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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 13 November 2003
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 13 November 2003
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 13 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 Thursday 13 November of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 13 November see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Guildford of 3rd November, Official Report, columns 457-8W, on timber, what environmental criteria his Department has specified in respect of banknote manufacture, with particular reference to use and reuse of water. | | (138581) | 2
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the HM Treasury official involved in the early release of statistics on 24th October had authorised access to those statistics; and if he will make a statement. | | (138799) | 3
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the arrangements are for the preparation of briefing materials on statistics to which HM Treasury has pre-release access; and if he will make a statement. | | (138800) | 4
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list all the people outside the Office of National Statistics who had pre-release access to the retail sales estimates and other market moving statistics; and if he will make a statement. | | (138801) | 5
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the cost of advertising by (a) HM Treasury, (b) the Inland Revenue, (c) Customs and Excise, (d) the Office of National Statistics, (e) National Savings and (f) the Royal Mint in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (138802) | 6
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the provisions for pre-release access to National Statistics releases by HM Treasury (a) ministers and (b) officials were last changed; and if he will make a statement. | | (138803) | 7
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the HM Treasury provisions for pre-release access to National Statistics releases by HM Treasury (a) ministers and (b) officials. | | (138804) | 8
N | Laura Moffatt (Crawley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reduce VAT on goods purchased by charitable organisations for export to deserving causes in developing countries. | | (137515) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 9
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, on what dates Acts have received Royal Assent enshrining legislative proposals published by the Law Commission since 1990. | | (138044) | 10
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the review of probate procedures. | | (138686) | 11
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what action his Department (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to implement the proposed strategy for marriage and relationship support contained in Moving Forward Together. | | (138687) | 12
| Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of unqualified legal advisers who represented asylum seekers in the last year for which figures are available. | | (138690) | 13
| Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate the Department has made of the number of asylum seekers given advice on committing fraud by unqualified legal advisers in the last year for which figures are available. | | (138691) | 14
| Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many qualified legal advisers have a Community Legal Service franchise to represent asylum seekers in England. | | (138692) | 15
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many (a) high court judges, (b) circuit judges, (c) district judges, (d) recorders and (e) assistant recorders there were in the last month for which figures are available; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. | | (138764) | 16
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many (a) high court judges, (b) circuit judges, (c) district judges, (d) recorders and (e) assistant recorders were appointed in 2002; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. | | (138765) | 17
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many magistrates in England and Wales were in post in the last month for which figures are available; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. | | (138766) | 18
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many magistrates were appointed in England and Wales in 2002; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. | | (138767) | 19
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many (a) justices' clerks, (b) deputy clerks, (c) ushers and (d) administrative clerical and secretarial staff were in post in magistrates' courts in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian.
| | (138768) | 20
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what action the Lord Chancellor is taking to promote the use of mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution in (a) civil and (b) criminal cases.
| | (138770) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 21
| Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations her Department has made to the Department for Transport on the Aviation White Paper. | | (138727) | 22
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. | | (138625) | 23
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Lottery funding per capita has been awarded to (a) organisations in each of the regions in England and Wales and (b) organisations in the Vale of York in each of the past three years. | | (138783) | 24
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what research she has commissioned into the effect of food advertising on levels of childhood obesity. | | (138741) | 25
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received about (a) childhood obesity and (b) lack of access to sports facilities. | | (138742) | 26
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138743) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 27
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd October, Official Report, column 516W, on the MoD Police, when he proposes to bring into force the provisions of (a) section 25 and (b) section 79(3) of the Police Reform Act 2002; and if he will make a statement. | | (138784) | 28
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research he has (a) initiated and (b) evaluated on the effects of depleted uranium on British (i) service personnel and (ii) civilians; and if he will make a statement.
| | (138794) | 29
N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial penalties the UK would face in the case of it not proceeding with Tranche III of the Eurofighter Programme. | | (138382) | 30
N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Government's commitment to the Eurofighter Typhoon project. | | (138383) | 31
N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what procedures would be followed in the case of the four Eurofighter Typhoon project partners choosing to reduce the number of aircraft ordered under the third tranche of the programme. | | (138384) | 32
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money is in his Department's current account; and if he will make a statement. | | (137516) | 33
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when last questioned, how many (a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Navy personnel said that overstretch was causing problems in their working; what question was asked; how many responded to each option; what percentage of those asked to respond this represents; and if he will make a statement. | | (137517) | 34
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138787) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 35
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what investigations the Government has carried out into the extent to which existing planning applications for supermarkets have a condition stating the maximum retail floor space; and how many applications have had such conditions attached. | | (138746) | 36
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the reasons private landlords have given for refusing to participate in the pilot voluntary tenancy deposit scheme | | (138056) | 37
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the statement by the honourable Member for Pontefract and Castleford, Official Report, column 118WH, what estimate his Department has made of the potential costs of independent adjudication under a tenancy deposit scheme. | | (138057) | 38
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he expects the Law Commission to (a) publish its final report on renting homes and (b) publish draft legislation. | | (138058) | 39
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was spent by each local authority planning Large Scale Voluntary Transfer; and whether this expenditure was within the guidelines set by the Department in each case. | | (138680) | 40
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent by each local authority on (a) arm's length management organisations, (b) private finance initiative and (c) stock retention in relation to ownership of housing.
| | (138681) | 41
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the regulations that apply to the display of billboards (a) in the open countryside and (b) on telegraph poles on public or private land without planning permission. | | (138682) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 42
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the drop-out rate for universities in London was by (a) percentage and (b) number in each year since 1997. | | (138665) | 43
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in his Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. | | (138626) | 44
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the report, Making Contact Work. | | (138685) | 45
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Project Board to integrate finance, communication, human resources and case recording systems has been established by CAFCASS. | | (138759) | 46
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when CAFCASS practitioners will have the facility to amend the computerised records of the children with whom they work. | | (138760) | 47
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what additional resources CAFCASS has identified for the implementation of a case management system. | | (138761) | 48
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the planned expenditure by CAFCASS is on the small scale computerised case record index for implementation during 2004. | | (138762) | 49
| Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has commissioned into the reasons for the changes on appeal of results of (a) AS and (b) A2 examinations; and if he will make a statement. | | (138703) | 50
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138744) | 51
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how he intends to measure the impact of the Travelling to School action plan on childhood obesity. | | (138745) | 52
| Ann Taylor (Dewsbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what targets (a) his Department and (b) the Student Loans Company have for delivering loan payments; and what assessment he has made of whether these targets have been met. | | (138669) | 53
| Ann Taylor (Dewsbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) new students and (b) continuing students received their loans within (i) two weeks, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months and (iv) four to five months of sending their applications for academic year 2003-04. | | (138670) | 54
| Ann Taylor (Dewsbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what provisions are in place to support students awaiting loan payments. | | (138671) | 55
| Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Department's bid to the forthcoming Government Spending Round contributes toward the UK's objectives on sustainable development. | | (138689) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 56
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received about proposals to test pharmaceutical crops in the UK. | | (138806) | 57
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the effects she estimates the adoption of genetically modified crops in the UK would have on (a) the cost of farming and (b) profits for farmers. | | (138807) | 58
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the effects she estimates the adoption of genetically modified crops in the UK would have on the organic farming industry. | | (138808) | 59
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about the future of cod farming. | | (138809) | 60
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cod farms have been proposed to be built in the UK. | | (138810) | 61
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the health aspects of eating farmed cod. | | (138811) | 62
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about the effects of cod farming on natural fish stocks. | | (138812) | 63
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information she has received about whether the planting of GM crops would lead to a change in the use of (a) pesticides and (b) chemical weed killers. | | (138813) | 64
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what scientific advice she has received on whether children may be more susceptible to allergies and other adverse effects from eating GM food.
| | (138818) | 65
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of research conducted worldwide into the effects on the health of children of consuming GM foods.
| | (138819) | 66
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research is being undertaken into the health effects of energy-from-waste incinerators.
| | (138820) | 67
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reports she has received on the release of dioxins caused by the incineration of waste. | | (138821) | 68
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of the original energy output is typically produced by the incineration of waste. | | (138822) | 69
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the distribution of proposed waste incineration. | | (138823) | 70
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 17th September, Official Report, columns 776-7W, on flooding, what progress has been made with regard to pre-feasibility studies to identify options for the alleviation of flooding in Medmenham and Marlow. | | (138467) | 71
N | Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the (a) State Veterinary Service and (b) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the re-homing of captured foxes. | | (138378) | 72
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. | | (138624) | 73
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to publish details regarding the collection of carcasses under the Fallen Stock Scheme. | | (138780) | 74
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether hunts will be able to register as (a) collectors and (b) receivers of fallen stock. | | (138781) | 75
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what provisions there will be for farmers to deliver their own casualty animals to the collection point under the new Fallen Stock Scheme. | | (138782) | 76
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138786) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 77
N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from the Pakistan authorities in respect of recent security operations involving their premises; and if he will make a statement. | | (138583) | 78
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy (a) to oppose the introduction of new admissibility criteria for individual petitioners to the European Court of Human Rights and (b) to urge all member states to consult on the matter with (i) the legal community and (ii) civil society; and if he will make a statement.
| | (138795) | 79
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in his Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. | | (138623) | 80
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Protocol on Protection and Welfare of Animals enacted by the Treaty of Amsterdam remains part of European Union law by being annexed to the proposed new treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union; and if he will make a statement. | | (135664) | 81
| Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what efforts are being made in Iraq to re-employ the Iraqis who are unemployed; what discussions he has on assisting these people whilst unemployed; and if he will make a statement. | | (138702) | 82
| Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the UK representative on the UN Security Council abstained in the vote on 14th October on the resolution declaring illegal the Israeli construction of a security wall in the occupied territories of Palestine. | | (138664) | 83
| Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the status of Palestinians living between the Green Line and the new security fence in the Occupied Territories. | | (138673) | 84
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the UK will take to support Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa forced to return to Zimbabwe. | | (138750) | 85
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent action the Government has taken to ensure that Zimbabwe has (a) legitimate and (b) democratic government. | | (138751) | 86
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on British American Tobacco's decision to stop its cigarette making operation in Burma. | | (138824) | 87
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Indonesia on (a) suppressing the rebels' uprising and (b) humanitarian assistance in Aceh. | | (138825) | 88
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Sri Lanka. | | (138826) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 89
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the amount of Government funding for (a) drug misuse treatment and (b) alcohol misuse treatment in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each of the last six years. | | (138755) | 90
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the hospital activity statistics for total time in accident and emergency are recorded; and over what period of time the data have been collected. | | (138756) | 91
N | Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ring-fence spending for cancer services. | | (138338) | 92
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people suffering from haemophilia have (a) died and (b) suffered illness as a result of contaminated blood products from the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
| | (138790) | 93
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to compensate (a) the dependants of those who have died from hepatitis due to infected blood products and (b) those who contracted hepatitis by such means, but recovered after treatment.
| | (138791) | 94
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) is evaluating in order to determine the level of compensation for people infected with hepatitis C due to infected blood products; and if he will make a statement.
| | (138792) | 95
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the steps that he is taking to ensure that contaminants are not present in NHS blood products.
| | (138793) | 96
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) residential, (b) nursing and (c) elderly mentally infirm (i) homes and (ii) places were available in London in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (A) local authority, (B) private sector and (C) charity and voluntary providers; and what percentage of capacity in each sector was used in each year. | | (138666) | 97
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to develop an effective internal and external communications strategy as recommended by the Commission for Health Improvement; and if he will place a copy of the strategy in the Library. | | (138444) | 98
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to arrange with NHS acute trusts locations for ambulance liaison assistants which maintain patient confidentiality. | | (138445) | 99
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures have been put in place by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all crews receive information and training on new vehicles prior to their introduction. | | (138446) | 100
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place a copy of
Mersey Regional Ambulance Service's child protection policy in the Library. | | (138447) | 101
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made by
Mersey Regional Ambulance Service in developing a plan for the training of staff in clinical audit skills; and if he will place a copy of the plan in the Library. | | (138448) | 102
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the four shadow commissioners, and the shadow chief inspector, of the Commission for Social Care Inspection are based in the South East of England; and for what reason no shadow commissioners have been appointed from other regions. | | (135663) | 103
| Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of cancer patients received their first definitive treatment within 62 days of referral in each month of the last three years, broken down by cancer type. | | (138632) | 104
| Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS performance indicators have been set in each of the last eight years. | | (138672) | 105
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has commissioned into the effect on childhood obesity of access to healthy foods. | | (138729) | 106
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children have been treated by the NHS in each of the last 10 years for illnesses (a) directly caused by and (b) aggravated by childhood obesity. | | (138730) | 107
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with other Departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138731) | 108
N | David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter of 1st October from the honourable Member for Walsall North regarding a constituent, ref: PO103700. | | (138381) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 109
N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the undertaking of activities by MI5 which require authorisation by warrant but which have been carried out without such authorisation in place. | | (138584) | 110
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have retired from the Prison Service for reasons of age, in each year since 1992; and what he estimates the figure will be for 2004-05. | | (138747) | 111
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in his Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. | | (138628) | 112
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for Bolton, South East will receive a response to his letters of (a) 25th April, (b) 18th June, (c) 29th July, (d) 3rd September and (e) 8th October regarding Mr Dana Kamal, HO Ref. K1119164.
| | (138771) | 113
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud. | | (138663) | 114
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of the adult population of the United Kingdom does not have a passport. | | (138694) | 115
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has commissioned on the effect on children's criminal behaviour of (a) poor nutrition and (b) childhood obesity. | | (138788) | 116
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138789) | 117
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures the Government is taking to reduce youth violence. | | (138748) | 118
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action the Government is taking to support teachers and school staff in their work to prevent (a) violence and (b) crime in schools. | | (138749) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 119
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what response he will make to the UN humanitarian appeal in Liberia. | | (138683) | 120
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of United Kingdom aid to Afghanistan since 2001 has been used to combat the production of opium. | | (138728) | 121
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (b) international partners on the flash floods in Sumatra, Indonesia on 3rd November and humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of the island; and if he will make a statement. | | (138752) | 122
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance his Department has offered the Government of Indonesia for the reconstruction of Sumatra Island. | | (138753) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 123
| Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which countries are on the list of those whose driving licence is transferable to a Northern Ireland one; what criteria are used in deciding whether a country's driving licence is transferable to Northern Ireland; for what reason South Africa is excluded from this list; and what plans he has to amend the arrangements to include South Africa. | | (138726) | 124
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prison custody visitors there were in each team in (a) 1998, (b) 2000 and (c) 2002. | | (138704) | 125
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many visits were made by prison custody visitors in the last year for which figures are available. | | (138705) | 126
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the breakdown is of prison custody visitors by (a) perceived community origin and (b) sex. | | (138706) | 127
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost of the prison custody visitors scheme was in 2002; and what proportion of this comprises (a) remuneratio, (b) travel and (c) other expenses incurred by the visitors. | | (138707) | 128
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what administrative support is available to teams of prison custody visitors. | | (138708) | 129
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the procedural mechanisms are for addressing (a) general matters of prison administration and (b) expressions of concern about individual prisoners; and what mechanisms are available to monitor (i) responses and (ii) implementation. | | (138709) | 130
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) formal comments, (b) recommendations and (c) reports were made by prison custody visitors in 2002; and how many were acted upon. | | (138710) | 131
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many visiting hours per month were undertaken by prison custody visitors in 2002-03; and what the average monthly commitment was for each visitor. | | (138725) | Questions to the Prime Minister 132
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will restrict to two terms of three years the maximum length of service on the House of Lords Appointments Commission. | | (138660) | 133
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will limit the term of appointment of people's peers; and if he will make re-appointment conditional on a record of active participation in the work of the House of Lords. | | (138695) | Questions to the Solicitor General 134
N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance the Attorney General has issued to judges in respect of the appropriateness of agreeing to injunctions to prevent a potential libel. | | (138582) | 135
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Solicitor General, how many staff were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service as (a) Grades 1-6, (b) legal assistance, (c) executive officers and (d) administrative officers; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian. | | (138763) | 136
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Solicitor General, how many (a) solicitors and (b) barristers there are in England and Wales; and how many are (i) black and (ii) Asian.
| | (138769) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 137
N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will place in the Library the responses received to the Office of Fair Trading consultation on debt collection. | | (138237) | 138
N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many licences have been (a) granted and (b) revoked by the Office of Fair Trading to (i) debt collectors and (ii) lenders, (A) since the Consumer Credit Act 1974 was introduced and (B) in each year since 1997. | | (138238) | 139
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 11th September, Official Report, column 392W, to the honourable Members for Cunninghame South and Gateshead East and Washington West, on the Home Accident Surveillance System, if she will place copies of the representations in the Library; and if she will publish the information from the Home Accident Surveillance System for 2000 to 2002. | | (138659) | 140
| Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many manufacturing jobs have been (a) created and (b) lost in South Yorkshire in each of the last five years. | | (138738) | 141
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will discuss with (a) the Foreign Secretary, (b) the Secretary of State for International Development, (c) the Secretary of State for Defence and (d) the European Commission the allegations made by the honourable Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme in the (i) debate on Export Controls on 6th November and (ii) debate on the Export Control Bill on 8th November 2001 in relation to arms supplies to Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if she will take steps to investigate the allegations. | | (138668) | 142
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 28th April, Official Report, columns 104-5W, on the Export Control Act 2002, what (a) controls and (b) sanctions would apply under (A) orders made under the Export Control Act 2002 coming into force on 1st May 2004 and (B) European Union measures to an individual with United Kingdom residence rights and business interests but joint Zimbabwean and Dutch nationality who supplied arms or military supplies to Zimbabwe through (i) United Kingdom incorporated companies and (ii) Zimbabwe incorporated companies, which are associated with or controlled by her. | | (138696) | 143
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 28th April, Official Report, columns 104-5W, on the Export Control Act 2002, in what circumstances an individual dealing in arms who has United Kingdom residence rights but who does not hold a United Kingdom passport would be subject to the controls and sanctions of the orders due to come into force on 1st May 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002.
| | (138697) | 144
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 28th April, Official Report, columns 104-5W, on the Export Control Act 2002, in what circumstances United Kingdom companies (a) controlled by and (b) associated with an individual with United Kingdom residence rights but joint Zimbabwean and Dutch nationality which are dealing in arms to Zimbabwe would be subject to restrictions and sanctions contained in the orders coming into force on 1st May 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002. | | (138698) | 145
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 28th April, Official Report, columns 104-5W, on the Export Control Act 2002, in what circumstances an individual dealing in arms to Zimbabwe who has United Kingdom residence rights but holds joint Zimbabwean and Dutch nationality would be subject to the controls contained in the orders which will come into force on 1st May 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002. | | (138699) | 146
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the Export Control Act 2002 and the orders due to come into force on 1st May 2004 will apply to the activities of UK-based arms dealers who have UK residence rights but are not UK passport holders and who supply arms to Zimbabwe through companies incorporated and based overseas. | | (138700) | 147
| Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council held on 10th and 11th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. | | (138785) | 148
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. | | (138627) | 149
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with business about including tackling childhood obesity through better access to healthy foods under the Corporate Social Responsibility agenda. | | (138732) | 150
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138733) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 151
N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Horsham of 3rd November, Official Report, column 391W, on Gatwick Airport, whether the net economic benefit quoted takes into account externalities, with particular reference to environmental damage. | | (138580) | 152
| Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on regional economies of a third runway at Heathrow Airport. | | (138621) | 153
| Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the principle of regulatory proportionality will be incorporated in the proposed amendments to Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulation relating to lightly tinted windows. | | (138734) | 154
| Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what response he has made to the concerns represented by the Glass and Glazing Federation about the impact on the owners of vehicles with lightly tinted windows of proposed amendments to Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. | | (138735) | 155
| Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his estimate is of how many vehicles which have (a) lightly tinted and (b) heavily tinted windows do not comply with the proposed amendments to Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. | | (138736) | 156
| Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance on how the proposed amendments to Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations should be enforced in respect of existing vehicles already fitted with (a) lightly and (b) heavily tinted windows. | | (138737) | 157
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason he is unable to make an immediate decision on the Central Railway project.
| | (138772) | 158
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have died while cycling in London in each of the past 10 years. | | (138667) | 159
| Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many derailments there were in each month of the last year. | | (138827) | 160
| Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of night flights into Heathrow operated on (a) a westerly and (b) an easterly flightpath (i) in 2001, (ii) in 2002 and (iii) between January and August 2003. | | (138701) | 161
N | Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government advised the US ships (a) Canisteo and (b) Caloosahatchee on the courses they should take through the English Channel. | | (138379) | 162
N | Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the US ships (a) Canisteo and (b) Caloosahatchee were advised to keep to the eastbound shipping lane off Start Point; and if he will make a statement. | | (138380) | 163
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has commissioned into the impact of pedestrian strategies on childhood obesity. | | (138739) | 164
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with other Departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. | | (138740) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 165
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for but not claiming council tax benefit in (a) the City of Edinburgh local authority area, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in 2002-03. | | (138684) | 166
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve the take-up of council tax benefit amongst pensioners. | | (138688) | 167
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications have been made for community care grants in each of the last six years in (a) Gordon, (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray and (c) within Grampian, Moray, Orkney and Shetland JobCentre Plus District; what proportion of applications have been rejected; what proportion were considered (i) high, (ii) medium and (iii) low priority; what proportion of (A) high, (B) medium and (C) low priority awards were paid; and what the average amount (1) applied for, (2) awarded and (3) paid was, broken down by priority. | | (138757) | 168
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the social fund budget for community care grants was in (a) Gordon, (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray and (c) within Grampian, Moray, Orkney and Shetland Jobcentre Plus District over the last six years in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; by how much the budget has been overspent or underspent; and what the value was of in-year allocations for each year. | | (138758) | 169
| Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research his Department has conducted into the effect of benefit sanctions on claimants with reference to social exclusion; and if he will make a statement. | | (138754) | 170
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much the abolition of benefit cuts for patients in the first 52 weeks of a hospital stay has cost his Department. | | (138622) | 171
| Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications have been made for community care grants in each of the last six years in (a) Roxburgh and Berwickshire, (b) Scottish Borders Council and (c) Lothian and Borders District; what proportion of applications has been rejected; what proportion were considered (i) high, (ii) medium and (iii) low priority; what proportion was paid in each case; and what the average amount (A) applied for, (B) awarded and (C) paid was broken down by priority. | | (138630) | 172
| Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Social Fund budget for community care grants in (a) Roxburgh and Berwickshire, (b) Scottish Borders Council and (c) Lothian and Borders District was in the last six years in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; by how much the budget was (A) overspent and (B) underspent in each case; and what the value was of in-year allocations for each year. | | (138631) | 173
N | Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of (a) the long-term cost of linking the basic state pension to earnings and (b) the effect on the incomes of the poorest pensioners if such a link replaced pension credit. | | (137448) | 174
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the total value of benefits unclaimed by pensioners in each year since 1997. | | (138693) | 175
N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6th November, Official Report, column 806W, on pensions, if he will estimate (a) the gross cost and (b) the cost net of savings on means tested benefits and increased income tax revenues of a combined policy of age additions to the basic state pension of (i) £10 per week at 75 and (ii) a further £5 a week at 80 from April 2004. | | (138464) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 176
N | Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in employers' national insurance contributions in the shipping industry. | | [Question Unstarred] (138326) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 177
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on repatriating remains of soldiers fallen in the First World War near the trenches found at the site of the new Passchendaele motorway near Ypres. | | [Transferred] (138779) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 178
N | David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans the Government has to improve concessionary fare schemes for older people. | | [Question Unstarred] (137445) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 179
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research (a) has been undertaken and (b) is planned by the Government into the effects of consuming GM crops on human gut flora. | | [Transferred] (138805) | 180
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from companies on the proposed sale of genetically modified sweetcorn in supermarkets. | | [Transferred] (138814) | 181
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has carried out on the safety of genetically modified sweetcorn. | | [Transferred] (138815) | 182
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what direct tests have been conducted on humans to determine whether the GM foods approved in Europe may be allergenic.
| | [Transferred] (138816) | 183
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what monitoring of groups potentially vulnerable to the effects of consuming GM crops (a) has been undertaken and (b) is planned by the Government.
| | [Transferred] (138817) | 184
N | Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients over 65 remain in an NHS hospital as a result of delayed discharge. | | [Question Unstarred] (137450) | Questions to the Prime Minister 185
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, how many and what proportion of the local and national organisations contracted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission to help identify suitable nominees for a people's peerage responded to the request by furnishing names; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (138658) | 186
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, how many applicants for a people's peerage since April 2002 were acquainted with a Commissioner of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. | | [Transferred] (138661) | 187
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, how many applicants for a people's peerage since April 2001 were self-nominated. | | [Transferred] (138662) |
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