Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

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

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

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

THURSDAY 10th JULY

1   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to allow widows who married officers after they had retired from the service to benefit from the Widows and Orphans Pensions Schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(125213)

2
N   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will update Box 26 of Cm 5511 to include 2002.

(124824)

3   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made in restructuring and improving the various ombudsmen's services.

(125229)

4   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is by income decile of the water charges element of the local taxes line of the average income tax tables contained within the document, The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001-02.

(125193)

5
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library his analysis of the constitutional implications of replacing the pound sterling with the euro.

(124885)

6
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the total monthly cost to the UK of (a) civil and (b) military operations in Iraq.

(123342)

7   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from an increase in income tax on all taxable income below (a) £100,000 and (b) £50,000 of (i) 1p, (ii) 2p, (iii) 3p and (iv) 4p in (A) the current financial year and (B) 2004-05.

(125275)

8   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from an increase in income tax on all taxable income from earnings only of (a) 1p, (b) 2p, (c) 3p and (d) 4p in (i) the current financial year and (ii) 2004-05.

(125276)

9   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from an increase in income tax on all taxable income from earnings only below (a) £100,000 and (b) £50,000 of (i) 1p, (ii) 2p, (iii) 3p and (iv) 4p in (A) the current financial year and (B) 2004-05.

(125277)

10   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from an increase in income tax on all taxable income of (a) 1p, (b) 2p, (c) 3p and (d) 4p in (i) the current financial year and (ii) 2004-05.

(125288)

11   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from an increase in the base rate of income tax of (a) 1p, (b) 2p, (c) 3p and (d) 4p in (i) the current financial year and (ii) 2004-05.

(125289)

12   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much annual revenue would be raised from a tax on the incineration of municipal waste at £35 per tonne for (a) all existing municipal waste incinerators and (b) all municipal waste incinerators for which planning applications have been made.

(125128)

13
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what protection is afforded to people among his staff who are trade union representatives, with particular regard to (a) pay and conditions and (b) promotion.

(124833)

14   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the suppliers with whom Inland Revenue held discussions with regard to the Inland Revenue Aspire programme; whether bidders for the Aspire programme had been subject to an Inland Revenue compliance investigation in the previous three years; and what tax and interest recoveries had been made from the potential bidders for the Aspire programme.

(125019)

15   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125392)

16   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use of tax money that is identifiably sourced from particular taxes for particular areas of Government spending.

(125249)

17   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated total Government expenditure on military activities (a) was in 2002-03 and (b) will be in 2003-04.

(125257)

18   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of tax revenues in 2003-04 will be directed to the Ministry of Defence budget; and what proportion is allocated to (a) conflict resolution and (b) peace-keeping.

(125378)

19   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue will pay compensation for (a) bank charges and (b) mortgage penalty payments incurred as a result of the late or non-payment of tax credits.

(125195)

20   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was produced from direct taxation on pensions in the past five years.

(125141)

21   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was generated through tax on (a) tobacco and (b) alcohol since 1997.

(125143)

22   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the extra revenue generated through taxation on those people who will work until the age of 70 in the next ten years.

(125145)

23   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department is undertaking on the possible effects of an increase in income tax.

(125044)

24   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to set aside further funds to pay for actions involving British troops in Iraq.

(125046)

25   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of monetary policy in economies with housing markets characterised by high levels of fixed rate mortgages.

(125047)

26   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with members of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee concerning (a) the effectiveness of monetary policy if the ratio of fixed to variable rate mortgages were to rise and (b) the likely level of interest rates corresponding to an annual inflation target of 2 per cent. on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices.

(125048)

27   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had on renewal of the BBC's Charter.

(125079)

28   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department gives to post-war reconstruction of Iraq.

(125111)

29   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage tourism contributed to the gross domestic product of England in each of the last two financial years.

(125098)

30   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much she spent advertising each of the regions as a tourist destination (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) internationally in the last two financial years.

(125099)

31   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much she spent advertising the UK as a tourist destination in the last two financial years.

(125100)

32   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage tourism contributed to the GDP in the North East in the last two financial years.

(125119)

33   Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many international tourists visited (a) England and (b) the North East in 2001 and 2002; and what percentage of international tourists to the UK this represented.

(125120)

34   Jim Dowd (Lewisham West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her Answer of 5th November 2002, Official Report, column 194W, when the BBC will convert its quarter-screen service for the parliamentary channel to the full screen version envisaged in its original bid.

(125207)

35   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff of her Department were redeployed out of London and the South East in the last five years.

(125359)

36   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has for redeployment of members of her Department out of London and the South East.

(125363)

37   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much (a) World Class Performance, (b) World Class Potential and (c) World Class Start funding has been distributed by (i) UK Sport, (ii) Sport England, (iii) Sport Scotland, (iv) the Sports Council for Wales and (v) the Northern Ireland Sports Council in each year since 1996-97

(125218)

38   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the sports in receipt of World Class lottery funding.

(125219)

39   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the value of Sport England's Exchequer grant aid was to each national governing body in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03 and (d) 2003-04.

(125220)

40   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and (b) the Local Government Association about the provision of sporting facilities run by local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

(125259)

41   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on staffing levels in (a) Sport England headquarters and (b) its regional offices in (i) 2002-03 and (ii) 2003-04.

(125323)

42   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote increased participation in athletics in schools and sports clubs in England.

(125324)

43   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to restrict the advertising of alcohol.

(125144)

44   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to legislate on the gambling industry; and when she plans to publish a White Paper on this matter.

(125028)

45   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many Lottery awards there were to organisations in the Poole constituency in each year since 1997; and what the average number of awards per constituency was in each year.

(125036)

46
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the lease arrangements between the British and US Governments over the use of RAF Fairford.

(124832)

47   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his written Ministerial Statement of 7th July, Official Report, column 41-2WS, on Iraq, whether the full report on operations in Iraq to which he referred will include estimates of the numbers of British and Iraqi military and civilian casualties resulting from recent military operations in Iraq.

(125285)

48
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to deploy low frequency active sonar to detect quiet submarines; and what the timescale is for its deployment.

(124534)

49
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research he is undertaking into the effects on the UK marine environment of the use of low frequency active sonar.

(124535)

50
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of global research regarding the impact of low frequency active sonar on (a) mammals, (b) fish and (c) humans.

(124536)

51
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the C130J fleet will be moved from RAF Lyneham to Brize Norton; at what date each of the C130K fleet will be decommissioned; how many C130K Hercules will be in service in 2011; and at what stage during the run-down of the C130K fleet RAF Lyneham will cease to be a viable unit.

(124830)

52
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the maintenance budget for RAF Lyneham was in each year since 1993; and by how much that differed from the spending bid received for the base.

(124831)

53   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what height RAF aircraft flew over the coast of Suffolk on 10th June in practising for the Queen's Birthday flypast; and at what distance they flew from the Sizewell nuclear power station.

(125167)

54   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answers of 30th June, Official Report, column 46W, on procurement, and 20th June, Official Report, column 885W, on Type 23 frigates, which ships will be provided with the Sonar 2087 system; what plans he has for those which will not; and if he will make a statement.

(125368)

55   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125387)

56
N   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will reply to the Question 119684 ;and if he will state the reasons for the delay.

(124911)

57   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many aircraft movements there were per month at RAF Coltishall in (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 2000, (e) 2002 and (f) so far in 2003.

(125291)

58   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the (a) size and (b) duration of British military patrols outside Kabul in Afghanistan.

(125008)

59   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance was given to US military forces experimenting with weapon systems in the war in Iraq.

(125084)

60   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the use of experimental weapons by the US forces in the war in Iraq.

(125085)

61   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the agreements made by him to assist the US military forces in using experimental weapon systems in the war in Iraq.

(125086)

62   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what experimental weapons systems were tested in the war in Iraq.

(125087)

63   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of using cluster munitions in the war in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

(125088)

64   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what compensation will be paid to the estates of Iraqi civilians who died as a result of British military action in Iraq.

(125109)

65   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the parts of Wales designated a military tactical training area were so designated.

(125237)

66   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of his budget in (a) 2002-03 will be and (b) 2003-04 was spent on conflict prevention.

(125240)

67
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military staff make up the UK-led provincial reconstruction team in Mazar-e-Sharif.

(124912)

68   Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from members of the armed forces who believe that they have been encouraged to leave the service before they have completed enough years to qualify for a pension; and what action he will take to investigate the complaints.

(125377)

69   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British personnel are in the Gulf.

(125039)

70   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will estimate how much extra grant would be gained by Cambridgeshire if an additional 1,000 pensioners in the county were in receipt of income support.

(124616)

71
N   Jim Dowd (Lewisham West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what sanctions can be imposed on a network operator who erects a transmitter in breach of the code of best practice on mobile phone network development to which they are a signatory.

(124910)

72   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125393)

73   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what (a) assessment he has made of and (b) research he has commissioned into the potential impact of sport on regeneration; and if he will make a statement.

(125260)

74   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) women and (b) men were in bed and breakfast accommodation on 31st March.

(125023)

75   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library the responses to the consultation on home information packs.

(125043)

76   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the cost to be incurred in the re-organisation of local government in (a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber if the region approves the creation of a regional assembly.

(125045)

77   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average cost of a domestic fire was in each year since 1997.

(125203)

78   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people have died as a result of malicious car fires in each year since 1997.

(125204)

79   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many malicious car fires were started by individuals under the age of 18 in each year since 1997.

(125205)

80   Matthew Taylor (Truro & St Austell): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what percentage of accidental car fires were caused by an electrical fault in the last year for which figures are available.

(125206)

81
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what he has estimated the minimum level is of provision on the Isle of Wight appropriate to the maintenance of an adequate fire and rescue service.

(124533)

82   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he takes to ensure that learning materials imported or downloaded from abroad for dissemination to persons with learning difficulties are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

(125004)

83
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 7th July, ref 122817, on recruitment of students, from which geographical areas funds will be distributed to higher education institutions.

(125000)

84   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will assess the effectiveness of teaching citizenship within existing personal, social and health education programmes.

(125014)

85   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will assess the extent to which schools (a) recognise the aims and purposes of citizenship as a statutory subject and (b) relate these to the broader aims of the school, as prescribed in the Ofsted report, National Curriculum: planning and implementation 2002-03.

(125015)

86   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the standards for citizenship are in respect of (a) assessment, (b) instruction, (c) pupil attainment and (d) academic content; and what the standards are for the other key stage 4 statutory subjects.

(125016)

87   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the progress of pupils' knowledge, understanding and skills in citizenship since it became a statutory subject.

(125017)

88   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd April, Official Report, column 730W, what estimate he has made of the number of pupils in maintained schools who will take GCSE (a) French, (b) Spanish and (c) German in each year between 2003 to 2010.

(125326)

89   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent representations he has received from the Field Studies Council about the inclusion of fieldwork in the GCSE and A-level curricula; and what response he has made.

(125266)

90   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what provision is made for field work within the curricula for (a) science GCSE and (b) biology A-level; and whether in each case that provision is optional.

(125267)

91   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Teacher Training Agency plans to take to ensure that all newly qualified biology teachers have sufficient training to enable them to deliver basic out of classroom teaching in biology and other scientific disciplines.

(125268)

92   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the proposed National and Regional Centres for Excellence in Science Teaching will be required to provide in service training opportunities to enable practising teachers to develop their skills in out of classroom teaching in biology and other scientific disciplines.

(125269)

93   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much each local authority spent on youth services in each year since 2000-01.

(125325)

94   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125305)

95   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he will reply to the questions of the honourable Member for Edmonton, Refs (a) 120769, (b) 120770, (c) 120771, (d) 120772 and (e) 120773, tabled on 19th June.

(125007)

96   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools were placed into special measures between 1996-97 and 2002-03 in each banding for socio-economic circumstances in the National Benchmark Tables.

(125221)

97   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of Leicestershire schools were in each of the bandings for socio-economic circumstances in 2002-03.

(125222)

98   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which schools in the Loughborough constituency were in each of the bandings for socio-economic circumstances in 2002-03.

(125223)

99   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact on staff morale and teacher retention of an Ofsted report that places a school in special measures; and if he will make a statement.

(125224)

100   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to change the criteria for measuring school socio-economic position from the percentage of children receiving school meals; and if he will make a statement.

(125225)

101   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on comparisons for schools socio-economic position of a drop in the number of children receiving free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

(125226)

102   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the impact of the area cost adjustment on education funding.

(125230)

103   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children aged (a) five, (b) six and (c) seven were in class sizes of over 30 in each year since 1996-97 to 2002-03.

(125231)

104   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many free nursery places have been provided in Leicestershire for (a) four year olds and (b) three year olds in each year since 1999-2000.

(125232)

105   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what additional support grant for Leicestershire County Council would be required if it was funded at the average for English counties for (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils based on the (i) current financial year and (b) each financial year between 1996-97 to 2002-03.

(125241)

106   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding has changed per pupil in real terms for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Leicestershire since 1996-97.

(125242)

107   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the level of education funding in Leicestershire; and if he will estimate the (a) percentage and (b) cost difference between Leicestershire and the top funded county outside London.

(125243)

108   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average class sizes were in (a) primary and (b) middle schools in Leicestershire Local Education Authority since 1991-92.

(125250)

109   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers have been employed in Leicestershire local education authority area in each year since 1996-97.

(125251)

110   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils there have been in Leicestershire local education authority area in each year since 1996-97.

(125252)

111   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the (a) percentage and (b) actual cash increase in education funding for Leicestershire County Council for each year since 1991-92.

(125253)

112   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many individuals have studied successfully for the Chair of Governors award; and if he will make a statement on his policy on attracting, training and supporting school governors.

(125021)

113   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what special (a) measures and (b) funding are available for the retention and recruitment of teaching staff; and to which areas of Essex these apply.

(125022)

114   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to improve school-based sex education for boys.

(125161)

115   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his policy is on the diversity of academic courses and research at universities in the UK.

(125138)

116   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures he is taking to promote the teaching and research of specialist and emergency subjects at universities in the UK.

(125140)

117   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teacher redundancies have been made in (a) Dorset, (b) Poole and (c) Bournemouth local education authorities in each year since 1997.

(125034)

118   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers have left the profession in each year since 1997.

(125367)

119
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much his Department has spent on research to help achieve its aims and objectives in each year since 1997.

(124582)

120   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the index of deprivation is in each local education authority.

(125162)

121
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received about vital village grants; and if she will make a statement.

(124884)

122
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by how much the Rights of Way mapping process is over budget; and which other budgets are being used to fund it.

(124896)

123
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's progress in allowing the introduction of home-based waste separation for recycling within the five-year timetable set by the EU.

(124437)

124
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what budget has been set aside for the next five years to promote (a) recycling and (b) waste separation in homes.

(124438)

125   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set (a) national and (b) local statutory targets for waste minimisation; and if she will make a statement.

(125122)

126   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will raise the national targets for recycling of household waste to (a) 35 per cent. by 2010 and (b) 45 per cent. by 2015; and if she will make a statement.

(125123)

127   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which stakeholders the Government has (a) consulted and (b) plans to consult on proposals for an EU Bio-waste Directive; and if she will make a statement.

(125124)

128   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which materials will be included in the review of a ban on the landfilling of recyclable products due to be carried out in 2006.

(125125)

129   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on Government waste minimisation programmes to (a) increase the number of households that practise composting, (b) promote reusable nappies, (c) promote a reduction of waste from supermarket purchased products and (d) create an innovation fund to develop innovative ways to deal with waste.

(125129)

130   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the objectives of the Recycling and Organics Technical Advisory Team are; who the members of the team are; how they were selected; and if she will make a statement.

(125130)

131   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role the Government will have in setting measurable targets for increasing public awareness and participation in recycling and waste minimisation activities which the Waste Resources Action Programme is undertaking as part of the Waste Awareness Programme; and if she will make a statement.

(125131)

132   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 promote the implementation of waste management technologies as an alternative to landfill.

(125132)

133   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much investment through PFI there has been in waste projects since the establishment of the Waste PFI Delivery Plan; and how much future investment in waste projects the Government estimates can be achieved through PFI projects.

(125133)

134   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will allocate additional resources to waste policy; and if she will make a statement.

(125134)

135   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding her Department has provided for the Waste Resources Action Programme in each year since its inception; and what its projected funding is.

(125135)

136   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who the members are of the steering board set up to provide leadership and advice to the sustainable waste delivery programme; and what the process was by which they were appointed.

(125136)

137   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will introduce penalties for local authorities which fail to meet the Government's statutory targets for recycling.

(125137)

138   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has for redeployment of members of her Department out of London and the South East.

(125357)

139   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what regard she had to the Lord Chancellor's guidelines in relation to ability to pay in taking the decision to pursue costs from Ms Janet Hughes.

(125394)

140
N   Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what quantities of radioactive water (a) have been removed and (b) remain to be moved from Sellafield building B30 as part of the post-operational clean-out (POCO) process; to where this water has been discharged; and whether the POCO activities at B30 have been reported as part of the UK submissions to the OSPAR Ministerial in Bremen in June.

(124826)

141   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the police over the implementation of a possible ban on hunting with dogs.

(125139)

142   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the subscription system for fallen stock disposal; how much the system will cost the Department; and how many farmers have signed up for fallen stock.

(125037)

143   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the likelihood of achieving a household recycling rate of 25 per cent. by 2005.

(125040)

144   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will name the members of the Iraq Survey Group and list the (a) nationality, (b) experience, (c) salary and (d) parent organisation of each; and if he will make statement.

(125005)

145
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Cuba regarding the cases of (a) Dr Biscet and (b) J C G Lliva.

(124749)

146
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Sudanese Government's adherence to civil and human rights, with special reference to the recent confiscation of the Al Sahafa newspaper.

(124750)

147   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125391)

148   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Liberia.

(125299)

149   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to send British military personnel to Liberia.

(125300)

150   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assesssment he has made of the effect of the exit from power of President Charles Taylor on the stability of Liberia.

(125301)

151   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the US Administration and (b) the Liberian Government concerning (i) the situation in Liberia and (ii) the possible deployment of a peacekeeping force.

(125302)

152   Mr George Mudie (Leeds East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when full visa facilities will be reintroduced in the Pakistan offices.

(125284)

153   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

(125255)

154
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letters of 19th June from the honourable Member for Bradford North regarding M. B. Dhaka, refs (a) FV331/2003 and (b) K1636.

(124961)

155   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent communication he has had with the governments of (a) Guernsey and (b) Jersey.

(125372)

156   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to visit (a) Guernsey and (b) Jersey.

(125373)

157   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when a new procedure for application for a pass for British Forces Cyprus Service Personnel to visit Northern Cyprus will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

(125025)

158
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the accession of Croatia to the EU.

(124748)

159   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many recorded incidents there were of piracy and armed robbery on the seas around the British Isles during the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(125228)

160   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress is being made with establishing the interim authority in Iraq.

(125038)

161   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department had with President Putin about human rights in Chechnya.

(125279)

162   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the review commissioned by UKXIRA from Professor Sheila McLean into xenotransplantation; and if he will make a statement.

(125181)

163   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on xenotransplantation.

(125281)

164
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the mid-Essex Hospital Trust area are waiting for in-patient treatment.

(124998)

165
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Belfast East of 3rd July, Official Report, column 1425W on hospital infections, how many cases were reported in each year since 1996, broken down by (a) trust and (b) pathogenic organism.

(124887)

166
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Belfast East of 3rd July, Official Report, column 485W, on hospital infections, when a mandatory surveillance scheme for each health care associated infection will be introduced; and in each case whether it will be collected and published, broken down by Trust.

(124899)

167   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in which areas service level agreements are not yet signed to ensure that the central Health Protection Agency is receiving the information it needs to perform its role in public health; and if he will make a statement.

(125011)

168   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) public health laboratories and (b) NHS trust laboratories which have refused to provide microbiology services for food, water and environmental testing; and if he will make a statement.

(125012)

169   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on coverage of food, water, environmental and microbiology testing for the purposes of public health since the establishment of the Health Protection Agency and the consequent transfer of responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

(125013)

170   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nosocomial deaths and (b) cases of necrotising fasciitis there were in the NHS in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region in each year since 1997.

(125018)

171
N   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made in investigating the pulping of the public health files in 1974.

(124892)

172
N   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department is taking against hospital trusts who fail to keep the records of patients with lifelong conditions for the required period after their deaths; and if he will make statement.

(124893)

173
N   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department is taking to ensure that patients are given access to their medical records relating to plasma; and if he will make a statement.

(124894)

174   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers of enforcement the National Care Standards Commission has in respect of its reports on boarding schools.

(125165)

175   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budget is of the National Care Standards Commission in 2003-04; and what its outturn in budget was in 2002-03.

(125166)

176   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers (a) the Government, (b) school staff, (c) governors and (d) parents have to refuse to accept the recommendations of the National Care Standards Commission in respect of independent boarding schools.

(125173)

177   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints have been received about boarding provision at (a) Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference and Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools boarding schools and (b) all boarding schools in each of the last five years.

(125174)

178   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what qualifications are required for inspectors of boarding schools from the National Care Standards Commission.

(125175)

179   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the budget of the National Care Standards Commission was spent on the inspection of independent boarding schools belonging to the (a) Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools and (b) Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference in the last year for which figures are available; and what regulations he has set on the regularity of inspections of (i) HMC and IAPS schools and (ii) other private boarding schools.

(125176)

180   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints have been made to the National Care Standards Commission from parents of children at (a) boarding schools belonging to the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference and the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools and (b) other boarding schools.

(125178)

181   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of misdiagnoses of epilepsy in England over the last three years.

(125010)

182   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the absence rates in the NHS were in days per employee per year in (a) England and (b) each region in each year since 1997.

(125293)

183   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125388)

184   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the organisms which are known to exist in imported bushmeat; and what the consequences are of infection in humans.

(125188)

185
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of negligence claims against the NHS involving children in each year since 1997.

(124897)

186
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines are issued to his Department on the criteria to be used by consultants in accepting a child patient for cosmetic surgery.

(124898)

187   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the new specialist services set up to treat patients with anorexia as a result of the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists on eating disorders in 1998.

(125089)

188   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths there were of patients suffering from anorexia, broken down by age, in each year since 1997.

(125090)

189   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost was of treating a patient suffering from anorexia in each of the last three years.

(125091)

190   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children suffered from anorexia in each year since 1997.

(125092)

191   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting time for patients with anorexia was to see a consultant in each primary care trust in each of the last three years.

(125093)

192   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is on the separation of mental health patients with differing degrees of mental illness.

(125094)

193   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines have been issued by his Department on supporting carers of patients with anorexia.

(125095)

194   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where specialist services treating patients with anorexia are based.

(125096)

195   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the maximum travelling distance is for patients with anorexia to travel to specialist health care services.

(125097)

196   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make drugs used to treat patients with myositis available on free prescriptions.

(125201)

197   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on Early Day Motion 1494 (Ophthalmic Laser Treatment).

(125024)

198   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on improving information given to patients following diagnosis of cancer with respect to (a) prognosis, (b) probability of the cancer spreading, (c) treatment options and (d) the genetic implications for other family members.

(125027)

199   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what level of priority is given to rheumatoid arthritis under EU Framework Programme 6.

(125261)

200   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the funding areas for medical research under EU Framework Programme 6, and those proposed for Framework Programme 7.

(125262)

201   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what levels of funding are allocated for research into (a) autoimmune diseases and (b) rheumatoid arthritis under EU Framework Programme 6; and what sums are expected under Framework Programme 7.

(125263)

202   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to press for (a) autoimmune disease to be a specific funding area under EU Framework Programme 7, and (b) rheumatoid arthritis to be included as one of the key autoimmune disease.

(125264)

203   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to design NHS sexual health services which are aimed at appealing to young men.

(125159)

204   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a chlamydia screening programme for young women.

(125160)

205   Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating obesity-related health problems in the last five years.

(125142)

206   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the Source Book on good governance for foundation trusts, produced by the external reference group; and if he will make a statement.

(125033)

207   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he last met the Central Consultants and Specialists Committee of the British Medical Association to discuss the Government's proposals for a consultant's contract; and if he will make a statement.

(125035)

208   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of toothpaste sold in the UK contained fluoride in the last 12 months.

(125194)

209   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to create a separate police force for the City of Nottingham.

(125154)

210   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4th July, Official Report, column 548W, on animal testing, what factors underlay the underspend in the budget available for the development and promotion of alternatives to animal use in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02.

(125282)

211   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqi asylum applications have been refused in each of the last five years.

(125101)

212   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average it took the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to process applications for (a) asylum, (b) indefinite leave to remain and (c) citizenship in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(125102)

213   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqi asylum seekers have been required to return to Iraq in the past year; and if he will make a statement.

(125103)

214   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the UNHCR's observations on the situation in Iraq and large scale return of Iraqi refugees.

(125104)

215   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will implement a moratorium on (a) Iraqi asylum decisions and (b) the proposals to return rejected applicants.

(125105)

216   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will change the immigration rules to allow those with leave to remain of more than one year to submit family re-union applications.

(125106)

217   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of community support officers.

(125107)

218   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the number of offenders with drug problems who enter treatment.

(125108)

219   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the (a) country of departure and (b) country of origin of asylum seekers who made an asylum claim at (i) Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick airports in each of the last five years.

(125185)

220
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the care home sector on deferring increases in fees for Criminal Records Bureau checks.

(124883)

221
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Criminal Records Checks have been outstanding for (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) more than 12 months.

(124900)

222   Mr John Butterfill (Bournemouth West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received from the voluntary and community sector about the increase in fees for Criminal Records Bureau checks; and if he will make a statement.

(125121)

223
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what initiatives to tackle crimes against older people his Department is responsible.

(124439)

224   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the steps the Government will take to improve detection and prosecution rates in conjunction with the planned sentencing review for fly-tipping.

(125126)

225   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will earmark revenue from increases to fines for fly-tipping for local authorities to spend on detection of fly-tipping offences and prevention measures.

(125127)

226   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training and instructions have been issued to (a) ambulance crews, (b) paramedics, (c) GPs, (d) accident and emergency staff, (e) fire services and (f) police forces about the identification of radioisotopes in the event of the release of a radiological bomb; and if he will make a statement.

(125155)

227   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what equipment has been issued to (a) ambulance crews, (b) paramedics, (c) GPs, (d) accident and emergency staff, (e) fire services and (f) police forces for the identification of radioisotopes in the event of the release of a radiological bomb; and if he will make a statement.

(125156)

228   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the optimum treatment time for radioisotope contamination in the event of a radiological bomb.

(125157)

229   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the ability of the emergency services to treat casualties exposed to radioisotope contamination from the explosion of a radiological bomb within a medically appropriate time.

(125158)

230
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the equivalent figures for Administration Costs in Table 5, p173 of the Annual Report 2003 were for 1996-97.

(124853)

231
N   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his projection is for the prison population for mid-year 2006; and what the (a) highest and (b) lowest estimated figures are.

(124854)

232   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many extra prison places became available in each year from 1992 to 2003.

(125214)

233   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many extra prison places were ordered to be constructed in each year from 1992 to 2003.

(125215)

234   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the construction of new prisons at Ashford and Peterborough was ordered.

(125216)

235   Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prison places and (b) prisons are (i) under construction and (ii) projected; where they are located; and when they will become available for use.

(125217)

236   Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reduce vehicle crime.

(125009)

237   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125390)

238   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, dated 23rd January, PO ref 2895/3 regarding Phillipa Eblele Nyakutsilwa.

(125283)

239   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the question from the honourable Member for North Norfolk for written answer on Monday 16th June concerning Mr Nadhmi Auchi.

(125292)

240   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were in post in Leicestershire Police Authority in (a) each year between 1991-92 and (b) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(125256)

241   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the London Probation Service in making contact with victims in relation to their guidelines; and what recent discussions he has had with the service.

(125369)

242   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what proportion of cases the (a) Victim Liaison Service and (b) London Probation Service made contact with the victims and families of victims on time in 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

(125370)

243   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the level of graffiti; and what plans he has to reduce it.

(125371)

244   Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are being provided with accommodation under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

(125078)

245   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he last met (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and (c) the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee to discuss the UK's preparedness to cope with a terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement.

(125031)

246   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of removing the requirement for a prima facie case for extradition requests from the United States of America, with regard to the new Extradition Treaty with the United States of America.

(125032)

247
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with other European states involved in the pan-European PMR TETRA network roll-out on (a) standardising guidelines for public safety, (b) sharing reports relating to reported incidents of industrial illness through use of the system and (c) contractual changes in the roll-out programme; and if he will make a statement.

(124957)

248   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the economic effect on developing countries which will arise from liberalisation of trade in services.

(125180)

249   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff of his Department were redeployed out of London and the South East in the last five years.

(125360)

250   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans there are for redeployment of staff out of London and the South East.

(125364)

251   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action he intends to take in respect of the World Health Organisation's call for supplies and funds to combat the health crisis in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

(125303)

252   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Liberia; and if he will make a statement on security conditions for aid agencies operating in Liberia.

(125304)

253   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment the Department has made of the rate of child illness in Iraq.

(125234)

254   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment the Department has made of the state of Iraqi hospitals.

(125246)

255   Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian needs in Eastern Uganda as a consequence of the security situation.

(125254)

256   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the level of humanitarian aid reaching the people of Montserrat.

(125322)

257   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent on the Review of Public Administration.

(125306)

258   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the post offices, and their locations, which have been closed permanently in Northern Ireland in each year since March 1998.

(125307)

259   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are employed in combating fraud in Social Security in Northern Ireland.

(125308)

260   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been prosecuted for fraud in relation to social welfare and benefit payments in each year since 1997.

(125309)

261   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total cost was of hospitality provided by the Northern Ireland Office in each year since 1997.

(125310)

262   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures have been put in place in each government department to promote energy efficiency in each year since 1997.

(125311)

263   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how the Northern Ireland Housing Executive monitors the community background of contractors to which it awards work.

(125312)

264   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many contracts have been awarded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for all types of work in each year since 1997.

(125313)

265   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the projects funded under the Peace II European Initiative in North Belfast in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

(125314)

266   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which (a) political parties, (b) other organisations and (c) individuals have been given access to the attitudinal research carried out by (i) Ulster Marketing Services and (ii) Milward Brown Ulster on behalf of the Department.

(125315)

267   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was paid to (a) Ulster Marketing Services and (b) Milward Brown Ulster by the Department in each year since 1997.

(125316)

268   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many attitudinal surveys have been carried out by (a) Ulster Marketing Services and (b) Milward Brown Ulster which included research into voting intentions on behalf of the Department in each year since 1997.

(125317)

269   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish the material relating to attitudinal research carried out by (a) Ulster Marketing Services and (b) Milward Brown Ulster on behalf of the Department in each year since 1997.

(125318)

270   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to propose extending the provisions of the Hunting Bill to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(125020)

271   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the law regarding wheelchair access in ambulances was changed; and if he will make a statement.

(125294)

272   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) Ulster buses and (b) City buses of the Translink fleet are (i) under two years, (ii) between two and five years, (iii) between five and 10 years and (iv) over 10 years old.

(125184)

273   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the long term contracts for Ballylumford power station and the Moyle interconnector have been refinanced; and what discussions he has had on the refinancing of the Scotland to Northern Ireland natural gas pipeline.

(125190)

274   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will refinance the Ballylumford power station and the Moyle interconnector within the Northern Ireland energy industry.

(125191)

275   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action the Government has taken to minimise the cost to Northern Ireland electricity customers of energy industry debt; what the Government's plans are for reducing this cost on electricity customers; and when he estimates customers will benefit.

(125192)

276   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the President of the Council, what discussions he has had with Foreign Office colleagues regarding using the visits by honourable Members to EU institutions.

(125177)

277   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will publish the text of the amendments to the draft European Union Constitution which are sought by the United Kingdom.

(125002)

278   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, what steps the Government has taken to encourage public participation in politics.

(125179)

279
N   Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on whether any of the provisions of the proposed new constitutional treaty presented to the Inter-Governmental Conference cannot be amended under the provisions of the existing treaty.

(124823)

280   Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate): To ask the Prime Minister, when and by whom he was first informed that the dossier which he presented to the House on 3rd February (a) had been released to journalists and (b) was not predominantly intelligence material.

(125083)

281   Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate): To ask the Prime Minister, which Government (a) official and (b) minister took the decision to insert the assertion that such weapons could be deployed in 45 minutes in (i) the foreword to, (ii) the executive summary of, and (iii) the draft of his speech to the House, 24th September 2002, Official Report, column 3, on the September 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

(125189)

282   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had on the use of oil revenues to fund reconstruction in Iraq in the manner outlined to the United Nations on 10th May.

(125235)

283   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the situation of the uranium derivatives looted from the Tuwaitha nuclear complex in Iraq.

(125236)

284   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had on the state of Iraqi schools.

(125244)

285   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on recent developments regarding plans to disarm Iraqi civilians.

(125245)

286   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, what the status is of the Iraqi prisoners handed over to the US army by British troops.

(125247)

287   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had regarding (a) extra funding and (b) international assistance for the Iraqi police force.

(125248)

288   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of (a) the costs arising from the recent Cabinet reshuffle and (b) the reorganisation costs of Government departments.

(125042)

289
N   Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Solicitor General, what role the Attorney General has in ensuring that the UK nationals detained in Guantanamo Bay receive a fair trial; and if he will exercise extradition rights in relation to the UK nationals held at Guantanamo Bay.

(124822)

290   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Solicitor General, how many individuals have been successfully prosecuted for illegal trading in the last three years.

(125208)

291   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much subsidy was paid by the Government to electricity generators as a result of their renewable energy policy (a) in total and (b) to generators using wood-fired power stations in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; what the payments are estimated to be in 2005; and if she will make a statement.

(125112)

292   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research has been undertaken on the possible distortion of the wood supply market in the UK as a result of the Renewables Obligation; and if she will make a statement.

(125113)

293   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures are being taken to promote the use of wood wastes with no commercial value as a biomass fuel.

(125114)

294   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate has been made of the numbers of employees in the wood panel and related industries who would lose their jobs if the wood panel industry fails.

(125115)

295   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she is taking to discourage the burning of wood products used in industry as a raw material as a subsidised biomass fuel for energy production.

(125116)

296   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of the biomass fuel burnt under subsidy as an energy resource in the last 12 months came from (a) new sources of material, (b) material that would otherwise go to waste and (c) raw materials that can serve a useful purpose in industry; what the expected figures are for (i) 2005 and (ii) 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(125164)

297   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the EU concerning reform of the system for advertising EU public sector contracts for which small businesses might bid.

(125168)

298   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has had from small businesses regarding reform of the system for awarding EU public sector contracts.

(125169)

299   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research she undertook prior to the introduction of the Renewables Obligation into its impact on the wood panel industry.

(125170)

300   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the wood panel industry regarding the impact on their supplies of basic raw material of electricity generators using wood residues as a green fuel.

(125171)

301   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 5th June, Official Report, column 298, on renewable energy, if she will to meet the Director of the Wood Panel Industries Federation to discuss the impact on the industry of subsidised biomass fuel.

(125280)

302   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, with which business leaders she has had discussions regarding the implementation of the EU directive on information and consultation; what conclusions she drew from these regarding business attitudes towards the directive; and if she will make a statement.

(125295)

303   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the additional cost to businesses arising from the need, under the Government's implementation of the Equal Treatment at Work Directive, to compensate employees taking early retirement who might have worked on until they were 70; and if she will make a statement.

(125296)

304   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the expected quantity of age discrimination claims against employers from employees per year as a result of EU directives in terms of (a) volume and (b) value; and if she will make a statement.

(125297)

305   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she is taking to reduce the procedural requirements involved in bidding for EU public sector contracts.

(125298)

306   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the possible use of the Government's golden share in respect of a takeover bid being made for BAe Systems.

(125379)

307   Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria are being applied to the availability of financial support to the coal industry.

(125233)

308   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research she has commissioned on the costs of administering tariff barriers, broken down by (a) country and (b) major category of product.

(125080)

309   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps are being taken towards Canada agreeing a free trade agreement with the EU; and if she will make a statement.

(125081)

310   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations the Government will be making at Cancun on the effect of subsidies on cotton produced in developed countries on the economies of less developed countries; and if she will make a statement.

(125082)

311
N   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Department's progress with implementing the Business Incubation Fund.

(124895)

312   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to ask the National Radiological Protection Board to review research on the health aspects of mobile phone masts and to report to her; and if she will make a statement.

(125006)

313
N   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much funding Advantage West Midlands gave to projects in North Staffordshire in 2002-03; and what the (a) internal spending and (b) fundraising targets were for 2002-03.

(122616)

314
N   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much Objective Two and Three European funding Advantage West Midlands has (a) applied for and (b) received in each financial year since its inception; and how much was spent on projects in North Staffordshire in each year.

(122617)

315
N   Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the grant-in-aid spending by Advantage West Midlands was in each financial year since its inception; how much was spent on projects in North Staffordshire in each year; how much was spent under the (a) land and property regeneration, (b) skills development and rapid response, (c) rural regeneration, (d) regional innovation fund, (e) inward investment and (f) applied to purchase operations and assets headings in each year; and how much of each was spent in (i) Stoke-on-Trent, (ii) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (iii) Staffordshire Moorlands and (iv) Stafford.

(122618)

316   Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what she estimates the financial cost to UK business would be if 16 and 17 year olds received the same level of minimum wage as those 18 and above.

(125183)

317   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices have fee-charging ATMs.

(125270)

318   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the effect on the level of subsidy payable to post offices if the number of Post Office Card Accounts opened exceeds the Government's estimates; and if she will make a statement.

(125271)

319   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) gross and (b) net marginal cost to the Government is of the opening of (i) 1, (ii) 100, (iii) 1,000 and (iv) 100,000 Post Office Card Accounts.

(125278)

320   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff of her Department were redeployed out of London and the South East in the last five years.

(125358)

321   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has for redeployment of members of her Department out of London and the South East.

(125362)

322
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to introduce a system of registration for gangmasters to ensure minimum standards of health and safety training for the staff they provide.

(124890)

323
N   Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the safety of the magnox storage and decommissioning B30 facility at Sellafield.

(124886)

324   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the assistance given by the Department in respect of redundancies at the Selby coal complex; and what the redundancy terms are.

(125238)

325   Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many lost items of post there have been (a) so far in 2003 and (b) in each of the last five years.

(125196)

326   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices have closed in Leicester since 1997; what research has been done by her Department into the closure of post offices in Leicester; and what representations she has received from honourable Members concerning the closure of post offices in Leicester.

(125272)

327   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices in Leicester she has visited since 2001; and how many of those subsequently closed.

(125273)

328   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will arrange for the Chief Executive of the Post Office to meet the honourable Member for Leicester East to discuss post office closures.

(125274)

329   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to review (a) the way that companies are charged for administration and receivership services and (b) the ways in which assets of companies placed into administration or receivership are sold.

(125197)

330   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what procedures are in place to control administration and receivership costs.

(125198)

331
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had on a review of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation guidelines and the Trower Report.

(124956)

332   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 8th July, ref 124075, on motorway speed limits, if he will place the conclusions arising from this assessment in the Library.

(125366)

333   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 8th July, ref 123834, if he will place in the Library the assessment his Department has made of the road safety implications of increasing motorway speed limits.

(125186)

334   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the environmental implications of increasing motorway speed limits to 80 mph.

(125187)

335   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd July, Official Report, column 270W, on Underground (masks), how many drivers on the London Underground have asthma; what research has been undertaken on the effect of tunnel dust on those drivers who suffer from asthma; and if he will make a statement.

(125376)

336   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125389)

337   Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Inverness West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what revisions he proposes to make to maritime safety procedures off the West Coast of Scotland, with particular reference to the sinking of the Jambo on 29th June.

(125258)

338   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the performance of the Driving Standards Agency booking hotline for practical driving tests; how many telephone calls have been received on average per day by the Driving Standards Agency booking hotline for practical driving tests; how many staff are employed to handle calls to the Driving Standards Agency booking hotline for practical driving tests; and what the average waiting time has been for allocation of (a) a driving theory test and (b) a practical driving test by the Driving Standards Agency.

(125290)

339
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will change the period for which foreign nationals may drive on British roads using an international or other foreign driving licence without taking a British driving test.

(124889)

340
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take powers to ensure that privately contracted and owned mini-vans carrying staff to work are driven by individuals holding current UK driving licences.

(124891)

341   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has (a) to refurbish railway stations and (b) to replace track from Liverpool Street to Romford.

(125374)

342
N   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the means by which (a) black cab drivers and (b) private hire taxi drivers can prevent passengers from smoking in their vehicles.

(124827)

343
N   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislation to enable taxi drivers to enforce a no-smoking policy on passengers in their vehicles.

(124829)

344   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the conclusions are of his review of the arrangements for ports police in England and Wales.

(124630)

345   Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many school buses have been brought into service since 1997.

(125202)

346
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, What plans he has to meet Secretaries of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss student funding.

(124656)

347   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money was claimed in jobseeker's allowance in Scotland in 2002-03, broken down by local authority.

(125319)

348   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated cost of income support fraud in Scotland was in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority.

(125320)

349   John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many instances there were of jobseeker's allowance fraud in Scotland, broken down by local authority, in each year since 1997.

(125321)

350   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when and how people whose retirement pensions are paid monthly into their bank accounts have been informed of the availability of weekly payment.

(125286)

351   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to assist those for whom a move to new employment would impose severe problems of cash flow.

(125375)

352   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of fraud in (a) order books and (b) giros was in 2002-03, broken down by type of fraud; and if he will make a statement.

(125265)

353   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral Answer of 7th July, Official Report, column 733, when he plans to make a further report on the performance of the Child Support Agency.

(125365)

354   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate for each contributory benefit the extra annual expenditure which would result from abolition of the national insurance contribution requirement.

(125118)

355
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the enforcement of the obligations of gangmasters to ensure that the staff they provide to British farmers and growers (a) are aware of the health and safety requirements of their work and (b) hold appropriate qualifications for any specialised tasks they may need to perform.

(124888)

356   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is in cases of individuals claiming Jobseeker's Allowance refusing a job on grounds of conscientious objection; and if he will make a statement.

(125239)

357   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will apply the new rules for Child Support Agency claims to pre-existing cases.

(125163)

358   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners who live abroad and have a full National Insurance record have not had their pension up-rated since they moved; and what the current lowest full basic state pension paid to such a pensioner is.

(125029)

359   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners who live abroad and have a full National Insurance contribution record have not had their pension up-rated since they moved; and what the lowest full basic state pension paid to a pensioner living abroad who has a full contribution record is.

(125030)

360
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral Answer of 7th July, Official Report, column 735-6, on pension credit reassessments, what will constitute a significant change in circumstances which will have to be reported to the Pensions Service by a recipient of the pension credit.

(124825)

361   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, when Marianna Hildyard was invited to become a QC.

(125182)

362   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what process was in place to decide who was offered silk prior to the review of the system announced earlier this year; and if he will make a statement.

(125200)

363   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East.

(125361)

364   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what estimate he has made of the costs that will be incurred in the setting-up of his Department.

(125041)

365   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to remove the data protection controls which restrict pension information being released to company administrators.

(125209)

366   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to review the effectiveness of the Office of Supervision of Solicitors.

(125210)

367   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to conduct an investigation into abuse of the legal aid system.

(125211)

368   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to prevent solicitors canvassing for business in public areas.

(125212)

369
N   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research he has commissioned into the health impact on taxi drivers of secondary smoke inhalation from passengers who smoke in their vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (124828)

370   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research he has commissioned into (a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers involved, if widows who married officers after they had retired from the service were included in the Colonial Widows and Orphans Pension Schemes.

[Transferred] (125227)

371   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will estimate the total net yield from council tax, after council tax benefit and single person's discounts, for (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each year from 1997-98 to 2003-04.

[Transferred] (125287)

372   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many prosecutions in relation to the inadequacies of boarding quarters have been brought by the National Care Standards Commission against (a) the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference and Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools and (b) other independent boarding schools in each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (125172)

373   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what forum he intends prosecutions for human rights abuses, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Iraq be tried.

[Transferred] (125026)

374   Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether wood used in wood products is assessed by her Department as a carbon sink; what research has been undertaken into the use of carbon sinks as an environmental measure; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (125117)