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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 11 February 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 11 February 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 11 February 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 Wednesday 11 February of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 11 February see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-United Kingdom resident UK citizens sit on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs); and what costs will be incurred in 2003-04 by the payments of international travel costs to enable their participation in NDPB meetings. | | (154689) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 2
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the independent review of excise duty fraud levels; and when the review will be concluded. | | (154779) | 3
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what sums in United Kingdom claims on Iraq have been notified to the Paris Club, including interest, broken down by (a) government and (b) non-government claims. | | (154556) | 4
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) duties and (b) immediate work programme of each Lamfalussy committee are; and what the United Kingdom representation on each committee is. | | (154559) | 5
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money he estimates would be lost in revenue if (a) the one per cent. level of stamp duty for properties between £60,001 and £250,000 and (b) the three per cent. level of stamp duty for properties between £250,001 and £500,000 was removed. | | [R] (154561) | 6
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much stamp duty was paid in each of the last five years. | | [R] (154562) | 7
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out the (a) benefit and (b) tax credit expenditure in the UK for each year since 1996-97, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (A) contributory, (B) non-contributory and (C) income-related benefits. | | (154740) | 8
| Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that measures which will be introduced in the 2004-05 Finance Bill affecting the taxation of small businesses (a) reflect the regulatory compliance costs small businesses already bear, and (b) are sensitive to the needs of small companies endeavouring to expand; and if he will make a statement. | | (154862) | 9
| Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of close companies which may operate with the primary purpose of reducing their owners' personal tax liability; and what value of tax revenues he estimates may thus be lost to the Exchequer. | | (154863) | 10
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. | | (154697) | 11
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil servants he expects will be relocated from London as a result of the assessment by Sir Michael Lyons; from which Government departments relocation of staff is being considered; when he expects the first staff to move from London; and if he will make a statement. | | (154701) | 12
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which towns and cities have been assessed by Sir Michael Lyons for possible relocation of civil servants from London; which have been short-listed; how many locations will be selected; when he expects to make an announcement; and if he will make a statement. | | (154702) | 13
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of taxpayers receiving pension tax relief at (a) the higher rate and (b) the basic rate in each year since 1996-97; and what percentage of all taxpayers below state pension age these figures represent in each case. | | (154508) | 14
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of pensioners paying income tax at (a) the higher rate and (b) the basic rate for each year since 1996-97; and what percentage of (i) all pensioner taxpayers and (ii) all pensioners this figure represents in each case. | | (154509) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 15
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will list the benches in England and Wales which have not yet signed up to the Magistrates' National Sentencing Guidelines; and what percentage of benches this figure represents. | | (154759) | 16
| Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to improve the efficiency of the Public Guardianship Office. | | (154816) | 17
| Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Public Guardianship Office. | | (154822) | 18
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the cost of the Hutton Inquiry was. | | (154704) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 19
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) salary and (b) bonuses were paid to (i) the Chief Executive and (ii) the senior staff of the Royal Parks Agency in the latest year for which figures are available. | | (154769) | 20
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) animals and (b) birds were culled in the Royal Parks in the last two years, broken down by (i) species, (ii) culling method used and (iii) use made of the carcass. | | (154770) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 21
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the United States bases that have been handed back to the United Kingdom Government since 1974, indicating in each case (a) who paid for the restoration of the area and (b) what the cost was. | | (154761) | 22
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the renewal of the 1958 Agreement for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes. | | (154776) | 23
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January to the honourable Member for North Cornwall, Official Report, column 505W, on Sea King helicopters, whether the helicopters in the collision were equipped with accident data recorders. | | (154503) | 24
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January to the honourable Member for North Cornwall, Official Report, column 505W, on Sea King helicopters, what assessment of rules and procedures for night flying senior commanders (a) had made before the mission and (b) have made since the mission. | | (154504) | 25
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January to the honourable Member for North Cornwall, Official Report, column 505W, on Sea King helicopters, what assessment he has made of the need for fleet-wide night vision capability since the collision. | | (154505) | 26
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, to the honourable Member for North Cornwall, Official Report, column 505W, on Sea King helicopters, when the Royal Navy Flight Safety and Accident Investigation Centre will pubish its report on the accident. | | (154506) | 27
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January to the honourable Member for North Cornwall, Official Report, column 505W, on Sea King helicopters, what recommendations from the Board of Inquiry report have been acted upon by his Department. | | (154507) | 28
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what use will be made of the armed forces for covert surveillance on upland estates as part of Operation Artemis. | | (154732) | 29
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of the use of members of the armed forces for covert surveillance on upland estates as part of Operation Artemis. | | (154733) | 30
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army units will take part in covert surveillance on upland estates as part of Operation Artemis. | | (154734) | 31
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what impact the deployment of members of the armed forces for covert surveillance on upland estates will have on the British Army's military obligations overseas. | | (154735) | 32
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reduce the size of the proposed new aircraft carriers. | | (154627) | 33
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service and (b) of his Department's civilian posts have been transferred to the private sector in each year since 1997 for the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army and (iii) Royal Air Force. | | (154628) | 34
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will agree the (a) final projected costs and (b) demonstration and manufacturer contracting arrangements for the aircraft carrier programme. | | (154629) | 35
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected (a) cost and (b) commissioning date is of the two new aircraft carriers; what estimates were made when the contract was let; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the difference. | | (154630) | 36
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Typhoon aircraft will be ordered by each partner in the second tranche. | | (154681) | 37
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of converting Typhoon to operate on the new aircraft carriers. | | (154682) | 38
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many joint strike fighters will be ordered; and what the percentage work share of BAE Systems is. | | (154683) | 39
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who owns the intellectual property rights of the joint strike fighter system; and whether this is shared with UK and US companies. | | (154684) | 40
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 505W, on reservists, how many reservists were called out immediately following demobilisation in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and if he will make a statement. | | (153281) | 41
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Civil Contingency Reaction Forces (CCRF) reservists are allocated to each of the regional CCRF units; and if he will make a statement. | | (153282) | 42
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many training days members of Civil Contingency Reaction Forces undergo; what is covered at each training day; and if he will make a statement. | | (153283) | 43
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his latest estimate is of (a) the cost and (b) the in-service dates of each of the two future aircraft carriers. | | (154660) | 44
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has held with representatives of the French government about future carrier requirements and co-operation thereon. | | (154661) | 45
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30th January, Official Report, column 574W, on Lieutenant Lewis Page, whether (a) authorisation was sought by Lieutenant Page and (b) permission which fell short of proper authorisation was given to Lieutenant Page. | | (154665) | 46
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the present state of negotiations is between the United Kingdom and Romania for the sale of HMS Coventry and HMS London in return for Romanian military equipment; and if he will make a statement. | | (154666) | 47
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the future aircraft carriers will each be able to operate more than 40 aircraft. | | (154670) | 48
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in relation to the deaths of which civilians in Iraq the UK Government has made ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased; and how much has been paid in each case. | | (154477) | 49
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will reply to the Question from the honourable Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr of 2nd December 2003, on human rights violations, reference 141740. | | (154478) | 50
| John Robertson (Glasgow Anniesland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology programme. | | (154585) | 51
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what projects have received an environmental impact assessment since his policy statement on the management of safety and environmental protection in July 2000. | | (154695) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 52
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he made of the cost to East Sussex Fire Authority of becoming a precepting authority. | | (154551) | 53
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether combined fire authorities in their first year as precepting authorities will have the costs of transition taken into account when their budget is assessed. | | (154552) | 54
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether, under his plans for modernisation of the Fire Service, smaller fire authorities will have less scope to make savings than larger fire authorities. | | (154553) | 55
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to introduce a mechanism to redistribute grant to those smaller fire authorities that may have less scope to make savings under the Fire Service Modernisation agenda than larger fire authorities. | | (154554) | 56
N | Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what standards have been established for the Government's plans for the redevelopment of the Thames Gateway in respect of (a) the residential density of new housing developments, (b) the proportion of development land that is expected to be previously-developed land, (c) design quality, (d) construction quality standards, (e) the accessibility of new housing to local amenities, (f) public transport accessibility and (g) the use of sustainable construction methods. | | (154043) | 57
N | Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average residential density of housing developments given planning permission since March 2000 is in (a) Bexley, (b) Barking and Dagenham, (c) Greenwich, (d) Hackney, (e) Lewisham, (f) Newham, (g) Havering, (h) Tower Hamlets, (i) Waltham Forest, (j) Thurrock, (k) Basildon, (l) Castle Point, (m) Southend-on-Sea, (n) Rochford, (o) Medway, (p) Dartford, (q) Gravesham and (r) Swale local authority areas; and what the average residential density of such developments across all these boroughs is. | | (154191) | 58
N | Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what standards new housing to be built in communities envisaged in the Thames Gateway will be required to meet in respect of (a) schools, (b) health care facilities, (c) leisure facilities and (d) open spaces. | | (154192) | 59
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidelines his Department gives to local authorities on sustainable procurement. | | (153806) | 60
N | Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what methodology he used in his calculation that South Bucks District Council is receiving an increase of 3.4 per cent. in its grant for 2004-05. | | (154473) | 61
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many councils have been required to release reserve sites for housing development as a consequence of failing to meet house building targets. | | (154819) | 62
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he assesses which reserve sites should be released to meet county level house building targets; and to what extent those borough councils that have already met their targets will be exempt from having to release reserve sites. | | (154820) | 63
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many local authorities have been assessed as not meeting their target for house building. | | (154821) | 64
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on retrospective planning applications. | | (154639) | 65
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, for what reasons retrospective planning applications are treated in the same way as other applications. | | (154641) | 66
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will impose a system of penalties for carrying out development in advance of obtaining planning applications. | | (154642) | 67
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how his Department will identify which local authorities have made sufficient progress in meeting Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 targets to be classed as excellent and exempted from requirement to submit future reports. | | (154644) | 68
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. | | (154699) | 69
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff in his Department have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved in each of those cases listed were. | | (154651) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 70
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of what the cost of providing maintenance loans to students from 2006-07 would be (a) under existing arrangements and (b) under the proposals in the Higher Education Bill. | | (154763) | 71
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 5th February by the Minister for Education (Lifelong Learning and Higher Education), to the honourable Member for Hertsmere, Official Report, column 1030W, on student finance, if he will break down the financial assistance available to students by each £1,000 band of family income between £15,000 and £35,000 under (a) the present arrangements and (b) his proposed arrangements for higher education funding from 2006-07. | | (154768) | 72
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was spent on new capital investments in each school in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne including private finance initiative projects in each year since 1997-98; and what type of project it was in each case. | | (154616) | 73
| Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to improve the statistics he collects on (a) the number of disabled children, (b) the type of disability affecting each child, (c) the severity and combination of their disabilities, (d) the levels of service provided for disabled children and (e) the adequacy of these services. | | (154741) | 74
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of time Connexions personal advisers have spent with young people from each socio-economic class, broken down by Connexions partnership. | | (154780) | 75
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the progress of the Connexions service towards meeting its target of reducing by one tenth the number of 16 to 18 year olds not in education, employment or training by one tenth by November 2004. | | (154781) | 76
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many 16 to 18 year olds not in education, employment or training there were in each month since the Connexions service was established. | | (154782) | 77
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether it is his Department's policy to assess the impact of the Connexions service upon previously existing services for young people. | | (154783) | 78
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what examinations and assessments of existing services for young people were carried out in each region before Connexions partnerships were established; and what the nature of such assessments was. | | (154784) | 79
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the budget allocation is for each Connexions partnership for 2004-05. | | (154785) | 80
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research has been carried out into the proportion of young people who are aware of the Connexions service in each partnership area, broken down by (a) ethnicity, (b) age and (c) gender. | | (154786) | 81
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what qualifications and training Connexions' personal advisers are expected to have on (a) working with young offenders and (b) health matters; and what proportion are trained to this level within each area partnership. | | (154787) | 82
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of Connexions' personal advisers within each area partnership have (a) a Qualification in Careers Guidance, (b) NVQ Level 4 in Advice and Guidance, including specified units and (c) a Diploma in Careers Guidance. | | (154788) | 83
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of Connexions personal advisers within each area partnership are qualified to give guidance on all advisory services. | | (154789) | 84
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what safeguards exist to ensure that young people are given in-depth advice only by properly qualified Connexions personal advisers. | | (154790) | 85
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how the quality of advice given by
Connexions personal advisers is monitored. | | (154791) | 86
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how (a) parents' and (b) clients' complaints against the service provided by Connexions are dealt with. | | (154792) | 87
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many Connexions clients there are, broken down by (a) social class and (b) ethnic origin. | | (154793) | 88
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, by what criteria OFSTED assess the performance of a Connexions partnership. | | (154794) | 89
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of Connexions personal advisers within each area partnership has undergone Criminal Records Bureau checks. | | (154795) | 90
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much time has been spent by Connexions personal advisers upon each advisory service. | | (154796) | 91
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps are being taken to ensure that Connexions works effectively with the voluntary sector. | | (154797) | 92
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assistance is provided to voluntary organisations by Connexions in (a) ensuring staff undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks, (b) applying for funding and (c) ensuring they fulfil requirements. | | (154798) | 93
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total cost of the Connexions card scheme has been. | | (154799) | 94
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many young people have Connexions cards within each partnership area. | | (154800) | 95
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many young people used Connexions Direct on average, in each of the last six months broken down by (a) age and (b) ethnic origin. | | (154801) | 96
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how complaints from (a) parents and (b) young people about Connexions Direct are dealt with. | | (154802) | 97
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been spent on the (a) purchase and (b) rental of buildings by each Connexions area partnership in each year since its establishment. | | (154803) | 98
| Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many adults are entitled to adult learning grant; and what steps his Department is taking to promote take-up. | | (154560) | 99
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have been assessed as having more than (i) 50, (ii) 75 and (iii) 90 per cent. of pupils who are classified as Muslim; and for how many of these schools this is a consequence of admissions criteria based on religious denomination. | | (154817) | 100
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many independent schools have applied for conversion to state schools since 1997; how many of these applications have been accepted; and what reasons have been given when applications have been declined. | | (154818) | 101
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he had with the Chief Inspector of Schools about the publication of the list of schools in special measures. | | (154834) | 102
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Learning and Skills Council on engagement with industry in post-16 education. | | (154538) | 103
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria are set for dispute resolution within learning and skills councils. | | (154860) | 104
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria he uses in determining value for money from learning and skills councils; and what account he takes of value for money from councils when deciding upon re-appointment of council (a) directors and (b) board members. | | (154861) | 105
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the ability of (a) Birkbeck College, University of London and (b) the Open University to compete with other higher education institutions once the new proposals for tuition fees and funding are in place in 2006. | | (154645) | 106
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what investment plans he has assessed for (a) Birkbeck College, University of London and (b) the Open University; and whether these are included in the Higher Education Bill. | | (154647) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 107
| Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the employment of secondees from commercial organisations to draft parliamentary answers; and if she will make a statement. | | (154600) | 108
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the potential use of salt mine workings for toxic waste disposal. | | (154758) | 109
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the percentage of the membership of her Department's Science Advisory Council which has expertise in environmental matters. | | (154764) | 110
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent research into broiler chicken welfare she has (a) commissioned and (b) received, with particular reference to issues of lameness in broiler chickens kept at stocking densities above 30 kilograms per square metre. | | (154774) | 111
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government will support the recommendations of the report from the EU Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Animal Welfare on chicken welfare. | | (154775) | 112
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Environment Agency has not implemented a minimum standard for the amount of ozone-depleting substances recovered from each refrigerator. | | (154777) | 113
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of chlorofluorocarbons is extracted from recovered refrigerators in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EU member states. | | (154778) | 114
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations the devolved administrations in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland have made to her Department regarding the growing of Chardon LL maize in the UK. | | (154705) | 115
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the acceptable threshold under EU law is for the contamination of non-GM crops planted in the UK with GM traits. | | (154706) | 116
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to refuse permission for the planting of GM crops before bringing laws into effect on (a) co-existence and (b) liability. | | (154707) | 117
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what separation distance would be required to keep the contamination of non-GM crops with GM varieties below a level of 0.1 per cent. for (a) maize, (b) oil-seed rape and (c) sugar beet. | | (154708) | 118
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to vote to maintain the GM moratorium in Europe on 18th February. | | (154709) | 119
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people seconded to her Department from outside organisations are helping to draft Answers to honourable Members', (a) oral and (b) written Parliamentary Questions. | | (153913) | 120
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's progress towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050. | | (153803) | 121
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to demonstrate to local authorities the potential benefits of developing sustainable energy policy. | | (153804) | 122
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on including energy in the comprehensive performance assessment. | | (153805) | 123
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department disseminates best practice in sustainable energy management programmes to local authorities. | | (153807) | 124
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. | | (154617) | 125
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the proposed sales of ivory stockpiles do not conceal illegal trade. | | (154618) | 126
| Angela Eagle (Wallasey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the illegal exploitation of migrant workers in the cockle industry, with particular reference to improving co-ordination with the Home Office. | | (154634) | 127
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the population of hen harriers in the UK was (a) at the latest date for which figures are available and (b) in each of the previous 10 years. | | (154710) | 128
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many breeding pairs of hen harriers (a) established nests and (b) successfully bred in the UK in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. | | (154711) | 129
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis she has undertaken of the impact of agricultural changes on the breeding success of hen harriers. | | (154712) | 130
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage the reintroduction of breeding pairs of hen harriers to lowland England. | | (154713) | 131
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the red kite reintroduction programme in England. | | (154714) | 132
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what means of control are available to a landowner where biodiversity on his land is endangered by an excess population of raptors. | | (154715) | 133
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the current estimated population is of (a) buzzards, (b) peregrine falcons, (c) hobbies, (d) merlins, (e) ospreys, (f) goshawks and (g) marsh harriers; and what the population of each was in each of the previous 10 years. | | (154716) | 134
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what systems her Department has for monitoring the (a) numbers and (b) impact of raptors in the UK. | | (154717) | 135
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis she has made of the impact of raptors on (a) the brown hare population, (b) game birds and (c) new born lambs. | | (154718) | 136
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she last met (a) English Nature and (b) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to discuss hen harriers. | | (154719) | 137
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from (a) English Nature and (b) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on hen harriers. | | (154720) | 138
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she last met the (a) British Association of Shooting and Conservation, (b) the Countryside Alliance, (c) the Game Conservancy Trust and (d) the Moorland Association to discuss hen harriers. | | (154721) | 139
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on (a) hen harriers and (b) Operation Artemis. | | (154722) | 140
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what involvement she had in planning Operation Artemis. | | (154723) | 141
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she last visited a grouse moor in an official capacity. | | (154724) | 142
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) cost and (b) efficacy of English Nature's raptor programmes. | | (154725) | 143
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends Operation Artemis to be a long-term solution to the position of the hen harrier in England. | | (154726) | 144
N | Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what aircraft pollution monitoring arrangements are in place in the vicinity of Heathrow Airport; and who operates each site. | | (154472) | 145
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage employees to be proactive in preventing illegal working, as stated in paragraph 24 of her Department's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's Fourteenth Report of Session 2002-03, HC 691, on gangmasters; and what data protection requirements inhibit her reponse to requests for assistance. | | (154662) | 146
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she plans to commission into the effects on health of low frequency noise from wind turbines. | | (154765) | 147
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason noise from wind turbines has been excluded from the study at Salford University into low frequency noise sponsored by her Department. | | (154767) | 148
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan announced in the Energy White Paper of February 2003 is to be published; whether publication of the plan is expected to be within the timescale originally indicated in the White Paper; and when she expects to publish the second annual progress report on the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy. | | (154580) | 149
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what use has been made by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management of the final report of the information needs research project commissioned by her Department in 2002; and if she will place a copy of the report in the Library. | | (154691) | 150
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the annual budget in 2003-04 for the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management is; and what plans she has, in consultation with the devolved administrations, to increase its budgets. | | (154693) | 151
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management is empowered to sub-contract research to consultants. | | (154694) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 152
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 844W, if he will list payments made by the United Kingdom Government to the governments of (a) Uzbekistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Kazakhstan, (d) Kyrgyzstan, (e) Pakistan, (f) Georgia and (g) Azerbaijan since 1999-2000, broken down by purpose; and if he will make a statement. | | (154546) | 153
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what he expects will become of the (a) International Advisory and Monitoring Board and (b) Iraq Development Fund after a sovereign government of Iraq is established; to whom control of the monies will be passed; and if he will make a statement. | | (154547) | 154
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British representatives sit on the Programme Review Board which determines expenditure in Iraq; what the relationship of the Board to (a) the United Kingdom Government, (b) the US Government and (c) the Iraqi Governing Council is; and if he will make a statement. | | (154548) | 155
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy to support (a) new approvals and (b) new payments of claims from the United Nations Compensation Commission. | | (154555) | 156
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States on their policy that all visitors from the United Kingdom travelling on passports issued after 16th October without a biometric chip will require a visa; and if he will make a statement. | | (154470) | 157
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the human rights record of China since the killings in Tiananmen Square in 1989, with particular reference to (a) the treatment of cyber-dissidents, (b) the treatment of Uighur separatists, (c) the use of torture and the death penalty and (d) respect for political and religious freedom in Tibet. | | (154646) | 158
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to oppose the lifting of the European Union arms embargo on China; and if he will make a statement. | | (154648) | 159
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 28th January, Official Report, column 415W, on Terrorism (Political Parties), what means have been used to persuade Hizbollah to abandon all terrorist activity. | | (154659) | 160
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the scope of international monitoring of weapons of mass destruction proliferation, with particular reference to biological and chemical weapons. | | (154858) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 161
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Government is taking to promote the use of reusable nappies in hospitals. | | (154771) | 162
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on the (a) purchase and (b) disposal of (i) disposable nappies and (ii) reusable nappies in the last year for which figures are available. | | (154772) | 163
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the (a) provision, (b) collection and (c) disposal of continence wear to older children and adults cost the NHS in the last year for which figures are available. | | (154773) | 164
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his policy towards the employment in the UK of care workers from (a) non-EU European countries, (b) Asia and (c) Africa. | | (153914) | 165
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England are employed as care workers; and how many vacancies there are for care workers. | | (153915) | 166
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards implementing the waiting time targets betwen referral and treatment by 2005 as outlined in the Cancer Plan; what statistics are published with which to measure progress; and if he will make a statement. | | (154581) | 167
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total amount of reimbursement from social services departments to the NHS for delayed discharges is in the current financial year for (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. | | (154582) | 168
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the prevalence of raised blood cholesterol in (a) men and (b) women in each region; and if he will make a statement. | | (154583) | 169
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) information requests and (b) data collections (i) made by and (ii) supplied to his Department concerning NHS finances; when they are collected; when they are available for publication; and at what level of NHS organisation the information is collected. | | (154584) | 170
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has undertaken of the impact of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's proposed fee increase on the number of nurses nearing retirement renewing their registration; and if he will make a statement. | | (154586) | 171
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for implementing the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency awareness campaign for nurses about the recent name changes to UK medicines; and if he will make a statement. | | (154587) | 172
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 30th January, Official Report, column 559W, on long-term care, if he will place in the Library copies of the survey and estimates by the Personal Social Services Research Unit referred to in the explanatory note. | | (154633) | 173
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies including the (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. | | (154680) | 174
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people signed onto the organ donor register. | | (154619) | 175
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects of Agenda for Change on speech therapists. | | (154620) | 176
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned into the effects on recruitment and retention of speech therapists of the implications of Agenda for Change for pay levels of speech therapists. | | (154621) | 177
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implementation of Standard 6 of the National Service Framework for Mental Health. | | (154823) | 178
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the progress made on the NHS plan target to recruit 700 carers workers. | | (154824) | 179
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many carers of people with mental illness have received (a) a written assessment and (b) a written copy of the care plan of the person they care for, broken down by mental health trust. | | (154825) | 180
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to (a) publicise the rights of mental health carers to an assessment of their own needs and (b) inform local carers' groups of the allocation of the carers grant; and if he will make a statement. | | (154826) | 181
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what indication he has given of the priority that the Government expects the NHS and social services departments to give to the achievement of Government targets for carers of people with mental health problems. | | (154827) | 182
| Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the 700 carers workers promised in the NHS plan will be additional to existing staff in NHS trusts. | | (154828) | 183
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what access patients in the South West have to treatment that is in accordance with national standards for haemophilia care published in the National Service Specification for Haemophilia and Related Conditions in 2001; and if he will make a statement. | | (154576) | 184
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for the provision of a comprehensive care centre for haemophilia in the South West; and if he will make a statement. | | (154577) | 185
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients with haemophilia there are in (a) England and (b) the South West; and if he will make a statement. | | (154578) | 186
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role the Department has played in appointing franchise managers to zero star acute hospital trusts, with particular reference to (a) their terms of employment, (b) their remuneration packages and (c) approving their plans for improving the performance of the trust. | | (154835) | 187
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to increase the number of beds for mental health trusts. | | (154742) | 188
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average wait for a mental health bed is in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley. | | (154743) | 189
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to establish the hepatitis C strategy for England, published in consultation form in August 2002. | | (154833) | 190
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care assistants employed in care homes in England and Wales have confirmed the death of a resident in the past 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (153481) | 191
| Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of child and adolescent mental health services provision in England. | | (154632) | 192
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies he has commissioned into the health effects of living close to wind turbines. | | (154766) | 193
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients at the Herchel Prins Low Secure Unit at the Glenfield Hospital site in Leicestershire have been found not to have mental health problems. | | (154636) | 194
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of building the Herchel Prins Unit at Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire; what its running costs were in the last financial year; and what this cost was per patient. | | (154637) | 195
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have escaped from the Herchel Prins Unit at Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire in the last year. | | (154638) | 196
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many asthma sufferers had their condition reviewed at least once in the last year for which figures are available. | | (154569) | 197
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the financial cost of schizophrenia to the NHS in 2003. | | (154574) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 198
| Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Russian citizens have applied for political asylum in the UK during the past five years; and how many have been granted political asylum. | | (154685) | 199
| Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are undergoing firearms training; and what the figure was five years ago. | | (154686) | 200
| Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many serving police officers are qualified in the use of firearms; and what the figure was five years ago. | | (154687) | 201
| Mr Tony Banks (West Ham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many extradition requests have been made by the Russian authorities in the last five years; and how many have been granted. | | (154762) | 202
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines his Department has issued to police forces on the use of (a) criminal pattern analysis and (b) comparative case analysis. | | (154635) | 203
| Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the costs of criminal activity in connection with heroin use in each of the last five years. | | (154829) | 204
N | Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Munby Judgment, when he will provide a separate escort service for young people sentenced to custody. | | (154426) | 205
N | Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has held following the Munby Judgment with (a) the Minister for Children, (b) local authority associations and (c) local authorities about the application of the Children Act 1989 to young people in custody. | | (154427) | 206
| Angela Eagle (Wallasey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to tackle illegal exploitation of migrant workers; and what steps his Department is taking to improve coordination with the Department of Work and Pensions on this issue. | | (154631) | 207
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there have been under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for persecution of hen harriers in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. | | (154728) | 208
N | Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what differences there are in the calibration of speed cameras between police authority areas; and whether all authorities apply a 10 per cent. and 2 mph allowance over the speed limit before a fixed penalty or prosecution is initiated. | | (154474) | 209
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the question reference 145289 on women prisoners tabled by the honourable Member for Portsmouth South on 16th December 2003. | | (154626) | 210
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding per head of population has been received from (a) Government grant and (b) the police precept by each police force in England and Wales in each year since 1997. | | (154678) | 211
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Bolton South East of 16th September, 30th October, 30th December 2003 and 8th January 2004 regarding the case of Mr Shish Jeewa (HO Ref J1018485). | | (154832) | 212
| Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many royal pardons of convicted criminals were agreed by the Home Secretary in each year between 1983 and 2003. | | (154575) | 213
N | Mr Alan Milburn (Darlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions for (a) causing death by dangerous driving, (b) dangerous driving and (c) careless driving there were in each of the last five years. | | (154333) | 214
N | Mr Alan Milburn (Darlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the criteria to ensure a successful conviction for the charge of causing death by dangerous driving. | | (154334) | 215
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimate of the cost of security for the recent visit of President Bush to the UK is; and whether he expects that figure to change. | | (154850) | 216
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent crimes were committed in (a) the London Borough of Havering and (b) Romford in the last 12 months. | | (154851) | 217
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the level of crime in (a) the London Borough of Havering and (b) Romford which is drug related. | | (154852) | 218
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons under the age of 18 were convicted of criminal offences last year in (a) Romford and (b) the London Borough of Havering. | | (154853) | 219
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to reduce levels of youth crime in the London Borough of Havering. | | (154854) | 220
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the effect of the initiative to deactivate stolen phones upon mobile phone theft. | | (154855) | 221
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of how much crime is committed by people under the influence of khat. | | (154856) | 222
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ban khat. | | (154857) | 223
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. | | (154696) | 224
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision is made for women's clothes by the Prison Service. | | (154864) | 225
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerable women discharged from prison have appropriate accommodation. | | (154865) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 226
N | Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the terms were of the contract entered into between the Driver Vehicle and Testing Agency and RoMaha for the PFI to upgrade MOT centres in Northern Ireland under project MOT2; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the project. | | (154475) | 227
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the money from the Soccer Strategy will be made available to the Irish Football Association. | | (154736) | 228
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he last met the Irish Football Association; and when he next plans to do so. | | (154737) | 229
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to help improve Windsor Park. | | (154738) | 230
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to help pay for floodlight improvements at Windsor Park. | | (154739) | 231
| Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will revoke the decision to disband the full-time police reserve in the light of on-going activity of terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland. | | (154836) | 232
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what Government policy is in relation to wayleave compensation payable to landowners affected by measures to facilitate the provision of public services; and what recent changes there have been relating to payments for wayleaves. | | (154579) | 233
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action will be taken against NHS trusts which fail to ensure their posts are compliant with the European Working Time Directive by August 2004. | | (154565) | 234
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients (a) over and (b) under 45 years were admitted to hospital for asthma in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (154566) | 235
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many deaths from asthma there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. | | (154567) | 236
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many asthma sufferers in the Province had their condition reviewed at least once in the last year for which figures are available. | | (154568) | 237
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in improving education opportunities for those aged 16 to 19 years who have moderate learning disabilities. | | (154572) | 238
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will estimate the (a) financial cost of treating depression in Northern Ireland and (b) the cost to the economy in terms of lost working hours in 2003. | | (154573) | 239
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when a patient referred on 9th February by his or her family doctor can expect to have (a) an initial outpatient assessment and (b) routine elective surgery in orthopaedics. | | (154588) | 240
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients have been waiting for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) one to two years, (d) two to three years and (e) more than three years to have an (i) inpatient admission and (ii) initial outpatient assessment in orthopaedic surgery. | | (154589) | 241
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the standard of dental health of the Province's population. | | (154591) | 242
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to increase the number of consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Northern Ireland. | | (154592) | 243
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce a protected elective centre devoted solely to orthopaedic surgery. | | (154596) | 244
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure socially disadvantaged young people are receiving appropriate dental care. | | (154597) | 245
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many consultant orphopaedic surgeons there are in the Province; and for how many weekly NHS sessions each is employed. | | (154598) | 246
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to tackle waiting lists in orthopaedic surgery; and if he will make a statement. | | (154599) | 247
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 8th January, Official Report, column 470W, in what ways the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein are inextricably linked; and on what evidence he judges that they are so linked. | | (154664) | 248
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the latest level of economic growth is in Northern Ireland. | | (154837) | 249
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much inward investment Northern Ireland has attracted since the start of the peace process. | | (154838) | 250
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many pupils attend cross-community schools. | | (154839) | 251
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of how security costs have changed since the Northern Ireland peace process began. | | (154840) | 252
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to offer additional financial support to Northern Irish higher education students to take into account the costs of travelling to universities in Great Britain. | | (154841) | 253
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to increase the number of cross-border bodies. | | (154842) | 254
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the latest survival rate for breast cancer is in Northern Ireland. | | (154843) | 255
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many orange disabled parking badges have been issued in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland. | | (154844) | 256
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many children are registered as having special needs in Northern Ireland. | | (154845) | 257
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action is being taken to regenerate under-populated residential areas. | | (154846) | 258
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the latest rate of population change is in Northern Ireland. | | (154847) | 259
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Catholics have joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland since its creation. | | (154848) | 260
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many successful applicants to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland are awaiting training. | | (154849) | 261
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the ratio of Northern Ireland population to Northern Ireland Assembly members is. | | (154859) | 262
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff in his Department have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved were in each of the cases listed. | | (154544) | Questions to the Prime Minister 263
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to appoint a minister for the disabled. | | (154564) | 264
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Prime Minister, when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. | | (154700) | 265
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Oral Answer to the honourable Member for Croydon South, of 4th February, Official Report, column 772, if he will list the occasions between 1st January 2003 and 1st May 2003 when the 45-minute matter in respect of alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was raised with him. | | (154688) | 266
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, what correspondence he has received from NIREX in respect of the issues raised by the proposed compensation of host communities chosen as locations for radioactive waste management repositories. | | (154692) | 267
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Prime Minister, how many staff in his Office have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved in each of those cases were. | | (154650) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 268
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff in his Department have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved were in each of the cases listed. | | (154543) | Questions to the Solicitor General 269
N | Mr Alan Milburn (Darlington):To ask the Solicitor General, in how many cases in the last five years initial charges of causing death by dangerous driving have been reduced to the charge of careless driving. | | (154332) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 270
N | Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff each Regional Development Agency employs; what the total salary bill of each agency was in the last year for which figures are available; what the average salary per employee was in each case; and what the proportion of staff salary per thousand head of population was in each case. | | (154335) | 271
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) amount and (b) make of (i) handguns, (ii) ammunition, (iii) weapons sights and (iv) gun mountings exported to Jamaica under licences granted during 2001; and if she will make a statement. | | (154540) | 272
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many head-up display units have been supplied to the United States for incorporation into F-16 fighter jets since 2000; how many of these jets were destined for Israel; and if she will make a statement. | | (154541) | 273
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) Scorpion tanks, (b) Saracen Light Vehicles and (c) Hawk jets have been supplied to Indonesia since 1997; and if she will make a statement. | | (154542) | 274
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many of the rifles licensed for export to Nepal in 2001 were delivered; to whom; by whom they were manufactured; and if she will make a statement. | | (154593) | 275
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons 6780 rifles licensed for export to Nepal in 2001 were not mentioned in table 4, Part III of the 2001 and 2002 annual report on Statistics on Exports of Military Equipment; and if she will make a statement. | | (154594) | 276
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) items, (b) quantities and (c) end use conditions attached to military exports to Nepal exported under licences granted during 2001 and listed in the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2001; and if she will make a statement. | | (154595) | 277
N | Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she last met the administrators of T&N Ltd to discuss compensation for former employees suffering from asbestos-related illnesses; and if she will make a statement. | | (153910) | 278
N | Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid for the services of the UK administrators of T&N Ltd since they were appointed; and what the weekly fee paid to (a) them and (b) their solicitor is. | | (153911) | 279
N | Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the latest estimate is of when Federal Mogul are likely to be out of administration; what is being done to protect the interests of the former T&N employees suffering from asbestos-related illnesses in the meantime; and if she will make a statement. | | (153912) | 280
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd February to the honourable Member for Twickenham, Official Report, columns 642-3W, if she will break down the staff in each grade by (a) regional and (b) national locations; and what percentage of the staff in each grade each represents. | | (154649) | 281
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from the National Union of Mineworkers on the suspension of investment aid to UK Coal and Kellingley Colliery; and what her response was. | | (154471) | 282
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 20th January, Official Report, column 1174W, on miners' compensation, for what reason the initial discussions about a direct agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers were not pursued. | | (154476) | 283
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what meetings have been held between her Department's liabilities management unit and the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CORWM); what matters have been discussed with CORWM at such meetings; and what decisions have been taken. | | (154690) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 284
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what way the Highways Agency takes account of the views of neighbouring local authorities when major changes to trunk roads are under consideration. | | (154760) | 285
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons advance warning was not given of the closure of the exit from the A1 at Newark to the A17 and A46. | | (153243) | 286
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons 24-hour working is not taking place on the southbound carriageway of the A1 near Newark. | | (153244) | 287
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons and for how long the junction between the A1, A17 and A46 at Newark will be closed; and for what reasons the exit from the A1 at this point is closed. | | (153245) | 288
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how long he expects the southbound carriageway of the A1 to be closed at Newark. | | (153246) | 289
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. | | (154698) | 290
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost to public funds is of (a) a fatal road crash, (b) a road crash involving a serious injury and (c) a road crash involving a slight injury; and what the costs were in each case in 1994. | | (154703) | 291
| Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 26th January, Official Report, column 33W, on banned airlines, what restrictions have been placed on which aircraft operating in (a) Swiss, (b) Belgian and (c) Dutch airspace; why the restrictions have been imposed; and which airlines operate these aircraft. | | (154570) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 292
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) state basic pension and (b) state second pension entitlement credits are available for carers (i) below the age of 50, (ii) above the age of 50 and (iii) above the age of 60. | | (154557) | 293
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents are benefiting from the New Deal in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley. | | (154744) | 294
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to encourage pension credit take-up in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and what part councils play in encouraging take-up. | | (154745) | 295
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners have claimed pension credit in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley. | | (154746) | 296
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will rank each parliamentary constituency according to the take-up of pension credit. | | (154747) | 297
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which trade unions he has met to discuss the future of occupational pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. | | (154748) | 298
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many home visits have been carried out by staff of the Pension Service in connection with pension credit in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley. | | (154749) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 299
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what access to legal representation is available to persons detained by United Kingdom forces in Iraq under Article 78 of the IV Geneva Convention (1949); what criteria are used to determine whether they continue to pose a threat to security; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (154539) | 300
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military assistance has been provided to (a) Uzbekistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Kazakhstan, (d) Kyrgyzstan, (e) Pakistan, (f) Georgia and (g) Azerbaijan since 2000; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (154545) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 301
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether children's trusts will be given responsibility for implementing Social Care for Deaf-blind Children and Adults Local Authority Circular (2001)8. | | [Transferred] (154640) | 302
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether children's directors will be given specific responsibilities in relation to deaf-blind children. | | [Transferred] (154643) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 303
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his involvement has been in planning Operation Artemis; and what discussions he has had with the police with regard to Operation Artemis. | | [Transferred] (154727) | 304
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the likely cost to the police is of Operation Artemis. | | [Transferred] (154729) | 305
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met the Chief Constable of North Wales to discuss Operation Artemis. | | [Transferred] (154730) | 306
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his policy on Operation Artemis. | | [Transferred] (154731) | Questions to the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 307
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will ensure that amendments to Bills which appear on the Order Paper are available at the same time on the Parliamentary web-site. | | [Transferred] (154571) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 308
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which body is responsible for monitoring the volume and price of Iraqi oil exports; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (154549) | 309
| Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) average spot price paid for and (b) volume sold of Iraqi oil on the international market in each month since June 2003; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (154550) | 310
| Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list outstanding European Union issues due to come to the High Level Group under the International Accountancy Standards Board; what the United Kingdom position on each issue is; and what the membership of the High Level Group is. | | [Transferred] (154558) | 311
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many individuals in the East Riding of Yorkshire were declared bankrupt in each of the past five years. | | [Transferred] (154563) |
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