Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 26 June 2003

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Monday 30 June 2003 see Part 2 of this Paper.

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

THURSDAY 26th JUNE

1   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken by Government departments and agencies that have removed retentions to ensure that their first line contractors do not demand retentions from their supply chain.

(122146)

2   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of eligible individuals who have failed to apply for (a) working tax credit, (b) minimum income guarantee and (c) child tax credit within the Crosby constituency.

(122205)

3   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government departments and agencies (a) have removed retentions from their construction contracts and (b) intend to remove retentions from such contracts within the next 12 months; and what the total value was of work procured by these departments and agencies in the last 12 months.

(122206)

4   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years.

(122144)

5   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people who are eligible for each of the available tax credits have yet to apply; and how many (a) applications have been received from and (b) eligible applicants there are in (i) the Teesside region and (ii) the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

(122225)

6   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how applications for tax credits received after the 5th July deadline will be treated; and if he will make a statement.

(122226)

7
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost would be to the Exchequer if the 22 per cent. income tax rate bracket was increased to include individuals with yearly incomes of (a) £40,000, (b) £45,000, (c) £50,000, (d) £55,000 and (e) £60,000.

(121662)

8
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the revenue impact would be of extending the 22 per cent. income tax rate bracket to include yearly incomes of (a) £40,000, (b) £45,000, (c) £50,000, (d) £55,000, (e) £60,000, (f) £65,000, (g) £70,000, and introducing an additional income tax bracket of (i) 45 per cent., (ii) 46 per cent., (iii) 47 per cent., (iv) 48 per cent., (v) 49 per cent., (vi) 50 per cent., (vii) 51 per cent., (viii) 52 per cent., (ix) 53 per cent., (x) 54 per cent., (xi) 55 per cent., (xii) 60 per cent. and (xiii) 65 per cent. for yearly incomes above (a) to (g) starting at (A) £50,000, (B) £55,000, (C) £60,000, (D) £70,000, (E) £75,000, (F) £80,000, (G) £85,000, (H) £90,000, (I) £95,000, (J) £100,000, (K) £105,000, (L) £110,000, (M) £115,000, (N) £120,000, (O) £125,000, (P) £130,000, (Q) £135,000, (R) £140,000, (S) £145,000 and (T) £150,000; and what he estimates the administrative costs would be of each of these changes.

(121663)

9
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the revenue impact would be of increasing the higher income tax rate to 50 per cent. and extending the 22 per cent. income rate bracket to include yearly earnings of up to (a) £40,000, (b) £45,000 and (c) £50,000.

(121664)

10   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for working tax credit submitted in Amber Valley (a) before and (b) after the deadline are unpaid; and when he expects all claims to be dealt with.

(122288)

11   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those eligible for working tax credit in Amber Valley have applied for it.

(122291)

12   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the record of effectiveness of (a) fiscal and (b) monetary policy in stabilising the UK economy in the last 30 years.

(122151)

13
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proportion of those earning over £100,000 a year who are graduates.

(121770)

14
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people who were receiving working families tax credit in March 2003 (a) received payments of child tax credit by the end of April 2003 and (b) had not received their child tax credit by the end of April 2003.

(121970)

15   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122250)

16   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what functions have had funding transferred from the grant-in-aid budget to the Civil List since May 1997, broken down by the (a) function transferred, (b) date of transfer and (c) current annual sum involved.

(122118)

17   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the bookmaking industry has taken in each of the last five years from betting on greyhound racing; and how much of this money was spent on retirement provision for greyhounds.

(122275)

18
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the average length of time was from the submission of a Lottery funding bid to (a) receipt of that application and (b) receipt of funding by distribution body in each of the last 10 years.

(121629)

19
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Lottery money went to (a) good causes, (b) the Exchequer as duty, (c) administration costs, (d) prizes and (e) other places in each of the last 10 years.

(121630)

20
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many bids were made to and how much funding was (a) requested and (b) allocated by each distribution body in each of the last 10 years.

(121631)

21   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the code of practice to be used by those associated with the Olympic Bid team when lobbying for the 2012 Games.

(122123)

22   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to publish accounts of the monies spent on the 2012 Olympic Bid.

(122124)

23   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 447W, on Sport England, from which budget money for redundancy and early retirement of Sport England staff in 2003-04 will come.

(122156)

24   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications to the Community Fund were (a) received and (b) successful for (i) village hall projects and (ii) projects relating to asylum seekers in 2002-03.

(122202)

25   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Community Fund on funding for village halls.

(122203)

26   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122251)

27   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the Civil Contingency Unit for the North East of England have been deployed to Iraq.

(122127)

28   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 18th June, Official Report, column 251W, whether there will be an inspection and audit by inspectors independent of the coalition force in the event of evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq being found; and if he will make a statement.

(122030)

29   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 510W, on defence procurement, when the various decisions were taken with regard to the forecast (a) in service date and (b) costs of the Bowman Communication System; and if he will make a statement.

(122314)

30   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 510W, on defence procurement, what assessment he has made of the ability of his Department to forecast the in service dates (ISD) and costs of major procurement projects; what plans he has for ensuring that projects are delivered (a) on their forecast ISD and (b) on their original budget; and if he will make a statement.

(122315)

31   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 510W, on defence procurement, what factors underlay (a) the gap between the in service date (ISD) at the time the contract was let and the current estimated ISD and (b) the cost difference for the same period in respect of the (i) Swiftsure and Trafalgar submarines, (ii) Astute submarines, (iii) Typhoon and (iv) ASRAAM and (v) MRA4; and if he will make a statement.

(122324)

32   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets his Department had in place with (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) non-governmental organisations, (c) consular offices, (d) research bodies and (e) agencies in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

(122041)

33   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets his Department had in place with (a) the Performance Assessment Network, (b) the Performance Reporting Information System for Management and (c) the Multilateral Organisations' Performance Assessment Initiative in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

(122042)

34   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) provisional budget in September 2002, (b) the finalised budget and (c) final expenditure of the Defence Logistics Organisation for Operation Telic was; and if he will make a statement.

(122043)

35   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Defence Logistics Organisation spent on preparations for the war in (a) Kosovo and (b) Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

(122044)

36   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the contracts (a) initiated and (b) changed by the Defence Logistics Organisation within (i) one week, (ii) two weeks and (iii) one month of the (A) deployment of troops and (B) commencement of hostilities for Operation Telic.

(122045)

37   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the Urgent Operational Requirements placed by the Defence Logistics Organisation within (a) one week, (b) two weeks and (c) one month of the commencement of (i) Operation Telic and (ii) the hostilities in Afghanistan.

(122046)

38   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, Official Report, column 349W, on service manning, if he will list the trades within the critical manning groups of the Army including the (a) requirement, (b) shortfall and (c) percentage manned.

(122116)

39   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures are being taken to address manning shortfalls in the critical manning groups of the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

(122117)

40   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department is providing to the Normandy Veterans Association to (a) organise and (b) implement the commemoration events for the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

(122307)

41   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures he will take following the declaration of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal on the application of Mrs Jean McBride relating to the reasons for retention in service of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright.

(122230)

42   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions in 2002 the RAF has used Canadian airspace for fast jet training; and what the cost was.

(122115)

43   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd June, Official Report, column 292W, on Heathrow, what assessment has been made of alternative airfields for military flights within the London area, should flying activity at RAF Northolt be precluded.

(122165)

44   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd June, Official Report, column 292W, on Heathrow, what assessment has been made of the future status of RAF Northolt if flying activity there were to cease.

(122166)

45   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the strategic importance of RAF Northolt, with particular reference to military flights.

(122167)

46   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list operational military airfields situated within 50 miles of central London.

(122173)

47   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) volunteer reserves personnel and (b) regular reservists in the (i) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (iii) Army and (iv) RAF units are involved in Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement.

(122152)

48   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when investigations into friendly fire incidents during Operation Telic will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(122154)

49   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many regular service personnel in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) RAF units are involved in Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement.

(122155)

50
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes he plans to make to the number of infantry battalions as part of the Defence White Paper.

(121761)

51   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on operation Dimming Sun; how much it cost to host; where and when it took place; which countries' participants came; what scenario was tested; and if he will (a) post on the departmental web site and (b) place in the Library a copy of the final report of the exercise.

(122278)

52   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether British forces are engaged with the United States Taskforce 20 in Iraq.

(122281)

53
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the (a) work, (b) progress and (c) timetable for the interim storage for laid-up submarines.

(121465)

54   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Iraq Survey Group to report on the progress of its work; and if he will make a statement.

(122131)

55   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122259)

56   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidance he has issued on steps to be taken by local authorities that have removed retentions to ensure that their first line contractors do not demand retentions from their supply chain.

(122145)

57   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities (a) have removed retentions from their construction contracts and (b) intend to remove retentions from such contracts within the next 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total value of work procured by these local authorities in the last 12 months.

(122207)

58   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many committal orders for council tax arrears have been obtained by local authorities in each financial year since 1989-90.

(122025)

59   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received from (a) local authorities, (b) members of the public and (c) other bodies on the number of people refusing to pay part or all of this year's council tax; and if he will make a statement.

(122026)

60   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 525W, on housing, what the timescale is for the consultation process; and if he will make a statement.

(122031)

61   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, columns 524-5W, on housing, if he will commission research to (a) determine the current and future demand for social housing in the South-East and (b) devise a strategy that will ensure the demand is met; and if he will make a statement.

(122032)

62   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to propose amendments to planning law to prevent retail outlets constructing mezzanine floors without planning permission; and if he will make a statement.

(122303)

63   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what research he has commissioned into the effect on the local economy and infrastructure of large retail outlets which have increased their floorspace through the installation of mezzanine floors without the need for planning permission; and if he will make a statement.

(122304)

64   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 17th June, Official Report, column 167W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the research into the health impacts of overcrowding on which policy decisions on tackling overcrowding are being based.

(122325)

65   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what factors underlay his decision to extend the right to buy discount repayment period to five years.

(122326)

66   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent developments there have been in the negotiations over the introduction of alternative dispute resolution methods into public sector contracts let by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(122227)

67
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, on how many occasions the Audit Commission has held a press conference on the publication of a local government corporate governance report; and if he will list the (a) dates and (b) reports.

(121661)

68   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many homeless households were in priority need in each year since 1992.

(122159)

69   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will authorise drug testing of staff within his Department.

(122136)

70   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122299)

71   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what type of (a) after school clubs, (b) youth clubs and (c) sports clubs initiatives have been started for (i) 8 to 13 year olds and (ii) 13 to 17 year olds in Redcar and Cleveland in each year since 1997.

(122333)

72
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of undergraduate students undertaking courses for which annual per capita funding is less than £1,100.

(121971)

73
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 18th June, Official Report, column 303W, on the Criminal Records Bureau, how his Department calculated the figure to be contributed.

(121745)

74   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of provision of vocational education and training for young people was provided by colleges in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(122282)

75   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many 16-19 year olds studied for vocational qualifications in (a) further education, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) other schools in the last year for which figures are available.

(122283)

76   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many overseas students are learning in UK further education colleges; and what target was set in 1999.

(122284)

77   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of (a) vocational and (b) academic level 3 qualifications were awarded in (i) colleges and (ii) schools in the last year for which figures are available.

(122285)

78   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of vocational qualifications were awarded via colleges in the last year for which figures are available.

(122286)

79   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the percentage of learners who are satisfied with their learning experience in college.

(122287)

80   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children have attended pre-schools in each year since 1973; how many pre-schools there were in (a) England and (b) Sefton in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002; and how many there are in 2003.

(122300)

81   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students paying tuition fees in higher education institutions in England and Wales are resident in Scotland.

(122294)

82   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he last discussed with the Secretary of State for Scotland his plans to introduce top-up fees in England and Wales (a) before 12th June and (b) since 12th June.

(122295)

83   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many times he and his predecessors met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years.

(122140)

84   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 6th May, Official Report, column 644W, on modern languages courses, which modern languages he is requiring all maintained secondary schools to continue to make available.

(122049)

85   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of schools inspected by Ofsted in 2001-02 in (a) Year 7, (b) Year 8, (c) Year 9, (d) Year 10 and (e) Year 11 were set by ability in (i) grammar schools, (ii) secondary modern schools and (iii) independent schools.

(122228)

86   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will estimate the likely impact of sixth form education provision by the exclusive means of sixth form colleges on standards of attainment in secondary schools at (a) Key Stage 4 and (b) GCSE level.

(122229)

87   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average capped A Level score for pupils attending (a) sixth form colleges and (b) secondary school sixth forms in England was in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement on the statistical significance of divergences between the averages.

(122231)

88   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd May, Official Report, column 555W, on specialist schools, if he will list those non-selective, non-specialist secondary schools that are not defined as mainstream; and if he will describe the type of school in each case.

(122302)

89
N   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of children's centres will be funded exclusively by his Department in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005.

(121894)

90
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) teachers, (b) classroom assistants and (c) other redundancies (i) have occurred since 1st April and (ii) he has been informed will take place during the remainder of the financial year in each school in Hertfordshire.

(121682)

91
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the proportion is of ethnic minority pupils in (a) school sixth forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth form colleges, (d) general further education colleges and (e) universities.

(121277)

92
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether Ofsted assesses ethnic minority intake as part of its inspection process in (a) school sixth-forms, (b) sixth-form colleges and (c) further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

(121278)

93
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average entry requirement needed to progress to Level 3 study at (a) school sixth-forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth-form colleges and (d) general further education colleges was in the last 12 months.

(121279)

94
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average GCSE results for ethnic minority students progressing into (a) school sixth-forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth-form colleges and (d) general further education colleges were in the last 12 months.

(121280)

95
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much of Higher Education Funding Council for England's university research funding has been distributed to universities in the north-west of England in each year since 1997.

(121805)

96
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of quality related research funds have been allocated to north-west universities in each of the past five years; and which universities have received such funding.

(121806)

97   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he plans to take in response to the recent Ofsted report concerning the quality of school PE lessons; and if he will make a statement.

(122301)

98
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what requirement there is for local education authorities to carry out job evaluations on non-teaching staff; what the purpose of such evaluations is; and if he will make a statement.

(121762)

99
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of staff (a) in England and (b) in Gloucestershire who will experience (i) reductions and (ii) increases in their pay in 2003-04 as a result of job evaluations; what he estimates the average amount per employee will be; and if he will make a statement.

(121763)

100
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the net cost or savings of the changes in salaries of non-teaching staff following job evaluations in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

(121764)

101   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he plans to take to extend educational opportunities for sufferers of autistic spectrum disorders.

(122222)

102   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he will make an announcement on the new Educational Maintenance Allowance scheme.

(122038)

103   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122260)

104   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of barriers in terms of regulatory control to an increase in the composting of household waste.

(122329)

105   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the latest figures are for the proportion of organic household waste composted (a) in England and (b) in the North East; and what plans she has to increase the amount composted in the next five years.

(122330)

106   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what quantities of (a) paper, (b) glass, (c) cans, (d) oil and (e) bottles are recycled through council-organised recycling schemes in (i) Redcar, (ii) the North East and (iii) England.

(122331)

107   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of household rubbish is recycled through council-organised recycling schemes in (a) Redcar, (b) the North East and (c) England.

(122332)

108   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many greyhounds have retired from British greyhound racing in each year since 1997; and how many were rehomed each year.

(122266)

109   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the three most common welfare problems affecting sheep were in 2002; and what estimate she has made of how many sheep in the UK suffer from lameness at any given time.

(122317)

110   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has held in the last year with voluntary organisations on the Waste and Resources Action Programme; and if she will make a statement.

(122232)

111
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what help is available from central government for the support for local food chains.

(121570)

112
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what regulatory provisions local authorities can be exempted from EU procedures on purchasing in order to encourage greater use of local food chains.

(121571)

113
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment by region of what help is forthcoming by (a) regional development agencies and (b) government offices to encourage local food chains.

(121572)

114   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Department has made of whether the UK will conform to EU limits for nitrogen dioxide levels in 2010.

(122135)

115   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of people living in areas surrounding Heathrow airport where nitrogen dioxide levels exceed EU limits; and what estimate her Department has made of the number of such people in 2010.

(122157)

116   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on horse welfare in the United Kingdom; and what plans she has to improve horse welfare.

(122204)

117   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122263)

118   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will introduce sanctions unilaterally against Burma if agreement cannot be reached at European Union Level.

(122185)

119   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if European Union representations to the United Nations Security Council regarding the political situation in Burma will include concerns about the plight of the (a) Karen, (b) Karenni and (c) Shan minorities.

(122186)

120   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of links between the Burmese Government and the (a) production of and (b) trade in opium.

(122187)

121   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will support the imposition of additional targeted EU (a) economic and (b) diplomatic sanctions against the Burmese government.

(122188)

122   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with other EU foreign ministers about the political situation in Burma.

(122189)

123   Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when Krishna Maharaj, a UK national, was arrested in Florida; and when the Consular service was officially informed of his arrest by (a) the Federal Authorities, (b) the State and (c) the local authorities.

(122134)

124   Denzil Davies (Llanelli): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list EU policy items which can now be vetoed by member states and which under the draft EU constitution are made subject to qualified majority voting.

(122047)

125   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 15th May to the honourable Member for Fife North East, Official Report, column 403W, on arms exports, if he will list (a) the dates of the visits and (b) the names of those involved in the promotion of Ministry exports on such visits.

(122149)

126   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his latest assessment is of British military equipment which has been misused by the Indonesian Government.

(122191)

127   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what access by (a) the Red Cross and (b) British diplomats has been granted to Moazzam Begg who is detained in Guantanamo Bay; and with what result.

(122306)

128   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to (a) Rwanda and (b) Uganda with regard to their actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(122040)

129
N   Sandra Osborne (Ayr): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government will take to ensure full account is taken of the recommendations made by non-governmental organisations to the forthcoming meeting for international support for Colombia on 10th July.

(121834)

130
N   Sandra Osborne (Ayr): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on UK policy on encouraging democratic pluralism in Colombia following recent measures taken against human rights activists, trade unionists and social protest in Colombia.

(121835)

131
N   Sandra Osborne (Ayr): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Government of Colombia on the protection and human rights of members of non-governmental organisations.

(121836)

132
N   Sandra Osborne (Ayr): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the President of Colombia's statement that there is no difference between combatants and non combatants in the context of the protection of the civilian population.

(121837)

133
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria are to be used for the selection of members of the Iraqi council; and how many of those being considered are women.

(121972)

134
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what timescale he envisages for the establishment of the Iraqi council announced by Mr Paul Bremer; and what issues he expects to appear on the agenda of the council's first meeting.

(121973)

135
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has been made by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan of the time required to register voters in Afghanistan for democratic elections scheduled to take place in 2004.

(121974)

136
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what funds (a) have been provided and (b) have been pledged by (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) the international community to assist the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan Transitional Authority in registering voters in Afghanistan.

(121975)

137
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the International Crisis Group report on the constitutional process in Afghanistan, published on 12th June.

(121976)

138
N   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to have UK nationals held in custody in Afghanistan returned to the UK for treatment in cases where their medical condition is causing concern; and if he will make a statement.

(121896)

139
N   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals are in custody in Afghanistan; and what the reasons are in each case.

(121897)

140
N   Jonathan Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) mass graves and (b) bodies have been discovered by United Kingdom and United States forces in Iraq.

(121567)

141
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the areas of decision-making where the current treaties require unanimity and which would move to qualified majority voting under the Convention on the Future of Europe's proposed draft European Constitution.

(121998)

142   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the treatment by the Burmese authorities of members of (a) the Shan and (b) other minority groups, with particular reference to women.

(122130)

143   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the levels of opium production in Burma; and what reports he has received of (a) state and (b) military complicity in such production.

(122175)

144   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122252)

145
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients in England.

(121765)

146
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide secure funding for pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in every hospital.

(121766)

147
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, Official Report, column 428-9W, on continuing care, how he will inform (a) the National Care Standards Commission, (b) the Health Service Ombudsman, (c) strategic health authorities and (d) individuals of the numbers of people who may have been wrongly assessed under criteria not consistent with the Coughlan judgment; and if he will make a statement.

(121767)

148   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of delays in the diagnosis of myeloma.

(122027)

149   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding was available for research into a cure for myeloma in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement about future funding.

(122028)

150   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 9th June, Official Report, column 676W, on mental health, what the ages are of the children cared for by adult mental health services in Mersey Care National Health Service Trust area.

(122039)

151   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) England, (b) South Sefton, (c) Southport and (d) Formby have arthritis; if he will make a statement on Early Day Motion No. 220; and if the Government will make arthritis a health care priority.

(122234)

152   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the most common cause of physical disability is in (a) England, (b) South Sefton, (c) Southport and (d) Formby.

(122235)

153   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many working days were lost in (a) England, (b) South Sefton, (c) Southport and (d) Formby because of arthritis and related conditions in each year since 1999; how much he estimates the lost work days owing to arthritis cost the economy; and what action is being taken to reduce the number of work days lost because of arthritis.

(122236)

154   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the population in (a) England, (b) South Sefton, (c) Southport and (d) Formby he estimates will suffer from arthritis in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006.

(122237)

155   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will introduce a national strategy for arthritis.

(122238)

156   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will introduce arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to be a priority for health and social care.

(122239)

157   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many rheumatologists there are in (a) South Sefton, (b) Southport and (c) Formby per 85,000 people.

(122240)

158   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations that are not being met.

(122241)

159   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost of arthritis was to health and social services in England in 2002-03.

(122242)

160   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the two most common types of (a) arthritis and (b) musculoskeletal conditions are.

(122243)

161   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the second most common cause of working days lost by (a) men and (b) women was in 2002-03.

(122244)

162   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hip replacements were performed in (a) England, (b) South Sefton, (c) Southport and (d) Formby in each year since 2000.

(122245)

163   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's policy is on the use of animals to provide organs for humans.

(122334)

164   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times he and his predecessors met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years.

(122141)

165   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards will be introduced on the use of individuals' DNA by (a) the insurance industry, (b) employers, (c) doctors and (d) others, with particular reference to the ownership of newly identified genes.

(122305)

166   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide secure funding for pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in NHS hospitals; and when he expects that such programmes will be universally available in the NHS.

(122119)

167   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on (a) regional and (b) local variations in the provision by the NHS of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients.

(122120)

168   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the handling by the press office of the Food Standards Agency of the publication of the Expert Group's Report on Vitamins and Minerals; and if he will make a statement.

(122194)

169   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Food Standards Agency decision to restrict the operations of the cockle industry.

(122195)

170   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what preparations his Department has made in the event of an outbreak of (a) tularaemia, (b) viral haemorrhagic fever, (c) plague and (d) botulism.

(122099)

171   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what stocks his Department have of antidotes to nerve agents which could possibly be used in a terrorist attack; and whether there are such agents for which his Department do not have suitable stocks of antidotes.

(122100)

172   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made with plans for a poster campaign advising what to do in the event of a chemical or biological attack; and if he will make a statement on other plans to inform the public (a) in preparation for and (b) in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident.

(122101)

173   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the capacity of primary care trusts to undertake their emergency planning roles.

(122102)

174   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards training (a) general practitioners, (b) staff at NHS Direct and (c) accident and emergency staff to spot outbreaks of infectious diseases.

(122103)

175   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) mobile decontamination units and (b) personal protective equipment suits have been given to each Ambulance Services NHS Trust; and what representations he has received on the condition of this equipment.

(122104)

176
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many main operations were carried out during 2002 in private hospitals under contract to the NHS; and how many of them were performed by surgeons who were at the same time under contract to the NHS.

(121281)

177   Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to set up further studies into the health effects of mobile telephone masts.

(122023)

178   Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what programme of research he has commissioned into the effects upon health of mobile telephone masts; and what budgetary provision he has made for such research.

(122024)

179
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take concerning strategic health authorities which do not use allocation from the Learning Disability Development Fund for learning disability services.

(121802)

180
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to strategic health authorities concerning the ring fencing of allocation from the Learning Disability Development Fund.

(121803)

181   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on Government support for projects to develop gene therapy relating to cystic fibrosis.

(122193)

182   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has held in the last six months with strategic health authorities concerning security at hospital mortuaries.

(122158)

183   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on health of a third runway at Heathrow; and whether his Department has submitted a response to the consultation on the future development of air services in the UK.

(122168)

184   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what occasions in the past 12 months his officials have met those from the Department of Transport to discuss the implications for public health of a third runway at Heathrow.

(122169)

185   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of implications for public health of the construction of terminal 5 at Heathrow, with particular reference to levels of air pollution.

(122170)

186   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of security at hospital mortuaries.

(122171)

187   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to recruit more general practitioners in the London Borough of Havering; and if he will make a statement on GP numbers in the Borough.

(122201)

188   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he has collated in respect to the discovering of radioactive pollution from technetium 99 in farmed salmon; and what discussions he has had on the discovery with the chairman of the Food Standards Agency.

(122280)

189
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to tackle the shortage of qualified neurologists; and what targets he has set to reduce waiting times in neurology.

(121464)

190   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the provision of hospital radio services.

(122196)

191   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the incidence was of osteoporosis and related fractures in 2002-03.

(122318)

192   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hip fractures there were in each of the last five years.

(122319)

193   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care trusts have adopted an osteoporosis prevention strategy.

(122320)

194   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many bone scanners there are in England; and how they are distributed around the country.

(122321)

195   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to issue guidance on falls.

(122322)

196   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to issue calcium and vitamin D free to the institutionalised elderly; and what he estimates the cost would be in a year.

(122323)

197   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122256)

198   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of (a) serious injury and (b) death there have been involving victims of (i) robbery and (ii) burglary in each of the past five years.

(122111)

199
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the relative powers of special constables and community safety officers, with special reference to the power of arrest.

(121568)

200
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the powers available to community safety officers.

(121569)

201   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times he and his predecessors met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years.

(122143)

202   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd June, Official Report, column 960, when the document he refers to will be available.

(122048)

203   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are being taken to monitor UK internet sites for potential threats to national security.

(122220)

204
N   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 9th June, Official Report, columns 659-60W, on Afghan refugees, when he intends to remove the remaining people.

(121804)

205
N   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the pilot areas for pathfinder programmes for convicted domestic violence offenders.

(121946)

206   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when probation areas will be (a) able to get accreditation for domestic violence offender programmes and (b) eligible for funding.

(122289)

207   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of pets being thrown from moving vehicles were reported to the police in the last 12 months.

(122190)

208   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will establish a review of the law in respect of desecration of dead bodies.

(122172)

209   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Montserrat were resident in the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

(122200)

210   Mr Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of defendants sentenced to a drugs treatment and testing order re-offended during the currency of the order in each year since it was introduced.

(122121)

211   Mr Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of people who have completed a drug treatment and testing order are no longer taking drugs (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months after completion.

(122122)

212   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many masts each of the police constabularies have in their area for use by the new TETRA system; how many new masts are required by each constabulary to ensure full service for the system; and what the anticipated date is by which each constabulary will have full coverage.

(122147)

213   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122253)

214   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what health care checks are carried out on pre-school children in Afghanistan.

(122160)

215   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the infant mortality rates were in Afghanistan in the last three years.

(122161)

216   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial support is being given to hospitals in Afghanistan to increase the number of woman health care providers.

(122162)

217   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial support is being given to hospitals in Afghanistan to train and recruit (a) nurses, (b) qualified birth attendants and (c) doctors.

(122163)

218   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps are being taken to increase the number of hospitals in operation in Afghanistan.

(122164)

219
N   Sandra Osborne (Ayr): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures are in place to ensure that (a) UK and (b) EU (i) policies and (ii) aid to Colombia comply with the human rights recommendations of the United Nations.

(121838)

220   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports the Department has received of the forced removal of groups from their tribal reserves in Botswana; and if he will make a statement.

(122153)

221   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans there are to increase aid to Montserrat.

(122197)

222   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions the Department has had with the government of Montserrat.

(122198)

223   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the Secretary of State next plans to visit Montserrat.

(122199)

224   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122262)

225   Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to make non-departmental public bodies more representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

(122233)

226   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission's report on the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

(122125)

227   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he will take to implement the recommendations of the Audit Commission's report into the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

(122126)

228   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122257)

229   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the President of the Council, how many staff his office had in each year since 1997; and what they cost in each year.

(122297)

230   Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Prime Minister, which Government department will have responsibility for administering the recently announced Children's Endowment Fund.

(122129)

231   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Prime Minister, how many times he has met the Mayor of London in official meetings in each of the past three years.

(122139)

232
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the consequences his proposal to abolish the Lord Chancellorship will have on the Church of England churches for which the Lord Chancellor has the benefice.

(121895)

233   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, how many times the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee has (a) rejected and (b) referred back for re-consideration a recommendation for (i) a peerage and (ii) other honours.

(122110)

234   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will request the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee to publish the results of its deliberations where it has entered a reservation about a proposed honour.

(122113)

235   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 11th June, Official Report, column 676, when he will write to the honourable Member for South West Bedfordshire on access disputes.

(122150)

236   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 23rd June on the Thessaloniki European Council, Official Report, column 707, what additional resources are being committed by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the other EU member states to implement Annex II of the declaration on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

(122273)

237
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Prime Minister, whether the proposals discussed at the European Council on 19th and 20th June in Thessaloniki would permit a reduction in the UK rebate from EU budget contributions.

(121899)

238   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, column 582W, on e-mail addresses, when he expects an e-mail address by which members of the public may contact him to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in making such an address available.

(122274)

239   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Prime Minister, how many staff his office had in each year since 1997; and what they cost in each year.

(122298)

240   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122261)

241   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Solicitor General, how many prosecutions have been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on the grounds that it was not in the public interest to prosecute by reason of old age in the last five years.

(122128)

242
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill.

(121769)

243   Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects the Pension Loss Model used by IRISC to calculate compensation for any loss of pension to former miners who died after 1st January 2001 to become operational.

(122097)

244   Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many compensation claims for vibration white finger have been denied and are awaiting reconsideration; and how long it will take for all of these to be reconsidered.

(122098)

245   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans the Government has to bring forward legislation to prohibit the distribution of unsolicited e-mails in the UK; and what steps may be taken against companies who relocate to countries where the legislative framework covering the distribution of unsolicited e-mails is less strict.

(122148)

246   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to assess the effectiveness of regional assistance schemes such as regional selective assistance and enterprise grants; and if she will make a statement.

(122223)

247   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans there are to monitor and record the number of workers (a) requesting and (b) being granted flexible working in (i) central government, (ii) local government, (iii) the public sector and (iv) the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

(122224)

248   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultation her Department carried out with (a) general aviation stakeholders and (b) national representative bodies for general aviation aerodrome operations and users in the preparation of the Interim Guidelines on Wind Energy published by her Department; if she will consult stakeholders within general aviation in the preparation of the final version of the Guidelines on Wind Energy; and if she will make a statement.

(122033)

249   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the contribution to the UK economy made by the general aviation industry; and if she will make a statement.

(122034)

250   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of wind turbines on private and unlicensed aerodromes which operate under the unofficial air safety measures promoted in DoE Circular 2/92; and if she will make a statement.

(122035)

251   Lembit O�pik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether planned future guidance documents from her Department on subjects affecting general aviation stakeholders will be the subject of consultation with their representative bodies; and if she will make a statement.

(122036)

252
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what grant aid is available to assist in (a) business diversification in Scotland and (b) non-fishing related new business start-ups in fishing industry-dependent areas of Scotland.

(121771)

253
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to ensure that residents of communities not served by a broadband-enabled telephone exchange can benefit from the provision of broadband to schools in those communities.

(121898)

254   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122264)

255   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the grants made by her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible to (a) the John Innes Institute, (b) the BioIndustry Association, (d) Diatech, and (e) Floranova in each year since 1997.

(122296)

256   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on air traffic control delays at Heathrow airport.

(122029)

257   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cyclists died on the road in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002.

(122276)

258   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of changes in the (a) rate and (b) severity of cyclist casualties in areas where cycling with helmets is legally required.

(122277)

259
N   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill.

(121768)

260   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason traffic commissioners are referring to public inquiry those freight companies who contract their transport manager function to Trans Consult Ltd.

(122292)

261   Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times he and his predecessors met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years.

(122142)

262   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to ensure that pollution on the London Underground does not exceed statutory levels.

(122184)

263   Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the Road Traffic Regulations 1984 relating to the exemptions of emergency ambulances from speed limits.

(122290)

264   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Eurostar trains are kept unused in sidings owned by Network Rail; and what annual rent is charged for their storage.

(122114)

265   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional measures are being taken to protect plutonium MOX fuel in transit from Sellafield in pursuit of the fulfilment of the commitment made by EU member states on page 39, paragraph 5 of the presidency conclusions of the Thessaloniki European Council

(122279)

266
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will put forward Rosyth as the permanent location for the European Maritime Safety Agency.

(121463)

267   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122255)

268   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122258)

269   Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much attendance allowance has been withheld from pensioners in self-funded care homes in Scotland since the introduction of free personal care in Scotland.

(122293)

270   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what organisations he has consulted to meet his Department's commitment to develop an online web based retirement planner; and when that planner will be available to the public.

(122267)

271   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many state pensions forecasts his Department expects to produce in the next three years; how many people will be required to process those projected forecasts; and what the estimated cost is to process them.

(122268)

272   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people his Department has employed to process state pensions forecasts in 2003.

(122269)

273   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who regulates the statutory monetary purchase illustrations for (a) occupational pensions and (b) private pensions.

(122270)

274   Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list by project the consultancies his Department and its non-departmental bodies have used on e-government projects since 1 January 2001.

(122271)

275
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, Official Report, column 412W, on Post Office card accounts, if he will break down the figures in respect of each benefit of the customers (a) who were invited to take part in direct payment and (b) who have failed to respond to the invitation; and for what reasons the Answer did not contain the information requested.

(121681)

276
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the responsibilities of each Minister in his Department.

(121683)

277   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he will take to ensure that offshore workers are not treated as employed for benefits purposes during periods for which they receive no remuneration.

(122328)

278   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his statement of 18th March, Official Report, column 41WS, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding support for British Sign Language; and what proportion of the funding announced will be used to support the use of British Sign Language in Scotland.

(122174)

279
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to ensure that families with children in receipt of income support continue to receive social security payments in respect of these children until child tax credit is in payment.

(121968)

280
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will issue guidance to local authorities discouraging them from reassessing pensioners' housing benefit entitlement in October 2003 until payments of pension credit have come onstream.

(121969)

281   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

(122254)

282
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of the draft European Constitution for cases brought under the Human Rights Act 1998.

(121688)

283   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to remove from membership of the House of Lords those Members convicted of an offence of dishonesty.

(122112)

284   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, if he will list the works of art held on loan by the Lord Chancellor's Department on Wednesday 11th June by value; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the acquisition of further such works by his Department.

(122327)

285   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which it is responsible has; and what their annual cost will be.

(122272)

286   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many greyhounds were bred for racing in the UK in each of the past five years; how many made it to the tracks each year; and what information she has on the greyhounds that did not make it to the tracks.

[Transferred] (122265)

287   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions there have been for cruelty to (a) dogs, (b) cats and (c) sheep in (i) the UK and (ii) Sefton in (A) 2001, (B) 2002 and (C)  2003.

[Transferred] (122316)

288   Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures the Government is taking to reduce emissions of radioactive waste from the Sellafield plant; what levels of Technetium-99 are considered safe for human consumption; and what the scientific basis is for this assessment.

[Transferred] (122192)

289   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to (a) train and (b) recruit people in the child care sector; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (122221)