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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Tuesday 9 December 2003
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 9 December 2003
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 9 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 Tuesday 9 December of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 9 December see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what visits (a) he and (b) the Minister without Portfolio (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied (1) him and (2) the Minister without Portfolio in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) him, (B) the Minister without Portfolio and (C) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143097) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 2
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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. | | (143100) | 3
N | Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the titles of each film production which has benefited from film industry tax relief for each year since 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. | | (142299) | 4
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide an update on euro changeover planning (a) within Government, (b) across the public sector and (c) in other areas of the economy. | | (143225) | 5
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in England reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the last 10 years. | | (143231) | 6
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from Northern Ireland to the EU and (b) imports to Northern Ireland from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years. | | (143232) | 7
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from Wales to the EU and (b) imports to Wales from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) in each of the past 10 years. | | (143233) | 8
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the recent work of the Standing Committee on Euro Preparations. | | (143234) | 9
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the recent work of the (a) Scottish, (b) Welsh and (c) Northern Ireland euro preparation committees. | | (143235) | 10
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from Scotland to the EU and (b) imports to Scotland from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years. | | (143245) | 11
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from England to the EU and (b) imports to England from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years. | | (143246) | 12
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from the UK to the EU and (b) imports to the UK from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years. | | (143252) | 13
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Wales reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years. | | (143253) | 14
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Northern Ireland reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years. | | (143254) | 15
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Scotland reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years. | | (143255) | 16
| Linda Perham (Ilford North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the need for an increase in investment in London's infrastructure to address projected population increases. | | (143251) | 17
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reassess Iraq's debt repayments to the UK to assist the reconstruction of the country. | | (141558) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 18
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who owns Trafalgar Square. | | (142864) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 19
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been agreed since Main Gate approval to (a) specifications, (b) build quality and (c) delivery dates of the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being constructed by Swan Hunter. | | (143311) | 20
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cost overruns have been notified to his Department on the construction of Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels by Swan Hunter. | | (143312) | 21
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected commissioning date is of Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being built by (a) Swan Hunter and (b) BAE Systems Marine. | | (143313) | 22
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what claims for compensation from Swan Hunter have been made by BAE Systems Marine in respect of delays in the construction of two Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels at Govan. | | (143314) | 23
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much compensation has been paid by UK authorities in (a) Basra and (b) all of Iraq for injuries caused by UK forces; and if he will make a statement. | | (142177) | 24
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints against UK troops in Iraq have been upheld; what action has been taken; and if he will make a statement. | | (142178) | 25
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Bridport has been placed in (a) reserve and (b) extended readiness. | | (143258) | 26
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list significant (a) accidents and (b) fires on RFA Argus within the past six months. | | (143259) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 27
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what (a) fee remission systems, (b) grants and (c) bursaries he proposes for (i) higher education and (ii) other level 4 courses delivered through the further education system. | | (142635) | 28
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students in each university are receiving (a) full fee remission and (b) bursary support. | | (143102) | 29
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, on how many occasions he and his ministerial colleagues have met Universities UK during the last 12 months. | | (143103) | 30
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has commissioned into students' risk aversion to debt. | | (143104) | 31
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average student loan taken out by students from (a) Stroud, (b) the South West Region and (c) England was in each year since 1999-2000. | | (143105) | 32
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) mature students and (b) part-time students of (i) the proposed changes in tuition fees and (ii) contingent loan repayments. | | (143106) | 33
N | Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the oral Answer given by the Prime Minister on 3rd December to the honourable Member for Nottingham South, Official Report, column 504, if he will publish the alternative methods for funding higher education being considered by his Department. | | (142735) | 34
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for the most recent year available, what were the (a) male, (b) female and (c) two earner household average earnings for people resident in (i) each borough within Hampshire, (ii) Portsmouth Unitary Authority and (iii) Southampton Unitary Authority. | | (143120) | 35
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the components of the expenditure on city academies as set out in the table of expenditure by function by the Department in the Winter Supplementary Estimate 2003-04. | | (143121) | 36
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the administrative costs were for the Department in each financial year from 1996-97 (a) before adjustments for machinery of government changes and (b) after such adjustments. | | (143122) | 37
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many undergraduates domiciled in England under the age of 24 entered a UK university in each of the last five years; and how many pupils domiciled in England were in upper sixth form education in each of the last six years. | | (143217) | 38
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many undergraduates domiciled in England under the age of 24 his Department expects to enter a UK university in each of the next six years; and how many pupils domiciled in England his Department expects will attend upper sixth form education in each of the next five years. | | (143218) | 39
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, who is responsible for the Skills Agenda for the West Midlands region. | | (143219) | 40
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the current status is of the board of CAFCASS; and if he will make a statement. | | (143110) | 41
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he proposes to publish Sir Clive Booth's report on the operation of the board of CAFCASS. | | (143111) | 42
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his plans are for the future of CAFCASS. | | (143112) | 43
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what changes have been made to the complaints procedure of CAFCASS since the appointment of the Children's Minister. | | (143113) | 44
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what changes to the operation of CAFCASS have been initiated by the Minister for Children. | | (143114) | 45
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Minister for Children sought advice from departmental officials subsequent to writing her letter to the Chairman of the BBC about child abuse in Islington; and if he will make a statement. | | (142986) | 46
| Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of 16 to 18 year olds in Stoke-on-Trent who started further education courses in each year since 1997 completed their course. | | (143249) | 47
| Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the most recent figures are for the drop-out rate for English university students is in their (a) 1st year of study, (b) 2nd year of study, (c) 3rd year of study and (d) further years of study. | | (143250) | 48
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many of his Department's private finance initiative projects were completed (a) on time and (b) on budget; and of those that overran in terms of (i) time and (ii) budget, who bore the cost. | | (141663) | 49
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many school private finance initiative schemes are being examined by the Project Review Group. | | (141664) | 50
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many school buildings in use were built before 1975; and where these are situated. | | (141665) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 51
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the pollutant which caused the pollution incident on the River Nene earlier this year has been identified; what levels of the pollutant are still present; how much of the pollutant was discharged; whether the polluter has been identified; and what action is being taken. | | (143260) | 52
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on trends in populations of invertebrates in the River Nene following the pollution incident earlier this year; what evidence is publicly available of population levels; what evidence she has collated on whether species that are restricted to the affected section of the river are now extinct; whether there has been a survey for the Red Data Book of the riffle beetle Stenelimis canaliculata; whether a survey is planned; and what plans the Environment Agency has to repair damage to biodiversity as a result of the incident. | | (143261) | 53
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanism there is to pass on to the polluter the cost of work to establish the (a) extent of pollution and (b) effect on biodiversity of the recent pollution incident on the River Nene. | | (143262) | 54
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the impact of the pollution incident on the River Nene earlier in the year was on the invertebrate populations of Morton's Leam Special Area of Conservation; and whether the site has favourable conservation status. | | (143263) | 55
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on invertebrate biodiversity in the Nene water system in the last 10 years. | | (143264) | 56
N | Dr Jack Cunningham (Copeland):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what statutory responsibilities apply to (a) owners of private water supplies and (b) local authorities to ensure that water supplied for domestic consumption meets legal requirements in respect of (i) lead content and (ii) coliforms; what action they are required to take to ensure that water supplies which fail to meet required standards are improved; and if she will make a statement. | | (142446) | 57
N | Dr Jack Cunningham (Copeland):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that the knowledge and experience of the management of nuclear materials held by people in West Cumbria are represented on the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; and if she will make a statement. | | (142447) | 58
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much money from the Common Agricultural Policy has gone into the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the past five years. | | (143305) | 59
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much money was invested in flood defence schemes in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the past five years. | | (143306) | 60
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the delay to the start of the landfill allowance trading scheme until 2005-06, including reference to the reasons for the delay; what assessment was made of the impact of the delay on the ability of the United Kingdom to meet the targets in the Landfill Directive; and what further steps have been taken to form a policy on whether or not to fine waste disposal authorities that fail to meet their landfill allowance targets. | | (143090) | 61
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has received requests from waste disposal authorities for the start of the landfill allowance trading scheme to be delayed. | | (143091) | 62
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has received requests from waste disposal authorities for the start of the landfill allowance trading scheme to be delayed. | | (143092) | 63
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her recent decision to end badger culling as a means of countering TB in cattle. | | (143118) | 64
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what studies the Government has made of (a) nitrogen oxides and (b) sulphur oxides trading schemes in those countries where such a scheme is operating. | | (143280) | 65
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she is taking to ensure that the polluter pays principle applies to the (a) collection of and (b) management of municipal waste. | | (143281) | 66
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which 10 local authorities had the (a) highest and (b) lowest recycling rates in the last year for which figures are available. | | (143282) | 67
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what high temperature incineration capacity she estimates the UK will require when provisions of the Landfill Directive relating to hazardous waste are implemented in the UK. | | (143283) | 68
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional (a) recycling, (b) composting, (c) energy recovery and (d) hazardous waste treatment capacity will be required in England to achieve compliance with the Landfill Directive in (a) 2009, (b) 2013 and (c) 2020. | | (143284) | 69
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on ways in which the Waste and Resources Action Programme has contributed to the reduction of global warming. | | (143285) | 70
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) wood, (d) plastic and (e) metal containers were recycled by community organisations in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002; what the average cost per tonne was; and if she will make a statement on how their performance was audited. | | (143286) | 71
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the waste management sector on incorporating combined heat and power in new developments. | | (143287) | 72
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the ability of the planning process to enable sufficient infrastructure to be built by 2020 to manage waste in compliance with the EU's Landfill Directive. | | (143288) | 73
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of GDP is raised in (a) the UK and (b) each other country belonging to the OECD as environmental taxation, (i) including and (ii) excluding taxation of energy. | | (143289) | 74
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the rate of landfill tax is in other member states of the European Union where such a tax is levied. | | (143290) | 75
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much public money has been spent on collecting and managing municipal waste in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and how much on average it cost to collect and manage one tonne of municipal waste in the UK in each year since 1997. | | (143291) | 76
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list by water company the water leakage figure on the latest date for which information is available. | | (142448) | 77
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to reduce the amount of tropical plywood used in the United Kingdom. | | (143221) | 78
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much tropical plywood was imported by each EU member state in the last year for which figures are available. | | (143222) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 79
N | Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of the areas which are under Taliban or Jihadist control in Afghanistan. | | (142863) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 80
N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation of the number of at risk children who would benefit from the current influenza vaccination, broken down (a) by type of condition and (b) by age groups (i) 0 to four and (ii) five to 14 years. | | (142963) | 81
N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the Department does not monitor the uptake of influenza vaccinations for children in at risk groups. | | (142964) | 82
N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the currently available influenza vaccination in offering protection against Fujian flu. | | (142966) | 83
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the basis is for the Government's policy that a potato is not a vegetable for the purposes of healthy eating schemes. | | (143093) | 84
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people died in each of the last five years as a result of contamination by blood products (a) from HIV/AIDS, (b) from hepatitis C and (c) co-infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C; and how many who were found to be suffering from each such contamination in each of those years remain alive. | | (142588) | 85
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the provision of NHS dentistry in Bolton. | | (143248) | 86
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on consultancy fees by Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the past three years; if he will list each consultant employed by the Trust; and on what matters they were requested to advise. | | (143236) | 87
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been claimed in expenses by the Chief Executive of Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust since her appointment; and what her salary was in the past six months, including bonuses, where payable. | | (143237) | 88
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on wages for (a) management and (b) paramedics by Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the past three years. | | (143238) | 89
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on travel by directors of Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the past three years. | | (143239) | 90
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to improve the performance of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust. | | (143240) | 91
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average life span of (a) ambulances and (b) defibrillator batteries is; and what measures ambulance trusts are required to put in place to ensure that there is an orderly process by which to replace obsolescent equipment. | | (143242) | 92
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with senior executives of London health authorities concerning hospital amalgamation. | | (143315) | 93
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on deaths of people with haemophilia from hepatitis as a result of receiving contaminated transmissions of blood within the NHS. | | (143115) | 94
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the levels of compensation payments offered to people who have contracted hepatitis as a result of receiving contaminated blood. | | (143116) | 95
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to compensate the relatives of patients who have died through having received contaminated blood on the NHS. | | (143117) | 96
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the Government's target to reduce disposable nappy waste; and if he will make a statement. | | (143226) | 97
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospital trusts have contractual arrangements with promoters of baby products which prevent them from making information about re-usable nappies available; and if he will make a statement. | | (143227) | 98
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the UK; and what change there has been in the incidence in the last 10 years. | | (141328) | 99
N | Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when a specialist stroke service will be established in Leeds; and whether it will include (a) a rapid access neurovascular clinic, (b) an acute stroke unit, (c) a stroke rehabilitation unit and (d) community rehabilitation, including (i) voluntary support groups and (ii) intermediate care, (e) specialist community stroke teams and (f) stroke clubs. | | (143180) | 100
N | Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many stroke patients were treated in Leeds in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (143181) | 101
N | Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Leeds died from strokes in the last five years for which figures are available. | | (143182) | 102
N | Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) Leeds and (b) the UK have contracted (i) HIV and (ii) hepatitis C as a result of being given contaminated blood products; and how many (A) have died, (B) cleared the virus and (C) remain infected in each case. | | (143183) | 103
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those areas in which (a) there is a shortage of places in care homes at the price the local council wants to pay and (b) there are so many spare places available that a council can buy all the places it needs at a rate lower than the rate at which many providers wish to trade. | | (142968) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 104
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff who are smokers; and what action he is taking to reduce the numbers. | | (143095) | 105
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hoax calls to (a) the emergency services and (b) the fire service there were in each of the last three years in (i) Bolton, (ii) the North West and (iii) the UK. | | (143247) | 106
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 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. | | (143099) | 107
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether children of failed asylum seekers are entitled to free education in the state system. | | (143214) | 108
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his policy to permit persons to marry in this country without both parties satisfying the authorities, prior to the marriage ceremony, as to their immigration status; and if he will make a statement. | | (143215) | 109
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases were heard by Immigration Appellate Authority adjudicators in the last 12 months; and in how many cases an appeal was taken to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. | | (143269) | 110
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many appeals were heard by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in the last 12 months; and what proportion of these appeals originated from (a) the Home Office and (b) the applicant. | | (143270) | 111
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many appeals heard by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in the last 12 months were successful; and what proportion of successful appeals originated from (a) the Home Office and (b) the applicant. | | (143271) | 112
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the ways in which the National Intelligence Model is used to inform the setting of national policing targets. | | (143272) | 113
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list, broken down by Act, the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department in session 2002-03. | | (143273) | 114
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many disturbances there were at prisons in England and Wales in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; at which establishment the disturbances took place; and what the cost to the Prison Service was of the damage caused by each disturbance. | | (143292) | 115
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have been transferred between prisons due to population pressures in the last year. | | (143293) | 116
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the review of prison industries conducted by the Prison Service has been completed; and if a copy of the review will be placed in the Library. | | (143294) | 117
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government intends to introduce the extension of magistrates courts' sentencing powers under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (a) before and (b) after the planned implementation of the custody plus scheme. | | (143295) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 118
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the expenditure allocated to each programme in middle income countries prior to his written statement to the House of 6th November, Official Report, columns 41-3WS. | | (143268) | 119
| Patrick Hall (Bedford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the role in the reconstruction of Iraq of the privatisation of state-owned enterprises being pursued by the Private Sector Development Department of the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority. | | (143302) | 120
| Patrick Hall (Bedford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the privatisation of Iraqi state-owned enterprises being pursued by the Private Sector Development Department of the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority; and if he will make a statement on compatibility of such action with Article 55 of Section III of the Annex to the Hague Convention (IV) 1907. | | (143303) | 121
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid was donated by the British Government to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in each of the last 10 years; and how much is pledged for 2004. | | (143216) | 122
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial support his Department has provided for reproductive health supplies in each of the last three years. | | (143296) | 123
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of his Department's support for sexual and reproductive health programmes since the International Conference on Population and Development has been utilised for the procurement of reproductive health supplies. | | (143297) | 124
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department provides technical assistance to its partner countries in building their own capacity to forecast and procure reproductive health supplies. | | (143298) | 125
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of his Department's financial support for reproductive health supplies in the past year has been channelled (a) bilaterally, (b) multilaterally and (c) to the private sector and NGOs. | | (143299) | 126
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of his Department's support for HIV/AIDS programmes is spent on ensuring the availability of male and female condoms. | | (143300) | 127
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department plans to make available to the United Nations Population Fund a grant for reproductive health commodities this year in addition to the core grant. | | (143301) | Questions to the Leader of the House 128
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Leader of the House, what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Office (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. | | (143101) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 129
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to consult the families concerned prior to the publication of the Cory Report; and if he will make a statement. | | (143184) | 130
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police officers in Northern Ireland have had their homes purchased under the scheme to Purchase Evacuated Dwellings as a result of terrorist threats in each year since the scheme was established. | | (143185) | 131
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what grant assistance has been given to Harland and Wolff in Belfast since 1st January 2000 in respect of equipment purchased which has since been sold on to Swan Hunter. | | (143310) | Questions to the Prime Minister 132
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Prime Minister, what visits he (a) has made and (b) plans to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied him in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (i) him and (ii) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. | | (143098) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 133
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what response she is making to the letter from Postwatch of 1st December about the closure of post offices at Cowgate and Felham Hall Drive, Newcastle. | | (142586) | 134
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much EU regional funding has gone into the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the last five years. | | (143304) | 135
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) applications have been made and (b) assistance has been granted for (i) Regional Selective Assistance and (ii) other Government grants by Swan Hunter in respect of its operations on Tyneside and Teesside since 1st January 2000. | | (143308) | 136
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what applications have been made for (a) Regional Selective Assistance, (b) other Government grants and (c) European funding in respect of Swan Hunter's Port Clarence facilities. | | (143309) | 137
| Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what powers she has to prevent a cut in electricity supply due to severe winter weather. | | (141889) | 138
N | Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) consultations on post office closures have taken place as part of the urban reinvention programme and (b) post offices have remained open following such consultation in each region in the United Kingdom. | | (143109) | 139
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the pension rights of employees of British Energy following the financial restructuring of that company. | | (143119) | 140
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the level is of Iraq's debt to the UK which was accrued up to the point of the fall of Saddam Hussein; how much has been written off; what the nominal repayment due each year is; and what debt repayments were made in each year since 1997. | | (141557) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 141
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are employed (a) full time and (b) part time by (i) his Department and (ii) consultants engaged by his Department in supervision and monitoring of safety camera partnerships. | | (143094) | 142
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statistical data safety camera partnerships are required to submit to his Department each quarter; and to what use such statistical data is put. | | (143096) | 143
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what privileges accrue from having a vehicle fitted with an emergency blue light and siren; and what regulations govern which vehicles may be fitted with such equipment. | | (143241) | 144
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provision rail franchises are required to make for passengers who (a) are disabled and (b) have mobility problems, when deciding what rail links to maintain or discontinue. | | (143243) | 145
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, why the Hull-Manchester Airport link was not part of FirstGroup's Public Service Requirement when it acquired the Transpennine Express franchise. | | (143244) | 146
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much investment there was in transport in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the past five years. | | (143307) | 147
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what public consultations are planned within the next two years on further airport construction and expansion in the UK. | | (142636) | Questions to the Minister for Women 148
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Minister for Women, what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated since July 2002 to identify private members' sports clubs which are voluntarily removing rules which lead to different gender playing practices. | | (141555) | 149
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Minister for Women, what percentage of private members' clubs deny women members equality of membership rights. | | (141556) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 150
N | Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job seeker's allowance claimants are signed up for further education courses for less than 16 hours; and what plans he has to extend the hours of coursework acceptable within his Department's guidelines. | | (142585) | 151
N | Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 1st December, Official Report, column 49WS on housing benefit subsidy reform, how the new subsidy system for housing benefit and council tax benefit will be implemented, with particular reference to transitional relief; and what the arrangements will be for payment of the administration grant. | | (143212) | 152
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Remploy employees have subsequently taken up jobs in the open labour market in each of the last 10 years. | | (143228) | 153
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the investment by Remploy in maintaining and upgrading exisiting sites, as specified in the Remploy 21 agreement. | | (143229) | 154
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the strategic decision by Remploy management to close owned factories and to move to leased units. | | (143230) | 155
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will answer the letter from the honourable Member of the Isle of Wight of 14th October about Jobcentre Plus jobs on the Isle of Wight. | | (142967) | 156
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what way the size of the lump sum available to an individual at age 70 to those who defer drawing their retirement pension will relate to the weekly retirement pension entitlement at age 65 of that individual. | | (143107) | 157
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a lone parent in receipt of income support who receives a lump sum payment of arrears of child maintenance owing to delays in processing by the Child Support Agency will be able to carry forward unused amounts of child maintenance premium to set against the maintenance received. | | (143108) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 158
N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many children in the age groups (a) 0 to four and (b) five to 14 have died of influenza in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. | | [Transferred] (142965) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 159
| Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list beneficiaries of the listed places of worship grant scheme. | | [Transferred] (143213) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 160
N | Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will announce the successful bids for research funding arising out of the White Paper on Genetics. | | [Question Unstarred] (142563) | 161
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on chiropody and podiatry. | | [Question Unstarred] (142550) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 162
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what changes the Government has made since 1997 to its programme aimed at preserving the rainforests in terms of (a) funding and (b) number of projects; and what the reasons are for such changes. | | [Transferred] (143220) |
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