health of (a) the general public and (b) those using the system.

(121942)

150   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the reclassification of cannabis will be completed; and why this measure will not be introduced in July.

(121865)

151   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of security at royal palaces; and if he will make a statement.

(121918)

152   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional security measures have been put in place at royal palaces at Windsor Castle since Saturday 21st June.

(121949)

153   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the performance of Integrated Casework Directorate North in Sheffield since August 2002, with particular reference to the backlog of European Community Association Agreement applications.

(121841)

154   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason there is no direct phone line available for (a) the public and (b) legal representatives to contact the tegrated Casework Directorate North offices in Sheffield; what assessment he has made of the implications of this for the speed of dealing with outstanding European Community Association Agreement applications; and if he will make a statement.

(121842)

155   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many European Community Association Agreement applications processed through the offices of Integrated Casework Directorate North in Sheffield have been delayed beyond the expected minimum over the last year; and if he will make a statement.

(121843)

156   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau in Croydon; how many applications where the applicant clearly falls under the immigration rules have been delayed beyond the expected minimum over the last year; and if he will make a statement.

(121844)

157   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau in Croydon provides to (a) the public and (b) legal representatives concerning the location of applications which are suffering from delays; and if he will make a statement.

(121845)

158   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in considering the appeals of prisoners detained under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(121950)

159   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether special measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and security of those involved in appeal hearings before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in respect of those prisoners detained under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(121951)

160   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment in England and Wales were transferred under (a) the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners and (b) the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders in each year since 1997.

(121952)

161   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out the process by which a prisoner can apply for transfer under (a) the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners and (b) the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders.

(121953)

162   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the countries with which the UK has bilateral prisoner transfer agreements.

(121954)

163   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the throughput of offenders in each probation area was in the last two financial years.

(121955)

164   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) other law enforcement personnel are employed on a full-time basis to investigate online paedophile offences.

(121956)

165   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total amount spent per head of population on (a) police, (b) prisons and (c) probation was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(121957)

166   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress made in securing planning permission for each of the planned asylum accommodation centres.

(121958)

167   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests were made by non-Home Office police forces in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(121959)

168   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences under the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act 2002; and what penalties were imposed on those convicted.

(121960)

169   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 20th May, Official Report, columns 764-5W, on terrorist profiling, whether the pilot group has met; and what their timetable is for taking this work forward.

(121961)

170   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time is from offence to completion in the youth courts for those defendants not identified as persistent young offenders.

(121962)

171   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders were sentenced by the courts in 2002, broken down by (a) type of disposal and (b) category of offence.

(121963)

172   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) male and (b) female remand prisoners were subsequently (i) acquitted and (ii) sentenced to a non-custodial penalty in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(121964)

173   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation was held with members of the judiciary before amendments were tabled to the Criminal Justice Bill in relation to sentencing for murder.

(121965)

174   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes he has made to the structure of policing to improve responsiveness in the event of a serious terrorist incident; and if he will make a statement.

(121966)

175   Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) proportion and (b) total amount of (i) total Government spending and (ii) gross domestic product was spent on policing in each of the last five years; and what the projected proportion of total Government spending is in the next two years.

(121967)

176
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list, for each of the last five years, the average number of prisoners held in each of the Category D prisons for which the Prison Service has responsibility.

(121366)

177   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Jamaicans were (a) given and (b) refused visitor visas to the United Kingdom in (i) the last month for which figures are available and (ii) the same month in 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(121850)

178   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) local authorities and (b) voluntary organisations of the Criminal Records Bureau's decision to increase the cost of standard and enhanced checks.

(121724)

179   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal record checks were carried out by employers in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham, (b) Shropshire and (c) England in each year since 1997; how much the checks cost them; and how many volunteers were checked for criminal records by organisations in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham, (ii) Shropshire and (iii) England in each year since 1997.

(121727)

180   Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 4th June to the honourable Member for Stoke-on-Trent North, Official Report, column 462W, on TETRA, what funds have been allocated to the national health monitoring study of Airwave police users; and when he expects the study to report.

(121852)

181   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers were recruited in Humberside in each of the last five years; and how many were recruited in police authorities with similar size populations in the same period.

(121716)

182   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young offenders were placed in intensive supervision and surveillance programmes by police authorities in the last year for which figures are available.

(121871)

183   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) retail outlets and (b) licensees were prosecuted for illegally providing alcohol to people aged under 18 during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(122011)

184   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much illegal drugs were seized by the police during the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost was of such operations.

(122013)

185   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for asylum in the UK have been made since January by Iraqi (a) Ba'ath and (b) ex-Ba'ath party officials.

(122018)

186   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance Her Majesty's Government has provided to civilians affected by the civil war in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

(121911)

187   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's objectives at the World Trade Organisation's ministerial meeting in Mexico in September.

(121912)

188   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the potential danger to workers involved in the flower industry in Kenya due to exposure to chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

(122017)

189   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations he has received from business leaders in Northern Ireland concerning preparations for the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(121920)

190   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been convicted of (a) dangerous driving and (b) drink driving in Northern Ireland since January; and what the average penalty has been for these offences.

(121921)

191   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many paramilitary beatings have been carried out in Northern Ireland since 1st January; and how many of these have been attributed to (a) Loyalists and (b) Republicans.

(121922)

192   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to promote increased participation in sport in schools in Northern Ireland.

(121923)

193   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of community sports on the peace process in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(121924)

194   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average ambulance response time was in each year since 1997 in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Down; and if he will make a statement.

(121926)

195   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients from Northern Ireland have been treated in (a) English, (b) Scottish and (c) Welsh hospitals in each of the last five years.

(121927)

196   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on the treatment of NHS patients from Northern Ireland in the Republic of Ireland.

(121928)

197   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he is taking to tackle teenage pregnancy in Northern Ireland.

(121929)

198   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total funding for schools in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Down was in each year since 1997.

(121930)

199   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the progress being made with the Water Service's water efficiency programme.

(121931)

200   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Water Service met its targets in respect of domestic water efficiency in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) since January.

(121932)

201   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he last met the EAGA Partnership to discuss water efficiency proposals; and if he will make a statement.

(121933)

202   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) households and (b) public sector offices in Northern Ireland have been fitted with hippo bags; and if he will make a statement on the estimated savings made by their introduction.

(121934)

203   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what comparative studies have been undertaken by the Water Service in Northern Ireland with water authorities in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales regarding water efficiency by (i) domestic premises, (ii) small businesses and (iii) public sector offices; and if he will make a statement on the results.

(121935)

204   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what evaluation has been made by the Water Service regarding the distribution of hippo bags in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the results.

(121936)

205   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on his plans to improve water efficiency in (a) low income households, (b) small businesses and (c) public sector offices.

(121937)

206   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many houses were sold through the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Scheme in each of the last five years.

(121728)

207   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to assist first-time buyers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(121729)

208   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce a purchaser's pack for potential first-time house buyers and sellers in Northern Ireland.

(121731)

209   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the budgetary allocation to the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Scheme was in each of the last five years; what plans he has to improve the scheme's budgetary position; and if he will make a statement.

(121732)

210
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in the second survey of historic buildings in Northern Ireland; how many properties have been delisted through the survey; and how many have been added to the listed stock.

(120645)

211
N   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what advice from Department of Environment conservation and heritage officials was conveyed to the Northern Ireland Environment Minister prior to her decisions to approve the Victoria Square retail scheme and permit the demolition of the Kitchen Bar.

(120646)

212   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Prime Minister, whether he sought advice concerning the signing ceremony of the joint venture between BP and the Russian oil company TNK; on what basis he has included the signing ceremony in the schedule of events during President Putin's state visit; and what representations he received from BP relating to the signing ceremony.

(121940)

213
N   Mr Michael Jabez Foster (Hastings & Rye): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 25th June.

(121383)

214   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received from the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the Sellafield nuclear plant; and if he will make a statement.

(121910)

215   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much money has been recovered by her Department from regional aid grants made to industrial projects which have subsequently failed in the last five years.

(121901)

216   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of waste in the government industrial grants system since 1997, in terms of (a) jobs created that would have been created anyway and (b) investment attracted to the UK that would have been made anyway; and if she will make a statement.

(121902)

217   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much public aid has been given to the LG electronics group since 1997; how many jobs were expected to have been created as a result; how many jobs have been created; and if she will make a statement.

(121903)

218   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations her Department has had from the British Embassy in Seoul regarding due diligence procedures in the decision to give public aid to LG electronics group; and if she will make a statement.

(121906)

219   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much regional aid has been given by the UK Government since 1997 in terms of (a) cash grants, (b) tax relief and (c) other subsidies to industries investing in the UK; how many jobs were expected to have been created as a result; how many jobs were delivered; and if she will make a statement on the proportion of aid which has been given to projects that have subsequently failed.

(121907)

220   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans her Department has to abolish the rights of financial institutions to charge customers who repay personal loans early.

(121908)

221   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 19th May, Official Report, column 631W, on age discrimination, what safeguards are in place to prevent unfair discrimination by employers against younger women in favour of older women.

(121948)

222   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make representations to the European Commission about the method of procurement of railway rolling stock by the (a) Spanish, (b) French and (c) Italian governments.

(121990)

223   Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has made to Alston about the impact on jobs in the UK of its decision to manufacture London tube trains in France or Spain; and what response she has had.

(121991)

224
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the cost to developing countries of implementation of regulations that arise from GATS negotiations.

(121363)

225
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how (a) the UK and (b) third world countries may affect the agenda for WTO negotiations.

(121364)

226
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how WTO investment rules apply to (a) multinationals and (b) national governments.

(121365)

227   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will establish short-term guidelines for drafting new standards in co-ordination with the British Standards Institution and the Waste Resource Action Programme that do not create barriers blocking the use of recycled goods; and if she will make a statement.

(121987)

228   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when there will be a formal review of trade and industry standards identified as presenting barriers to the use of secondary resources and recycled goods; and if she will make a statement.

(121988)

229   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people are employed by her Department in (a) the Taunton constituency and (b) Somerset.

(121978)

230   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the projects and programmes which are funded by her Department and are administered in Taunton; and how many people are employed in administering those projects and programmes, expressed as a full-time equivalent.

(121979)

231
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much her Department has spent in each year since 1995 (a) as a Department and (b) through grants to external bodies on (i) the promotion of and (ii) research into biotechnology.

(121655)

232
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much her Department has spent in (a) sponsorships, (b) grants and (c) other financial assistance to biotechnology companies in the UK.

(121656)

233   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people work in the biotechnology sector, broken down by type of work.

(121748)

234   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when telecommunication companies will enable exchanges to provide broadband to all users; and if she will make a statement.

(121742)

235   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the projects supported by her Department's Innovation Budget involving technical textiles.

(121944)

236   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of prescriptions for treating animals issued by veterinary surgeons in each of the last five years were generic drugs.

(121853)

237   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many veterinary surgeons are practising in the UK.

(121854)

238   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many prescriptions for animals were issued in each of the last five years by veterinary surgeons.

(121855)

239   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average percentage profit per prescription issued by a veterinary surgeon was in each of the last five years.

(121856)

240   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average profit per veterinary practice on the sale of prescription only medicines was in each of the last five years.

(121857)

241   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultation was carried out with veterinary surgeons on the effects of the Competition Commission's inquiry into veterinary prescription only medicines.

(121858)

242   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average profit for each veterinary practice was in the last 12 months.

(121859)

243   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the post offices in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if she will make a statement on disabled access to each one.

(121860)

244   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what facilities are available at Stansted airport for the assistance and support of (a) disabled and (b) elderly members of the public; what information about such facilities is disseminated, and to whom; and what plans there are to improve assistance to disabled and elderly people at Stansted airport.

(121833)

245
N   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have (a) died, (b) been seriously injured and (c) been injured in road crashes caused by drivers with alcohol levels (i) between 50mg and 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and (ii) between 20mg and 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in each of the last 10 years.

(121509)

246   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail signalling masts of 15 metres and over are planned by Network Rail in each region.

(121832)

247   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what conclusion he has reached as to the cause of the Chancery Lane derailment; and if he will make a statement.

(121885)

248   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what responsibility Metronet had for the recent replacement of bolts and brackets on Central Line trains; how much they received; and what the total programme cost.

(121886)

249   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, why the dust vacuuming Underground train was taken out of service; and what plans there are to reintroduce it.

(121887)

250   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what instructions London Underground has given drivers on wearing protective masks; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

(121888)

251
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on his assessment of the merits of widening motorways.

(121022)

252
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the environmental impacts of increased road building in the midlands.

(121023)

253   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals under consideration by the Council of Ministers to increase the limits on flying hours.

(121846)

254   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effects of pilot fatigue on aircraft accidents.

(121847)

255   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many instances there were of vehicle excise duty evasion in Gloucestershire, broken down by local authority, in each year since 1997; and if he will estimate the cost of vehicle excise duty evasion in Gloucestershire, broken down by local authority, in each year since 1997.

(121879)

256   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been spent by his Department and its predecessors in each of the last 20 years on trunk roads in the East of England, broken down by (a) year and (b) county; and how many miles of trunk road have existed in the East of England in each of the last 20 years.

(121797)

257   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the speeding limit exemption for ambulances to cover transplant vehicles.

(121941)

258   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under what circumstances reduced speed limits can be imposed on dual carriageways.

(121717)

259   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effects of road charging.

(122002)

260   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many emergency service vehicles were involved in road traffic accidents in the UK during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many of these accidents occurred while vehicles were responding to emergency calls.

(122009)

261   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on the future of the steel industry in Wales.

(121938)

262   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on the future of the leisure and tourism industries in Wales.

(121939)

263   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the status is of carer's allowance during a period when the cared-for person is in respite care.

(121714)

264   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the effect is on a person on carer's allowance of a period of illness.

(121715)

265   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households received council tax benefit in each financial year since 1991-92.

(121734)

266   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average change in (a) the state pension and (b) pensioner income was in each financial year since 1991-92.

(121738)

267   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much of the funding for British Sign Language initiatives has been allocated to Northern Ireland.

(121914)

268   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire who were eligible for the minimum income guarantee but did not claim it in the last year for which figures are available.

(121725)

269   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners did not claim their full level of entitlements in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire in each year since 1997.

(121739)

270   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners he estimates will be the subject of means-testing when the Pension Credit is introduced in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire.

(121740)

271   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners have been means-tested for income entitlements in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire in each year since 1997.

(121741)

272   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of the eligible pensioner non-recipients of minimum income guarantee identified in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999-2000 research were in receipt of (a) council tax benefit, (b) housing benefit and (c) either council tax benefit or housing benefit.

(121849)

273   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of the eligible pensioner non-recipients of council tax benefit identified in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999-2000 research were in receipt of (a) the minimum income guarantee, (b) housing benefit, (c) minimum income guarantee or housing benefit and (d) either attendance allowance or disability living allowance.

(121851)

274   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 17th June, Official Report, column 157W, on lost working days, if he will provide a breakdown for days lost through (a) sickness and (b) other reasons.

(121900)

275   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on the provisions for those with hearing difficulties in courthouses in Northern Ireland.

(121919)

276   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure an improvement in the effectiveness of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.

(121945)

277   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 18th June, Official Report, column 274W, on adjudicators, if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic background of adjudicators in post.

(121889)

278   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 18th June, Official Report, column 274W, on the Immigration Appeal Tribunal, how many (a) groups, (b) individuals and (c) organisations have been consulted on his proposals; when he last met the Chief Adjudicator to discuss his proposals; and what representations he has received following the announcement on legislative proposals made by the Government on 22nd May.

(121890)

279   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, how many Immigration Tribunals (a) he and (b) the Secretary of State has attended.

(121891)

280   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to take forward conclusions reached at the Special European Council in Tampere in October 1999.

(121892)

281   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on security precautions at Bacton Gas Terminal in North Norfolk.

[Transferred] (121798)

282   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects that the outcome of the Government study into the costs of domestic violence will be published.

[Transferred] (121943)

283   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the responses the Government has received to The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Northern Ireland consultation document.

[Transferred] (121925)

284   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the expected cost to industry is of the Food Supplements Regulations (England) 2003; how many food supplements and nutrients are to be removed from sale as a result of the regulations; and what assessment her Department has made of British manufacturers' and retailers' representations on the regulations.

[Transferred] (121909)

285   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which UK-based companies are involved in the development of genetically modified crops.

[Transferred] (121749)