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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Friday 5 March 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 5 March 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Friday 5 March 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 Friday 5 March of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Friday 5 March see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Strategy Unit expects to publish its alcohol harm reduction strategy. | | (159808) | 2
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) advice and (b) guidance is given to former members of the Cabinet concerning disclosures of (i) Cabinet deliberations and (ii) classified documents. | | (159407) | 3
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will instruct the office to maintain centrally expenditure figures for all Government department websites. | | (159521) | 4
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, by what means the office judges the cost-effectiveness of Government websites as an information tool. | | (159522) | 5
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost has been of special advisers accompanying Ministers on visits (a) abroad and (b) within the United Kingdom in the last 12 months.
| | (159569) | 6
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost has been of provision of Government cars to special advisers in the last 12 months.
| | (159570) | 7
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost has been of provision of Government office facilities to special advisers (a) in the last 12 months and (b) since 1997-98.
| | (159571) | 8
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers are employed (a) within his Department and (b) across Government as a whole; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159572) | 9
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost was of (a) the establishment and (b) the maintenance since its establishment of the Better Regulation Taskforce.
| | (159573) | 10
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government-owned properties are used by special advisers for official business purposes; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159574) | 11
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the progress made by the Better Regulation Taskforce; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159575) | 12
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the expenditure of the Government Information and Communication Service's operations within the Cabinet Office was (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) in 1996-97; and if he will make a statement. | | (159576) | 13
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent representations he has received regarding the need for legislation to protect the independence of the civil service. | | (159577) | 14
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on the Government's commitment to bring forward legislation to protect the impartiality of the Civil Service in this parliamentary session. | | (159578) | 15
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the annual change in the number of Civil Service employees was in each year since 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. | | (159579) | 16
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent representations he has received on the Better Regulation Taskforce; and if he will make a statement. | | (159580) | 17
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent representations he has received on establishing a Civil Service commission in statute. | | (159581) | 18
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what powers special advisers within his Department have (a) to give direct orders to civil servants and (b) to exercise other executive powers; and if he will make a statement. | | (159585) | 19
| Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his written Statement on 9th February, Official Report, column 61WS, on the Regulation Task Force Report, Independent Regulators, who is leading this review; what its remit is; what resources are at its disposal; when it is likely to report; whether the report will be made public; and if he will make a statement. | | (159481) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 20
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the death rates for end stage renal failure in (a) England and (b) other European countries; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159783) | 21
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to alter the rate of insurance premium tax.
| | (159270) | 22
| Jim Dowd (Lewisham West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his estimate is of the current level of debt outstanding on (a) credit cards and (b) home loans and mortgages in the UK; and what the comparable figures were in each of the past five years. | | (159725) | 23
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the additional cost would be of raising the first threshold for those entitled to child tax credit only for the year 2004-05 from £13,480 to £13,600. | | (159759) | 24
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the additional cost would be of raising the second income threshold for tax credits from £50,000 to £51,380. | | (159760) | 25
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the additional cost would be of raising the first income threshold for tax credits from £5,060 to £5,200. | | (159761) | 26
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost would be of raising the family element of the child tax credit from £545 to £565 for 2004-05. | | (159762) | 27
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost would be of raising the family element of the child tax credit to £1,130 for 2004-05. | | (159763) | 28
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much a family with a joint income before tax in 2004-05 of £52,000 will receive in child tax credit; and how much they would receive in child tax credit if the second income threshold was £51,380. | | (159764) | 29
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much a family with a joint income before tax of £14,000 in 2004 will receive in child tax credit; and how much they would receive if the first threshold for those entitled to child tax credit only was increased to £13,600. | | (159765) | 30
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much a family with a joint income before tax of £5,200 in 2004-05 will receive in tax credits; and how much they would receive if the first income threshold was £5,200. | | (159766) | 31
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families have incomes before tax of between £5,060 and £5,200. | | (159767) | 32
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families have joint incomes before tax of between £50,000 and £51,380. | | (159768) | 33
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families have joint incomes before tax of between £13,480 and £13,600. | | (159769) | 34
N | Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to publicise information on childcare vouchers to small and medium sized enterprises.
| | (159268) | 35
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159622) | 36
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence his Department has sent to families relating to the transfer of the child elements of jobseeker's allowance and income support to child tax credit payments; and if he will place copies in the Library. | | (159703) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 37
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will list the buildings occupied by his departmental and agency staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159651) | 38
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) staff of the Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. | | (159657) | 39
| Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with representatives of the Greater London Magistrates Court Association about court provision across London in advance of the formation of the unified courts authority in 2004; and if he will make a statement. | | (159466) | 40
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (159516) | 41
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many magistrates have received specialist drugs training. | | (159472) | 42
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make it the policy of the Department to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159609) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 43
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total annual cost of her Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (159517) | 44
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding was given to village halls by the National Lottery in each year since its inception. | | (159676) | 45
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159612) | 46
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many TV licences were (a) issued and (b) paid for in each of the last six years; and what the unit cost of the collection process was in each of those years.
| | (159690) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 47
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many formal applications for wind power projects were opposed by his Department in each of the last five years.
| | (159734) | 48
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many objections were made by
his Department against pre-applications to build onshore windfarms in each of the last five years; and how many pre-applications for onshore windfarms were made in each of these years.
| | (159735) | 49
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when DU information cards Ref F Med 1018 were first issued to troops in Iraq; on what advice it was deemed necessary to issue such warnings, and from whom; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159691) | 50
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available.
| | (159513) | 51
| Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department had meetings in the last nine months with BAe personnel to discuss the order for the Second Tranche of Eurofighter Typhoons; when the meetings took place; who attended; and what representations he has received from the other partners in this project on the ordering of Tranche II. | | (159497) | 52
| Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what studies he has conducted on the impact on BAe (a) workflows and (b) employment prospects of the delay in agreeing the Tranche II order for Eurofighter Typhoons. | | (159498) | 53
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) majors and (b) brigadiers are between postings; how long each has been on leave; and if he will make a statement. | | (156073) | 54
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many senior officers are between postings in the (a) RAF and (b) Royal Navy, broken down by (i) rank and (ii) length of time on leave; and if he will make a statement. | | (156074) | 55
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel (a) joined and (b) left the Territorial Army in each month during (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003, and what the reason for departure was in each case. | | (157149) | 56
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 5th January, Official Report, columns 29W-30W, on Iraq if he will (a) give the date and (b) describe each of the events for which compensation was paid to Iraqi civilians for injuries caused by UK forces; and if he will make a statement. | | (157150) | 57
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the conclusions of each of the boards of inquiry from operations in Iraq which were outstanding on 31st October 2003 but which have since reported. | | (157151) | 58
| Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Inverness West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements are in place for providing compensation to the (a) residents and (b) businesses of Skye and Wester Ross in the event of a nuclear incident involving a nuclear submarine using the Z Berths at Aultbea and Broadford; and if he will make a statement. | | (159625) | 59
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) dental personnel and (b) dentists are employed within Her Majesty's Armed Forces, broken down by (a) grade, (b) whole-time equivalents and (c) headcount numbers for each year since 1990. | | (159673) | 60
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on 1 Battalion, the Irish Guards's exercise in Kenya planned for autumn 2004.
| | (159265) | 61
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the operational effectiveness of Challenger 2 Main battle tanks when crews are wearing individual protective equipment against nuclear, biological and chemical attack.
| | (159266) | 62
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159615) | 63
N | Mr Gerry Steinberg (Durham, City of):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the evidence of the Permanent Secretary to the Committee of Public Accounts on 21st January, which foreign contractor, after winning a defence contract, refused to supply the goods; for what reasons; and whether others have done so in the last two years. | | (159085) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 64
N | Mr Keith Bradley (Manchester, Withington):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what areas of policy will be (a) devolved from central Government to regional government and (b) transferred from local authorities to regional government. | | (158906) | 65
N | Mr Keith Bradley (Manchester, Withington):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will publish the details of the policy areas that will be transferred to regional government. | | (158907) | 66
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the legal liability is of the shareholders of arm's-length management organisations if their ALMO goes bankrupt. | | (159460) | 67
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159621) | 68
| Mr Gerry Steinberg (Durham, City of):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 820W, on council tax, what total additional revenue support grant has been allocated to Durham as a result of the council tax base reduction because of the number of student exemptions. | | (159464) | 69
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what progress has been made on the reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. | | (159465) | 70
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much public funding was spent on (a) regeneration and regional development, (b) housing and (c) planning in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey between (i) 1992 and 1997, (ii) 1997 and 2001 and (iii) 2001 and 2004. | | (159488) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 71
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to examine the contribution of residential colleges for adult education to the Government's lifelong learning policies; and if he will make a statement. | | (159525) | 72
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Adult Residential Colleges Association concerning the contribution by residential education to the Government's Skills Strategy. | | (159526) | 73
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the buildings occupied by his departmental and agency staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159650) | 74
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the (a) schools and (b) other education facilities which have been identified as containing asbestos; what proportion of (i) schools and (ii) other education facilities have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos; which (A) schools and (B) other education facilities require (1) remedial work and (2) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for 2004 and 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159656) | 75
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) staff of his Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. | | (159662) | 76
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research Government departments have conducted within the past five years into the effects of domestic violence on children; and what the main conclusions were. | | (159802) | 77
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are (a) in place and (b) planned to increase the consistency among geographical areas of standards of domestic violence services aimed at children. | | (159803) | 78
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that school pupils are taught the importance of a responsible approach to the disposal of litter and waste. | | (159727) | 79
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the (a) Sector Skills Development Agency and (b) the University for Industry is registered to (i) the ISO 9000:2000 standard requirement and (ii) Investors In People standards. | | (159748) | 80
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what programmes in the Wycombe constituency receive money from the Buckinghamshire Children's Funds. | | (159260) | 81
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available.
| | (159515) | 82
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the benefits to young people of the Connexions card scheme. | | (159495) | 83
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will meet the Prince's Trust to discuss the findings of its report, Reaching the Hardest to Reach. | | (159496) | 84
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of (a) leadership incentive, (b) national literacy and numeracy strategy, (c) Key Stage 3 Strategy, (d) ethnic minority achievements, (e) school support staff and (f) information communication technology in schools: infrastructure grants are allocated directly to schools; and on what basis. | | (159184) | 85
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of Standards Funds grants are paid directly to schools. | | (159185) | 86
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the administrative cost of the Standards Funds grants is for 2003-04. | | (159186) | 87
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 519W, on funds/grants, if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Condition Funding grant. | | (159187) | 88
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if the Secretary of State will bring forward legislation to provide for a presumption at court that both parents have the right to spend time with their children following divorce; and if he will make a statement. | | (158911) | 89
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) private and (b) public sector children's homes there are in each local authority area. | | (159415) | 90
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many privately run children's homes are registered. | | (159416) | 91
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159611) | 92
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much public money was spent on education in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey between (a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 and 2004. | | (159487) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 93
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by when she expects the seasonal weather to be appropriate to allow the return of the four ghost ships from Hartlepool to the United States. | | (158914) | 94
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the implications for farmers of delays in the start-up of the fallen stock collection service; and what arrangement she has put in place to exempt farmers from possible prosecution under the EU Directive on prevention of burying deadstock. | | (159404) | 95
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people signed up to the fallen stock collection scheme, broken down by region. | | (159405) | 96
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she commissioned into (a) product liability insurance and (b) co-existence, with regard to the possible introduction of GM crops. | | (159406) | 97
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ban electric shopping scooters from rights of way; and if she will make a statement. | | (159258) | 98
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consultations with groups representing people with disabilities she had before issuing her consultation document, Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way. | | (159259) | 99
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent responses from groups representing people with disabilities she has had on her consultation document, Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way. | | (159261) | 100
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total annual cost of her Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available.
| | (159514) | 101
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Her Majesty's Royal Engineers on the maintenance of unsurfaced roads when drafting the consultation paper Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way; and what plans she has to do so during the consultation. | | (159714) | 102
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what basis her Department decided to reduce the time for the classification of highways to one year. | | (159715) | 103
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Highways Agency has spent on the maintenance of unsurfaced byways (a) in 2003-04 and (b) over the last decade. | | (159716) | 104
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by how much recreational traffic on unsurfaced roads has changed in the last decade. | | (159717) | 105
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) evidence her Department has collated and (b) investigations it has carried out, on (i) the level of motorcycle use of unsealed roads and (ii) the extent of the damage this has caused. | | (159718) | 106
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department examined the Hierarchy of Trail Routes in the Lake District National Park and how the scheme could apply to the maintenance of unsurfaced roads when drafting the consultation paper Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way. | | (159719) | 107
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what work she has commissioned into (a) the value to communities of village and community halls and (b) the repair and renovation needs of village and community halls. | | (159675) | 108
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the land ownership issues at Brogdale as they affect the National Fruit Collection. | | (159262) | 109
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the future of the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale. | | (159263) | 110
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the criteria her Department used to assess a suitable manager for the National Fruit Collection. | | (159264) | 111
N | Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the departmental guidelines on the five-year review of water prices. | | (159189) | 112
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159619) | 113
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many boats qualify for compensation as a result of the loss of fishing owing to the development of the Shell Haven Port facility. | | (159671) | 114
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what compensation is available in respect of the loss of the Hole Haven fishery in the Thames Estuary as a result of the development of Shell Haven Port. | | (159672) | 115
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the (a) operations and (b) efficiency of claimants' associations in respect of loss of fisheries in the fishing industry. | | (159678) | 116
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the impact of the Thames Estuary P & O Shell Haven Port development application on (a) the local fishing industry and (b) the viability of the fisheries and spawning grounds. | | (159680) | 117
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice and assistance on (a) financial and (b) legal issues is available to fishermen who wish to explore compensation opportunities for loss of fisheries. | | (159681) | 118
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research she has collated on the use of electronic tags in cattle; and what progress she has made towards implementing such a system. | | (159484) | 119
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the legal advice her Department uses to determine eligibility for payment under the over-30-months scheme when cattle are presented for slaughter without an official tag but with other supporting documents; and how many claims previously regarded as ineligible for want of tags have been accepted since this advice. | | (159486) | 120
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the expenditure of her Department and its predecessors was for the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey between (a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 and 2004. | | (159491) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 121
N | Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on (a) the arrest by Russian authorities of two Qatari sportsmen and (b) the arrest of two Russians in Qatar following the assassination of Zelimkhan Yanderbiyev. | | (158587) | 122
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the Palestinian Authority's policy towards security and terrorism. | | (159669) | 123
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made regarding the Al-Aqsa Brigade and Fatah and responsibility for terrorist attacks. | | (159945) | 124
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information has been provided by Her Majesty's Government to the Secretary-General of the United Nations pursuant to paragraph 2 of the General Assembly resolution 58/48; and if he will make a statement. | | (159418) | 125
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has to develop closer (a) economic and (b) trading ties with the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement. | | (159544) | 126
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of the Ukraine concerning its future membership of the European Union; and what (a) advice he plans to give and (b) co-operation he plans to undertake with the Ukraine in this matter. | | (159545) | 127
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of the Ukraine concerning its future membership of NATO; and what his policy is on such membership. | | (159546) | 128
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to visit the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement. | | (159547) | 129
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many visa applications to British consulates in (a) Slovakia, (b) Turkey and (c) Croatia were (i) received and (ii) processed in each year since 1990. | | (159742) | 130
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens are serving custodial sentences in foreign gaols, broken down by country. | | (159290) | 131
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (159518) | 132
N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take harsher measures against the Zimbabwe Government. | | (159086) | 133
N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the future of Gibraltar. | | (159087) | 134
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the EU Commissioner for external relations regarding the Colombian Government's democratic security policies and Colombia's compliance with UN human rights recommendations; and if he will make a statement on areas of disagreement between the UK Government and the Commissioner. | | (159606) | 135
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement in relation to UK military aid to Colombia. | | (159607) | 136
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government will take in response to non-compliance of the Colombian Government with UN human rights recommendations. | | (159646) | 137
N | Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Manchester Central of (a) 27th October 2003 regarding Mr IHT, reference GV100/81730, (b) 12th December 2003 regarding Ms AY, (c) 13th December 2003 regarding Mrs EA, (d) 7th November 2003 regarding Mr MOS, reference Yemen 4781/03 and (e) 4th December 2003 regarding Mr SM, reference GV100/83947. | | (158568) | 138
N | Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action his Department is taking to help bring about a long-term solution to the territorial border disputes between Belize and Guatemala.
| | (159269) | 139
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159620) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 140
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many appointees to the boards of (a) strategic health authorities and (b) primary care trusts have declared political activity for (i) the Labour Party, (ii) the Conservative Party, (iii) the Liberal Democrats and (iv) other political parties; and in each case what percentage this represents of the total number of appointments made. | | (159626) | 141
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many appointees to the boards of NHS trusts in each of the last five years have declared political activity for (a) the Labour Party, (b) the Conservative Party, (c) the Liberal Democrats and (d) other political parties; and in each case what percentage this represents of the total number of appointments made. | | (159627) | 142
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many councillors have been appointed as (a) chairman and (b) non-executive directors of NHS trusts in each of the last five years; and how many declared a political affiliation to (a) the Labour Party, (b) the Conservative Party, (c) the Liberal Democrats and (d) other political parties. | | (159628) | 143
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many councillors have been appointed as (a) chairman and (b) non-executive directors of (i) strategic health authorities and (ii) primary care trusts; and how many declared a political affiliation to (a) the Labour Party, (b) the Conservative Party, (c) the Liberal Democrats and (d) other political parties. | | (159629) | 144
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many board members of NHS trusts have been re-appointed to their posts in each of the last five years for which records are available; of those re-appointed, how many have declared political activity for (a) the Labour Party, (b) the Conservative Party, (c) the Liberal Democrat Party and (d) other political parties; and what percentage each category constitutes of the total number of re-appointments. | | (159630) | 145
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many members of primary care trusts have been re-appointed to their posts; how many of those who have been re-appointed have declared political activity for (a) the Labour Party, (b) the Conservative Party, (c) the Liberal Democrat Party and (d) other political parties; and what percentage each category constitutes of the total number of re-appointments. | | (159631) | 146
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was paid in fees to (a) members of primary care trusts, (b) members of strategic health authorities and (c) board members of NHS trusts who have declared political activity for (i) the Labour Party, (ii) the Conservative Party, (iii) the Liberal Democrat Party and (iv) other political parties in each of the last five years for which records are available. | | (159632) | 147
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the buildings occupied by his departmental and agency staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159653) | 148
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) hospitals and (b) other NHS properties which have been identified as containing asbestos; what proportion of (i) hospitals and (ii) other NHS properties have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos; which (A) hospitals and (B) other NHS properties require (1) remedial work on (2) removal of asbestos; what that work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for 2004 and 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159655) | 149
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) departmental staff and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. | | (159661) | 150
N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many salt reduction plans his Department (a) expected to receive and (b) received by 27th February; how he intends to follow up those who failed to submit a plan; and what plans he has to publish an assessment of the plans he has received. | | (158283) | 151
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13th January, Official Report, column 720W, on respiratory disease, how the estimated cost of treating respiratory disease as a percentage of expenditure was calculated; and what the latest corresponding cash equivalent figures are. | | (159480) | 152
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the extra costs associated with implementing in full the national screening programme for chlamydia immediately. | | (159729) | 153
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reasons underlie the decision not to implement throughout England a chlamydia screening programme until 2008.
| | (159732) | 154
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of chlamydia infections that will go unidentified before the national screening programme is fully implemented in 2008.
| | (159733) | 155
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on a negative impact of the four-hour target for total time in accident and emergency on the care of patients with mental health difficulties who present to accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159736) | 156
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the last average inpatient waiting time for (a) England, (b) each region and (c) strategic health authority for each year since 1996.
| | (159737) | 157
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 537W, on Agenda for Change, to what extent there will be flexibility for individual employers to pay recruitment and retention premiums.
| | (159738) | 158
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 20th January, Official Report, column 1111W, on personal care charges, if he will estimate the change in the cost of free personal care following the announced change in his Department's policy on the assessment of patients for fully funded continuing care costs.
| | (159739) | 159
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets his Department has set for recruitment of social workers. | | (159741) | 160
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to increase the number of surgical procedures to treat obesity on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. | | (159770) | 161
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many surgical procedures to treat obesity were carried out on the NHS in each year since 1996. | | (159771) | 162
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of (a) infertility treatment and (b) other treatment relating to chlamydia infections over the next 50 years. | | (159772) | 163
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate (a) the total cost to date of NHS Professionals and (b) the total savings the agency has made in the cost of agency spending; and if he will make a statement. | | (159773) | 164
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the evidence received by his Department on the impact of the advertising of food to children. | | (159774) | 165
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the target to reduce the number of drug-related deaths in England since 1999. | | (159775) | 166
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS trusts have not signed the controls assurance standards on infection control to indicate that they have done their reasonable best to comply with the standards. | | (159776) | 167
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what monitoring his Department undertakes of NHS trusts' compliance with the controls assurance standards on infection control; and if he will make a statement. | | (159777) | 168
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the key indicators are against which strategic health authorities will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the consequences for these organisations of failing to meet these key indicators. | | (159778) | 169
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to extend the provision of intermediate care services; and if he will make a statement. | | (159779) | 170
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) average and (b) maximum waiting time for vascular access surgery for dialysis patients for (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1996.
| | (159780) | 171
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance to general practitioners on implementing the advanced access system; and if he will make a statement.
| | (159781) | 172
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reimbursement is made available to GP practices meeting the (a) 48 and (b) 24 hour access targets.
| | (159782) | 173
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral Answer of the Minister of State on 24th February, Official Report, column 133, on dentistry, when the honourable Member for Doncaster Central will write to the honourable Member for Sutton and Cheam. | | (159809) | 174
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 26th February, Official Report, columns 555-6W, on Saxon Square Health Centre (Christchurch), for what reasons it is not in the best interests of the NHS for further negotiations to be held immediately with the head leaseholder; with which NHS trust negotiations are taking place for a transfer of the leasehold; when discussions began; and when he expects them to conclude. | | (159285) | 175
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will introduce a monitoring system to assess whether (a) intensive care and (b) accident and emergency staff routinely (i) check the Organ Donor Register whenever a new patient is admitted and (ii) approach patients and relatives about organ donation. | | (159599) | 176
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many organs he estimates were missed, in intensive care units and accident and emergency wards, which could have been used for transplantation in the last three years. | | (159600) | 177
| Mrs Janet Dean (Burton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to introduce training so that intensive care and accident and emergency staff (a) routinely check the Organ Donor Register whenever a new patient is admitted and (b) approach patients and relatives about organ donations. | | (159601) | 178
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations he has received from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on making humira available on prescription in the NHS in England for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement. | | (159479) | 179
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are being taken by the National Care Standards Commission following the inspection of the Whitehaven Care Home For Adults in Felpham, Bognor Regis on the 11th and 12th of November 2003. | | (159728) | 180
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the national Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. | | (159283) | 181
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (159519) | 182
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time a patient was on the waiting list for treatment for (a) cancer and (b) heart disease in each London strategic health authority in each year since 1992.
| | (159271) | 183
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) cancer and (b) heart disease patients resident in each London strategic health authority were on a waiting list for treatment in each year since 1992.
| | (159272) | 184
| Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the availability of nebulisers for NHS patients on prescription. | | (159722) | 185
N | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether public dividend capital on the balance sheets of NHS hospital trusts is classified as debt. | | (159302) | 186
N | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on consultancy fees in relation to the Paddington Basin private finance initiative project for St Mary's Paddington, the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. | | (159303) | 187
| Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on human health of man-made chemicals found in household goods, with particular reference to (a) perfluorinated compounds, (b) phthalates, (c) phenolic compounds and (d) brominated flame retardants; and what measures the Government plans to protect human health against the dangers posed by such chemicals. | | (159467) | 188
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to extend free (a) prescriptions and (b) dental care to students undertaking an apprenticeship. | | (159461) | 189
| Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dental practices provide NHS treatment in (a) Northumberland and (b) Wansbeck constituency; and where they are. | | (159583) | 190
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the incidence of MRSA infections was in (a) NHS hospitals, (b) non-NHS hospitals and (c) nursing and residential homes was in each year for which records are available. | | (159674) | 191
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 24th February, Official Report, column 134, on dentists, what information the honourable Member for Doncaster Central used to obtain the dentist training numbers for this year and for 1997. | | (159700) | 192
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159617) | 193
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to minimise adverse effects of second hand smoking on the respiratory health of children. | | (159473) | 194
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information is available to new parents about the implications of second hand smoke for the respiratory health of children. | | (159474) | 195
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of second hand smoke on the respiratory health of babies and young children; and if he will make a statement. | | (159475) | 196
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children under the age of five are being treated for respiratory conditions; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of these children who live in households with at least one smoker. | | (159476) | 197
| Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he is taking to inform parents of the implications of secondhand smoking for the respiratory health of babies and young children. | | (159477) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 198
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether operations by law enforcement agencies involving the bouncing of radio beams off window panes to secure the content of conversations taking place within the room require prior approval through a warrant under the Interception of Communications Act 1985; what controls there are on the use of such technology; whether he requires to be notified in advance of each use of such equipment; and if he will make a statement. | | (158912) | 199
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether access by law-enforcement agencies to conversations in a private place gained through the use of a person's mobile telephone as a transmitter constitutes an interception of communications requiring express authorisation by warrant. | | (158913) | 200
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the application of Mr Jim Stephens, Ref 51178115, to remain in the United Kingdom to be determined. | | (159414) | 201
| Mr John Battle (Leeds West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the latest figure is of the cost per week of detaining a person in custody in a young offenders institution. | | (159510) | 202
| Mr John Battle (Leeds West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the most recent figures are for the proportion of 16 to 18 year olds who have (a) been in custody and (b) served a period of community service who subsequently (i) re-offend and (ii) are reconvicted.
| | (159511) | 203
| Mr John Battle (Leeds West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the most recent estimate is of the cost to public funds of a week of community service served by a young offender.
| | (159512) | 204
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the application for naturalisation dated 19th November 2003 by Mrs Toms of Christchurch, reference T1072596, will be processed. | | (159408) | 205
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the resources available to (a) the Surveillance Commissioner, (b) the Information Commissioner and (c) other commissioners involved in supervising the powers and operations of the home security service; and if he will make a statement. | | (159419) | 206
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are proposed to ensure that people arriving in the UK are aware of the offence of deliberately losing or destroying travel documents. | | (159527) | 207
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to ensure that passengers with inadequate documents are intercepted on their arrival in the UK. | | (159528) | 208
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the results of the six-month trial into the requirement of carriers to copy passenger travel documents will be available. | | (159529) | 209
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the evaluation of the Netherlands' powers to require carriers to copy travel documents; and how this has influenced the Department's proposals. | | (159530) | 210
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers he will bring forward to remove a country from the list of safe third countries. | | (159531) | 211
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is taken to remove an asylum seeker once their application has been rejected. | | (159532) | 212
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve the removal system for failed asylum seekers. | | (159533) | 213
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of how many children will go into care each year under the provisions of Clause 7 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Bill. | | (159534) | 214
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued by (a) Merseyside Police and (b) local authorities in Merseyside in each of the last five years. | | (159596) | 215
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions Merseyside Police have issued penalty notices for disorder to 16 to 17 year olds. | | (159597) | 216
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions local authorities in Merseyside have issued a litter abatement order to landowners in each of the last five years. | | (159598) | 217
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to deter employers from employing illegal migrants. | | (159605) | 218
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many quashed convictions arose from the work of (a) the Criminal Cases Review Commission between 1997 and 2003 and (b) the comparable Home Office unit in the period between 1991 and 1997; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for differences between the two figures. | | (159663) | 219
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) effectiveness of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. | | (159664) | 220
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methods are used by the Parole Board to assess whether an offender held in custody presents a risk which is manageable in the community, as defined under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. | | (159665) | 221
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the role of the Criminal Cases Review Commission in seeking views on (a) controversial expert evidence and (b) investigative methods. | | (159704) | 222
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedure is used by the Criminal Cases Review Commission if it suspects that (a) a body of evidence and (b) an investigative method is flawed. | | (159705) | 223
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received representations from people concerned about (a) a body of expert evidence and (b) particular investigative methods and subsequently investigated these concerns. | | (159706) | 224
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his consultation with the Criminal Cases Review Commission regarding extension of its powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. | | (159707) | 225
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department will provide the Criminal Cases Review Commission with additional resources in order for it to (a) review and (b) research non-referred cases. | | (159708) | 226
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the research conducted by the Law Commission into the deficiencies in the English law of homicide. | | (159709) | 227
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research has been conducted into the motives of solicitors who submit large numbers of applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. | | (159710) | 228
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the findings of the Criminal Cases Review Commission's Working Group on Sexual Abuse were. | | (159711) | 229
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) findings of the Historical Abuse Appeal Panel, established by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. | | (159712) | 230
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what process is used for recruiting members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. | | (159713) | 231
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances local authorities check a person's identity; what difficulties in making such checks have been reported to him by local authorities; and how he expects the introduction of a national identity card to remedy these problems. | | (159753) | 232
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation he (a) has held and (b) plans to hold with local authorities regarding the national identity card scheme. | | (159754) | 233
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers police officers have to establish a person's identity. | | (159755) | 234
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on how identity cards will assist the police in stop and searches if carrying a card is to be voluntary. | | (159756) | 235
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long it will take to register an individual for a national identity card. | | (159757) | 236
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the ease with which encryption methods for identity cards can be upgraded. | | (159758) | 237
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend drug treatment and testing orders. | | (159804) | 238
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what areas intensive supervision and monitoring schemes will be implemented. | | (159805) | 239
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the effects of courts' (a) secure remand and (b) tagging powers. | | (159806) | 240
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the (a) work and (b) effectiveness of the Sentencing Guidelines Council will be assessed. | | (159807) | 241
| Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to which authority a person can report an individual whose visa conditions to remain in the United Kingdom have expired. | | (159816) | 242
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders placed on the home detention curfew scheme between January 1999 and 31st January 2004 (a) have been (i) cautioned and (ii) convicted and (b) are awaiting prosecution, broken down by (A) sex and (B) police authority.
| | (159277) | 243
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners are housed in modular temporary units, broken down by prison.
| | (159278) | 244
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many sites are being assessed as potential new sites for prisons.
| | (159279) | 245
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners absconded from category D prisons in each year since 1997.
| | (159280) | 246
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for the public protection function of the Probation Service to be the subject of contestability under the National Offender Management Service structures. | | (159811) | 247
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the private sector will be allowed to bid for work with sex offenders under the National Offender Management Service structure. | | (159812) | 248
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the police (a) have been and (b) will be consulted about supervision arrangements under the proposed National Offender Management Service structure. | | (159813) | 249
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there has been an evaluation of the effectiveness of the reorganisation of the Probation Service in April 2001. | | (159814) | 250
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there has been an assessment of whether the probation areas will be able to deal with the reorganisation needed to establish the National Offender Management Service. | | (159815) | 251
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend to the rest of England the provisions of the Kent County Council Act 2001; and if he will make a statement. | | (159720) | 252
| Patrick Hall (Bedford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the reports of the inquiries by Steven Shaw into (a) allegations of racism amongst Group 4/Global Solutions staff at the Yarl's Wood detention centre and (b) the lessons learned from the Yarl's Wood fire. | | (159608) | 253
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (159520) | 254
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce a time threshold after which a dog reported as being missing will be classified by police as stolen. | | (159493) | 255
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to introduce passports for dogs travelling out of Britain to counter the problem of stolen dogs. | | (159494) | 256
| Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much compensation was paid by police authorities in England and Wales to claimants in respect of assaults by serving police officers in each year from 1990 to 2003. | | (159721) | 257
| Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful claimants against police authorities in England and Wales in respect of assault by serving police officers were themselves originally charged with assault or a public order offence in each year from 1990 to 2003. | | (159723) | 258
| Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful claims against police authorities in England and Wales in respect of assault by serving officers were concluded in each year from 1990 to 2003. | | (159724) | 259
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of anti-social behaviour orders as a means of fighting prostitution. | | (159458) | 260
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those applying for anti-social behaviour orders in the past year have been registered social landlords. | | (159459) | 261
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued to those under the age of 18 in the past year. | | (159462) | 262
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of fixed penalty notices as a method of dealing with disorder offences; and what plans he has to extend them to apply to those aged 16 and 17. | | (159463) | 263
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) resident groups and (b) community watch schemes in preventing crime. | | (159667) | 264
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been prosecuted for breach of an anti-social behaviour order in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (159679) | 265
| Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of whether a hard drive amnesty should be introduced for people who have child pornography downloaded on their systems, in return for a caution and agreement that they undertake a course of treatment. | | (159482) | 266
| Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he has issued to the (a) police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service on the investigation of individuals suspected of (i) making and (ii) possessing illegal images of children. | | (159483) | 267
| Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of individuals suspected of (a) making and (b) possessing internet child pornography due to investigations carried out under Operation Ore have been (i) cautioned, (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted. | | (159485) | 268
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159623) | 269
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the expenditure of his Department in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey was between (a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 and 2004. | | (159492) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 270
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much financial support the UK has given to the Palestine Liberation Organisation negotiation support unit since 1998; what conditions were attached to such funding; what arrangements have been put in place to monitor such funding; whether the results of such monitoring have been published; and whether any of the funding has been used for the presentation of the Palestinian case relating to Israel's Security Force at the International Court of Justice at the Hague. | | (159670) | 271
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what provisions have been made for aid to the Palestinian Territories. | | (159810) | 272
| Joyce Quin (Gateshead East & Washington West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid was given by the Government to Jamaica in each year since 1992, expressed in real terms. | | (159751) | 273
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159610) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 274
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding has been allocated to victim support groups in Northern Ireland since 2001-02; which groups are involved; how much each group received; on what basis the funding was given; and how funding is monitored.
| | (159693) | 275
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the buildings occupied by his departmental and agency staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159652) | 276
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) staff of the Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. | | (159660) | 277
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what quantities of counterfeit goods were seized by the police in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. | | (159548) | 278
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the links between counterfeit crime and paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. | | (159549) | 279
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much he estimates was lost to (a) industry and (b) retailers in Northern Ireland as a result of counterfeit crime in each of the last five years. | | (159550) | 280
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what resources are available to (a) the police in Northern Ireland and (b) other agencies to tackle the problem of counterfeit crime in Northern Ireland. | | (159551) | 281
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the burglary detection rate was in each district policing partnership area in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001. | | (159552) | 282
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what quantities of hard drugs were seized by (a) the police, (b) Customs and Excise and (c) other agencies in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. | | (159553) | 283
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many requests for extradition of terrorist suspects from the Irish Republic have been (a) made and (b) granted in each year since 1997. | | (159556) | 284
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures he plans to tackle discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of (a) transport and (b) access to public buildings. | | (159557) | 285
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the pay dispute in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. | | (159558) | 286
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what annual pay rises have been awarded to (a) the Northern Ireland Civil Service and (b) senior civil servants in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. | | (159559) | 287
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria he uses to measure demand for the Ulster Scots language to be a subject option on the education curriculum; whether the system used to measure demand is (a) scientifically based and (b) quality assured; what margin of error there is in the measurements of demand; what steps he has taken to seek the views of the public on such demand; and if he will publish the results of (i) surveys and (ii) measurements of demand for the Ulster Scots language in Northern Ireland.
| | (159560) | 288
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many attitudinal surveys he has received from bodies other than the Department of Education to measure the demand for the Ulster Scots language and culture in Northern Ireland; and from whom.
| | (159561) | 289
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what he considers to be an appropriate level of demand to merit the inclusion of the Ulster Scots language in the curriculum.
| | (159562) | 290
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what equality impact assessment he has carried out on his policy on the inclusion of the (a) Irish and (b) Ulster Scots languages in the school curriculum.
| | (159563) | 291
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have participated in the Preparation for Employment programme element of New Deal 25 Plus in Northern Ireland in each year since its inception.
| | (159564) | 292
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost per participant is of the Preparation for Employment programme element of New Deal 25 Plus.
| | (159565) | 293
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what sanctions are applied to those who refuse to participate in the Preparation for Employment programme element of New Deal 25 Plus.
| | (159566) | 294
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to extend participation in the Preparation for Employment programme element of New Deal 25 Plus to those aged over 49 years.
| | (159567) | 295
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many suspicious deaths of infants there were in the Newtownabbey police area in each year since 2000, broken down by the stage the investigation has reached.
| | (159568) | 296
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what benefits to which pensioners are entitled in Northern Ireland are means-tested; what steps he is taking to reduce the number of means-tested benefits in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (159668) | 297
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much IDB/InvestNI land has been sold in each of the last 15 years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) council area; and what amount of this land remains (i) zoned and (ii) used for industrial purposes. | | (159589) | 298
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether non-teaching staff in the voluntary grammar and integrated education sector will be included in the job evaluation scheme being funded and carried out by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. | | (159590) | 299
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many IDB/InvestNI-owned sites have been sold in each of the last 15 years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) council area; and how many of these sites remain (i) zoned and (ii) used for industrial purposes. | | (159592) | 300
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159616) | 301
| Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions since April 2002 Invest Northern Ireland has taken equity in companies in Northern Ireland; and what the value is of equity taken by Invest Northern Ireland in companies in Northern Ireland since April 2002. | | (159743) | 302
| Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many jobs have been (a) lost and (b) created in the manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland during the last five years. | | (159744) | 303
| Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average financial assistance offered by Invest Northern Ireland to (a) inward investors and (b) indigenous investors was per job created in each of the last five years. | | (159745) | 304
| Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average financial assistance offered by Invest Northern Ireland was per job retained in each of the last five years. | | (159746) | Questions to the Prime Minister 305
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will release to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration the full advice of the Attorney General on the legality of the war with Iraq; and if he will make a statement. | | (159588) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 306
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the buildings occupied by his staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what that work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159649) | 307
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of buildings occupied by his staff have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. | | (159658) | 308
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make it his policy to reply in person to debates in Westminister Hall. | | (159682) | Questions to the Solicitor General 309
| Mr John Battle (Leeds West):To ask the Solicitor General, how many cases brought before the Crown Prosecution Service by the police were dropped and not proceeded with, and for what reasons, in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.
| | (159506) | 310
N | Mr William Cash (Stone):To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make a statement on the exercise of the Attorney General's power to enter a nolle prosequi in the light of R v Allen (1862 1B&S)850. | | (159188) | 311
N | Mr William Cash (Stone):To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to her Answer of 2nd March, what the evidential deficiency was to which she refers as reason in the case of Katharine Gun for having exercised discretion not to enter a nolle prosequi; and if she will lay the papers to which this relates, including those referred to by the Attorney General in the House of Lords on 26th February, in the Library. | | (159190) | 312
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Solicitor General, how many prosecutions have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service for breach of an anti-social behaviour order in each of the last five years.
| | (159689) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 313
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what contribution her Department is making following the announcement by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16th July 2003, to facilitate the reconfiguration of NIREX as a body entirely independent of the nuclear industry. | | (158910) | 314
N | Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the future of Post Office Ltd. | | (159181) | 315
N | Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment has been made of the ability of Post Office Ltd adequately to serve all those in local communities who need access to local post offices, with particular reference to the Network Reinvention Programme. | | (159182) | 316
N | Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment has been made of the conformity of (a) Post Office Ltd and (b) Postwatch with the guidance offered in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Performance and Innovation Unit Report 2000 in each year since 2000. | | (159183) | 317
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what conclusions she has drawn from the consultation on her paper The Impact of Increasing International Competition in Services. | | (159647) | 318
N | Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will respond to the question tabled by the honourable Member for Weston-Super-Mare on 19th January on funding for business support schemes.
| | (159267) | 319
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she (a) has had and (b) plans with the government of Ukraine concerning opportunities to sell Ukrainian products within the European Union; and if she will make a statement. | | (159543) | 320
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government's policy is on nanotechnology; and if she will make a statement. | | (159740) | 321
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what Government funding has been given to help not-for profit computer companies begin trading in the last five years. | | (159747) | 322
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she plans to help those who receive spam to block spam e-mails from their systems. | | (159749) | 323
| Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government's policy is on the commercial reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the UK. | | (159624) | 324
N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the highest (a) store card interest rate and (b) bank credit card rate in the UK are; and if she will make a statement on the effect on consumers of the rates charged. | | (159088) | 325
| Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims have been settled with her Department by Mark Gilbert Morse Solicitors of Newcastle. | | (159468) | 326
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the expected annual cost savings to her Department are of its decision to cease production of hard copy prints of most of its employment rights advice booklets. | | (159683) | 327
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the cost in 2003-04 is to her Department of producing, in (a) internet and (b) paper format, advice on individual employment rights. | | (159684) | 328
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 1st March to the honourable Member for Northampton North, Official Report, column 630W, on employment rights leaflets, which leading customers of her Department's information service were consulted in relation to the decision to cease production of hard copy prints of most of the service's employment rights advice booklets. | | (159685) | 329
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 1st March to the honourable Member for Northampton North, Official Report, column 630W, how many end users were surveyed during her Department's recent review of its information service; and how these end users were selected. | | (159686) | 330
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many paper copies of each of her Department's employment rights booklets were ordered by customers in the most recent annual period for which information is available. | | (159687) | 331
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the (a) most regular users of her Department's distribution service and (b) the total number of employment rights booklets ordered by each such user in the most recent annual period for which information is available. | | (159688) | 332
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many workers she estimates (a) are unable to use and (b) do not have direct access to the Internet. | | (159699) | 333
| Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much compensation has been paid to claimants in the Wansbeck constituency for (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema. | | (159584) | 334
| Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims have been received for chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
| | (159692) | 335
| Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total amount of money allocated to Postwatch is in 2002-03. | | (159602) | 336
| Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the duties are of Postwatch; and to whom it is responsible. | | (159603) | 337
| Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people in the Normanton constituency live within a mile of a post office following the Post Office closure programme by Post Office Ltd; and if she will make a statement. | | (159604) | 338
N | Mr David Rendel (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list export licences granted for the sale of defence (a) equipment and (b) equipment components to Nepal for each year since and including 2001. | | (158915) | 339
| Mr Siôn Simon (Birmingham, Erdington):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact on long-term radioactive waste management of (a) the continued ownership of Nirex by the nuclear industry, (b) the ownership of Nirex by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and (c) a Nirex independent of the nuclear industry. | | (159666) | 340
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make it her policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159613) | 341
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the differences between compensation for pension loss in mining compensation claims made using the interim pensions spreadsheet and those using the final version of the calculator. | | (159523) | 342
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many mining compensation claims have reached full and final settlement using the interim pensions spreadsheet. | | (159591) | 343
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will accept new contracts for the commercial reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel once it assumes control of Thorp. | | (159586) | 344
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what long-term future she envisages for the commercial reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the UK. | | (159587) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 345
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what action the Government has taken to give accredited recovery vehicles (a) higher priority in congested traffic and (b) permission to run on the hard shoulder as set out at paragraph 3.143, of the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone. | | (159409) | 346
| Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason no regulations have been introduced under section 78 of the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991 to require statutory undertakings to contribute to resurfacing costs.
| | (159731) | 347
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to change the compensation arrangements for rail passengers suffering (a) delays and (b) cancellations. | | (159593) | 348
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) expected in-service delivery date and (b) cost of the computerised MOT test were when the contract was let; and what they are expected to be now. | | (159594) | 349
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalty clauses are available for his Department to invoke should Siemens fail to deliver the computerisation of the MOT test (a) on time, (b) within cost estimates and (c) to the specification. | | (159595) | 350
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many motorcyclists were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured where (i) no other vehicle was involved, (ii) the motorcyclist was on a bend in the road when the accident happened and (iii) the motorcyclist was categorised as inexperienced in 2002-03; and if he will make a statement. | | (159469) | 351
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the regulations which enable (a) a motorcycle rider to complete compulsory basic training on an automatic machine and progress to ride a geared bike with no further training, (b) a novice rider to obtain a motorcycle restricted licence allowing him to ride a more powerful motorbike on the roads without providing proof that he has undertaken training or riding in the previous two years and (c) newly qualified motorcycle instructors to train others as instructors; and if he will make a statement. | | (159470) | 352
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on post-test training qualifications for motorcyclists. | | (159471) | 353
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159618) | 354
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of the integrated transport infrastructure requirement for the Thames Gateway. | | (159648) | 355
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will investigate whether Network Rail's planned activities in respect of clearing trackside vegetation in the Westerleigh area are (a) consistent with Network Rail's environmental policy and (b) no more than is required for safety purposes. | | (158908) | 356
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Network Rail has exemption from the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of track maintenance work. | | (158909) | 357
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much public money was spent on transport in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey between (a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 to 2004. | | (159490) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 358
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the buildings occupied by his staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. | | (159654) | 359
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of buildings occupied by his staff have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. | | (159659) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 360
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to simplify the procedure for applying for pension credit, with particular reference to pensioners with savings. | | (159726) | 361
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners who receive their pensions by giro have agreed an alternative means of payment with the Government. | | (159752) | 362
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what further measures are being taken to reduce youth unemployment in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the United Kingdom.
| | (159507) | 363
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what action the Government has taken to help reduce unemployment
in the Jarrow constituency since 1997.
| | (159509) | 364
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average pension credit payment is in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough. | | (159255) | 365
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of pension credit in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough. | | (159256) | 366
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners were in receipt of the minimum income guarantee in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough at the last date on which it was paid. | | (159257) | 367
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall. | | (159614) | 368
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people he estimates have to make a claim for the 2003-04 winter fuel payment before 30th March cut-off date; and how many of them have yet to do so. | | (159701) | 369
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what correspondence his Department has sent to families relating to the transfer of the child elements of jobseeker's allowance and income support to child tax credit payments; and if he will place copies in the Library. | | (159702) | 370
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the expenditure of his Department and its predecessors for the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey was between (a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 and 2004. | | (159489) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 371
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the change in the level of unemployment has been in the Jarrow constituency in each year since 1997.
| | [Transferred] (159508) | 372
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of youth unemployment was in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (159524) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 373
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment he has made of the current arrangements for access to bail for defendants awaiting trial in Northern Ireland. | | [Transferred] (159554) | 374
| Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what representations he has received on the law regarding access to bail in Northern Ireland. | | [Transferred] (159555) | 375
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many times the Privy Council met in 2003; and how many Privy Counsellors were present on each occasion. | | [Transferred] (159582) | 376
| Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when the Council of the Isles last met; and when it will next meet. | | [Transferred] (159478) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 377
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children are in residential care in each local authority area; and how many receive residential care in each local authority. | | [Transferred] (159417) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 378
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding was given by (a) the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, (b) the Rural Enterprise Scheme and (c) landfill tax to village halls in each of their years of operation. | | [Transferred] (159677) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 379
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he plans to increase the number of arrests of hackers who send viruses via spam advertising. | | [Transferred] (159750) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 380
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the proposal to give local authorities the ability to withhold payment of housing benefits to tenants as a method of controlling anti-social behaviour. | | [Transferred] (159457) |
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