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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 11 December 2003
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 11 December 2003
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 11 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 Thursday 11 December of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 11 December see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total running cost of vehicles used by Ministers in his Department was in 2002-03; and what the cost of (a) servicing vehicles and (b) employing chauffeurs was. | | (143960) | 2
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent in 2002-03 on the cost of cleaning (a) the interior and (b) the exterior of cars for use by Ministers in his Department. | | (143961) | 3
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost of each new ministerial car purchased in 2002-03 was; and how often on average each car is replaced. | | (143962) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 4
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date he received (a) a draft copy and (b) the final copy of the Penrose Report into Equitable Life; when he intends to publish the report; and whether the published version will be in its complete form. | | (143841) | 5
| Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the net cost to the Exchequer caused by short-falls in final salary occupational pension schemes arising from company insolvency since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (143753) | 6
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the (a) total number and (b) number per 100,000 population of suicides amongst adult males in (i) England and (ii) each region in each year since 1997. | | (143705) | 7
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise inform other Government departments when a potential supplier has poor compliance in tax affairs. | | (143885) | 8
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what circumstances Customs and Excise seek Civil Aviation Authority approval for flights carrying abroad weapons they have previously confiscated; and how often such approval was sought in respect of flights from Farnborough in 1999. | | (143886) | 9
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the additional revenue raised in Stoke-on-Trent by increasing the basic rate of income tax by one pence would be. | | (143876) | 10
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the additional revenue raised in Stoke-on-Trent would be if the top rate of income tax were raised to 50 pence in the pound for income over £100,000 per annum. | | (143877) | 11
N | Angela Watkinson (Upminster):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the impact of Financial Services Authority regulation of travel insurance on (a) business and (b) customers. | | (143415) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 12
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143897) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 13
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what percentage of staff in her Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in her Department through the scheme; and what steps she is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in her Department. | | (143907) | 14
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information she has collated about the take-up of digital television broadcasting in (a) Dudley North, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England; and if she will make a statement. | | (143884) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 15
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143903) | 16
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd December, Official Report, column 68W, on school places, in what format his Department holds information on the proportion of funding spent by his Department on school places for service personnel which was spent on the independent sector in each year since 1996; and if he will publish that information. | | (143871) | 17
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost was of Army personnel removals between garrison towns in the UK in each year since 1990; and how many such removals took place in each year since 1990. | | (143837) | 18
| Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what activities other than those directly related to the provision of fire cover to UK military forces the Defence Fire Service has been involved in in Iraq since February. | | (143754) | 19
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many formal grievances have been raised by the staff of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory since its formation; and how many relate to staff who are on secondment to, or have returned from, secondment to his Department. | | (143701) | 20
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 271W, on Armed Forces Staffing Levels, when he expects to announce the final conclusions of the End to End review. | | (143953) | 21
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures have been put in place by his Department to cope with the increased demand on postal services for troops serving in the Gulf this Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the current arrangements for the sending of parcels to troops serving in the Gulf over the Christmas period. | | (143819) | 22
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Army indicated when last questioned that they believed that (a) harassment, (b) discrimination and (c) bullying are problems in (i) their immediate area of work and (ii) the Army as a whole; what percentage of those responding this represents; what percentage of the actual strength this represents; and if he will make a statement. | | (142576) | 23
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Army indicated when last questioned that they have been a victim of (a) harassment, (b) discrimination and (c) bullying in the Army; what percentage of those responding this represents; what percentage of the actual strength this represents; and if he will make a statement. | | (142577) | 24
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the three services he expects to be (a) serving abroad and (b) deployed on front-line duties between 24th December and 2nd January 2004; what percentage of the trained strength of each force this represents; what provisions he has made to ensure family contact over that period; and if he will make a statement. | | (142578) | 25
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the major (a) defence estates upgrades and (b) information infrastructure upgrades that will be met from the Defence Procurement Agency budget, stating in each case (a) the in-service date and (b) the total projected cost of each project; and if he will make a statement. | | (143265) | 26
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the total estimated cost of (a) refurbishment of western jetties, (b) Navystar, (c) Access, (d) LITS, (e) EMMA, Phase 1 and (f) RAFT at Devonport, stating in each case (i) the in-service date and (ii) which budget line the expense will be drawn from; and if he will make a statement. | | (143266) | 27
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the amounts (a) spent on procurement through the Defence Procurement Agency in each year since 1997 and (b) projected to be spent in each year up to 2012, indicating in each case the percentage of the defence budget represented in each case; and if he will make a statement. | | (143267) | 28
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the contribution of United Kingdom forces to the delivery of humanitarian aid in Iraq. | | (143725) | 29
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Scottish regiments are in Iraq. | | (143726) | 30
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the composition of United Kingdom land forces in Iraq. | | (143727) | 31
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give an update on United Kingdom operations in Iraq as part of Operation Telic. | | (143728) | 32
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the other national contingents under the command of 3 (UK) Division. | | (143729) | 33
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the countries involved in the Multinational Division (South-East) (MND(SE)) in the South Iraq provinces of Basrah, Maysen, Dhi Qar and Al Muthanna. | | (143730) | 34
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the likely future levels of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force presence in the Iraq theatre. | | (143731) | 35
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the UK (a) naval and (b) air components deployed in the Gulf. | | (143732) | 36
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists are in Iraq; and what plans he has to change this number. | | (143733) | 37
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the roles being undertaken by reservists in Iraq. | | (143734) | 38
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the roulement of UK forces in Iraq. | | (143735) | 39
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the co-operation between UK forces in Iraq and the Civil Defence forces. | | (143741) | 40
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the contribution of UK forces towards the re-opening of schools in the southern Iraqi provinces. | | (143742) | 41
| Mrs Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the liaison between the Multinational Division (South East) and community and religious leaders in Basrah. | | (143743) | 42
| Mr Peter Mandelson (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's policy is regarding the break-up, recovery and recycling of United Kingdom naval vessels. | | (143887) | 43
| Mr Peter Mandelson (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which United Kingdom naval vessels have been broken up over the past five years; and where each vessel was broken up. | | (143888) | 44
| Mr Peter Mandelson (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which United Kingdom naval vessels are being considered for breaking up. | | (143889) | 45
| Mr Peter Mandelson (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria are used to determine where work to break up United Kingdom naval vessels is carried out. | | (143890) | 46
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which companies entered the competitive bidding process to provide psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation to members of the armed forces previously treated at the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital; and what assessment was made of the political affiliation of the board members of the bidding companies. | | (143485) | 47
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what (a) medical, (b) financial and (c) administrative factors the decision to close the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital in Catterick was based. | | (143486) | 48
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department. | | (143983) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 49
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 342W, on Brighton and Hove Albion, if he will list the honourable Members with whom (a) he and (b) other ministers have discussed this issue. | | (143943) | 50
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143895) | 51
| Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local authorities which have sought to set up arm's length management organisations in 2003-04. | | (143944) | 52
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what impact he estimates the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24th October will have on the standard of housing in (a) South Norfolk and (b) Newton Abbot. | | (143744) | 53
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how the Government will support the local authority in its bid to achieve the 2010 Decent Homes Standard if the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24th October is upheld and as a result South Norfolk's proposed transfer of houses to the South Norfolk Housing Partnership does not take place. | | (143745) | 54
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how the Government will support the local authority in its bid to achieve the 2010 Decent Homes Standard if the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24th October is upheld and as a result Newton Abbot's proposed transfer of houses to the Teignbridge Housing Association does not take place. | | (143746) | 55
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what impact he estimates the delay in the transfer of homes to the (a) South Norfolk Housing Partnership and (b) Teignbridge Housing Association will have on the local authority's short-to-medium term housing policy. | | (143747) | 56
| Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what he estimates will be the delay to the transfer of housing stock to the (a) South Norfolk Housing Partnership and (b) Teignbridge Housing Association whilst the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24th October is considered. | | (143748) | 57
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will finish his review of local government funding following the Audit Commission report. | | (143933) | 58
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, by how much in total police authority precepts have exceeded their grant increase over each of the past five years. | | (143970) | 59
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, by how much in total fire authorities have exceeded their grant increase over each of the past five years. | | (143971) | 60
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what options he is examining to address the fundamental flaws mentioned in the Audit Commission review of local government funding. | | (143972) | 61
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) Inner London boroughs, (b) Outer London boroughs and (c) Metropolitan districts who will have no increase in the level of grant for local authority service components, as defined in the Local Government Finance 2004-05 Revenue Support Grant Settlement, excluding the settlement for education. | | (143860) | 62
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will estimate what the level of grant increase to West Sussex County Council in 2004-05 would be if calculated on the basis of increase in population. | | (143861) | 63
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will give the percentage change in spending share for highways for West Sussex County Council in 2003-04; and by how much this differs from the level of inflation. | | (143862) | 64
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the percentage change in spending share for waste (EPCS) for West Sussex County Council was in 2003-04; by how much this differs from the level of inflation; and if he will estimate what percentage of the change in spending share for waste (EPCS) would be spent on (a) implementing recycling targets and (b) increases in landfill taxes. | | (143863) | 65
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will give the value of the local education authority grant floor and publish his calculations and the assumptions he has made in order to reach that figure. | | (143864) | 66
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the level of grant change for all local authority service components as defined in the Local Government Finance 2004-05 Revenue Support Grant Settlement, excluding education, for West Sussex County Council. | | (143865) | 67
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much of the schools damping grant allocated to West Sussex County Council for 2003-04 is as a direct result of the education funding changes in 2003-04. | | (143866) | 68
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local education authorities that have had an increase in (a) schools damping grant and (b) local education authority damping grant for 2003-04. | | (143867) | 69
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will publish his calculations and the assumptions he has made in order to reach the new levels he has set for grant floors and ceilings. | | (143868) | 70
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the amount of specific grant per head from the Local Government Finance Settlement of 2003-04 was for (a) West Sussex and (b) Hartlepool; and if he will give the amount of extra total grant that would be payable if West Sussex were to be funded at the same level of specific grant per head as Hartlepool. | | (143869) | 71
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will give the amount of formula grant per head from the Local Government Finance Settlement of 2003-04 for (a) West Sussex, (b) inner London boroughs, (c) outer London boroughs and (d) the English average; and if he will give the amount of extra total grant that would be payable if West Sussex were to be funded at the same level of formula grant per head as (i) inner London boroughs, (ii) outer London boroughs and (iii) the English average. | | (143870) | 72
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, for how many years he will continue to provide schools damping for West Sussex County Council at the 2003-04 rate. | | (143872) | 73
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department. | | (143984) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 74
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143896) | 75
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the (a) intrinsic value and (b) relative value of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2000 education survey compared to other recent studies. | | (143982) | 76
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether schools are obliged to publish risk assessments in relation to school trips. | | (143534) | 77
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the costs were of free school travel (a) to grammar schools, (b) to upper schools and (c) for children with disabilities in Buckinghamshire in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2003. | | (143536) | 78
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 4th December, Official Report, column 191W, on teacher vacancies, what recent assessment he has made of the number of secondary school teachers in Portsmouth; what steps he is taking to increase numbers; and if he will make a statement. | | (143963) | 79
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance he has issued to schools and local education authorities on making parents aware of assistance available (a) to cover the cost of school trips and (b) to help provide school uniforms; and if he will make a statement. | | (143488) | 80
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that musical instrument lessons are available to all pupils who wish to benefit from them; and if he will make a statement. | | (143489) | 81
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the value was of the full student grant in today's prices in (a) 1973, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 2003. | | (143670) | 82
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list written representations he has received from the vice-chancellors of (a) Oxford, (b) Cambridge, (c) Sheffield and (d) Sheffield Hallam universities about university funding in the last three years. | | (143693) | 83
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students from the Bassetlaw constituency entered university in (a) 1973, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 2003. | | (143694) | 84
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Government contribution was, at today's value, towards the funding of (a) Oxford and (b) Cambridge universities, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of the total, in (A) 1973, (B) 1980, (C) 1990 and (D) 2003. | | (143695) | 85
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many university students there were in the UK in (a) 1973, (b) 1980 and (c) 1990; and how many there are currently. | | (143696) | 86
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the cost to public funds of the Special Educational Needs and Disability tribunal system was in the last year for which information is available (a) in total, (b) per case dealt with and (c) per application. | | (143669) | 87
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the number of qualified teachers in schools. | | (143416) | 88
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the paper, Workforce Reform - Blue Skies. | | (143417) | 89
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will place a copy of the paper, Workforce Reform - Blue Skies, in the Library. | | (143418) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 90
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets were set for the installation of photovoltaic panels in (a) domestic and (b) commercial properties in 2002-03; and how many installations occurred. | | (143755) | 91
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many import permits her Department (a) granted and (b) refused for species listed on (i) Appendix I and (ii) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year from 1997, broken down by species. | | (143756) | 92
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department charges for a permit to import species listed on (a) Appendix I and (b) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. | | (143757) | 93
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Article 10 certificates her Department granted for the sale of species listed on (a) Appendix I and (b) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year from 1997. | | (143758) | 94
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total amount of recognised carcinogens released to the air was in (a) England and (b) each government region in each year since 1997. | | (143759) | 95
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much energy was produced per person in (a) the UK and (b) other EU countries in 2002. | | (143760) | 96
| Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice her Department gave his constituent, Mr Ross Donovan, in relation to his company's compliance with Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste when he first contacted her Department; when this advice changed; and what advice her Department is currently able to give. | | (143854) | 97
| Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will make a substantive reply to the letter from the honourable Member for North East Bedfordshire of 23rd October, and his fax of 16th November to the honourable Member for Scunthorpe in relation to his constituent Mr Ross Donovan. | | (143883) | 98
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what compensation payments have been made to hired fishermen since the Fisheries Council in December 2002. | | (143949) | 99
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will seek (a) sanctions against and (b) compensation from (i) the Netherlands and (ii) other nations found to have failed adequately to check the infectivity of plants exported to the UK for commercial sale. | | (143664) | 100
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures her Department has taken to protect commercial turkey farmers from the liver disease blackhead. | | (143665) | 101
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what sanctions apply to (a) farmers and (b) her Department in circumstances where an incorrect assessment has been made of areas planted for (i) wheat and (ii) other arable cros in the annual (A) June return and (B) IACS system. | | (143666) | 102
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department will take to protect (a) garden centres and (b) growers from imported plants infected with the tree fungus phytophthora ramorum. | | (143667) | 103
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department takes to ensure the correct estimate of each year's wheat harvest is made. | | (143668) | 104
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the organisations which she has consulted about the welfare of horses during transport. | | (143712) | 105
| Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent research she has commissioned into cod by-catches in nephrops fisheries; and if she will make a statement. | | (143719) | 106
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to purchase Geodesign Pallet Barriers to prevent flood damage in (a) the Vale of York and (b) elsewhere; and what assessment she has made of their effectiveness. | | (143879) | 107
| Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the UK Government's representatives are pursuing the policy of an eight-hour journey limit for slaughter animals in EU Council working group meetings; and if she will make a statement. | | (143844) | 108
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is undertaking to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide around Heathrow airport. | | (143793) | 109
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets her Department has set to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide by (a) 2005 and (b) 2010. | | (143823) | 110
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) BAE systems and (b) other manufacturers regarding the timetable for implementation of new aircraft technology which would reduce detrimental effects on air quality. | | (143824) | 111
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the company commissioned by her Department to conduct the air quality study around Heathrow has previously conducted studies and research for airlines. | | (143825) | 112
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether interim findings from the study on air quality in the Heathrow area commissioned by her Department have been incorporated in discussions on the proposal for a third runway at Heathrow. | | (143826) | 113
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the report on air quality around Heathrow from Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd will be discussed with the Department for Transport after its publication. | | (143827) | 114
N | Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to prevent further US vessels crossing the Atlantic for dismantling in Hartlepool. | | (143663) | 115
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether planning permission for the construction of the dry dock at Able UK was within its period of validity when the American ghost ships were given permission to come to the UK. | | (143808) | 116
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the cost and enforcement of EU environmental regulations in (a) the UK, (b) other EU countries and (c) applicant states. | | (143809) | 117
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of abandoned cars were set alight in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (143843) | 118
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total average cost per car was of disposal of end of life vehicles in the last 12 months for which figures are available | | (143955) | 119
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many vehicles she expects to be abandoned in each year before the End of Life Vehicles Directive is fully enforced. | | (143957) | 120
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the High Court ruling on 8th December regarding the dismantling of the contaminated former US naval ships. | | (143988) | 121
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on how she intends to implement the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Report on the Welfare of Farmed Animals At Slaughter or Killing. | | (143558) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 122
| Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for North East Hampshire of 7th April and 22nd July, regarding his constituent Dr McGarry. | | (143750) | 123
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Singapore regarding the trading by Singapore-based companies with the military leadership in Burma; and if he will make a statement. | | (143713) | 124
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143902) | 125
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has had any representations relating to the detention of Mr Mikhail Khodorkovsky; and whether this matter has been discussed with the (a) Russian Government and (b) the Russian Embassy. | | (143932) | 126
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the fairness of the recent elections in Russia. | | (143934) | 127
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 245W, on the European Constitution, what assessment the Government has made of the impact of the territorial cohesion provisions in the draft EU Constitution Treaty on applications from peripheral and insular areas for regional European support and state aid; and what discussions his Department has held with local government representatives from Highland and Island councils on this subject. | | (143985) | 128
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 239W, on student visas, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for the increased number of (i) applications for student visas and (ii) refusals; and if he will make a statement. | | (143952) | 129
| Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the US Administration to encourage them to exert pressure on the Israeli Government in relation to the building of the wall. | | (143810) | 130
| Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will investigate claims of torture made against Saudi Arabia by the recently released British prisoner. | | (143811) | 131
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will amend the 1956 Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground Agreement in order to charge rent to the United States for their occupation of Wide Awake Airfield and additional land exclusively occupied by US personnel on Ascension Island; and if he will arrange for the rent to be made payable to the Ascension Island administration. | | (143279) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 132
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects on the incidence of birth defects of living close to landfill sites; and if he will make a statement. | | (143794) | 133
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what response he will make to the Fourth, Eighth and Ninth reports of the Health Select Committee on maternity services in session 2002-03. | | (143413) | 134
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he make a statement on the role midwives play in public health. | | (143419) | 135
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the number of midwife-led maternity units. | | (143420) | 136
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to expand the community-based role of midwives. | | (143421) | 137
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for Barrow-in-Furness will reply to the letter of the honourable member for Edinburgh West of 3rd September; and what the reasons are for the delay in replying. | | (143721) | 138
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143905) | 139
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from (a) foundation trust applicants and (b) other hospital staff concerning the impact of the new financial flows system on their stability. | | (143702) | 140
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what restrictions there are on direct referral by general practitioners to (a) therapists, (b) hospital diagnostics and (c) other general practitioners with a specialist interest; if he will list the reasons for these restrictions; and what plans his Department has to remove those restrictions. | | (143703) | 141
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were in hospital over the Christmas period in each year since 1997; and what guidance is issued to the NHS on celebrating Christmas in hospitals. | | (143704) | 142
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the rationale underlying the proposed reduction in size of his Department. | | (143706) | 143
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the backlog maintenance cost to reach (a) estate code condition B, (b) fire safety standards and (c) health and safety standards for (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each NHS trust for the latest year for which figures are available. | | (143707) | 144
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has met its most recent target to deliver assertive outreach for severe mental illness; and if he will make a statement. | | (143708) | 145
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many child and adolescent mental health services in-patient beds were provided in each year since 1997 (a) in total, (b) in England and (c) in each local authority; how many are planned to be provided in the next two years; and if he will make a statement. | | (143709) | 146
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (a) how much and (b) what proportion of mental health expenditure has been spent on child and adolescent services in each of the last five years. | | (143710) | 147
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for an appointment in mental health for patients under the age of 18 in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority was in each of the last six years. | | (143711) | 148
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on adult mental health services in each year since 1997-98; what the projected expenditure is in financial year 2003-04; if he will provide the figures in (a) cash terms and (b) Retail Price Index-adjusted terms using 1997-98 as a baseline; and if he will make a statement on the method used for compiling the figures. | | (143715) | 149
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the findings in the Wanless Report of April 2002 relating to the spending increases required to implement the National Service Framework for mental health by 2010-11. | | (143716) | 150
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures the forthcoming National Service Framework for Renal Services module on the effective delivery of dialysis will put in place to increase (a) the availability of and (b) equality of access to dialysis services. | | (143941) | 151
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to publish the modules of the National Service Framework for Renal Services on the effective delivery of dialysis and transplantation; and what the timescale is for the development and publication of the modules on primary prevention and alternative models of care. | | (143942) | 152
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the forthcoming National Service Framework for Renal Services module on transplantation will incorporate the Transplant Framework for England, Saving Lives, Valuing Donors. | | (143979) | 153
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures will be included in the the forthcoming National Service Framework for Renal Services specifically to increase care in the treatment and management of renal disease among ethnic minorities. | | (143980) | 154
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he intends to publish an implementation plan alongside the National Service Framework for Renal Services, with specific timelines for implementation. | | (143981) | 155
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, columns 319-20W, on tuberculosis, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for the increase in TB cases; what steps are being taken to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement. | | (143951) | 156
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provisions are in place to provide healthcare professionals with extensive and accurate information about diabetes; and if he will make a statement. | | (143737) | 157
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money has been spent on healthcare professional education with regard to diabetes over the past three years; and if he will make a statement. | | (143738) | 158
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provisions are being put in place to improve the overall competency of diabetes education of primary care and generalist staff; and if he will make a statement. | | (143739) | 159
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provisions there are for education on mild diabetes; and if he will make a statement. | | (143740) | 160
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by Ms Pearl Brown for the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service. | | (143487) | 161
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date (a) the Mersey Regional Ambulance Trust and (b) any member of its board received notification from the Trust's solicitors that there was a prima facie case of gross misconduct against the chief executive; on what occasions this matter was discussed with the (i) chair and (ii) chief executive of the Strategic Health Authority; and what action was taken to investigate the matter following the advice from the Trust's solicitors. | | (143490) | 162
| Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of external counter pulsation and enhanced external counter pulsation treatments for heart disease, with particular reference to angina pectoris. | | (143812) | 163
| Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research work he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on external counter pulsation; and what conclusions about its efficacy were drawn. | | (143813) | 164
N | Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which primary care trusts have indicated that they will not be able to assure out-of-hours cover for general practitioners in (a) April 2004 and (b) August 2004. | | (143188) | 165
N | Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of general practitioners have indicated that they intend to opt out of 24-hour cover, broken down by (a) rural practices, (b) urban practices and (c) strategic health authority. | | (143189) | 166
N | Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which (a) ambulance service and (b) acute NHS trusts have made representations about their capacity to assume additional responsibilities that may arise from the new general practitioner contract. | | (143190) | 167
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice is given to health professionals about signs and symptoms consistent with underlying cardiac conditions that could cause unexpected death. | | (143974) | 168
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) emotional and (b) practical support is provided to (i) patients who are diagnosed with a potentially fatal cardiac condition and (ii) their carers. | | (143975) | 169
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice is given to primary health care trusts to prevent those at risk from (a) sudden adult death syndrome and (b) arhythmia death from being prescribed medications that may prove lethal to people whose hearts are sensitive to those substances and could cause them to die unexpectedly. | | (143976) | 170
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the British Heart Foundation study published 27th March, Urgent Call for Greater Research into So-Called Adult Cot Death. | | (143977) | 171
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he proposes to take to prevent people from dying from fatal cardiac arhythmias. | | (143978) | 172
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were treated at the North Staffordshire Hospital in each year since 1997. | | (143873) | 173
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for a first consultant appointment was in Stoke-on-Trent for each year since 1997. | | (143874) | 174
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the clinical areas where the NHS in Stoke-on-Trent has longer (a) waiting lists and (b) waiting times than the English average. | | (143875) | 175
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on banning smoking in public places; and what plans he has to propose legislation on this topic. | | (143720) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 176
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143906) | 177
N | Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines he has issued in relation to racist language and behaviour to staff at immigration and detention centres run by the Home Office and its agents; if he will publish them; and if he will make a statement. | | (143582) | 178
N | Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will investigate allegations of (a) racism and (b) misconduct amongst staff at the Yarlswood Detention Centre; and if he will make a statement. | | (143583) | 179
| Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers have been deported to Gaza in each of the last 12 months; and to which (a) ports and (b) airports they were returned. | | (143856) | 180
| Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been refused support in each of the last six months under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. | | (143857) | 181
| Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers from (a) Somalia, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Iraq have been deported in each of the last six months. | | (143858) | 182
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to police forces about the insignia on policy community support officers' uniforms which describes their role; and if he will make a statement. | | (143891) | 183
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the United Kingdom police officers that will be deployed in Iraq are from the West Midlands police force; and if he will make a statement. | | (143892) | 184
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to place the findings of the 2002 exercise on crime and disorder reduction partnerships and their implications for nuisance and noise associated with fireworks in the Library; whether he has conducted a similar exercise for 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (143912) | 185
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase funding to the West Midlands Police for the expansion of the police community support officers for (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. | | (143913) | 186
| Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many uniformed officers were employed by the Leicestershire Police Service at 5th April in each year from 1997 to 2003. | | (143947) | 187
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the probable accuracy of each of the different forecast average prison populations set out in scenarios A-D in the Home Office Prison Population Brief, England and Wales: March 2003 (27/10/03). | | (143838) | 188
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders were served in the Wycombe constituency in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. | | (143537) | 189
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pupils (a) applied to join and (b) were enlisted as members of Thames Valley Police Force in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002. | | (143538) | 190
N | Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Criminal Records Bureau is permitted to access Department of Health and Department of Education and Skills List 99 records when checking the suitability of individuals for work with children. | | (143483) | 191
N | Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the projected cost per passport of the secure delivery service announced on 28th November is; and what the total value of the contract with Special Mail Services Ltd is. | | (143484) | 192
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a migrant who applies for a work permit, a study permit and for indefinite leave to remain will be required to incur the migrant's surcharge for each application. | | (143714) | 193
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many defendants in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the last four years have been discharged due to delays in gathering evidence, pressure of work and errors on the part of the (i) police and (ii) Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement. | | (143964) | 194
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licensed door supervisors he expects to participate in the Security Industry Authority Pilot Scheme in Hampshire commencing in March 2004; and what target complement he has set. | | (143965) | 195
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances foreign language students on (a) part-time and (b) full-time English language courses will be required to pay the proposed surcharge; and if he will make a statement. | | (143839) | 196
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will meet the honourable Member for Totnes to discuss the application for the renewal of the United Kingdom passport of Miss Eulisa De Freitas. | | (142868) | 197
N | Angela Watkinson (Upminster):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the number of women held in custody in British prisons. | | (143414) | Questions to the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 198
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many and what percentage of House of Commons staff contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff through the scheme; and what steps the Commisson is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff. | | (143909) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 199
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143910) | 200
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on shortages of (a) antisera (anti-snake venom) and (b) anti-cancer medicines in Iraq. | | (143935) | 201
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the progress is of the UN programme for voter registration in Afghanistan. | | (143936) | 202
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether food aid supplies in Zimbabwe have been secured beyond December. | | (143986) | 203
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many internally displaced persons there are in Zimbabwe; and how many Zimbabwean refugees there are abroad. | | (143990) | 204
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the nature is of (a) food and (b) HIV/AIDS programmes he is funding in Zimbabwe. | | (143991) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 205
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143899) | 206
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of alternative voting methods in Northern Ireland. | | (143816) | 207
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce NHS Direct to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (143817) | 208
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce tolls on roads in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to tackle road congestion in Northern Ireland. | | (143818) | 209
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in the implementation of the Diabetes Framework Strategy for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (143973) | 210
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many appeals have been heard against decisions by the Department to penalise farmers for errors in subsidy claims; and what percentage of these appeals have been successful. | | (143948) | Questions to the Prime Minister 211
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, on what date office space was allocated by his office to accommodate the honourable Member for Hartlepool; what square footage this comprises; what staff support has been made available to the honourable Member; and if he will make a statement. | | (143840) | 212
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Prime Minister, how many and what percentage of staff in his office contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143898) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 213
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143901) | Questions to the Solicitor General 214
N | Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):To ask the Solicitor General, if she will publish a list of the ministers who, since May 1997, have benefited from the Government paying their legal fees. | | (142541) | Questions to the honourable Member for Gosport representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 215
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the honourable Member for Gosport representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what progress the Electoral Commission is making towards making orders giving effect to the Boundary Committee's recommendations for Devon County Council's ward boundaries; and if he will make a statement. | | (143736) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 216
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will reply to the letter from the honourable member for Edinburgh West of 30th September on outsourcing of jobs abroad; and what the reasons were for the delay in replying. | | (143722) | 217
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many and what percentage of staff in her Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in her Department through the scheme; and what steps she is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in her Department. | | (143904) | 218
N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will provide a breakdown by (a) age, (b) sex, (c) ethnicity, (d) region, (e) housing tenure and (f) household structure of individuals declared bankrupt in (i) each year since 1997 and (ii) each quarter in 2003. | | (143257) | 219
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to increase the current £200 million loan facility to British Energy; and when she expects to take a final decision on the future of the company. | | (141666) | 220
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what information she has collated on the take-up of broadband in each of the last five years in (a) Dudley North, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England; and if she will make a statement. | | (143893) | 221
| Ross Cranston (Dudley North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what policies she has towards sex discrimination against women in private clubs; what plans she has to change the law; and if she will make a statement. | | (143894) | 222
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Working Time Directive's opt-out clause on industrial relations in the UK. | | (143828) | 223
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on the Working Time Directive's opt-out clause; and if she will make a statement. | | (143829) | 224
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many cases concerned with (a) disability, (b) sex and (c) race discrimination have been heard by an industrial tribunal in each of the last five years. | | (143830) | 225
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total cost to UK businesses was of industrial tribunal cases concerned with (a) disability, (b) sex and (c) race discrimination in each of the last five years. | | (143831) | 226
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact that the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 will have on businesses, with particular reference to the costs they will incur; and if she will make a statement. | | (143832) | 227
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact that the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 will have on businesses, with particular reference to the costs they will incur; and if she will make a statement. | | (143833) | 228
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on renewable energy projects in Greater London in each of the last five years. | | (143834) | 229
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many days were lost to illness by employees in her Department in each of the last five years. | | (143880) | 230
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many days' sick leave per staff year were recorded in her Department in each of the last five years. | | (143881) | 231
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the levels of sick leave in her Department as reported in Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 2002. | | (143989) | 232
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking in relation to (a) solicitors who additionally charge their clients for undertaking their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger claims and (b) the recovery of money paid by such claimants to their solicitors. | | (143807) | 233
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures are contained in the pre-budget report to encourage private sector investment. | | (143437) | 234
N | Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the per capita expenditure by the North West Regional Development Agency was in each of its five sub-regions in each year since its inception. | | (143557) | 235
N | Mr John Taylor (Solihull):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will extend to shop window displays the taste and decency controls that apply to advertising hoardings and advertisements on buses. | | (143492) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 236
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143911) | 237
| Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many deaths in road traffic accidents involved (a) the use of hand held mobile phones and (b) drivers smoking in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002. | | (143836) | 238
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has held with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the implications for sustainable development in the areas of construction of a third runway at Heathrow. | | (143792) | 239
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will arrange for the British Airport Authority's air quality strategy and action plan for Heathrow to be assessed by independent consultants. | | (143814) | 240
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the need to construct further terminals at Heathrow if a third runway were to be constructed. | | (143815) | 241
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the effect on capacity on the north runway at Heathrow of aircraft crossing to access the third runway. | | (143820) | 242
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of how long it would take for aircraft to taxi from terminals to the proposed third runway at Heathrow. | | (143821) | 243
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks from aircraft crossing the northern runway to gain access a proposed third runway at Heathrow. | | (143822) | 244
N | Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people prevented from working because they are unable to use public transport. | | (143556) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 245
| John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. | | (143900) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 246
| Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received regarding the introduction of a standard housing allowance; and if he will make a statement. | | (143835) | 247
| Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received regarding council tax benefit restrictions; and if he will make a statement. | | (143859) | 248
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 325W, on New Deal for Young People, how many New Deal for Young People leavers moved into employment in each month between January 1998 and January 2003; and what his assessment is of the trend in the percentage of New Deal leavers moving into employment during that period. | | (144008) | 249
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employers have adopted the voluntary Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment. | | (143855) | 250
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of companies which have had a recruitment policy which is disposed against the employment of older workers, in each year since 1997. | | (143882) | 251
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to promote the Age Positive campaign among (a) employers and (b) older people. | | (143937) | 252
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have (a) applied for and (b) received the £1,500 in-work training grant offered by the New Deal 50 Plus. | | (143938) | 253
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what administrative reasons might prevent parents with care from receiving the child maintenance premium. | | (143535) | 254
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff are located at the former jobcentre premises at 187-199 West Street, Fareham. | | (143697) | 255
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) annual rental and (b) unexpired lease period is of the former jobcentre premises at 187-199 West Street, Fareham. | | (143698) | 256
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the future use by the Department of the former jobcentre premises at 187-199 West Street, Fareham. | | (143699) | 257
| Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how much (a) single pensioners aged between 60 and 64, (b) single pensioners aged over 65, (c) pensioner couples aged between 60 and 65 and (d) pensioner couples aged over 65 will (i) receive and (ii) gain on average each week under the pension credit in each (A) constituency and (B) local authority area in Scotland. | | (143717) | 258
| Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) over and (b) under 65 were entitled to carer's allowance but did not receive payment in each (i) Scottish constituency and (ii) local authority area in the last year for which figures are available. | | (143718) | 259
| Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library (a) copies of his Department's correspondence since November 2001 with the Chief Executive of the Rent Service and (b) copies of the Chief Executive of the Rent Service's correspondence with the Rent Service's area manager for London. | | (143723) | 260
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what he estimates (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples will on average receive each week from pension credit in Stoke-on-Trent in 2003-04. | | (143878) | 261
N | Mr John Taylor (Solihull):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs Samantha Mucklow of Solihull. | | (143491) | 262
N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the income support needs of women carers who are pensioners. | | (143340) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 263
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the survival rates were for the most common forms of cancer in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other members of the European Union in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent period for which figures are available. | | [Transferred] (143724) | 264
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, How many people (a) under 50, (b) between 50 and state pension age and (c) over state pension age were in employment, broken down by (i) region and (ii) gender, for each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (143939) | 265
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the employment rate was for people (a) under 50, (b) between 50 and state pension age and (c) over state pension age, broken down by (i) region and (ii) gender, for each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (143940) | 266
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of GDP was comprised of (a) manufacturing sector and (b) service sector gross capital formation in each of the last six years. | | [Transferred] (143434) | 267
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of GDP was comprised of gross capital formation in each of the last six years. | | [Transferred] (143435) | 268
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of GDP was comprised of (a) public sector and (b) private sector gross capital formation in each of the last six years. | | [Transferred] (143436) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 269
| Valerie Davey (Bristol West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether, following the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, the resulting funds are to be made available to the community waste and recycling sector. | | [Transferred] (143987) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 270
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in Chechnya. | | [Transferred] (143931) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 271
| Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths were related to smoking in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. | | [Transferred] (143842) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 272
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures are being implemented to prevent the Continuous Registration system of cars being circumvented, with regard to the End of Life Vehicles Directive. | | [Transferred] (143956) |
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