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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Monday 8 December 2003
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 8 December 2003
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 December of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 December of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Monday 8 December see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142812) | 2
N | Mr David Cameron (Witney):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the document 'Submissions of the Government to the Inquiry' (CAB/28/0002-0017), submitted to the Hutton Inquiry, was not published; and if he will make a statement. | | (142056) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 3
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the take-up of the research and development tax credit in Scotland. | | (142821) | 4
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what definition of tourism he uses for tax purposes. | | (143193) | 5
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax revenue was raised from hotel accommodation in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. | | (143194) | 6
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142814) | 7
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cigarettes have been consumed in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; what the total revenue generated from duties was; what percentage of cigarettes were (a) smuggled and (b) crossborder sales of cigarettes in each year since 1997; and how much was lost in revenue from duty in each case. | | (143143) | 8
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd December to question reference no. 141513, if he will give separate figures for (a) Bournemouth and (b) Poole. | | (142500) | 9
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list those invited to the conference the Treasury is hosting in February 2004 to discuss aid and trade. | | (142724) | 10
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's proposals for top-up fees on the operation of the Barnett Formula; and if he will make a statement. | | (142766) | 11
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the proposed (a) minimum and (b) maximum toll charge is under the lorry road user charge scheme. | | (142913) | 12
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated (a) capital and (b) administrative cost is of the lorry road user charge scheme. | | (142914) | 13
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated cost to British hauliers is of the planned lorry road user charge. | | (142915) | 14
| Matthew Green (Ludlow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings have taken place between his Department and representatives of (a) Tesco, (b) Sainsbury's and (c) Asda, including Asda's parent company Walmart in the last 12 months; and what the (i) date and (ii) subject of each meeting was. | | (143022) | 15
| Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 25th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. | | (142978) | 16
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average cost of collecting income tax was as a percentage of the amount collected in 2002-03; and what the average administrative cost of paying tax credits has been as a percentage of the amount paid. | | (142708) | 17
| Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide an estimate of the additional revenue that would accrue to the Exchequer annually if the top rate of income tax were 50 per cent. | | (142920) | 18
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to propose legislation to require companies to register details of tax avoidance schemes with the Inland Revenue. | | (142706) | 19
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to propose legislation to require companies to publish in their annual reports a table showing the annual pre-tax profits and tax paid in each country. | | (142707) | 20
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department has supplied to the US authorities to help them with their investigations into tax avoidance schemes designed by accountancy firms. | | (142718) | 21
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many forward contracts have been granted to individuals and corporations (a) domiciled and (b) non-domiciled in the UK. | | (142719) | 22
| Linda Perham (Ilford North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the regional emphasis documents to be submitted to his Department by 31st December. | | (143028) | 23
| Linda Perham (Ilford North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to increase investment in London's infrastucture in response to projected population increases. | | (143029) | 24
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many births to girls conceiving under the age of 16 there were in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 20 years, expressed as a percentage of the total population of girls under 16 in each local authority area. | | (142631) | 25
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the timing of the N2+2 review of the Financial Services Markets Act 2000. | | (143059) | 26
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claims for interim payments relating to child and working tax credit claimants have been made in each month since the tax credits were introduced; how many payments have been made; and if he will estimate the (a) average and (b) total value of these payments. | | (143077) | 27
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many single (a) women and (b) men will reach the age of 60 years between 21st September and 25th December. | | (143078) | 28
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many single (a) women and (b) men will reach the age of 80 years between 21st September and 25th December. | | (143079) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 29
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142804) | 30
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, in each of the last five years, how many cases were decided by immigration adjudicators; how many and what percentage of such cases were appealed to immigration appeals tribunal; in how many and what percentage of the appealed cases the appeal was (a) allowed and (b) remitted to adjudicators; and in how many and what percentage of the cases in category (b) the adjudicator decided in favour of the applicant. | | (142944) | 31
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the impartiality of juries. | | (142085) | 32
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will list legislative proposals contained in reports published by the Law Commission since 1990 which have not subsequently been introduced. | | (142302) | 33
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what account of Scots Law principles is taken by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. | | (142728) | 34
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many applications were made to judicially review a decision of the immigration appellate authorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were granted permission for a review. | | (142530) | 35
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143161) | 36
| Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when the Lord Chancellor will transfer his powers in relation to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to the Minister for Children. | | (143023) | 37
| Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether it is his policy that the proposed Supreme Court for the UK should sit outside London on (a) an occasional and (b) a permanent basis. | | (142709) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 38
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142803) | 39
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what visits (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if she will make a statement. | | (143163) | 40
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total spending on the National Lottery was in each Northern Ireland constituency in each of the past five years; and what proportion of this money was allocated to good causes in Northern Ireland. | | (142678) | 41
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she will publish the Quinquennial Review of Sport England. | | (142859) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 42
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what funding is available to support Northern Ireland veterans. | | (142734) | 43
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the armed forces have served in Northern Ireland. | | (142737) | 44
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the protocol is for debriefing soldiers who have served an operational tour in Northern Ireland. | | (142739) | 45
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claims have been made to the Veterans' Agency for post traumatic stress disorder-related illnesses attributed to service in Northern Ireland since 1973. | | (142741) | 46
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Northern Ireland veterans have taken their own lives (a) after and (b) during their service in Northern Ireland since 1973. | | (142742) | 47
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Northern Ireland veterans he estimates are homeless. | | (142743) | 48
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Northern Ireland veterans are serving prison sentences. | | (142744) | 49
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many war pensions are being paid to members of the armed forces injured during their service in Northern Ireland. | | (142745) | 50
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the incidents in the Troubles since 1973 involving members of the British Army which resulted in deaths and injuries to members of the armed forces; and which regiment was affected in each case. | | (142746) | 51
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he hs received from associations or organisations specifically set up to support Northern Ireland veterans. | | (142860) | 52
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142802) | 53
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd December, Official Report, column 66W, on merchant ships, which flags were flown by the merchant ships that did not fly the red ensign; and what percentage of merchant ships chartered by his Department to support Allied efforts in the 2003 Iraq war were over (a) 15 years old, (b) 25 years old and (c) 30 years old. | | (143179) | 54
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what complaints have been received about the adequacy of investigations into Iraqi deaths resulting from UK military action; and if he will make a statement. | | (142615) | 55
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 4th December, Official Report, column 127W, on Iraq, if he will name the individuals whose deaths are being investigated; on what date each died; on what date each investigation began; and what stage each investigation has reached. | | (143058) | 56
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who determines the (a) prices, (b) specifications and (c) standards of the items set out in the Al Yamamah contract; and by what procedures prices, specifications and standards are revised. | | (142584) | 57
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to his Department was of providing school places for children of Service personnel under the Service Education Allowance Scheme in each of the past 10 years. | | (142991) | 58
N | Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the C130K Hercules airframes, giving the out-of-service dates of each. | | (142604) | 59
N | Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what work is planned to upgrade the C130K fleet; whether this will include upgrading of the wings; and what effect such upgrades will have on the out-of-service dates of each aircraft. | | (142638) | 60
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the vaccines which have been administered to service personnel since 1990 which were not licensed in the United Kingdom at the time of administration; for what there were administered; how many personnel were involved in each case; what follow up checks have taken place; and if he will make a statement. | | (142884) | 61
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143151) | 62
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the armed forces recruitment budget was spent in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (142676) | 63
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the implications are for the UK's acquisition of air tanker aircraft of the US Department of Defense's re-examination of the equivalent programme. | | (142779) | 64
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the tanker programme. | | (142720) | 65
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the investigations into Iraqi weapons of mass destruction carried out by coalition forces will report to the Government; and whether the reports will be made public. | | (141658) | 66
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants were employed by his Department in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (141659) | 67
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what expenditure is planned on defence estates upgrades in each year up to 2008; and if he will make a statement. | | (141660) | 68
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future role and structure of the Defence Logistics Organisation. | | (141661) | 69
| Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria are used in evaluating the cost of risk assessed as attaching to bids to supply goods and services to the MoD; and whether bidders are informed of (a) such criteria and (b) their effect on their bids. | | (142613) | 70
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role Ministry of Defence Police officers have had in the reopened police investigation of deaths at Deepcut barracks; and how many potential witnesses were canvassed and interviewed by military personnel in the investigations into the deaths of (a) Mr Sean Benton, (b) Cheryl James, (c) Mr Geoff Gray and (d) Mr James Collinson. | | (143128) | 71
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what standard instructions are given to Ministry of Defence Police personnel on secondment or assignment to assist the civilian police where the criminal responsibility of senior officers may be the subject of the investigation. | | (143137) | 72
| Mr Alan Meale (Mansfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the performance of military equipment in the Gulf. | | (142976) | 73
| Mr Alan Meale (Mansfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to encourage more employers to enable their workforces to participate in the reserve forces. | | (142985) | 74
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are (a) employed in and (b) seconded to the Defence Export Services Organisation; and how many departmental staff are engaged in oversight of the licensing of military equipment and weapons for export. | | (142521) | 75
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the contracts will be awarded for the second tranche of the Eurofighter project; how much the contracts will be for; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay. | | (142303) | 76
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of an army corporal's final salary is payable to a spouse following death-in-service. | | (143020) | 77
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the lump sum death-in-service pay is to widows or widowers for an army corporal. | | (143021) | 78
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been carried out of the real estate value of the St John's Wood Barracks. | | (142711) | 79
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational role is of the King's Troop, the Royal Horse Artillery. | | (142712) | 80
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to public funds in 2003-04 is of the King's Troop, the Royal Horse Artillery. | | (142713) | 81
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of the King's Troop, the Royal Horse Artillery. | | (142714) | 82
| John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the public private partnership/private finance initiative project for the provision of MoD marine navigational aids is to be concluded; and what the cost to the Department has been. | | (142535) | 83
| John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the parties involved in the public private partnership/private finance initiative project for the provision of MoD marine navigational aids. | | (142536) | 84
| John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultation he has had with (a) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (b) Trinity House, (c) the Northern Lighthouse Board and (d) the Commissioners for Irish Lights regarding the public private partnership/private finance initiative contract for the provision of marine navigational aids. | | (142537) | 85
N | Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to be able to make available to his family the report of the investigation into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in Iraq on 24th March; and if he will make a statement. | | (142035) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 86
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which directors of Brighton and Hove Albion football club (a) he has and (b) other ministers in his Department have met since 1st January 2002; and if he will make a statement. | | (142431) | 87
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list those honourable Members from whom he has received oral representations in respect of the outstanding planning application relating to the possible construction of a football stadium at Falmer, East Sussex. | | (142432) | 88
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy that a housing applicant exiled from Northern Ireland because of intimidation should be accepted as homeless and entitled to an emergency payment. | | (142738) | 89
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142813) | 90
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the level of deprivation was in each local authority in England in each year since 1997. | | (143001) | 91
N | Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much is held by each housing authority in receipts from the sale of council houses. | | (142209) | 92
| Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg & Goole):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to make smoke alarms in rented property a legal requirement. | | (142776) | 93
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action the Green Minister in his Department is taking to ensure that his bid to the forthcoming Government spending round contributes towards the United Kingdom's objectives on sustainable development. | | (142526) | 94
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the estimated minimum potential cost of independent adjudication is under a tenancy deposit scheme. | | (142438) | 95
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his assessment is of the potential benefits of a tenancy deposit scheme. | | (142439) | 96
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assesment he has made of (a) the estimated total number of disputes requiring adjudication under a tenancy deposit scheme and (b) the estimated costs of those procedures. | | (142827) | 97
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his latest estimate is of (a) the rate of alleged unreasonable withholding of deposits by landlords or agencies and (b) the cost of their retrieval. | | (142828) | 98
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions his Department has held with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the planning requirements for the disposal of hazardous waste required by the EU Hazardous Waste Directive. | | (142520) | 99
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the impact of delays in the implementation of the Hazardous Waste Requirements of the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) on the regeneration of brownfield sites required to meet housing targets. | | (142522) | 100
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what regulations are in place to ensure the safe (a) installation and (b) operation of domestic central heating systems, with particular reference to preventing pollution from oil leakages. | | (143068) | 101
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what quality standards apply to domestic central heating oil storage tanks in (a) metal and (b) plastic. | | (143069) | 102
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many oil-fired domestic central heating installations there are in England. | | (143171) | 103
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much the Government has invested in council housing in (a) South Tyneside and (b) England in each year since 1996. | | (142990) | 104
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what level of grant from all government sources Tamworth Borough Council has received in each year since 1996. | | (142625) | 105
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what percentage collection rate of council tax he expects in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; and if he will make a statement. | | (142992) | 106
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions ministers and officials have had with the Department for Education and Skills regarding the 2004-05 settlement for those local authorities whose formula grant increase is equal to their schools' formula spending share increase. | | (143145) | 107
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he expects to publish the full list of (a) powers and (b) functions of the proposed regional assemblies. | | (142567) | 108
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to set a minimum percentage participation threshold in referendums for regional assemblies for the result to be acted upon; and if he will make a statement. | | (142569) | 109
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, in what circumstances the referendums on regional assemblies would be held after October 2004. | | (142570) | 110
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he will take to maximise turnout in the proposed regional assembly referendums. | | (142571) | 111
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to change the voting system in reorganised single tier authorities which may be established following the referendums on regional assemblies; and if he will make a statement. | | (142572) | 112
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received from organisations in the North West urging the Government to extend the powers and functions of the proposed regional assembly; and if he will make a statement. | | (142798) | 113
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will respond to the bids for resources from the market renewal pathfinders; and if he will make a statement. | | (142994) | 114
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will introduce additional council tax bands; and if he will make a statement. | | (142995) | 115
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what events he plans to hold in East Lancashire to promote the benefits of a North West Regional Assembly. | | (142996) | 116
| Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what complaints he has received against the Devonport Regeneration Company from Devonport community activists; what steps he intends to take to investigate matters; and if he will make a statement. | | (142701) | 117
| Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of (a) the performance of the Devonport Regeneration Company and (b) its compliance with Government guidelines in staff employment and the allocation of funds; and if he will make a statement. | | (142703) | 118
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, in what circumstances the Government will overrule a local council's decision as to a property's exemption from the right to buy scheme. | | (142909) | 119
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many local council decisions on exemption from the right to buy scheme he has overruled since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (142910) | 120
| Mr Dennis Turner (Wolverhampton South East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assumptions will be made in the operation of the transitional protection scheme concerning the use of the option of housing authorities to apply to his Department for a special direction to transfer any amount of the 2001-02 Housing Revenue Account to the General Fund. | | (142822) | 121
| Mr Dennis Turner (Wolverhampton South East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he plans to consult on the possible ways in which the transitional protection scheme will operate. | | (142824) | 122
| Mr Dennis Turner (Wolverhampton South East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will provide before 1st January 2004 exemplifications of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme at an individual local authority level based on the latest available audited data on interim grant claims for 2003-04. | | (142826) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 123
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people domiciled in (a) Scotland, (b) the City of Edinburgh local authority area and (c) the Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency are attending a (i) English and (ii) Welsh university. | | (142620) | 124
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142817) | 125
| Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list for each local education authority the aggregated amount of money carried forward in its schools, devolved budgets at April. | | (143016) | 126
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) girls and (b) boys sat examinations in science subjects at (i) A Level and (ii) AS level in each year since 1997; and what the pass rate was in each case. | | (143147) | 127
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) women and (b) men (i) applied to, (ii) enrolled in and (iii) graduated in courses in higher education in each year since 1997, broken down by (A) humanities, social studies and languages courses, (B) physical sciences and mathematics courses, (C) engineering and technology courses, (D) medicine and dentistry and (E) other courses. | | (143148) | 128
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) women and (b) men obtained higher degrees and entered paid, full-time, permanent employment in the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by standard industrial classification of employer. | | (143149) | 129
N | Mr David Cameron (Witney):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been spent in the last six months on advertisements to promote and explain top-up fees; how many advertisements have been broadcast; and what the total planned spending is on this campaign. | | (142642) | 130
| Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the minimum level of funding was for trainees on the residential training for disabled adults course at the Royal National Institute for the Blind's Loughborough College in each year since 1995. | | (142960) | 131
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will estimate the period required for full recovery of his proposed top-up fees, given a starting salary threshold for repayment of (a) £15,000, (b) £18,000 and (c) £20,000 per year. | | (142430) | 132
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage the take-up of apprenticeships. | | (141885) | 133
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the paper by the honourable Members for The Wrekin and for Southampton, Test on the funding of higher education; and if he will publish his assessment. | | (142539) | 134
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will meet the vice chancellors of (a) South Bank University, (b) University of Glamorgan and (c) University College Wales, Newport to discuss the future of higher education. | | (142540) | 135
| Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many universities he expects will be in a position to offer bursaries to students from poorer backgrounds under the Government's new higher education funding proposal. | | (142902) | 136
| Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his estimate is of the percentage of students from poorer backgrounds who could qualify for a bursary under the new higher education funding proposals. | | (142956) | 137
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received from (a) student representative bodies and (b) the university sector in Scotland on the subject of top-up fees. | | (142730) | 138
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what written representations he has received from the First Minister of Scotland on the subject of top-up fees. | | (142765) | 139
N | Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of students in higher education did not complete their degrees in (a) the last year for which data is available, (b) 1997 and (c) 1992. | | (141959) | 140
N | Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what rules govern the impact on the estate of an individual should he or she die owing student loans acquired to pay tuition fees; and whether he proposes that the forthcoming legislation should change the rules. | | (142702) | 141
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the educative value of ability grouping for English lessons. | | (142988) | 142
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in how many schools fewer than 20 per cent. of pupils achieved (a) qualifications equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade A* to C and (b) 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C in each year between 1996 and 2002; and what his estimate is for each year from 2003 to 2006. | | (142989) | 143
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether it is his policy to intervene to prevent universities charging the full top-up fee to its students. | | (142516) | 144
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what grants OFFA will be involved in distributing and on what basis; and where its funding will come from. | | (143072) | 145
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list (a) current and (b) proposed government grants available to universities for improving and widening social access to higher education. | | (143073) | 146
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much his Department spends each year on the cost of subsidising the student loan book; and what proportion of every pound loaned this represents. | | (143074) | 147
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the net present value including administration and the subsidy cost, of each pound loaned to students is as part of the student loan book. | | (143075) | 148
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143165) | 149
N | Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students have been paying tuition fees in each year since they were introduced; and what proportion of the total student population this represents. | | (142532) | 150
| Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to reform assessment methods at Key Stage 1; and if he will make a statement. | | (142858) | 151
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the draft bill on school transport will be published; what its principal provisions will be; what assessment has been made of the impact it will have on policies relating to transport to denominational schools of pupils of that denomination; what assessment has been made of the financial implications of the bill for (a) parents, (b) schools and (c) local education authorities; what assessment has been made of the effect it will have on the current providers of school transport; whether any of the proposed changes will take place on a pilot basis; and what consultations have been undertaken by the Department. | | (142786) | 152
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the age profile is of first degree entrants to UK universities (a) in 2003-04, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago, broken down by those aged (i) 20-30, (ii) 31-40, (iii) 41-50, (iv) 51-60 and (v) 60 years and over. | | (142600) | 153
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what consultation there has been with mature entrants to university on the impact of variable tuition fees. | | (142601) | 154
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Lichfield of 3rd December, Official Report, column 89W, on education spending, what the basic amount included in the figures is for each (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil; and if he will list separately the amounts included in the figures he gave for (i) deprivation, (ii) additional costs and (iii) sparsty. | | (143129) | 155
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the schools that have received leadership initiative payments. | | (143130) | 156
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students started three year courses at UK universities in 1997-98 and 1999-2000; and how many students graduated from those universities with degrees in 2000-01 and 2002-03. | | (143066) | 157
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled expressed in actual terms and as a percentage of WTE staff. | | (143067) | 158
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the local authorities whose grant increase is equal to their schools' formula spending share increase in the 2004-05 settlement. | | (143146) | 159
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance he has issued to local authorities regarding the passporting of schools' formula spending share budget increase of the 2004-05 settlement. | | (143166) | 160
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many universities have indicated their intention to waive fees for students embarking on (a) science, (b) engineering and (c) mathematics degrees; and if he will make a statement. | | (142785) | 161
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the levels of educational attainment in the UK coalfields, and on Government action to improve them. | | (142946) | 162
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the education ministers of (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) the Scottish Parliament on educational attainment in coalfield communities. | | (142947) | 163
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he and his officials have had with the Coalfield Communities Campaign on the levels of educational attainment in coalfield communities. | | (142948) | 164
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what studies of education attainment in coalfield communities have been undertaken since the 2001 Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research Study. | | (142949) | 165
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent per student in higher education in each of the last 30 years. | | (142633) | 166
| Mr Gerry Steinberg (Durham, City of):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the limit of parental income would be beyond which students would receive no financial assistance under the Government's proposals for higher education funding. | | (142999) | 167
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what additional financial resources he will provide to the pre-school sector to enable staff better to comply with Ofsted inspections. | | (142506) | 168
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what additional financial resources he will provide to enable the pre-school sector to employ special needs co-ordinators for individual children. | | (142507) | 169
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to increase the (a) number of sessions and (b) terms for the pre-school sector in Devon. | | (142508) | 170
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funds he will make available to the boards of pre-schools to meet possible staff redundancies. | | (142509) | 171
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans his Department has fully to fund (a) pre-schools and (b) the Appletree pre-school in Sidmouth. | | (142510) | 172
| Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of average earnings the threshold for repayment of a student loan was at (a) the time it was introduced and (b) the latest date for which figures are available. | | (143175) | 173
| Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether he plans to link the threshold for repayment of tuition fees to (a) the cost of living and (b) average earnings. | | (143176) | 174
| Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the threshold for commencement of repayment of a student loan (a) was at the time of introduction of student loans and (b) is now; and what the threshold would be now if it had risen in line with the retail price index. | | (143177) | 175
| Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what level of top-up fees student teachers will be expected to pay on undergraduate teacher training courses at universities in the Russell Group; and if he will make a statement. | | (142648) | 176
| Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether student teachers on postgraduate teacher training courses will continue to be exempt from tuition fees at all universities and colleges following the introduction of top-up fees; and if he will make a statement. | | (142649) | 177
| Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether his Department will continue to repay student loans for teachers of shortage subjects under the Repayment of Teachers' Loans Scheme; and if he will make a statement. | | (142650) | 178
| Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what advertising campaigns his Department is introducing on the proposed changes to higher education funding; and what the level of funding allocated to each campaign is. | | (142651) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 179
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 implications for UK environment policy of the statement made by the Russian authorities on 2nd December on the Kyoto Protocol. | | (142793) | 180
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list breaches of conditions of waste management licences relating to the Hartlepool Seaton Meadows Landfill (Licences CLE 223 and CLE 403) recorded by the Environment Agency since 1997; what the nature of each breach was; and if she will place copies of the relevant site inspection reports in the Library. | | (142437) | 181
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the development of new technologies to help reduce the demand for energy consumption. | | (142848) | 182
| Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out the timetable for the implementation of regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. | | (142945) | 183
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142815) | 184
| Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg & Goole):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in implementing the Animal Health (Amendment) Act 1998. | | (142777) | 185
| Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg & Goole):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average subsidy to eligible farmers in (a) England and Wales, (b) Yorkshire and The Humber, (c) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (d) North Lincolnshire is in 2003-04. | | (142778) | 186
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what work was undertaken on preparation for the Hazardous Waste Directive in the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. | | (142517) | 187
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her predecessor department was informed of the (a) requirements and (b) implementation date of the EU Hazardous Waste Directive. | | (142518) | 188
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff who worked on the EU Hazardous Waste Directive in the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions transferred to her Department to continue this work. | | (142519) | 189
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who will lead the UK delegation at the December Fisheries Council. | | (142726) | 190
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many speeches have been made by each Minister in her Department since 1st January on fisheries, excluding fresh water fishing, and what percentage this represents of the total number of ministerial speeches made by her Department's ministers in that time. | | (142727) | 191
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what visits (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if she will make a statement. | | (143164) | 192
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implementation of Agenda 21 by each local authority; and if she will make a statement. | | (142790) | 193
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities wishing to take part in trials of demountable flood barriers. | | (143167) | 194
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the specification for the Environment Agency's trials of the Pallet Barrier system are in (a) Shrewsbury, (b) Worcester and (c) Ironbridge Gorge. | | (143168) | 195
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of temporary demountable flood barriers upon flood prevention. | | (143169) | 196
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the leakage rates of each of the water sewerage companies were in each of the last 10 years. | | (142301) | 197
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what basis the herbicide regime for use on GM maize was chosen for the farm-scale trials; what role Aventis (now Bayer) had in its choice; what international research was conducted to establish whether this was a commercially realistic regime to control weeds; and what research she has conducted on whether farmers in other countries use more aggressive herbicide mixes. | | (142304) | 198
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements were made to ensure that farmers growing the GM trial crops managed them in a commercially realistic manner; and whether they were (a) required and (b) allowed to respray if the crop was under threat from excess weeds and was unlikely to produce an optimum yield. | | (142305) | 199
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Royal Society was asked to check the methodology of the farm-scale evaluation research, with particular regard to the selection of the herbicide regimes. | | (142423) | 200
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which United Kingdom nuclear sites are being considered for complementary access by safeguards inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. | | (142921) | 201
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) assessed by her Department into the role of the synthesis of the biologically active genome of bacteriophage phi X174 in the reduction in the toxic impact radioactive waste. | | (142922) | 202
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the future of the Rural Transport Partnership grants. | | (142433) | 203
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on schemes for emissions trading which are compliant with EU legislation on emissions trading, with particular reference to the (a) energy and (b) aviation sectors. | | (143060) | 204
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost is of completing the mapping stage of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, broken down by (a) year, (b) central government and (c) local government. | | (143015) | 205
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost to landowners of clearing their land of waste that has been fly-tipped was in each of the last five years; how many convictions for fly-tipping have been secured by the Environment Agency; and what the total amount of fines paid arising from these convictions was. | | (142590) | 206
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials in the Department have responsibility for waste management. | | (142591) | 207
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people are employed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme; and what additional recruitment is planned. | | (142592) | 208
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the Government's total procurement of materials and products comprised recycled products in each year since 1997; and what the projections are for (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005. | | (142593) | 209
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Environment Agency's total expenditure has been since its formation; and how much has been spent on collecting and refining statistics on waste. | | (142594) | 210
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much it had cost to comply with the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation as of 1st October. | | (142595) | 211
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of chlorofluorocarbons had been converted into inert substances as of 1st October. | | (142596) | 212
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what environmental benefits have been achieved through complying with the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation. | | (142597) | 213
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Hazardous Waste Regulations will be published. | | (142598) | 214
N | Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will reconsider the payment of slaughter premium on adult bovines slaughtered on farm through the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme during the foot and mouth outbreak because the farming businesses were subject to Form D movement restrictions. | | (142441) | 215
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much food, by weight, is required to produce one kilo of marketable farmed cod; how much raw marine resource, by weight, is required to make one kilo of food; where that food is sourced from; and what the content of that food is. | | (143013) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 216
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the status of Liberia's membership of the International Monetary Fund. | | (142781) | 217
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142806) | 218
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to persuade the Israeli Government to (a) stop further construction of the separation wall in the West Bank and (b) prevent more settlements being built there. | | (143037) | 219
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to encourage the Palestinian Authority to take steps to prevent further suicide attacks in Israel. | | (143131) | 220
N | Mr William Cash (Stone):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he plans to have with the foreign ministers of (a) Denmark, (b) Germany and (c) Italy regarding the declaration in the draft proposals agreed in Naples relating to the primacy, under Article 110 of the draft European Constitution, of the Constitution over their respective constitutions. | | (142429) | 221
N | Mr William Cash (Stone):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom (a) Parliament and (b) Courts of the Declaration at Annex 2 of the proposals agreed in Naples on the primacy of European Union law as set out in Article 1-10 (1) of the draft European Constitution. | | (142612) | 222
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Bangladesh concerning (a) attacks upon and (b) intimidation of (i) Christians and (ii) Hindus by militant Islamist groups. | | (142602) | 223
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Eritrea concerning persecution of evangelical and Pentecostal Christians. | | (142603) | 224
| Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether, in the build up to the war with Iraq and subsequently, he permitted British Intelligence Services to intercept diplomatic communications between member states of the United Nations. | | (143035) | 225
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143152) | 226
N | Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the compatibility of the provisions of the draft European Constitution for a common asylum and immigration system with his proposals for legislation on asylum. | | (142094) | 227
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Hong Kong. | | (142667) | 228
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to improve security at British high commissions and embassies following the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey. | | (142670) | 229
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Russian government regarding its decision not to seek ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. | | (142624) | 230
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of recent accusations made by members of the Colombian military against (a) the displaced civilian populations of the Cacarica River basin and Jiguamiendo, (b) the ombudsman of Cacarica, (c) Peace Brigades International and (d) Justice and Peace for the Colombian Government's compliance with commitments they gave in July at the London Conference. | | (143198) | 231
| Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 7th October from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Abu Nayem. | | (142951) | 232
| Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 7th October from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr Mukhtar Ahmed Rana. | | (142952) | 233
| Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total value is of the compensation paid by the Libyan Government to the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing. | | (143005) | 234
| Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether payments to solicitors acting for families of the Lockerbie victims were paid under contingency fee agreements for percentage payments. | | (143006) | 235
| Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the level of fees charged by solicitors in the Lockerbie case; and what action he is taking to limit such fees. | | (143007) | 236
| Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the families of the Lockerbie victims receive the highest possible proportion of compensation payments made. | | (143008) | 237
| Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government will seek to recoup any of the costs incurred in (a) investigations into the Lockerbie bombing and (b) holding the (i) trial and (ii) appeal by the accused; and if he will make a statement. | | (143009) | 238
| Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost to the UK taxpayer was of the (a) investigations into the Lockerbie bombing, (b) trial of those accused of the bombing and (c) appeal by the accused. | | (143010) | 239
| Sandra Osborne (Ayr):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how he proposes to ensure that funding to Colombia from (a) the EU and (b) the United Kingdom is used for the purposes for which it was given in the light of the Colombian Government's decision to merge the programmes of Plan Colombia, Social Solidarity Network and the Colombian Agency for International Cooperation and to create a single programme instead. | | (142972) | 240
| Sandra Osborne (Ayr):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy not to support any process of demobilisation of the paramilitaries in Colombia that fails to take into account the rights of the civilian population to truth, justice and reparation. | | (142973) | 241
| Sandra Osborne (Ayr):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the British Government will give to human rights defenders in Colombia; and if it will provide on going financial support to the UN Office on Human Rights. | | (142974) | 242
N | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was agreed at the Inter-governmental Conference meeting at Naples of 28th to 29th November; and if he will make a statement. | | (142014) | 243
N | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the status is of the Italian presidency's proposal that any proposal made by the European Minister for Foreign Affairs should be subject to qualified majority vote; and if he will make a statement. | | (142015) | 244
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Totnes of 22nd August regarding the continued mining of Indonesian protected forests and the concern expressed by Mr Rupert Stocks. | | (142300) | 245
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many persons applied for the post of immigration adjudicator; and when he intends to announce the name of the successful candidate. | | (142934) | 246
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to honour the memory of Consul-General Roger Short. | | (142935) | 247
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to visit the new visa centres in India; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the new visa centres in India. | | (142936) | 248
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he intends to announce the name of the new director of visa operations for India. | | (142970) | 249
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department. | | (142943) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 250
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there was a fully contracted local network provider in place for each patients' forum on 2nd December. | | (142440) | 251
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff in local network providers were working exclusively on behalf of patients' forums on 2nd December. | | (142442) | 252
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of patients' forums were fully operational on 2nd December; and if he will list those that were not. | | (142443) | 253
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether each patients' forum had the required minimum of members on 2nd December; and if he will list those that did not. | | (142444) | 254
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the location of each patients' forum's associated local network provider and (b) those patients' forums for which no contracted local network provider was in place on 2nd December. | | (142445) | 255
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect Agenda for Change will have on the pay levels for speech and language therapists; and if he will make a statement on how it will affect their professional status. | | (142627) | 256
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate the Government has made of the number of people who will be affected by the Government's decision to extend implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance to make photo-dynamic therapy available to those suffering from age-related macular degeneration. | | (142628) | 257
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will provide ring-fenced funding to implement the National Service Framework for long term conditions. | | (142629) | 258
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Government is taking to collect figures on the numbers of people with neurological conditions in England. | | (142630) | 259
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142805) | 260
N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish guidelines for primary care trusts on collection of statistics on breastfeeding. | | (142298) | 261
| Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that jars of babyfood are labelled such that breastfeeding is encouraged for six months rather than four. | | (142587) | 262
N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd December, Official Report, column 77W, on influenza, what steps have been taken to ensure there are adequate supplies of medication to treat cases of influenza. | | (142796) | 263
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken to ensure that at-risk groups of people aged under 65 are receiving influenza vaccinations this winter, with particular reference to children over six months in at-risk groups. | | (142957) | 264
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children are in the at-risk group for influenza; and how many of these have received an influenza vaccination this year. | | (142958) | 265
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what definition the Department uses of a memory clinic; and how many memory clinics have been set up (a) in total in England and Wales and (b) in each strategic health authority. | | (142959) | 266
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what definition the Department uses of an influenza epidemic. | | (142961) | 267
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many reported cases of influenza there were in each of the last five years; and in which of these years the reported level of influenza cases has been classified as an epidemic. | | (142962) | 268
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners were in training in (a) England and (b) North Somerset in each of the last five years. | | (142491) | 269
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Government is taking to increase the number of general practitioners in the Weston Area Health Trust. | | (142492) | 270
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists in the Weston-super-Mare constituency (a) offer NHS treatment and (b) have vacancies for NHS patients. | | (142495) | 271
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration within the NHS in England and Wales is implemented as soon as possible; and when he expects the implementation to be completed. | | (142980) | 272
| Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the application of section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended). | | (143172) | 273
| Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on whether cleft palate or cleft lip are regarded as serious handicaps for the purpose of section 1(1)(d) if the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended). | | (143173) | 274
| Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to prevent the sale of female eggs for fertility experiments. | | (143174) | 275
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will put in place a strategy for tackling headlice similar to the one in place in Scotland. | | (143031) | 276
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask the Food Standards Agency to take steps to tackle misleading nutritional information in food labelling aimed at children. | | (143209) | 277
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultant neurologists are employed in the NHS. | | (142503) | 278
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what written representations he has received from the British Medical Association (Scotland) on the subject of foundation hospitals. | | (142731) | 279
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that all public funded research is recorded and made freely available to (a) patients, (b) health professionals, (c) the public and (d) members of the scientific community. | | (142505) | 280
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the cost to NHS trusts in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire of the Working Time Directive. | | (142523) | 281
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the overtime needed in NHS trusts in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire arising from the implementation of the Working Time Directive. | | (142524) | 282
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the change in the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses needed in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire as a result of the implementation of the Working Time Directive. | | (142525) | 283
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer from the Secretary of State for Defence on 1st December, Official Report, column 39W, if he will make it his policy to (a) offer annual medical examinations to retired or ex-radiation workers and (b) to amend the guidelines to medical professionals to encourage them to note the profession of radiation workers in the medical notes of their families. | | (143034) | 284
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143153) | 285
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what impact Government amendments on the governance of foundation trusts to the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 will have on the validity of the consultation currently in progress. | | (142984) | 286
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care trusts have developed policies for osteoporosis in their health improvement programmes for older people; and if he will make a statement. | | (142993) | 287
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultant paediatricians are currently employed in the NHS on a (a) part-time and (b) full-time basis. | | (143046) | 288
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new consultant paediatricians have been appointed in each of the last six years. | | (143047) | 289
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultant paediatricians have left the NHS in each of the last six years; and for what reasons. | | (143048) | 290
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the age profile is of consultant paediatricians currently working in the NHS. | | (143049) | 291
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed in his Department in each of the last six years broken down by (a) headcount, (b) part-time and (c) whole-time equivalents. | | (143050) | 292
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff have (a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last six years, broken down by (a) headcount, (b) part-time and (c) whole-time equivalents. | | (143051) | 293
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what early retirement packages are available for staff in his Department and what additions to those packages have been made available in the last year. | | (143052) | 294
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many members of staff in his Department have taken early retirement packages in each of the last six years. | | (143053) | 295
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the results were of the Executive Agency review of job losses in his Department; and what the cost of the review was. | | (143054) | 296
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the results of the Executive Agency review into job losses in his Department will be published. | | (143055) | 297
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reduction in staff numbers in his Department he expects to have been achieved by the end of 2004. | | (143056) | 298
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what he attributes the rise in the number of children aged 0-14, treated by mental health trusts in West Sussex betwen 1996-97 and 2001-02. | | (143064) | 299
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed (a) in actual terms and (b) as a percentage of WTE staff. | | (143065) | 300
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what mechanism he proposes to fund the estimated cost of the planned NHS electronic care record system; and where the money for the upkeep of the system will come from. | | (142704) | 301
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will increase the number of doctors in practice to make up any shortfall in the NHS as the integrated care record system is introduced. | | (142705) | 302
| Sandra Osborne (Ayr):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation will meet (a) to review the clinical trials of and (b) to decide on a policy on whether to include the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into the childhood immunisation programme. | | (142971) | 303
| Sandra Osborne (Ayr):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect on incidences of disease in adults in the USA of routine infant pneumococcal immunisation; and what plans he has for such routine immunisation. | | (142975) | 304
| Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by county those dental laboratories which have registered with his Department under the Medical Devices Regulations. | | (142529) | 305
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to update the research on (a) angiosarcoma, (b) lymphohaematopoetic cancers and (c) cancer incidence near municipal solid waste incinerators. | | (142632) | 306
| Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the incidence of people who are diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency. | | (142769) | 307
| Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the provision of specialist NHS services for people who are diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency. | | (142770) | 308
| Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate services are available locally for people who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency. | | (142771) | 309
| Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate information and support is available for carers of people who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency. | | (142772) | 310
| Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to put the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on the routine childhood immunisation schedule. | | (143017) | 311
| Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) the number of children affected by pneumococcal disease in the last year for which figures are available and (b) the severity of the disease and its complications in each case. | | (143018) | 312
| Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the comparative costs of (a) vaccinating children against pneumococcal disease and (b) treating the disease and its complications. | | (143019) | 313
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people (a) aged 17 or under and (b) aged 18 or over were registered with an NHS dentist in (i) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority and (ii) the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust in each of the last five years; and what proportion each represents of the relevant age group. | | (142425) | 314
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints he has received concerning Northwick Park Hospital. | | (142930) | 315
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many studies he has commissioned into the vaccine Prevenar. | | (142931) | 316
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding he has approved for the provision of the vaccine Prevenar on the National Health Service. | | (142932) | 317
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he next plans to visit the University of Leicester Hospital Trust. | | (142933) | 318
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the introduction of compulsory identity cards. | | (142652) | 319
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) adults and (b) children are currently registered for an organ transplant in (i) St Helens and (ii) Merseyside. | | (142904) | 320
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many organ transplants took place in (a) St Helens and (b) Merseyside in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003. | | (142912) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 321
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on which dates terrorist incidents ascribed to the IRA have taken place in England since 1973. | | (142754) | 322
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to co-opt victims of the Troubles onto the Victims' Advisory Panel. | | (142755) | 323
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in Great Britain have made claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority as a result of the Northern Ireland Troubles. | | (142756) | 324
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning the inclusion of the needs of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain within the remit of the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses. | | (142823) | 325
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will establish an interdepartmental group in the Home Office Victims Unit to study the needs of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain. | | (142825) | 326
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set up an independent support network for victims of the Troubles. | | (142861) | 327
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many experiments on animals were carried out in UK laboratories in 2002-03; what action he is taking to encourage alternative methods of experimentation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143178) | 328
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the likely impact of a corporate killing bill on British business. | | (142841) | 329
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142819) | 330
| Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason a single minister has responsibility for immigration, asylum and terrorism and their implications for government policy and strategy. | | (142903) | 331
| Jim Dowd (Lewisham West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value of assets seized by the Metropolitan Police under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been in 2003. | | (142979) | 332
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide support for the Volunteers in Action programme. | | (143026) | 333
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the best interests of children of asylum seekers with respect to (a) removal centres and (b) other circumstances for which he has jurisdiction. | | (142717) | 334
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with Scottish ministers concerning the impact on the Scottish Legal Aid Board of his asylum policies. | | (142733) | 335
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from established churches in Scotland concerning his policy in relation to the detention of families with children in removal centres. | | (142762) | 336
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what written representations he has received from the First Minister of Scotland concerning his policy in relation to the detention of families with children in removal centres. | | (142763) | 337
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will define the circumstances in which it would be in the interests of children of asylum seekers to separate them from their parents. | | (142767) | 338
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to permit asylum seekers in general to take up employment. | | (142768) | 339
| Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the trial Bobby on the Beat scheme in New Earswick. | | (142784) | 340
| Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what resources have been made available to Gwent Police since 1997; how many police officers there were in the Gwent Force in each year since 1997; and what the expected number of police officers in the Gwent Force is in each of the next two years. | | (142820) | 341
N | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applicants in each of the last five years for which figures are available were accompanied by dependants under the age of 18. | | (142580) | 342
N | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were made asking for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and of these, how many were granted leave. | | (142581) | 343
N | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases heard by the
Immigration Appeals Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available the Tribunal upheld the decision being appealed. | | (142582) | 344
N | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were made by his Department asking for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were granted leave. | | (142583) | 345
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the prisons budget was for each year since 1995; and what the prisons spending forecast is for each year up to 2009. | | (142987) | 346
| Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has been made in improving adult prisoner (a) literacy and (b) numeracy. | | (142923) | 347
| Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been provided with accommodation at public expense in (a) Hampshire and (b) Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in each year since 1997; what type of accommodation they were given; and what the nature of the tenancy was in each case. | | (143139) | 348
| Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will guarantee the grant for Crimestoppers for the next four years. | | (142531) | 349
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress on setting up a dedicated non-emergency telephone line; and if he will assess 888 as a possibility for the numerical sequence. | | (142982) | 350
| Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 12th October from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Miriam Adebeshin. | | (142953) | 351
| Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 30th October from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs J. Ferns. | | (142954) | 352
| Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to proceed with changes to the requirements placed upon applicants for new passports only when the proposals have been (a) notified to Parliament and (b) subjected to parliamentary procedure. | | (142538) | 353
N | Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether initial problems in the implementation of the Airwave service for the police have been overcome; and whether he is able to quantify the benefit to the police of this service as indicated in the Government's response to the 64th Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2001-02, Public Private Partnerships: Airwave. | | (142107) | 354
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the number of people who have been killed in each of the last 10 years at the hands of people receiving treatment for mental health problems. | | (143057) | 355
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what basis he judges that the terms of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill as regards the removal of the children of asylum seekers are compatible with (a) the Human Rights Act 1998, (b) the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and (c) section 1 of the Children Act 1989. | | (143061) | 356
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the costs of Criminal Records Bureau checks for (a) care homes and (b) voluntary organisations. | | (143062) | 357
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have now been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau; and how many checks are outstanding. | | (143063) | 358
N | Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Afghanistan citizens have (a) applied for asylum, (b) been granted asylum, (c) been granted (i) exceptional leave to remain and (ii) indefinite leave to remain, (d) been refused leave and (e) have been removed in each of the last four years for which figures are available. | | (142579) | 359
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out the budgets for each police force in Wales since 1979 adjusted for inflation figures. | | (143033) | 360
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taken to ensure that investigations into deaths in prison or police custody are (a) independent, (b) thorough, (c) in compliance with relevant mental health standards and (d) respond to the concerns of the families of the deceased. | | (142885) | 361
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what counselling and support is available in women's prisons to assist prisoners who have been victims of (a) domestic violence and (b) sexual abuse. | | (142886) | 362
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to survey the women's prison population to determine prisoners' home locations in order to facilitate resettlement. | | (142887) | 363
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's strategy is for improving the level of support available to prisoners who have been victims of (a) domestic violence and (b) sexual abuse. | | (142888) | 364
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the percentage of remand prisoners who are women convicted and awaiting sentence. | | (142889) | 365
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the budgets of HM Prison Service establishments holding females has been specifically dedicated to suicide prevention in each of the past 10 years. | | (142891) | 366
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of women held on remand. | | (142892) | 367
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the female prison establishments have a psychiatrically qualified doctor on duty (a) during the working day, (b) during the evening and (c) on a 24 hour basis. | | (142893) | 368
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of female prison establishments has the capacity (a) in the evenings and (b) at weekends to prescribe medications essential to detoxification. | | (142894) | 369
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated budget is (a) to provide mental health care to women prisoners and (b) for the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder programme (i) in total and (ii) per capita in 2003-04. | | (142895) | 370
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in extending the First Night in Custody Project from HMP Holloway to all female prison establishments. | | (142896) | 371
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the female prisoners who committed suicide had previously been identified as at risk through the use of the HM Prison Service form F2052SH in each of the past four years. | | (142897) | 372
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) that women prisoners have equal access to bail information and (b) that the information available is consistent and accurate. | | (142898) | 373
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing identity cards in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the likely benefits. | | (141327) | 374
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he next intends to meet the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police. | | (142924) | 375
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he issues to police forces on the use of local discretion. | | (142925) | 376
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the current backlog of cases is at each directorate of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. | | (142926) | 377
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the introduction of compulsory identity cards. | | (142653) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 378
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what development problems his Department is seeking to resolve through research. | | (142643) | 379
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on his Department's research strategy. | | (142644) | 380
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the remit of the Policy Division within his Department. | | (142645) | 381
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research is being undertaken on policies to help prevent failing states. | | (142646) | 382
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps are being taken to improve health delivery mechanisms in developing countries to ensure the dispersal of World Health Organisation-approved generic anti-retroviral drugs; and if he will make a statement. | | (142621) | 383
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the impact which food aid to Swaziland is having on the ability of Swazi maize farmers to sell their produce; and if he will make a statement. | | (142782) | 384
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the humanitarian requirements of Iraqi refugees along the Jordanian border. | | (142783) | 385
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142811) | 386
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment of the fairness of elections in Rwanda his Department has undertaken. | | (142511) | 387
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has undertaken of the timescale over which democracy will be introduced in Rwanda with free elections. | | (142512) | 388
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures the Government can deploy in the case of a breach of the Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda. | | (142513) | 389
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what immunisation programme is in place for infants in Iraq; what percentage of babies born since the end of the conflict have been immunised; and if he will make a statement. | | (142614) | 390
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations he has received concerning the UK Government's performance in meeting the UN's international development aid target as a proportion of gross national product. | | (142725) | 391
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143154) | 392
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money was originally allocated to the Indigenous Peoples' Demonstration Project for the conservation of Brazilian rain forest; what proportion of this sum will be reallocated for middle income countries; and when support for the IPDP will end. | | (142647) | 393
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department. | | (142950) | Questions to the Leader of the House 394
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Leader of the House, whether it is the policy of his office to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142808) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 395
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been exiled from Northern Ireland by (a) Loyalist and (b) Republican paramilitary groups in each of the last five years. | | (142747) | 396
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his latest estimate is of the total number of people who have been exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary groups since 1973. | | (142748) | 397
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) that the needs and human rights of those exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary organisations are publicly recognised in the current talks and (b) that pressure is placed on paramilitary organisations and linked political parties to halt the practice of exiling. | | (142749) | 398
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how the interests of victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain are represented in the talks between the British and Irish governments and the Northern Ireland political parties. | | (142750) | 399
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ask the Victims Liaison Unit to organise a conference to examine how best practice and experiences from Northern Ireland can be used in meeting the needs of victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain. | | (142751) | 400
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142810) | 401
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on reducing the number of disaffected pupils in post primary schools by 15 per cent. as set out in the Department of Education Business Plan 2003-04. | | (142210) | 402
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many schools are active in the Schools Support Programme in the (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) grammar sector, broken down by school type. | | (142211) | 403
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the target date is for lowering the proportion of year 12 pupils with no GCSEs or equivalent; and what target percentage has been set. | | (142212) | 404
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce changes in home-to-school transport in Northern Ireland in line with proposals in the School Transport Bill in Great Britain. | | (142213) | 405
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the expected monthly running cost is of the Northern Ireland Assembly (a) while suspended and (b) when fully operational, broken down by (i) MLA salaries and office cost allowance costs, (ii) executive costs when the Assembly is operational and (iii) general administration costs. | | (142773) | 406
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the latest enrolment numbers available at schools and in pre-funded education are for 2002-03 in Northern Ireland. | | (142774) | 407
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether allegations of activities by the Provisional IRA and members of Sinn Fein in (a) Colombia and (b) Florida can be investigated by the International Monitoring Commission. | | (142775) | 408
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many oil-fired domestic central heating installations there are in Northern Ireland. | | (143170) | 409
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143155) | 410
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to make an assessment of the procedures for obtaining postal votes in Northern Ireland; and how many (a) people applied for a postal vote in each Northern Ireland constituency and (b) postal votes were issued for the Assembly election on 26th November. | | (142656) | 411
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to ban the use of mobile telephones while driving in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the introduction of spot fines for the use of such telephones by drivers. | | (142660) | 412
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many eligible voters in each Northern Ireland constituency were turned away from polling stations in Northern Ireland on 26th November for not having correct identification for the Assembly election. | | (142661) | 413
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the risk of an outbreak of Fujian flu in Northern Ireland; what steps he is taking to prevent such an outbreak; and if he will make a statement. | | (142662) | 414
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, If he will introduce permanent speed cameras on the A2 Bangor to Belfast road. | | (142663) | 415
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many permanent speed cameras are in place on Northern Ireland's roads; what roads are involved; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of speed cameras to the reduction of road deaths in Northern Ireland. | | (142664) | 416
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reasons those with a colostomy in Northern Ireland no longer qualify for the Disabled Persons Blue Badge Scheme; if he will reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement. | | (142665) | 417
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to prevent benefit fraud in Northern Ireland. | | (142666) | 418
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time midwives were serving in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the recruitment of midwives in Northern Ireland. | | (142668) | 419
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what meetings he has had with the Northern Ireland Prison Officers Association in relation to recent strike action by prison officers in Northern Ireland. | | (142669) | 420
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with representatives from Northern Ireland's dairies in relation to milk prices. | | (142671) | 421
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of ring rot to Northern Ireland. | | (142672) | 422
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on provision for those with eating disorders in Northern Ireland. | | (142673) | 423
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time fire officers were serving in the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on Fire Service recruitment in Northern Ireland. | | (142674) | 424
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were registered homeless in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to address homelessness in Northern Ireland. | | (142675) | 425
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been involved in policing operations outside Northern Ireland in each year since its formation; what the nature of the operations involved was; and how long each operation lasted. | | (142677) | 426
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the extension of the Employment Relations Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142679) | 427
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Department for Transport regarding the extension of the Traffic Management Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142680) | 428
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the extension of the Fire and Rescue Services Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142681) | 429
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills regarding the extension of the Children's Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142682) | 430
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the extension of the Civil Partnerships Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142683) | 431
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Home Office regarding the extension of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142684) | 432
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with HM Treasury regarding the extension of the Child Trust Fund Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142685) | 433
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland. | | (142686) | 434
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans the Government has to mark the 60th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings in Northern Ireland; and what funding has been made available to facilitate commemorative events surrounding the anniversary. | | (142687) | 435
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the European Union Working Time Directive in Northern Ireland. | | (142688) | 436
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding he has made available for town centre CCTV schemes in Northern Ireland; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of CCTV to the reduction of crime in Northern Ireland's town centres. | | (142689) | 437
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills regarding the extension of the Higher Education Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142690) | 438
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what options are available to applicants to the Northern Ireland Civil Service when declaring their religion on its fair employment monitoring form; what plans he has to amend the arrangements to cater for a wider variety of community backgrounds; and if he will make a statement. | | (142691) | 439
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 in combating electoral fraud in Northern Ireland. | | (142692) | 440
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to extend Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to cover education and transport services in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (142693) | 441
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with representatives from Northern Ireland's universities in relation to tuition fees. | | (142694) | 442
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Home Office regarding the extension of the Civil Contingencies Bill to Northern Ireland. | | (142695) | 443
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many attacks on firefighters there have been in each Fire Authority district in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what steps he is taking to reduce such attacks; and if he will make a statement. | | (142696) | 444
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will meet (a) the Game Conservancy Trust and (b) Professor Montgomery of the School of Biology at Queen's University, Belfast, to discuss management of the hare population in Northern Ireland. | | (142937) | 445
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) legal coursing on the recovery of the hare population and (b) appropriate land management by coursing clubs and responsible hunting groups on hare conservation; and if he will make a statement. | | (142938) | 446
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the reliability of evidence for the decline in the Irish hare; what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) setting up a monitoring system and (b) developing current hunting, shooting and coursing practices to ensure they cannot have an unsustainable impact on hare numbers; and if he will make a statement. | | (142939) | 447
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make it his policy to increase the three week consultation period before imposing the temporary ban in hunting and coursing of hares in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (142940) | 448
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what scientific evidence he has assessed that supports the case for banning hare hunting and coursing in Northern Ireland; for what reason such evidence was not circulated in detail to concerned parties; and if he will make a statement. | | (142941) | 449
N | Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assistance is being given to the former employees of Saintfield Yarns by government agencies to access (a) re-training and employment opportunities and (b) redundancy and benefits payments before the Christmas period. | | (142697) | 450
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the reasons are for the reduction in the number of airport police at Belfast International Airport. | | (142698) | 451
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he has taken to issue clear advice on the risk of breast cancer from hormone replacement therapy; and if he will make a statement. | | (142699) | 452
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in recruiting a consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in eating disorders to replace Dr Clare Adams. | | (142700) | 453
| Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what date Part V of the Police Act 1997 will commence in Northern Ireland. | | (142905) | 454
| Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether an implementation plan exists for the commencement of Part V of the Police Act 1997 in Northern Ireland. | | (142906) | 455
| Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether Part V of the Police Act 1997 will be commenced in tandem with the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003. | | (142907) | Questions to the Prime Minister 456
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Prime Minister, what information he has commissioned into the (a) health, (b) standard of living and (c) welfare of (i) survivors from Great Britain of the Troubles and (ii) their families. | | (142862) | 457
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the (a) role, (b) duties and (c) responsibilities of (i) Mr Jonathan Powell and (ii) the Deputy Prime Minister. | | (143200) | 458
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Prime Minister, what arrangements are in place for delegation of Prime Ministerial duties and responsibilities if the Prime Minister were unable to perform his duties for a period of time. | | (143201) | 459
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, what continuing role he intends to propose for the Joint Committee on Reform of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement. | | (142799) | 460
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will bring forward proposals to replace the Queen's Speech with a statement to Parliament by the Prime Minister setting out the forthcoming legislative programme. | | (143032) | 461
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the circumstances under which he would authorise the use of UK nuclear weapons. | | (142568) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 462
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on which dates terrorist incidents ascribed to the IRA have taken place in Scotland since 1973. | | (142753) | 463
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what dates he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Civil Service job dispersal to Scotland since he became Secretary of State for Scotland. | | (142723) | 464
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has received from (a) student representative bodies and (b) the university sector in Scotland on the subject of top-up fees. | | (142729) | 465
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what written representations he has received from the British Medical Association (Scotland) on the subject of foundation hospitals. | | (142732) | 466
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what written representations he has received from the First Minister of Scotland on the subject of top-up fees. | | (142764) | 467
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143162) | 468
| Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking in response to the loss of jobs in Scotland as a result of out-sourcing to other countries. | | (142710) | Questions to the Solicitor General 469
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Solicitor General, whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142818) | 470
N | Mr David Cameron (Witney):To ask the Solicitor General, what steps the Law Officers have taken in the light of the ruling by Mr Justice Tomlinson in District Council and others v. The Governor and company of the Bank of England to ensure that documents given to the Hutton Inquiry but not released on the grounds of legal advice privileged are published. | | (142054) | 471
N | Mr David Cameron (Witney):To ask the Solicitor General, what discussions were held between the Attorney General's office and the Hutton Inquiry about which documents disclosed to the Hutton Inquiry should not be made public; and what reasons were given by the Government in each case. | | (142055) | 472
| Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Solicitor General, what discussions she has had in relation to (a) the decision in the High Court on bicycle rickshaws and their ability to convey passengers safely, and (b) clarifying (i) licensing, (ii) insurance and (iii) safety rules in relation to the carrying of the public by bicycle rickshaws. | | (142908) | 473
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Solicitor General, what visits (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if she will make a statement. | | (143160) | 474
| Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):To ask the Solicitor General, what the basis was for the request by the Attorney-General to the Crown Prosecution Service to provide him with an update on whether sand yachting should be allowed to continue at St. Anne's. | | (142623) | 475
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Solicitor General, if she and the Attorney General will examine the lecture by Lord Steyn of 25th November on the legal status of British citizens at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. | | (142901) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 476
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the number of workers who work more than 48 hours a week but who have not signed the opt-out to the 48 hour average working week limit. | | (142606) | 477
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps are being taken to increase the awareness of the 48 hour average working week limit amongst workers. | | (142607) | 478
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the numbers of workers who are unaware of the 48 hour average working week limit. | | (142608) | 479
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will estimate the number of workers whose conditions of employment included a requirement to opt out of the 48 hour average working week limit. | | (142609) | 480
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of renewable energy in the United Kingdom is supplied by the hydro-electric industry. | | (143195) | 481
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action she is taking to support derogations in support of applications to build new hydro-electric developments; and if she will make a statement. | | (143196) | 482
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she is taking to support small and medium size companies promoting hydro-electric generating projects. | | (143197) | 483
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research her Department has carried out into the preparedness of United Kingdom companies for the introduction of the Equal Treatment at Work Directive. | | (142829) | 484
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) number of small businesses which are dependent on hunting for their survival and (b) number of jobs that would be lost in the event of a ban on hunting with hounds. | | (142830) | 485
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from (a) overseas companies and (b) British companies regarding the rights of overseas workers to pursue unfair dismissal claims against their employers under the Employment Rights Act 1996. | | (142839) | 486
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research her Department has carried out into the use of washable solvents in aerosol paint sprays as a means of combating graffiti. | | (142840) | 487
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which religions are to be protected under the Equal Treatment at Work Directive. | | (142842) | 488
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what advice her Department has offered to UK companies on how to deal with HIV in the workforce. | | (142843) | 489
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her assessment of the probable consequences of the proposed EU legislation regarding investment services for financial journalism. | | (142844) | 490
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on her assessment of the likely role of UK small businesses in rebuilding Iraq. | | (142845) | 491
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the development of an international kitemark for financial advisers by the International Standards Organisation. | | (142846) | 492
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the future of the UK's individual opt-out from the Working Time Directive. | | (142847) | 493
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on which philosophical beliefs are to be protected by the Equal Treatment at Work Directive; and what guidance her Department has offered to companies on how to make an assessment of this. | | (142849) | 494
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from UK companies regarding a possible ban on smoking in public places; what her Department's policy is; and if she will make a statement. | | (142850) | 495
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the likely cost to British businesses of a ban on smoking in public places. | | (142851) | 496
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the recent Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling on the rights of overseas workers to pursue unfair dismissal claims under British employment law. | | (142852) | 497
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the total annual value of unpaid overtime by British workers. | | (142853) | 498
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action has been taken by her Department to prepare the UK steel industry for the lifting of US steel tariffs. | | (142854) | 499
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her Department's estimate is of the cost to the UK steel industry of the United States' tariffs on imported steel. | | (142855) | 500
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 2nd December, Official Report, column 24W, if she will make a statement on the goods trade deficit with the European Union for (a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) the previous six years. | | (142857) | 501
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142816) | 502
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what targets her Department has set for creating more enterprise in disadvantaged communities; and what progress has been made towards these targets. | | (143002) | 503
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment her Department has made of the overall productivity of small and medium enterprises since 1997; what the gross value added per employee was in (a) SMEs and (b) large firms in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. | | (143003) | 504
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of (a) total energy production, (b) total energy primary consumption and (c) total final energy consumption in the (i) industrial sector, (ii) service sector, (iii) domestic sector and (iv) transport sector in each month in 2003. | | (143004) | 505
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many proceedings in the public interest for the disqualification of company directors (a) were brought and (b) resulted in a disqualification in each year since 1997; and how many disqualifications were of directors of companies with (i) less than and (ii) more than 250 employees. | | (143041) | 506
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of people going into business or becoming self-employed; what targets have been set; ; if she will make a statement on progress to date; and what estimate she has made of the number of people who were considering going into business or becoming self-employed in each year since 1997. | | (143042) | 507
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people (a) entered self-employment and (b) were considering going into business on the latest month for which figures are available, broken down by (i) region and (ii) local authority area. | | (143133) | 508
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on value for money improvements in her Department for each year from 1997-98 to 2002-03. | | (143134) | 509
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much income the university sector has earned from business in each year since 1997, broken down by university. | | (143135) | 510
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what targets her Department has set for improving business innovation; and if she will make a statement on the UK's (a) G7 ranking, (b) European ranking and (c) world ranking in business innovation. | | (143136) | 511
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many jobs her Department (a) created and (b) safeguarded in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) local authority region and (ii) region; and what the cost per job was in each instance. | | (143138) | 512
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses in the United Kingdom were trading online (a) in each quarter in 2003 and (b) in each year since 1997, broken down by region. | | (143140) | 513
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list (a) joint targets and (b) areas of joint responsibility between her Department and each other Government department. | | (143141) | 514
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much revenue has been generated by the Insolvency Service in each year since 1997; and what the cost of administering the Insolvency Service has been (a) in each year since 1997 and (b) in each quarter of 2003. | | (143142) | 515
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many self-employed people have declared themselves bankrupt in each quarter since quarter one of 2002. | | (143150) | 516
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the purpose was of each secondment of a departmental employee to a company since May; what recompense the company made to the Department for the secondee; what the cost of the secondee to the Department was over the period of the secondment, including wages and pension contribution; and if she will make a statement. | | (143210) | 517
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what definition of deprivation is used for the half-mile rule applied to post office closures. | | (143036) | 518
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices in each constituency have remained open because of the half-mile rule. | | (143038) | 519
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices notified for closure under the Network Intervention Programme have (a) closed and (b) remained open after public consultation procedures, by constituency, in the last year. | | (143039) | 520
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what funding is made available to Postwatch from (a) Royal Mail and (b) her Department. | | (143040) | 521
| Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the export of British military equipment to Indonesia. | | (143144) | 522
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many surface to air missiles have been (a) exported and (b) transferred in each of the last 10 years; and to which countries. | | (143076) | 523
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what response her Department has made to the European Commission's Green Paper on enterprise. | | (142493) | 524
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) training and (b) support is provided to managers to help them to institute family-friendly employment procedures. | | (141886) | 525
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what information and support is available for employers regarding flexible working arrangements for employees. | | (141887) | 526
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans the Government has to provide specialist guidance for small and medium enterprises, with particular reference to effective family-friendly working practices amongst small firms. | | (141888) | 527
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government is taking to promote the take-up of family friendly options at work by men. | | (142659) | 528
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action the Government is taking to protect people from being defrauded by people purporting to represent the Canadian Lottery. | | (142856) | 529
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with Postcomm with regard to its proposals to redefine the Royal Mail's universal service obligations. | | (143024) | 530
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what additional support will be provided to Royal Mail if Postcomm's proposals to change its universal service obligations are permitted. | | (143025) | 531
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the provisions of the Civil Partnership Bill apply to Scotland. | | (142626) | 532
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the redundancies declared by the Norwich Union Aviva Group. | | (142504) | 533
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will put in place a system of compulsory registration for installers and maintainers of oil-fired domestic central heating similar to the CORGI scheme for installers and maintainers of domestic gas appliances. | | (143014) | 534
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many companies in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which undertake (i) installation and (ii) maintenance of oil-fired domestic central heating systems are registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association. | | (143070) | 535
| Jane Griffiths (Reading East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many companies in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland undertake (i) installation and (ii) maintenance of oil-fired domestic central heating systems. | | (143071) | 536
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what visits (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if she will make a statement. | | (143156) | 537
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will ask the Competition Commission to investigate the share of Sun Chemicals, and its subsidiaries, in the printing ink industry within the United Kingdom. | | (141739) | 538
| Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of its annual budget the National Environment Research Council has given to each university in England and Wales. | | (142911) | 539
| Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria the Natural Environment Research Council uses to allocate funding to universities. | | (142998) | 540
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many completed successful investigations into underpayment of the National Minimum Wage there have been, broken down by constituency; and how much was recovered in each case. | | (142634) | 541
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she last met representatives from trade unions representing construction industry workers to discuss the Posting of Workers Directive, with particular reference to its implication for (a) collective agreements and (b) health and safety. | | (142436) | 542
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the recent decision by Advantage West Midlands not to support regeneration initiatives in Kington; and what estimate she has made of the effect on the amount of Objective 2 funding available. | | (142589) | 543
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government's estimate is of the cost of defending the legal action that the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation and Amicus brought in relation to the implementation of Article 8 of the 1980 European Insolvency Directive. | | (142502) | 544
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) start-up and (b) failure rate was for small businesses in (i) the North West Region, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) St Helens in each year since 1992. | | (142715) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 545
N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will set out the basis on which alternative proposals for the development of runway capacity in the South East were selected for further appraisal; and if he will make a statement. | | (142794) | 546
N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to public funds to date has been of work undertaken on appraising alternative options to those set out in the consultation paper for runway development in the South East. | | (142795) | 547
N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the proposals which have been (a) submitted to and (b) appraised by, his Department as alternative runway development options since the publication of The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK, South East, Second Edition. | | (142797) | 548
N | Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the banning of mobile telephones whilst driving. | | (142099) | 549
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) Network Rail and (c) others regarding lift facilities at Haymarket railway station in Edinburgh. | | (142619) | 550
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142807) | 551
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) train operating companies on the collection of litter. | | (142514) | 552
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what standards apply to the levels of cleanliness in and around rail stations; and what fines can be levied for failure to maintain railway premises free of litter. | | (142515) | 553
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what rate of return on capital employed is required for 2003-04 from (a) Bridlington Pier and Harbour Commissioners, (b) the Civil Aviation Authority, (c) Dover Harbour Board, (d) the Driving Standards Agency, (e) Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and (f) Poole Harbour Commissioners; and what dividend and interest payments his Department is budgeting to receive from each in 2003-04. | | (142496) | 554
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a copy of the current guideline handbook issued to safety camera partnerships. | | (142497) | 555
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list for each safety camera partnership the number of those (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in the partnership area (i) in the year to July 2003 and (ii) in the year to July 2002. | | (142498) | 556
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the policy of the Government is in relation to the reinvestment by safety camera partnerships of revenue from fines in (a) road safety education and (b) highway engineering improvements to improve road safety. | | (142499) | 557
| Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many lorries have crashed through barriers on (a) dual carriageways and (b) motorways in each of the last five years. | | (143011) | 558
| Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research has been undertaken on the use of barriers to prevent lorries leaving the road in the event of an accident such as that which occurred recently on the A3 through Guildford. | | (143012) | 559
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many stretches of new trunk road have been opened in (a) Stroud and (b) Gloucestershire in each of the last three years for which figures are available. | | (143030) | 560
| Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety rules governing the use of bicycle rickshaws used on public roads; how many bicycle rickshaws are in use in London; what licensing and insurance rules exist to enable bicycle rickshaws to carry passengers; and what safeguards exist for the general public who hail bicycle rickshaws. | | (142899) | 561
| Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will undertake a study of (a) the provision of taxi plates by local authorities outside London, (b) the availability of taxi services and (c) the speed of services to the public provided by extended granting of licences; and if he will make a statement on the report by the Office of Fair Trading on the licensed taxi industry. | | (142900) | 562
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidelines he has issued to the local camera safety partnerships. | | (142916) | 563
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will (a) publish and (b) place in the Library the business plans of each camera safety partnership; and if he will make a statement. | | (142917) | 564
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fixed speed cameras there are on the (a) A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, (b) A534 between Farndon and Nantwich, (c) the A682 between Barrowford and Long Preston, (d) the A54 between Congleton and Buxton and (e) A631 between Gainsborough and Glentham. | | (142918) | 565
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fixed speed cameras there are on the (a) A134 between Thetford and the A10, (b) M73 between junctions 1 and 3, (c) A682 between the A56 and the A646 Burnley, (d) A45 between Ryton on Dunsmore and Stonebridge and (e) A6 between Leicester and Derby. | | (142919) | 566
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fixed speed cameras there are on the A28 between Ashford and Margate. | | (142942) | 567
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143157) | 568
| Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will reply to the letter to him dated 4th November from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr T. P. Garvey. | | (142955) | 569
N | Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers there are in statute law authorising a person in uniform, other than a police constable, to stop and detain a motor vehicle so that a test on the emissions from it may be carried out; and if he will make a statement. | | (142195) | 570
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of journeys was made by rail in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available. | | (142616) | 571
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of the total public investment in transport in England and Wales was spent on railways in the last year for which figures are available. | | (142617) | 572
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, at how many railway stations in England and Wales platform extensions are (a) under way and (b) planned within the next two years; and where each such railway station is. | | (142618) | 573
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to change the system for issuing blue badges for disabled drivers. | | (143043) | 574
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has any plans to reform the powers of inspection over disabled blue badges to police. | | (143044) | 575
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled staff expressed (a) in actual terms and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalent. | | (143045) | 576
| Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times (a) steel barrier systems and (b) concrete barrier systems on trunk roads and motorways were breached in the latest year for which he has figures. | | (142757) | 577
| Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account is taken of whole-life maintenance costs in the procurement process for barrier systems used on motorways and trunk roads. | | (142758) | 578
| Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account is taken of (a) congestion costs and (b) the potential danger to the workforce during repairs to barrier systems when bids for barrier contracts are at tender stage. | | (142759) | 579
| Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of repairs and maintenance to (a) steel barrier systems and (b) concrete barrier systems on the M25 for the last five years for which figures are available. | | (142760) | 580
| Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to review the type of barrier systems in use on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads in England and Wales. | | (142761) | 581
| Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether the performance standards of barriers used on motorways and trunk roads in England and Wales are the same as those used in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement. | | (142780) | 582
| Mr Jim Marshall (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the outcome was of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 4th to 5th December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. | | (142977) | 583
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the safety aspects of the Dorset resignalling project. | | (142787) | 584
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the Dorset re-signalling project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the timetable of the project from tendering to completion. | | (142788) | 585
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what training has been made available to drivers and signallers to operate the new signal system in the Dorset region; and when that training will be complete. | | (142789) | 586
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which parties were involved in the decision to go ahead with the Dorset re-signalling project; when the decision was taken; and what information was available at the time on the comparative safety of the available signalling systems. | | (142791) | 587
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) community and (b) voluntary sectors in the transport field. | | (142434) | 588
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is giving to voluntary organisations in the transport sector. | | (142435) | 589
| John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to publish the results of the Light Dues Review: Meeting the Costs of Marine Aids to Navigation consultation published in May 2002; and if he will publish the responses received. | | (142527) | 590
| John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to publish the results of the economic review of light dues. | | (142528) | 591
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to visit the East Midlands to discuss the proposed expansion of East Midlands Airport. | | (142927) | 592
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which areas (a) have and (b) intend to have a congestion charging system. | | (142928) | 593
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he next plans to visit Leicester. | | (142929) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 594
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, on which dates terrorist incidents ascribed to the IRA have taken place in Wales since 1973. | | (142752) | 595
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142809) | 596
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143158) | 597
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many Welsh regiments he has visited in 2003. | | (142573) | 598
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many visits he has made to Bangor in his capacity as Secretary of State for Wales. | | (142574) | 599
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the average council tax in Wales is in 2003-04. | | (142575) | Questions to the Minister for Women 600
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Minister for Women, what action she has taken to support women to challenge pay discrimination in the workplace; and if she will make a statement. | | (142610) | 601
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Minister for Women, what discussions she has had with trade unions regarding the formulation of a development plan to tackle gender pay discrimination in the workplace. | | (142611) | 602
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Minister for Women, when she will reply to the letter sent to her Department on 21st July by the honourable Member for Epsom and Ewell on behalf of Mavish Kentish of Laburnum Road, Epsom. | | (143199) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 603
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the funding of victims work in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain will be continued after the end of the current funding in 2004. | | (142721) | 604
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy for the Social Security Agency to meet the transport costs of benefit recipients who are verifiably exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary groups and to provide care grants for emergency needs in such cases. | | (142722) | 605
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in the (a) City of Edinburgh local authority area and (b) Edinburgh West constituency have been written to by his Department regarding direct payment; how many have opted for a Post Office card account; how many have opted to have their money paid into a normal or new basic bank account; and how many have yet to express a preference. | | (142622) | 606
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) City of Edinburgh local authority area, (b) the Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK are in receipt of (i) the middle rate of disability living allowance care component, (ii) the higher rate of disability living allowance care component and (iii) the higher rate of the disability living allowance mobility component. | | (142831) | 607
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money was claimed in (a) income support and (b) jobseeker's allowance between October 2001 and September 2002. | | (142832) | 608
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to encourage men aged between 60 and 65 to apply for the winter fuel allowance for the 2003-04 winter. | | (142833) | 609
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets have been set for the number of men aged between 60 and 65 to apply for the 2003-04 winter fuel allowance. | | (142834) | 610
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to revise the qualifying week for winter fuel payments. | | (142835) | 611
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason his Department chose 21st September as the final qualifying date for the 2003-04 winter fuel payment. | | (142836) | 612
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is eligible for the direct payment exceptions service. | | (142837) | 613
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with representatives of the UK financial services industry regarding the transfer of jobs abroad; and if he will make a statement. | | (142838) | 614
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. | | (142801) | 615
N | Mr Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will reply to the letter to him of 13th November from the Communication Workers Union on Post Office card accounts. | | (142214) | 616
N | Mr Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will withdraw the guidance circulating within his Department that encourages the use only of direct payments of benefits. | | (142215) | 617
N | Mr Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of benefits have had their payments made to (a) standard bank or building society accounts, (b) bank or building society basic accounts and (c) Post Office card accounts. | | (142216) | 618
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the evidential basis is for the claim in his Department's internal memorandum from the Project Manager for the Payment Modernisation Programme, that paying pensions through Post Office accounts costs 30 times as much as through bank accounts. | | (143202) | 619
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what evaluation he has made of the social benefits to (a) individuals and (b) local communities of direct payment of benefits and pensions through (i) Post Office accounts and (ii) bank accounts. | | (143203) | 620
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the relative (a) availability and (b) accessibility of (i) banks and (ii) post offices in relation to the payment of benefits and pensions. | | (143204) | 621
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) urban and (b) rural regeneration of the policy on direct payment of benefits and pensions. | | (143205) | 622
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will assess the (a) nature and (b) quality of the advice issued by his Department under the Payment Modernisation Project. | | (143206) | 623
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many customers have (a) made enquiries about the Post Office card account, (b) received invitations to open an account as a result and (c) opened such an account. | | (143207) | 624
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what priorities he has set in relation to increasing direct payment of benefits and pensions. | | (143208) | 625
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to change enforcement arrangements for employers liability compulsory insurance; and if he will make a statement. | | (142494) | 626
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether pension credit applications can also indicate whether an entitlement to council tax benefit exists; and whether this information is passed to the (a) council tax benefit authority and (b) applicant for pension credit. | | (142657) | 627
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the passported benefits for (a) guarantee pensions credit, (b) savings pension credit and (c) council tax benefit. | | (142658) | 628
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in the Perth constituency; and how many claim forms have been submitted. | | (142654) | 629
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in each constituency in Scotland other than Perth; and how many such forms have been submitted. | | (142655) | 630
N | Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when district councils will be informed of the element of the rate support grant for handling housing benefit. | | (142792) | 631
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many economically inactive people of working age were seeking employment in each year between 1992 and 2002; how many workless households there were in each year; and if he will make a statement. | | (143132) | 632
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143159) | 633
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the further research recommended by the Industrial Injuries Council into risk of upper limb disorders in specific occupations to be completed. | | (142599) | 634
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost was in 2002-03 of housing benefit payments made to (a) council tenants, (b) tenants of registered social landlords and (c) private tenants. | | (142605) | 635
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to centralise (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) labour market appeals; and what the implications of the plans are for (i) appellants and (ii) staff. | | (142983) | 636
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) child benefit recipients, (b) pensioners and (c) other benefit recipients received payments (i) into bank accounts, (ii) into Post Office Card Accounts and (iii) through post offices using pension and benefit books at the most recent date for which figures are available. | | (142424) | 637
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how pensions will be paid to pensioners with neither a bank account nor a Post Office Card Account. | | (142426) | 638
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have (a) phoned his Department to request a Post Office Card Account, (b) completed a Card Account application form and returned it to EDS and (c) returned an invitation pack form with card account details to his Department. | | (142427) | 639
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what monitoring takes place of the standard of response to telephone calls to his Department by claimants seeking to open Post Office Card Accounts. | | (142428) | 640
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will update the table submitted by his Department to the Committee of Public Accounts and published in the 12th Report of Session 2002-03 on tackling pensioner poverty, Ev.20, setting out expenditure and out-turn for income support for the elderly and minimum income guarantee, to include figures for 2002-03. | | (143080) | 641
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003; and how many claim forms were submitted before 19th September in order for people to receive their payment before Christmas, broken down by (a) region and (b) constituency. | | (143081) | 642
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners (a) have requested, (b) have received and (c) are currently on a waiting list to receive a home visit from the Pension Service local service; and what the average waiting time is before a pensioner can expect to receive a visit. | | (143082) | 643
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of eligible people who have not received backdated winter fuel payments for the first three years of the scheme; and what the value was of such payments. | | (143083) | 644
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to introduce a cut-off date for claiming backdated winter fuel payments for the first three years of the scheme. | | (143084) | 645
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate how many single (a) women and (b) men in 2003 will reach the age of 60 years after the qualifying week for winter fuel payment eligibility, but before 25th December. | | (143085) | 646
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate how many single (a) women and (b) men in 2003 will reach the age of 80 years after the qualifying week for the 80+ winter fuel payment eligibility, but before 25th December. | | (143086) | 647
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether those customers invited to transfer to direct payment who (a) do not reply and (b) reply and decline a direct payment option will be automatically transferred to the exceptions service; and if he will make a statement. | | (143087) | 648
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the additional cost of halving the assumed rate of income currently used to assess pension credit applications. | | (143088) | 649
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to transfer the old CSA caseload to the new system; and if a new application will be required. | | (143089) | 650
| Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in (a) Merseyside and (b) St Helens; and how many claim forms have been submitted. | | (142716) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 651
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a written constitution for the UK; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (142997) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 652
| Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what mechanism will be put in place to monitor Algeria's adherence to the human rights principles laid out in the EU/Algeria Association Agreement, once the Agreement is ratified. | | [Notice originally given on 11th December 2003] (143127) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 653
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will place in the Library a copy of all the evidence and advice given to him by his Department on the issue of the ban on hare-hunting. | | [Notice originally given on 11th December 2003] (143126) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 654
N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the Treasury expects to receive from each English police authority from safety camera fines in the next financial year. | | [Transferred] (142533) | 655
N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the Treasury has received from each English police authority from fines from speed safety cameras in the last 12 months. | | [Transferred] (142534) | 656
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to require the extension of public consultation procedures when road traffic management procedures are proposed by local authorities. | | [Transferred] (142981) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 657
| Linda Perham (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the rate of child poverty is in (a) England, (b) the UK and (c) inner London. | | [Transferred] (143027) |
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