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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Monday 10 November 2003
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 10 November 2003
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Monday 10 November 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 10 November of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Monday 10 November see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to the Office in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137884) | 2
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what action he is taking to tackle spam e-mails as they affect e-government. | | (137907) | 3
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the organisations located within the boundaries of Pendle Borough Council that have received grants from the Duchy's Benevolent Fund since January 2000.
| | (138104) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 4
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve the procedure for (a) consumers and (b) businesses wishing to make a complaint against the Financial Services Authority. | | (137424) | 5
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact he estimates the Energy Chapter of the Draft EU Constitution will have on the North Sea oil tax regime. | | (137721) | 6
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137881) | 7
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what percentage of pensioners paid income tax in each nation of the United Kingdom in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2002-03, broken down by region. | | (137219) | 8
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Services Authority has adopted the financial literacy strategy used by the Treasury. | | (137672) | 9
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137948) | 10
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137964) | 11
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on value added tax revenue of private schools' charitable status in the last year for which figures are available. | | (137467) | 12
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on Treasury revenues of the exemption for private schools arising from their charitable status from (a) income tax, (b) corporation tax, (c) capitals gains tax, (d) stamp duty and (e) inheritance tax on gifts in each of the last five years. | | (137468) | 13
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average wage for a new graduate was in each year since 1997 in (a) the North East and (b) the UK. | | (137458) | 14
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made with the Lyons Review; and if he will make a statement. | | (137536) | 15
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the results of the Child Trust Fund; and how many people in each area have taken advantage of the scheme. | | (137646) | 16
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment was made of the environmental effects before setting duty rates for (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) biodiesel in the 2003 Finance Bill. | | (137499) | 17
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of cases of overpayment and (b) the amount of the overpayment of (i) working families tax credit, (ii) children's tax credit and (iii) disabled person's tax credit in 2002-03. | | (137642) | 18
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Inland Revenue will publish the code of practice on overpayment of tax credits. | | (137643) | 19
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Treasury's policy regarding the content and extent of answers to written parliamentary questions, with particular reference to the Treasury's policy on the provision of lists, where lists are requested by a written parliamentary question. | | (137644) | 20
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for the differences in the statistics on value-added tax registrations and de-registrations published by HM Customs and Excise in its value-added tax bulletin for September, dated 20th October and by the Department of Trade and Industry in its Statistical News Release 03/111, dated 21st October. | | (137659) | 21
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury's Answer of 30th October, Official Report, column 310W, on the euro, if he will list (a) the meetings attended by ministers to campaign for a pro-European consensus, the ministers at these meetings and the dates of these events and (b) the events planned at which ministers will campaign for a pro-European consensus, the ministers who will attend these events, and the dates of these events. | | (137694) | 22
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the treatment for the purposes of (a) taxation and (b) tax credits of (i) families with two children of different ages and (ii) families with twins. | | (137461) | 23
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what economic instruments he has available to him to moderate the rise in house prices; and if he will make a statement. | | (137572) | 24
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) personal and (b) business euro accounts had been opened at the latest date for which figures are available.
| | (138099) | 25
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the number of (a) new businesses, (b) business closures and (c) companies registered for value added tax in each year since 1996-97. | | (137602) | 26
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, columns 455-6W, on stamp duty land tax, if he will publish his assessment of the impact of stamp duty land tax on the retail sector. | | (137603) | 27
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the rate of change in the burden of business taxation in (a) the UK, (b) Japan, (c) the USA and (d) EU member states. | | (137604) | 28
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the burden of business taxation in (a) the UK and (b) the USA. | | (137605) | 29
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) the European Union, (b) the Institute of Chartered Accountants and (c) business concerning the European Union's proposals for quarterly financial reporting; and if he will make a statement. | | (137608) | 30
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 7th October; and if he will place in the Library the Government's position on the issues discussed, including its voting record. | | (137633) | 31
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 12th and 13th September; and if he will place in the Library the Government's position on the issues discussed, including its voting record. | | (137634) | 32
| Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will reply to the letter dated 3rd October from the Member for Banff and Buchan to the honourable Member for Wentworth, regarding VAT on building repairs. | | (137583) | 33
N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average weekly amount of council tax, net of council tax benefit, paid by (a) all pensioner households and (b) pensioner households whose taxable income is below the income tax threshold. | | (137692) | 34
| Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Written Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 458W, on self-assessment, what information he has collated on the reasons for the increase in Notices to File. | | (138021) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 35
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 for the Lord Chancellor's Department, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137738) | 36
| Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on the collection of fines imposed by magistrates' courts on Merseyside. | | (137376) | 37
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what representations he has received on the legal provisions which apply in relation to the division of property in family courts; and if he will make a statement. | | (137086) | 38
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how much was spent on (a) repairs to and (b) staffing costs in court buildings in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley, broken down by court in the last year for which figures are available. | | (137507) | 39
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what action the Lord Chancellor will take in respect of declarations by justices of the peace of their intention not to uphold the law; and if he will make a statement. | | (137853) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 40
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement. | | (137886) | 41
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for her Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137955) | 42
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the performance targets that (a) her Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if she will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137970) | 43
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support will be given to Olympic sports in which UK participants in the Sydney Olympics gained medals. | | (137464) | 44
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the museums in London to which her Department contributes, that charge for entry; and in each case what level of the entry charge is for adults. | | (137835) | 45
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications were (a) received, (b) rejected and (c) successful for Lottery money for London in each of the last five years. | | (137836) | 46
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much English Heritage has spent on renovating and bringing back into use pre-First World War industrial buildings since 1997; and if she will make a statement. | | (137557) | 47
N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government's policy is on the exclusion of sport from the requirements of EU Competition legislation; and if she will make a statement. | | (137137) | 48
N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with racing authorities about the preliminary conclusion by the Office of Fair Trading on British racing; and if she will make a statement. | | (137138) | 49
N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she expects Ofcom to invite applications for a new commercial radio licence in Cornwall. | | (137428) | 50
N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what changes she expects Ofcom to make in the process of (a) advertising and (b) issuing new commercial radio licences. | | (137429) | 51
N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she expects Ofcom to resume the advertising of new commercial radio licences. | | (137430) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 52
N | Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's budget was in the (a) 1998-99 financial year and (b) 2003-04 financial year at 1998-99 prices, excluding expenditure from the contingency reserve. | | (136740) | 53
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137879) | 54
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long the arbitration case involving International Military Services has been going on; and when he expects it to reach a conclusion. | | (137369) | 55
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what process the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter has undergone to ascertain its readiness for release to operational service. | | (137492) | 56
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the performance of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter, with particular reference to the FADEC system fitted to it. | | (137493) | 57
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the differences between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter are. | | (137494) | 58
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what operational requirement the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter was designed to fulfil when the original order was placed in October 1995. | | (137495) | 59
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to initiating procurement of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and what the results were. | | (137496) | 60
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimate is of the cost of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter procurement project. | | (137497) | 61
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the budget for the Chinook Mark 3 Procurement project was authorised; and what the total cost forecast was at contract stage. | | (137498) | 62
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the validation process of the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter differs from the validation process used to validate the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 2 and Mark 2a Chinook helicopter. | | (137613) | 63
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many lines of software cope were written in programming the FADEC system fitted to the Chinook Mark 3 helicopter. | | (137614) | 64
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what software language was used in writing the software for the FADEC fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and what sub-contractors have been used to conduct this work. | | (137615) | 65
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which company was contracted to fit the FADEC system into the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter. | | (137616) | 66
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what differences there are between the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook and the MH47 Chinook helicopter. | | (137617) | 67
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what type of radiation (a) submariners and (b) radiation workers are exposed when they leave radiation-controlled areas on board submarines. | | (137697) | 68
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 27th October, Official Report, columns 6-7W, on life insurance, what provisions were put in place to cover Reservists called up for service in the six months prior to 1st July. | | (138098) | 69
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137972) | 70
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137974) | 71
N | Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to relocate the Chinook helicopter fleet away from RAF Odiham. | | (137003) | 72
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected commissioning date is of HMS Vanguard; where the nuclear reactor power range tests will be carried out prior to commissioning; and if he will make a statement. | | (137550) | 73
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to order a full environmental impact study prior to the Fylingdales base accepting United States missile defence technology; and if he will make a statement. | | (137899) | 74
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK civilians are working for defence contractors in Iraq; for whom they are working; in which areas of Iraq they are working; what risk assessments were carried out prior to them beginning work; what protection they are receiving; and if he will make a statement. | | (137900) | 75
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of the base at Fylingdales on the environment of the local area; and if he will make a statement. | | (137916) | 76
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) the number and (b) the value of Urgent Operational Requirements for Operation Fingal and for Operation Telic I, showing (i) in which financial year the costs of UORs fall, (ii) how much has been funded from reserves, and (iii) how much has been or will eventually be funded from within the Ministry of Defence's existing budgets instead of from a permanent transfer from the contingency reserve. | | (137723) | 77
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the adjustments to in-year expenditure to remain within his Department's expenditure limits for the current year, showing in each case (a) what action is being taken and (b) what savings will be made. | | (137724) | 78
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations from employers he has received expressing concern about how often members of the Territorial Army and the Reserves are called up for military service; and what reports he has received of employers refusing to employ such people. | | (137725) | 79
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many resignations from the Territorial Army have been tendered in each of the past 10 years; and how many have been received in 2003 to date. | | (137726) | 80
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the present average tour interval is for infantry regiments in the Army. | | (137727) | 81
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the military exercises which have been cancelled in this financial year, setting out the (a) date, (b) purpose and (c) reason for cancellation in each case. | | (137728) | 82
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last published the armed forces monthly manning state; and when it will next be published. | | (137729) | 83
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) gun and (b) bomb attacks there were on British troops in the provinces of (i) Basra City and (b) Maysan, broken down by type of incident and weapons used since 1st May, indicating in each case how many (A) British troops and (B) Iraqi civilians were (1) killed and (2) injured in each incident; and if he will make a statement. | | (136604) | 84
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Iraqis have been (a) killed and (b) injured in violent incidents involving other Iraqis since 1st May in the provinces of (i) Basra City and (ii) Maysan; and if he will make a statement. | | (136605) | 85
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Iraqis are being interned by the British forces because they are perceived to be a threat to coalition forces; how long each such person has been held; what plans the British authorities in Basra have for such people; and if he will make a statement. | | (136606) | 86
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much (a) weaponry and (b) explosives have been seized by British forces in Iraq since 1st May, broken down by type. | | (136607) | 87
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Territorial Army troops have refused to serve after being called up since 1st January; and if he will make a statement. | | (136608) | 88
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average cost was of procuring (a) each Eurofighter Typhoon, (b) one Challenger II battle tank, (c) one Type 45 destroyer, (d) one Astute submarine and (e) one Nimrod aeroplane. | | (136809) | 89
| Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists have signed up for the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces; what percentage of the (a) operational requirement and (b) Government target this represents; and if he will make a statement. | | (137673) | 90
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions Defence Estates has had with (a) the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and (b) the Hampshire Wildlife Trust about the future of the Dean Hill site of special scientific interest. | | (137462) | 91
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the deployment of reservist forces to Iraq; what the longest period served by a reservist in Iraq has been; and what range of specialisms has been covered by reservists in Iraq. | | (137547) | 92
N | Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date is it intended that the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered by the RAF will be delivered to a squadron to undertake their envisaged duties. | | (137222) | 93
N | Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total value of contracts in relation to the order for Chinook HC3 helicopters is. | | (137223) | 94
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were recruited to each of HM Armed Forces in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by region. | | (137502) | 95
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what statistical information analysis of recruitment patterns for each of HM Armed Forces is based. | | (137503) | 96
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) submarines and (b) surface ships are decommissioned and awaiting (i) sale and (ii) disposal. | | (137561) | 97
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what accounting methods are used to value assets in his Department; and if he will make a statement. | | (137913) | 98
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has made to the Treasury concerning the valuation of assets in his Department. | | (137914) | 99
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Investment Strategy for his Department will be published for this year; and if he will make a statement. | | (137915) | 100
| Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the (a) civilian and (b) industrial infrastructure reconstruction programmes undertaken by his Department in Iraq, including the (i) initiation date, (ii) projected completion date and (iii) units involved; and if he will make a statement. | | (137519) | 101
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list by country of origin, the numbers of non-UK citizens who have joined the Army in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (137486) | 102
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the percentage shortfall of personnel is in each service of the Armed Forces. | | (137487) | 103
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many vacancies there are for each of the armed forces; and how many there were on the corresponding date for each of the last six years for which figures are available. | | (137488) | 104
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if, pursuant to his Written Statement of 12th June, Official Report, column 57WS, on missile defence, he is now in a position to publish details of the bilateral arrangements to which he referred. | | (138022) | 105
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what applications have been made in 2003 for (a) extensions to existing facilities and (b) construction of new facilities at (i) the National Security Agency Menwith Hill Station and (ii) RAF Fylingdales bases in Yorkshire; and which were granted.
| | (138069) | 106
N | Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what United States of America military helicopters are based in the UK. | | (137387) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 107
N | Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether, under transitional provisions relating to the Local Government Act 2003, housing authorities currently repaying debt from housing capital receipts will have the transfer of these receipts to central government fully offset in the calculation of housing subsidy for the next two years. | | (135915) | 108
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 by his Department's predecessors in areas relating to regional government, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137736) | 109
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137885) | 110
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which respondents to his Planning Green Paper supported the idea of a tariff system for section 106 agreements. | | [R] (137625) | 111
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average value of the section 106 agreements involved in planning permissions given on (a) call-in and (b) appeal by him was in each of the last five years. | | [R] (137626) | 112
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many planning permissions given on (a) call-in and (b) appeal to him in each of the last five years have involved a section 106 agreement. | | [R] (137627) | 113
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average value of section 106 agreements was in each of the last five years. | | [R] (137628) | 114
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what arrangements he has made for publishing the GVA/Grimley Planning Report. | | [R] (137629) | 115
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many section 106 agreements have been made during each of the last five years. | | [R] (137630) | 116
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions on his policy towards section 106 agreements he has had in the last three months with (a) the leaders of London boroughs, (b) the Mayor of London, (c) the Town and Country Planning Association, (d) the Housebuilders' Federation, (e) the Leader of Manchester City Council, (f) the construction industry, (g) the Leader of Liverpool City Council and (h) non-governmental organisations. | | [R] (137631) | 117
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions on his policy towards section 106 agreements he has had in the last three months with (a) the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, (b) the Leader of Birmingham City Council, (c) the Chairman of the Environment Agency, (d) local authorities, (e) the British Property Federation, (f) leaders of metropolitan district councils, (g) representatives of the planning profession, (h) the Chairman of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, (i) leaders of district councils and (j) the Better Regulation Task Force. | | [R] (137632) | 118
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what (a) amount and (b) share of local government revenue was accounted for by (i) revenue support grant, (ii) other Government grants and funds, (iii) universal business rate and (iv) council tax in (A) England and (B) each council tax levying authority in England in (1) 1996-97 and (2) 2002-03. | | (137220) | 119
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many properties there were (a) in 1997 and (b) on 1st April 2003 in each council tax band in (i) England and (ii) each council tax collecting authority in England; and what the proportion of total properties was in each case. | | (137221) | 120
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Northavon of 8th January, Official Report, columns 271-2W, on new mortgage lending, what the figures are for the most recent available months. | | (137375) | 121
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the total area of the properties in low lying areas that will be affected by an increased risk of flooding from the consequences of climate change by 2050. | | (137389) | 122
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the responsibilities of local authorities are in relation to preparations for the consequences of climate change on coastal areas; and if he will make a statement. | | (137390) | 123
N | Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the capital funding allocated to arm's length management organisations for housing refurbishment is treated in the same way in Government Accounts as capital supplied for the same purposes by local authorities. | | (136969) | 124
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137949) | 125
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137965) | 126
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff are employed by the Government Office for the South West; and how many were employed in 1997. | | (137385) | 127
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the effect on the rating income of each local authority of the reduced rate of business rates paid by private schools because of their charitable status. | | (137469) | 128
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the members of the Wiltshire Fire Authority indicating (a) by whom each was nominated, (b) by whom each was appointed and (c) the political affiliation of each member. | | (137455) | 129
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what rural proofing has been undertaken of the new regional housing policies. | | (137565) | 130
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what responses he has received to his consultation on the future of the exceptions policy for housing. | | (137566) | 131
N | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many decisions after receipt of planning inspectors' reports have been delayed for longer than (a) three, (b) six and (c) nine months in the last three years. | | (137705) | 132
N | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what target he sets for the length of time he takes to reach a decision after receipt of an inspector's report on a planning inquiry. | | (137706) | 133
| Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether his Department intends to compensate local authorities who may have been disadvantaged in local government spending allocations by inaccurate census counts. | | (137849) | 134
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether his Department maintains a list of recommended consultants to be employed by local authorities for conducting (a) best value studies and (b) privatisation or voluntary transfer of council housing stock. | | (137500) | 135
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many conferences staff of the regional co-ordination unit have attended each year since its establishment;
what the cost was in each case; and how many were overseas conferences.
| | (138106) | 136
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many conferences have been organised by the Regional Co-ordination unit in each year since it was established; and what the cost was of each.
| | (138107) | 137
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on public transport by (a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department since May 2002.
| | (138108) | 138
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have paid for (i) the congestion charge and (ii) fines for non-payment of the congestion charge since its introduction. | | (138109) | 139
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on (i) hiring and (ii) purchasing (A) indoor plants, (B) outdoor plants and (C) horticultural and garden products since May 2002. | | (138110) | 140
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on alcohol for official entertainment since May 2002. | | (138111) | 141
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on drinking water since May 2002. | | (138112) | 142
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on attending conferences since May 2002; and if he will list each conference. | | (138113) | 143
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on (i) food, (ii) beverages and (iii) entertainment (A) at functions where only employees of these bodies were present and (B) for visitors since May 2002. | | (138114) | 144
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on refurbishment by (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department since May 2002. | | (138115) | 145
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many e-mails (a) he and (b) his junior ministers have received since May 2002; and if he will make a statement. | | (138116) | 146
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on (a) first class and (b) second class postage by (i) his Ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002. | | (138117) | 147
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) television licences and (b) satellite television subscriptions are held by (i) his Ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department; and what the total cost has been in each case since May 2002. | | (138118) | 148
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the periodicals that (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have subscribed to since May 2002. | | (138119) | 149
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on (a) purchasing commissioned and (b) hiring art work by (i) his Ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002. | | (138120) | 150
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on purchasing (a) fans and (b) air conditioning units by (i) his Ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002. | | (138121) | 151
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on ministerial boxes by (a) his Ministerial office and (b) other ministerial offices within his Department since May 2002. | | (138122) | 152
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many foreign exchange transactions (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have undertaken since May 2002; and what the (i) value in sterling and (ii) currency was in each case. | | (138123) | 153
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on lap-top computers since May 2002; and how many lap-top computers have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen since May 2002. | | (138124) | 154
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on office couriers since May 2002. | | (138125) | 155
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on (i) water charges, (ii) electricity charges, (iii) wallpaper, (iv) print and design work, (v) still photography, (vi) video production and (vii) petrol since May 2002. | | (138126) | 156
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) staff expressed as a full-time equivalent and (b) press and public affairs staff were employed (i) in his Ministerial office, (ii) in other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) by non-departmental bodies, (iv) by executive agencies and (v) by his Department in (A) 1996-97, (B) 1997-98 and (C) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (138127) | 157
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many right to buy applications there were each month since June 1997, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) region. | | (138128) | 158
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many empty homes were owned by (a) local councils and (b) social housing authorities in each year since 1997. | | (138129) | 159
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many applications have been received for development on green belt land since 1997; how many applications he approved for the development to proceed; and what the total size of the green belt area was on which he approved development. | | (138130) | 160
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when the Regional Co-ordination Unit was established. | | (138131) | 161
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many full-time equivalent employees were employed in the Regional Co-ordination Unit (a) when it was first established and (b) in July. | | (138132) | 162
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many publications have been issued by the Regional Co-ordination Unit in each year since its formation; and what the annual cost was. | | (138133) | 163
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many research projects the Regional Co-ordination Unit (a) plans to commission in 2003-04 and (b) commissioned in 2002-03; and what the rationale for each project was. | | (138134) | 164
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much (a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department has spent on pest prevention since May 2002. | | (138135) | 165
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) DVD players, (b) CD players, (c) televisions and (d) radios have been purchased by (i) his Ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002; and what the cost was in each case. | | (138136) | 166
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will set a minimum threshold for turnout in the proposed regional assembly referendums below which the status quo would continue. | | (137505) | 167
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will include with the postal ballot for the proposed English regional assemblies explanatory memoranda setting out the expected costs and savings of the new structure. | | (137559) | 168
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many appeals have been made against valuation bands of properties in Pendle in each year since 1992.
| | (138103) | 169
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the effect of Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2003 on the competitiveness of small business. | | (137606) | 170
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with (a) representatives of local government, (b) the Federation of Small Businesses and (c) other groups representing business on the effect of Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2003 on competition between local government and small businesses. | | (137607) | 171
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many area investment frameworks have been established in the West Midlands Region. | | (137774) | 172
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proposals the Government has to expand the number of community centres in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens. | | (137981) | 173
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the estimated cost of arson to (a) property and (b) the economy in each of the last three years was in (i) the UK and (ii) Merseyside. | | (137990) | 174
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to reduce the number of arson incidents; and what increase in resources the Government plans to give to fire authorities to tackle arson. | | (137991) | 175
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of vehicles that were subject to arson in the last 12 months for which figures are available had more than one month's vehicle duty paid. | | (137992) | 176
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of blazes attended by fire crews were the result of arson in each of the last three years in (a) the UK and (b) Merseyside. | | (137994) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 177
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the estimated annual case workload of the Independent Adjudicator for higher education is; and what annual resources have been allocated for this function. | | (137875) | 178
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received on the Higher Education White Paper proposals for regional centres for knowledge transfer. | | (137876) | 179
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Students' Charter was last revised; and if he will make a statement. | | (137877) | 180
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what arrangements will apply if top-up fees are introduced for the allocation of resources for student bursaries in situations where two or more higher education institutions make joint arrangements to facilitate access to their courses. | | (137878) | 181
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of university courses that are likely to charge the maximum fee after 2006-07. | | (137651) | 182
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has undertaken to establish the level of tuition fees that would set supply equal to demand for particular university courses. | | (137652) | 183
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has undertaken to establish the impact of differential tuition fees on the pattern of student demand for different university courses. | | (137653) | 184
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has undertaken into the impact of tuition fee increases on student demand for university courses. | | (137654) | 185
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137880) | 186
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much a secondary teacher on national average earnings will pay towards the proposed graduate contribution scheme each year until the contribution has been paid off; and if he can give the same figure as a proportion of (a) before income tax and national insurance contribution income and (b) after income tax and national insurance contribution income. | | (137472) | 187
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research has been commissioned by his Department on the effect of (a) upfront tuition fees, (b) deferred repayment of tuition fees and (c) variable tuition fees on university applications. | | (137473) | 188
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the (a) capital expenditure and (b) runnning costs likely to arise as a result of the establishing of the Office of Fair Access. | | (137474) | 189
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment has been made of the average indebtedness of students upon graduation in each of the last 10 years. | | (137475) | 190
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will break down by (a) region and (b) local education authority the proportion of students (i) not paying tuition fees and (ii) receiving a contribution towards tuition fees. | | (137476) | 191
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether he plans to provide assistance for graduate teachers in the repayment of graduate contributions towards tuition fees and loans; and what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposals for graduate contributions on teacher recruitment. | | (137522) | 192
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in which category postcards from students at (a) Loughborough and (b) other universities to the Prime Minister were placed in the Government's response to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper. | | (137552) | 193
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in which category of response the submission by the honourable Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme was placed in the responses to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper. | | (137553) | 194
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, who he intends will be responsible for raising the maximum cap on top-up fees; and by what mechanism. | | (137554) | 195
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to meet concerns expressed by honourable Members about the proposed implementation of variable top-up fees. | | (137555) | 196
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how he proposes to address the funding consequences of universities which have their ability to charge top-up fees withdrawn. | | (137556) | 197
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the amount that would be raised for higher education per £100 increase in annual tuition fees by all universities. | | (137569) | 198
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence collated from overseas on the impact of variable tuition fees on social access to medical courses. | | (137570) | 199
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the expected deficits or surpluses are over the first 20 years for the Government in relation to higher education spending under the present proposals for income-contingent loans, assuming a zero real rate of interest. | | (137685) | 200
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether his Department has commissioned outside institutions and individuals to model variants of a graduate tax. | | (137686) | 201
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions his Department has had with outside bodies regarding the hypothecation of revenues from a graduate tax for use solely in funding higher education. | | (137687) | 202
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) variants of a time-limited graduate tax, (b) principal variants of a quantum-limited graduate tax and (c) variants of a graduate tax were modelled by his Department in connection with its plans to fund higher education. | | (137744) | 203
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason it was stated in his circular, The Government's Higher Education Proposals Explained, of 5th November, that the proceeds of a graduate tax cannot be earmarked by statute for use in the funding of higher education alone. | | (137748) | 204
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason it was stated in his circular, The Government's Higher Education Proposals Explained, of 5th November, that a graduate tax is necessarily payable throughout a graduate's life. | | (137749) | 205
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason it was stated in his circular, The Government's Higher Education Proposals Explained, of 5th November, that a graduate tax would necessarily not have an earnings threshold below which no repayments are made. | | (137750) | 206
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason it was stated in his circular, The Government's Higher Education Proposals Explained, of 5th November, that a graduate tax would necessarily not recover the money for higher education funding for at least 20 years. | | (137751) | 207
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason it was stated that a graduate tax would have to run alongside the student loan system in his circular, The Government's Higher Education Proposals Explained, of 5th November. | | (137752) | 208
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which securitisation and bond issuance schemes his Department has assessed to fund or bridge the cashflow gap in the first years of the main variants of a graduate tax. | | (137753) | 209
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will publish the estimated cashflow profile over 20 years for Government receipts under his present proposals for income contingent loans. | | (137754) | 210
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of alternative models of a graduate tax based on an increase in national insurance contributions payable by graduates and businesses during (a) all and (b) part of a graduate's working life. | | (137755) | 211
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what mechanisms his Department has assessed to fund or bridge the cashflow gap in the first years of the main variants of graduate tax modelled by his Department. | | (137756) | 212
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the cashflow profiles over 20 years are of the principal variants of a graduate tax which his Department has assessed; and what the main assumptions underlying them are. | | (137757) | 213
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what (a) the average monthly repayments, (b) total payment made by the student and (c) the shortfall/surplus at a zero real rate of interest under a graduate tax levied would be at (i) 1p, (ii) 2p and (iii) 3p in the pound of income above £15,000 for (A) 10 years, (B) 15 years, (C) 20 years, (D) 25 years and (E) 30 years after leaving university. | | (137758) | 214
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and (i) how many and (ii) what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137945) | 215
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137961) | 216
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils entered secondary education in Somerset in each of the last six years; and how many secondary school admission appeals there were in the Somerset Local Education Authority in the same periods, broken down by (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals. | | (137382) | 217
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 27th October, Official Report, column 80W, whether with reference to specialist status colleges, a school's previous performance in value added terms is a factor in any bid for specialist status. | | (137890) | 218
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money his Department spent on advertising and marketing in each month since 1997. | | (137571) | 219
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost of using (a) KPMG and (b) the National College for School Leadership to develop guidance and support to help schools' budget management. | | (137573) | 220
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on costs to his Department of raising the repayment thresholds on student loans to £15,000 a year. | | (137574) | 221
N | Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to reform the management and organisation of CAFCASS. | | (137479) | 222
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many different foundation degrees are offered at (a) universities, (b) higher education colleges and (c) further education colleges in (i) Tyne and Wear, (ii) the North East and (iii) the UK. | | (137459) | 223
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people are studying for foundation degrees at (a) universities, (b) higher eduction colleges and (c) further education colleges in (i) Tyne and Wear, (ii) the North East and (iii) the UK. | | (137460) | 224
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received on setting minimum standards for the nutritional value of a free school meal; and if he will make a statement. | | (136734) | 225
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that the content and quality of school meals is regularly monitored and evaluated. | | (136735) | 226
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make it his policy to prevent school meals providers from advertising or promoting food or drink with a high fat or sugar content; and if he will make a statement. | | (136736) | 227
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what training is provided for school governors on (a) their responsibility for ensuring that school meals meet the required standards and (b) the methods to be used for evaluating the quality of school meals. | | (136737) | 228
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to promote the use of new technology to provide a menu assessment tool for primary school meals. | | (136738) | 229
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what national standards his Department (a) sets and (b) recognises for the employment of teaching assistants in schools, with particular reference to (i) pay and (ii) training. | | (137578) | 230
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many local education authorities have sought authority to create partnerships with private companies to deliver additional resources for schools and colleges in their areas; which companies are involved in each area; and how much has been contributed to each educational institution. | | (137537) | 231
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what services are available to (a) students and (b) teachers to deal with bullying in schools. | | (137538) | 232
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what is being done to promote scientific careers to school students; and what involvement professional bodies have in such information and promotion schemes. | | (137539) | 233
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking with the Home Office's Active Community Unit to increase volunteering in schools; and if he will make a statement. | | (137544) | 234
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the importance placed on the promotion of vocational education within the schools system. | | (137545) | 235
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school students are eligible for free school meals in each English local education authority area. | | (137546) | 236
| Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he will take to raise the percentage of the London workforce with NVQ Level 2 qualifications. | | (137490) | 237
| Mr Ian Taylor (Esher & Walton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the indicative allocation of targeted transitional grant 2004-05 is for Surrey. | | (137525) | 238
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the implications of the transfer of responsibility for the Child Benefit Office to the Inland Revenue, with particular reference to whether the office's ability to assist local councils with information in connection with child protection enquiries. | | (137769) | 239
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what response he has made to the letter of 3rd November from the Chief Executive of Southend Borough Council relating to child protection. | | (137770) | 240
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, with which schools and local authorities he has discussed proposals to take advantage of the flexibility provisions of the Education Act 2002. | | (137087) | 241
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many enquiries he has received about use of the flexibility provisions of the Education Act 2002. | | (137088) | 242
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether his pledge of increased school funding is aimed at assisting schools in meeting the cost of (a) incremental drift and (b) teachers crossing the pay threshold. | | (137477) | 243
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Government's estimate is of the proportion of children that were bullied in schools in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the North West region and (c) Merseyside in each of the last three years. | | (137977) | 244
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average student loan for a student from (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St Helens and (d) England was in each year since 1997. | | (137996) | 245
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of pupils from secondary school went on to take A-levels in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St Helens and (d) England in each year since 1997. | | (137997) | 246
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of young people from (a) the North West Region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St Helens and (d) England took up places in higher education in each year since 1997. | | (137998) | 247
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of students from (a) the North West Region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St Helens and (d) England in higher education received (i) a grant and (ii) a student loan in each year since 1997. | | (138000) | 248
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students from (a) the North West Region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St Helens and (d) England in higher education paid up-front fees in each year since 1997.
| | (138001) | 249
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to reduce the number of children that are bullied in schools in England; and what additional resources the Government has made available in this financial year to schools to tackle bullying. | | (138010) | 250
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to increase the number of students in higher education establishments in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens. | | (138011) | 251
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what additional resources the Government has allocated to higher education establishments in each of the last five years in (a) the North West region and (b) St Helens. | | (138012) | 252
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of young people from (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens have studied or are studying at higher education establishments in each of the last five years. | | (138013) | 253
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average size of (a) grants, (b) student loans and (c) the debt acquired to enable students to finance higher education has been in each year since 1997. | | (138043) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 254
N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the future of English Nature. | | (137139) | 255
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been carried out of the (a) economic and (b) environmental impact of the arrival of the ships due to arrive from the United States for dismantling by Able UK. | | (138064) | 256
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers Government ministers have to prevent ships entering United Kingdom waters; and on what occasions they have used these powers. | | (138065) | 257
N | Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which of the farms in the Alnwick area of Northumberland declared to be infected places in the foot and mouth epidemic were subsequently found to have no positive blood test results. | | (135916) | 258
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement. | | (137883) | 259
| Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government makes of the environmental impact of trophy hunting of endangered animals around the world; what steps the Government is taking to encourage the control of hunting of endangered species; and if she will make a statement. | | (137548) | 260
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the effect upon the cost of a cremation arising from (a) the cost of installing gas cleaning filtration systems to remove mercury emissions and (b) the need to travel a greater distance to the nearest crematorium if closures take place. | | (137918) | 261
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received about the review being undertaken by the Environment Agency's Local Authority Unit into the Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessing Costs for crematoria. | | (137919) | 262
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate has been made of the cost of fitting gas cleaning filtration systems into crematoria. | | (138017) | 263
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate has been made of the number of crematoria which would be likely to close if there was a requirement to fit cleaning and filtration systems. | | (138018) | 264
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to conduct (a) quantified and (b) qualified research into mercury emissions from crematoria prior to reaching a decision on whether gas cleaning filtration systems should be fitted. | | (138019) | 265
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what account she will take on any decision to enforce the fitting of filtration systems into United Kingdom crematoria of trends on levels of mercury emissions. | | (138020) | 266
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the agencies that have responsibilities for planning for the consequences of climate change on coastal areas; and if she will make a statement. | | (137391) | 267
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the area of coastal land that will be lost owing to the impact of climate change by 2050. | | (137392) | 268
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the insurance industry regarding the insurance costs arising from climate change; and if she will make a statement. | | (137393) | 269
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the performance targets that (a) her Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if she will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137959) | 270
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for her Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137973) | 271
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers there were in dairy farming in each year since 1992, broken down by (a) conventional and (b) organic farming. | | (137381) | 272
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many grants made under the Warm Front scheme have been suspended this year to date; and if she will make a statement. | | (137085) | 273
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures the Government has put in place in enable dairy farmers to add value to their products. | | (137892) | 274
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements she has put in place to evaluate the effect of the farm gate price of raw milk on average net (a) income and (b) profit of dairy farms in the United Kingdom. | | (137893) | 275
| 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 threshold of the farm gate price of raw milk that would enable dairy farming to be economically viable. | | (137894) | 276
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the current proposals for Common Agricultural Policy reform on the farm gate price of milk. | | (137895) | 277
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has sought to amend EC Regulation 2597/97 in accordance with the Milk Task Force recommendations of December 2001. | | (137896) | 278
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government supports decoupling of the dairy sector in 2005. | | (138026) | 279
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets the Government has set for (a) levels of production and (b) the number of producers in dairy farming. | | (138027) | 280
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements she will put in place to assist dairy farmers affected by herd breakdowns as a result of bovine tuberculosis. | | (138028) | 281
| 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 number of cattle which are awaiting tests to identify bovine tuberculosis. | | (138029) | 282
| 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 (a) the funding for and (b) the number of veterinary surgeons which would be required to ensure there was no waiting list for cattle tests to identify bovine tuberculosis. | | (138030) | 283
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) strategy has been implemented and (b) funds have been committed to (i) identifying and (ii) eradicating bovine tuberculosis. | | (138031) | 284
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the volume in tonnes of (a) poultry meat produced in the UK, (b) poultry meat produced in the UK and sold at UK retail outlets and (c) poultry meat produced in the UK and exported overseas was in the last year for which figures are available. | | (138032) | 285
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what volume in tonnes of poultry meat was imported into the UK in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and from which countries it was imported. | | (138033) | 286
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures she has put in place to assess the effect of tariff reductions on egg imports on the UK's egg industry. | | (138034) | 287
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what direct subsidies are available to egg producers in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany. | | (138035) | 288
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what conditions producers are required to meet to be licensed to receive export refunds for egg and poultry products; how many licences have been issued to UK farmers; and what level of export refunds are available to licence holders. | | (138036) | 289
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures she has put in place to assess the impact of Brazilian turkey imports into the United Kingdom on the UK's turkey producing industry. | | (138037) | 290
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what volume in tonnes of (a) shelled eggs and (b) whole egg powder was imported into the United Kingdom in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and from which countries. | | (138076) | 291
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for determining whether United Kingdom egg producers may continue to use enriched cages for housing laying hens. | | (138077) | 292
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the conclusion of the European Union's Agricultural Research Department report that under EU Council directive 99/74/EC on the Welfare of Laying Hens, EU countries will not be able to compete in their home egg market after 2012; and if she will make a statement. | | (138078) | 293
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to assist UK egg producers to compete in (a) European and (b) world wide markets. | | (138079) | 294
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will press the European Union to bring forward measures to enable EU countries to maintain their market share in the European egg market. | | (138080) | 295
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that poultry meat imports from (a) the European Union and (b) third country suppliers meet the same (a) quality and (b) health and safety requirements that poultry meat producers in the UK are required to meet. | | (138081) | 296
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government provides to (a) poultry meat and (b) egg producers. | | (138082) | 297
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what volume in tonnes of shelled eggs was (a) produced by United Kingdom farms, (b) produced by United Kingdom farms and sold at United Kingdom retail outlets and (c) produced by United Kingdom farms and exported in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and to which countries shelled eggs were exported. | | (138083) | 298
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what volume in tonnes of whole egg powder was (a) produced in the United Kingdom, (b) produced in the United Kingdom and sold in United Kingdom retail outlets and (c) produced in the United Kingdom and exported in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and to which countries whole egg powder was exported. | | (138084) | 299
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the egg production costs in the United Kingdom; and what assessment she has made of the reasons for the primary egg production costs in (a) Poland, (b) the Ukraine and (c) the USA. | | (138085) | 300
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures are in place to assess whether egg products imported to the United Kingdom meet the same quality standards as domestic egg products. | | (138086) | 301
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with (a) representatives of the UK's egg industry and (b) the European Union about possible changes in the EU intervention price of feed grain; and if she will make a statement. | | (138087) | 302
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proposals she will bring forward at (a) national and (b) European level to tackle cetacean by-catch; and if she will make a statement. | | (138088) | 303
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets she has set for the decommissioning of the UK fishing fleet; and if she will take steps to ensure that the oldest boats and lines constitute the same proportion of boats decommissioned as they do of the entire fleet. | | (138089) | 304
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the UK's decommissioning plans are supported by binary decommissioning of fishing vessels within EU member states. | | (138090) | 305
| 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 likely number of vessels in the UK fishing fleet in each of the next 10 years. | | (138091) | 306
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effects on fishing communities of the decommissioning of the UK fishing fleet. | | (138092) | 307
| 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 cost of a benefits package in relation to decommissioning of the UK fishing fleet. | | (138093) | 308
| 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 cost of the process of
decommissioning the UK fishing fleet. | | (138094) | 309
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what major fish stocks which are closed to UK vessels remain open to other countries' vessels; and what the quota levels of each are. | | (138095) | 310
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans there are for decommissioning fishing fleets in other EU member states. | | (138096) | 311
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the rural proofing of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's new regional housing policies. | | (137827) | 312
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that UK companies are informed of measures required to comply with the European Landfill Directive. | | (137541) | 313
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is on whether the United States vessels now en route to Hartlepool should continue their voyage. | | (137142) | 314
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date Able UK applied to her Department for (a) a dredging licence and (b) a licence to build a protective bund for a proposed dry dock in respect of the planned decommissioning of United States vessels. | | (137143) | 315
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans have been made by the Environment Agency to deal with United States vessels bound for decommissioning at Hartlepool if they are unable to enter the port. | | (137146) | 316
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, at what level in (a) the Environment Agency and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs September's modification to Able UK's waste management licence was approved. | | (137698) | 317
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the waste management licence originally issued by the Environment Agency to Able UK covered the dismantling of ships. | | (137699) | 318
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action she plans to take to manage the environmental risk posed by former United States naval vessels in British waters pending the resolution of the court proceedings due in December. | | (137700) | 319
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for the work of (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency of the injunction obtained against Able UK by Friends of the Earth on 5th November. | | (137702) | 320
| Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Environment Agency's press statement of 6th October about the decommissioning of United States ships did not refer to the Agency's earlier advice that the ships should not sail from America. | | (137768) | 321
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to introduce crop spray buffer zones for land next to housing. | | (137567) | 322
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect on farmers of the introdution of crop spray buffer zones for land next to housing. | | (137568) | 323
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will assess the adequacy of charges available to prosecutors under food regulations. | | (137584) | 324
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to improve enforcement of food safety regulations at animal byproducts processing premises arising from recent meat fraud cases. | | (137588) | 325
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has a database of registered animal byproducts approved premises available to enforcement agencies, with particular reference to the Meat Hygiene Service. | | (137589) | 326
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to restrict the use of growth promoters in (a) animals and (b) fish destined for human consumption. | | (137558) | 327
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with water companies on the adequacy of future supplies; and if she will make a statement. | | (137562) | 328
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether estimates of yield for GM maize in the GM farm scale evaluation published by her Department will be based upon maize crops grown using the same herbicide regime as used on these farm scale evaluations. | | (137655) | 329
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether in the GM farm scale evaluations (a) commercially useful yield, (b) starch and (c) dry matter measurements of the final GM maize crop were independently obtained to confirm whether the use of this herbicide regime would allow an economically viable crop to be grown. | | (137656) | 330
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if a transfrontier shipment notification can be issued when a company does not have a licence to dispose of the shipment. | | (137925) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 331
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on extensions of co-decision in the draft Constitutional Treaty in articles concerning the European Union's budget. | | (136538) | 332
| Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the UK-funded project to improve the prospects for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. | | (137481) | 333
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the proposed oil pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan. | | (137520) | 334
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the intentions of aid agencies to stay in Iraq. | | (137523) | 335
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government about the building of the wall. | | (137524) | 336
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contacts his Department has had with the Daily News in Zimbabwe. | | (137635) | 337
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met President Mbeki to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. | | (137638) | 338
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he will undertake further joint initiatives with the foreign ministers of France and Germany with regard to relations with Iran. | | (137639) | 339
| Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the energy chapter of the proposed European Union constitution as it affects the UK offshore oil and gas industry. | | (137759) | 340
N | Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd October, Official Report, column 617W, on the Middle East, whether Article 147 of the 4th Geneva Convention is one of the pieces of international law with which he believes the actions of the Israeli Government to be inconsistent. | | (136739) | 341
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what shared competence exists on energy policy within the EU; and what impact he estimates the proposed Energy Chapter will have on the United Kingdom. | | (137739) | 342
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137888) | 343
N | Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultations took place between Her Majesty's Government and (a) the UN, (b) the United States and (c) the Coalition Provisional Authority prior to the signing of Order 39 by Mr Paul Bremer in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. | | (136578) | 344
N | Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will give the (a) name, (b) rank and (c) role of the senior British personnel employed by the Coalition Provisional Authority; and if he will make a statement. | | (136579) | 345
N | Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the remit of the UK's special envoy to Iraq. | | (136580) | 346
N | Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 28th October, Official Report, column 186W, on the Iraq Survey Group, what role the Government played in (a) setting up and (b) drawing up the mandate of the Iraq Survey Group; and if he will make a statement. | | (136813) | 347
N | Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking, other than through the work of the Iraq Survey Group, to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; whether the Government's assessment of Iraq's weapons programmes differs from that contained in the report of the Group; and if he will make a statement. | | (136814) | 348
N | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department intends to make to (a) the Governor of Ohio, (b) the President of the United States and (c) other US authorities in the event that the appeal on behalf of Mr Kenny Richey to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is unsuccessful. | | (136815) | 349
| Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether the US Administration's plans for new low yield nuclear weapons will comply with that country's obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. | | (137590) | 350
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list payments from the United Nations Compensation Commission to (a) the UK Government and (b) other UK beneficiaries broken down by (i) amount and (ii) date; what disbursements have been made by the UK Government; to whom; for what amount; on what dates; and if he will make a statement. | | (137433) | 351
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the destruction of (a) wells and (b) other infrastructure in Gaza by the Israeli army. | | (137431) | 352
N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) medical help and (b) legal help and advice has been given to Mr Tariq Aziz. | | (137730) | 353
N | Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the numbers of UK citizens travelling to Iraq to fight against coalition forces; and if he will make a statement. | | (137140) | 354
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137957) | 355
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan. | | (137432) | 356
N | Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he and the Attorney-General (a) have made and (b) plan to make to the Greek Government to ensure the repayment to the British plane-spotters arrested in Greece of their bail sureties. | | (137478) | 357
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | | (137601) | 358
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what monitoring takes place to ensure that military aid to Colombia does not indirectly support paramilitary action against civilians. | | (137720) | 359
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the work of the Community Liaison Unit. | | (137534) | 360
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) funding, (b) remit and (c) functions of the science and technology network. | | (137535) | 361
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the areas of policy, legislation, administration and decision on objectives to be attained which (a) are and (b) will be the exclusive responsibility of the European Union, and the Articles of the proposed Constitution in which these are set out. | | (137941) | 362
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will lay before Parliament a White Paper reproducing the texts of those proposed articles of the draft EU Constitution which are new and additional to those found within or included in the European treaties already in force, giving for each a statement of purpose and the reasons ministers have for supporting, amending or rejecting each and his assessment of whether each is a (a) new constitutional provision and (b) a tidying up. | | (137942) | 363
| Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received from representatives of the UK Government in Sri Lanka concerning (a) President Chandrika Kumaratunga's declaration of a state of emergency on 5th November; and (b) Mrs Kumaratunga's dismissal of the Sri Lankan Defence, Interior and Media ministers; and if he will make a statement. | | (137707) | 364
| Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department will assess the impact of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's declaration of a state of emergency on 5th November on the Sri Lankan peace process; what discussions he has had with (a) President Chandrika Kumaratunga, (b) Colonel Sumedha Perera, (c) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, (d) representatives and members of the Government of India and (e) representatives and members of the Government of Japan; and if he will make a statement. | | (137708) | 365
| Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact the imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15th May has had on (a) civil rights and (b) media freedom in the area; when this was raised with (i) the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration, (ii) President Megawati Sukarnoputri and (iii) representatives of the Government of Indonesia; what assurances were (A) requested and (B) received; and if he will make a statement. | | (137709) | 366
| Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) President Megawati Sukarnoputri, (b) representatives of the Government of Indonesia, (c) UK-based non-governmental organisations and (d) local non-governmental organisations concerning the extension of the state of martial law in Aceh; and if he will make a statement. | | (137710) | 367
| Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Govan): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the current status of the High Commission in Islamabad; and when he expects it to be fully operational. | | (137832) | 368
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the UK will put forward to strengthen the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty at the preparatory conference, 21st session, to be held from 10th to 14th November. | | (137940) | 369
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment (a) he and (b) his officials have made of the relevance to United Kingdom policies on non-proliferation of the study on disarmament and non-proliferation education study series number 30 (2003), produced by the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs for the United Nations Secretary General. | | (138060) | 370
| The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's contribution to the provision of a civil police service in Iraq. | | (137777) | 371
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to what extent the Government provides air surveillance of St Helena's 200 mile exclusive fishing zone to determine the number of fishing vessels fishing (a) legally and (b) illegally in this zone. | | (136972) | 372
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 29th October, Official Report, column 277W, on working holidaymakers, if he will break down by country of origin the numbers of applications (a) received, (b) issued, (c) refused and (d) outstanding for visas for working holidays. | | (137815) | 373
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's estimate is of the number of children that were trafficked in (a) the world, (b) Europe and (c) the UK in each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to reduce this number. | | (137978) | 374
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Iraqi (a) civilians, (b) police officers and (c) military police he estimates have been killed in terrorist attacks in Iraq since 1st May. | | (137995) | 375
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on Iran's enrichment of uranium. | | (137999) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 376
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who are suited to treatment with animal insulin rather than synthetic insulin. | | (137592) | 377
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence he has received on adverse reactions to synthetic insulin amongst diabetics which were not experienced when animal insulin was used; and if he will make a statement. | | (137593) | 378
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will meet representatives of the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust to discuss the continued (a) choice between and (b) availability of (i) synthetic and (ii) animal insulin. | | (137594) | 379
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to issue guidance to the medical profession about adverse reactions to synthetic insulin. | | (137595) | 380
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he will take to ensure competition in (a) the manufacture of insulin and (b) the manufacture of different types of insulin for treatment of diabetes; and if he will make a statement. | | (137596) | 381
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with diabetes require (a) animal insulin and (b) synthetic insulin. | | (137597) | 382
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) received on the suitability of synthetic insulin for treatment of diabetes. | | (137598) | 383
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department takes to avail itself of research from a wide range of sources into the safety and suitability of synthetic insulin. | | (137599) | 384
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received from patients about the suitability of synthetic insulin. | | (137600) | 385
N | Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time before dentists qualified overseas can take the qualifying examinations to practise in the UK has been over the last five years. | | (135917) | 386
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137882) | 387
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answers of 3rd November, Official Report, column 518W, on mental health, if he will place copies of the (a) Robert Lee Review and (b) review by Sir Andrew Leggatt in the Library. | | (138023) | 388
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answers of 3rd November, Official Report, column 518W, on mental health, if he will set out details of the regional variations in efficiency and practice of the Mental Health Review Tribunal offices. | | (138024) | 389
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will amend the Cancer Patient Information Strategy to ensure that information on (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment is available for all people affected by (i) breast cancer and (ii) cancer in general who want it. | | (137454) | 390
| Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost of converting residential rooms operated by the Leonard Cheshire Organisation at the Holehird home for the disabled in Windermere to comply with new national care standards. | | (137922) | 391
| Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Leonard Cheshire Organisation regarding capital costs associated with improving their properties to meet national care standards. | | (137923) | 392
| Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the Holehird Leonard Cheshire home for the disabled in Windermere. | | (137924) | 393
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Sutton and Cheam, of 8th January, Official Report, columns 278-9W, on general practitioners, what the figures were for the year to April 2003. | | (137377) | 394
N | Dr Jack Cunningham (Copeland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) the availability of and (b) access to National Health dental services in Copeland and West Cumbria. | | (137092) | 395
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of raising the minimum age for smoking to (a) 18 and (b) 21 years old, with particular reference to the development and health of young people. | | (136811) | 396
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of 16 to 18 year olds are addicted to cigarettes in the UK. | | (136812) | 397
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria the National Institute for Clinical Excellence uses to decide when to look at new treatments in between their particular class appraisals. | | (137575) | 398
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide the National Institute for Clinical Excellence with extra funds (a) to carry out more appraisals and (b) to issue interim guidance on new technologies during 2004. | | (137576) | 399
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is being given to funders to ensure that new medical treatments that are class compatible with the National Institute for Clincal Excellence appraised treatments are not denied funding because they have become licensed in between NICE's appraisal. | | (137577) | 400
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much accrued to the NHS from charges on non-UK citizens for treatment in the NHS in each of the last five years. | | (137491) | 401
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137946) | 402
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137962) | 403
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) hospital and (b) community full-time equivalent nurses were employed by (i) Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust and (ii) Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997. | | (137379) | 404
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses, (b) non-medical, non-nursing care workers and (c) administrative staff were employed in general practitioner practices in Taunton in each year since 1997. | | (137380) | 405
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners there were in (a) Taunton Deane and (b) West Somerset in each year since 1992. | | (137384) | 406
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, by primary care trust, the (a) numbers and (b) percentages of patients over 75 who have had their medicines reviewed at least annually in the last three years. | | (137929) | 407
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department has audited the production of audits by local health care providers of their risk management procedures to reduce the risk of older people falling. | | (137930) | 408
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals have introduced self-administration schemes for medicines for older people. | | (137931) | 409
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which general hospitals which care for people who have had strokes have not developed plans to introduce a specialised stroke service from 2004. | | (137932) | 410
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what use he will make of the skills profiles which general hospitals which care for older people have been asked to provide; and if he will make a statement. | | (137933) | 411
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general hospitals have completed a skills profile of their staff in relation to the care of older people; and how many have in place a training programme to address the gaps identified. | | (137934) | 412
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many intermediate care beds there were in each year since 1999. | | (137935) | 413
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care trusts include the development of an integrated continence service in their health improvement programme. | | (137936) | 414
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what analysis he has made of the (a) levels and (b) patterns of services for older people in order to facilitate comparisons across health authorities. | | (137937) | 415
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people received intermediate care services in each year since 1999. | | (137938) | 416
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is being taken by his Department to respond to the concerns of the Commission for Health Improvement in relation to (a) ambulance response times being manipulated, (b) wide variations in the categorisation of calls, (c) poor management practice in ambulance trusts and (d) the need for appropriate outcome measures for the Ambulance Service. | | (138059) | 417
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the recent sector report from the Commission for Health Improvement; and what the CHI found in ambulance trusts.
| | (138070) | 418
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS Modernisation Agency has consulted patient and consumer organisations in their work on the Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on its work programme.
| | (138071) | 419
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received from (a) patient and consumer organisations and (b) professional and trade asscociations in relation to the Ambulance Service.
| | (138072) | 420
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the (a) priorities and (b) work programme of the Emergency Care Strategy Unit.
| | (138073) | 421
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of clinical advice provided by NHS Direct to patients.
| | (138074) | 422
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the number of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration who were treated privately with photodynamic therapy in NHS hospitals in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. | | (138048) | 423
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues has received from (i) the Royal College of Opthalmology, (ii) the AMD Alliance and (iii) the RNIB on the implementation of NICE guidance for wet age-related macular degeneration; and if he will make a statement. | | (138049) | 424
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether reading centres assessing patients with wet age-related macular degeneration for treatment with photodynamic therapy will be required to make a diagnosis before patients are treated; and if he will make a statement. | | (138050) | 425
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of providing photodynamic therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (a) by primary care trusts, (b) by hospital trusts and (c) in total; and if he will make a statement. | | (138051) | 426
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of patients with classic no occult wet age-related macular degeneration who are unable to receive photodynamic therapy on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. | | (138052) | 427
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals have equipment and trained professionals in place to provide photodynamic therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration; and if he will make a statement. | | (138053) | 428
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 21st October by the honourable Member for Doncaster Central to the honourable Member for Billericay, Official Report, columns 537-8W, what definition he uses in the context of implementing guidance of the terms (a) varying and (b) delaying; and if he will make a statement. | | (138054) | 429
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to (a) the NHS, (b) individuals, (c) families and carers, (d) local authorities and (e) taxpayers of 3,000 people losing their sight; and if he will make a statement. | | (138055) | 430
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to supply personal alarms to NHS staff. | | (137466) | 431
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) general and (b) acute beds were open overnight in each English region in each of the last 10 years. | | (137364) | 432
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the hospitals in London using MRI scanners; and when each scanner was installed. | | (137365) | 433
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the general practitioner vacancy (a) rate and (b) number was in each English region in each year since 1997. | | (137366) | 434
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the backlog maintenance cost to reach estatecode condition was in each English region for (a) NHS trusts and (b) mental health trusts in the last six years. | | (137367) | 435
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many finished consultant episodes for sexually transmitted diseases there were in each English region in each of the last six years. | | (137368) | 436
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on progress in working out the details in relation to his announcement on 29th August that he would establish a financial assistance scheme for people infected with hepatitis C as a result of being given blood products by the NHS. | | (137747) | 437
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to determine the ethical framework applied to genetic research in receipt of financial support from the Government. | | (137528) | 438
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who has been consulted on the ethical dimensions of the Biobank project; and where it is possible to inspect the comments of consultees. | | (137529) | 439
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department is able to trace the sources of (a) mesothelioma and (b) other asbestos-related diseases through its records. | | (137383) | 440
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Food Standards Agency has to provide guidance to those involved in the meat trade to (a) improve self-regulation and (b) assist the trade in identifying criminal activity in the distribution of poultry waste. | | (137585) | 441
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is planned to ensure effective policing of the segregation of high and low risk waste at poultry slaughterhouses and its distribution from slaughterhouses; and what plans he has to provide extra resources to the Meat Hygiene Service for this purpose. | | (137586) | 442
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set up an inquiry into the lessons to be learnt from the prosecutions relating to meat fraud (a) at Denby Poultry Products and (b) in Rotherham. | | (137587) | 443
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists in North East Lincolnshire provide NHS dentistry for adults; and how many will take new NHS clients onto their rolls. | | (137695) | 444
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals he has for improving access to NHS dentistry in North East Lincolnshire. | | (137696) | 445
| Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many junior doctors have been working longer than (a) 72 hours, (b) 56 hours and (c) 48 hours per week in the last month for which figures are available. | | (137765) | 446
| Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many junior doctors are compliant with the rest requirements of (a) the New Deal on junior doctors' hours and (b) the European Working Time Directive. | | (137766) | 447
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list occasions when NHS trusts and their predecessor NHS bodies spent money on publicising the benefits of an anticipated reorganisation of the NHS in advance of the necessary legislation being enacted; and if he will make a statement. | | (137504) | 448
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in trialling cannabis for medicinal use; and if he will make a statement. | | (137563) | 449
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of each reorganisation of the NHS since 1977. | | (137564) | 450
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 4th November, Official Report, column 585W, on foundation hospitals, if he will place in the Library copies of the material produced by putative NHS foundation hospital trusts which seek public support for such status. | | (137591) | 451
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many termination payments have been made by NHS trusts to (a) chief executives and (b) senior managers since January 2000; and what the total amount paid was for each trust.
| | (138100) | 452
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the NHS trusts which provide (a) alternative and (b) complementary medicine.
| | (138105) | 453
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who will determine which applicants will be selected to serve on each patient and public involvement forum. | | (137484) | 454
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications have been received for each patient and public involvement forum. | | (137485) | 455
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the (a) pay structure and (b) employment package for qualified audiologists; and if he will make a statement. | | (137854) | 456
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there are for audiologists at each NHS trust. | | (137855) | 457
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many audiologists qualified in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (137857) | 458
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how long it takes for an audiologist to become qualified. | | (137858) | 459
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are being trained as audiologists. | | (137859) | 460
| Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will break down by region the £8.5 million announced on 12th May to provide services for patients with symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. | | (137820) | 461
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will require health warnings to be displayed on alchoholic drinks; and if he will make a statement. | | (137771) | 462
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has held with the British Lung Foundation; and if he will make a statement. | | (137773) | 463
N | Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what adjustment he will make to the funding of (a) primary health care trusts and (b) other health trusts in Manchester following the adjustment to the census figures for Manchester made by the Office of National Statistics on 4th November. | | (137224) | 464
N | Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much capital expenditure there has been in the NHS in England in each of the last five years; and how much of that spending was attributable to private finance inititative projects. | | (137091) | 465
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional resources the Government made available for respite care since 1997 in (a) the UK, (b) the North West region and (c) St Helens. | | (137979) | 466
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's policy for the provision of respite care for carers is. | | (137980) | 467
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time ambulances took to reach (a) the patient and (b) the hospital to which the patient needed to be taken in (i) the North West region, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) St Helens in the last 12 months. | | (137989) | 468
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time an ambulance took to reach hospital was for the last 12 months that figures are available in (a) England, (b) the North West Region, (c) Merseyside and (d) St Helens. | | (138004) | 469
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): 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) the St Helens trust area, (b) Merseyside and (c) England. | | (138005) | 470
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what proportion of 999 calls made to the Merseyside Ambulance Service in the most recently measured 12 months for which figures are available an ambulance was unnecessary. | | (138007) | 471
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of ambulance call outs in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available have taken more than (a) 15, (b) 30 and (c) 50 minutes to respond to category A emergency calls in (i) the St Helens and Knowsley Trust area, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England. | | (138008) | 472
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) frontline ambulances, (b) patient transport vehicles, (c) fast response cars, (d) medical motorbikes, (e) medical cycles and (f) special baby care units were available in Merseyside in each year since 1997. | | (138009) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 473
| Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a code of practice will accompany the Sexual Offences Bill. | | (137813) | 474
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137887) | 475
| Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to police forces on action to be taken against motorists who drive vehicles with densely blacked out windows; and if he will make a statement. | | (137394) | 476
N | Dr Jack Cunningham (Copeland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letters of 10th March and 5th September of the honourable Member for Copeland concerning a constituent awaiting release from prison. | | (137089) | 477
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources his Department plans to use to counter drug misuse. | | (137822) | 478
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how he plans to keep (a) the police, (b) environmental health and housing officers and (c) the community informed of new powers resulting from legislation concerning anti-social behaviour; and how he will monitor the implementation of the new legislation. | | (137823) | 479
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions the police have used their new power to confiscate vehicles that persistently infringe road traffic regulations or are used off-road causing public annoyance in (a) Crosby and (b) England. | | (137824) | 480
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how he proposes to improve the efficiency of the administration of the implementation of anti-social behaviour legislation and orders. | | (137825) | 481
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) efficiency of the criminal justice boards; and what recent changes have occurred in the way cases are handled at local level. | | (137826) | 482
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137956) | 483
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137971) | 484
N | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set up a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Zahid Mubarek following the judgement of the House of Lords on 16th October in the case of Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Amin. | | (137141) | 485
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what restrictions upon Her Majesty's Catholic subjects are contained in legislation for which his Department is responsible; and whether he intends to introduce legislation to repeal them as part of the new legislation against religious discrimination. | | (137816) | 486
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he intends to introduce legislation to remove discrimination against Catholic subjects of the Crown; and if he will make a statement. | | (137817) | 487
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his policy towards the enforcement of laws that discriminate against Her Majesty's Catholic subjects. | | (137818) | 488
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) built capacity and (b) number of inmates are for each of Her Majesty's Prisons for each of the last three years. | | (137549) | 489
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about his strategy for dealing with changes in the prison population. | | (137551) | 490
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the recorded crime figures were for Northumbria in each year since 1997. | | (137470) | 491
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding was allocated to the Northumbria Police Force in each year since 1997. | | (137471) | 492
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he issues on the range of organisations to be represented on police authorities, with particular reference to the number of representatives from (a) district and (b) county councils. | | (137508) | 493
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, following the raids last month on two employers in the Midlands, how many of the people detained were people who had claimed asylum, had been refused but could not be returned to their country of origin because it was not safe; how many, after investigation, were found to have the right to remain but had not obtained National Insurance numbers; how many were found to have the right to work and a National Insurance Number; of the other employees working at Bomfords and Pontrilas sawmills who were interviewed, how many were found to have the right to remain but had not obtained National Insurance numbers; and how many who had the right to work were being paid below the minimum wage. | | (137712) | 494
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th June, Official Report, column 808W, on asylum seekers, if he will make a statement on (a) the proportion of failed asylum seekers who notified a new address after their final refusal and (b) the proportion of those visited by the UK Immigration Service who were found living at the recorded address in the last 12 months. | | (137713) | 495
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representations he has received (a) in favour of and (b) opposed to the privatisation of the Forensic Science Service. | | (137531) | 496
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his plans to introduce community courts; and how these courts will work in practice. | | (137532) | 497
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about the (a) cost and (b) remit of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. | | (137533) | 498
N | Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to merge constabularies in the area of the Government Office for the West Midlands. | | (137623) | 499
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost was of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice that reported in June 1996; what the main budgetary items of expenditure were; for how many days the Commission sat in public; how many witnesses gave evidence; and how many copies of the final report were distributed. | | (137501) | 500
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost was of each reorganisation of the police service since 1977. | | (137560) | 501
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reorganise the Police Service in England. | | (137851) | 502
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners on average were transferred each day (a) between prisons and (b) between court and prison in the last three months. | | (137482) | 503
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many vehicles he has had available on average on each day in the last three months for the transfer of prisoners (a) between prisons and (b) between court and prison; and how many vehicles are operated by the private sector. | | (137483) | 504
| Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Govan): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to have determined and finalised asylum cases which qualify under the asylum amnesty he announced recently. | | (137829) | 505
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many community support officers are deployed in each local authority area in Staffordshire. | | (137772) | 506
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase resources to police forces in order to tackle arson. | | (137993) | 507
N | Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who was in command of policing the anti-war demonstration in Trafalgar Square on 27th September. | | (137386) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 508
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of prison conditions in Swaziland; and if he will make a statement. | | (137828) | 509
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help the Government of Ethiopia avoid future food shortages. | | (137830) | 510
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Eritrea. | | (137831) | 511
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress is being made in tackling malaria amongst children in the Gambia. | | (137833) | 512
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total funding contributed in 2003 by the United Kingdom to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria was; and what plans there are to increase the contribution for 2004. | | (137658) | 513
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that there are sufficient funds in the Global Fund to meet the £5 billion target for 2005. | | (137456) | 514
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria is financially secure. | | (137457) | 515
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures his Department is taking to address women's poverty. | | (137636) | 516
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the UK is supporting debt management capacity-building programmes; and whether this support is available to all heavily indebted poor countries. | | (137637) | 517
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made in meeting the Millennium Development Goal targets for reducing (a) child and (b) maternal mortality. | | (137657) | 518
| Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the UK's combined net public and private investment and development assistance to the developing world was in each year since 1995 in terms of percentage of GDP. | | (137506) | 519
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (138062) | 520
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137947) | 521
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137963) | 522
| Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when he expects Ghana to receive benefit from being a qualifier for highly indebted poor country debt relief; and if he will make a statement. | | (137688) | 523
| Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance his Department is giving to those countries bordering Zimbabwe to help them deal with people who are fleeing across the border from Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. | | (137689) | 524
| Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance he intends to give to St Helena before the building of the proposed airport to discourage residents from leaving the island; and if he will make a statement on the future viability of the economy of St Helena. | | (137690) | 525
| Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the policies of southern African states towards minority groups. | | (137691) | 526
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his Answer of 5th November, reference 135853, how many of the unexploded bomblets remaining as a result of the cluster bombs and artillery used in the UK area of operations around Basra have been found within the city limits of Basra. | | (137640) | 527
N | Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the outcome was of the contract awarded to Oxford Policy Management Ltd for a Zimbabwe Trade Policy Capacity Project; and what action he took to ensure that none of this money went to the government of Zimbabwe and its officials. | | (137732) | 528
N | Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, on what grounds the Department agreed a contract with the Adam Smith Institute to offer support to the office of the Prime Minister; and what the purpose of the contract is. | | (137733) | 529
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he make a statement on the outcome of the consultancy fee paid to Keele University for the enhancing of pro-poor governance in West Bengal and Bihar. | | (137740) | 530
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the purpose of the contract awarded to Control Risk Group for an armed protection team. | | (137741) | 531
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the purpose was of the contract awarded to Meteoric Tactical Solutions (PTY) Limited for close protection. | | (137742) | 532
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the outcome was of the contract awarded to P-E International PCL to offer support to the Ministry of European integration in Croatia; and if he will make a statement on its priority within his Department's budget. | | (137743) | 533
| Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of the impact the imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15th May has had on the work of aid workers; what representations he has made to the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration, and when; and if he will make a statement. | | (137518) | 534
| Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when he will reply to the letter dated 6th October from the Member for Banff and Buchan regarding the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference. | | (137581) | 535
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has to make an official visit to St Helena in 2004; and when a Minister from his Department last made a visit. | | (136974) | Questions to the Leader of the House 536
| Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Leader of the House, if he will list, for each bill considered by the House in this session of Parliament, how much time was spent on debate on each clause during (a) committee stage and (b) report stage. | | (137693) | 537
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Leader of the House, what evaluation he has made of the proposals put forward by the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) in respect of the relative powers of national parliaments.
| | (138068) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 538
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the results of the review of the enriched curriculum trial in the Belfast Education and Library Board area will be made available. | | (137660) | 539
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) international sporting events and (b) music concerts attracting a crowd of more than 5,000 people were held in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. | | (137661) | 540
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will designate an agency with the sole responsibility for flooding. | | (137662) | 541
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average time taken in the last 12 months was to process assessments on low income pensioners' entitlements to an alternative to coal fired heating; and what plans he has to introduce targets to speed up the assessment process. | | (137663) | 542
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applications to the Disabled Grants Scheme are outstanding; and what plans he has to introduce targets to speed up the application process. | | (137664) | 543
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many urology consultants are employed by the Northern Ireland Health Service; and what the average waiting time to see a urology consultant is in each health trust. | | (137665) | 544
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the results of the Department of Social Development study into whether a section of the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland requires an alternative to lottery-based funding will be published; and if he will make a statement. | | (137666) | 545
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the speed restrictions that apply to the Belfast to Larne railway line. | | (137667) | 546
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the new trains and rolling stock for the Northern Ireland network will be allocated to serve on the East Antrim line between Belfast to Larne; and when these trains and rolling stock will be operational in (a) East Antrim and (b) other areas of Northern Ireland. | | (137668) | 547
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the promotion of an integrated energy market on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (137669) | 548
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the review of Museums and Galleries Northern Ireland's business management strategy. | | (137670) | 549
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures are in place to raise literacy standards among 14-year-old boys in Northern Ireland. | | (137671) | 550
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137954) | 551
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137969) | 552
| Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many attacks there have been on elderly people in (a) North Down and (b) Northern Ireland in each of the past 12 months; and what steps he is taking to reduce these figures. | | (137647) | 553
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that the Minister of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development will be present throughout the negotiations at the EU Fisheries Council meeting. | | (137526) | 554
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what lines of communication will be provided between the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of the Northern Ireland fishing industry during the negotiations at the EU Fisheries Council. | | (137527) | 555
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many individuals have been charged with (a) selling fireworks illegally and (b) other fireworks offences in 2003. | | (137798) | 556
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many crimes were committed by juveniles in Northern Ireland in the last year 12 months. | | (137799) | 557
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he is taking to protect medical staff in Northern Ireland from violent attacks. | | (137800) | 558
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of crimes in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months were violent. | | (137801) | 559
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he is taking to maximise the education of older people in Northern Ireland in the use of information technology. | | (137802) | 560
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he is taking to facilitate adult learning in Northern Ireland. | | (137803) | 561
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) jobs have been lost and (b) new jobs have been created in Northern Ireland in the past year. | | (137804) | 562
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many inpatient beds there are for child and adolescent psychiatry in Northern Ireland. | | (137805) | 563
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many inpatient beds there are in Northern Ireland for addictions treatment. | | (137806) | 564
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many GP practices within the Eastern Board are (a) accepting and (b) refusing to accept new patients onto their lists. | | (137807) | 565
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients in Northern Ireland have received pacemakers in each of the last five years. | | (137808) | 566
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average weekly gross pay in Northern Ireland for individuals was at the latest date for which figures are available. | | (137809) | 567
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to ban smoking on trains. | | (137810) | 568
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on smoking in public houses in Northern Ireland. | | (137811) | 569
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many intensive care beds there are in Northern Ireland. | | (137812) | 570
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many social housing properties (a) are vacant and (b) have been constructed in the last five years in each local government area in Northern Ireland. | | (137714) | 571
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the secondary schools which have (a) increased their intake by more than 10 per cent. and (b) reduced their intake by more than 10 per cent since 1997. | | (137715) | 572
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the police stations which have been (a) opened and (b) closed, excluding those which have been closed and reopened, since 1997. | | (137716) | 573
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the per capita funding from central sources is of each local authority and education library board in Northern Ireland in 2003-04 . | | (137717) | 574
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of the population were identified within (a) the Unionist tradition and (b) the Nationalist tradition in each local authority at the time of each census since 1961. | | (137718) | 575
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what evidence he has collated of changes in the balance of communities between Unionist and Nationalist traditions (a) in each ward in the City of Belfast and (b) in each ward of the City of Londonderry, since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the causes of those changes. | | (137719) | Questions to the Prime Minister 576
N | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland): To ask the Prime Minister, if he intends to make representations for clemency to the President of the United States in the event that the appeal on behalf of Mr Kenny Richey to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is unsuccessful. | | (136816) | 577
| Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Prime Minister, which Department will answer the letter from the honourable Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale to him of 21st October concerning the proposed closure of the Holehird Leonard Cheshire home for the disabled in Windermere; and when it will do so. | | (137920) | 578
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Prime Minister, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137950) | 579
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Office is required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137966) | 580
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Prime Minister, what response he has made to the letter sent to him by 114 United Kingdom scientists relating to GM trials. | | (137703) | 581
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Nottingham North, on 5th November, what procedure the request for medals for Arctic veterans has undergone, what further stages have to be gone through; and if he will make a statement. | | (137891) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 582
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 by the Scottish Office, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137731) | 583
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract;
and if he will make a statement.
| | (138066) | 584
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137953) | 585
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137968) | Questions to the Solicitor General 586
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Solicitor General, what the policy of the United Kingdom Government is on requesting extradition of individuals accused of torturing British nationals abroad in the absence of a pending prosecution in the country where the accused is located. | | (137834) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 587
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking to limit the (a) number and (b) impact of unofficial strikes in the United Kingdom. | | (137421) | 588
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on EU proposals on (a) union consultation and (b) board room representation in cross-border mergers. | | (137422) | 589
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her plans for business support schemes. | | (137423) | 590
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the unofficial strike action among Royal Mail staff in the south of England. | | (137425) | 591
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's proposed changes in the transposition of the EU health and safety directive into British law. | | (137426) | 592
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the proposed Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. | | (137609) | 593
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the proposed Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. | | (137610) | 594
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether atheists are to be entitled to the same holiday allowance as religious employees under forthcoming EU legislation. | | (137611) | 595
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the implications for safety of industrial action at BNFL's Sellafield nuclear site. | | (137612) | 596
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether, under the proposed European legislation to protect homosexual employees from discrimination, employers will be expected to identify the sexual orientation of their staff. | | (137645) | 597
| Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what effect she estimates the proposed energy chapter in the European Union constitution will have on licensing arrangements for the exploitation of the UK's offshore oil and gas. | | (137760) | 598
| Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what interim measures she plans to put in place to tackle discrimination on the grounds of (a) sexual orientation, (b) religious belief and (c) age in advance of the establishment of a Commission for Equality and Human Rights in 2006. | | (137465) | 599
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the impact of the Energy Chapter of the Draft EU Constitituion on private sector investment in the North Sea oil and gas fields; and what representations she has received. | | (137650) | 600
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what impact she estimates the Energy Chapter of the Draft EU Constitution will have on the North Sea oil licensing regime. | | (137722) | 601
N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will place in the Library the Government's responses to each of the submissions from interested parties to the European Commission regarding the British Energy restructuring application. | | (137021) | 602
N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which financial institutions have committed to providing a universal bank service through post office branches; how much each institution has committed to pay towards the cost of the Post Office card account; how much remains to be paid; and what the deadline is for payment. | | (137022) | 603
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations used the Post Office for the payment of (i) rent and (ii) insurance premiums for home contents policies in each year since 1997. | | (137704) | 604
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 29th October, Official Report, column 252W, on power cuts, when she expects to publish the reports detailed in her Answer. | | (138025) | 605
| Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the involvement of British Nuclear Fuels, through their Westinghouse subsidiary in the USA, in the development of new low yield nuclear weapons. | | (137641) | 606
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions her Department has held with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about recycling mobile phones; and what steps are being taken to encourage such recycling. | | (136810) | 607
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for her Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137951) | 608
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will lay before Parliament the final draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and if she will make a statement. | | (137778) | 609
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the progress of joint working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the promotion of UK science, engineering and technology. | | (137540) | 610
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made with ensuring compliance with the EU Copyright Directive; and if she will make a statement. | | (137542) | 611
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps are being taken to enforce regulations limiting excessive packaging on products. | | (137543) | 612
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her oral Answer of 6th November, if she will negotiate the maintenance of the UK opt-out of the 48 hour limit under Article 18 of the Working Time Directive before 23rd November. | | (137819) | 613
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses in Pendle (a) registered and (b) de-registered for VAT in each year since 1997.
| | (138101) | 614
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many litres of champagne were imported from France in each year since 1992.
| | (138102) | 615
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many small businesses went (a) into liquidation and (b) bankrupt in each quarter since quarter 4, 1996-97. | | (137427) | 616
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with BNFL in respect of the company's involvement with the Pebble Bed modular reactor (PBMR) in South Africa; what information BNFL supplied to her Department on its research collaboration on the PBMR; and if she will make a statement.
| | (138067) | 617
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will respond to the letter of 2nd September from the honourable Member for Totnes concerning Mr Trevor Sams of Scope Communications UK Ltd, Totnes. | | (136971) | 618
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government's estimate is of the number of Chinese bomb fireworks imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last four years. | | (137975) | 619
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the criminal damage caused by Chinese bomb fireworks in each of the last three years. | | (137976) | 620
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the estimated cost was of the misuse of fireworks not sold in retail outlets and not used in organised displays in each of the last four years. | | (138002) | 621
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what methods the Government uses to monitor the distribution, from ports of entry, of imported fireworks. | | (138003) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 622
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 by his Department's predecessors in areas relating to transport, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137737) | 623
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the sharing of windfall profits was the subject of negotiations with the infrastructure companies in the London Underground Public Private Partnership contracts; whether provision is made for windfall profits in the contracts; and if he will make a statement. | | (137521) | 624
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the negotiations on Network Rail taking operational control of Lime Street station to be concluded. | | (137113) | 625
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137958) | 626
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many accidents there have been in the roadworks on the M5 between junctions 21 and 20 since they began in October that have resulted in delays for drivers of more than 20 minutes. | | (137378) | 627
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the benefits to the travelling public of private sector involvement in the rail industry, with particular regard to (a) safety and (b) punctuality; and if he will make a statement. | | (137897) | 628
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to take back into full public ownership (a) rail operations, (b) full responsibility for track renewal and (c) London Underground; and if he will make a statement. | | (137898) | 629
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the expected (a) cost and (b) completion date were of the renewal of the west coast main line when the contract was let; and what his lastest estimates of (a) and (b) are. | | (137939) | 630
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what safety measures he will put in place on the A36 through Plaitford and West Wellow in (a) financial year 2003-04 and (b) the next financial year and beyond. | | (137463) | 631
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many recommendations from planning inquiry inspectors he has (a) accepted and (b) rejected in each year since 1997. | | (137943) | 632
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates his Department held the discussions with (a) English Nature, (b) the Environment Agency and (c) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which were referred to in the press releases by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of (i) 6th October and (ii) 10th October about the decommissioning of United States vessels by Able UK. | | (137144) | 633
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date his Department was informed that the Environment Agency had warned (a) Able UK and (b) the United States authorities that the ships destined for recycling at Hartlepool should not sail. | | (137145) | 634
N | Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will publish his response to the Bristol/Bath to South Coast Study. | | (137624) | 635
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers on board UK-registered cruise ships have been affected by Norwalk viruses in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (137850) | 636
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) BA and (b) other carriers operating from UK airports concerning lost and misrouted luggage; and if he will make a statement. | | (137852) | 637
| John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of railway line there are in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland which are defined as (i) primary route, (ii) London and South East commuter route, for the UK, (iii) main secondary route, (iv) other secondary route, (v) rural route and (vi) freight route. | | (137489) | 638
| Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of people from the bottom 10 per cent. of income earners travelled by air in each year from 2000 to 2002. | | (137579) | 639
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government's policy is on integrating the new Mersey Bridge with the transport network of (a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West region. | | (137987) | 640
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the cost of linking the transport links of St Helens with the new Mersey Bridge; and what additional resources he will make available for this purpose. | | (137988) | 641
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many jobs the Government estimates will be created by the building of the new Mersey Bridge. | | (138006) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 642
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year after 1997 by the Welsh Office, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137734) | 643
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department or its predecessor in year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (138061) | 644
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many new jobs there have been in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector in Wales since 1997. | | (137648) | 645
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many new jobs there are in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector in Wales. | | (137649) | 646
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137952) | 647
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137967) | 648
N | Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much capital expenditure there has been in the NHS in Wales in each of the last five years; and how much of that was attributable to private finance inititative projects. | | (137090) | Questions to the Minister for Women 649
| Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): To ask the Minister for Women, what monitoring she has undertaken of the take-up amongst small and medium-sized businesses of the new right to request flexible working hours after the birth of a child in (a) Wales and (b) England.
| | (138075) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 650
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce a legal requirement on employers to fund pension schemes that would ensure assets do not fall below the discontinuance funding ratio. | | (137917) | 651
| Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce legislation to prevent employers from taking contribution holidays from their employees' pension fund schemes. | | (137921) | 652
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library the conclusions of research undertaken by departmental analysts prior to the introduction of benefit payment by automatic credit transfer. | | (137480) | 653
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year after 1997 by the Department of Social Security, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137735) | 654
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of recipients in each benefit category do not have a bank account; what measures his Department is taking to encourage the take-up of the Post Office card accounts by those without a bank or building society account; and what targets his Department has set for the paying of benefits by automatic credit transfer to those without a bank or building society account. | | (137745) | 655
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets have been set for the payment of benefits by automatic credit transfer; and if he will make a statement on the progress towards these targets in each benefit category. | | (137746) | 656
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. | | (137889) | 657
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many United Kingdom Accreditation Service asbestos surveyors are registered in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. | | (137814) | 658
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates his Department has made of (a) the number of occupational pension schemes which have failed to meet their full obligations to employees since May 1997 and (b) the number of employees and pensioners who have been affected. | | (137580) | 659
N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many company occupational pension schemes, covering how many workers, have been closed since 1st December 2002. | | (137622) | 660
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002-03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. | | (137944) | 661
| Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. | | (137960) | 662
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received from the Disability Rights Task Force. | | (137908) | 663
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received regarding access to different modes of transport by disabled people. | | (137912) | 664
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Department has to increase the number of health and safety inspectors over the next three years. | | (137821) | 665
| Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will reply to the letter dated 3rd October from the Member for Banff and Buchan to the honourable Member for Gravesham, regarding his constituent, Ms E. Verney, of Cruden Bay. | | (137582) | 666
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will respond to the letter of 14th August from the honourable Member for Totnes concerning Mrs J. Duffy of Kingsbridge, Devon. | | (136970) | 667
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will respond to the letter of 18th August from the honourable Member for Totnes concerning Mr Guy Pannell of South Brent and the winding-up of pension schemes. | | (136973) | 668
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who were newly entitled to the winter fuel payment in 2003-04 in (a) North Staffordshire, (b) Stoke-on-Trent and (c) the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. | | (137775) | 669
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people newly entitled to the winter fuel payment in 2003-04 claimed in (a) North Staffordshire, (b) Stoke-on-Trent and (c) Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. | | (137776) | 670
| Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library an updated progress report on the implementation of the new child support scheme. | | (137926) | 671
| Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Child Support Agency self-employed non-resident parent caseload was in each of the last six years. | | (137927) | 672
| Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the average Child Support Agency assessment for self-employed non-resident parents in each of the last six years. | | (137928) | 673
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what he estimates that the average (a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couple will receive each week under the pension credit in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South. | | (137982) | 674
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners he estimates in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South are eligible for the minimum income guarantee. | | (137983) | 675
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. | | (137984) | 676
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South have claimed the pension credit. | | (137985) | 677
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by how much he estimates the income of the average (a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couples will change under the pension credit for (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South compared with that in 1997. | | (138014) | 678
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's plans are to ensure maximum take-up in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South of the pension credit. | | (138015) | 679
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South are entitled to the pension credit. | | (138016) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 680
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens South are in receipt of the working tax credit. | | [Transferred] (137986) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 681
| Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make available alternative facilities for powerboat users following the Lake District National Parks Authority decision to introduce a 10 mph speed limit on Lake Windermere. | | [Transferred] (137848) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 682
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of (a) the effect of provisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and (b) progressing schools in fulfilling their duty to draw up accessibility plans. | | [Transferred] (137910) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 683
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what branches of the Civil Service are covered by paragraph 14(7) of Statutory Instrument 2669. | | [Transferred] (138097) | 684
| Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is being done to assess the impact of the different waste management practices required as a consequence of the (a) Landfill Directive and (b) the Waste Management Strategy. | | [Transferred] (137530) | 685
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the United States Marine Administration to secure the return of United States former naval vessels to the United States. | | [Transferred] (137701) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 686
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what programmes (a) there are and (b) he intends to introduce to enable more disabled people to have fulfilled sexual relationships. | | [Transferred] (137909) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 687
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Communications Act 2003 on access by disabled people to modern communication technologies. | | [Transferred] (137911) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 688
| Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what powers exists to allow action to be taken against someone verbally abusing a person because of their disability; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (137856) |
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