Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 15 July 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 15 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.

TUESDAY 15th JULY

1   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126209)

2   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of Sheffield's 2001 Census information was lost; if he will make a statement on how this information was lost; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the methods used to estimate Sheffield's 2001 Census returns.

(126125)

3
N   Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the treatment of the membership of the euro under the draft Constitutional Treaty on the Future of Europe.

(125714)

4   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of his policies on unemployment levels within the London Borough of Wandsworth during the last 12 months.

(126175)

5
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance is available to help low income families with their tax credit claims.

(125353)

6   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has held with representatives of local government on the potential for an incineration tax to support the waste hierarchy; and if he will make a statement.

(126158)

7   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many one pound coins are in circulation.

(126112)

8   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126200)

9   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was in 2002-03 of administering grants provided under the scheme providing rebates on VAT paid in respect of repairs to places of worship listed as being of architectural significance; and what the value of grants awarded in 2002-03 was.

(126186)

10   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on listed buildings which are not places of worship but which are in need of repair of his policy of providing grants equal to VAT paid only in respect of places of worship.

(126187)

11
N   Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take in respect of (a) fuel duty rebates and (b) other measures to ensure that the UK meets the EU guidelines for biofuel use at the end of (i) 2005 and (ii) 2010.

(125854)

12   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by her Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if she will make a statement.

(126205)

13   Mr Sio(r)n Simon (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the fair share initiative in terms of its capacity to distribute National Lottery funds equitably.

(126111)

14   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many weapons inspectors there are in Iraq.

(126170)

15   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which areas of Iraq have yet to be visited by weapons inspectors in their search for weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement.

(126176)

16   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126191)

17   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether morphine, and antidotes to provide post attack therapy against nerve agents, were available to all front line personnel serving on Operation Telic.

(126095)

18   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether all front line unit personnel serving on Operation Telic had body armour before combat operations started.

(126096)

19   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the UK commitment is to NATO forces in terms of (a) frigates and (b) destroyers.

(126097)

20   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy vessels were deployed in escorting duties during operation Telic; and at which choke points and known threat areas they were stationed.

(126098)

21   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists served with (a) 1 Bn Black Watch, (b) 1 Bn Royal Irish Regiment, (c) 1 Bn The Duke of Wellington's Regiment and (d) 1 Bn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers during Operation Telic.

(126099)

22   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sponsored reserves served on Operation Telic and with which units.

(126100)

23   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what political advisers were deployed on Operation Telic; to which commanders they were assigned; and when they were (a) sent to and (b) withdrawn from theatre.

(126101)

24   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on procedures followed by his Department in notifying next of kin of deceased service personnel; what advice is given in respect to the speed with which next of kin must be informed of their bereavement; which personnel are involved; and what efforts are made to ensure that details are not released to the media in advance of the notification of the next of kin.

(126102)

25   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent reports he has received from US authorities in respect of friendly fire incidents involving UK forces during Operation Telic; whether US investigations involving British forces are complete; and what assessment he has made of these reports.

(126134)

26   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what types and quantities of Iraqi chemical and biological warfare protection and detection equipment were recovered by UK forces during Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement.

(126135)

27   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) small arms and (b) heavy weapons have been (i) confiscated and (ii) destroyed by UK forces since cessation of hostilities in Iraq.

(126136)

28   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy warships will be taking part in the International Festival of the Sea this year.

(126137)

29   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what major military displays and tattoos will be taking place this year involving HM forces in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(126138)

30   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what value of drugs has been confiscated in operations involving Royal Navy warships in each of the past two years.

(126139)

31   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the trials programme of RV Triton.

(126140)

32   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Territorial Army personnel have received training on Challenger II in the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

(126141)

33   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a campaign medal will be issued for personnel who have served in operations in Afghanistan.

(126142)

34   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) RAF, (b) Fleet Air Arm and (c) Army personnel have completed training for (i) Fast Jet, (ii) rotary and (iii) multiengine aircraft types in each of the past five years.

(126143)

35   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on (a) initial and (b) operational pilot training in each year since 1996-97.

(126144)

36   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the requirement has been for trained pilots for all three services in each year since 1996-97; and how many trained pilots have entered the services in those years.

(126145)

37   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what efficiency savings have been achieved by the Training Group Defence Agency in each year since 1998-99.

(126146)

38   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the strength of qualified flying instructors has been in each year since 1997-98.

(126147)

39   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Fleet Air Arm squadrons will equip with Harrier GR7/9; and how many aircraft will be allocated to each squadron.

(126148)

40   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from (a) 15 Squadron, (b) 16 Squadron, (c) 20 Squadron and (d) 56 Squadron have been seconded to other squadrons to take part in operations in the past five years.

(126149)

41
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 30th June, Official Report, column 467W, on suicide rates, what the estimated rates for female personnel were; and what percentage of female personnel this represents.

(125566)

42
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when VORs for operation Telic were first issued.

(125567)

43
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vessels are moored in British waters off Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

(125568)

44   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value of defence and defence-related (a) imports from and (b) exports to the United States of America was in the last three years for which figures are available.

(126113)

45   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list category A projects and their approximate values awarded in the last three years to US companies and the UK subsidiaries of US companies.

(126114)

46   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list category A projects awarded in the last three years where US companies and the UK subsidiaries of US companies were sub-contractors receiving contracts in excess of £100 million.

(126115)

47   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the authorised strength of each battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment is; and how many vacancies there are.

(126212)

48   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the Scottish regiments; what their authorised strength is; and how many vacancies there are.

(126213)

49
N   Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when all Army personnel based in (a) Iraq and (b) Kuwait for Operation Telic had been issued with full desert kit.

(125963)

50
N   Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when underslung grenade launchers for Operation Telic were first issued; and to which battlegroups.

(125964)

51
N   Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Camel water bottles were first issued for Operation Telic; and what percentage of Army personnel have been issued with them.

(125965)

52
N   Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the operational period for the biological and chemical attack detectors on Challenger 2 tanks in Operation Telic.

(125966)

53
N   Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the dates for ends of tours of duty in Operation Telic for (a) regular forces and (b) Reservists and Territorial Army serving in the same unit.

(125967)

54   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities have not transferred their stock or set up an arm's length management organisation with PFI scheme.

(126127)

55   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his estimate is of the time required by a local housing authority from the initial consideration of options to (a) complete a stock transfer, (b) reach agreement on and sign a PFI contract and (c) prepare for and complete establishment of an arm's length management organisation.

(126128)

56   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when the prudential framework will be available to local housing authorities.

(126129)

57   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he expects to announce government proposals on the way forward for housing capital finance following the recent consultation.

(126130)

58   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how the scheme funding requirements to meet the decent homes standard as a result of the change from fitness standard to the health and safety rating system will be financed.

(126132)

59   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of houses which will be brought up to the decent homes standard in each year up to 2010, broken down by the method of finance to be used.

(126133)

60   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126201)

61   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his Department's expenditure limits for total gross credit approvals are for the 2003-04 financial year; and of those sums how much (a) has been committed, (b) is planned to be committed and (c) remains uncommitted.

(126122)

62   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportions of his Department's expenditure limits for total gross credit approvals for financial year 2002-03 were unused in that year.

(126123)

63   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to ensure that engineering equipment available to students at further education colleges matches that used by employers.

(126230)

64   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to ensure that capital investment is being used to purchase up to date engineering equipment by further education colleges.

(126231)

65   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many lay inspectors are working for OFSTED in each region.

(126118)

66   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126204)

67   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) the increase in National Insurance contributions and (b) the new formula spending share, on school budgets in (i) Portsmouth and (ii) the rest of Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

(126182)

68   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what resources will be available for the proposed expansion of the specialist schools programme; and what projects he has planned for schools in Hampshire.

(126183)

69   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, who the owners of the land and buildings in a church-run city academy are; and in cases where the land and buildings are not owned by the local education authority, under what circumstances ownership would revert to the local education authority.

(126184)

70
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which regions of the UK are involved in GM field trials; and how many sites for GM field trials there are in the UK.

(125956)

71
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of contamination by GM crops on surrounding plant life; what estimate she has made of the radius from sites that could be contaminated by GM crops; and if she will make a statement.

(125957)

72
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about her policy on shechita and halal meat.

(125938)

73   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by her Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if she will make a statement.

(126197)

74   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has commissioned into the effect that the Warm Front Team has had in combating fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement.

(126168)

75   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of which landfill sites in England are in need of remedial measures to combat the effects of pollution; how much this will cost; who will pay; what steps have been taken to prevent future problems of this kind; and if she will make a statement.

(126169)

76   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has commissioned into the environmental impact of water use by consumers since 1997; what estimates have been made of future years; and if she will make a statement.

(126181)

77   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the consultation on genetically modified crops.

(126117)

78
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) she, (b) Department officials and (c) the Countryside Agency gave instructions to suspend payments on the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme from 16th April to 1st June.

(125855)

79
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there was variation between budgeted and actual expenditure in the period from April 2002 to March 2003 in the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme.

(125856)

80
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated (a) by the Countryside Agency and (b) from other sources for new Rural Transport Partnership projects for the financial year 2003-04; and whether these allocations vary from sums previously announced.

(125857)

81   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Rural Enterprise Scheme grants have been approved by the South West Regional Appraisal Panel of the Rural Development Service in each of the last three years; and what the average amount given was.

(126150)

82   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how farmers applying for assistance from the Rural Enterprise Scheme in the South West region may obtain details of the South West Regional Appraisal Panel's deliberations and reasons for refusing an application.

(126151)

83   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the members of the Rural Enterprise Scheme's South West Regional Appraisal Panel.

(126152)

84   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the criteria are for receiving funding from the Rural Enterprise Scheme; and what budget has been allocated to the South West region under this scheme in the next financial year.

(126153)

85   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is towards the inclusion of representatives of Iraqi political parties in meetings with the occupying authorities in Iraq, with particular reference to the Iraqi Communist Party; when he or his representatives last met representatives of the Iraqi Communist Party; and what plans he has to meet such representatives in the future.

(126086)

86   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when a Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last visited St Helena; and who the Minister was.

(126171)

87   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on bilateral relations between the UK and Pakistan.

(126172)

88   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which countries recognise the authority of the International Criminal Court.

(126173)

89   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many family visit visa applications were (a) allowed and (b) refused during the last 12 months at High Commission offices in (i) Bangladesh, (ii) India, (iii) Pakistan and (iv) Sri Lanka.

(126174)

90   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to ensure that military equipment manufactured in the UK is not being used in Aceh.

(126229)

91   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to ensure that military equipment manufactured in the UK is not used by oppressive regimes or politically unstable countries.

(126232)

92   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126199)

93   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place (a) between 1st July 2002 and 31st December 2002 and (b) between 1st January 2003 and 30th June 2003; when these meetings took place; what topics were discussed at these meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(126106)

94   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the state of civil society, (b) the extent of freedom of and participation in political expression and (c) the separation of state institutions and political party systems in Uganda; and if he will make a statement

(126107)

95   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place between 1st January 2002 and 30th June 2002; when these meetings took place; what issues were discussed at each of these meetings; which members of the Scottish Executive were present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

(126116)

96   Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Donaldson report into clinical negligence will be published.

(126126)

97   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) private and (b) public residential nursing homes are registered in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

(126178)

98   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for general practitioners there are in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

(126179)

99   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS registered dentists are working within the London Borough of Wandsworth.

(126180)

100
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the costs of health screening asylum seekers; and what tests health screening would include.

(125958)

101
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the implications of the recent media coverage linking asylum seekers with the spread of HIV.

(125959)

102
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are taken to recoup the value of NHS-funded equipment from those dentists who choose to go private.

(125769)

103
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he has issued to care home proprietors faced with (a) the need to appoint staff to meet statutory requirements and (b) delays in processing Criminal Records Bureau clearances.

(125813)

104   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126193)

105   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the impact of the changes to the Welfare Food Scheme on (a) disadvantaged parents and (b) other client groups.

(126177)

106   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the risk of nosocomial infections in medical assessment units; and what guidance has been given to the NHS on this issue.

(126156)

107   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of stay in medical assessment units in the NHS in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority has been in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(126157)

108   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to repeat the national cancer patient survey which was published in 2002; and what the planned timetable is.

(126159)

109   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about (a) overcrowding, (b) inadequate facilities and (c) mixed sex accommodation and toilet facilities in medical assessment units; and if he will make a statement.

(126188)

110   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) average and (b) maximum waiting times for admission to medical assessment units in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(126189)

111   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is available to the NHS on the provision of senior staff to supervise medical assessment units; what monitoring is undertaken by his Department to ensure that this guidance is adhered to; and if he will make a statement.

(126190)

112
N   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what rights an NHS patient has to know the professional qualifications of an NHS employee responsible for his care; how a patient can exercise such rights; and if he will make a statement.

(125569)

113
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of ill and disabled people who are dependent on care from more than one carer or from a changing pattern of carers.

(125960)

114
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the decision by North Cheshire Hospitals NHS trusts not to allow further secondments for support care workers to train as nurses.

(125797)

115
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of health and improvement modernisation plans set out a policy on rough sleepers.

(125850)

116
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to (a) primary care trusts and (b) health care professionals to improve access to health services by homeless people.

(125851)

117
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of homeless people are registered with general practitioners.

(125852)

118
N   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the Carlile Report.

(125454)

119
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many juvenile detentions have been made in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry over each of the past five years.

(125356)

120   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126198)

121   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Noble Friend's Answer of 18th December 2002, House of Lords Hansard, column WA124, what plans he has to take further action against potential incitement to violence against homosexual people through song lyrics in the context of live performances.

(126211)

122   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126206)

123
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the Department's funds have been allocated for water and sanitation programmes in each year since 1998.

(126080)

124   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126192)

125
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures are being taken to prevent deaths through car accidents on the main road between Belfast and Bangor in North Down.

(125810)

126
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the proposed (a) location, (b) staffing and (c) costs of the new Independent Monitoring Body.

(125811)

127
N   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the PSNI about the measures to reduce deaths through road traffic accidents (a) in Northern Ireland and (b) in North Down.

(125812)

128   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what impact the N+2 requirement of the funding process for the Peace II programme will have upon the allocation of the total funds made available under this programme; and if he will make a statement.

(126119)

129   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how long it has taken on average to process an application form and the issuing of payments in respect of the Peace II programme; and if he will make a statement.

(126120)

130
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, when he was first informed that the reports relating to attempts by the Iraqi regime to obtain nuclear related materials from Niger were (a) of dubious basis and (b) possibly based on forgeries; and what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on the reports.

(126037)

131   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Prime Minister, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126202)

132
N   Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on (a) the reasons for defining the defection of Iraqi Lt Gen Hussein Kamel as important in the Government's dossier, Weapons of Mass Destruction, of 24th September 2002 and (b) the value of the General's testimony to UN weapons inspectors that all proscribed weapons had been destroyed on his orders.

(125936)

133
N   Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate): To ask the Prime Minister, what the deterioration rates are of the (a) VX nerve agent, (b) sarin and (c) botulinum toxin which he declared had been unaccounted for when UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in 1998, during his statement to the House of 18th March, Official Report, column 76W.

(125937)

134
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, what proportions of the second Iraqi dossier were based upon the work of (a) Ibrahim al-Marishi in the Middle East Review of International Affairs of September 2002, (b) Sean Boyne in Jane's Intelligence Review of 1997, (c) Ken Gause in Jane's Intelligence Review of 2002, (d) Anthony Corderman in Key Targets on Iraq of February 1998 and (e) UK intelligence services.

(125955)

135
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his evidence to the Liaison Committee, 8th July, Question 186, on what basis he calculated that (a) it was not true that 90 per cent. of the second dossier came from plagiarised material and (b) two of the three parts of the dossier were based on intelligence.

(125968)

136
N   Alice Mahon (Halifax): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on Iraq's attempts to purchase uranium from Niger.

(125650)

137   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126194)

138
N   Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Stone of 10th July, ref 124822, what response she has received from the United States Administration on why Mr Feroz Abbasi and Mr Moazzam Begg have been detained; and what discussions she has held with the Crown Prosecution Service on whether the information received is adequate to found a criminal prosecution in the UK against Mr Abbasi and Mr Begg.

(126038)

139
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the published statement of the Attorney General immediately prior to the war in Iraq, on legal aspects of military action in Iraq, if she will make a further statement on how the length of the military occupation of Iraq impinges on those legal aspects.

(126036)

140   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Solicitor General, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by her Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if she will make a statement.

(126210)

141   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Solicitor General, how many (a) indictments and (b) convictions there have been in each of the last five years for the offence of incitement to commit a crime; and in what proportion of such (i) indictments and (ii) convictions incitement to commit a crime was the only charge.

(126185)

142   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 9th June, Official Report, column 626W, regarding the three cases in which covenants and other conditions relating to environmental and social impacts were included, what (a) host country legislation and (b) international environmental standard requirements which the Export Credits Guarantee Department stipulated that the relevant projects, goods or services had to comply with to ensure cover was provided.

(126087)

143   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 13th June, Official Report, column 1103W, excepting host country legislation, whether there are international environmental standard requirements which the Export Credit Guarantee Department makes requisite for every application if it is to be awarded cover.

(126088)

144   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications deemed to have high potential impact the Export Credits Guarantee Department has (a) received and (b) refused cover for; and what the project type was of those applications (i) received and (ii) refused.

(126110)

145
N   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what requirements there are on timber merchants to identify the source of timber imported into the UK.

(125152)

146
N   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, from which countries the UK imports timber; what percentage of the total timber import comes from each country; what percentage is from unidentified sources; and what steps the Government takes to ensure the timber is from sustainable sources in each country.

(125153)

147   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by her Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if she will make a statement.

(126203)

148   Mr Sio(r)n Simon (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action is planned to help deliver the Doha Development Agenda and reduce global poverty at the forthcoming WTO meeting in Cancun, Mexico.

(126104)

149   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will provide a full reply pursuant to the holding answer she gave on 18th June regarding post offices, ref 119723.

(126154)

150   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Totnes of 19th May concerning the Early Day Motion calling for a ban on trade in cat and dog fur and which was transferred from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for reply.

(126155)

151
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the City of Newcastle upon Tyne requested approval of permanent bus stop clearway orders in respect of Osborne Road, NE2; and whether approval was granted.

(125649)

152   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126195)

153   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make funding and additional resources available to support the implementation of the National Walking Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

(126214)

154   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will establish a National Walking Authority to monitor progress of the National Walking Strategy and assist the Government in its implementation.

(126215)

155   Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the National Walking Strategy will be published; and whether it will contain targets.

(126216)

156   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126208)

157
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Minister for Women, pursuant to her Answer of 25th March, Official Report, column 143W, on domestic violence, if she will place in the Library copies of her correspondence with the Home Secretary regarding the collection of domestic violence statistics.

(125686)

158   Mr Sio(r)n Simon (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Minister for Women, what entitlements are available to women who act as carers who have been receiving Carer's Allowance, once they have become entitled to state pension.

(126105)

159
N   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the cost in (a) gross terms and (b) net terms of restoring the earnings link for the state pension in each year between 2005-06 and 2010-11, assuming that the policy was introduced in April 2004 and applied to (i) all pensioners, (ii) pensioners aged 65 or above, (iii) pensioners aged 70 and above, (iv) pensioners aged 75 and above and (v) pensioners aged 80 and above.

(126035)

160   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Government's recent discussions regarding the allocation of funding to support British Sign Language initiatives; and whether there was direct representation at these meetings by organisations from (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland.

(126109)

161
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Coventry have converted to direct payment of their benefits and pensions.

(125354)

162
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the stakeholder pension on pension rights for women.

(125355)

163   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126196)

164
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the statement made by the Under-Secretary of State, the honourable Member for Gravesham, of 9th July, Official Report, column 310WH, whether it is his policy that all pensioners and benefit recipients with more than one carer should be able to use the exceptions service; and if he will make a statement.

(125961)

165
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the statement made by the Under-Secretary of State, the honourable Member for Gravesham, of 9th July, Official Report, column 310WH, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the establishment of the exceptions service.

(125962)

166
N   Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedures are available to customers who wish to register complaints regarding his Department's Customer Conversion Centre.

(126034)

167   Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he and his Department have (a) made and (b) put into action to extend entitlement for application to budgeting and crisis loans to those in receipt of tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

(126108)

168   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the 200 wards with the highest percentage of adults claiming incapacity benefit in (a) the UK and (b) Wales.

(126103)

169   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an allowance is made for child care costs, in relation to a child living with an absent parent with care or with the parent being assessed, in the Child Support Agency's formula for child maintenance.

(126160)

170   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement.

(126207)

171
N   Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to bring forward minimum employment and safety standards for foreign seafarers serving on UK registered ships.

[Question Unstarred] (125452)

172
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on recent progress made in finding permanent homes for homeless families in priority need.

[Transferred] (125853)

173   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the latest List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published.

[Transferred] (126124)