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Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 8 September 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 September 2003, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 September 2003, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Tuesday 9 September 2003 see Part 2 of this Paper.

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

 

MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER

1  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Advocate General, how many official Scotland Office engagements she has undertaken in the last 12 months.

 (128026)

2  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the February report on offering Government services electronically to older people.

 (128195)

3  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on progress made in ensuring that all Government services are available on-line by 2005.

 (128197)

4  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the number of users in (a) the UK and (b) other countries who access Government services through the internet.

 (128198)

5  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what action he is taking to encourage more people to access Government services through the internet.

 (128199)

6  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what action he is taking to make more on-line Government services available to people over 65.

 (128200)

7  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Cabinet Office's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sector the Cabinet Office employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if he will make a statement.

 (127066)

8  Mr Mike Hall (Weaver Vale): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what percentage of appointees to UK government sponsored public bodies are (a) disabled people and (b) people with minority ethnic backgrounds.

 (128059)

9  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his additional duties as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster encompass the Government's UK online agenda responsibilities.

 (127080)

10  Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) unauthorised persons, (b) illegal imports of cigarettes, (c) illegal imports of alcohol, (d) illegal imports of prohibited drugs and (e) illegal imports of meat were seized in each of the last five years by customs teams based in (i) Cornwall, (ii) Devon and (iii) Dorset.

 (127299)

11  Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what drugs were seized from yachts in the South West in the last five years; and whether each seizure was made by (a) static officers by routine inspection in each of the last five years and (b) officers acting on received intelligence.

 (127300)

12  Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff will be allocated to the flexible customs team to be located at Plymouth under the Customs and Excise Business Plan; what their terms of reference will be; and what the team's (a) average and (b) maximum response times are expected to be.

 (127301)

13  Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what value he attributed in pence per litre to (a) carbon dioxide saving, (b) improved local air quality, (c) diversity of supply and (d) economic development benefits in calculating duty rebates for (i) LPG and (ii) biodiesel and bioethanol.

 (127190)

14  Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 16th July; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

 (127303)

15  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the documentation issued by his Department that an employer must complete when he or she takes on his or her first employee, in order to be fully compliant; and if he will make a statement.

 (128689)

16  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to reduce the length of time it takes for the Inland Revenue to make a decision on appeals about the level of tax credit awarded.

 (128212)

17  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the length of time it takes for the Inland Revenue to make a decision on appeals about the level of tax credit awarded.

 (128213)

18  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount received from the sale of (a) the electricity supply industry, (b) the water supply industry and (c) British Rail was, broken down by year in which revenue was received.

 (128306)

19  Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of cigarettes imported from EU countries in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.[R]

 (127945)

20  Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of goods seized by HM Customs in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.[R]

 (127946)

21  Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the volume of (a) tax-paid wine and (b) tax-paid beer imported from EU Member States in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003.[R]

 (127947)

22  Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax-paid cigarettes were imported from EU Member States in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.[R]

 (127948)

23  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department are in (i) Scotland, (ii) each region in England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

 (127313)

24  Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dogs are used at air and sea ports of entry into the United Kingdom to detect illegal imports of food products.

 (128679)

25  Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff will transfer to the HM Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road, London from (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise when construction work is completed; and what area in square feet will be occupied by staff transferring from (i) the Inland Revenue and (ii) HM Customs and Excise.

 (127065)

26  Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce on the spot fines for people caught bringing illegal meats and bushmeat into the UK.

 (128364)

27  Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Customs plan to trial passenger luggage x-ray equipment to detect illegal meat and bushmeat at UK ports of entry.

 (128365)

28  Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many illegal meat seizures have been made by HM Customs in each month since they assumed control of enforcement at UK ports of entry; and what percentage of these seizures are classified as bushmeat.

 (128367)

29  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how he estimates the new investment announced for Customs will improve the service at (a) Newhaven, (b) Poole, (c) Isle of Wight, (d) Portsmouth and (e) Southampton; and if he will make a statement.

 (127148)

30  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of days per year that the proposed mobile Customs teams will be able to have a presence in (a) Newhaven, (b) Poole and (c) Isle of Wight ports.

 (127149)

31  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest assessment of the total cost per year is of employing mobile Customs teams to cover the ports of Newhaven, Poole and the Isle of Wight rather than a limited permanent presence; and if he will make a statement.

 (127150)

32  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the decision to remove the permanent Customs presence from Poole, the Isle of Wight and Newhaven ports; if he will perform a risk analysis of these plans; if he will overturn the decision; and if he will make a statement.

 (127151)

33  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what seizures were made by Customs officials at (a) Newhaven, (b) Poole and (c) Isle of Wight ports in each of the last five years for which there are records of (i) drugs, (ii) firearms, (iii) pornography, (iv) illegal meat, (v) cigarettes and tobacco and (vi) other goods; and if he will make a statement.

 (127153)

34  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in the Chorley constituency are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit; and how many claims are outstanding.

 (127757)

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

 (128670)

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

 (128671)

37  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussion is taking place with the credit union trade associations on the process of establishing a simple representative body for credit unions in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

 (127808)

38  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of credit unions and assets of credit unions there were, broken down by (a) affiliation to each credit union trade association and (b) no affiliation to a credit union trade association for the year ended 30th September 2002.

 (127809)

39  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend industrial and provident society legislation to bring it into line with company law; and if he will make a statement.

 (127818)

40  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was raised by the aggregates levy on (a) virgin aggregate and (b) processed aggregate products in Northern Ireland in financial year 2002-03; and how much is forecast to be raised by the levy on each in Northern Ireland in each financial year from 2003-04 to 2006-07.

 (127740)

41  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to monitor the environmental effects of the aggregates levy in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland; and what the results have been.

 (127741)

42  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when his officials last visited Northern Ireland to assess the impact of the aggregates levy on (a) the economy and (b) the environment in Northern Ireland.

 (127742)

43  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax filers submitted their self-assessment form electronically using the Inland Revenue's on-line programme in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03.

 (127073)

44  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of UK tax-filers submitted their self-assessment form electronically using the Inland Revenue's on-line programme in the tax year 2002-03.

 (127074)

45  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's target for take-up of the Inland Revenue's self-assessment on-line programme by UK tax-filers was in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03; what it is for the 2003-04 tax period; and how these targets were derived.

 (127075)

46  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how HM Treasury is determining the value for money paid for the Inland Revenue's self-assessment on-line system.

 (127076)

47  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an evaluation of the Inland Revenue's self-assessment on-line programme will be included in the review of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise announced on 2nd July.

 (127077)

48  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the venture capital industry of taxing carried interest through income taxing rather than capital gains tax.

 (127078)

49  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the British Venture Capital Association in respect of taxation measures announced in the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

 (127079)

50  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Treasury allocated to the marketing of the Government's e-agenda for the Inland Revenue's self assessment on-line programme in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03.

 (127081)

51  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Treasury spent on the marketing of the Government's e-agenda for the Inland Revenue's self assessment on-line programme in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03.

 (127082)

52  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's UK on-line agenda has met HM Treasury's stated expectations in the transformation of the delivery of its services.

 (127083)

53  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he plans for the private sector in assisting the Government to meet its targets for take-up of the Inland Revenue self-assessment on-line programme.

 (127084)

54  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department is evaluating the results being achieved with regard to the percentage of UK tax-filers submitting their self-assessment form electronically using the Inland Revenue's on-line programme against the Government's pre-set targets.

 (127085)

55  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the actual per-return cost to HM Treasury was of the Inland Revenue's self assessment on-line in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 with regard to electronic tax filing; and what the projected cost is for the 2003-04 tax year.

 (127086)

56  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned into the effectiveness of current methods of research used to collect data for the United Kingdom's census; and if he will make a statement.

 (127405)

57  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Statistics Commission on the UK census.

 (127406)

58  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was in real terms of compiling data for the (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001 census.

 (127407)

59  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about HM Customs and Excise operations in (a) Chester, (b) Pembroke and (c) Swansea.

 (127408)

60  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government spending was on HM Customs and Excise in real terms in each of the last five years.

 (127409)

61  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of mobile teams in the work of HM Customs and Excise.

 (127410)

62  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been allocated by his Department for the Government's campaign to promote UK entry to the European single currency.

 (127411)

63  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected cost is of British troops being stationed in Iraq for a further (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months.

 (127412)

64  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 3rd July, Official Report, column 370W, on European Economic Convergence, what research he has commissioned into using discretionary fiscal policy to offset inflationary pressures; and if he will publish the results of this research.

 (127615)

65  Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 14th July, Official Report, column 132W, on European Economic Convergence, what the element of pre-commitment is.

 (127616)

66  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of high interest rates on store cards on consumer spending.

 (128147)

67  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised from the aggregates levy in each region in the UK since the levy was introduced.

 (127212)

68  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer which public sector workers will be affected by his plans on regional pay.

 (127214)

69  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent estimates are for regional gross value added; and when new estimates will be released.

 (127215)

70  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected budget for the Office of National Statistics is for (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05.

 (127216)

71  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesborough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many and what percentage of bishops had the use of a chauffeur in May (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; what the total cost was in current prices in each year; and how many chauffeurs in each year were (i) part-time and (ii) full-time.

 (127217)

72  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesborough, representing the Church Commissioners, what percentage of the Church Commissioners' total expenditure was spent on bishops' emoluments in each year from 1999.

 (127220)

73  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesborough, representing the Church Commissioners, what the total annual expenditure on bishops' residences was in each year from 1998.

 (127221)

74  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesborough, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Commissioners' policy is in respect of genetically modified crops.

 (127227)

75  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many legal practices specialising in immigration work have ceased to offer their services in the last two years citing insufficient income from legal aid as a reason.

 (127393)

76  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will publish a response to the Norton report.

 (128010)

77  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment he has made of the need to provide access to legal aid to victims of domestic violence.

 (127278)

78  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what free legal representation will be available to those refused visas by overseas posts when funding is withdrawn from the Immigration Advisory Service.

 (128327)

79  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what research he has undertaken to assess the implications of the ending of the free legal advice and representation service to ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement.

 (128328)

80  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what factors underlay the decision to end the free legal advice and representation service to ethnic minorities; what the benefits are of the changes he is proposing; and if he will make a statement.

 (128329)

81  Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when he established the most recent review of the work of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.

 (127402)

82  Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many cases were dealt with at Taylor House on Monday 14th July.

 (127403)

83  Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many meetings (a) he and (b) other ministers in his Department have held with (i) Lord Bingham, (ii) Lord Woolf and (iii) Lord Irvine since he took office.

 (127404)

84  Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what research he has commissioned into judicial appointments since Judicial Appointments: the European and North American end to possible implications for the United Kingdom, published in 1997.

 (127876)

85  Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money she has given to Supporters Direct to promote more democratic participation in the management of football clubs; and what related discussions she has had with the Football Association on the conversion of football clubs to mutual organisations.

 (127828)

86  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many public service contracts were awarded by her Department (a) in total and (b) to small and medium enterprises in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

 (127799)

87  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total balance held by each of the Lottery distributors was on 17th July; and if she will make a statement.

 (127997)

88  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to review the system whereby projects can only be supported by the National Lottery for a set period of time.

 (127998)

89  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on her projected timescale for implementing common branding for National Lottery supported projects.

 (127999)

90  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to simplify the system of applying for Community Fund grants.

 (128000)

91  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of future demand for grants from the Scottish Land Fund.

 (128001)

92  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she last received representations from the Scottish Executive on the operation of Awards for All in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

 (128002)

93  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff are employed on the Young People's Fund of the National Lottery.

 (128003)

94  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the proportion of National Lottery ticket sales made to (a) the young and (b) low income groups.

 (128004)

95  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the extent of (a) overlap and (b) duplication in the work of the (i) Community Fund and (ii) New Opportunities Fund.

 (128005)

96  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on her policy on designating a National Lottery Day.

 (128006)

97  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the options being considered for giving the devolved administrations more influence over how National Lottery funding is allocated.

 (128008)

98  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the population of (a) the UK and (b) Scotland who are unable to receive BBC Freeview services.

 (128018)

99  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the UK population who are able to receive (a) Channel 4 and (b) Channel 5.

 (128019)

100  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her Department's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sectors her Department employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if she will make a statement.

 (127067)

101  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what contribution in percentage terms was made by tourism in the South West to GDP in each financial year since 1997.

 (127820)

102  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tourists from overseas visited the South West in each financial year since 1997; and what percentage of overseas tourists to the UK this represented in each case.

 (127821)

103  Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the objective will be of the good cause to be helped by the new lottery fund which will supersede the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund; and what types of organisations are planned to be its principal beneficiaries.

 (127991)

104  Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what interim arrangements she intends to put in place for the creation of the new lottery fund which will supersede the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund.

 (127992)

105  Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the next set of Playing Field Statistics will be published; and whether these will include comparative statistics for the last two years.

 (128611)

106  Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether a formal review of the work of the Playing Fields Monitoring Group is planned.

 (128612)

107  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote the United Kingdom as a venue for world sports events.

 (128235)

108  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to introduce an individual national tourism body for England.

 (128571)

109  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what investment is planned by her Department to help the British tourist industry recover from the effects of the war in Iraq; and what steps the Government proposes to take to boost tourism in the UK in the aftermath of the war.

 (128573)

110  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action the Government is taking to make the British tourism industry more competitive.

 (128574)

111  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has undertaken research into the potential effect of the tolls and charges proposed for using cars on British roads, on the British tourism industry.

 (128575)

112  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has undertaken research into the effect of the congestion charge on tourism in London.

 (128576)

113  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether tourism in the UK has grown as an industry in each of the last 10 years; how many people are employed in tourism in the UK; and what percentage of GDP is accounted for by the tourism industry.

 (128577)

114  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures the Government is taking to encourage British subjects to spend their holidays in the UK.

 (128578)

115  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent by her Department, and the agencies for which she is responsible, to promote tourism in (a) the UK as a whole and (b) each of the UK regions in each year since 1997.

 (128579)

116  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of schoolchildren in the UK participate in a minimum of two hours of physical exercise at school each week.

 (128580)

117  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote participation in sports by schoolchildren (a) during games lessons and (b) after school.

 (128581)

118  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had to ensure that sufficient hotel accommodation will be available for visitors to the capital, should the Olympic Games be held in London in 2012.

 (128653)

119  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Olympic bid will enhance regional sports facilities.

 (128654)

120  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she next plans to meet representatives of the Greek Government to discuss the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece.

 (127841)

121  Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how the statement in the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on A London Olympic Bid, Cm 5867, that special funding streams to meet Olympic costs should be closed by 2013-14, accords with her statement on 15th May, Official Report, column 481, on the length of time that the special London council tax precept will run.

 (128084)

122  Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how long the London council tax precept to contribute to the cost of a London Olympic Games will last; at what level it will be set each year; and what the proceeds will be.

 (128085)

123  Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her estimate is of the total cost of a London Olympic Games; and how it is proposed that it will be financed, broken down by source in each year.

 (128086)

124  Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her estimate is of the total change in money available to existing good causes as a result of the establishment of special Olympic lottery games.

 (128087)

125  
N  		Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants are in Iraq searching for weapons of mass destruction; and when they were sent.

 (128309)

126  Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are for the installation of air conditioning at Ministry of Defence troop bases in Iraq.

 (127128)

127  Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent to which Vosper Thorneycroft was responsible for the delay in the building of (a) HMS Echo and (b) HMS Enterprise.

 (127189)

128  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces are aware of the new requirement to register to vote on an annual basis.

 (127748)

129  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what procedures have been put in place to facilitate annual entry on the service register of electors for servicemen and women who are overseas or on active service.

 (127749)

130  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of HM Armed Forces were registered to vote on the Service Register of electors in each of the last three years.

 (127754)

131  Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what increase in cost for the proposed two new aircraft carriers has been communicated to him; what reasons were given; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

 (127152)

132  Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the Master of St Edmund's College, Cambridge, on NATO's scientific programme; and if he will make a statement.

 (128268)

133  Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if all vessels for the MARS Project will be classed as warships; and if he will make a statement.

 (127761)

134  David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Mark 3 Chinooks the RAF has; what their cost to the RAF was in the last year for which figures are available; how many are active; and what the location is of those which are (a) active and (b) inactive.

 (128601)

135  David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria his Department used to decide which documents to disclose to the Hutton Inquiry.

 (128603)

136  Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military sites in the UK are leased to the US Government; when each military base was first leased; what the date for termination is in each case; and what Parliamentary approval was sought for the present lease arrangements.

 (127141)

137  Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what control the UK Government can exert on activities taking place on military bases in the UK leased to the United States Government.

 (127142)

138  Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the arrangements are for the storage and possible deployment of nuclear weapons from military bases leased to the United States Government.

 (127143)

139  Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to lease further British military bases, or parts thereof, to the United States Government.

 (127144)

140  Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an individual accused of trespass onto a military base in the UK leased to the United States Government will be tried by (a) US and (b) British justice.

 (127145)

141  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he next plans to dredge Drummore harbour; and for what reason the timescale has been changed.

 (127849)

142  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the maintenance programme for the airstrip at West Freugh.

 (127850)

143  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sectors his Department employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if he will make a statement.

 (127063)

144  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th July, Official Report, column 477W, on Afghanistan, whether the United Kingdom has further plans to contribute to the payment of Afghan National Army salaries.

 (128526)

145  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent survey he has undertaken of land and building contamination at RAF Lyneham; and if he will publish it.

 (127103)

146  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of (a) the cost and (b) the time needed for decontamination when the RAF leaves RAF Lyneham.

 (127104)

147  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision was made during (a) Telic 1 and (b) Telic 2 for the provision of drinking water coolant.

 (127107)

148  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much body-armour was issued during Telic 1; and what shortfall there was.

 (127108)

149  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) camp beds and (b) NBC suits and respirators were used during Telic 1; and what shortfalls there were.

 (127109)

150  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what change in capability there will be arising from the change from 120 Heavy Equipment Transporters for Square Brigade to 92 Oshkosh Tank Transporters.

 (127110)

151  Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many kilometres on average an armoured brigade moves in 24 hours; and what the equivalent figures will be after the introduction of the Oshkosh transporters.

 (127111)

152  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 11th July, Official Report, column 1033W, on trained personnel, what research his Department has carried out into the numbers of Royal Naval personnel who have gone absent without leave since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

 (127069)

153  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 11th July, Official Report, column 1030W, on Deepcut Barracks (Drugs), how many cases of self-harm overdoses there were at each army barracks in each year since 1995.

 (127070)

154  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 11th July, Official Report, column 1030W, on Deepcut Barracks (Drugs), what assessment he has made of the reasons for self-harm incidents at Deepcut barracks since 1995; what measures are being taken to prevent further incidents; and if he will make a statement.

 (127071)

155  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the number of escorts when the new supercarriers are commissioned.

 (127253)

156  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much it cost to repair HMS St Albans; what costs were recovered from the ferry company involved; and if he will make a statement.

 (127254)

157  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for (a) modernising the Royal Navy fishing protection fleet and (b) ordering further Tyne class offshore patrol vessels; for what reasons plans to transfer Anglesey, Lindisfarne and Guernsey have been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

 (127255)

158  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average operating cost of (a) batch 3 type 22, (b) type 23 and (c) type 42 destroyers were in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

 (127274)

159  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for HMS Bridport.

 (127275)

160  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to change the number of type 42 destroyers in service; and if he will make a statement.

 (127276)

161  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected cost and commissioning date of auxiliary oilers (a) Wave Knight and (b) Wave Ruler were when the contract was let; what the date of commissioning and the final cost are; and if he will make a statement.

 (127277)

162  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 11th July, Official Report, column 1033W, on trained personnel, how many of the service personnel who went absent without leave in each year were dismissed from each service.

 (127908)

163  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for increasing the recruitment of women into the armed services; whether he has set a target; and if he will make a statement.

 (128157)

164  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what status the six ro-ro ships are accorded within the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

 (128340)

165  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the revised costing for the carrier programme will be accommodated within his Department's budget; and if he will make a statement.

 (128341)

166  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will order an independent inquiry into the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence police investigation branch; and if he will make a statement.

 (128384)

167  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th July, Official Report, column 484W, on Iraq (friendly fire incidents), if he will make the reports and recommendations of these investigations available to honourable Members and the public when inquiries are completed; and if he will make a statement.

 (128520)

168  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer to the hon Member for New Forest East, of 10th February, Official Report, column 516W, on Type 23 frigates, if he will name the second six Type 23 frigates to be fitted with Sonar 2087; what plans there are for the remaining four frigates; and if he will make a statement.

 (128557)

169  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which aircraft will be used on the new aircraft carriers.

 (128534)

170  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many joint strike fighter aircraft have been ordered.

 (128535)

171  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated conversion cost is for the Eurofighter Typhoon to operate from the new aircraft carriers.

 (128536)

172  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to further reduce the number of troops serving in Bosnia.

 (128537)

173  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many contracts issued by his Department in the last five years have included no UK build.

 (128538)

174  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that all contracts awarded by his Department include a provision that a minimum of 50 per cent. of the work will be carried out in the UK.

 (128539)

175  Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the war pensioners, suffering from a wholly psychiatric illness who lost their incapacity benefit in the three years up to 31st August 2002, subsequently lost all or part of their war disability pension; how many of these submitted a worsening condition application; and how many who did not lose all or part of their war disability pension submitted a worsening condition application.

 (127950)

176  Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average amount lost each week in war disability pension was by those war pensioners, suffering from a wholly psychiatric illness who, having lost their incapacity benefit in the three years up to 31st August 2002, then went on to lose all or part of their war disability pension.

 (127951)

177  Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average amount of money lost each week in war disability pension to individual war pensioners suffering from wholly psychiatric disorders was in each year from 1995 to 2002.

 (127953)

178  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy warships are at sea without their full complement.

 (127113)

179  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on expenditure on improvements and furnishings for the accommodation assigned to commanding officers; and if he will make a statement.

 (127114)

180  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost was to his Department to make the modifications to the SA80 rifle to bring it to SA80A2 standard; and how many SA80A2 rifles are in service with HM Forces.

 (127115)

181  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which ships his Department has used for target practice during the past five years.

 (127116)

182  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many flying hours have been accumulated by RAF C17 aircraft; and how many were expected.

 (127117)

183  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cadets from university Royal Naval units have joined the Royal Navy in each year since 1997.

 (127118)

184  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual running cost is of P2000 class coastal training craft.

 (127119)

185  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the deployment and utilisation of P2000 coastal training craft; and whether further vessels will be used for patrolling duties.

 (127120)

186  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress on the CVF programme; and how work will be shared between Thales and BAE systems.

 (127121)

187  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions have been held with the Indian Government in respect of the disposal of Sea Harrier aircraft.

 (127122)

188  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) civil service and (b) MoD rules and regulations may have been infringed by Dr David Kelly in talking to Mr Andrew Gilligan.

 (127155)

189  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Dr David Kelly spoke to Mr Andrew Gilligan; and whether his line managers knew this.

 (127156)

190  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's personnel have been interviewed in connection with the dossier story reported by Mr Andrew Gilligan.

 (127157)

191  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what inquiries are being conducted by his Department into unauthorised briefings of the BBC in connection with Iraq.

 (127158)

192  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has complied with Dr David Kelly's terms and conditions of employment in handling the matter of his discussions with Mr Andrew Gilligan.

 (127159)

193  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the approved cost is of the demonstration and manufacture phase at main gate for procuring all three tranches of the Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids programme.

 (127599)

194  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast in-service date on 31st March 1997 was for the (a) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (b) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (c) High Velocity Missile System, (d) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (e) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo and (f) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo.

 (127600)

195  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast in-service date on 31st March 1998 was for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (b) High Velocity Missile System, (c) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter and (d) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle.

 (127601)

196  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast in-service date on 31st March 1999 was for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (b) High Velocity Missile System, (c) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle and (d) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update.

 (127602)

197  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast in-service date on 31st March 2000 was for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System and (b) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update.

 (127603)

198  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast in-service date on 31st March 2001 was for the (a) Challenger II, (b) A400M, (c) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic, (d) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, (e) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids, (f) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (g) Short Term Strategic Airlift, (h) Sonar 2087, (i) Successor Identification Friend or Foe, (j) Trojan & Titan and (k) Type 45 Destroyer.

 (127604)

199  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast in-service date on 31st March 2002 was for the (a) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (b) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (c) Hercules C-130J, (d) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement), (e) Merlin HC Mk 3 Helicopter, (f) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter, (g) Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (h) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (i) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (j) Challenger II and (k) Future Joint Combat Aircraft.

 (127605)

200  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the date is of the initial gate approval or equivalent for the (a) Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon, (b) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (c) Astute Class Submarine, (d) Attack Helicopter WAH-64 Apache, (e) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (f) Eurofighter, (g) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (h) Hercules C-130J, (i) High Velocity Missile System, (j) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (k) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicles, (l) Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance & Attack Mk4 and (m) Seawolf Mid-Life Update.

 (127606)

201  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the date of the initial gate approval or equivalent is for the (a) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo, (b) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (c) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (d) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (e) Challenger II, (f) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic, (g) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, (h) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (i) Short Term Strategic Airlift, (j) Sonar 2087, (k) Successor Identification Friend or Foe, (l) Trojan & Titan and (m) Type 45 Destroyer.

 (127607)

202  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target date is for main gate approval or equivalent for (a) Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon, (b) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (c) Astute Class Submarine, (d) Attack Helicopter WAH-64 Apache, (e) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (f) Eurofighter, (g) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (h) High Velocity Missile System, (i) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement) and (j) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter.

 (127608)

203  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target date is for main gate approval or equivalent for the (a) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter, (b) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle and Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (c) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo, (d) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (e) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (f) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (g) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (h) Short Term Strategic Airlift and (i) Type 45 Destroyer.

 (127609)

204  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the date for main gate approval or equivalent is for the (a) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter and (b) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo.

 (127610)

205  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) approved cost of the the assessment phase at initial gate or equivalent and (b) actual cost of the assessment phase is for the (i) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (ii) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (iii) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (iv) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update and (v) Short Term Strategic Airlift.

 (127611)

206  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost is of the demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate or equivalent for the (a) Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon, (b) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (c) Airborne Stand-Off Radar, (d) Astute Class Submarine, (e) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (f) Eurofighter, (g) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (h) Hercules C-130J, (i) High Velocity Missile System, (j) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement), (k) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (l) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter and (m) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle.

 (127612)

207  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost is of the demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate or equivalent for the (a) Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance & Attack Mk4, (b) Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (c) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo, (d) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (e) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (f) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (g) Challenger II, (h) A400M, (i) Future Joint Combat Aircraft and (j) Short Term Strategic Airlift.

 (127613)

208  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost was of the demonstration and manufacture phase on 31st March 2000 for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System and (b) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update.

 (127618)

209  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost was of the demonstration and manufacture phase on 31st March 2001 for the (a) Challenger II, (b) A400M, (c) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic, (d) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, (e) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aid, (f) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (g) Short Term Strategic Airlift, (h) Sonar 2087, (i) Successor Identification Friend or Foe, (j) Trojan & Titan and (k) Type 45 Destroyer.

 (127619)

210  Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost was of the demonstration and manufacture phase on 31st March 2002 for the (a) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (b) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (c) Hercules C-130J, (d) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement), (e) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (f) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter, (g) Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (h) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (i) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update and (j) Challenger II.

 (127620)

211  Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Government's reply to the 56th Report from the Public Accounts Committee, Session 2001-02, what measures were taken, prior to the war in Iraq, to (a) invest in equipment, (b) raise awareness throughout the land forces and (c) refine tactics, techniques and procedures to improve Combat Identification in the land environment.

 (127307)

212  
N  		Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost of clearing ordnance and contaminated land from the site of RAF Chilmark; and whether the land will be disposed of without liabilities on the purchaser.

 (126334)

213  Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to retrieve and render safe cluster bombs and other munitions used by allied forces during the recent military action in Iraq; how much of this work will be carried out by non-governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement.

 (128527)

214  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the size of the garrison in Afghanistan.

 (127161)

215  Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military air movements there were at RAF Northolt in each of the last 12 months.

 (128092)

216  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel of officer rank, (b) service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by (i) the United Kingdom Defence Standardisation team in each year since its inception and (ii) the Directorate of Standardisation in each year from its inception to its re-organisation in 1999; how many of these were employed in Scotland; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement.

 (128037)

217  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel of officer rank, (b) service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the Defence Secondary Care Agency in each year from its inception to its dissolution on 31st March; how many of these were employed in Scotland; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement.

 (128038)

218  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel of officer rank, (b) service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in each year from its inception to its disestablishment on 1st July 2001; how many of these were employed in Scotland; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement.

 (128039)

219  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel of officer rank, (b) service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the (i) Defence Aviation Repair Agency, (ii) Meteorological Office, (iii) Hydrographic Office, (iv) Defence Services Organisation, (v) British Forces Post Office Agency, (vi) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency, (vii) Defence Medical Services Department, (viii) Defence Estates, (ix) Army Base Repair Organisation, (x) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (xi) Defence Procurement Agency, (xii) Warship Support Agency, (xiii) Disposal Services Agency, (xiv) Director General Commercial and (xv) Ministry of Defence Police in each year since inception; how many were employed in Scotland in each case; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement.

 (128040)

220  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel of officer rank, (b) service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the (i) RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency and (ii) Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation in each year from inception to reorganisation as part of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; how many were employed in Scotland in each case; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year, what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year, and if he will make a statement.

 (128041)

221  Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the agreement of 5th February to upgrade RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes will require amendment to the agreement relating to the establishment and operation of a ballistic missile early warning station at Fylingdales Moor, of 15th February 1960.

 (128368)

222  Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the intelligence sources to which reference is made in the section on intelligence, at page 15 of his Department's recent report on first reflections on operations in Iraq, include the intelligence sources drawn upon in the preparation of the dossiers on Iraq's military capabilities published in (a) September 2002 and (b) February 2003 by the Government.

 (126922)

223  Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) scientific and (b) medical evidence was used as the basis of the statements in paragraph 4.10 of his Department's report on first reflections on operations in Iraq, that there is no reliable scientific or medical evidence to suggest depleted uranium has previously been responsible for post-conflict incidences of ill-health.

 (126923)

224  Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the source was for the allegation at Paragraph 2, Page 19, of the Dossier on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction of September 2002, that the Iraqi military were able to deploy chemical or biological weapons within 45 minutes of an order to do so; what attempts were made to verify the source of this information prior to deciding to include it in the dossier; on what date this information became available to British intelligence sources; whether details were passed on to the intelligence agencies of the United States and other allies for comment prior to publication; and whether protection has been offered or provided to the source since receipt of the information.

 (128519)

225  
N  		Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects UK veterans of the Suez Canal Zone military operations in the 1950s to receive their campaign medals.

 (128315)

226  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will permit a consortium to bid for a pilot scheme incorporating more joint military police training before completion of the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme.

 (127232)

227  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has done a cost benefit analysis of Chichester as a location for a pilot scheme to extend joint service police training.

 (127233)

228  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long it would take to begin operations if a decision were taken to start a pilot of joint service police training.

 (127234)

229  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the capital cost of initiating a pilot scheme of joint service police training.

 (127235)

230  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the earliest date is on which decisions on the Defence Training Review can result in the implementation of a major relocation of service police.

 (127236)

231  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the capital cost is of work required at RAF Halton in order to make it serviceable for joint service police training.

 (127237)

232  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the capital cost is of work required at Chichester to provide joint police service training, excluding the MoD police.

 (127238)

233  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what initial estimate he has made of the total saving from moving the Royal Military Police from Chichester to the lowest cost site, assuming maintenance of the same overall level of training output.

 (127239)

234  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what priority he attaches to joint service military training in relation to other parts of the review of joint service activity.

 (127240)

235  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what joint service military police training is taking place; at what cost; and what proportion (a) by number of trainees and (b) by cost of all military police training, (i) excluding and (ii) including Ministry of Defence police, it represents.

 (127241)

236  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the initiation of full joint service military police training needs to await the outcome of the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme.

 (127242)

237  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether recent experience of joint service operations in Afghanistan, the Gulf, Sierra Leone and the Falklands have resulted in joint service military training being placed at a higher priority.

 (127243)

238  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army military policemen have been deployed at short notice to support other service policemen to assist with incidents in operations overseas; and in how many cases.

 (127244)

239  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an RAF Policeman has the same level of training at the completion of Phase 2 as an Army Military Policeman to deal with (a) theft, (b) assault, (c) criminal damage and (d) other investigation work.

 (127245)

240  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to maintain a military presence in each area of the UK for the purposes of (a) recruitment and (b) community support.

 (127246)

241  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role the Royal Military Police Training School has played in supporting civilian services in emergencies in West Sussex in the last six years; and if he will list the occasions when they did so.

 (127247)

242  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the risks of joint service military training.

 (127248)

243  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme began.

 (127249)

244  Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the first major relocation from the Defence Training Review Rationalisation programme will be completed.

 (127250)

245  Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints about noise caused by explosions at Shoeburyness were received in each of the last 20 years from residents living in (a) Maldon District, (b) Chelmsford Borough, (c) Rochford District, (d) Colchester Borough, (e) Tendriny District, (f) Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, (g) Castlepoint District and (h) Kent.

 (128088)

246  Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British casualties there were (a) during the conflict and (b) since the conflict in Iraq.

 (127391)

247  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost of the new aircraft carriers is; what the estimated cost was in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the procurement status of the carriers.

 (128074)

248  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions with the defence manufacturers have taken place on reducing the (a) size of the aircraft carriers and (b) number of aircraft carried; and if he will make a statement on how such changes affect power projection.

 (128075)

249  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy that the full sized carriers will be procured for the Royal Navy as originally intended; and what plans he has to ensure that the in-service date is kept.

 (128076)

250  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what methods servicemen are able to contact their families when on overseas operations; and what proposals he has to improve links when on longer term operations.

 (128117)

251  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often (a) submariners and (b) other Royal Naval personnel are able to contact their families when on operations; and under what circumstances contact is restricted.

 (128118)

252  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proposals he has to make all methods of contact with families free for all armed services personnel.

 (128119)

253  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in establishing the Maritime Afloat Reach and Sustainability Project; what will new design ships will be procured; what capabilities this will bring; and if he will make a statement on how they will improve flexibilty and responsiveness.

 (128120)

254  Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which minister will determine the appeal by Sunderland Football Club against the refusal by the local planning authority to permit development of its training centre.

 (127087)

255  Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many homeless people there were in (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000.

 (128031)

256  Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the investigation into the cause of the fires on Wanstead Flats on 14th July.

 (127593)

257  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on local authority support for Somali community organisations; and what advice his Department gives to local authorities in respect of applications for funding.

 (127392)

258  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what monitoring is being undertaken by his Department of the financial performance of Islington Borough Council; and what assessment he has made of the accounting procedures at the Council.

 (127395)

259  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions his Department has had with small business organisations on the effect of the proposed Local Government Bill on small and medium enterprises operating within (a) cleaning, (b) catering, (c) refuse collection and (d) vehicle maintenance sectors; and if he will make a statement.

 (127797)

260  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to alter the rules governing planning use class orders following the changes to the licensing laws in the Licensing Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

 (127146)

261  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government took account of water, energy, and transport needs in the plans to build an additional 200,000 houses in South East England.

 (128641)

262  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if the Government will (a) adopt minimum standards for design for public buildings in the UK and (b) give priority to buildings of higher quality and that will offer long-term value to the community.

 (128642)

263  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if the Government will increase the proportion of affordable housing as a condition of granting planning approval for major developments.

 (128643)

264  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many whole time equivalent staff posts there were in each local authority in England in the last year for which figures are available.

 (127205)

265  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Fire Services College provides services to brigades in Scotland.

 (127208)

266  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list by each council tax valuation band the estimated number of households liable to pay council tax for 2003-04 in (a) England and (b) each of the English regions.

 (127211)

267  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) each region in England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

 (127310)

268  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list by each council tax valuation band the average council tax payable for 2003-04 in each of the English regions.

 (127578)

269  Matthew Green (Ludlow): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what changes have been made to Class B under Part 4 of the General Permitted Development Order since September 2001.

 (128528)

270  
N  		Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to issue planning policy guidance to local authorities on green burial sites.

 (127182)

271  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when the initial version of the register of public land being compiled by English Partnerships will be (a) completed and (b) published.

 (127762)

272  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment his Department has made of the numbers of trained people needed in the building industry with reference to the Communities plan; and if he will make a statement.

 (127763)

273  Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, over what timescale the Government expects local planning authorities (a) to have carried out (i) an assessment of needs and (ii) an audit of existing facilities and (b) to have adopted local standards of provision, as required by PPG17.

 (128609)

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

 (128669)

275  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what support has been provided to local authorties to assist in the enforcement of the provisions of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977; and if he will make a statement.

 (127805)

276  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what research has been undertaken by his Department into the impact of harassment and eviction amongst tenants in the private rented sector; what proposals he has to deal with offending landlords; and if he will make a statement.

 (127815)

277  Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his target is for the reduction of deaths from fire by 2004.

 (127230)

278  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent guidance he has given to local authorities on environmentally friendly procurement.

 (127780)

279  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received on the (a) size and (b) condition of the homeless population.

 (127840)

280  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received on the relationship between Planning Policy Guidance 13 and flexible working practices.

 (127857)

281  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action he is taking to tackle social exclusion amongst pensioners.

 (128134)

282  Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will grant the Rowner housing estate in Gosport eligibility for his schemes for special support.

 (128156)

283  Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proposals the Government has to increase funding for departmental research in UK universities.

 (127294)

284  Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students there were in further education in Leeds North West in each year since 1997.

 (127295)

285  Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the cost of abolishing tuition and top-up fees in 2003-04 would be; and what the cost of administering the eligibility assessment for loans and fees is.

 (127296)

286  Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teacher vacancies there are within the Leeds Education Authority.

 (127297)

287  Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the operation of the adult learning grant pilots.

 (127964)

288  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will instruct Ofsted to include the provision of science and biology fieldwork as one of the criteria for assessing school performance.

 (127744)

289  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to reassess the provision for fieldwork within the curriculum for science (a) GCSE and (b) A-level; and if he will make a statement.

 (127750)

290  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the resource implications that would arise if all secondary schools were required to make provision for fieldwork for all pupils.

 (127751)

291  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the potential financial liability of school governors where a school sets a deficit budget.

 (127752)

292  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what responsibilities and functions would pass from his Department to an elected regional assembly on its establishment.

 (127753)

293  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of (a) how many and (b) what percentage of teachers on the General Teaching Council register are employed as classroom teachers.

 (127755)

294  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether it is his policy that increases in schools formula spending share made in 2003-04 to reflect the removal of standards funds will be reversed to reflect the restoration of standards funds in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

 (127925)

295  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will ring-fence additional funds for children's social services.

 (127926)

296  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in what exceptional circumstances local authorities will be free to passport less than the full increase in schools formula spending share to schools.

 (127927)

297  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list local authorities in which spending on (a) special educational needs and (b) excluded pupils increased by a higher percentage than the individual schools budget in 2003-04, giving in each case the perentage increase for each budget head.

 (127928)

298  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of his Department's end year flexibility for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.

 (127929)

299  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will publish the per pupil funding for each maintained school for (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.

 (127930)

300  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether schools forums will be able to agree a funding baseline for the guaranteed per pupil increase which is higher than current per pupil funding.

 (127931)

301  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if the guaranteed minimum per pupil increase in 2004-05 and 2005-06 will (a) take account of standards fund payments to schools and (b) apply only to the age-weighted per pupil funding.

 (127972)

302  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implications for environmental awareness of access to field work as part of the biology curriculum.

 (128064)

303  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information his Department collects centrally about secondary schools providing science or biology field work opportunities for all pupils; and what strategies he has for encouraging such provisions.

 (128065)

304  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answers of 22nd May, Official Report, column 1001W, and 12th June, Official Report, column 1023W, for each departmental framework contract, what the total expenditure is on paid publicity services, categorised according to media, including design and print, for each of the last five years for which he has figures available.

 (128158)

305  Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 12th June, Official Report, column 1026W, what his Department's budget for public relations consultants in the financial years 2003-04 and 2004-05 is.

 (128237)

306  
N  		Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria are to be applied in September 2004 for teachers to move from upper pay scale 2 to upper pay scale 3; and if he will make a statement.

 (126843)

307  Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the transfers into and out of formula spending share for 2004-05, and grants which are due to cease at the end of 2003-04; and whether his Department plans consequently to adjust the baseline calculation for floors and ceilings.

 (127164)

308  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what applications have been made to the Learning and Skills Council for funding of the Ormond Road Workshops in Islington; on what dates applications were received; and what the decision was in each case.

 (127397)

309  Valerie Davey (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the purpose of Connexions, with particular reference to the range of options for post 16.

 (127112)

310  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to encourage school leavers to seek qualifications at (a) apprenticeship, (b) skilled craft and (c) technician level.

 (128206)

311  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on measures to ensure that qualifications offered at apprenticeship, skilled craft and technician level are sufficient to meet the needs of business.

 (128207)

312  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the level of qualifications at (a) apprenticeship, (b) skilled craft and (c) technician level held in (i) the UK and (ii) other European Union countries.

 (128208)

313  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to increase qualifications at (a) apprenticeship, (b) skilled craft and (c) technician level.

 (128209)

314  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to increase the level of intermediate skills in the United Kingdom.

 (128210)

315  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools in Leicestershire have class sizes of more than 30 for seven to 11 year olds.

 (127264)

316  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the schools in Leicestershire that are in the special measures category.

 (127265)

317  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers were employed in Leicestershire schools expressed as full-time equivalents on 1st April in each year from 1997 to 2002.

 (127266)

318  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list capital spending on Leicestershire schools in each year since 1997-98.

 (127267)

319  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of three year olds have access to early years education in (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Wiltshire, (d) Cornwall, (e) Dorset, (f) North Somerset, (g) Bath and North East Somerset and (h) Bristol.

 (127772)

320  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the effect of the National Literacy Strategy on literacy skills among primary school pupils in Taunton.

 (127773)

321  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of 11 year olds in (a) the Taunton Constituency and (b) Somerset have achieved Key Stage 2 in each year since 1997 in (i) Mathematics and (ii) English.

 (127774)

322  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants there were in schools in (i) the Taunton Constituency and (ii) Somerset in each year since 1997.

 (127776)

323  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding the Department provided to the National Foundation for Educational Research in each year since 1990; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the Foundation's document, Sounds before letters: final evaluation of POPAT.

 (127199)

324  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 25th June, Official Report, column 777W, on the Early Literacy Programme, when the Go Karts early literacy support video was withdrawn from use; and for what reasons the video was withdrawn.

 (128544)

325  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many A levels were taken in (a) French and (b) German in 2003; what percentage change these figures represent from 2002; and what estimate he has made of the number of French and German A levels which will be taken in 2004.

 (128548)

326  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total cost of setting and marking AS level examinations in all subjects was in each year between 2000 and 2003.

 (128551)

327  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the equivalent GCSE grades represented by a GNVQ intermediate full award are at (a) distinction, (b) merit and (c) pass; and if he will make a statement.

 (128552)

328  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what boundaries were set by each awarding body for GCSE grades A*-U in (a) English Language and (b) English Literature from 1988 to 2002; and if he will make a statement.

 (128553)

329  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the percentage change was between 2002 and 2003 in the number of pupils attaining A* and A grades in all GCSE subjects; and if he will make a statement.

 (128554)

330  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 10th May, Official Report, column 784W, on GCSE point scores, what the average capped GCSE point score was in (a) French, (b) Spanish and (c) German in 2003 for pupils in (i) specialist languages colleges and (ii) non-selective maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

 (128560)

331  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of lessons recorded as set by ability in (a) Year 7, (b) Year 8, (c) Year 9, (d) Year 10 and (e) Year 11 in each state secondary school in West Sussex were inspected by Ofsted between 1995 and 2002.

 (128614)

332  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what pilot studies were carried out in assessing the effectiveness of the Early Literacy Support approach to the teaching of reading; and if he will make a statement on the study and the results.

 (128687)

333  Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures will be taken to provide broadband access to schools in areas where there is no broadband provision.

 (127090)

334  Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the maximum age is at which local education authorities must provide free transport to pupils who attend their nearest school if the distance between home and school is beyond the statutory walking distance.

 (127094)

335  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what meetings he has had with (a) the Secondary Heads Association, (b) the Local Government Association, (c) the National Union of Teachers, (d) National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers and (e) National Association of Head Teachers with regard to the teachers workload agreement since January.

 (127878)

336  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools have set deficit budgets for the academic year 2003-04.

 (127879)

337  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding has been allocated for (a) administration and (b) buildings for (i) University for Industry, (ii) the learning and skills councils and (iii) the Connexions service, broken down by (A) centrally and (B) locally allocated funds.

 (127880)

338  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent on (a) marketing and (b) advertising for (i) University for Industry, (ii) the learning and skills councils and (iii) the Connexions service, broken down by (A) centrally and (B) locally spent funds.

 (127881)

339  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding has been allocated for spending on consultants for (a) University for Industry, (b) the learning and skills councils and (c) the Connexions service, broken down by centrally and locally allocated funds.

 (127882)

340  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average cost of setting up a city academy is to (a) public sector and (b) private sector investors.

 (127883)

341  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the average extra cost faced by a school intending to offer the International Baccalaureat examination system.

 (127884)

342  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many city academies had been set up by 1st July, and how many he anticipates being set up by September 2005.

 (127885)

343  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools in England offer the International Baccalaureat to the students.

 (127886)

344  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils took the International Baccalaureat in England in each year since 1997.

 (127887)

345  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils he expects to have been enrolled at city academies by the end of the academic year 2003-04.

 (127888)

346  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many family centre places have been provided by local authorities.

 (127889)

347  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what powers he has to overturn the decision to (a) exclude a pupil and (b) reinstate an excluded pupil; and what effect legislation enacted since 1997 has had on the powers of his office in this respect.

 (127890)

348  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance notes have been sent by his Department to school exclusion appeals panels since 1998.

 (127891)

349  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools applied for the earned autonomy scheme; and how many have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in being granted earned autonomy.

 (127892)

350  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Green Paper on Children at Risk will be published.

 (127893)

351  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many of Lord Laming's recommendations in his report on child protection had been put into action by 1st July.

 (127894)

352  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many officials will work in the new Children's Directorate in his Department.

 (127895)

353  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what statistics his Department collects on assaults on teachers; and how many teachers have been the subject of (a) physical assaults, (b) verbal assaults and (c) other threatening behaviour from (i) children and (ii) parents in each year since 1988.

 (127896)

354  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) primary schools, (b) city technology colleges, (c) other secondary schools and (d) special schools have been fined for excluding pupils in each year since 1998; if he will list each school; and what the size was of the fine for each individual school affected.

 (127897)

355  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent correspondence he has had with the teacher unions on the exclusion of pupils from schools; and if he will place that correspondence in the Library.

 (127898)

356  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many places have been provided in school holiday schemes in each of the past five years.

 (127899)

357  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many places in after-school clubs have been provided in each of the past five years.

 (127900)

358  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how may pupils were excluded from (a) primary schools, (b) city technology colleges, (c) other secondary schools and (d) special schools in each year since 1988; how many of these exclusions were taken to appeal; and how many of these exclusions were successfully overturned by an appeals panel.

 (127901)

359  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) Key Stage Two pupils and (b) Key Stage Three pupils reached the required standards in both literacy and numeracy in each year since 1997.

 (127902)

360  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the circular documents that were sent by his Department to (a) primary schools, (b) city technology colleges, (c) other secondary schools and (d) special schools between 1st September 2002 and 1st July 2003; and how many pages each document contained.

 (127903)

361  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) boys, (b) girls and (c) children from ethnic backgrounds have reached the required standards of (i) English and (ii) mathematics at Key stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

 (127904)

362  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many day nurseries have operated in each of the past five years.

 (127905)

363  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many places there were in day nurseries in each of the past five years.

 (127906)

364  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many registered childminders there were on 1st January in each of the past five years.

 (127907)

365  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many playgroups were operating in each of the past five years; and how many places were provided in playgroups in each year.

 (127918)

366  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teacher vacancies there were in special schools in each of the last five years, broken down by local education authority.

 (127919)

367  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which recent studies of literacy and numeracy standards among primary school children his Department has analysed; and what assessment he has made of these studies.

 (127920)

368  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received in relation to the National Primary Strategy.

 (127921)

369  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) boys and (b) girls have reached the required standards of (i) English and (ii) mathematics at Key stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

 (127922)

370  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what types of specific handicap or special need are defined as constituting special needs; and how many children there were with each specific type of handicap, at 11th July.

 (127923)

371  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of (a) boys and (b) girls from ethnic minority backgrounds have reached the required standards of (i) English and (ii) maths at Key stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

 (127924)

372  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to meet its obligations under section 95 of the December 2002 Tomlinson Report to publish a Memorandum of Understanding between the QCA and the awarding bodies before the first anniversary of the publication of that report.

 (128098)

373  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions his staff have had with the examination awarding bodies since December 2002; and if he will make a statement.

 (128099)

374  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions took place between the Department and the awarding bodies as stipulated in section 95 of the December 2002 Tomlinson Report relating to the Memorandum of Understanding published on 19th June.

 (128100)

375  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to call together the relevant staff of his Department, of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and of the awarding bodies to discuss jointly the Memorandum of Understanding (a) drawn up between his Department and the QCA, and (b) drawn up between the QCA and the awarding bodies.

 (128101)

376  Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects to meet his obligation under section 95 of the December 2002 Tomlinson Report to publish a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfES and the awarding bodies before the first anniversary of the publication of that report.

 (128102)

377  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the subjects which have missed targets for teacher training recruitment in the last year for which figures are available.

 (127284)

378  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact of the new Formula Spending Share system on classroom assistant numbers in the South East; and if he will make a statement.

 (127285)

379  Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance he provides to the Connexions service on the provision of advice to young lesbians and gay men facing homophobic abuse.

 (127871)

380  Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to prevent homophobic bullying in schools; and what guidance is issued to headteachers in this respect.

 (127872)

381  Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many times consent has been given to a relaxation of the minimum area standard for team game playing fields at schools, under section 543 of the Education Act 1996 (as amended by paragraph 159 of Schedule 30 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998), in each of the last five years.

 (128610)

382  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total cost was of bids submitted by further education colleges for growth in 2003-04 in respect of (a) 16-19 and (b) adult provision; what proportion of the bids in each category have been met by the Learning and Skills Council; and if he will make a statement.

 (127959)

383  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment has been made by his Department of the impact of the performance related funding system set out in Success for All on equality of opportunity for learners; and if he will make a statement.

 (127960)

384  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much of the funding totals shown for further education in the Departmental Annual Report 2003 is assumed to be for (a) participation, (b) investment, (c) local intervention and development funding and (d) other funding for the years (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05 and (iii) 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

 (127993)

385  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what level of funding has been allowed in his Department's expenditure plans to compensate further education colleges for the transfer of responsibility for increases in the employer contributions to the teachers pension scheme in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

 (127994)

386  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the estimated cost is to further education colleges of the increases in employer national insurance contributions introduced in April 2003 for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

 (127995)

387  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the level is of projected enrolments in terms of full time equivalents based on the funding assumed for participation in further education in the Departmental Report 2003 for (a) 16 to 19 year olds and (b) adults in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05 and (iv) 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

 (127996)

388  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the planned total funding is per full-time equivalent student in further education for adults in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms at April 2003 prices, on the basis of GDP deflator projections (A) with and (B) without the additional funding made available to compensate colleges for increases in employer contributions to the teachers pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

 (128028)

389  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was allocated for (a) the Teaching Pay Initiative for further education colleges and (b) the staff development component of the Standards Fund for colleges in 2002-03; how much colleges will receive in 2003-04 from the 2 per cent. enhancement of funding rates allocated for the transfer under Success for All; and if he will make a statement.

 (128029)

390  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what average increase expressed in real terms he estimates further education colleges will receive in 2003-04 for (a) growth in participation and (b) other funding increases (i) in total funding and (ii) after discounting actual Teacher Pay Initiative and staff development allocations for 2002-03, the additional costs of employers contributions to the Teachers Pension Scheme from April 2003 and the additional costs arising from the increase in employers national insurance contributions from April 2003; and if he will make a statement.

 (128030)

391  Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many Jean Monnet chairs are based in UK universities; what the value of the grant funding of these posts is; what the salaries of (a) these chairs and (b) professorships nationally agreed rates are; and how many Jean Monnet chairs there are per capita in each EU member state.

 (127760)

392  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures he is taking to encourage local authorities to introduce free school milk for children aged seven years.

 (128236)

393  Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans there are to respond to the recent Ofsted report concerning the quality of school physical exercise lessons; and if he will make a statement.

 (128674)

394  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on proposals to abolish the child protection register.

 (127986)

395  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to institute mandatory inquiries into unexpected child deaths.

 (127987)

396  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what changes have been instituted since the publication of the Laming Report to enable the free exchange of information between agencies in child abuse investigations.

 (127988)

397  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to raise the performance of under-achieving students.

 (127779)

398  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to improve the teaching of mathematics.

 (127781)

399  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance he has given to local education authorities on the modernisation of school libraries.

 (127786)

400  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the Union Learning Fund.

 (127789)

401  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on salaries of teachers in the Greater London area.

 (127833)

402  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to improve the quality of school science laboratories.

 (127835)

403  
N  		Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers with qualified teacher status were working (a) full-time and (b) part-time in (i) secondary, (ii) primary and (iii) special schools in each year from 1992-93 to 2002-03.

 (126935)

404  
N  		Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much his Department has spent on the fast track teacher training programme in each year, broken down by category of expenditure since the scheme commenced; how many applications there were for each year; how many were allocated a place each year; how many obtained qualified teacher status; how many entered teaching, broken down by (a) primary, (b) special secondary, (c) community, (d) foundation, (e) voluntary aided, (f) voluntary controlled and (g) independent school; and how many have subsequently left teaching.

 (126936)

405  
N  		Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his definition is of a regular teacher; and when that definition was made.

 (126937)

406  
N  		Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people working as teachers in employment based training routes (a) commenced training and (b) gained qualified teacher status in each year from 1996-97 to 2002-03.

 (126938)

407  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what provisions are made to cater for particularly gifted children from state schools; and if he will make a statement on his policy on gifted children being able to fulfil their potential.

 (127956)

408  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are in place to ensure that gifted children that are (a) moved up educational years at school and (b) placed in a different school retain contact with their peer group.

 (127957)

409  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether foster parents have the same maternity and paternity rights as other parents; and what assistance is given to foster parents willing to take on disabled children.

 (128068)

410  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children have been placed with foster parents in each year since 1997; and what measures have been taken to encourage more couples to foster children.

 (128069)

411  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assistance is given to foster parents to take on children with behavioural problems; and whether it is compulsory for them to attend school.

 (128070)

412  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, at what age financial assistance to foster parents looking after children with behavioural problems stops; and what plans he has to extend payments to fosterers parenting for children reaching adult age.

 (128071)

413  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the responsibilities are of the Minister for Children; what immediate targets she has set; and what funding is available for her Department subsection.

 (128238)

414  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proposals he has to encourage the provision of free school meals; and what the average cost to pupils was of school meals in the last 12 months.

 (128239)

415  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what quality controls are placed upon school meals; and what assessment has been made of the potential benefits to child health of healthy school meal provision.

 (128240)

416  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she takes to ensure that the incentives local authorities receive to collect paper by weight to meet Government targets are followed by action by those councils to ensure the method of collection is one which facilitates effective recycling.

 (127222)

417  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that electricity derived from CHP is financially more attractive to use than electricity from other carbon-based technologies.

 (127224)

418  Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many businesses are taking part in the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme through (a) the Carbon Trust, (b) her Department and (c) the Inland Revenue.

 (128032)

419  Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) debt equity deals and (b) interest free energy action loans the Carbon Trust has approved since it was established.

 (128033)

420  Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the environmental attributes of (a) LPG, (b) biodiesel and (c) bioethanol.

 (127191)

421  Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to investigate the response by the Environment Agency to the recent major pollution incident on the River Nene between Peterborough and Northampton.

 (127758)

422  
N  		David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) foreign visits and (b) visits within the United Kingdom she has made since 1st April; whom she met; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; and what gifts were received.

 (126934)

423  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with (a) the United States, (b) the European Union and (c) environmental organisations on international measures to assist developing nations in reducing climate change.

 (128216)

424  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with (a) the United States, (b) the European Union and (c) environmental organisations on the obligations of (i) the UK and (ii) others to reverse (A) climate change and (B) energy shortage.

 (128217)

425  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Trade and Industry on investment in renewable energy.

 (128220)

426  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the water companies supplying domestic industries, indicating the nationality of the individuals and organisations with a controlling interest.

 (128297)

427  Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on Government strategy to increase the amount of energy crops grown in United Kingdom.

 (127614)

428  Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reasons underlay the delay in responding to the letter received by the Department on 16th December 2002 from Mr Ian Marsden and P. Westby of Accrington regarding biodiesel.

 (127101)

429  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sectors her Department employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if she will make a statement.

 (127064)

430  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many jobs under the remit of her Department in (a) the core department and (b) executive agencies are in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation; if she will break down the figures in terms of responsibilities which apply to (1) England, (2) England and Wales and (3) the UK as a whole; and if she will list the non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies for which information is not held centrally.

 (127308)

431  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were slaughtered because of bovine TB in each year since 1997 in (a) the Taunton Constituency, (b) Somerset, (c) North Devon Constituency and (d) Devon.

 (127777)

432  Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the terms of reference have been agreed for the inter-departmental ministerial group on biodiversity and bushmeat.

 (128366)

433  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) policy and (b) financial assessment she has made of food security in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

 (128046)

434  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the use of global (a) population figures and (b) food production trends in policy development by her Department.

 (128047)

435  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote food assurance schemes in the UK.

 (128048)

436  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the comprehensibility of existing food assurance schemes for consumers in the UK.

 (128049)

437  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to assess the role of British agriculture in providing national food security; and if she will adopt the concept as a central principle of her Department's work.

 (128050)

438  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to examine the risks inherent in a reduction in British agriculture's capacity to produce food and non-food products.

 (128051)

439  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list proposed EU legislation identified by her Department as setting agricultural production standards below those in place in the UK.

 (128052)

440  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent by her Department on encouraging (a) co-operation and (b) stronger marketing for British farmers and food produce in each of the last 10 years.

 (128054)

441  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent by her Department on progressive and appropriate science and technology in the area of food security, by type, in each of the last 10 years.

 (128055)

442  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent by her Department on the protection against the importation of (a) dangerous and (b) unacceptably produced food in each of the last 10 years.

 (128057)

443  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent by her Department on the development of crops which offer sustainable alternatives for (a) fuel, (b) medical and (c) plastic products in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

 (128058)

444  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent in support of science and technology for agriculture in each of the last 10 years.

 (128061)

445  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are in place to maintain the United Kingdom market share of indigenous fruit and vegetables; and how much has been spent on these measures in each of the last five years.

 (128062)

446  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of EU legislation relating to agricultural production standards identified by her Department as having been implemented in the United Kingdom but not in other member states.

 (128063)

447  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are in place to prevent the importation of agricultural products produced to unacceptable standards in (a) animal welfare and (b) environmental care, from (i) the EU and (ii) elsewhere.

 (138053)

448  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will issue new satellite measured farm maps to all farmers to enable them to comply with the new requirements of the IACS forms.

 (128686)

449  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to reform the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme.

 (127184)

450  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on changes in (a) the level and (b) the mechanisms of flood and coastal defence funding.

 (127759)

451  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ensure the sustainability of individual rural transport partnership schemes in the light of the 10 year transport plan; and if she will make a statement.

 (127764)

452  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Countryside Agency's handling of its budgetary affairs in 2003-04; and if she will make a statement.

 (127765)

453  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that the finances of the Countryside Agency are managed in such a way that will ensure funding arrangements for partnerships can be made clear at an early stage for 2004-05 and left unchanged.

 (127766)

454  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will meet Hampshire County Council to discuss the effect on its rural transport partnership of late changes in funding by the Countryside Agency.

 (127767)

455  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the approvals procedure for genetically modified crops; whether she plans to amend the regulations; and if she will make a statement.

 (128330)

456  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the action plan to support small and medium-sized abattoirs and slaughterhouses.

 (128331)

457  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her department is taking to improve broadband technology in rural areas.

 (128337)

458  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase the amount of affordable homes in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

 (128338)

459  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the policy on livestock movement restrictions; whether she plans to make any changes; and if she will make a statement.

 (128339)

460  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Over Thirty Month Scheme; what changes she plans to make to the scheme, and if she will make a statement.

 (128383)

461  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has conducted into the effects of adding fluoride to water supplies; what recent meetings she has had with colleagues and others on the issue; and if she will make a statement.

 (128677)

462  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the role of the European Union in OSPAR after the coming into force of the European Constitution.

 (128159)

463  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department's ministers held with other departments with respect to formulating policy on the Convention on the Future of Europe; and if she will list the policy areas discussed.

 (128160)

464  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what papers her Department drafted for submission to the Convention on the Future of Europe.

 (128161)

465  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps towards the restoration of fisheries policy to national control, in the context of the Laeken Mandate and the Convention on the Future of Europe.

 (128162)

466  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the documents submitted to the Convention on the Future of Europe which related to the reform of (a) the Common Fisheries Policy and (b) the Common Agricultural Policy.

 (128163)

467  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the working groups in the European Communities which relate to climate change.

 (128164)

468  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the products undergoing genetically modified organism field testing in the United Kingdom.

 (128165)

469  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the waste incinerators undergoing planning review.

 (128166)

470  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the adjustable flood control and defences that have been constructed since May 1997; what analyses have been made of upriver spillover since construction; and if she will make a statement.

 (128168)

471  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the long-term strategic maintenance plans for flood defences in Lincolnshire.

 (128169)

472  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the estimated costs of sheep tagging (a) to the industry and (b) as an average per capita to farmers in 2002-03.

 (128170)

473  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the effects of water fluoridation on farm businesses.

 (128171)

474  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on discussions at European Community level on a common nuclear storage facility.

 (128172)

475  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made on the effect of EU enlargement on the scale of the agricultural workforce in the EU.

 (128173)

476  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of EU enlargement on the competitiveness of British agriculture.

 (128174)

477  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the European Constitution on her Department's responsibilities.

 (128176)

478  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the establishment of an EU Foreign Minister on the representation of her Department in international fora.

 (128177)

479  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fishing vessels there are in each EU applicant state capable of fishing in the North Sea.

 (128178)

480  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many foreign nationals work on UK flagged fishing vessels.

 (128179)

481  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of United Kingdom flagged fishing vessels (a) by tonnage, (b) by horse power and (c) in absolute terms are owned by foreign nationals.

 (128180)

482  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the role of the Precautionary Principle in determining Government policy in areas of scientific contention within her Department's responsibilities.

 (128181)

483  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on Government policy on animal welfare in the Intergovernmental Conference.

 (128182)

484  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on public sector procurement of United Kingdom sourced food products.

 (128242)

485  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures have been taken to promote and encourage the consumption of locally grown produce in the last 12 months.

 (128245)

486  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures her Department has taken to promote local trade fairs and farmers' markets in the last 12 months.

 (128246)

487  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the percentage of food consumed in the United Kingdom that was sourced in the United Kingdom in the last five years, broken down by sector.

 (128247)

488  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the current outbreak of avian influenza in the European Union.

 (128252)

489  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the application of the ethical dimension of foreign policy in her Department's activities overseas.

 (128253)

490  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her Department's application of (a) subsidiarity and (b) proportionality in applying EU legislation.

 (128254)

491  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to undertake departmental assessment of the competitive financial impact of EU regulations on UK agriculture.

 (128255)

492  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the (a) activities and (b) mandate of the (i) EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, (ii) Community Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network, (iii) Management Committee for Live Plants, (iv) Standing Committee on Agricultural Plants, (v) Management Committee on Poultrymeat and Eggs, (vi) Standing Committee on Agricultural, Horticultural and Foresty Seeds and Plants, (vii) Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species, (viii) Management Committee on Tobacco, (ix) Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture, (x) Committee on the Conservation, Characterisation, Collection and Utilisation of Genetic Resources in Agriculture, (xi) Management Committee for Beef and Veal, (xii) Standing Committee for Propagating Material of Ornamental Plants and (xiii) Management Committee on Wine.

 (128256)

493  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has made to other departments in support of the use of British farm products by their departments.

 (128257)

494  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has made to the Ministry of Defence on the use of British products in the supply chain.

 (128258)

495  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much milk was produced surplus to requirements by UK farmers; and how much milk was imported in each of the last 10 years.

 (128259)

496  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her policy towards the use of antibiotics in animal feed.

 (128260)

497  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the decision not to apply for a derogation to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002.

 (128261)

498  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department was consulted on the Swedish Government's recent approach to the British Government in the European Convention with respect to the issue of animal welfare; at what level such consultation took place; when; and if she will make a statement.

 (128262)

499  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those outbreaks of contagious animal diseases which have occurred since May 1997, for which the European Commission has issued Decisions or communications to limit their spread; what numbers of livestock were killed to limit spread; what support funds were released in compensation; what amount was taken up by government; and what proportion of the value of lost stock this equated to.

 (128263)

500  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what European Community compensation (a) is available to and (b) has been taken up by the Government for UK fishermen affected by the 2002 days at sea limits.

 (128264)

501  Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the letter from her Department dated 18th June to the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms M. Bromley, if she will require the Food Standards Agency to send the promised reply to the Right honourable Member without delay.

 (127747)

502  Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what form the tests to ensure there is no BSE in over thirty month beef will take; how long an individual test will take; and where and when these tests will take place.

 (128334)

503  Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what facilities will be required at slaughterhouses for the BSE tests on over thirty month beef; and whether separate units will be required at slaughterhouses to enable animals to be tested.

 (128335)

504  Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated cost is of the new testing arrangements when the OTMS scheme is lifted; and whether there will be a single national slaughterhouse for the scheme.

 (128336)

505  Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government will phase in the changes to the Over Thirty Month Scheme; and when the changes will take effect.

 (128386)

506  Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received on the proposed amendments to the EU maximum hours for movement of animals.

 (128387)

507  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle the phocine distemper virus in seals in the UK.

 (127834)

508  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential of genomics research for conventional plant breeding.

 (127836)

509  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to encourage a switch towards more advanced well-managed cages for egg-laying hens.

 (128684)

510  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to introduce financial aid to those disadvantaged by the Hunting Bill.

 (128685)

511  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been paid to the sustainability fund in each region of the UK from the aggregates levy since the levy was introduced.

 (127213)

512  Brian White (North East Milton Keynes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further statutory responsibilities for collection and disposal will be placed upon local authorities as part of the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

 (128371)

513  Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the percentage was of collection of municipal (a) non-recyclable and (b) recyclable waste in the UK in the last 12 months.

 (127389)

514  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether GM crops that reduce acrylamide formation have been produced.

 (128693)

515  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by how much (a) diesel fuel consumption by farmers and (b) soil erosion would be reduced if 50 per cent. of UK sugar beet, maize and oilseed rape farmers switched to GM herbicide-tolerant varieties and conservation tillage.

 (128694)

516  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government will allow immediate commercial growing of those GM crops currently being assessed under the farm-scale trials programme if the crops are found to be associated with environmental benefits and without any determinable drawbacks.

 (128697)

517  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how often her Department's Ministers have met (a) Doug Parr of Greenpeace, (b) Patrick Holden of the Soil Association and (c) scientists working on GM crops in the last 12 months.

 (128698)

518  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many kilos of soil-acting herbicide would be saved if 25 per cent. of the UK forage maize crop were to be sown as GM herbicide-tolerant varieties.

 (128700)

519  
N  		Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the impact of possible reductions in European Union import tariffs on the UK egg industry.

 (127617)

520  Janet Anderson (Rossendale & Darwen): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what instructions have been given to his officials in Dubai in connection with the forthcoming release of Mr George Atkinson from prison; whether Mr Atkinson will be met by Foreign Office officials on his release; who will be responsible for booking his return flight to the UK and ensuring that he has the necessary travel documents; and on what date he expects Mr Atkinson to be released.

 (127877)

521  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to help ensure that the Afghanistan elections in June 2004 are free and fair.

 (127130)

522  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for elimination of poppy production in Afghanistan; and what strategies are in place to fill any loss to local economies caused by the eradication of opium production.

 (127131)

523  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the ethnic make-up is of the new Afghan National Army.

 (127135)

524  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is being done to promote the rights of (a) women and (b) children in the new constitution of Afghanistan.

 (127136)

525  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action is being taken to reduce the level of violence in Afghanistan.

 (127137)

526  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for elections in Afghanistan.

 (127138)

527  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received letters sent to him on (a) 6th and (b) 9th July by solicitors representing Mr Moazzam Begg.

 (127139)

528  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has held with African leaders about the appointment of President Robert Mugabe by the African Union as its ambassador for southern Africa.

 (127140)

529  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the changes in quantities of opium produced in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban.

 (127172)

530  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made a request to the US administration for the repatriation of British detainees held in Camp Delta, to face, if the evidence justifies, trial in the UK.

 (127174)

531  Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library copies of regulations and orders made by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

 (127594)

532  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will urge the Indonesian Government to withdraw all non-West Papuan troops and Brimob special forces from West Papua.

 (127175)

533  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what participation in the Somali peace process has been undertaken by UK representatives; and if he will make a statement.

 (127176)

534  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with what Somali groups and human rights organisations his officials have had discussions in the past year; and what his Department's assessment is of the human rights situation in Somalia.

 (127177)

535  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what UK diplomatic staff have visited Mogadishu in the past year.

 (127178)

536  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contacts UK representatives have with the effective Government of Somaliland in Hargeisa; and what plans the Government has to grant it diplomatic recognition.

 (127179)

537  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what monitoring of the activities of international forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undertaken by the UK; and if he will make a statement.

 (127394)

538  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the number of Somali people in refugee camps in countries neighbouring Somalia who wish to join their families in the United Kingdom; and what facilities are offered in British missions in (a) Addis Ababa and (b) Nairobi to facilitate this.

 (127512)

539  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action is being taken by the Government to protect (a) child workers, (b) sexually exploited children and (c) child victims of trafficking in (i) Africa, (ii) Asia, (iii) the Pacific, (iv) Latin America, (v) the Caribbean and (vi) the Middle East.

 (128394)

540  Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the letter of 12th August, from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, when he expects the Titanic Agreement to come into force; and if he will make a statement.

 (128269)

541  Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals there are for an EU peacekeeping force to be deployed to Trans Dnestr in Moldova.

 (127875)

542  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and intends to have with (a) the United Nations, (b) the United States, (c) the African Union and (d) President Mbeki of South Africa regarding Mr Robert Mugabe's appointment as the African Union's ambassador for southern Africa.

 (128184)

543  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chinese Government regarding the pending execution of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche.

 (128185)

544  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and intends to have with the Chinese Government regarding (a) the occupation of and (b) human rights abuses in Tibet.

 (128186)

545  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and intends to have with the Chinese Government on holding trials of Tibetan religious leaders in the presence of international observers before sentence is passed.

 (128187)

546  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and intends to have with the Chinese Government regarding its refusal to drop pre-conditions to negotiations with the Tibetan Government in exile.

 (128188)

547  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the political situation in Liberia.

 (128189)

548  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and intends to have with (a) the United Nations, (b) the United States, (c) the African Union and (d) President Mbeki of South Africa regarding the presence of Zimbabwe on the agenda of the African Union summit.

 (128193)

549  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Department has made of the effects of the political situation in Liberia on neighbouring countries.

 (128226)

550  Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the Government takes to monitor the end-use of the dual-use equipment which was licensed for export to Iran during 2000 including toxic chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

 (127829)

551  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies, (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and (e) embassy and consular are in (i) Scotland, (ii) each region in England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

 (127312)

552  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the position of the Christian community in Iraq since the commencement of allied military action earlier this year.

 (128077)

553  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of reports from members of the Christian community in Iraq that they have been subject to assaults, murder and discrimination since the commencement of military action in Iraq earlier this year.

 (128081)

554  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received in respect of the position of the Christian community in Iraq.

 (128083)

555  Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

 (127874)

556  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate the cost of peace-keeping forces in Sierra Leone up to the present time; what additional aid and investment have resulted from that action; and if he will make a statement.

 (127806)

557  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to reduce the barriers to obtaining a visa to visit the UK for residents of the occupied part of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

 (127810)

558  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many residents from the occupied part of Cyprus have been (a) granted and (b) refused a visa to visit the UK in each year since its introduction; and if he will make a statement.

 (127811)

559  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held with the Government of Syria regarding their involvement in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

 (127812)

560  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held with the governments of (a) Jordan, (b) Lebanon and (c) Syria on the situation of the Palestinian community in their countries; and if he will make a statement.

 (127814)

561  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to assist the process of peace in Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

 (127816)

562  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to ensure that the African Union mission in Burundi is effective and supported; and if he will make a statement.

 (127817)

563  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will press for action in the Council of Ministers to encourage the Colombian government to respect human rights and international humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

 (127105)

564  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Portuguese counterpart on the military coup in Sao Tome and Principe; what joint action has been decided; and if he will make a statement.

 (127256)

565  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last held discussions with the Foreign Minister of Sao Tome; what the outcome of those discussions was; when he next plans to meet with him; and if he will make a statement.

 (127257)

566  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Nigerian counterpart on the military coup in Sao Tome and Principe; when these discussions took place; what the conclusion of the discussions was; and if he will make a statement.

 (127258)

567  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the EU's role in securing a speedy return to constitutional order of Sao Tome and Principe; what plans have been made to achieve this; and if he will make a statement.

 (127263)

568  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of proposed changes to the constitution of Uganda with regard to presidential term limits on (a) the democratic development of Uganda and (b) the political stability of Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

 (128042)

569  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of Sudanese support of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda; what discussions he has had on this matter with (a) the Government of Sudan and (b) the Government of Uganda; what the result of the discussions was; and if he will make a statement.

 (128043)

570  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Uganda about proposed changes to the constitution of Uganda with particular reference to presidential term limits; when these discussions took place; what the outcome was; and if he will make a statement.

 (128045)

571  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for City of York of 20th May, Official Report, columns 722-3W, whether the embassy in Luanda has received an answer to his Department's offer of United Kingdom security assistance; what further discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department, (c) members of the embassy in Luanda have had with representatives of the government of Angola on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

 (128241)

572  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the United Nations, (b) the United States, (c) the African Union and (d) the Burundi Government regarding international efforts to encourage rebel groups in Burundi to enter into peace negotiations with the Government of Burundi.

 (128123)

573  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of compliant countries in the Kimberley Process regarding the trade in and export of illegal conflict diamonds in (a) Nigeria, (b) Angola, (c) Kenya, (d) Uganda and (e) Cameroon.

 (128130)

574  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of (a) Nigeria, (b) Angola, (c) Kenya, (d) Uganda and (e) Cameroon regarding the trade in and export of illegal conflict diamonds.

 (128131)

575  Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he asked his officials to ascertain the reliability and robustness of the information contained in the UNMOVIC working document on Iraq's proscribed Weapons Programmes, of 6th March.

 (128597)

576  Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the envisaged primacy given to European legislation over UK legislation in the draft European Constitution will override the authority of the European Communities Act 1972.

 (127390)

577  Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take to ensure that health care trusts abide by National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on anti TNF therapy.

 (128678)

578  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) consultants and (b) nurses were employed in (i) the Princess Royal Hospital and (ii) the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in each year since 1997.

 (127579)

579  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average GP waiting times were in The Wrekin in each year since 1997.

 (127580)

580  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) out and (b) inpatient treatments there were at (i) the Princess Royal Hospital and (ii) the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in each year since 1997.

 (127581)

581  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds there were at (a) the Princess Royal Hospital and (b) the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in each year since 1997.

 (127582)

582  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) capital and (b) other grants and allocations were made to the Princess Royal hospital in each year since 1997.

 (127583)

583  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the NHS funding budget was for Shropshire in each year since 1997.

 (127585)

584  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) waiting list numbers and (b) waiting times were for (i) in-patients and (ii) out-patients at the Princess Royal hospital in each year since 1997.

 (127587)

585  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budget of Shropshire Primary Care Trust was in each year since 1997 and will be in each year up to 2005-06.

 (127588)

586  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budget of Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust was in each year since 1997 and will be in each year up to 2005-06.

 (127589)

587  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors were employed (a) at the Princess Royal Hospital and (b) in general practice in The Wrekin in each year since 1997.

 (127590)

588  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent in England on the prevention of (a) all injuries as a result of a fall, (b) hip fractures and (c) osteoporosis amongst older people in the last 12 months.

 (127591)

589  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to keep community health councils operational after 1st December 2003.

 (127429)

590  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many community health councils have had to leave their previous premises because of the decision to keep CHCs operational until December.

 (127430)

591  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis in (a) 2002, (b) 2000, (c) 1998, (d) 1996 and (e) 1994.

 (127431)

592  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people suffering from AIDS are also infected with tuberculosis.

 (127432)

593  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the drug Fuzeon.

 (127433)

594  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the use of proteomics to improve the accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis.

 (127434)

595  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the possible health risks associated with parents falling asleep in bed with their babies or young infants.

 (127435)

596  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ordinary written questions that were tabled between 15th October 2002 and 1st July 2003 received a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within fourteen days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days.

 (127436)

597  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) general practitioners and (b) practice nurses vacancies there are in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area.

 (127437)

598  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is at the Accident and Emergency department at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford; and what the equivalent figure was 12 months ago.

 (127438)

599  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England were infected with HIV in each of the last five years.

 (127439)

600  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England were infected with AIDS in each of the last five years.

 (127440)

601  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what tests are carried out on HIV infected patients to establish whether they have a drug-resistant strain of the virus.

 (127441)

602  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the total cost to the NHS of treating patients with chest-pain caused by angina in each of the last five years.

 (127442)

603  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the English population suffers from angina.

 (127443)

604  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many heart by-pass operations have been carried out by the NHS in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many were carried out in the same period in (a) 2000, (b) 1998, (c) 1994, (d) 1990 and (e) 1986.

 (127444)

605  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to reduce the need for hospital treatment for patients suffering from angina.

 (127445)

606  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England suffer from coronary heart disease; and what proportion of the overall population these represent.

 (127446)

607  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women suffered from pre-eclampsia in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

 (127448)

608  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in England suffered from heartburn in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what proportion of the population these represent.

 (127449)

609  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the connection between heartburn and cancer of the gullet.

 (127450)

610  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to reduce the number of people who suffer from heartburn.

 (127452)

611  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to improve people's diets, with special reference to people living in socially deprived areas.

 (127453)

612  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the average length of time GPs in England spent with their patients in individual consultations in the last 12 months.

 (127454)

613  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were diagnosed as suffering from a sexually transmitted infection in (a) 2002, (b) 2000, (c) 1995, (d) 1990, (e) 1985 and (f) 1980.

 (127455)

614  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women suffered from (a) syphilis and (b) gonorrhoea (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available.

 (127456)

615  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on NHS sexual health clinics, the demand for these services and the ability of these clinics to cater for this demand.

 (127457)

616  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department (a) has taken over the last 12 months and (b) plans to take over the next 12 months to stress the importance of sexual health; and what impact such measures have had thus far.

 (127458)

617  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his Department's priorities; and how many there are.

 (127459)

618  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many letters his Department has received opposing the abolition of community health councils; and if he will make a statement.

 (127460)

619  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were cancelled at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford in the last available quarter; and what percentage of the cancelled operations were consequently carried out within four weeks.

 (127461)

620  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the prescribing budget is for the Chelmsford Primary Care Trust for the financial year 2002-3.

 (127462)

621  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mixed sex wards and wards have been artificially divided into single-sex bays at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

 (127464)

622  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ambulance call-outs were made in the last 12 months for which figures are available in (a) Essex and (b) England; and what average length of time it took for ambulances to reach (a) the patient and (b) the hospital to which the patient needed to be taken.

 (127466)

623  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) front line ambulances, (b) patient transport vehicles, (c) fast response cars, (d) medical motorbikes and (e) special care baby units (i) serve and (ii) served Essex in May 1997.

 (127467)

624  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many follow-up operations have taken place in English NHS Hospitals following a patient's operation abroad which was paid for by the NHS.

 (127468)

625  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many 999 calls were made to the Essex Ambulance Service in the last 12 months for which figures are available for which it was decided an ambulance was not necessary; and what proportion of calls over this period such calls represented.

 (127469)

626  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many 999 calls were made to the Greater London Ambulance Service in the last 12 months for which figures are available for which a police presence was also provided; and what criteria are used to decide whether a police presence is required to an ambulance call-out.

 (127470)

627  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) hospital nurse and (b) consultant vacancies there are in the Mid-Essex Hospital NHS Trust.

 (127471)

628  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times special advisers have accompanied ministers on overseas visits in the last 12 months for which figures are available; which countries were visited; and what the total cost of each individual visit was.

 (127472)

629  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost was of running the Department's press office in the latest year for which figures are available.

 (127473)

630  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures were taken in the last 12 months to promote the use of sun protection creams over the 2003 summer.

 (127474)

631  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent by (a) ministers and (b) Departmental special advisers on food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for entertainment purposes since March 2002.

 (127475)

632  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times ministers in his Department have travelled abroad at public expense since March 2002; what countries they have visited; and what the total cost of each visit was.

 (127476)

633  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures have been taken by his Department in the last 12 months (a) to increase awareness about and (b) to reduce the number of people who suffer from Deep Vein Thrombosis.

 (127477)

634  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) front line ambulances, (b) patient transport vehicles, (c) fast response cars, (d) medical motorbikes and (e) special care baby units serve Greater London.

 (127478)

635  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in consultant recruitment in the last 12 months.

 (127479)

636  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many locum doctors there are.

 (127480)

637  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the variation in the cost of operations in NHS hospitals and health authorities in the last 12 months.

 (127481)

638  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many whistleblowers have been suspended from work within the NHS as a result of allegations and complaints in the last 12 months.

 (127482)

639  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff within the NHS have been suspended from work as a result of allegations by whistleblowers in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

 (127483)

640  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) Mid-Essex Hospital NHS Trust and (b) Greater London have been waiting more than 13 weeks to see a consultant.

 (127484)

641  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department has taken over the last 12 months to raise awareness of testicular cancer and the importance of self-checking, with specific reference to men aged under 35 years; and what further measures he plans to take in the future.

 (127485)

642  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many 999 calls were made to the Greater London Ambulance Service over the last 12 months for which figures are available for which it was decided an ambulance was not necessary; and what proportion of calls over this period such calls represented.

 (127486)

643  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what accumulated deficit has been identified by the Chelmsford Primary Care Trust for (a) the financial year 2002-03 and (b) the current financial year.

 (127487)

644  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many whole-time equivalent nurses are responsible for assessing patients for free nursing care.

 (127488)

645  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England have been diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

 (127489)

646  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he has taken to improve procedures for answering written parliamentary questions by his Department since 1st April 2002.

 (127490)

647  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on GP recruitment.

 (127491)

648  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to reduce the levels of (a) financial waste, (b) fraud and (c) inefficiency in the NHS; and what progress has been made over the last 12 months.

 (127492)

649  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the number of care home beds in Essex.

 (127493)

650  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were admitted to NHS hospital wards from Accident and Emergency after being examined by a doctor in (a) one hour or less, (b) over two hours but less than three hours, (c) over three hours but less than four hours, (d) over four hours but less than five hours and (e) over five hours in (i) the last 12 months for which figures are available and (ii) 1997-98.

 (127494)

651  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were cancelled in NHS hospitals in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

 (127495)

652  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the average bed occupancy rate, as a percentage, for each NHS hospital trust in England from April 2001 to April 2003.

 (127496)

653  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where the financial liability lies for follow-up operations which take place in English NHS hospitals following a patient's NHS treatment abroad.

 (127497)

654  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many named day written parliamentary questions tabled to him between 1st February and 1st July received (a) a substantive answer on the named day and (b) a holding answer.

 (127498)

655  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many letters he has received from health service personnel concerning the Central London congestion charge since the charge began.

 (127499)

656  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact of congestion charging in Central London on (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) consultants, (d) paramedics and (e) ancillary staff.

 (127500)

657  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest average waiting time is for in-patient treatment in (a) Greater London and (b) England.

 (127501)

658  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care home beds there are in (a) Greater London and (b) England.

 (127502)

659  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the population in (a) Greater London and (b) England are registered with a GP.

 (127503)

660  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many agencies his Department has created since May 1997; what their purpose is; and how many staff each employs.

 (127504)

661  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) electricians, (b) gardeners, (c) maintenance engineers and assistants, (d) kitchen staff and (e) cleaners were employed by the NHS in each year since 1997.

 (127505)

662  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many written Parliamentary Questions he received in each Parliamentary year since May 1997; how many received no answer due to the information not being collected or held centrally; and what proportion of the total number of written questions received this represented in each year.

 (127506)

663  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) adult and (b) adolescent wards were in operation in April in each year since 1997.

 (127507)

664  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mixed sex (a) adolescent and (b) adult wards there are in England.

 (127508)

665  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are awaiting an assessment for free nursing care; and what proportion that represents of people who require an assessment for free nursing care.

 (127509)

666  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been waiting (a) less than one month, (b) over one month and less than two months, (c) over two months and less than three months, (d) over three months and less than four months and (e) over four months for an assessment for free nursing care.

 (127510)

667  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many named day written Parliamentary questions were tabled to him between 1st February and 1st July; and how many of those which received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days.

 (127511)

668  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations have been carried out abroad but paid for by the NHS since January 2001, broken down by operation; and what the total cost to the NHS of each patient's treatment was while abroad including travel expenses.

 (127516)

669  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ordinary written Parliamentary questions were tabled to him between 15th October 2002 and 1st July 2003.

 (127517)

670  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff, previously employed by the community health councils, have left their jobs in the last six months.

 (127518)

671  Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dentistry on the Wirral.

 (128604)

672  Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's strategy is for (a) maintaining and (b) increasing participation levels of dentists in the NHS.

 (128605)

673  Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the level of NHS dentists' charges for missed appointments.

 (128606)

674  Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward amendments to legislation to allow registered midwives to (a) sell or supply and (b) administer a range of medicines in the course of their professional practice, with particular reference to the provision of compression hosiery for pregnant women considered at particular risk of deep vein thrombosis.

 (127592)

675  Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to reduce the number of cases of deep vein thrombosis affecting women during pregnancy.

 (127595)

676  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects of khat on the Somali population in the UK; and what advice his Department gives to local health authorities in developing policies to deal with the issue.

 (127514)

677  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many public service contracts were awarded by his Department (a) in total and (b) to SMEs in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

 (127800)

678  Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with staff working at community health councils on the closure of such health councils.

 (127167)

679  Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when community health councils will be closed in England.

 (127168)

680  Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions have taken place on the redundancy payments staff will receive when community health councils are closed.

 (127169)

681  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the most significant known risk factor for dementia is; how many people are living with dementia in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton; and how many of those people are under the age of 65.

 (127661)

682  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the role of the Foundation Trusts Regulator.

 (127662)

683  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Regulator of Foundation Trusts will be required to maintain universal access to healthcare services.

 (127663)

684  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role he will play in the work of foundation trusts.

 (127664)

685  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps will be taken to ensure that foundation trusts do not turn away patients with chronic conditions.

 (127665)

686  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether each foundation trust will have unique clinical targets and health care priorities.

 (127666)

687  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton are infected with HIV.

 (127667)

688  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will meet representatives of Consumers for Health Choice to discuss the European Food Supplements Regulations.

 (128354)

689  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women have died in each of the last 10 years from pregnancy-related causes.

 (128400)

690  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women have died in each of the last 10 years as a direct result of unsafe abortions; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of deaths caused by unsafe abortions.

 (128401)

691  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of operation care complainants have brought compensation claims in each of the last five years.

 (128632)

692  Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Under-Secretary of State's letter, PO 1032287, of 13th August, what action he is taking to explore proposals for the polypill.

 (128267)

693  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to ensure that casualty departments are adequately staffed after the implementation of the European Working Time Directive.

 (128214)

694  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with doctors' representatives regarding the implementation of the European Working Time Directive.

 (128215)

695  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was paid to cover professional negligence claims on Leicestershire hospitals in each year since 1997-98; and what proportion each sum represented of those hospital budgets.

 (127268)

696  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioner posts in Leicestershire are vacant.

 (127269)

697  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many agency nurses were employed in Leicestershire hospitals on average in 2002-03; and what proportion this represented of total nursing staff.

 (127270)

698  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were treated in Leicestershire hospitals in each year since 1997-98.

 (127271)

699  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there are in Leicestershire for speech and language therapists; and what proportion this represents of the total number of such posts in Leicestershire.

 (127272)

700  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the take up has been of the MMR vaccine in (a) Somerset and (b) Dorset in each of the last five years.

 (127771)

701  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered organ donors there were in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

 (127775)

702  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on mental health provision in Somerset in each year since 1997.

 (127822)

703  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many MRI scanners are available to patients in Somerset; where they are located; and how old each scanner is.

 (127823)

704  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Government is taking to tackle obesity in children.

 (127314)

705  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time cancer specialists were working in the NHS, broken down by speciality, in each of the last six years.

 (127315)

706  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the number of nurses in training.

 (127316)

707  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many administrators were employed in the NHS in each of the last six years.

 (127317)

708  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets he is planning to set for accident and emergency departments in the next year.

 (127318)

709  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the method used for measuring accident and emergency targets in March.

 (127319)

710  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were waiting more than 21 weeks at the end of March for an outpatient appointment, broken down by NHS hospital trusts.

 (127320)

711  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were cancelled for non-clinical reasons in each of the last six years.

 (127321)

712  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in which languages the patient surveys issued by the Commission for Health Improvement were published.

 (127322)

713  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list his Department's spending on official publications since July 2001.

 (127323)

714  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the performance targets set by his Department for ambulance services.

 (127324)

715  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of speed restrictions on ambulance response times.

 (127325)

716  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what checks his Department conducts on the qualifications of agency nursing personnel; and what assistance his Department gives to (a) hospital trusts and (b) health authorities in checking the qualifications of agency nursing staff.

 (127326)

717  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many stroke units there are in the NHS; and where they are.

 (127327)

718  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors will be needed to staff the new diagnostic and treatment centres.

 (127328)

719  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which procedures are expected to be carried out in diagnostic and treatment centres.

 (127329)

720  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many days off work have been taken by NHS employees each year since 1997 owing to stress; and how much this time off has cost the NHS.

 (127330)

721  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of stress levels among staff in the NHS; and what proposals he has to reduce this level.

 (127331)

722  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria his Department uses to decide whether a patient is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom; and what guidance his Department has issued on this matter.

 (127332)

723  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the hospital budget has been spent on mental health services in each year since 1997.

 (127333)

724  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department has in place to reduce incidences of MRSA in NHS hospitals.

 (127334)

725  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of maintaining redundant and empty hospital buildings in each region in the last six years.

 (127335)

726  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) emergency vehicles and (b) vehicles for non-emergency services were in service with each NHS ambulance trust in each of the last three years.

 (127336)

727  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the administrative cost of the NHS was as a percentage of its total budget in each year since 1997.

 (127337)

728  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of food poisoning were notified to his Department in each year since 1997.

 (127338)

729  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the administrative costs of each health authority in England were in each year since 1997.

 (127339)

730  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultations have been issued by the Food Standards Agency in each year since its inception.

 (127340)

731  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues to NHS trusts about limits on staff salaries.

 (127341)

732  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list salaries and wages costs for (a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff by NHS trust for the financial years (i) 2000-01 and 2001-02.

 (127342)

733  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how often he plans to meet officials from the Food Standards Agency.

 (127343)

734  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the bacterial infections which caused death from food poisoning in each year since 1997, indicating the (a) number and (b) percentage in each category.

 (127344)

735  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on AIDS research in each of the last six years.

 (127345)

736  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned into the relationship between lifestyle and (a) asthma and (b) diabetes.

 (127346)

737  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on the funding of falls co-ordinator posts in England in 2002-03.

 (127347)

738  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what he estimates to be the cost of (a) all injuries as a result of a fall, (b) hip fractures and (c) osteoporosis to the National Health Service in the last 12 months.

 (127348)

739  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of admissions to care homes of people over the age of (a) 50 years and (b) 65 years in each of the last five years for which figures are available were as a result of a fall.

 (127349)

740  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of ambulance call outs to people over the age of (a) 50 years and (b) 65 years in each of the last five years for which figures are available were as a result of a fall.

 (127350)

741  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the progress of local health authorities against the National Service Framework for Older People's 2003 milestone on falls prevention.

 (127351)

742  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many National Health Service beds were available in England in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

 (127352)

743  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the IT projects his Department (a) plans to undertake in the next year and (b) has undertaken, broken down by (i) expected date of commencement and completion and (ii) cost.

 (127353)

744  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the balance of income and expenditure of health authorities and the NHS trusts in England for the financial year ending 31st March.

 (127354)

745  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nursing care and residential care beds were provided by local authorities in each year since 1997.

 (127355)

746  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the number of private beds available in National Health Service trust hospitals.

 (127356)

747  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new hospitals have opened in the last three years; and at what cost.

 (127357)

748  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department is taking to tackle racial harassment in NHS workplaces.

 (127358)

749  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hepatitis B carriers there are in the United Kingdom.

 (127359)

750  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he is planning to meet the chairmen of NHS trusts to discuss administrative costs.

 (127360)

751  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish an independent inquiry into the treatment of mental health patients from ethnic minority groups.

 (127361)

752  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the accessibility of mental health services to ethnic minority groups.

 (127362)

753  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have received electroconvulsive therapy in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) men, (b) women and (c) ethnic minority group.

 (127363)

754  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many designated falls co-ordinators are in post in the United Kingdom.

 (127364)

755  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will use a standard tariff for treatments carried out at diagnostic and treatment centres.

 (127365)

756  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in meeting the Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation target on suicide reduction.

 (127366)

757  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish a report on the progress of Health Action Zones.

 (127367)

758  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many advertisements for non-clinical jobs within the NHS have been advertised in the national press each year since 1997; and at what cost.

 (127368)

759  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what budget his Department has in the current year for job advertisements.

 (127369)

760  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much each primary care trust spent on advertising job positions in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

 (127370)

761  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many managerial and administrative jobs were created in the National Health Service in the last 12 months.

 (127371)

762  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many five-a-day co-ordinators are employed in each NHS trust.

 (127372)

763  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he will measure the success of the Five-A-Day scheme.

 (127373)

764  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there were for consultants in the last year for which figures are available.

 (127374)

765  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average number of hours worked per week by doctors in training were in England in the last year for which figures are available.

 (127375)

766  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether foundation hospitals established in England will be required to treat patients referred by general practitioners based in Wales.

 (127376)

767  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has had regarding the star rating system.

 (127377)

768  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of sending (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants to health conferences in (i) the UK and (ii) overseas in each of the last five years.

 (127378)

769  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost has been of NHS Direct.

 (127379)

770  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS patients have been sent abroad for treatment; and at what cost in the last five years.

 (127380)

771  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how long the patients who have been sent abroad by the NHS for treatment had been waiting in their own locality.

 (127381)

772  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to change the practice of sending patients abroad for treatment.

 (127382)

773  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS walk-in centres have been established in the UK.

 (127383)

774  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners have entered general practice in each of the last six years; and how many have retired.

 (127384)

775  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are in place to ensure equal access to the delivery of services within the NHS for ethnic minority groups.

 (127385)

776  Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost to the NHS was of (a) a hip replacement, (b) a hysterectomy, (c) a cataract extraction, (d) a tonsillectomy, (e) a kidney transplant and (f) a hernia operation in the last 12 months.

 (127386)

777  Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the value is of NHS property stolen from NHS premises during each of the previous five accounting years and so far during this accounting year.

 (127160)

778  Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that all public funded research is recorded and made freely available to (a) patients, (b) health professionals, (c) the public and (d) members of the scientific community.

 (127870)

779  Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the membership is of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement.

 (127202)

780  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed by NHS Direct, broken down by (a) grade and (b) salary.

 (12636)

781  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the rate of increase of NHS specific costs on an annualised basis.

 (127621)

782  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will make a statement on the Government's policy on community pharmacies.

 (127622)

783  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what basis the Government used for establishing smoking cessation targets for primary care trusts.

 (127623)

784  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on the NHS of the proposed Directive on sex equality and discrimination.

 (127624)

785  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what process will be used to recruit members of NHS Foundation Trusts.

 (127625)

786  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many allergy sufferers are on waiting lists for NHS treatments.

 (127626)

787  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist allergy clinics there are in the NHS.

 (127627)

788  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS trusts have reported vacancies for allergy specialists.

 (127628)

789  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what compensation is paid to GPs who lose their right to dispense.

 (127629)

790  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reform regulations which permit the removal of the right to dispense from a GP.

 (127630)

791  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer in relation to smoking in public places.

 (127631)

792  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer in relation to salt in nutrition.

 (127632)

793  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the potential for future use of combination drugs to prevent coronary diseases and heart attacks.

 (127633)

794  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what cost-benefit analyses have been carried out as part of the initial work of the NHS National Programme projects.

 (127634)

795  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the recent European Court ruling about the eligibility of all EU citizens to non-hospital care in any EU country.

 (127635)

796  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) managers are employed by NHS Direct.

 (127637)

797  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budgeted cost of NHS Direct in financial year 2003-04 is.

 (127638)

798  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, from how many sites NHS Direct operates; and how many staff are employed at each site.

 (127639)

799  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the resignations of the non-executive team of the Ealing Hospital Trust.

 (127640)

800  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the locations of NHS Direct sites.

 (127641)

801  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of calls to NHS Direct result in (a) no further action being taken by the caller, (b) the caller being advised to contact their GP, (c) the caller being advised to attend an Accident and Emergency department and (d) an ambulance being summoned to the caller's location.

 (127642)

802  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the next review of targets in Accident and Emergency departments is scheduled to take place.

 (127643)

803  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of how many members a foundation trust will have.

 (127644)

804  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for piloting the scheme for foundation hospitals.

 (127645)

805  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to send out the source book for foundation hospital applicants.

 (127646)

806  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to pilot the see and treat scheme at Royal Bournemouth Hospital at other hospital sites.

 (127647)

807  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has undertaken of the cost of implementing a see and treat scheme in Accident and Emergency departments.

 (127648)

808  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed in information technology within the NHS, broken down by trust.

 (127649)

809  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed directly in management of diabetes within the NHS.

 (127650)

810  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed in risk management within the NHS.

 (127651)

811  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed within equipment purchasing within the NHS.

 (127652)

812  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed directly in the management of cancer within the NHS.

 (127653)

813  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed in patient complaints within the NHS.

 (127654)

814  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed in management of health and safety within the NHS.

 (127655)

815  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed in sexual health within the NHS.

 (127656)

816  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) public health tutors and (b) regulatory affairs managers are employed by the NHS.

 (127678)

817  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department tracks smokers who have given up for longer than four weeks through the smoking-cessation services.

 (127679)

818  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make nicotine replacement therapy available through the NHS.

 (127680)

819  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the extent to which foundation trusts will have access to non-public finance.

 (127681)

820  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with City institutions about interest rates available for bond-based finance for foundation trusts.

 (127682)

821  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representation he has had from community health councils in England about the operational difficulties they face from extending their activities beyond September 2003.

 (127683)

822  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) Health Protection Agency and (b) NHS laboratories which are providing microbiology services for food, water and environmental testing.

 (127684)

823  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many officials of (a) Department of Health and (b) agencies funded by the Department of Health are entitled to chauffeur-driven vehicles.

 (127685)

824  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the annual cost to his Department is of the chauffeur service.

 (127686)

825  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether (a) Department of Health and (b) NHS employees are entitled to private medical care as an employment benefit.

 (127687)

826  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action (a) has been taken and (b) is planned to address NHS provision for the management of overweight and obese patients that were identified as patchy in the National Audit Office report on Tackling Obesity in England.

 (127688)

827  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to produce national guidelines for the management of obesity in addition to those which are part of the National Framework for Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

 (127689)

828  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the television advertisement anti-smoking campaign showing children inhaling smoke.

 (127690)

829  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to pilot the scheme running at hospitals in Norwich to help patients following the ban on smoking in the hospitals.

 (127691)

830  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the criteria are for GPs to be eligible for a cash payment of up to £125,000 for IT.

 (127692)

831  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the practices that have received payments for IT; and how much they received.

 (127693)

832  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the operating systems which are approved by the Department of Health for GPs to receive payments for IT systems.

 (127694)

833  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the findings of the external investigation into presentation of waiting figures by East and North Hertfordshire Trust are to be published.

 (127695)

834  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has undertaken into a possible connection between Alzheimer's disease and obesity.

 (127696)

835  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pimary care trusts have made TNFa available to arthritis sufferers in 2002-03; and if he will list them.

 (127697)

836  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding has been made available to primary care trusts to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on TNFa therapy.

 (127698)

837  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who is eligible for free prescriptions.

 (127699)

838  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the questions tabled by the honourable Member for Epsom and Ewell which have been due for answer for over five sitting days; and when he expects to answer them.

 (127701)

839  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many stomach stapling operations took place in England, broken down by region, in each year between 1995 and 2002.

 (127702)

840  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of stomach stapling operations failed due to the patient overeating after the operation in the last 12 months.

 (127703)

841  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals have a specialist stroke unit; and what percentage of hospitals this represents.

 (127704)

842  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards the target of 100 per cent. of hospitals having a specialist stroke unit by April 2004.

 (127705)

843  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of Department of Health research funding was spent on research into (a) heart disease, (b) obesity, (c) strokes and (d) arthritis in the last 12 months.

 (127706)

844  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evaluation he has undertaken into the efficiency of the league tables for hospital cleanliness; and what plans he has to amend them.

 (127707)

845  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Department of Health's policy is on the use of retired surgeons and anaesthetists.

 (127708)

846  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Royal College of Physicians report on the Working Time Directive.

 (127709)

847  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed in NHS walk-in centres, broken down by (a) grade and (b) salary.

 (127710)

848  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) managers are employed by NHS walk-in centres.

 (127711)

849  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS walk-in centres there are in England.

 (127712)

850  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the locations of NHS walk-in centres in England.

 (127713)

851  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff are employed at each NHS walk-in centre.

 (127714)

852  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) emergency journeys and (b) emergency calls there were in each year from 1995-96 to 2001-02.

 (127715)

853  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to restrict the amount of sugar in foods manufactured primarily for children.

 (127716)

854  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average response times for emergency calls were in each health authority in each year from 1995-96 to 2001-02.

 (127717)

855  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting times outside Accident and Emergency departments were in each health authority in each year from 1995-96 to 2001-02.

 (127718)

856  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic minority working within the NHS.

 (127719)

857  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources the NHS is allocating for research into the link between food additives and behavioural deficits in children.

 (127720)

858  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to publicise information on blood pressure.

 (127721)

859  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on alcohol advertising.

 (127722)

860  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to support NHS managers in improving performance following the recent Audit Commission reports into acute hospitals.

 (127729)

861  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Awards run by his Department.

 (127730)

862  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS trust chief executives have resigned in each of the past five years.

 (127731)

863  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list recoveries worth more than £500,000 secured by the NHS Counter Fraud team since 1997.

 (127732)

864  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what actions he is taking following the report of the joint clinician/manager working group entitled Medicine and Management.

 (127733)

865  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to eradicate racism in the NHS.

 (127734)

866  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the measurement of cholesterol in the over-50s.

 (127735)

867  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to protect ambulance staff from aggressive behaviour by patients.

 (127736)

868  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the future use of the terms light and mild on cigarette packets.

 (127737)

869  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has undertaken into the health impact of genetically modified foods.

 (127738)

870  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which Minister is responsible for (a) complementary medicines, (b) nutrition, (c) the Health Protection Agency, (d) arthritis and (e) obesity.

 (127739)

871  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evaluation of the National Fruit Scheme has been completed; and when he will publish the results.

 (128232)

872  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government has spent centrally on smoking cessation advertising and awareness campaigns since 1995; and what central allocations have been made in the current year.

 (128233)

873  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government has spent centrally on smoking cessation programmes in each year since 1997; and how much has been allocated in the current year.

 (128234)

874  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the role of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in negotiations with the European Commission on the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

 (128312)

875  Mr John Grogan (Selby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy concerning the addition to medical records of material received from third parties without medical qualifications.

 (128136)

876  
N  		Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has undertaken into the effect of green burial sites on the welfare of bereaved families.

 (127183)

877  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the role of district nurses in the NHS; and what plans he has to increase their role.

 (127283)

878  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultations took place with (a) local women and their families, (b) other service users, (c) community representatives and (d) NHS organisations before the proposal to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre was taken; and if he will make a statement.

 (128307)

879  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to reconsider the proposal to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre at St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth; and if he will make statement.

 (128308)

880  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the need for a Mental Incapacity Bill; and if he will make a statement.

 (128316)

881  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals in the draft Mental Incapacity Bill on the lives of (a) people with dementia and (b) their carers; and if he will make a statement.

 (128317)

882  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the ability of prosthetic services to meet the needs of users; and if he will make a statement.

 (128320)

883  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of using the electoral registration form to increase the number of organ donors; what discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others about this scheme; if he will make it his policy to ensure the scheme continues; what other plans he has to increase the number of organ donors; and if he will make a statement.

 (128321)

884  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding has been made available for silicone cosmesis for prosthetics users in each of the last three years; how much was made available to each of the prosthetics centres in each of the last three years; how many patients were treated; what plans he has for the future funding of this service; and if he will make a statement.

 (128322)

885  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the proposal to close the community midwife-led maternity service unit at St Mary's hospital Portsmouth, and transfer the maternity service to Queen Alexandra Hospital; what research has been conducted on the risks to expectant mothers; and if he will make a statement.

 (128323)

886  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given the Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust following the report to the Department of Health Children's Taskforce from the Maternity and Neonatal Workforce Group on the proposal by the Trust to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre; and if he will make a statement.

 (128324)

887  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the proposal to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre in Portsmouth.

 (128325)

888  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 11th July, Official Report, column 1041W, on natural supplements, what plans he has to press for changes in the regulations to ensure that the maximum permitted levels of nutrients in supplements are set on the basis of safety and not nutritional need; what assessment he has made of the impact of this issue to the British specialist food industry; and if he will make a statement.

 (128516)

889  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17th July, Official Report, column 629W, on notifiable diseases, what the timetable is for the review of the infectious disease law.

 (128525)

890  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 8th July, Official Report, column 776W, on the Food Supplement Directive, if he will make it his policy to add nutrients to the list of permitted ingredients included in dossiers submitted to the European Food Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement.

 (128556)

891  Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the ratio of midwives in post to the total number of births was in (a) England and (b) each NHS maternity unit in each year since 1996-97.

 (128154)

892  Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS trusts are using NHS professionals.

 (128155)

893  Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government has spent centrally on the National School Fruit Scheme in the last five years for which figures are available; and what central allocations have been made for this in this year and future years.

 (128229)

894  Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what central funding sources other than the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund are used to fund the Five-a-Day healthy eating programmes; and how much has been allocated through these other funding sources in (a) the last three years, (b) the current year and (c) future years.

 (128230)

895  Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Government plans to increase the funding for Five-a-Day Local Community Initiatives available through the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund; and if he will make a statement.

 (128231)

896  Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been carried out by or on behalf of his Department on the use of complementary medicine in treating endometriosis.

 (127873)

897  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS dentists there are in the Chorley constituency; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of NHS dentists in the Chorley constituency.

 (127292)

898  Mr Boris Johnson (Henley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (a) how many staff are employed and (b) what the total budget in 2003-04 is for the (i) Commission for Health Improvement, (ii) National Institute for Clinical Excellence, (iii) Food Standards Agency, (iv) National Care Standards Commission, (v) General Social Care Council and (vi) Health and Safety Executive.

 (128332)

899  Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to end the use of adult mental health units for mentally ill children.

 (128616)

900  Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations have been received by his Department from (a) the Medical Protection Society and (b) the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on (i) guidance for and (ii) regulation of individuals involved in the provision of laser eye surgery.

 (128676)

901  Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients are on planned waiting lists for (a) cataract operations and (b) other operations in each English health authority; and if he will make a statement.

 (127163)

902  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses recruited into the NHS in each of the last three years have come from overseas.

 (127519)

903  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many whole-time equivalent midwives worked in the NHS in 2001-02; and how many registered midwives worked in the NHS in 2001-02.

 (127520)

904  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of patients in each health authority in England were waiting for treatment for more than 12 months in 2001-02.

 (127521)

905  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what average length of time patients in each health authority had to wait for radiotherapy cancer treatment in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02.

 (127522)

906  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of children were immunised by their 2nd birthday in England in 2001-02 for (a) diphtheria, (b) tetanus, (c) polio, (d) pertussis, (e) Hib and (f) MMR.

 (127523)

907  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the ratio of (a) doctors and (b) nurses to people is in England.

 (127524)

908  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioner vacancies there were in each primary care trust in 2002 and how many there are now.

 (127525)

909  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses were recruited by the NHS in 2002.

 (127526)

910  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of the nurses who are employed by the NHS are (a) set to retire in the next five years and (b) under the age of 30.

 (127527)

911  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the NHS of agency nurses was in 2002 in each NHS region.

 (127528)

912  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) male and (b) female GPs have switched to working part-time since 1st July 2002.

 (127529)

913  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new (a) male and (b) female GPs opted to work part-time between 1st January and 30th June in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003.

 (127530)

914  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many practice nurses were in place in GP surgeries in each of the last five years.

 (127531)

915  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to increase the number of practice nurses working in GP surgeries.

 (127532)

916  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many incidents of violence and abusive behaviour by NHS patients in England against NHS staff there were in 2001-02.

 (127533)

917  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of ambulance response times meet the eight minute target; and how many met the target in 2001-02, broken down by trust.

 (127534)

918  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the recovery time and success rates of those patients undergoing (a) LASIK, (b) LASEK, (c) PRK and (d) ALK; and what the side effects of each are.

 (127535)

919  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations have been made to the NHS with regard to the range of (a) myopia and (b) hyperopia that would benefit the most from refractive surgery.

 (127536)

920  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the UK are needlephobic; and what assessment he has made of the need for a needle-free anaemia testing device.

 (127537)

921  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of people in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland are anaemic.

 (127538)

922  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England with hip replacements had to undergo a hip revision within (a) three years, (b) five years and (c) 10 years in the last 12 months.

 (127539)

923  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the use of (a) bovine derivative substitutes, (b) hydroxyapatites and (c) coraline derivative substitutes in hip revisions, with special reference to efficacy, duration of use and cost.

 (127540)

924  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his recommendations to the NHS on the use of porous hydroxyapatites for use in hip revisions.

 (127541)

925  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of people in England receiving allograft implants were subsequently infected with (a) Hepatitis and (b) HIV in the last 12 months.

 (127542)

926  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women were tested for (a) chlamydia and (b) HIV in each of the last five years.

 (127543)

927  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of people in England receiving bovine derivative bone grafts subsequently contracted BSE or CJD.

 (127544)

928  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department is undertaking into the links between HIV and AIDs awareness campaigns and education and the incidence of chlamydia in young people.

 (127545)

929  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding is being dedicated to campaigns raising awareness in England of (a) sexually transmitted diseases and (b) HIV and Aids in 2003-04 and is planned for 2004-05.

 (127546)

930  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the incidence is of sexually transmitted diseases in England in (a) school-aged children and (b) adults over the age of 50 years.

 (127548)

931  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care mental health workers have been employed by (a) West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust and (b) all mental health trusts.

 (127549)

932  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what improvements the Government is planning for mental health services in England.

 (127550)

933  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what level of funding per capita is being spent by (a) Adur, Arun and Worthing primary care trust and (b) West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust on services for people with mental health difficulties in the current financial year.

 (127551)

934  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans for improvement his Department has for provision of respite breaks for carers of those with mental health difficulties.

 (127552)

935  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the (a) efficacy and (b) availability within the NHS of (i) gold, (ii) Enbrel and (iii) Remicade.

 (127553)

936  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the (a) availability and (b) side effects of methotrexate.

 (127554)

937  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement regarding Government funding and support of research and development of epothilores.

 (127555)

938  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost is per call to NHS Direct.

 (127556)

939  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many qualified nurses work for NHS Direct, broken down by grade.

 (127557)

940  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting times are in each hospital trust; and what these were 12 months ago for (a) hip replacements, (b) cataract operations and (c) heart operations.

 (127558)

941  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) items and (b) procedures in the NHS for which charges are made.

 (127559)

942  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS dentists are available in the Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT area.

 (127560)

943  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients within the Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT area have been prescribed anti-TNF treatment for severe arthritis in the last 12 months.

 (127561)

944  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many severe arthritis sufferers there are within the Adur, Arun and Worthing primary care trust area.

 (127562)

945  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list non-executive appointments to NHS bodies in the last two years, broken down by political affiliations.

 (127563)

946  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new intermediate care beds there have been in the last two years.

 (127565)

947  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where new NHS intermediate care bed capacity has been introduced in the last two years,.

 (127566)

948  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what qualitative basis star ratings for hospital-acquired infections are calculated.

 (127567)

949  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many calls were made to NHS Direct in each year since it was set up.

 (127568)

950  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many different callers have used NHS Direct in each year since it was set up.

 (127569)

951  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many positive emission topography scanners are in use in the NHS.

 (127572)

952  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many private PET scanners are in use in the UK.

 (127573)

953  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many PET scanners used by the NHS have been purchased through (a) mainstream hospital trust expenditure, (b) new opportunities fund lottery funding and (c) voluntary fund raising.

 (127574)

954  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of relative levels of patient deaths amongst patients treated by nurses with university qualifications.

 (127575)

955  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take over the next 12 months to improve the services for (a) ethnic minorities, (b) homeless people and (c) asylum seekers with mental health difficulties.

 (127576)

956  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses were recruited from overseas in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and from which countries.

 (127915)

957  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps will be taken to comply with Lord Laming's recommendations on child protection when formulating future star ratings for (a) hospital trusts, (b) primary care trusts and (c) mental health trusts.

 (127916)

958  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which foreign companies have submitted bids to (a) build, (b) staff and (c) run new hospital establishments; and which health trusts (i) have invited bids and (ii) plan to invite bids in the next year.

 (127917)

959  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mental health facilities exist for asylum seekers in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health Care Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust; and what plans are in place to improve facilities in these trusts in 2004-05.

 (127968)

960  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care mental health workers are employed by (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health Care Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

 (127969)

961  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many early intervention teams have been established in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health Care Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

 (127973)

962  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what facilities exist for homeless people with mental health needs in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health NHS Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust; and what plans are in place to improve facilities for the homeless in 2004-05.

 (127974)

963  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there are women-only mental health services in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health Care NHS Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

 (127975)

964  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of provision of child and adolescent mental health services in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health NHS Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

 (127976)

965  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mental health crisis resolution teams have been established in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health NHS Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

 (127977)

966  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mental health crisis resolution teams offer 24 hours cover in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health NHS Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

 (127978)

967  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what facilities exist for ethnic minorities with mental health difficulties in (a) Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, (b) Black County Mental Health NHS Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, (d) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, (e) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, (f) Comunity Health Sheffield NHS Trust, (g) Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, (h) Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, (i) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust, (j) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust, (k) Lancashire Care NHS Trust, (l) Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, (m) Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health, (n) Norfolk Mental Health NHS Trust, (o) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Care NHS Trust, (q) Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, (r) South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust, (s) South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, (t) South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, (u) Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust, (v) Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and (w) Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust and what plans are in place for 2004-05 to improve facilities for ethnic minorities.

 (127979)

968  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide a breakdown of expenditure on mental health provision in each health authority/PCT area in England in each year since 1990.

 (127985)

969  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many surgeons performed weight reduction operations in the last 12 months.

 (127088)

970  
N  		Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions have been (a) issued and (b) issued to children for sibutramine.

 (127089)

971  
N  		Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will state for each hospital trust whether it has established a database to monitor surgery undertaken to aid weight loss for patients.

 (127091)

972  
N  		Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in the last year have undergone surgery to aid weight reduction.

 (127092)

973  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children have had impacted third molars removed in each year since 1997; and how many showed signs of pathology in their teeth.

 (127093)

974  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to issue guidance on wounds and injuries.

 (127095)

975  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of children prescribed methylphenidate for severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been regularly monitored to assess improvement in the last year.

 (127096)

976  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each hospital trust (a) the measures used to collect information and (b) the information collated on electronic foetal monitoring.

 (127097)

977  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children have been prescribed methylphenidate in the last year.

 (127098)

978  Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been prescribed sibutramine for (a) up to four weeks, (b) one to three months, (c) three to 12 months and (d) longer than 12 months.

 (127099)

979  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether resources for the Health Protection Agency's civil contingency planning will come from the NHS's general budget.

 (128664)

980  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether stocks of emergency materiel for the Health Protection Agency will be funded from his Department's overall budget.

 (128665)

981  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what stocks of vital materiel the Health Protection Agency is procuring to prepare for an attack by nuclear, biological, radiological or chemical weapons.

 (128666)

982  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new appropriations have been authorised to fund the Health Protection Agency.

 (128667)

983  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, from what accounts the Health Protection Agency will be funded.

 (128668)

984  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the percentage increase in (a) HIV, (b) chlamydia, (c) syphilis and (d) genital warts was in the last year for which figures are available for (i) Fenland and East Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust and (ii) East Anglia, broken down by (A) sex and (B) those aged (1) 15 and under, (2) 16-19, (3) 20-25, (4) 25-35 and (5) over 35.

 (127958)

985  
N  		Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the consultants and their projects being used by the Medicines and Health Care Products Agency.[R]

 (128594)

986  
N  		Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to appoint a Chief Executive to the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency.[R]

 (128595)

987  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the quality of care cancer patients receive from the NHS.

 (127784)

988  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to local authorities on providing assistance to home carers.

 (127793)

989  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that health action zones include withdrawal and rehabilitation clinics for people who have been over-medicated and may have severe dependency problems.

 (127851)

990  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the identification and dissemination of examples of good practice in learning disability services.

 (127852)

991  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to Workforce Development Confederations on staff training on the (a) recognition and (b) response to autism spectrum disorders.

 (127853)

992  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission an economic analysis of the (a) cost in public funds of treatment of autism and the (b) benefits of funding preventative support services for people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

 (127855)

993  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to instruct health action zones to undertake an audit of the (a) financial and (b) quality of life costs of the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs.

 (127858)

994  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to local specialist services for people with severe challenging behaviours on the use of (a) educational, (b) behavioural, (c) environmental and (d) dietary stategies in preference to psychotropic medication.

 (127859)

995  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he gives to hospitals with regard to skin colour matching in the provision of prosthetic limbs.

 (128274)

996  Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospital files holding clinical data in patients (a) went missing temporarily and (b) were lost in each year since 1995.

 (127186)

997  Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data support the 5 rating given to Burley, Pendle and Rossendale primary care trust for access to NHS dentistry.

 (127188)

998  Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the non-EEA countries and territories with which the UK has bilateral health arrangements.

 (128090)

999  Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the estimated completion date is of the proposed Paddington Health Campus.

 (128091)

1000  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to warn children of the dangers associated with swapping contact lenses.

 (128137)

1001  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the General Optical Council proposals to restrict sale of contact lenses to registered opticians and doctors.

 (128138)

1002  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to encourage contact lens users to seek proper advice before purchase and to attend regular check-ups thereafter.

 (128139)

1003  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to (a) encourage and (b) compel organisations that sell non-prescription contact lenses to (i) advise purchasers of their suitability for lenses and (ii) provide them with adequate information on care and hygiene.

 (128140)

1004  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the link between (a) microbial keratitis, (b) acanthamoeba, (c) poor colour perception, (d) reduced binocular vision and (e) damage to the surface of the cornea and the use of non-prescription contact lenses.

 (128148)

1005  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to ensure that the sale of non-prescription contact lenses is effectively monitored.

 (128151)

1006  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the long-term effects on eye health of using non-prescription contact lenses.

 (128152)

1007  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reclassify contact lenses as medical devices.

 (128153)

1008  Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the hospice movement in financial year 2003-04 of the increase in the level of charges for checks by the Criminal Records Bureau in respect of paid staff.

 (127400)

1009  Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide a grant to hospices to compensate for the recent increase in the level of charges for checks by the Criminal Records Bureau in respect of paid staff.

 (127401)

1010  Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department has taken to implement the recommendations arising from the seminar Young People and Solvent Misuse: Developing a Shared Approach, held on 19th November 2002.

 (127795)

1011  Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive the Flemen report on Volatile Substance Abuse.

 (127796)

1012  Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which primary care trusts have not yet implemented in full the NICE guidance on anti-TNF therapies for rheumatoid arthitis.

 (128228)

1013  Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people suffer from asthma and how many suffered from asthma in each of the last five years.

 (128124)

1014  Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in encouraging health professionals to provide dietary and lifestyle advice on lowering blood cholesterol.

 (128540)

1015  Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources have been devoted to increasing public awareness of the health impact of raised blood cholesterol; and what plans he has for future programmes.

 (128541)

1016  Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria determine whether a primary care trust qualifies as providing access to an NHS dentist.

 (127388)

1017  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what day care facilities are available to those suffering from autism; and if he will make a statement on the importance of interaction to autism sufferers.

 (127954)

1018  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training is given to carers of autistic children; what other support services are available; and on what wage levels carers are placed.

 (127955)

1019  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are in place to ensure that unnecessary dental work is not carried out on patients by dentists for profit.

 (127984)

1020  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to assist people living with persistent pain; what pain relief drugs are available; and if he will make a statement on the (a) effectiveness of such drugs and (b) problems with their side effects.

 (128078)

1021  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding has been made available for research into pain relieving drugs; if he will make a statement on the current status of cannabis for pain relief uses; and what progress has been made in discussions on the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

 (128079)

1022  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what management and assessment services and facilities are available to those suffering from persistent pain.

 (128080)

1023  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many maternity units there are in the United Kingdom; and whether they all inlude specialist facilities for premature babies.

 (128113)

1024  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding has been made available since 1997 for maternity units; and what measures have been taken to reduce deaths of new born babies.

 (128114)

1025  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the availability of emergency midwives; and what proposals he has to ensure that enough staff are present to provide emergency midwifery services.

 (128115)

1026  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the proportion of babies born at home and in hospital for the latest year for which figures available; what midwives pay has been on average in each of the past five years; and whether midwives receive extra payment for providing late night and emergency services.

 (128116)

1027  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what total funding for West Mercia Police was per head of population in each year since 1997 from (a) government grant and (b) precept.

 (127586)

1028  Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) community support officers, (b) street wardens and (c) neighbourhood wardens there are in (i) West Mercia constabulary and (ii) The Wrekin.

 (127830)

1029  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on effective policing of the removal of the power to confiscate sealed containers of alcohol from underage drinkers in public places.

 (127129)

1030  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the power to confiscate alcohol from young people drinking in public places to sealed containers.

 (127133)

1031  Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Metropolitan police officers have been subject to an internal disciplinary process for tearing a page or pages from their police notebook in the last five years; and if he will list the sanctions imposed.

 (127068)

1032  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Somalia (a) sought asylum, (b) were granted asylum, (c) were granted exceptional leave to remain, (d) have made applications which are still outstanding and (e) have made applications for asylum which have been refused and have been subsequently removed from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

 (127513)

1033  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the level of consumption of khat in the UK; what plans he has to control and (b) reduce khat consumption; and if he will make a statement.

 (127515)

1034  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answers of 16th December 2002, Official Report, column 640W, on fireworks, and 28th January, Official Report, column 754W, on crime reduction, when he expects to place the findings of the exercise on crime and disorder reduction partnerships and their implications for nuisance and noise associated with fireworks in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

 (127181)

1035  
N  		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has analysed into which age group is the most targeted for internet grooming.

 (126939)

1036  
N  		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to promote awareness and safe internet usage, with particular reference to younger people.

 (126940)

1037  
N  		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the trend has been in anti-semitic attacks on (a) property and (b) persons over the last year in (i) England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Coventry.

 (126941)

1038  
N  		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what liaison there has been between his Department and the Department for Education and Skills on dealing with anti-semitism in schools, with particular reference to teaching controversial issues.

 (126942)

1039  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was paid to witnesses in criminal proceedings in each of the last 10 years.

 (127659)

1040  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal trials collapsed as a result of witnesses receiving payment from media organisations in each of the last 10 years.

 (127660)

1041  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people detained by police were released within (a) 24 hours and (b) 36 hours in the last 12 months.

 (127668)

1042  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the purpose is of altering the procedures and revising the Codes of Practice as set out in clause 7 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (127669)

1043  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the purpose is of the proposal in clause 23 of the Criminal Justice Bill to transfer responsibility for charging from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service.

 (127670)

1044  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of those brought into a police station tested positive for Class A drugs in the last six months for which figures are available; and what the level of voluntary take up for treatment was for those people.

 (127671)

1045  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of property crime is attributable to the misuse of Class A drugs.

 (127672)

1046  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for making appropriate treatment more widely available for the purposes of clause 16 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (127673)

1047  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances it will be necessary to impose conditions before charge to ensure that a person accused of a crime (a) surrenders to custody, (b) does not commit an offence while on bail and (c) does not interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or herself or another person.

 (127674)

1048  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of England and Wales police forces have been involved in investigations into allegations of child abuse in children's homes and other institutions in the past five years; and how many of these allegations relate to historical abuse.

 (128348)

1049  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former care workers in children's homes and institutions have been investigated for child abuse in Merseyside in the past five years; and how many of those individuals were (a) charged, (b) convicted and (c) acquitted.

 (128349)

1050  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action has been taken to revise the internal police handbook for senior investigating officers to set out the terms of an initial approach to potential witnesses in a child abuse case.

 (128350)

1051  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will issue a code of practice for the audio and visual recording of police interviews with complainants and other significant witnesses in cases of historical child abuse.

 (128351)

1052  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will adopt the recommendation by the Home Affairs Committee that resources be channelled into researching and piloting the use of statement validity analysis as a tool for evaluating the credibility of witness testimony in complex historical child abuse cases.

 (128352)

1053  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taken to ensure that, when the police conduct a trawl in child abuse investigations, complainants are offered victim support services from an early stage of involvement in the investigation.

 (128353)

1054  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has (a) to introduce a national protocol for the disclosure of third party material in criminal proceedings and (b) to implement Lord Justice Auld's recommendations on disclosure.

 (128355)

1055  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will adopt the Home Affairs Committee's recommendation that the prosecution of offences relating to child abuse, which is alleged to have occurred over 10 years since the date of the offence, should only proceed with the court's permission, and that the time period does not begin until the complainant has reached age 21 years.

 (128356)

1056  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will reform (a) the law of similar fact evidence, as recommended by the Home Affairs Committee, to require a striking similarity in historical child abuse cases and (b) the law of severance to introduce a presumption in favour of severance in cases where the similar allegations are inadmissible on a similar fact basis.

 (128357)

1057  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will adopt the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee that the statutory reporting restrictions, which preserve the anonymity of victims of sexual offences, are extended to persons accused of historical child abuse.

 (128358)

1058  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to issue guidelines which prescribe the relationship between the police and personal injury solicitors.

 (128359)

1059  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average turn-around for applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority was in the last 12 months; and what percentage were settled within a year.

 (128360)

1060  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of complainants in criminal investigations claimed compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme in the last 12 months; and what percentage pursued a civil action for damages.

 (128361)

1061  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications have been received by the Criminal Cases Review Commission from those convicted of abuse in care homes in each year from 1997 to 2003.

 (128389)

1062  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines govern the conduct of police investigations and subsequent prosecution proceedings in care home abuse cases.

 (128391)

1063  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will issue guidelines to enforce recording of police interviews of complainant and other significant witnesses in home care abuse cases.

 (128392)

1064  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will take steps to encourage early consultation on the conduct and direction of investigations between the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in cases of abuse in children's homes.

 (128393)

1065  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the take-up rate, in historical child abuse cases, of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

 (128395)

1066  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will conduct a review of the accessability of its scheme to victims of past institutional child abuse.

 (128396)

1067  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will adopt the recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee on the liability of employers for sexual assaults committed by their employees.

 (128398)

1068  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a time limit on the number of years after the alleged offence that a child abuser can be prosecuted.

 (128399)

1069  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost is to his Department per person per day of detaining a person subject to immigration control in (a) a prison and (b) a removal centre.

 (128517)

1070  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11th July, Official Report, column 1068W on immigration, how long it takes on average to perform the checks to which he refers.

 (128518)

1071  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young offenders may be employed in removing graffiti in Sefton.

 (128521)

1072  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether HM Government will adopt the Home Affairs Committee's recommendation on including a time limit in the primary legislation on imposing conditions on bail before charge in the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128522)

1073  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government will adopt the recommendation by the Home Affairs Committee to amend the Criminal Justice Bill so that where the prosecution wish to interview a defence witness in advance of trial (a) they should be required to notify the defence and offer to interview the witness in the presence of the defence and (b) that interview would be tape-recorded.

 (128523)

1074  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances the Court will waive the double jeopardy rule and allow retrial to take place under the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128524)

1075  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the Criminal Justice Bill modifies the general exclusionary rule against hearsay evidence.

 (128617)

1076  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed increase in magistrates' sentencing powers will be implemented before the Custody Plus scheme is rolled out.

 (128618)

1077  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will adopt the proposal of the Home Affairs Committee to extend the statutory reporting restrictions, which preserve the anonymity of victims of sexual offences, to persons accused of those offences.

 (128620)

1078  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps the Government has taken to (a) simplify police procedures, (b) reduce procedural and administrative burdens on the police, (c) save police resources and (d) speed up the process of justice.

 (128621)

1079  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those detained by police were released within (a) 24 hours and (b) 36 hours in the last year for which figures are available.

 (128622)

1080  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will accept the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee to delete Clause 5 pertaining to detention time limits in the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128623)

1081  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the purposes are of altering the procedures and revising the Codes of Practice as set out in Clause 7 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128624)

1082  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will accept the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee to amend Clause 7 of the Criminal Justice Bill in order to preserve the existing procedures in the circumstances of a Code being established for the first time and where revisions of substantial importance or significance are made to the Codes.

 (128625)

1083  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the purposes are of the proposal to transfer responsibility for charging from the Police to the Crown Prosecution Service in Clause 23 and of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128626)

1084  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of those brought into a police station tested positively for Class A drugs in 2002; and what the level of voluntary take-up of treatment was.

 (128627)

1085  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the proportion of property crime attributable to the misuse of Class A drugs.

 (128628)

1086  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for making appropriate treatment more widely available for purposes of Clause 16 in the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128629)

1087  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he intends to issue on the situations in which it is necessary to impose conditions before charge to secure that a person accused of a crime (a) surrenders to custody, (b) does not commit an offence while on bail and (c) does not interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice whether in relation to himself or another person, under the proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill.

 (128630)

1088  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to (a) repeal gross indecency offences and (b) include provision regarding sexual activity in public toilets under the Sexual Offences Bill.

 (128633)

1089  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what legislation the police may use to tackle the problem of sexual activity in toilets.

 (128634)

1090  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 on the experience of vulnerable witnesses.

 (128648)

1091  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Criminal Justice Bill's proposal to allow for greater admission at trial of a defendant's previous convictions.

 (128649)

1092  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effects the proposal in the Criminal Justice Bill to allow for greater admission at trial of a defendant's previous convictions will have on criminal trials.

 (128650)

1093  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long a suspect can be detained before charge for (a) non-serious arrestable offences and (b) serious arrestable offences.

 (128651)

1094  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what Act of Parliament anti-social drinking orders are made; and how such orders will be enforced.

 (128652)

1095  Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Minister of State's letter (ref M 3759/3) of 20th August, when he expects to receive the outcome of Intelligent Pedestrian Surveillance Pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement.

 (128270)

1096  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support and advice he is giving to refugee and asylum support organisations to assist asylum seekers with travel to Croydon to lodge an asylum application.

 (128201)

1097  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support he is giving to asylum seekers to enable them to travel to Croydon to lodge an asylum application.

 (128202)

1098  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the operation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

 (128203)

1099  Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many vacancies there are for uniformed officers in the Leicestershire Police Service; and what proportion this represents of the approved establishment in Leicestershire.

 (127273)

1100  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied minors sought asylum in the UK in each of the last three years.

 (127863)

1101  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on procedures in place for dealing with unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK who are resident in Scotland.

 (127864)

1102  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff there were in each office of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in the last year for which figures are available; and what the remit of each office is.

 (127206)

1103  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff there were in each English constabulary in the last year for which figures are available.

 (127207)

1104  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive on attracting immigrants to Scotland.

 (127209)

1105  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set up an Immigration and Nationality Directorate office in Scotland.

 (127210)

1106  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation; and with respect to core department jobs, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of jobs in terms of responsibilities which apply to (a) England only, (b) England and Wales and (c) the United Kingdom as a whole.

 (127311)

1107  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the cost of burglary to (a) the commercial sector, (b) the public sector and (c) private individuals in each year between 1995 and 2002.

 (128546)

1108  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the deterrent effect of the length of a custodial sentence.

 (128547)

1109  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 1244W, on prisons, on which (a) assumptions about future sentencing trends and (b) new policy initiatives with an agreed timetable the forecast average prison population for 2003 to 2006 is based.

 (128559)

1110  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign citizens were in prison in England and Wales in each year between 1992 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

 (128607)

1111  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work permits have been granted to people seeking to work in the British information technology industry in each of the past five years.

 (128313)

1112  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the India Business Group was asked to join the Work Permits Panel; and if he will make a statement on the balance of its membership (a) inside and (b) outside the UK.

 (128314)

1113  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to monitor the performance of police forces in giving support to victims of domestic violence.

 (127279)

1114  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice and assistance he gives to local authorities to help them deal with cases of domestic violence.

 (127280)

1115  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the introduction of the one year period of reflection rule in cases of domestic violence to asylum seeking women, and to women and children who are victims of trafficking for sexual purposes.

 (127281)

1116  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve the collection of data on domestic violence.

 (127282)

1117  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) membership of the International Court of Justice and (b) compliance with the Human Rights Act are criteria applied in determining with which countries the UK agrees extradition treaties are based; and if he will make a statement.

 (128036)

1118  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK police officers are seconded to police (a) forces and (b) agencies overseas; which countries are involved; from which forces the officers have been seconded; and what plans there are to send further offices to overseas countries in addition to Iraq.

 (128318)

1119  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British police officers are to be sent to Iraq; for how long they will remain there; how their pay and conditions will vary from that in the UK; on what criteria the selection is made; what risk assessment has been carried out; what assessment the Department has made of the effect on crime (a) prevention and (b) detection in the UK of sending officers to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

 (128319)

1120  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries involving air weapons there were in each of the last five years.

 (128342)

1121  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal offences, broken down by category, involving (a) replica guns and (b) air weapons, there were in each of the last five years.

 (128343)

1122  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Cigarette Lighter Refill Gas Regulations; what plans he has for (a) increasing the age limit and (b) introducing a licensing system; and if he will make a statement.

 (128344)

1123  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the pay negotiations for the National Probation Service were not concluded by 1st April; when the negotiations will begin; whether a similar timetable will be adopted in 2004; and if he will make a statement.

 (128346)

1124  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the National Probation Service required a pay remit before their pay negotiations could begin this year; when the remit will be completed; why it could not be completed in time for the pay negotiations to be completed by 1st April; whether a pay remit will be an annual requirement; and if he will make a statement.

 (128347)

1125  Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value is of criminals' assets recovered by the Assets Recovery Agency since its launch.

 (127970)

1126  Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been the subject of confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

 (127971)

1127  Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what basis the figures of (a) £155 and (b) £250 were set for charges for in-country applicants wishing to extend their stay in the UK.

 (127102)

1128  Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated revenue per year is from the introduction of charges for in-country applicants wishing to extend their stay in the UK; what estimate he has made of the impact in the UK; and if he will consider applications for the fee to be waived.

 (127106)

1129  Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crime numbers were issued by the police for (a) lost and (b) stolen mobile phones in the last 24 months for which figures are available.

 (127826)

1130  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he takes to assess whether appropriate disciplinary action is taken against police officers whose conduct whilst not on duty is found to be improper.

 (127286)

1131  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking to ensure that complaints by the public relating to a police officer's conduct whilst not on duty are investigated.

 (127287)

1132  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking to ensure that the Police Complaints Authority has access to all necessary evidence whilst conducting investigations into improper conduct by police officers when not on duty.

 (127288)

1133  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he takes to assess the extent to which police forces release information regarding the outcome of a complaint to those that make the complaint, when release of such information is not prohibited by data protection legislation.

 (127291)

1134  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the findings of the pilot scheme into Child Rescue Alert carried out by Sussex Police.

 (127570)

1135  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on individual police forces entering into commercial contracts with private companies providing text messaging services for child abduction warning schemes as envisaged in the Child Rescue Alert Scheme in Sussex.

 (127571)

1136  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been taken to prevent terrorist munitions being smuggled into the UK via container traffic.

 (128659)

1137  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been taken to prevent weapons of mass destruction being smuggled into the United Kingdom.

 (128660)

1138  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to deny visa-waived entrance to EU passport holders who carry passports without modern security features.

 (128661)

1139  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the United Kingdom will meet the 1st October 2004 deadline imposed by the United States which requires biometric technology to be embedded in United Kingdom passports so that the bearers do not need to apply for a visa.

 (128662)

1140  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he is taking to protect the United Kingdom from the use of illicit passports.

 (128663)

1141  Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of crimes received payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in each of the last five years; and how much was paid out.

 (127251)

1142  Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions in each of the last five years criminal courts in England ordered offenders to pay compensation to their victims.

 (127252)

1143  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he has given to law enforcement agencies on combating child prostitution.

 (127785)

1144  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle child pornography on the internet.

 (127791)

1145  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received on the effectiveness of the Sex Offenders Registry.

 (127839)

1146  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria he has set to evaluate the success of his Department's pilot entitlement card scheme.

 (128276)

1147  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many murders there were in Romford in each of the last 10 years.

 (128362)

1148  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many car thefts there were in (a) Romford and (b) other London Boroughs in 2002.

 (128363)

1149  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the level of assaults in Romford in 2002.

 (128372)

1150  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with the Metropolitan Police Force in the London Borough of Havering with regard to young offenders.

 (128373)

1151  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young offenders there were in Romford in each of the last 10 years.

 (128374)

1152  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many shoplifting offences were committed in Romford in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the last 10 years.

 (128375)

1153  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent measures have been taken to cut crime rates in Romford by the Metropolitan Police.

 (128376)

1154  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of arson there were in Romford in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceeding 10 years.

 (128377)

1155  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the level of stabbings in (a) Romford and (b) other London boroughs in 2002.

 (128378)

1156  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he had with the Metropolitan Police in the London Borough of Havering in July.

 (128380)

1157  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the funding given to the initiatives in the London Borough of Havering to discourage young offenders from re-offending.

 (128381)

1158  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on crime statistics in Romford in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding 10 years.

 (128382)

1159  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many burglaries were committed in Romford in each year since 1997.

 (128402)

1160  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Metropolitan Police in the London Borough of Havering during the past 12 months.

 (128403)

1161  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many rape offences there were in (a) Romford and (b) the London Borough of Havering in each of the past 10 years.

 (128404)

1162  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the level of jury intimidation in the United Kingdom.

 (128681)

1163  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on how the European legislation on immigration will affect the amount of money the Government spends on financial aid for asylum seekers.

 (128682)

1164  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure that asylum seekers who come to the United Kingdom as children do not stay for a period longer than that to which they are permitted once they turn 18 years of age.

 (128683)

1165  Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will exempt voluntary organisations from the recent increase in the level of charges to the Criminal Records Bureau for the remainder of financial year 2003-04 in respect of checks for paid staff.

 (127306)

1166  Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to voluntary organisations in financial year 2003-04 of the increase in the level of charges for checks by the Criminal Records Bureau in respect of paid staff.

 (127398)

1167  Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Criminal Records Bureau's Overseas Information Service.

 (127768)

1168  Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he takes to ensure that other departments are made aware of the Criminal Records Bureau's Overseas Information Service.

 (127769)

1169  Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has taken to publicise to voluntary sector organisations the service offered by the Criminal Records Bureau's Overseas Information Service.

 (127770)

1170  Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimates he has made of the size of the illegal drugs market in the UK in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the present day

 (128125)

1171  Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there were of people accused of possessing Class A drugs in the most recent year for which figures are available.

 (128126)

1172  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the use of video surveillance in public areas; what effect this has had on crime in those areas; and what plans there are to expand video surveillance.

 (127990)

1173  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has put in place since 1999 to speed up the process of renewing a passport.

 (128093)

1174  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long it takes for a passport to be renewed; and if he will make a statement on charges levied to British citizens for their applications.

 (128094)

1175  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been taken since 1997 to address problems arising from gang culture; and what proposals he has to combat gang violence.

 (128095)

1176  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to ensure that children under 16 are not on the streets very late at night; and what measures are in place to allow the police to remove disruptive young children from the streets at night.

 (128096)

1177  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what protection is afforded to public sector employees from violence in the workplace; and what plans he has to introduce a specific offence for assaulting public sector workers.

 (128110)

1178  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what percentage of the paper collected for recycling was (a) recycled within the UK and (b) exported for recycling in each of the last three years.

 (127225)

1179  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what percentage of paper collected for recycling was recycled in each of the last three years; and what steps he takes to ensure this happens.

 (127226)

1180  Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the Houses of Parliament ticket office has cost in each year since its concstruction.

 (127949)

1181  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of child soldiers in Uganda.

 (127932)

1182  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what action his Department is taking to help Central African Republic refugees living in southern Chad.

 (127933)

1183  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what the latest crop forecasts are in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

 (127934)

1184  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what plans there are to expand the use of the RTSS/AS02A malaria vaccine following its trial in Mozambique.

 (127935)

1185  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on the humanitarian consequences of the flooding of (a) southern and (b) north eastern districts of Afghanistan.

 (127936)

1186  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on the drought in southern Ethiopia.

 (127937)

1187  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what steps he is taking to encourage a free press in Sudan.

 (127938)

1188  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment he has made of the warning of the World Food Programme that food rations in Sudan may be cut by 50 per cent. due to a lack of funding.

 (127939)

1189  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what impact recent reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy will have on developing countries.

 (127940)

1190  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what progress is being made towards the immunisation of people in Nigeria against polio.

 (127942)

1191  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on the levels of child prostitution in Ethiopia.

 (127943)

1192  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what work his Department is undertaking with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that all Ethiopians suffering from the HIV and aids virus have access to anti-retroviral drugs; and if he will make a statement.

 (127944)

1193  Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, whether the Government will provide human resources to aid developing nations in the negotiation process at the forthcoming WTO meeting in Cancun.

 (127298)

1194  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on progress made with the alternative livelihoods elements of the drug strategy in Afghanistan.

 (127132)

1195  Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what liaison there will be between NGOs, UN agencies and the Transitional Administration in implementing Afghanistan's budget programmes.

 (127134)

1196  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, whether the Government intends to reaffirm its commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development's Programme of Action.

 (128388)

1197  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment the Department has made of the effects of the food crisis in Zimbabwe on neighbouring countries.

 (128190)

1198  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment the Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

 (128191)

1199  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment he has made of progress on the New Partnership for Africa's Development plan in southern African countries.

 (128192)

1200  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what discussions the Department has had with non-governmental organisations on efforts to prevent cholera, gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea and dehydration in the refugee camps in and around Monrovia, Liberia.

 (128221)

1201  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what discussions the Department has had with non-governmental organisations on the level of relief supplies in refugee camps in and around Monrovia, Liberia.

 (128222)

1202  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assistance the Department is giving to displaced persons in Liberia

 (128223)

1203  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment the Department has made of the level of clean water, medical supplies and other essential provisions in refugee camps in and around Monrovia, Liberia.

 (128224)

1204  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment the Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Liberia.

 (128227)

1205  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what the Department's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sectors the Department employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if he will make a statement.

 (127060)

1206  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment has been made of the impact of EU reform of the (a) sugar, (b) oil, (c) cotton, (d) tobacco and (e) olive oil regimes on trade exports to the United Kingdom from (i) least developed countries covered by the Everything but Arms agreement and (ii) non-least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

 (128615)

1207  Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what measures the Department is taking to rebuild Iraq's seed supply.

 (128608)

1208  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what aid has been provided to Sierra Leone in each of the last five years; what private investment has taken place as a result; and if he will make a statement.

 (127807)

1209  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what support the Department provides to Palestinian refugees in (a) Jordan, (b) Lebanon and (c) Syria for (i) health programmes and (ii) relief of poverty; and if he will make a statement.

 (127813)

1210  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what action the Department has taken to assist in improving the systems of justice to deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

 (127819)

1211  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what further steps will be taken (a) to provide ongoing development and humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of Iraq and (b) to address the needs of the communities there.

 (128273)

1212  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what further action will be taken at (a) the EU Council of Ministers and (b) G7 meetings to ensure an end to the use of bonded labour in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

 (128600)

1213  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what recent representations the Department has received on international investment in Afghanistan.

 (127790)

1214  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what analysis the Department has made of the effect of the military coup on (a) aid spending and (b) international development projects in Sao Tome and Principe; and if he will make a statement.

 (127259)

1215  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, how much aid is spent directly by the Department in Sao Tome and Principe; and if he will make a statement.

 (127260)

1216  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, how much aid is spent multilaterally by the Department in Sao Tome and Principe (a) through the EU and (b) through the UN; and if he will make a statement.

 (127261)

1217  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what projects in Sao Tome and Principe are funded through aid from the Department; and if he will make a statement.

 (127262)

1218  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what criteria the Department applies to the classification of groups of people as indigenous peoples; how these criteria apply to the classification of the (a) Gana, (b) Gwi and (c) Bakgalagadi peoples of Botswana; what discussions the Department has had with the Government of Botswana on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

 (128044)

1219  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment he has made of the use of the internet for communities in the developing world as a tool for self-reliance.

 (128141)

1220  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what action he is taking to ensure that new technology provided to communities in developing countries is appropriate for need, sensibly deployed and that local people are consulted about their requirements.

 (128142)

1221  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what action the Department is taking to expand the use of (a) internet access and (b) electronic information to communities in developing countries.

 (128143)

1222  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assistance his Department is giving to displaced persons on Bujumbura, Burundi.

 (128149)

1223  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Bujumbura, Burundi.

 (128150)

1224  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Leader of the House, how many written ministerial statements were made on each day during the 2002-03 Session.

 (127825)

1225  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many mature students are in receipt of childcare grants in Northern Ireland.

 (126279)

1226  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of the workforce in agriculture hold vocational qualifications at NVQ Level 3 or higher in Northern Ireland.

 (128277)

1227  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many business development training places for farmers there were in each Northern Ireland constituency in the last year for which figures are available.[R]

 (128278)

1228  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action is being taken by Northern Ireland departments to address adult basic literacy and numeracy problems; and if he will make a statement.

 (128280)

1229  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applications to the Planning Service are awaiting a decision in each parliamentary constitutency.

 (128281)

1230  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the percentage uptake rates were of (a) primary immunisation, (b) breast screening and (c) cervical screening in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

 (128282)

1231  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the death rates were from coronary heart disease in each Northern Ireland constituency in each of the last five years.

 (128283)

1232  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many consultations there were for the mentally ill in the community in each Northern Ireland health trust in each of the last three years.

 (128284)

1233  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) child and (b) adolescent inpatient psychiatric beds there were in each Northern Ireland health trust in each of the last three years.

 (128285)

1234  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many temporary classrooms there were in each Education and Library Board area in each of the last three years.

 (128286)

1235  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many schools requiring (a) high priority maintenance work and (b) major works there were in each Education and Library Board area in each of the last three years.

 (128287)

1236  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to promote greater integration of entrepreneurship and education in Northern Ireland.

 (128288)

1237  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on cross-departmental policies to tackle (a) gender inequality and (b) racial inequality in Northern Ireland.

 (128289)

1238  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the Northern Ireland departments in breach of EU Directives in each of the last three years, broken down by total amount of fines incurred.

 (128290)

1239  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many racial assaults there were in each Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years, broken down by ethnic group.

 (128291)

1240  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures have been introduced by Northern Ireland government departments to support the childcare initiative.

 (128292)

1241  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action is being taken to support Northern Ireland's (a) existing and (b) new (i) high technology and (ii) telecommunications industry and entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement.

 (128294)

1242  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures have been introduced in each Northern Ireland department to reduce budget under-spend.

 (128295)

1243  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to assess the Northern Ireland Equality Commission's (a) ability to carry out its activities and (b) value to the public purse following the report of the Northern Ireland Auditor General; and if he will make a statement.

 (128296)

1244  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether horses in Northern Ireland are defined as agricultural animals by Northern Ireland departments; and if he will make a statement.[R]

 (128420)

1245  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officials are employed in the Planning Appeals Commission, broken down by grade.

 (127413)

1246  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has carried out of the effects of charging rates on industrial and manufacturing premises in North Belfast.

 (127421)

1247  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many incidents of vandalism against school property occurred in (a) North Belfast, (b) Belfast and (c) Ireland; and what the total cost was in each area, in each year since 2000.

 (127422)

1248  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many teachers are employed in North Belfast to cater for children with special educational needs.

 (127423)

1249  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding was allocated to meet the special education needs of children in (a) primary and (b) post primary schools in North Belfast in each year since 1997.

 (127424)

1250  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many full-time nursery school places there were in North Belfast in each year since 2001.

 (127425)

1251  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many individuals and organisations were consulted, and at what cost, by his Department as part of the equality impact assessment of new proposals in the last year.

 (127426)

1252  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria are applied by his Department on who is consulted as part of the equality impact assessment of new proposals.

 (127427)

1253  Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are employed in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

 (127428)

1254  Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has spent on the drafting of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

 (128326)

1255  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his Department's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sectors his Department employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if he will make a statement.

 (127061)

1256  Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will set up a public inquiry into the proposed superdump landfill site at Mallusk.

 (127399)

1257  Mr John Hume (Foyle): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what payments have been made by the Causeway HSS Trust to former employees of the Trust, by way of settlement for cessation of employment for reasons other than age retirement or retirement on medical grounds; when each payment was made; what the individual amount of each payment was; and for what the payments were made, in financial years (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.

 (128345)

1258  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are on the waiting list for neurosurgery in Northern Ireland; how many were on the waiting list on (a) 16th July 2002 and (b) 16th July 1998; what assessment he has made for the length of such waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

 (127053)

1259  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are on the waiting list for (a) orthopaedic and (b) cardiological procedures in Northern Ireland; and how many were on the waiting list on (i) 16th July 2002 and (ii) 16th July 1998.

 (127054)

1260  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting lists for (a) orthopaedic and (b) cardiological surgical procedures in Northern Ireland.

 (127055)

1261  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the (a) dates, (b) times and (c) cost of policing parades which took place in Kilkeel between 1st April 2000 and 15th August 2003.

 (128310)

1262  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what further steps will be taken by the (a) Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and (b) Eastern Health and Social Services Board to address the funding imbalance of the Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust; and if he will make a statement.

 (128311)

1263  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost of the aggregates levy was to public sector construction projects in Northern Ireland in the financial year 2002-03.

 (127414)

1264  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) virgin aggregate and (b) processed aggregate was used by the (i) public and (ii) private sectors in Northern Ireland in each financial year from 1998-99 to 2002-03.

 (127415)

1265  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what quantity of (a) virgin aggregates and (b) processed aggregate products was imported into Northern Ireland in each financial year from 1998-99 to 2002-03.

 (127416)

1266  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much waste aggregate was available for recycling in Northern Ireland in the financial year 2002-03.

 (127417)

1267  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the aggregates and construction industries regarding the feasibility of using recycled aggregates in construction projects.

 (127418)

1268  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the benefits of changing the specification for building materials used in public sector construction programmes in Northern Ireland, in order to promote the use of recycled aggregate; and what steps he has taken to change the specification.

 (127419)

1269  Mr Michael Mates (East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many unauthorised quarrying sites in Northern Ireland were brought to the attention of officials in each financial year from 1998-99 to 2002-03; and what powers are available to officials to ensure the future compliance of such sites with the relevant legislation.

 (127420)

1270  Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if there is a requirement to notify a local divisionary veterinary manager of an intention to import hares from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland; and how many notifications relating to hares were received during 2002.

 (128194)

1271  John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Prime Minister, what his priorities will be at the World Trade Organisation's 5th Ministerial Conference in September; and if he will make a statement.

 (127941)

1272  
N  		Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library the full text of the legal opinion of the Attorney General in relation to the war in Iraq.

 (128266)

1273  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese Government during his forthcoming visit to China.

 (128183)

1274  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Prime Minister, when he last visited Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency.

 (128013)

1275  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Prime Minister, whether it is his policy that the fifth periodic review of the Boundary Commission for Scotland should be effected before the next general election.

 (128014)

1276  Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 16th July to the honourable Member for New Forest East ref 126089, to what level of clearance Downing Street officials, whose roles may include seeing intelligence material, are vetted.

 (127909)

1277  Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the support expressed by Chechen leader Aslam Maskhadov for the US and UK decision to invade Iraq.

 (127910)

1278  Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, whether he raised the issue of unauthorised killings by Russians in Chechnya when he met President Putin in June.

 (127911)

1279  Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 15th July, Official Report, column 173W, on Iraq, what percentage of the total volume of the second dossier he estimates was taken from the three internet articles by Ibrahim al-Marishi, Sean Boyne and Ken Gause.

 (127912)

1280  Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, what the basis was for his statement on 18th June, Official Report, column 355, that extremists from Chechnya were amongst the foreign fighters engaging Coalition forces at the conclusion of the war in Iraq.

 (127913)

1281  Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Reigate of 9th July, Official Report, column 1156, whether the unsubstantiated reports of Chechens fighting Coalition forces in Iraq have been substantiated.

 (127914)

1282  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the recent detention of John Morgan from West Belfast in Israel.

 (127966)

1283  Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list those categories of information that have been provided to the Hutton Inquiry which are not normally made available (a) to Parliamentary Select Committees and (b) in response to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the different approaches to information disclosure.

 (128596)

1284  Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, when the Iraq Communications Group has met since 1st September 2002; who the members of the group are; who chairs the group; and from which budget its resources are drawn.

 (128598)

1285  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many people are employed in the beef farming industry in Scotland; when he last met representatives of the Scottish beef farming industry; and what his assessment is of its prospects.

 (127844)

1286  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he was consulted by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs prior to the decision to lift the Over Thirty Month Scheme in 2004.

 (127845)

1287  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff in his Department were allocated to the Friends of Scotland project, expressed as full-time equivalents in the last year for which figures are available.

 (127846)

1288  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff in his Department have been transferred to new responsibilities within the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

 (127847)

1289  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what role his Department has played in facilitating contact between BAe systems and the Scottish Executive to discuss training requirements for the carrier project.

 (127848)

1290  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he was consulted by the Scottish Executive before their decision not to grant a public inquiry on the Robin Rigg windfarm.

 (127862)

1291  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the transfer to the Scottish Executive of Quality Meat Scotland; and what payments are outstanding to (a) Quality Meat Scotland and (b) the Scottish Executive in respect of the transfer.

 (127865)

1292  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he plans to meet (a) Network Rail and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority to discuss the proposed investment at Edinburgh Waverley station.

 (127868)

1293  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of Government support for the Campbelltown to Ballycastle ferry service.

 (127869)

1294  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many copies of the Scotland Office Annual Report 2002-03 have been printed; at what cost; and how it was distributed.

 (128007)

1295  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss the allocation of lottery funds to Scotland.

 (128009)

1296  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many requests for Sewel motions have been exchanged between the Scottish Executive and his Department since 1999; how many have been rejected; when they were rejected; for what reasons; and what plans the Government has to review the procedures for dealing with Sewel motions.

 (128011)

1297  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent representations he has received from the Scottish Executive on difficulties arising out of non-coterminous electoral boundaries in Scotland.

 (128012)

1298  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many are employed in the fishing industry in Scotland.

 (128015)

1299  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many are employed in the manufacturing industry in Scotland; how many were employed in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the proposals for the manufacturing industry in Scotland.

 (128016)

1300  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many official engagements he has undertaken as Secretary of State for Scotland since his appointment.

 (128017)

1301  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the part played by Caledonian MacBrayne in supporting island economies.

 (128021)

1302  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss the future of Caledonian MacBrayne ferries.

 (128022)

1303  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment has been made of the impact of the Rosyth ferry terminal traffic on the economies of (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.

 (128023)

1304  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what his policy is on Scotland increasing its international hub status for air transport.

 (128024)

1305  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many departmental staff are not based in Dover House; and where they are located.

 (128025)

1306  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much grant was provided to Caledonian MacBrayne in each of the last six years.

 (128027)

1307  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to meet employee representatives to discuss the future of Caledonian MacBrayne.

 (128035)

1308  Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what his Department's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sectors his Department employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if he will make a statement.

 (127062)

1309  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on regional gross value added statistics.

 (127201)

1310  Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to her Answer of 9th June, Official Report, column 574W, on sickness absence, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the rise in the level of long-term sick leave from the Crown Prosecution Service since 1998.

 (128545)

1311  Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): To ask the Solicitor General, how many prosecutions have been undertaken under the Protection from Eviction Act for (a) harassment and (b) unlawful eviction in (a) the London Borough of Enfield, (b) Greater London and (c) England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

 (127827)

1312  Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Solicitor General, what the average wait before an appeal is heard against the decision of an Employment Tribunal has been in the last 12 months.

 (128333)

1313  Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices were closed due to (a) unprofitability and (b) the reorganisation of the Post Office in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000, (v) 2001, (vi) 2002 and (vii) 2003.

 (128385)

1314  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what volume of recycled paper was exported in each year from 1997 to date to (a) China, (b) the Middle East and (c) the Far East; and what percentage of the total volume of recycled paper in the UK in each of those years this represented.

 (127223)

1315  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many public service contracts were awarded by her Department (a) in total and (b) to SMEs in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

 (127801)

1316  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many employment regulations were introduced by her Department in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

 (127802)

1317  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans her Department has to improve small business access to public sector contracts; and if she will make a statement.

 (127803)

1318  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list all the documentation issued by her Department that an employer must complete when he or she takes on his or her first employee, in order to be fully compliant; and if she will make a statement.

 (128690)

1319  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many employment tribunals were attended by small businesses, as a result of non-compliance with employment legislation in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

 (138691)

1320  Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she is having with member states of the European Union on the trade policies that will be presented at the World Trade Organisation conference in Mexico in September; and if she will make a statement.

 (127166)

1321  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many women work in the science, engineering and technology industries in the UK and what percentage of all workers in those industries were women in each of the last 10 years.

 (127658)

1322  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the rate of business start-up in (a) Merseyside, (b) the North West and (c) England was in the latest year for which figures are available.

 (128561)

1323  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the five key targets were for the first Merseyside Objective 1 Programme which ran from 1994 to 1999; and what the outcomes were for each target.

 (128562)

1324  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many jobs were created by the first Merseyside Objective 1 Programme between the years 1994 to 1999.

 (128563)

1325  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many cases there were of business assistance provided by the first Merseyside Objective 1 Programme from 1994 to 1999 in Merseyside.

 (128564)

1326  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people accessed further education or training between the start of the first Merseyside Objective 1 Programme in 1994 until its end in 1999.

 (128565)

1327  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the recommendations for reducing corporate energy consumption in the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy—A Better Quality of Life.

 (128568)

1328  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the future of the UK's energy supply; and how the Government intends to bridge future energy generation shortfall.

 (128645)

1329  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Government has plans to create an independent chief engineer.

 (128646)

1330  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to close the productivity gap with other European Union countries.

 (128204)

1331  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding the level of apprenticeships and work-related training offered to school leavers.

 (128205)

1332  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to encourage electricity companies to invest in renewable energy.

 (128218)

1333  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total generating capacity available from (a) coal-fired, (b) oil-fired, (c) gas-fired, (d) nuclear and (e) renewable sources was in each year since 1983.

 (128298)

1334  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the companies supplying electricity to domestic consumers, indicating the nationality of the individuals and organisations holding a controlling interest.

 (128299)

1335  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what powers she has to require the owners of out of commission generating capacity to bring it back into operation.

 (128300)

1336  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what public subsidies have been made available to electricity suppliers in each year since 1983.

 (128301)

1337  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total generating capacity available to the National Grid was in each year since 1983; and what the percentage change in generating capacity was in each year.

 (128302)

1338  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the maximum electricity demand was in each year since 1983; and what the percentage change in maximum demand was in each year.

 (128303)

1339  Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will change her policy on the termination of the collection and analysis of the Home Accident Surveillance System statistics.

 (128369)

1340  Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether she plans to establish a new government accident recording system to ensure and improve the safety standards of home and leisure products and activities.

 (128370)

1341  Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will undertake further consultation with the wood panel industry on the effects of the renewable obligation subsidy on the supply of wood residues.

 (127173)

1342  Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what targets have been set for electricity generation from biomass; and if she will assess the impact of such targets on industries dependent on the supply of wood residue.

 (127204)

1343  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's support for renewable energy research.

 (127867)

1344  
N  		Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Cabinet Office on updating Schedule 2 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 to make OFCOM subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner; and when an appropriate order will be made to amend Schedule 2 of the Act.

 (127200)

1345  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact of international and domestic (a) regulation and (b) financial support on the (i) science and (ii) biotechnology sectors in the United Kingdom.

 (128121)

1346  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 14th June, Official Report, column 17W, on the Everything but Arms Agreement, what proportion of total trade exports to the United Kingdom are represented by (a) sugar, (b) oil, (c) tobacco, (d) cotton and (e) olive oil regimes for (i) least developed countries and (ii) non-least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

 (128558)

1347  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the European Commission proposal to apply value added tax to all suppliers of postal services in the EU and end the exemption from VAT for Royal Mail and other national universal service providers of postal services under the 6th VAT Directive (77/388/EEC).

 (128529)

1348  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what funding the Government provided for the development of partnership working between Royal Mail and trades unions representing employees in its United Kingdom Mails division in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.

 (128530)

1349  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations her Department has made to the management of Royal Mail on the development of partnership working in Royal Mail.

 (128531)

1350  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what asessment she has made of progress in developing partnership working between the management and trades unions in Royal Mail.

 (128532)

1351  Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the expenditure by Royal Mail on external consultancy services was in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

 (128533)

1352  Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans there are to assess the effectiveness of regional assistance schemes with particular reference to Regional Selective Assistance and Enterprise Grants; and if she will make a statement.

 (128672)

1353  Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans there are to monitor and record the number of workers (a) requesting and (b) being granted flexible working in (i) central government, (ii) local government, (iii) the public sector and (iv) the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

 (128673)

1354  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on Government initiatives to encourage growth in the technology sector.

 (127782)

1355  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has received on insider trading.

 (127783)

1356  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has received on the progress of nanotechnology development in the UK.

 (127792)

1357  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultation her Department is holding on the Corporate Responsibility Bill; which companies have been informed of this consultation; and which other stakeholders have been asked for their views.

 (127967)

1358  Joyce Quin (Gateshead East & Washington West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many representations she has received in opposition to the decision taken by her Department to cease the collection by Home Accident Surveillance Systems of statistics relating to accidents in the home.

 (127057)

1359  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions (a) she and (b) senior members of her Department have had with (i) UK based non-governmental organisations, (ii) EU based non-governmental organisations, (iii) non-governmental organisations based in the Caucasus region and (iv) US based non-governmental organisations on the issue of the Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan pipeline project; when these discussions took place; what the result of these discussions was; and if she will make a statement.

 (128066)

1360  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions her Department have had with government representatives from (a) Armenia, (b) Azerbaijan, (c) Georgia and (d) Russia on the issue of the Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan pipeline project; when these discussions took place; what the result of these discussions was; and if she will make a statement.

 (128067)

1361  Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what Government assistance has been sought by BP for the Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan pipeline project; what assistance has been granted; and if she will make a statement.

 (128082)

1362  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Office of Fair Trading regarding high rates of interest levied on store cards.

 (128144)

1363  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to protect consumers from high rates of interest levied on store cards.

 (128145)

1364  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to ensure that retail customers are aware of the terms and conditions before signing up for a store card.

 (128146)

1365  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria were used to select the second round sites for offshore wind licensing; and by what process companies interested in developing offshore wind in areas not cited in round two of offshore wind licensing can proceed with their plans.

 (127192)

1366  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much of the Government's 2010 target for renewables (a) has been met and (b) is outstanding.

 (127193)

1367  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment has been made of the offshore wind potential off the north coast of Scotland.

 (127194)

1368  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when round three of licensing for offshore wind farms will commence.

 (127195)

1369  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in what ways she is working with the Scottish Executive on targets to meet renewable energy.

 (127196)

1370  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in other countries in Europe on their experience in renewables.

 (127197)

1371  Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Ministry of Defence over the projected expansion of offshore wind power; and what assessments have been made of the potential interference with its radar system.

 (128127)

1372  Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures have been put in place to ensure that new offshore wind power projects will have sufficient grid connection points and capacity capabilities to connect the required megawatts.

 (128128)

1373  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions have taken place with Royal Mail representatives regarding the use of railways to transport mail; and what measures have been taken to reduce redundancies.

 (128243)

1374  
N  		Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the import of products produced in illegal ways in the United Kingdom.

 (127596)

1375  
N  		Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's objectives for the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancu«n.

 (127598)

1376  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his intention to undertake a safety review of the A27 between Beddingham and Polegate with a view to identifying on-line safety improvements.

 (127218)

1377  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what timescale will apply to the redesign of the A27 Southerham-Beddingham scheme; what public consultation process will apply to the redesigned scheme; and if he will make a statement.

 (127219)

1378  Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Wokingham of 14th July, Official Report, column 26W, on car travel, if he will provide figures for 1979 to 1998.

 (127577)

1379  Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to publish a National Walking Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

 (128613)

1380  Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has received copies of accounts of income and expenditure for the Mersey Tunnels in accordance with section 100 of the County of Merseyside Act 1980.

 (127963)

1381  Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last received a set of accounts of income and expenditure for the Mersey Tunnels prior to 1st January.

 (127965)

1382  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information he has collated on changes in air quality in central London since the introduction of congestion charging.

 (127180)

1383  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the action he intends to take in respect of each of the recommendations from the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee on the future of the Blue Badge Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

 (127981)

1384  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the changes to the Blue Badge Scheme which do not require primary legislation to be in place; and if he will make a statement.

 (127982)

1385  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to amend the publication, The Blue Badge Scheme parking concession for disabled and blind people; if he will make the section on the duties of blue badge holders clearer; and if he will make a statement.

 (127983)

1386  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the change in (a) the number of passenger journeys and (b) passenger mileage has been on supported bus services in Merseyside from 2000-01 to 2002-03.

 (128582)

1387  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age of buses in Merseyside is; and whether there has been a change in the average age of buses in Merseyside over the last two years.

 (128583)

1388  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many CCTVs are in use on supported buses in Merseyside.

 (128584)

1389  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many low floor wheelchair accessible vehicles are used on supported services in (a) Merseyside and (b) Sefton.

 (128585)

1390  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the rate of (a) punctuality and (b) reliability of Merseyside supported bus services was in the last year for which figures are available.

 (128586)

1391  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken to reduce environmentally harmful emissions from supported bus services in Merseyside.

 (128587)

1392  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much ridership has changed on average over the last two years for rail travel in Merseyside.

 (128588)

1393  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken to increase the number of additional park and ride spaces serving the Merseyrail network for 2003-04.

 (128589)

1394  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of trains in Merseyside ran no more than five minutes late in the last year for which figures are available.

 (128590)

1395  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to improve standards of station seating, shelter and passenger facilities for the rail services in Merseyside.

 (128591)

1396  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of fare irregularities were detected in Merseyside over the past two years.

 (128592)

1397  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many arrests were made in Merseyside owing to the joint initiative Operation Bream.

 (128593)

1398  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail's decision to opt for closure and diversions to allow engineering work.

 (128640)

1399  David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost charged to companies was by each local authority in England for the occupation of highways during street works, in each year since the introduction of the Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) (England) Regulations.

 (128602)

1400  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the results of the yellow school bus pilot schemes will be published; and if he will make a statement on proposals to encourage wider take up of such schemes.

 (128196)

1401  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has made and intends to make to Network Rail to ensure that disused land is sold at cost value to local authorities to enable flood remedial measures to be implemented.

 (128211)

1402  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what public subsidies have been made available to the railway industry in each year since 1983.

 (128304)

1403  Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the companies holding railway franchises indicating the nationality of the individuals and organisations holding a controlling interest.

 (128305)

1404  Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd July, Official Report, column 267W, on aggregate, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental impact of mineral extraction to provide aggregate for road building and maintenance; and when estimates of the amount of aggregate required for road improvement schemes in the Ten Year Plan will be made.

 (127203)

1405  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last met the Health and Safety Executive to discuss the risks associated with wake from ferries; and if he will make a statement.

 (127856)

1406  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on government funding for coastal lifeboats.

 (127866)

1407  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he first discussed the exclusion of unauthorised shipping from Robin Rigg windfarm with the Scottish Executive.

 (128020)

1408  Jane Griffiths (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the Strategic Rail Authority to provide him with the business case for a major scheme at Reading station; and when he expects to publish the business case.

 (127123)

1409  Alan Keen (Feltham & Heston): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has had with (a) British Airways, (b) British Airport Authority, (c) other industry bodies, (d) local authorities and (e) environmental groups on the National Air Consultation; what the agenda of each meeting was; and if he will meet representatives of the London Borough of Hounslow to discuss their concerns.

 (127756)

1410  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve the on-time performance of rail companies.

 (127842)

1411  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received regarding Silverlink's advice to rail passengers to go on holiday during a period of maintenance.

 (128275)

1412  Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he first received reports from the Strategic Rail Authority of the bid by FirstGroup plc for GB Railways Group plc; and if he will make a statement.

 (127228)

1413  
N  		Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a full assessment of international (a) research and (b) investigations into the causes of cabin air quality incidents affecting BAe 146 aircraft, with particular reference to problems with organophosphate jet engine lubricants; and if he will make a statement.

 (128543)

1414  
N  		Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken to establish the cause and nature of the emergency in the BAe 146 aircraft, when fumes in the cabin necessitated evacuation of passengers, on Friday 1st August; and if he will make a statement.

 (128599)

1415  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the effect of reduced use of rail transport by business on road and air services; and what assessment has been made on what pollution problems could result.

 (128248)

1416  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Minister for Women, what assessment she has made of progress in tackling the illegal trafficking of women.

 (127787)

1417  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Minister for Women, what recent representations she has received on assaults committed against women by illegal mini-cab drivers; and when she will next discuss such assaults with the Secretary of State for Transport.

 (127788)

1418  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate the Department has made of the eligibility for receipt of the minimum income guarantee amongst the elderly in the UK; and what his latest estimate is of the take-up rate.

 (127396)

1419  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the progress of the work being carried out by his Department on employers' liability compulsory insurance.

 (127798)

1420  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department will be responding to the recommendations put forward in the Small Business Council Annual Report 2003 in relation to insurance; and if he will make a statement.

 (127831)

1421  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Office of Fair Trading on the introduction of compulsory notice renewal periods for liability insurance; and if he will make a statement.

 (127832)

1422  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the documentation issued by his Department that an employer must complete when he or she takes on his or her first employee, in order to be fully compliant; and if he will make a statement.

 (128688)

1423  Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were claiming jobseekers allowance in (a) Somerset and (b) Taunton Deane at the end of each fiscal quarter since January 2000.

 (127824)

1424  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of pensioners received an income from (a) state and (b) private pension schemes in each year between 1992 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

 (128549)

1425  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of pensioners were in receipt of means-tested benefits for each year between 1992 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

 (128550)

1426  Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the number of low income earners to have taken up stakeholder pensions since their inception.

 (128555)

1427  Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research he has commissioned into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of Astra Training Services; what obligation the Government has to recompense former employees for lost pension payments; and if he will make a statement.

 (127072)

1428  Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 15th July, Official Report, column 160W, what the current indication of the final number of Post Office Card Accounts is, rounded to the nearest 100,000; on what data his statement that the final number would be significantly above 3 million was based; if he will place the data in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

 (127584)

1429  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many adults with a learning disability were (a) in paid employment in England and (b) known to social services in England in each year since 1997; what percentage of adults with a learning disability known to social services were in paid employment; and if he will make a statement.

 (127124)

1430  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many adults with a learning disability were in unpaid employment in England for each year since 1997; what percentage this represents of people with a learning disability known to social services; and if he will make a statement.

 (127125)

1431  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the Government schemes intended to help adults with a learning disability move into paid employment; and if he will make a statement.

 (127126)

1432  Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many fraudulent cases have been discovered by the disability living allowance periodic enquiry process since June 1999; and if he will make a statement.

 (127127)

1433  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Child Support Agency investigates the financial status of absent parents found to be in maintenance arrears.

 (127289)

1434  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will require the Child Support Agency to provide evidence of its assessment of the financial status of (a) the parent in care and (b) the absent parent to either of the parties concerned if they request it.

 (127290)

1435  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will (a) enable and (b) encourage the Child Support Agency to make deduction of earnings orders against self-employed absent parents.

 (127293)

1436  Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what action he is taking to align the processes by which the Child Support Agency treats self-employed absent parents and PAYE absent parents.

 (127302)

1437  Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 16th June from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M. Willingham.

 (127745)

1438  Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 4th June from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs Howarth (Fallows).

 (127746)

1439  Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to (a) train and (b) recruit people in the child care sector; and if he will make a statement.

 (128675)

1440  Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much he estimates the average pension credit recipient will receive in pension credit payments per year.

 (127170)

1441  Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries at work occurring in the Edinburgh area have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last five years, broken down by sector.

 (128542)

1442  Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of appeals against refusal of incapacity benefit were settled in favour of the claimant in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

 (127056)

1443  Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of disability living allowance had their entitlement reduced on review to a lower rate in (a) 2002 and (b) 2001.

 (127229)

1444  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on age discrimination.

 (127843)

1445  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will amend the eligibility criteria for disability benefits for people with autism spectrum disorders.

 (127854)

1446  Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria led him to award a contract for the management and storage of departmental records to Iron Mountain; and if he will make a statement.

 (127185)

1447  Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many departmental files holding data on claimants went missing (a) temporarily and (b) permanently from filestores managed (i) by his Department and (ii) by private sector contractors in each year since 1995.

 (127187)

1448  Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government will publish the Draft Disability Bill.

 (127743)

1449  Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 10th July, Official Report, column 979W, on pension credit, whether a pensioner who purchases an annuity after making a successful claim for pension credit will have to report that annuity purchase to the Department.

 (127231)

1450  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding the Child Support Agency received in 2002-03; and how many parents he estimates are not contributing to their children's welfare because they cannot be found.

 (128072)

1451  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much each absent parent is expected to contribute towards their children's care; who makes the decision on levels of payment; and what account is taken of the parents' work status.

 (128073)

1452  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have appealed disability living allowance decisions in each year since 1997; what proportion were successful in an appeal; and what reasons people give for appealing initial decisions.

 (128103)

1453  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proposals he has to speed up the appeals process for disability living allowance.

 (128104)

1454  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what use is made of medical reports when assessing an application for disability living allowance; and what other evidence is required to secure a grant of disability living allowance.

 (128105)

1455  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proposals he has to recognise British Sign Language as a language; and if he will make a statement on its use by those who are hard of hearing.

 (128249)

1456  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proposals he has to increase the amount of British Sign Language/English interpreters; and what funding is available to train language tutors.

 (128250)

1457  Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will make an announcement regarding the site at John Moore Barracks in Winchester; and if he will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (127100)

1458  Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the transfers into and out of formula spending share for 2004-05, and grants which are due to cease at the end of 2003-04; and whether his Department plans consequently to adjust the baseline calculation for floors and ceilings.

 [Transferred]   (127165)

1459  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies (a) died and (b) were stillborn as a result of pre-eclampsia in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

 [Transferred]   (127447)

1460  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many patients were diagnosed with cancer of the gullet in (a) 2002, (b) 1998, (c) 1994, (d) 1990, (e) 1986 and (f) 1982.

 [Transferred]   (127451)

1461  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average it took to process an application for screening for criminal records of care home workers in (a) July 2002, (b) October 2002, (c) January 2003, (d) April 2003 and (e) July 2003.

 [Transferred]   (127463)

1462  Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for screening for criminal records of care home workers have been (a) made, (b) completely processed and (c) awaiting processing since 1st January.

 [Transferred]   (127465)

1463  Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of unaccompanied Somali child refugees in local authority care in England.

 [Transferred]   (127387)

1464  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in the publication of the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy; and when he expects the strategy to be published.

 [Transferred]   (127147)

1465  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from strokes and stroke-related diseases in each year between 1995 and 2002.

 [Transferred]   (127700)

1466  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, who will fund the initiative by the Food Standards Agency to set up inspection teams for food-related activities in schools.

 [Transferred]   (127723)

1467  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many inspection teams are to be set up under the initiative by the Food Standards Agency for food-related activities in schools.

 [Transferred]   (127724)

1468  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the terms of reference will be for the inspection teams that are set up under the initiative by the Food Standards Agency for food-related activities in schools.

 [Transferred]   (127725)

1469  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many nutritionists will be on each inspection team set up under the initiative by the Food Standards Agency for food-related activities in schools.

 [Transferred]   (127726)

1470  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what food-related activities are to be inspected under the initiative by the Food Standards Agency to set up inspection teams for food-related activities in schools.

 [Transferred]   (127727)

1471  Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the progress of the school meals research project.

 [Transferred]   (127728)

1472  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teenage pregnancies there were in (a) West Sussex and (b) England in (i) 2001-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03.

 [Transferred]   (127547)

1473  Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to implement Lord Laming's recommendations on child protection when formulating future star ratings for social services departments.

 [Transferred]   (127564)

1474  
N  		Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will be raising the UK egg industry at the Fifth World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Cancu«n.

 [Transferred]   (127597)

1475  Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many meetings there have been between (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department with representatives of the drinks industry to discuss the forthcoming National Alcohol Harm Reduction Stategy since July 2002; with which firms he has had discussions; and if he will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (127980)

1476  Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what action he will take to reclaim from local partnerships money paid in fines as a result of convictions for speeding based on evidence from speed cameras which are not (a) properly identified and (b) positioned in accordance with Government guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (128089)

1477  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the effect of web music piracy on (a) music sales and (b) the cost of legally purchased music.

 [Transferred]   (128132)

1478  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to prevent web music piracy.

 [Transferred]   (128133)

1479  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the United Nations, (b) the United States, (c) the African Union and (d) the Liberian Government on (i) the deployment of peacekeeping troops to Liberia and (ii) measures to end the civil war there.

 [Transferred]   (128225)

1480  Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many war disability pensioners suffering from a wholly psychiatric disorder lost their incapacity benefit in each year from 1995 to 2002.

 [Transferred]   (127952)

1481  John Robertson (Glasgow, Anniesland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking to enable pensioners to participate more fully in community activities.

 [Transferred]   (128135)

1482  Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the effects of investment in renewable energy on reversing (a) climate change and (b) energy shortage.

 [Transferred]   (128219)

1483  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from Allerdale District Council on the proposed Solway Firth windfarm.

 [Transferred]   (127861)

1484  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to enable labelling of imported agricultural products produced to (a) animal welfare and (b) environmental care standards below those of the United Kingdom.

 [Transferred]   (128122)

1485  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her role in the recent grant of financial aid to the Russian Northern fleet in respect to nuclear decommissioning; and from which budget this assistance came.

 [Transferred]   (128167)

1486  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from EU non-applicant states bordering the enlarged EU on access to the Single Market after enlargement.

 [Transferred]   (128175)

1487  Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the level of state funding for laboratories researching contamination of bivalve molluscs by (a) Novavirus and (b) hepatitis A virus.

 [Transferred]   (128265)

1488  Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the timetable the British Government has set for ratifying the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

 [Transferred]   (127962)

1489  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the availability of low-income housing in the Greater London area.

 [Transferred]   (127794)

1490  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funding is afforded to increasing youth club facilities and other projects aimed at getting children off the streets; and if he will make a statement on his policy on providing places for younger teenagers to go to socialise in the evenings.

 [Transferred]   (128097)

1491  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets were set in the Zero Tolerance campaign; what progress has been made; and how many targets have been met.

 [Transferred]   (128111)

1492  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what protection is afforded to nurses and other medical staff in the workplace from members of the public; what assistance is given by the police to hospitals and other medical treatment centres; and what recent measures he has introduced to improve co-operation.

 [Transferred]   (128112)

1493  Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on responsibility for transport between (a) parts of the United Kingdom covered by devolved administrations, (b) England and (c) Northern Ireland.

 [Transferred]   (127778)

1494  Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much public funding the Carbon Trust has received since it was established.

 [Transferred]   (128034)

1495  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on the implications for the insurance industry of legal costs in relation to no win, no fee cases.

 [Transferred]   (127804)

1496  Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he first discussed with the Scottish Executive the safety zones for shipping around the proposed Robin Rigg windfarm.

 [Transferred]   (127860)

1497  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the balance of payments in the UK in foodstuffs; and if she will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (128056)

1498  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many FTSE 350 companies have responded to the Prime Minister's October 2000 challenge to produce corporate environmental reports.

 [Transferred]   (127837)

1499  Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to raise awareness among small businesses of environmental regulations and legislation.

 [Transferred]   (127838)

1500  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which countries have sent radioactive material to the United Kingdom for disposal since 2001; and what charges were levied.

 [Transferred]   (128107)

1501  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many shipments of radioactive waste have been sent abroad to be disposed of since 2001; and what the destination countries were.

 [Transferred]   (128108)

1502  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures are in place to ensure the safe transport of radioactive materials; and what recent discussions have taken place with the nuclear industry regarding the safe disposal of its radioactive waste.

 [Transferred]   (128109)

1503  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proposals he has to encourage businesses to use rail services as a means of transporting goods; and what assessment his Department has made of methods businesses use to transport products.

 [Transferred]   (128244)

1504  Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are in receipt of war and war widows' pensions in East Devon.

 [Transferred]   (128129)

1505  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools in the UK specialise in teaching those who are hard of hearing; what funding is afforded to them; where sign language is taught in state schools; and if he will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (128251)

1506  Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many aggregates companies there are in each region of the UK; and how many there were in 2001.

 [Transferred]   (127198)

1507  Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of EU import controls in preventing the import of meat from areas of high risk into the United Kingdom.

 [Transferred]   (128060)

1508  Mr James Wray (Glasgow, Baillieston): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sites in the United Kingdom specialise in the disposal of radioactive materials.

 [Transferred]   (128106)

1509  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has to ensure that Government departments make Explanatory Notes available (a) on the first day that a Bill is published and (b) well in advance of Second Reading.

 [Transferred]   (128647)

1510  Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will support the transformation of Maze Prison in County Antrim into a tourist attraction or a site that could be used by European countries as an outreaching post for the US tourism market.

 [Transferred]   (128572)

1511  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to show how they intend to improve urban design and regeneration in their next local transport plans.

 [Transferred]   (128644)

1512  Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide environmental health officers with the power to issue destruction orders on seized food products.

 [Transferred]   (128655)

1513  Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the THORP re-processing plant at Sellafield will close in 2010.

 [Transferred]   (128272)

1514  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the average levels of fumicosin and aflatoxin in UK maize grain produced organically.

 [Transferred]   (128695)

1515  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average levels of fumicosin and aflatoxin in UK maize grain used in the human and animal food industry.

 [Transferred]   (128696)

1516  Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the change in (a) turnover and (b) employment in the UK biotechnology industry within the duration of the farm-scale trials programme.

 [Transferred]   (128699)

1517  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long the maximum penalty is for those convicted of gross indecency.

 [Transferred]   (128635)

1518  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been cautioned for gross indecency in lavatories at Baker Street tube station since 1995.

 [Transferred]   (128636)

1519  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 were proceeded against in the UK for outraging public decency where this was the principal offence; and how many of these were found to be guilty.

 [Transferred]   (128637)

1520  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the conviction rate was for persons proceeded against in the UK for outraging public decency where this was the principle offence, in each of the last five years.

 [Transferred]   (128638)

1521  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the use of CCTV cameras in public lavatories to combat the problem of sexual activities.

 [Transferred]   (128639)

1522  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Solicitor General, what percentage of the care home abuse cases have been rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service since 1997.

 [Transferred]   (128390)

1523  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many civil compensation actions have been brought against the employer of the abusing child carer in the UK in each of the past five years.

 [Transferred]   (128397)

1524  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Government has to ban the practice of payments to witnesses in active criminal proceedings.

 [Transferred]   (128619)

1525  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the major civil emergency exercise postponed from 23rd March will take place in London.

 [Transferred]   (128656)

1526  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans there are for civil emergency exercises (a) in London and (b) elsewhere in the next 12 months.

 [Transferred]   (128657)

1527  Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representation the Royal Navy has in the Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre.

 [Transferred]   (128658)

1528  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the number of speed cameras in Romford.

 [Transferred]   (128379)

1529  Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that immigrants are free from easily transmissible viruses, with particular reference to HIV.

 [Transferred]   (128680)

1530  Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government will take in applying the Inland Revenue's salary sacrifice scheme for the purchase of childcare vouchers to ensure that low income employees have the same advantages as higher paid employees; and if he will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (128293)

1531  Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to assist small businesses with the implementation of the Duty of Care regulations; and if she will make a statement.

 [Transferred]   (128692)

1532  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many UK online centres were opened in deprived or rural wards across the North West in 2002-03; and how many centres there are.

 [Transferred]   (128566)

1533  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse plans to locate staff within the Government Office for the North West during 2003.

 [Transferred]   (128567)

1534  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which wards and programmes within Sefton have benefited from the the Government Office for the North West funding programmes for (a) capital investment in housing, (b) major repairs allowance, (c) disabled facilities grants, (d) Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, (e) Community Empowerment Fund, (f) Community Chest and Community Learning Chests, (g) the Objective 1 Programme, (h) the Objective 2 Programme, (i) the Objective 3 Programme, (j) the Community Champions Fund, (k) Pathfinder Young Community Champions Fund, (l) UK Online, (m) Connexions, (n) Connexions Summer Plus, (o) Transforming Youth Work Development Fund, (p) drug and alcohol training, (q) Lifelong Learning Partnerships, (r) Sustainable Development Regional Promotional Budget, (s) renewable energy, (t) Mersey Basin Campaign, (u) building safer communities, (v) Wardens Scheme, (w) small retailer in deprived areas, (x) partnership development, (y) Partnership Support Programme, (z) CCTV, (aa) Target Policing Initiative, (bb) prostitution and (cc) violence against women.

 [Transferred]   (128569)

1535  Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the the Government Office for the North West financial programmes for (a) UK Online, (b) small retailers in deprived areas and (c) CCTV.

 [Transferred]   (128570)


Contents, today's questions
 
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