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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 11 March 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 11 March 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 11 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 Thursday 11 March of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 11 March see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Chairman of the Catering Committee 1
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, when the Smoking Room was renamed Members' Smoke Room as set out on the survey card for that room. | | (160914) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 2
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the secondees from outside organisations working in his Department, stating in each case (a) the name of the person, (b) the name of the organisation, (c) the post held and (d) the start and finish dates of the secondment; and which are involved in drafting parliamentary answers. | | (160602) | 3
N | Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the threshold for higher rate tax liability would be if it were to cover six per cent. of the working age population; and what estimate he has made of tax lost by restricting the higher rate to six per cent. of the working age population. | | (160696) | 4
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what national standards apply to time limits for the handling by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of recoverable debt cases; and what the performance of debt management units in meeting these standards was in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03. | | (160863) | 5
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff were employed in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise debt management units in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03; and how many new staff were recruited to the units in each of those financial years. | | (160864) | 6
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost was of the specialist asset recovery teams set up to pursue the recovery of assets from directors involved in fraudulent companies in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03; how many staff were deployed in these teams in each of those financial years; and what assets were realised by these teams in each case. | | (160865) | 7
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Customs and Excise's strategy to tackle VAT missing trader fraud; how many staff were deployed to tackle this type of fraud in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03; what the cost of deploying staff to tackle this type of fraud was in each case; and what additional costs were attached to the strategy in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2002-03. | | (160866) | 8
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much missing trader fraud debt owed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise was outstanding at the end of 2002-03. | | (160867) | 9
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value of new debt owed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise notified to the debt management units in 2002-03 was; and how much of that new debt was represented by VAT missing trader fraud. | | (160868) | 10
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much debt was owed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on 31st March 2003 (a) in total and (b) broken down by type of debt; what percentage that total formed of the total amount of taxes and duties collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 2002-03; and what the change in the number of unresolved debts since 31st March 2002 was. | | (160869) | 11
N | Mr William Cash (Stone):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the relationship of the Maastricht criteria to public expenditure levels, with reference to (a) the Treasury Red Books since 1997 and (b) the Treasury Paper of June 2003 on Policy Frameworks in the UK and EMU. | | (160647) | 12
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160973) | 13
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160974) | 14
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, under what circumstances local authorities are unable to recover VAT incurred by activities and transactions relating to the delivery of services. | | (161070) | 15
N | Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to public funds of Gift Aid provisions used by the museum sector was in each year since it was introduced, broken down by (a) institution and (b) amount received. | | (160422) | 16
N | Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the population increase expected under the principal projection issued by the Office of National Statistics on 18th December 2003 is due to the assumed level of net inward migration and the descendants of migrants. | | (160514) | 17
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce a sugar tax on soft drinks; and if he will make a statement on the use of new taxes to promote healthy eating. | | (160905) | 18
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there are regional targets for collection of VAT on (a) new educational buildings and (b) new annexes to educational buildings. | | (160906) | 19
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the collection of VAT on (a) new educational buildings and (b) extensions and annexes to existing buildings used for education purposes, in the further education sector. | | (160907) | 20
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what he estimates the cost would be for each of the next seven years of (a) increasing child and working tax credits in line with (i) prices and (ii) earnings, (b) increasing the family element of the child tax credit in line with prices and other elements and the thresholds in line with earnings and (c) increasing the family element of the child tax credit in line with prices, the thresholds in line with prices, and the other elements in line with earnings. | | (160792) | 21
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parents have claimed childcare credit as part of the working families tax credit in each year since 1998; and how many are entitled to claim who have not done so. | | (161014) | 22
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money was spent in each of the last five years on assistance to industries in Wales. | | (160922) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 23
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how much was spent by (a) the Government and (b) the private sector on (i) solely state financed and (ii) public-private and private finance initiative projects in the Department in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160857) | 24
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160977) | 25
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many copies of the annual report on the bringing into force of provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 published in November 2003 were printed; how the report was publicised; and how many imprints have been recorded to date showing visits to the URL for the report on his Department's website. | | (161177) | 26
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when his Department expects to publish the monitoring report on application of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for 2003; and what plans he has to publicise the report on its publication. | | (161178) | 27
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what has been the cost to date to (a) Government Departments and (b) non-Departmental public bodies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of the steps taken to implement that Act; and what estimate he has made of the costs that will be incurred by the time the Act comes fully into force. | | (161189) | 28
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many magistrates' courts have been closed in Wales since 1997. | | (160909) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 29
| Janet Anderson (Rossendale & Darwen):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the North West Regional Sports Board will reach a decision on the application from the Edgworth Cricket and Recreation Club for support for pavilion development. | | (161124) | 30
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160947) | 31
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160948) | 32
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many Lottery distributors there are; and how much money was distributed by each in each of the last three years. | | (160941) | 33
| Jim Knight (South Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether planned upgrades to the Weymouth transmitter will enable the broadcast of digital signal prior to turning off the analogue signal. | | (161056) | 34
| Jim Knight (South Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which broadcasters are responsible for the upgrading of the Weymouth transmitter to enable digital broadcasting. | | (161057) | 35
| Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the UK bodies that have benefited from funding under (a) the Kaleidoscope Programme, (b) the Ariane Programme and (c) the Raphael Programme. | | (160940) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 36
| Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the expected retirement dates of all officers above the rank of OF 2 in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF, broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement. | | (161058) | 37
| Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) establishment and (b) strength of all ranks above OF 2 in the (i) Royal Navy and (ii) RAF was on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (161059) | 38
| Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the differences between strength and establishment of officers in the Army. | | (161060) | 39
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160949) | 40
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160950) | 41
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the original expected date was for announcing a decision on the Airfield Support Services Project; what the current expected date is; and what the reasons are for the delay. | | (160771) | 42
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected decommissioning dates are of (a) HMS Newcastle, (b) HMS Cardiff, (c) HMS Glasgow, (d) HMS Liverpool, (e) HMS Norfolk and (f) HMS Iron Duke. | | (160772) | 43
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the Type-42 destroyers to be fitted with the Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System. | | (160773) | 44
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) of his Department's civilian posts have been transferred to the private sector in each year since 1997. | | (160904) | 45
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will answer the Question, reference 146166, tabled by the honourable Member for Portsmouth South on 29th December 2003, on accommodation for junior ranks of the Services. | | (160911) | 46
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will answer the Question, reference 146515, tabled by the honourable Member for Portsmouth South on 5th January, on the death in British custody of Baha Mousa. | | (160912) | 47
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle; and when he expects this vehicle to enter service. | | (160809) | 48
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the procurement of the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle; and when he expects to make a decision on the awarding of the contract. | | (160810) | 49
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the role of the proposed Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle will be. | | (160812) | 50
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what effect the proposed future rapid effects system has had on the future requirement for the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle. | | (160813) | 51
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of table 2 from the National Audit Office report Operation Telic - United Kingdom Operations in Iraq, annotated to show the management group by which the equipment was acquired. | | (161119) | 52
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which of his Department's management groups purchased equipment under the urgent operational requirements procedure in financial year 2002-03; and what the value was of (a) that equipment and (b) equipment subsequently disposed of. | | (161120) | 53
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list his Department's top level budget holders and their related management groups for the financial years (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04. | | (161121) | 54
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much (a) IT equipment, (b) office furniture, (c) telecommunications equipment, (d) electrical equipment, (e) scientific equipment, (f) unwanted warehouse stocks and (g) clothing and fabrics disposed of by the Disposal Services Agency since 1997 was unused at the time of sale; and what the value was of each category of equipment (i) when purchased and (ii) when sold. | | (161150) | 55
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much (a) IT equipment, (b) telecommunications equipment, (c) electrical equipment, (d) scientific equipment, (e) unwanted warehouse stocks and (f) clothing and fabrics disposed of by the Disposal Services Agency since 1997 were acquired as Urgent Operational Requirements; and what the value was of each category of equipment (i) when purchased and (ii) when sold. | | (161151) | 56
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) vehicles, (b) display systems, radios and televisions, (c) small generators, (d) plant and machinery items, (e) tyres and (f) uniforms disposed of by the Disposal Services Agency since 1997 were un-used at the time of sale; and what the value was of each of these categories (i) when purchased and (ii) when sold. | | (161152) | 57
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) vehicles, (b) display systems, radios and televisions, (c) small generators, (d) plant and machinery items, (e) tyres and (f) uniforms disposed of by the Disposal Services Agency since 1997 were acquired as Urgent Operational Requirements; and what the value of each of these categories was when (i) purchased and (ii) when sold. | | (161153) | 58
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has carried out on the health effects of anti-anthrax vaccines given to military personnel and medical auxiliaries involved in (a) Operation Granby in the Gulf War against Iraq in 1991 and (b) Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003. | | (160856) | 59
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the British members of the Iraq Survey Group have not been provided with direct access to the Iraqi Government declaration on its weapons of mass destruction programme dated 8th December 2002. | | (161188) | 60
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) establishment and (b) current recruited number is of (i) cadets and (ii) officers and other adult instructors in each of the cadet forces. | | (160979) | 61
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the budget available to each cadet force in each of the last 10 years. | | (160980) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 62
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160971) | 63
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160972) | 64
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received from (a) local authorities and (b) others in support of the fourth option of keeping council housing stock in the hands of local government. | | (161011) | 65
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what (a) instructions and (b) guidelines are issued by his Department to local authorities on the writing off of (i) council tax and (ii) housing benefit debt when the debt recovery costs are greater than the debt itself; and if he will make a statement. | | (160689) | 66
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much the Government Office for the South East spent on producing and distributing the leaflet What the Pre-Budget Report means for the South East. | | (161052) | 67
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he last met members or officials of the Electoral Commission; what the purpose of that meeting was; and what the outcome was. | | (161002) | 68
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 4th March, Official Report, column 1106W, on Port Clarence, Stockton, whether future involvement of English Partnerships and One North East in the development of Port Clarence would be subject to EU regulations concerning shipbuilding subsidies. | | (160788) | 69
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd February, Official Report, column 25W, on development sites, if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached by the Joint Advisory Panel at the meeting on 10th March regarding the review of progress made on Hampshire's housebuilding targets. | | (159998) | 70
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the written statement of 12th February, Offical Report, column 84WS, on Supporting People Programme 2004-05, whether reductions in funding allocation for the Supporting People Programme 2005-06 will only apply to local authorities with high unit costs. | | (160774) | 71
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will announce funding allocations for the Supporting People Programme 2005-06. | | (160775) | 72
| Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, who is responsible for considering disputes on the location and application of telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. | | (161114) | 73
| Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what circumstances must apply for mast sharing to fulfil the conditions of the code operations licences in the application of a telecommunications development; and if he will make a statement. | | (161116) | 74
| Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, at what distance from the ground under the permitted development an antenna is permitted to operate under telecommunication planning policy; and if he will make a statement. | | (161117) | 75
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what additional grant is to be paid to the Isle of Wight Council in 2004-05 following his decision to add £1m to the grant for 2003-04. | | (160646) | 76
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was spent on grants to aid energy efficiency in each year since 1997. | | (160875) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 77
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money was spent on education in England (a) in total and (b) per pupil for each of the last five years. | | (160993) | 78
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent on programmes explaining the dangers of alcohol misuse in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1997. | | (161068) | 79
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160945) | 80
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160946) | 81
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the procedure for closing a school sixth form; whether such a decision is accountable to the whole local education authority; and whether there is a statutory appeal process. | | (160926) | 82
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students sat the A level examination in (a) mathematics and (b) physics in each year since 1994; and what proportion were in private sector schools. | | (160777) | 83
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of lessons inspected by Ofsted in 2002-03 in (a) year 7, (b) year 8, (c) year 9, (d) year 10 and (e) year 11 were set by ability in (i) grammar schools, (ii) secondary modern schools and (iii) comprehensive schools. | | (160778) | 84
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures his Department is taking to prepare education institutions for the implementation of the parts of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which come into effect later this year. | | (160690) | 85
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the number of higher education students from the EU accession states after 1st May. | | (161012) | 86
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether it is his Department's policy to make local authorities act as lead bodies for the receipt of Connexions partnerships grants; and if he will make a statement. | | (161069) | 87
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which is the lead body for receipt of grant for the London Central Connexions Partnership. | | (161071) | 88
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the proportion of careers guidance provided by the private sector. | | (161072) | 89
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of the total Connexions budget in 2003-04 is spent on providing careers guidance. | | (161073) | 90
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total budget was of the Careers Service, prior to the establishment of the Connexions Service, in each year since 1997. | | (161074) | 91
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance his Department has issued to Connexions partnership Chief Executives concerning partnerships' VAT liability. | | (161075) | 92
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of Connexions partnerships' VAT liability his Department will meet in 2004-05. | | (161076) | 93
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent on youth services by each local authority in each year since 1997. | | (161077) | 94
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidelines are given to Connexions partnerships designed to allow national voluntary and community sector organisations to work efficiently with all partnerships. | | (161086) | 95
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools (a) have a Connexions resource centre, (b) are being fitted with a Connexions resource centre and (c) have no Connexions resource centre in each Connexions partnership area. | | (161087) | 96
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidelines are provided for the staffing of Connexions resource centres in schools. | | (161088) | 97
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funding has been provided to the voluntary and community sector from the (a) Neighbourhood Support Fund and (b) New Opportunities Fund in each year since 2001. | | (161089) | 98
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the proportion of parents who have been aware of the services offered by Connexions in each Connexions partnership area in each year since 2001. | | (161090) | 99
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what initiatives have developed from the Achieving Together conference for Connexions partnerships and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and other youth service providers to ensure that Connexions works better with the VCS. | | (161091) | 100
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidelines are given to Connexions partnerships regarding the monitoring and supervision of personal advisers who are working towards an NVQ level 4 equivalent in a relevant professional discipline. | | (161092) | 101
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) young people of the relevant age group and (b) personal advisers there are in the area of each Connexions partnership; and what the ratio of (a) to (b) is in each case. | | (161093) | 102
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how long a young person has had to wait on average to speak to a Connexions personal adviser in each
Connexions partnership; and what the target waiting time is for a young person to talk to a Connexions personal adviser in person. | | (161094) | 103
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of 16 to 18 year-olds have not been in education, training or employment in each of the Connexions partnership areas in each year since 2001. | | (161095) | 104
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many under-18 conceptions there were in each of the Connexions partnership areas in each year since 2001. | | (161096) | 105
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of 16 to 18 year-olds from black and ethnic minorities have not been in education, training or employment in each of the Connexions partnership areas in each year since 2001. | | (161097) | 106
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the progress Connexions partnerships have made towards the targets set out in Youth Support Services for 13 to 19-year olds: A Vision for 2006 in (a) providing a vibrant high quality youth service, (b) making many more young people active citizens, (c) engaging many more young people in developmental activities and (d) ensuring that parents, carers and teachers are supportive of Connexions. | | (161098) | 107
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the level of awareness of the Connexions service among those young people not in education, employment or training. | | (161099) | 108
| Jim Knight (South Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the success of extended schools in opening up schools sports facilities for use by the general public; and if he will make a statement. | | (160929) | 109
| Jim Knight (South Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action his Department is taking to ensure that extended use of sports facilities in schools built with private finance is affordable for all sections of the community. | | (160934) | 110
N | Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what barriers to re-entering full-time further education for 19 year olds and over he has identified. | | (160423) | 111
N | Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact of the 16 hour rule on participation rates of homeless people in further education. | | (160424) | 112
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many free childcare places provided by the Government have (a) been taken up and (b) not been taken up by parents of children below compulsory school age in each year since 1998. | | (161015) | 113
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many SureStart children's centres have been set up in deprived neighbourhoods since 2003. | | (161016) | 114
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much the Government has spent on pre-school education and childcare per head of children below compulsory school age in each year since 1998. | | (161018) | 115
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the regional disparities in the availability of childcare places for children under compulsory school age. | | (161019) | 116
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the take-up of nursery places was, broken down by (a) public and (b) private childcare provision for
children under compulsory school age in each year since 1998. | | (161020) | 117
| Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects to publish the criteria for the award of university title to colleges primarily engaged in teaching. | | (161001) | 118
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the literacy rates for the populations of (a) Wales and (b) England were in each year since 1997. | | (161010) | 119
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to centralise funding for services for young people.
| | (161101) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 120
| Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will carry out research into the spread of ligula tapeworm in fish by cormorants wintering in the UK. | | (160899) | 121
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160963) | 122
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160964) | 123
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of UK housing stock has been tested for radon gas. | | (159891) | 124
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many houses have been tested for radon gas in each of the last seven years. | | (159892) | 125
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to encourage the testing of the remainder of UK housing stock for radon gas. | | (159893) | 126
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to include radon testing in CON29 within the proposed Housing Investment Programme. | | (159894) | 127
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will meet interest groups representing motorcyclists as part of the consultation on the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on rights of way. | | (161123) | 128
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to use the proposed Animal Welfare Bill to ban the sale and use of electronic shock collars. | | (160908) | 129
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 3rd March, Official Report, column 930W, on animal welfare, what action she is taking to reduce the usage of veterinary antibiotics. | | (160996) | 130
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 3rd March, Official Report, column 930W, on animal welfare, what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on humans of receiving antibiotics through the eating of meat and poultry, with particular reference to hospital superbugs. | | (160997) | 131
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made towards incorporating the Clean Development Mechanism and the Joint Implementation of Reduction Aims in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. | | (160877) | 132
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms she expects to put in place to ensure that the self-monitoring of installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is not undermined by fraud. | | (160878) | 133
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the 20 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 she expects to be achieved through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. | | (160879) | 134
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the 20 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 she expects to be achieved through reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector. | | (160880) | 135
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) current and (b) prospective EU member states have approached her Department for advice on the drafting of national allocation plans. | | (160881) | 136
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the ability of EU accession countries to participate in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. | | (160882) | 137
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the monitoring of emissions from installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme situated in the accession countries. | | (160883) | 138
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional resources will be made available to the Environment Agency to help it fulfil its responsibilities under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. | | (160884) | 139
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff were involved in drafting the National Allocation Plan. | | (160885) | 140
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) cost so far and (b) projected total cost of producing the National Allocation Plan is. | | (160886) | 141
N | Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where information is held about the number of charges brought against abattoirs for breaches of meat hygiene and animal welfare regulations which are withdrawn before they come to court. | | (160416) | 142
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of people whose health has been affected in the last five years by being exposed in the open air to pesticides; and if she will make a statement. | | (161102) | 143
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the risk to public health posed by the use of pesticides; and if she will make a statement. | | (161103) | 144
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the National Farmers' Union on the spraying of pesticides on crops which are situated close to residences or footpaths; and if she will make a statement. | | (161104) | 145
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Highways Agency about the control of ragwort; and if she will make a statement. | | (161106) | 146
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many conferences have been organised by her Department in the last three years for which figures are available; how much was spent on them; how many were cancelled; and what costs were incurred in respect of cancelled conferences. | | (160776) | 147
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what initiatives her Department is taking to reduce landfill waste by encouraging alternatives to disposable nappies. | | (161167) | 148
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her current targets are for domestic energy efficiency improvements. | | (161007) | 149
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fishing vessels were licensed in each year since 1997. | | (160873) | 150
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fisheries have been closed to protect stocks since 1997. | | (160874) | 151
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the maximum amounts of fish allowed to be caught daily in Welsh waters were in each year since 1997. | | (160910) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 152
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the 15th May Bishkek Conference on stability in Afghanistan; and what discussions he has had with other governments regarding the conference. | | (159887) | 153
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Government has made of the progress needed on security for elections to proceed in Afghanistan on 30th June; and if he will make a statement. | | (159888) | 154
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action can be taken against UK national companies involved in business with Zimbabwean companies classed as SDNs under United States Executive Order 13288; if he will make a statement on the extension of EU sanctions to include such measures; and when he expects EU sanctions to match those of the US. | | (159889) | 155
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the secondees from outside organisations working in his Department, stating in each case (a) the name of the person, (b) the name of the organisation, (c) the post held and (d) the start and finish dates of the secondment; and which are involved in drafting parliamentary answers. | | (160601) | 156
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to (a) Pakistan and (b) the United States of America regarding their use of the death penalty for people under the age of 18. | | (161066) | 157
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each of the last 10 years. | | (160975) | 158
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) the Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years. | | (160976) | 159
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Chad over the level of forced migration into Chad from the Sudan. | | (160185) | 160
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the recent release of Moroccan prisoners of war by the Polisario Front; and if he will make a statement on the Sahrawis that have yet to be accounted for. | | (160186) | 161
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Morocco concerning Ali-Salem Tamek. | | (160187) | 162
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) security situation in Western Sahara and (b) impact of Moroccan migration into the territory. | | (160188) | 163
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan on the effects of its military action on civilians in Darfur. | | (160927) | 164
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Bangladesh about the protection of human rights of members of the Ahmadiyya community. | | (160764) | 165
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Optional Protocol. | | (160903) | 166
N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much money his Department has spent on the tercentenary celebrations in Gibraltar. | | (160694) | 167
N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role he has agreed with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will play in the tercentenary celebrations. | | (160695) | 168
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what communications his Department has had with the Government of Venezuela following the recent violence in Caracas. | | (161017) | 169
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Butler Committee Inquiry will post original submissions made to the inquiry on its website; and whether he has placed any restrictions on publication of information provided to the committee. | | (161160) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 170
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 4th February, Official Report, column 969W, on NHS Professionals, what assessment he has made of how much NHS Professionals (a) has saved and (b) has cost to set up and run to date. | | (160415) | 171
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the funding for NHS Professionals for the 2002-03 financial year and each of the previous years since inception was spent on (a) staff salaries, (b) infrastructure and premises costs and (c) marketing and advertising; and if he will make a statement. | | (160497) | 172
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding NHS Professionals has received from the Department for set-up and running costs in each year since its inception. | | (160498) | 173
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding NHS Professionals is forecast to receive from the Department in future financial years; and whether it is predicted to be self-funding. | | (160593) | 174
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS Professionals is covered by the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations; and if he will make a statement. | | (160594) | 175
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of (a) adults and (b) children in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency were registered with an NHS dentist in 1997; and how many were registered with an NHS dentist at the most recent date for which figures are available. | | (160274) | 176
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money Essex Social Services Department had to pay in fines under the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc) Act 2003 from when it came into operation to 29th February. | | (160275) | 177
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government has spent on advertising campaigns highlighting the dangers associated with (a) alcohol misuse, (b) illegal drugs and (c) tobacco smoking in each year since 1997. | | (161067) | 178
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160969) | 179
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160970) | 180
| Mr John Cummings (Easington):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what bursaries are available for the training of biomedical scientists in the NHS; and on what criteria bursaries are awarded to support (a) paramedical services and (b) professions supplementary to medicine. | | (161013) | 181
| Mr John Cummings (Easington):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current role of the Workforce Development Confederation of the NHS is in providing training and support for bio-medical sciences for the NHS. | | (161029) | 182
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department will take to support the Sunsmart campaign organised by Cancer Research UK. | | (160998) | 183
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department will take to increase public awareness of high factor suncreams. | | (160999) | 184
| Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to subsidise the cost of high factor suncream. | | (161000) | 185
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when construction will commence on the new hospital at the St Michael's site in Lichfield; and if he will make a statement. | | (160789) | 186
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many car parking spaces will be made available to (a) staff and (b) visitors at the St Michael's site in Lichfield once the construction of the new hospital is completed. | | (160790) | 187
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many square metres have been set aside for future expansion of the new hospital at the St Michael's site in Lichfield once it is completed. | | (160791) | 188
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to prepare health service providers for the implementation of the parts of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which come into effect later this year. | | (160693) | 189
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for dentists leaving the NHS for the private sector; and if he will make a statement. | | (160768) | 190
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists have left the NHS, in whole or in part, to work in the private sector in each year since 1997 in (a) total, (b) NHS Trust areas covering Portsmouth and (c) NHS Trust areas covering Hampshire. | | (160769) | 191
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists have been recruited to the NHS in each year since 1997 in (a) total, (b) NHS Trust areas covering Portsmouth and (c) NHS Trust areas covering Hampshire. | | (160770) | 192
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are being implemented under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy to reduce instances of self-harm in young people. | | (161081) | 193
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned into (a) suicide and (b) deliberate self-harm in young people; and if he will make a statement on the findings of the research. | | (161082) | 194
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many reported instances of deliberate self-harm there have been in people under 30 years old in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) age and (b) sex. | | (161084) | 195
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the progress of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in reducing the number of young people who commit suicide. | | (161085) | 196
| Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the (a) use and (b) effectiveness of amantadine in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in the National Health Service. | | (161125) | 197
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department collects on the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service. | | (159833) | 198
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken to monitor the performance of Mersey Regional Ambulance Service since 26th November 2003. | | (159834) | 199
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his officials have had with (a) the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service and (b) Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority about improving the performance of the ambulance service since 26th November 2003. | | (159835) | 200
N | Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many calls Mersey Regional Ambulance Service (a) failed to answer within two minutes and (b) took more than five minutes to answer in each month since October 2003. | | (159836) | 201
N | Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of MMR-V as a childhood innoculation; and what plans he has to introduce it into the NHS. | | (160419) | 202
N | Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on chicken pox as a childhood disease. | | (160420) | 203
N | Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make chicken pox a notifiable disease. | | (160421) | 204
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost per individual of training and accrediting NHS staff with the European Computer Driving Licence for IT; and whether this estimate includes financial costs incurred through lost working hours. | | (161021) | 205
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the implications of the National Plan for IT in the NHS are for NHS staff who are unable to (a) demonstrate proficiency in IT and (b) obtain a European Computer Driving Licence. | | (161022) | 206
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which types of NHS staff will be required to obtain a European Computer Driving Licence. | | (161023) | 207
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS staff hold a recognised IT qualification for the purposes of working in the NHS; and whether such staff will be required to obtain a European Computer Driving Licence. | | (161024) | 208
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of medical graduates failed to embark on medical careers in each year since 1990. | | (161025) | 209
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of medical students failed to graduate or complete their courses in each year since 1990. | | (161026) | 210
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of NHS staff who will be required to obtain a European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL); and whether staff who already have a recognised IT qualification will be required to obtain an ECDL. | | (161027) | 211
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the mortality rate for TB was in each year since 2000.
| | (161100) | 212
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new cases of TB were recorded in each year since 2000. | | (161168) | 213
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial support his Department gives to the voluntary sector in providing continuing support for people affected by meningitis. | | (160779) | 214
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to grant section 65 monies to the voluntary sector concerned with people affected by meningitis. | | (160780) | 215
N | Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Department is taking to encourage the production and sale of healthier foods. | | (160697) | 216
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the fast food industry regarding super size fast food portions and their effect on health. | | (160793) | 217
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that bounty bags distributed to new mothers through NHS facilities do not include products which (a) adversely affect the health of babies, (b) increase costs to the NHS through charges for the disposal of clinical waste and (c) adversely impact on Government targets for the disposal of clinical waste; and if he will make a statement. | | (160981) | 218
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial contribution was provided by each local authority in England towards the cost of nursing home provision in each of the last five years. | | (161055) | 219
N | Mr Robert Walter (North Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has collated on the health implications of infrasound emitted by wind turbines. | | (160640) | 220
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people sought medical assistance through the NHS between 1997 and 2003. | | (160923) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 221
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160961) | 222
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160962) | 223
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received about excessive noise from gunfire by clay pigeon shooters; and if he will require clay pigeon shooters to attach silencers to their guns. | | (161028) | 224
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to consult stakeholders on proposed changes in the remit of National Holocaust Memorial Day. | | (160641) | 225
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Holocaust Memorial Day local activities guidelines packs were sent out in 2004; and how many local authorities commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. | | (160642) | 226
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultations his Department has held with the Department for Education and Skills on future production of education materials for Holocaust Memorial Day. | | (160643) | 227
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the remit for Holocaust Memorial Day is. | | (160644) | 228
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to meet the National Association of British Arabs concerning Holocaust Memorial Day; and if he will make a statement. | | (160645) | 229
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to produce a project initiation document in respect of the National Offender Management Service. | | (160894) | 230
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation took place with key stakeholders prior to the publication of the document Reducing Crime - Changing Lives; and whether trade unions were consulted. | | (160895) | 231
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation took place with relevent trade unions prior to the publication of the document Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime. | | (160896) | 232
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a 12 week consultation period took place before the publication of the document Reducing Crime - Changing Lives, in line with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. | | (160897) | 233
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effect of the creation of the National Offender Management Service upon the size of the prison population over the next five years. | | (160898) | 234
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the current prisoner discharge grant amounts to; when it was last revised; and what plans he has to re-examine the level of grant. | | (160636) | 235
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) women and (b) men were being held in prison on 8th March. | | (160637) | 236
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were eligible on 8th March for early release. | | (160638) | 237
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were released on 8th March on early release. | | (160639) | 238
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 14th January, Official Report, column 277WH, on drug testing, what plans he has to market the national workplace initiative; and what budget has been set aside for the campaign.
| | (161180) | 239
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what investigations have been carried out by his Department on the reliability of the drugs tests currently available.
| | (161181) | 240
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much grant was given to Drugscope in 2003-04; and what evaluation has been made of its work.
| | (161182) | 241
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the people in custody who have committed suicide since 1st January including their name, date of birth, date of death, prison in which they died, the reason for imprisonment, date of sentencing and length of sentence they were serving. | | (161183) | 242
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suicides in custody have been referred to the Prison Ombudsman in 2004 for investigation. | | (161184) | 243
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 14th January, Official Report, column 279WH, on drug testing, if he will place a copy of the National Workplace Strategy he referred to in the Library; if he will list the members of the steering group, with their organisation; and if he will list the dates, place and length of the meetings of the steering group referred to. | | (161185) | 244
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 14th January, Official Report, column 279WH, on drug testing, which organisation trained the Drug Action Team (DAT) nominated trainers; what the cost was to the Home Office; what the lengths and the dates were of the training courses which the DAT nominated trainers undertook; who accredited the courses; for how many companies the DAT nominated trainers have helped to write drug policies; how the trainers have advertised their availability to train companies; what budget has been allocated to this advertising; and how the Home Office is evaluating the effectiveness of the new DAT nominated trainers. | | (161186) | 245
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the impairment tests which do not require the use of equipment will be introduced; and when the code of practice will be published. | | (161187) | 246
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued by (a) Hampshire Police and (b) local authorities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in each of the last three years. | | (160800) | 247
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average annual salary for prison officers is at (a) privately-run and (b) state-run prisons in England and Wales. | | (160801) | 248
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he will take to (a) close down race hate websites and (b) protect named journalists who are targeted by these sites. | | (160802) | 249
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he proposes that the Sentencing Guidelines Council should have a role in (a) reducing sentence lengths and (b) less serious offenders being jailed. | | (160803) | 250
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average leave entitlement is for staff at (a) state and (b) private jails in England and Wales. | | (160804) | 251
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the differences are between pension levels at private and state run jails in England and Wales. | | (160805) | 252
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average salary is for prison officers at state-run prisons in England and Wales. | | (160806) | 253
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the effect has been on probation areas in England and Wales of the two per cent. underspend imposed in December 2003; and how many areas have appealed against the decision. | | (160807) | 254
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average percentage change in costs was for each probation hostel following the decision to award the contract for hostel facilities to the private sector between the last and current financial years. | | (160808) | 255
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations have been received by the National Probation Directorate from the probation areas following the decision to award the contract for hostel facilities to Anglia Water. | | (160811) | 256
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to commit resources to a UK national strategy as agreed in the Beijing Platform for Action to eliminate all forms of violence against women. | | (160913) | 257
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from the EU accession states have (a) been granted and (b) been refused leave to remain in the UK under the European Communities Association Agreement (i) in 2001-02, (ii) in 2002-03 and (iii) to date in 2003-04. | | (160937) | 258
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will proscribe websites which promote suicide. | | (161078) | 259
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with internet service providers concerning suicide websites and chatrooms. | | (161079) | 260
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning the presence of websites and internet chatrooms that promote suicide; and if he will make a statement. | | (161080) | 261
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what forensic reports he has received on (a) the results of tests by Israeli scientists carried out on samples removed from the sites of the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in London on 26th July 1994 and (b) police and forensic reports by scientists on the type and amount of explosive used, and the trigger mechanisms used, in the bombings. | | (160928) | 262
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of asylum decisions on average over the last five years were initially rejected and subsequently accepted on appeal; and what percentage of these appeals were accepted on (a) first, (b) second and (c) subsequent appeal. | | (161053) | 263
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 896W, on asylum and immigration, if he will publish the terms of bilateral and Community readmission agreements as to the process and evidence required for the re-documentation of returning nationals in respect of each of the countries to which the Answer refers. | | (161159) | 264
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of whether the intended expansion in the use of contestability will require future private operators to run prisons at a lower cost, with the same targets for service delivery. | | (160858) | 265
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans there are for the management of the (a) juvenile and (b) high security prison estate under the new National Offender Management Service. | | (160859) | 266
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions have taken place with trade unions regarding future privately built but publicly run prisons. | | (160860) | 267
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will be responsible for the monitoring of the performance of privately run prisons under the National Offender Management Service. | | (160861) | 268
| Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there will be a requirement under the National Offender Management Service to renegotiate existing contracts for privately run prisons. | | (160862) | 269
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many research projects using the National DNA Database (a) records and (b) samples have sought the informed consent of participants since 1995. | | (161154) | 270
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what suppliers of profiles to the National DNA Database have undertaken research projects using (a) the database and (b) DNA samples collected for the database since 1995. | | (161155) | 271
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many patent applications have been (a) made and (b) granted relating to research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995. | | (161156) | 272
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide summaries of all the research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995. | | (161157) | 273
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which decisions by his Department were challenged by judicial review in the session 2002-03; and in how many cases the (a) Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) court found for the applicant, (c) Department submitted to the judgement and (d) Department appealed successfully against the decision. | | (161158) | 274
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the management of the female prison estate under the National Offender Management Service arrangements. | | (161162) | 275
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish a project initiation document in respect of the National Offender Management Service; when he intends to appoint a project manager; and what the delivery date will be. | | (161163) | 276
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he will take in the light of the Bichard Inquiry to ensure that relevant information is (a) collected by the National Offender Management Service and (b) shared with appropriate agencies. | | (161164) | 277
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has appointed a Programme Board for the National Offender Management Service in accordance with the rules of the Office of Government Commerce. | | (161165) | 278
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish a Gateway Zero Report in respect of the National Offender Management Service in accordance with Office of Government Commerce procedures. | | (161166) | 279
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what targets were set for the National Probation Service for the (a) current and (b) last financial year and to what extent they have been achieved.
| | (161169) | 280
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether targets for the National Probation Service during 2004-05 will be revised in the light of past performance.
| | (161170) | 281
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors led to the decision to close the Diversity Unit within the National Probation Directorate.
| | (161171) | 282
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to publicise the Business Case for the National Offender Management Service.
| | (161172) | 283
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will be responsible for the recall of prisoners who breach their parole licence under the National Offender Management Service arrangements.
| | (161173) | 284
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places are available in probation hostels in England and Wales; and how many of these places are occupied by (a) convicted sex offenders and (b) others covered by Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel arrangements.
| | (161174) | 285
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether probation hostels in England and Wales will be subject to contestability following the creation of the National Offender Management Service.
| | (161175) | 286
N | Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures are in place for staff in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to raise matters of concern with (a) their superiors and (b) ministers. | | (160515) | 287
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will break down by ethnic origin (a) prisoners in each prison in England and Wales and (b) the proportion of prisoners in each prison in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available. | | (161061) | 288
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) governing governors and (b) governor grades of prison establishments in England and Wales are from a minority ethnic group. | | (161062) | 289
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prison officers in England and Wales are from a minority ethnic group. | | (161063) | 290
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of staff in each prison in England and Wales are from a minority ethnic group. | | (161064) | 291
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have (a) entered Wales and (b) applied to live in Wales in each year since 1997. | | (160921) | Questions to the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 292
N | David Winnick (Walsall North):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many full-time appointments there have been to the Clerk's Department in the last five years; and how many were (a) female and (b) of an ethnic minority. | | (160417) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 293
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance the Government is giving to the Afghan Government in reforming the civil service in Afghanistan. | | (159890) | 294
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the difference between the 124.18 million euros committed and the 119.26 million euros paid on South African projects that were financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161105) | 295
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the 430.69 million euros difference between the funds committed and funds paid to the pre-accession from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161107) | 296
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the 581.48 million euros difference between funds committed and funds paid to the pre-accession-PHARE project that was financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161108) | 297
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the 710.65 million euros difference between funds committed and funds paid to the pre-accession-ISPA project that was financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161109) | 298
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the difference between the 505.96 million euros committed and and the 417.31 million euros paid on Food Aid projects that were financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161110) | 299
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the difference between the 147.95 million euros committed and and the 18.87 million euros paid on the pre-accession projects for Malta, Cyprus and Turkey that were financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161111) | 300
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the difference between the 574.87 million euros committed and and the 454.25 million euros paid on Asia projects that were financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161112) | 301
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the difference between the 520.32 million euros committed and and the 474.25 million euros paid on Humanitarian Aid projects that were financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161113) | 302
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the destination was of the difference between the 333.22 million euros committed and the 181.79 million euros paid on Latin American projects that were financed from the General Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161115) | 303
| Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the explanation is for the 72.73 million euros excess of payment over funds committed in respect of Mediterranean projects that were financed from the Commission Budget in 2002. | | (161118) | 304
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each of the last 10 years. | | (160955) | 305
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years. | | (160956) | 306
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has to ensure that the needs of smaller developing sugar producing countries are taken into account when his Right honourable Friend negotiates reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. | | (160766) | Questions to the Leader of the House 307
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, how many honourable Members' staff have yet to be notified of an adjudication by Pro Act, on behalf of the House's Department of Finance and Administration, that a decision has been made regarding the recipient pension scheme of their entitled pension contribution. | | (160756) | 308
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, what arrangements are being made by the Department of Finance and Administration in the House to assist those honourable Members' staff who wish to transfer their accumulated fund from the Portcullis Pension Plan to another pension provider on an annual basis. | | (160757) | 309
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, how many adjudications of honourable Members' staff pension arrangements have been made by Pro Act in favour of their existing arrangements rather than the Portcullis Pension Plan. | | (160758) | 310
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, how many honourable Members' staff have had their pension arrangements changed by the Department of Finance and Administration via the default arrangements recommended by Pro Act.
| | (160759) | 311
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, how many weeks' notice will be given to honourable Members' staff of any changes to their existing pension arrangements, as adjudicated by Pro Act, before the Department of Finance and Administration ceases to honour the existing arrangements. | | (160760) | 312
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, how many adjudications of honourable Members' staff pensions have yet to be decided upon by Pro Act on behalf of the Department of Finance and Administration. | | (160761) | 313
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, when he expects the
adjudication process of honourable Members' staff pensions, by Pro Act on behalf of the Department of Finance and Administration to be completed. | | (160762) | 314
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Leader of the House, how many honourable Members' staff registered a preference to remain with their existing pension provider. | | (160763) | 315
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Leader of the House, if he will propose the creation of a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament to examine the draft Single European Currency (Referendum) Bill. | | (160765) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 316
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which external consultants the Department of Education employed in the development, distribution and promotion of the Costello Report. | | (160984) | 317
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what amount was spent on (a) printing the Costello Report and (b) the design, printing and distribution of the leaflet, Information about Transfer Tests and New Post-Primary Arrangements. | | (160985) | 318
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list (a) the groups and individuals he has met and (b) the groups and individuals that have requested a meeting with him to discuss post-primary arrangements, since the publication of the Costello Report. | | (160986) | 319
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much the establishment of the area planning and development partnerships is expected to cost; and what budget will be allocated to the area planning and development partnerships in each Education and Library Board area. | | (160987) | 320
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much the establishment of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Group is expected to cost; and what budget will be allocated to it. | | (160988) | 321
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when guidance will be issued to schools about the management, planning arrangements and timetable outlined in the Implementation Process Timetable in the Costello Group Report. | | (160989) | 322
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in achieving the targets set in the Essential Skills Strategy; and if he will make a statement. | | (160990) | 323
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps have been taken to establish strategic planning and implementation groups. | | (160991) | 324
| Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps have been taken (a) to establish area and development partnerships and (b) to appoint area planning and development partnership staff. | | (160992) | 325
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160953) | 326
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160954) | 327
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures he is taking to control cormorants and their predation on fish-stock. | | (160595) | 328
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many licences to cull cormorants have been issued in each of the last 10 years; and how many cormorants have been culled in each of the last 10 years. | | (160596) | 329
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his estimate is of the number of cormorants in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. | | (160597) | 330
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will estimate (a) the number and (b) the percentage of salmon smolts returning seawards on the River Bush that were taken by cormorants in each of the last 10 years. | | (160598) | 331
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to locate electors missing from the latest electoral register; and if he will make a statement. | | (158887) | 332
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce a charity commissioner for Northern Ireland. | | (158888) | 333
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to bring the law governing charities in Northern Ireland into line with that in England and Wales. | | (158889) | Questions to the Prime Minister 334
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the memorandum from Mr Ivan Rogers to Sir David King, relating to public pronouncements on climate change, which wider policy aims would be adversely affected were Sir David King to grant interview requests from the media. | | (160599) | 335
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) representations were received from and (b) discussions took place with the US authorities on Sir David King's public statements on climate change between their publication and the issuing of the memorandum to Sir David King by Mr Ivan Rogers, on media requests for an interview. | | (160600) | 336
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, how many hours Mr Geoff Mulgan has spent working on the Big Conversation Project; and if he will make a statement. | | (160603) | 337
N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the implications of the findings of the Chief Scientist on climate change published in the journal Science in January. | | (160418) | 338
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, what matters in respect of (a) Israel's weapons of mass destruction and (b) the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East were discussed with the Palestinian Prime Minister on 8th March.
| | (161179) | 339
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) Ministers, (b) honourable Members other than Ministers and (c) other authorised persons who were provided with a full version of the Attorney-General's advice to Government on the legality of the military action against Iraq in March 2003. | | (161190) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 340
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160967) | 341
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160968) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 342
N | Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) consultation and (b) decision-making process involved in the Post Office Network Reinvention programme. | | (160592) | 343
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on plans to establish a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. | | (160286) | 344
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160959) | 345
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160960) | 346
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of proposals for post office closures have been halted as a result of public consultation in the (a) West Midlands and (b) UK. | | (159895) | 347
| Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress is being made to resolve outstanding vibration white finger claims for compensation from former employees of British Coal who have suffered from pre-1975 exposure to vibratory tools and who were employed in a Group 3 occupation. | | (161065) | 348
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures her Department is taking to prepare (a) businessess and (b) service providers for the implementation of the parts of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which come into effect later this year. | | (160691) | 349
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 8th March, Official Report, column 1285W, on renewable energy, how much the Renewable Energy Initiative has cost to date; and how much is budgeted to be spent in the future. | | (160995) | 350
| Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people have been employed in the coal mining industry from 1954 to date. | | (160939) | 351
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) conferences and (b) seminars were convened by her Department in each year since 1997; what the costs were of each event; and how many were cancelled. | | (161146) | 352
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action her Department has taken to implement the recommendation of the Better Regulation Task Force report of May 2002 that there be independent expert input into considering alternatives to state regulation. | | (161147) | 353
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of her Department's senior civil servants went on one week's secondment in (a) the private sector and (b) a small or medium-sized enterprise between April 2002 and April 2003. | | (161148) | 354
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will place a copy of the Small Business Survey 2003 in the Library. | | (161149) | 355
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many proposed regulations have been aborted as a result of the Small Firms Impact Test. | | (161176) | 356
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations have been received regarding anti-competitive practices associated with the distribution of bounty bags to new mothers through NHS facilities; and if she will make a statement. | | (160982) | 357
N | Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions she has had regarding the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. | | (160288) | 358
N | Mr Robert Walter (North Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will investigate how far away wind turbines are required to be sited from houses in (a) Denmark, (b) Germany and (c) the United States to avoid the risk of ill effects on their inhabitants, and then report to Parliament the implications for the United Kingdom. | | (159896) | 359
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions her Department has had about the future of nuclear power generation in the UK. | | (161003) | 360
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to increase the target of energy generated from renewable sources. | | (161004) | 361
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) Members of the Scottish Parliament about the future management of Scotland's nuclear waste. | | (161005) | 362
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying the percentage target for energy from renewable sources. | | (161006) | 363
| Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions her Department has had about BNFL liabilities in the USA; and if she will make a statement. | | (161122) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 364
| Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase the penalties for lorry drivers breaching weight limits set on smaller bridges for second and subsequent offences. | | (161008) | 365
| Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase the penalty for lorry drivers breaching weight limits set on smaller bridges. | | (161009) | 366
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160965) | 367
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160966) | 368
N | Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money has been spent by the Highways Agency on non-motorway roads in (a) Somerset, (b) Dorset, (c) Devon, (d) Cornwall, (e) North Somerset, (f) Wiltshire, (g) Bristol, (h) Bath and North East Somerset, (i) South Gloucestershire and (j) Gloucestershire in each year since 1990. | | (160499) | 369
| Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) research projects and (b) campaign groups connected with road safety to which his Department gave money, in 2003-04, broken down by amount received. | | (160994) | 370
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many British Transport Police officers were based in each British Transport Police force area in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04. | | (160648) | 371
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on economic activity of the Forest of Dean of the closures of the first Severn crossing bridge to vehicles in the past three months. | | (160781) | 372
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether, when the Highways Agency makes the decision to close the first Severn crossing bridge, it differentiates between high-sided vehicles and saloon cars. | | (160782) | 373
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the Highways Agency informs the public of the instances of closure of the first Severn crossing bridge; and if he will review the adequacy of this process. | | (160783) | 374
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times, and for how long on each occasion, the first Severn crossing bridge has been closed to vehicles since the responsibility for doing so was transferred from the police to the Highways Agency. | | (160784) | 375
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria are used by the Highways Agency in determining when and for how long the first Severn crossing bridge should be closed to vehicles. | | (160785) | 376
| Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons responsibility for decisions on when to close the first Severn crossing bridge was transferred from the police to the Highways Agency. | | (160786) | 377
| Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase rail capacity (a) in West Yorkshire, (b) on the Wharfedale Line, (c) on the Harrogate Line and (d) on the Airedale Line. | | (160932) | 378
| Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on increasing rail capacity in West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. | | (160933) | 379
N | Mr Robert Walter (North Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency supplies local authorities with the vehicle registration numbers of people who are in arrears with their council tax payments. | | (160635) | 380
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many programmes have been undertaken to improve (a) harbours, (b) docks and (c) inland waterways since 1997. | | (160876) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 381
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160957) | 382
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160958) | 383
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was raised from the National Lottery in Wales in each year since 1997. | | (160872) | 384
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many civil servants were employed in the Welsh Office in each year between 1979 and 1999. | | (160931) | 385
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many civil servants have been employed in the Wales Office in each year since 1999 in (a) London and (b) Cardiff. | | (160935) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 386
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years. | | (160951) | 387
| Mr Tony Colman (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (160952) | 388
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to deal with employers who operate without compulsory employers' liability insurance. | | (160870) | 389
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure enforcement of compulsory employers' liablity insurance at local level; and if he will make a statement. | | (160871) | 390
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures his Department is taking to prepare (a) businessess and (b) service providers for the implementation of the parts of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which come into effect later this year. | | (160692) | 391
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to aid job placement for the unemployed in Wales. | | (160925) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 392
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many suicides of people under 30 years old there have been in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) age and (b) sex. | | [Transferred] (161083) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 393
| Jim Knight (South Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the impact on the tourism industry of schools moving to a six term school year with shorter summer holidays. | | [Transferred] (160936) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 394
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Government will respond to the Better Regulation Task Force report, The Regulation of Child Employment; and if he will place a copy of the response in the Library. | | [Transferred] (160767) | 395
| Jim Knight (South Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his Department is doing to ensure that the timescales for Private Finance Initiative school developments allow time for consideration of community use of sports facilities. | | [Transferred] (160938) | 396
| Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make families whose income is below the £13,230 threshold and who receive working tax credit eligible for free school meals for their children. | | [Transferred] (160787) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 397
N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on recent steps taken by her Department to combat oak disease. | | [Question Unstarred] (160277) | 398
| Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects the Euratom Treaty Article 35 verification visits to (a) Sellafield and (b) Dounreay to take place; and if she will make a statement on the arrangements for these inspection visits. | | [Transferred] (161161) | 399
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Strategy Unit's report regarding the impact of initiatives to displace disposable nappy use on waste minimisation; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (160983) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 400
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people on average per local authority in England received financial support towards nursing home provision in England in each of the last five years. | | [Transferred] (161054) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 401
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has received results obtained by Israeli scientists on samples removed from the sites of the bombings on 26th July 1994 at the Israeli Embassy and Balfour House. | | [Transferred] (160930) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 402
| Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what percentage of students domiciled in Wales went on to university in each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (160924) |
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