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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Tuesday 6 January 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 6 January 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 6 January 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 6 January of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 6 January see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy that the additional sum for research and development announced in his Pre Budget Report will be filtered down to local colleges which have good science study courses; whether he expects Leyton Sixth Form College to gain from the additional funds; and if he will make a statement. | | (146358) | 2
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what matters relating to BCCI and (a) the Bank of England and (b) his Department are outstanding; whether any of these matters could carry a liability to the public purse; and if he will make a statement. | | (146359) | 3
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of tax revenue lost to the UK Exchequer in each of the last five years due to tax policies of the administrations of (a) the Channel Islands, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) the Cayman Islands, (d) Bermuda and (e) other Caribbean islands for which the UK Government has a responsibility; and if he will make a statement. | | (146360) | 4
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure that people in work will be better off than if on benefits; what timetable he has set for increasing the number of people who are better off in work than if on benefits; and if he will make a statement. | | (146364) | 5
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) homebuyers and (b) businesses in Leyton have benefited from the exemption from stamp duty on premises purchased in disadvantaged areas since the exemption was introduced; and if he will make a statement. | | (146365) | 6
N | Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional revenue has been secured from investigations under the IR35 regulation (a) in total and (b) for each year since its implementation. | | (145747) | 7
N | Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of the (a) administration and (b) employment costs arising from pursuing investigations under IR35 regulation. | | (145748) | 8
N | Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many investigations under the IR35 regulation have (a) been initiated, (b) resulted in additional revenue and (c) been concluded without securing additional revenue. | | (145749) | 9
N | Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many bottles of (a) whisky and (b) other spirits were seized by Customs and Excise in the last 12 months because duty had not been paid. | | (145973) | 10
N | Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions there have been for evading duty on (a) whisky and (b) other spirits in the last 12 months. | | (145974) | 11
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what definition he used for the term public sector investment in table B24 on page 237 of the pre-Budget report. | | (146347) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 12
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the Appeal Court must conclude for a sentence to be reduced. | | (145969) | 13
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether the Department keeps centralised records for each serving Circuit Judge of the number of successful appeals on their (a) sentencing and (b) conviction. | | (145970) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 14
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Government Ministers have recently visited the Iraqi national museum in Baghdad; and if she will make a statement on (a) lost, stolen or damaged exhibits belonging to the museum and (b) access to the museum and its security. | | (146362) | 15
N | Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she expects that the merger between the Metropolitan Police Service and the Royal Parks Constabulary will be completed in April 2004; and if she will make a statement. | | (144900) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 16
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations have been received regarding the Galileo satellite network; what the Government's response has been; and if he will make a statement. | | (146363) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 17
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the priorities of each of the regional housing boards in England. | | (145967) | 18
N | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he has taken to ensure that work completed by a Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme registered company meets the same standards as work inspected by a local authority. | | (145976) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 19
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of hours spent each week teaching food technology in years one to nine; and what proportion of that time involves practical cooking skills. | | (146346) | 20
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what proportion of children received free school meals in each of the last five years; and what proportion of children were entitled to free school meals in each of the last five years. | | (146348) | 21
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact on the nutrient content of school meals of the metric used by the Audit Commission Best Value Inspectors for school catering services. | | (146349) | 22
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make it his policy to (a) implement national nutrient-based standards for (i) school breakfasts and (ii) school lunches and (b) make arrangements for monitoring their implementation. | | (146350) | 23
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the availability of fresh water in school dining rooms; and if he will make a statement. | | (146351) | 24
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to show A levels and vocational course qualifications separately in college league tables; and if he will make a statement. | | (146357) | 25
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much each component of the school formula spending share per pupil for (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils was in each local education authority in (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05. | | (145968) | 26
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 16th December, Official Report, column 833W, on Directorate Staff, if he will make a statement on the change in staff numbers in the (a) Schools and (b) Lifelong Learning Directorates in 2003; and to which directorates the staff employed within the Youth Directorate have been transferred. | | (145971) | 27
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what (a) the Education Formula Spending Share for 2003-04, (b) the adjusted EFSS for 2003-04 used as part of the 2004-05 local government settlement, (c) the raw educational spending share for 2004-05 before the floors and ceilings and (d) the educational formula spending share for 2004-05 after floors and ceilings are for Hampshire Local Education Authority. | | (145972) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 28
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the outcome of her Department's discussions with manufacturers and other interested parties about discarded chewing gum was; what changes to her policy on discarded chewing gum she has made and plans to make; and if she will make a statement. | | (146361) | 29
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on introducing changes to the law concerning cruelty to animals. | | (146356) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 30
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total expenditure on (a) information campaigns and (b) advertising was for his Department for each year since 1997. | | (145405) | 31
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Prime Minister of 15th December, Official Report, columns 1319-36, on the European Council, if he will list the points in the proposed European Constitution where consensus was close at the Brussels meeting of the European Council on 12th and 13th December; and if he will list the remaining points of disagreement. | | (145406) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 32
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of women were classed as obese in each year since 1990 in (a) England and (b) each region, broken down by social/economic status. | | (146332) | 33
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, What assessment he has made of the safety of blood plasma and other blood products sourced in the USA following the positive testing for BSE in the USA. | | (146333) | 34
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional safeguards he has put in place to ensure the safety of US-sourced blood plasma following the confirmation of BSE in US cattle. | | (146334) | 35
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the risk of developing a mental illness, broken down by (a) region and (b) socio-economic status. | | (146335) | 36
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has received a copy of the report by the Royal Statistical Society's Working Party on performance monitoring in the Public Services, Performance indicators: Good, Bad, and Ugly; and if he will make a statement. | | (146336) | 37
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to introduce independent scrutiny of all performance monitoring procedures, with particular reference to the star ratings system. | | (146337) | 38
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the guidelines given to NHS trusts in reporting cancelled operations, with particular reference to guidelines on the use of stand-by lists of patients who may be operated on that day if capacity allows. | | (146338) | 39
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of people reported a longstanding illness or disability (a) in England, (b) in each region and (c) broken down by socio-economic group in each year since 1990. | | (146339) | 40
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people aged 15 to 24 started drug treatment episodes in each year since 1990, broken down by socio-economic group in (a) England and (b) each region. | | (146340) | 41
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of hours per week operating theatres were used on average in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each NHS trust, in the latest week for which figures are available. | | (146341) | 42
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned on links between ward bed availability and cancellation of scheduled operation lists. | | (146342) | 43
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out the screening arrangements (a) taken and (b) required by Life Resources Inc. in respect of deferring donors who have travelled to live for five years or more in the UK or Europe between 1980 and 1996. | | (146343) | 44
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk of vaccines sourced from bovine products in the USA being an agent for transmitting BSE. | | (146344) | 45
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment the Food Standards Agency has made of the arrangements in the USA for (a) testing slaughtered cattle for BSE, (b) surveillance and tracking of BSE in the food chain and (c) controlling the use of rendered by-products; and if he will make a statement. | | (146345) | 46
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out for each of the last 10 years for (a) England, (b) each NHS region and (c) each strategic health authority the number and proportion of (i) boys, (ii) girls, and (iii) children aged (A) 4-5, (B) 6-7, (C) 8-9, (D) 10-11, (E) 12-13, (F) 14-15 and (G) 16-17 who have nothing to eat before school (1) once a week, (2) twice a week, (3) three days a week, (4) four days a week, (5) every school day and (6) at weekends. | | (146352) | 47
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses he received to proposed amendments to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989: A Consultation. | | (146353) | 48
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on the NHS of planned increases in gas prices; and what assumptions were made in the comprehensive spending review about the cost of gas and electricity supplies to the NHS. | | (146354) | 49
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what right of free access British citizens have to treatment at a GP practice other than that at which they are registered if (a) they are registered with a different practice but are resident in the UK and (b) they are UK citizens living outside the UK. | | (146355) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 50
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many claims for compensation have been paid by the Compensation Agency in respect of damage to Orange halls in each of the past five years, broken down by county; and what the total value was of the compensation paid for these claims. | | (145551) | 51
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many claims for compensation made to the Compensation Agency have been unsuccessful in respect of damage to Orange halls in each of the past five years, broken down by county. | | (145552) | 52
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many claims for compensation have been made to the Compensation Agency in respect of damage to Orange halls in each of the past five years, broken down by county. | | (145553) | 53
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Chief Constable's certificates have been issued in respect of claims made to the Compensation Agency for damage to Orange halls in each of the past five years, broken down by county. | | (145554) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 54
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money raised in fines from speed cameras during the last year for which records are available was spent in (a) Billericay and District, (b) Basildon and District and (c) Essex; and how that money was spent. | | (145792) | 55
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money was raised in fines from speed cameras in the last year for which records are available in (a) Billericay and District, (b) Basildon and District and (c) Essex. | | (145793) | 56
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many speed cameras (a) there are and (b) there have been in each of the last five years in (i) Billericay and District, (ii) Basildon and District and (iii) Essex | | (145794) | 57
| Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the use of satellite technology for congestion charging. | | (145381) | 58
N | Jonathan Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the thickness was of the invert of the North Downs Tunnel approved by the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996; and what change there has been in the specification. | | (145977) | 59
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many deaths he estimates have resulted from delay caused by speed humps and traffic calming preventing the emergency services reaching emergency incidents since 2000. | | (145822) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 60
N | Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) working age benefits, (b) disability and carers' benefit, (c) retirement pension, (d) child benefit and (e) war pensions claimants are paid by (i) direct payment into a bank or building society account, (ii) direct payment into a post office card account, (iii) order book and (iv) other methods. | | (145975) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 61
N | Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of planned future housebuilding on the transport infrastructure of South Bedfordshire. | | [Question Unstarred] (145873) |
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