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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 17 March 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 17 March 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 17 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 Wednesday 17 March of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 17 March see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria are applied, and by whom, when a decision is taken that duplicate Parliamentary Questions tabled to different departments should be responded to by means of one composite reply; what mechanism exists for identifying such questions; and if he will make a statement. | | (162308) | 2
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Birt has an office in Government premises. | | (161908) | 3
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on the implications for contingency planning of the level of civil defence grants in the next financial year. | | (162301) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 4
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many birth defects there were in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (162216) | 5
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the new proposals on death certification will affect the recording of deaths involving MRSA. | | (162217) | 6
N | Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families are receiving the child care element of working tax credit; what the cost has been to date; and what proportion of families with children of eligible age this represents. | | (161527) | 7
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average percentage change in (a) public sector pay and (b) non-manual earnings has been in each year since 1993. | | (162291) | 8
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the change in the size of the electorate was in each Lancashire constituency in each year since 1997; and what these figures were as a percentage of the total. | | (162149) | 9
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many awards of child tax credit have been determined to have been wrongly calculated in (a) the North West and (b) Lancashire; and of those how many were (i) too high and (ii) too low. | | (162150) | 10
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of carers aged 65 years and over in Greater London. | | (162340) | 11
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 21 to 30, (ii) 31 to 40, (iii) 41 to 50 and (iv) 51 to 60 years in Greater London have been unemployed for (A) less than one month, (B) less than three months, (C) less than six months, (D) six to 12 months and (E) over 12 months. | | (162360) | 12
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged (a) 21 to 30, (b) 31 to 40, (c) 41 to 50 and (d) 51 to 60 years are unemployed. | | (162361) | 13
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many drug-related deaths there were in people aged under (a) 21, (b) 30 and (c) 40 years in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in the last year for which figures are available. | | (162409) | 14
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for (a) male, (b) female and (c) all workers in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough the (A) weekly median earnings and (B) distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed. | | (162410) | 15
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. | | (162246) | 16
| Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will refund to charitable museums VAT which has been incurred on (a) purchases made possible by grant monies from the National Lottery and (b) other purchases. | | (162352) | 17
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the types of financial transaction that are subject to VAT. | | (162452) | 18
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money the Government received from (a) VAT, (b) income tax, (c) inheritance tax, (d) corporation tax, (e) capital gains tax and (f) stamp duty in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available. | | (162453) | 19
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost of tax collection was in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available. | | (162454) | 20
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total tax take has been in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available. | | (162455) | 21
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much income tax was collected from each income tax bracket in the last fiscal year for which figures are available. | | (162466) | 22
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax he estimates has been uncollected in the past five years. | | (162467) | 23
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he intends to take to encourage more first time home buyers into the market. | | (162468) | 24
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many penalty notices were issued by the Inland Revenue to taxpayers for alleged late submission or non-submission of their 2003 self-assessment tax returns by the 31st January deadline in circumstances where they had been returned by this date; and if he will make a statement. | | (162324) | 25
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many penalty notices were issued by the Inland Revenue for the late submission or non-submission by taxpayers of their 2003 self-assessment tax returns. | | (162325) | 26
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the systems which are available to (a) control and (b) prevent (i) waste and (ii) fraud within the European Union; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those procedures. | | (161698) | Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners 27
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his Answer of 11th March, Official Report, column 1633W, on parish priest salaries, how many parish priests were employed in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2003-04. | | (162473) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 28
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which consultees argued against the inclusion of Scottish criminal law appeals within the jurisdiction of the new UK Supreme Court. | | (162326) | 29
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which consultees expressed concerns as to the integrity of Scots law further to the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court. | | (162327) | 30
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the estimated start-up costs are of the new UK Supreme Court; what the estimated running costs are per annum for the first five years of existence of the new UK Supreme Court; and which UK Government department will be responsible for meeting those costs. | | (162328) | 31
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment has been made of the possible change in fees in civil cases that may be required following the establishment of the UK Supreme Court in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK. | | (162329) | 32
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when Ministers in the Department last met Scottish Ministers to discuss the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court. | | (162330) | 33
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether Ministers in the Department have met representatives of (a) the Law Society of Scotland, (b) the Faculty of Advocates, (c) the Shrieval Bench, (d) Scottish judges and (e) the Scottish Legal Aid Board to discuss the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court. | | (162331) | 34
N | Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to improve the administration of rape cases in Northamptonshire. | | (161635) | 35
N | Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent delays in court hearings of rape cases. | | (161636) | 36
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what percentage of fines imposed have been paid in (a) Salisbury Magistrates Court and (b) Salisbury Crown Court in the past 12 months. | | (162447) | 37
N | Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, under what powers Irish nationals are excluded from reserved posts in the Northern Ireland Court Service. | | (160427) | 38
| Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what his policy is regarding returning original documents held by the Public Record Office from the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916 to (a) the nearest living relative and (b) the National Archives of Ireland. | | (162317) | 39
| Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, for what reason the Public Record Office retained original documents written by those court-martialled following the Dublin uprising in 1916. | | (162318) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 40
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in what ways her Department is carrying forward the Government's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, with particular reference to equal opportunities to recreation and leisure. | | (161481) | 41
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding she will make available to sport to meet the target set out in Game Plan that 70 per cent. of the population are active by 2020; and if she will make a statement. | | (162161) | 42
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department spent per capita in grant-in-aid for sport in England in each of the last five years. | | (162162) | 43
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will place in the Library the latest available research showing what each European Union member country spends in direct government expenditure per capita on sport. | | (162163) | 44
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times she has met the Secretary of State for Health to discuss the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team. | | (162164) | 45
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what budget her Department has allocated to the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team. | | (162165) | 46
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Lottery expenditure has been allocated to sporting projects in each of the past five years, broken down by Lottery distributor. | | (162166) | 47
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money has been spent on library (a) buildings and (b) books in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley in each year since 1997. | | (162153) | 48
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what grants have been made for running tracks in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) Merseyside, (c) Lancashire and (d) Cheshire in each year since 1997; and what the amounts were in each case. | | (162154) | 49
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other assistance has been provided towards film making in (i) Greater London and (ii) England in each of the last five years. | | (162341) | 50
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding has been provided to promote (a) hockey, (b) rugby, (c) soccer, (d) cricket and (e) other sports in Greater London in each of the last five years. | | (162342) | 51
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to enhance science in her Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. | | (162241) | 52
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who the members of the (a) Horserace Totalisator Board, (b) Gaming Board for Great Britain and (c) Horserace Betting Levy Board were on 1st January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated. | | (162172) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 53
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what actions he has taken to promote the role of reservists arising from their contribution in Iraq; how many reservists have been recruited to the armed forces since the beginning of hostilities in that country; and if he will make a statement. | | (161348) | 54
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel serving on operations abroad had their rest and recuperation period reduced as a result of military transport difficulties in each of the past 12 months; what efforts are being made to ensure service personnel receive their full rest and recuperation entitlement; and if he will make a statement. | | (161480) | 55
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of Boscombe Down; and what the cost of the establishment has been in each year since 1997. | | (162147) | 56
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the US Administration on whether Eurofighter could bring potential benefits to the United States Air Force. | | (162148) | 57
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department, since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162253) | 58
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that the Arctic campaign veterans, who do not qualify for the Atlantic Star due to length of service restrictions receive some recognition of their service. | | (162158) | 59
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will introduce a medal for those servicemen who served on the Arctic convoys to Russia during the Second World War. | | (162159) | 60
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Intelligence Services. | | (162299) | 61
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recommendations were made by the Board of Inquiry into the death of Grenadier Guardsman Richard King; how many of these recommendations have been implemented; what further actions were taken against the 10 non-commissioned officers identified by the Special Investigation Branch and reported for neglect of duty; and how many of these officers have been promoted since the incident. | | (162258) | 62
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome was of the investigation into the death of Mr Leslie John Douglas; when a Board of Inquiry was convened; what its recommendations were; and what further action has been taken. | | (162259) | 63
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what conclusions were reached by Brigadier Mountford in his 1993 review of the single entry system; what recommendations he made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. | | (162266) | 64
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recommendations were made by the Board of Inquiry into the death of Sean Benton concerning security instructions and orders governing armed guard duties at Deepcut barracks; and what action has subsequently been taken on the implementation of each of these recommendations. | | (162267) | 65
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hours per week on average each Royal Logistic Corps trainee at Deepcut barracks was required to perform guard duty in the last year for which figures are available. | | (162268) | 66
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the internal recommendations made by Brigadier Evans in his 1995 review of the Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks; how many of these recommendations were accepted; what action was taken as a result; and what assessment was made of the applicability of these measures to other barracks. | | (162269) | 67
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the external recommendations made by Brigadier Evans in his 1995 review of the Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks; how many of these recommendations were accepted; and what action was taken as a result. | | (162270) | 68
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of Brigadier Evans 1995 review of Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks. | | (162271) | 69
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what conclusions were reached by the 1996 Walton report on circumstances relating to unnatural deaths in the Army; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. | | (162272) | 70
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what conclusions were reached by Lieutenant Colonel Hawley in his October 1998 report that scoped the scale and nature of psychological morbidity among Army recruits; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. | | (162273) | 71
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what conclusions were reached by Lieutenant Colonel R Haes report of 24th April 2001 concerning the exercise by the Army of the duty of care; what recommendations were made; how many of these have been acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. | | (162274) | 72
| Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the recommendations were of the 3rd December 2002 Final Report of the Deputy Adjutant General on the Deepcut investigation; and if he will place a copy in the Library. | | (162275) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 73
| Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the turnout of tenants and leaseholders was in each of the arms' length Management Organisation votes in the last 12 months. | | (162475) | 74
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many parents of disabled children in England applied for the disabled facilities grant in 2003; and how many of them had their application means-tested. | | (162284) | 75
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many parents of disabled children in England who had their application for the disabled facilities grant means-tested in 2003 withdrew from the application process. | | (162285) | 76
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many parents of disabled children received the full amount applied for in the disabled facilities grant in England in 2003. | | (162286) | 77
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total amount paid in disabled facilities grant in England was in 2003; and how much of this was paid to those whose applications had been means-tested. | | (162287) | 78
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to abolish the means testing of the disabled facilities grant for the parents of disabled children in England. | | (162288) | 79
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the Government grant for (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough council was in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 2002-03 and (iii) 2003-04. | | (162343) | 80
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which 10 local authorities in Greater London are due to receive the greatest percentage increases in grant in the financial year 2004-05; and what the amounts of those increases are. | | (162344) | 81
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average length of time is for processing planning applications in Greater London. | | (162345) | 82
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many new houses have been built in the social rented sector in Greater London in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year. | | (162346) | 83
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been spent on (a) maintenance and (b) repair of social rented housing in Greater London in each year since 1997. | | (162347) | 84
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local authorities whose tenants have rejected transfer of council housing stock, broken down by (a) year of rejection and (b) option rejected. | | (162176) | 85
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. | | (162245) | 86
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) officials and (b) press officers are involved in the information campaign on elected regional assemblies, Your Say. | | (162422) | 87
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, who is responsible for the (a) design, (b) production and (c) distribution of the leaflets (i) Your Say: A new opportunity for the North East, (ii) Your Say: A new opportunity for the North West, (iii) Your Say: A new opportunity for Yorkshire and the Humber, (iv) Your Say: Business and Jobs and (v) Your Say: Assembly powers and responsibilities; and at what cost. | | (162423) | 88
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the maximum council tax is that a local authority may set for (a) a second home and (b) an empty home; and to what purposes the local authority may apply the proceeds of the council tax received in each case. | | (162220) | 89
| Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities in London have used the funding from the Homelessness Directorate in support of their local homelessness strategies to pay cash incentives to social rented sector tenants to relinquish their tenancy and buy a property on the open market; how much funding was used for this purpose, and how many homes were released for reletting, in each case. | | (162237) | 90
| Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 1185W, on houses in multiple occupation, what plans he has to introduce a cap on the total licence fee payable per house in multiple occupation. | | (162238) | 91
| Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he expects to publish the research by the College of Estate Management into the valuation of properties purchased under the right to buy scheme. | | (162239) | 92
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the range of new responsibilities to be undertaken by local authorities in the next financial year. | | (162302) | 93
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to impose a condition of approval for the Shell Haven Port application of a heritage fund to enable the local fishing industry to restart at a future date if the development goes ahead. | | (162193) | 94
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make if his policy to impose a condition of approval for the Shell Haven Port application that no dredging will take place at low water during the March to June spawning season. | | (162196) | 95
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he expects to make a statement on the recommendations of the public enquiry into the proposed Shell Haven Port in the Thames Estuary. | | (162197) | 96
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, who the members of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England were on 1st January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated. | | (162296) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 97
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in what ways his Department is carrying forward the Government's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child.
| | (161414) | 98
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average percentage change in salary for (a) university academic staff, (b) academic-related staff and (c) vice-chancellors has been for each year since 1993. | | (162295) | 99
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many residents of (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley have undertaken apprenticeships in each of the last seven years. | | (162145) | 100
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been spent on science in schools in Chorley in each year since 1997. | | (162146) | 101
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which schools in Greater London, broken down by London borough, ran a budget deficit in the year ended 31st March 2003; and how much this deficit was for each school. | | (162333) | 102
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of school leavers in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough went on to higher education in each year since 1997. | | (162334) | 103
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. | | (162242) | 104
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total cost was of drafting, publishing and circulating the Every Child Matters: Next Steps document; and to how many people the document was sent. | | (162265) | 105
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with business on the work of the Learning and Skills Council. | | (162304) | 106
N | Jonathan Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many times the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals panel have reviewed a decision under part (a) C and (b) D of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations 2002. | | (162114) | 107
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement about (a) the future of drugs advisers and (b) their funding in Essex schools. | | (162195) | 108
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what Government funding has been provided to the Kids' Club Network, 4 Children, in each of the last three years for which information is available. | | (162198) | 109
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to provide security of tenure after 2005-06 for additional staff taken on in pathfinder schools to meet the requirement of the workload agreement pilot; and if he will make a statement. | | (161906) | 110
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools use temporary mobile classroom accommodation, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. | | (161907) | 111
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to support the cost of workforce reform after 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (161991) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 112
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will end the statutory monopoly of the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Body to issue certificates of technical competence. | | (162441) | 113
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what budget will be available in 2004-05 to the Waste and Resources Research Advisory Group. | | (162443) | 114
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether appointments to the Waste and Resources Research Advisory Group have been made in accordance with the Nolan principles. | | (162444) | 115
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) title and (b) subject matter of the waste management research projects that have been commissioned by (i) her Department and (ii) bodies sponsored by her Department since 1st April 2003. | | (162445) | 116
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding (a) her Department and (b) bodies sponsored by it have made available since March 2003 for research projects relating to waste management. | | (162446) | 117
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the additional resources that will be made available to (a) the Environment Agency and (b) local authorities to detect the unlicensed management of waste. | | (162465) | 118
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many roads used as public paths, as introduced under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, have been reclassified as byways open to all traffic in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on the basis of (a) conclusive evidence of dedication as a public carriage road by the landowner and (b) circumstantial evidence of deemed dedication as a public carriage road by the landower; and in each case, how many were inspected to ensure compliance with standards set out in Part 10 of the Highways Act 1980. | | (162357) | 119
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funds are available to businesses wishing to explore new methods of (a) recycling and (b) disposing of waste plastics. | | (162228) | 120
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on projects her Department supports which aim to produce road fuel from waste material. | | (162255) | 121
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the effect of new legislation on current methods of disposing of farm waste plastics. | | (162256) | 122
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the uses to which recycled waste farm plastics may be put. | | (162257) | 123
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has had from (a) the fuel industry and (b) environmental groups on the manufacture of road fuel from waste plastics. | | (162283) | 124
| Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consultations have been launched in the last five years into (a) the reuse and (b) disposal of waste plastics. | | (162297) | 125
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Oral Answer of 11th March, Official Report, column 1640, on single farm payments, what the nature of Mr Dring's memorandum was; for what purpose it was written; for what purpose it was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and whether the memorandum was requested by senior officials in MAFF. | | (162111) | 126
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Oral Answer of 11th March, Official Report, column 1640, on single farm payments, when the memorandum from Mr Dring was (a) written and (b) received by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; what discussions were held between Mr Dring and his senior managers in MAFF following receipt of the memorandum; and what assessment was made of the memorandum by legal officials in MAFF. | | (162112) | 127
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Oral Answer of 11th March, Official Report, column 1640, on single farm payments, who in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made the decision not to submit Mr Dring's memorandum to Dr Iain Anderson's inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak. | | (162113) | 128
| Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) total budget and (b) budget for administration for the Advisory Committee on Packaging was in financial year 2002-03. | | (162171) | 129
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to enhance science in her Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162251) | 130
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a draft Marine Conservation Bill. | | (162218) | 131
| 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 effect of the slaughter-only market on (a) farms and (b) auction marts; and if she will alter her Department's ruling so that livestock may return to farm of origin with the proviso that it triggers a 20 day standstill on that farm. | | (162470) | 132
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on courses of action available to them where sewerage undertakers are unwilling to be involved in joint work on sewer baiting. | | (161666) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 133
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many special advisors to his Department attended conferences (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in the year to 29th February; and what the cost was of attending these conferences, broken down by (i) travel costs, (ii) food and drink, (iii) accommodation and (iv) miscellaneous costs. | | (160798) | 134
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on (a) the weapons of mass destruction held by Israel and (b) that nation's (i) entry into and (ii) adherence to international agreements on such weapons. | | (162306) | 135
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what ways the Government is carrying forward its commitment to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. | | (161413) | 136
| Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will answer the letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Small Business and Enterprise from the honourable Member for Harborough dated 4th August 2003 on behalf of Mr G. Costello of Oadby, which was forwarded to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade by the Department of Trade and Industry on 5th August 2003. | | (162351) | 137
| Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many nationals of each country from which a visa is required applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications in 2002; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before the visas expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum. | | (162160) | 138
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the (a) adoption and (b) implementation within an agreed timescale of the UN norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regards to human rights when it is forwarded to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva; and if he will make a statement. | | (162292) | 139
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. | | (162248) | 140
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on EU enlargment; and if he will make a statement. | | (162300) | 141
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the US and international community that (a) Saddam Hussein and (b) Ali Hassan Al-Majid be charged under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Article II in respect of the massacre of Kurds at Halabja and through the Anfal campaign. | | (162190) | 142
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to maximise UN involvement in (a) the administration of Iraq and (b) the development of constitutional arrangements for an autonomous Kurdish region within an overall federal solution. | | (162191) | 143
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the international community regarding (a) the integrity of Iraq's borders and (b) the need to ensure Kurdish security in respect of Turkey and Iran; and if he will make a statement. | | (162192) | 144
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the EU project to dig 50 wells for drinking water; how many of these have been completed; and what steps are being taken to reclaim funds misappropriated in relation to this project. | | (161699) | 145
| Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) his Chinese counterpart and (b) the Chinese Ambassador to the Court of St James regarding the use of Chinese airspace and refuelling facilities in respect of the transport of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile technology (i) to and (ii) from North Korea. | | (162223) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 146
| Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for (a) breast cancer, (b) cervical cancer and (c) cancer of the prostate, (i) the number of cases diagnosed, (ii) the number of recorded cases and (iii) the amount of Government money spent on research in financial year 2003-04. | | (162435) | 147
| Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the work of the Change Agent Team. | | (162315) | 148
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether general practices will be able to opt out of providing contraceptive services. | | (162155) | 149
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what forms of contraception may be prescribed in NHS walk-in centres. | | (162178) | 150
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what forms of contraception are available over the counter; and what plans he has to extend this range. | | (162179) | 151
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers pharmacists have to prescribe contraception; and what plans he has to change this. | | (162185) | 152
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultation has been undertaken with healthcare professionals before the awarding of contracts under the National Programme for Information Technology; and if he will make a statement. | | (162186) | 153
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what monitoring and assessment his Department will carry out of the current review that strategic health authorities are undertaking of their eligibility criteria and of individual cases by March, as referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Warner on 10th March. | | (162187) | 154
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the review of continuing NHS care in nine strategic health authorities, referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Warner on 10th March. | | (162188) | 155
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11th February, Official Report, column 1540W, on doctors, what he means by a period of limited registration. | | (162236) | 156
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from Johnson and Johnson on the risk of stroke in atypical antipsychotics used on patients with dementia. | | (162424) | 157
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost of the research to develop the Patient Experience Definition. | | (162425) | 158
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what regulations are in place governing conflicts of interest on medical advisory committees, including the (a) Committee on Safety of Medicines and (b) Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation; and if he will make a statement. | | (162426) | 159
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 1819W, on Healthcare Associated Infections (Deaths), what monitoring his Department will undertake of the provision of isolation facilities in NHS hospitals and the timetable for their implementation. | | (162434) | 160
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS trusts make the drug Ebixa available for people with dementia on the NHS; and which do not. | | (162293) | 161
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to ensure that Ebixa is available, on prescription, to all people suffering from dementia regardless of the NHS trust area in which they live. | | (162294) | 162
| Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he plans to empower children meeting the criteria set out by the House of Lords in Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority in 1986 to consent to or refuse treatment to the same extent as an adult in the planned Mental Health Bill; and if he will make a statement. | | (162320) | 163
| Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a legal duty on the managers of hospitals to secure (a) assessment of and (b) provision in the care plan for the family needs of a patient with parental responsibility made subject to compulsory mental health powers; and if he will make a statement. | | (162321) | 164
| Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward a requirement in the draft Mental Health Bill that the clinical supervisor of a child subject to mental health law must be a specialist in child and adolescent mental health. | | (162322) | 165
| Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he intends to incorporate into the planned Mental Health Bill the rights expressed in article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of a child who has been placed by the competent authorities for the purposes of care, protection or treatment of his or her physical or mental health to a periodic review of (a) the treatment provided to the child and (b) all other circumstances relating to his or her placement. | | (162323) | 166
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses, (b) midwives, (c) nursing assistants and (d) professionals ancillary to medicine were employed in the area of each primary care trust in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in (A) 1997 and (B) the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (162348) | 167
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children aged between 11 and 15 years were admitted to hospital in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough owing to alcohol-related problems in each of the last six years. | | (162349) | 168
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists' surgeries in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough are accepting new NHS patients. | | (162364) | 169
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there are for radiographers in the NHS in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough. | | (162365) | 170
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) general practitioners are in training in (i) each London borough, (ii) Greater London and (iii) England; and what the figures were in 1997. | | (162366) | 171
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department, since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162252) | 172
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to inform the public of the changes to out-of-hours services when the new general practitioner contract comes into effect on 1st April. | | (162260) | 173
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new resources (a) were budgeted for and (b) will be made available to primary care trusts specifically to help them meet their obligations to provide out-of-hours services. | | (162261) | 174
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the target time is in which to answer calls to NHS Direct; and what the target will be after 1st April. | | (162262) | 175
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the target for the percentage of calls to NHS Direct to be answered is; and what the target will be after 1st April. | | (162263) | 176
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) accident and emergency units, (b) the ambulance service and (c) NHS Direct of the new general practitioner contracts from 1st April. | | (162264) | 177
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what programmes his Department runs to help midwives from the EU accession states to adapt to working in the UK after 1st April. | | (162471) | 178
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what controls there are on (a) doctors and (b) nurses who began their training in an EU accession country before 1st May who wish to work in such professions in the UK after 1st May. | | (162472) | 179
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, from whom dentists from EU accession states can obtain details of the procedure for obtaining accreditation to (a) set up in private practice and (b) to qualify for employment within the NHS; whether this information is available on a website; and if he will make a statement. | | (161983) | 180
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the recent report published by the British Medical Association Genetically modified foods and health: a second interim statement. | | (162174) | 181
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialists in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are employed in the NHS; how many sufferers from ME there are in (a) each of the Wakefield primary care trusts, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) the UK; what diagnostic tests for ME are recommended to general practitioners by the Department; and if he will make a statement. | | (162157) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 182
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th March, Official Report, column 1567-8W, on asylum and immigration, for what reasons people are referred to medical inspectors; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in referrals seen at Heathrow. | | (162221) | 183
N | Mr William Cash (Stone):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much each body funded under the European Community Action Programme received in grants in each of the last five years; how much was received by branches of each body in the UK in each year; and on what criteria decisions on making grants are based. | | (161396) | 184
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what cross-departmental discussions involving his Department have taken place regarding the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights. | | (161479) | 185
| Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the penalties for (a) possession and (b) use of heroin. | | (162180) | 186
| 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 12th March; how many prisoners were released on early release on 12th March; how many prisoners were eligible for early release on 12th March; and how many prisoners were released on 12th March. | | (162199) | 187
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that young offenders are detained near their (a) homes and (b) families. | | (162312) | 188
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the re-offending rates for young offenders who have been detained in (a) young offender institutions and (b) secure units were in the last period for which figures are available. | | (162313) | 189
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to streamline the inspection regime for secure units for juvenile offenders. | | (162314) | 190
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 722W, on prison education, what assessments are made of the educational needs of each individual prisoner. | | (162353) | 191
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 721W, on prison education, how many heads of learning and skills have been appointed; and if he will make a statement on their roles and responsibilities. | | (162354) | 192
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 721W, on prison education, if he will make a statement on increased partnership working to improve opportunities for learning and skills across the range of prison activities. | | (162355) | 193
| Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 721W, on prison education, what level of increased investment is being made by his Department, over the next three years, to increase opportunities for learning and skills across the range of prison activities. | | (162356) | 194
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on (a) the recruitment of police officers, (b) the recruitment of graduates to work as police officers and (c) the Accelerated Promotion scheme for graduate police officers in Greater London. | | (162335) | 195
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) arrests were made, (b) people were charged, (c) cautions were issued and (d) convictions there were in Greater London, broken down by (i) police force, (ii) constituency and (iii) local authority area in each year since 1997. | | (162336) | 196
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of police officers in Greater London, broken down by rank, are (a) female and (b) from an ethnic minority. | | (162337) | 197
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Greater London who take (a) heroin, (b) marijuana, (c) cocaine and (d) ecstasy. | | (162338) | 198
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which of London's boroughs run neighbourhood warden schemes; how many wardens were employed in each of these boroughs at the latest date for which figures are available; how many boroughs directly (a) fund and (b) employ police community support officers (PCSOs); how many PCSOs each of these boroughs (i) funded and (ii) employed at the latest date for which figures are available; how many run a community safety accreditation scheme; and if he will make a statement. | | (162358) | 199
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding per head of population has been received in each year since 1997 from (a) Government grant and (b) the police precept by each police force in England and Wales. | | (162359) | 200
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162249) | 201
| Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish the draft Charities Bill. | | (162298) | 202
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many minority ethnic prison officers (a) joined and (b) left the Prison Service in each of the last five years. | | (162362) | 203
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many minority ethnic prison officers have resigned from the Prison Service within (a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years of starting their employment in each of the last five years. | | (162363) | 204
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK who are liable to be forcibly returned to Iraq. | | (162411) | 205
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted under section 25 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in each of the last five years. | | (162412) | 206
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ask the Sentencing Guidelines Council to frame guidelines in relation to the Misuse of Computers Act 1990. | | (162413) | 207
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for unauthorised (i) access to computer material, (ii) access to computer material with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences and (iii) modification of computer material under the Misuse of Computers Act 1990 in each year since 1990, broken down by region. | | (162414) | 208
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent (a) representations he has received and (b) discussions he has had regarding (i) judicial awareness of and (ii) sentencing guidelines in relation to the Misuse of Computers Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. | | (162415) | 209
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the financial cost to (a) the UK and (b) the regions of the misuse of information technology systems in the last 12 months. | | (162416) | 210
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of misuse of information technology systems; and if he will make a statement. | | (162417) | 211
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers have been forcibly removed to Afghanistan in each of the last five years. | | (162418) | 212
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 1175W, on information technology, how many of the cases cited in the table related to (a) breaches of data protection law and (b) pornography. | | (162436) | 213
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 6th January, Official Report, column 328W, on young offender institutions, which establishments are equipped with (a) unfurnished cells and (b) other types of special accommodation. | | (162437) | 214
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 9th February, Official Report, column 1262W, on juvenile prisoners, if he will provide a brief description of (a) the fixtures and facilities in the unfurnished cell in each establishment, (b) its location within the prison and (c) the items of clothing and personal possessions which the prisoner is allowed to have with him. | | (162438) | 215
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 9th February, Official Report, column 1262W, on juvenile prisoners, for what reasons the use of unfurnished cells was judged to be unnecessary at (a) Eastwood Park, (b) Holloway, (c) Huntercombe, (d) Lancaster Farms, (e) Parc, (f) Thorn Cross, (g) Warren Hill, (h) Werrington and (i) Wetherby. | | (162439) | 216
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 9th February, Official Report, column 1262W, on juvenile prisoners, what the (a) average number of hours and (b) longest number of hours spent in unfurnished cells was at (i) Castington, (ii) Feltham, (iii) Hindley and (iv) Stoke Heath in 2003. | | (162440) | 217
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidences of cargo theft were reported by contracted shipping delivery companies in each year between 1997 and 2003. | | (162419) | 218
N | Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the reasons for requiring the returns of police officer numbers from constabularies for the purpose of his recent announcement on a different basis to the normal quarterly and annual return provided to his office by constabularies. | | (161824) | 219
N | Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there are per force on the basis of the normal quarterly and annual returns provided by constabularies to his Department. | | (161825) | 220
| Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether placement conferences are routinely held to decide in which penal institution children should be held. | | (162277) | 221
| Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether juveniles who reach the age of 18 whilst serving a detention and training order are automatically transferred out of the juvenile prison estate. | | (162278) | 222
| Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a limit on the number of children who may visit a parent in prison. | | (162279) | 223
| Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on visits to prisoners in Highpoint Prison by more than three of their children at any one time. | | (162280) | 224
| Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures are in place to ensure that children who are part way through GCSE courses when they are received into prison can continue their courses. | | (162281) | 225
| Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which prisons in the juvenile estate give night-time breakfast packs to inmates. | | (162282) | 226
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were required to provide DNA samples as a result of (a) enquiries and (b) convictions in connection with section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (i) Wales and (ii) England in (A) 2001, (B) 2002 and (C) 2003. | | (162181) | 227
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were required to attend a police station to provide fingerprints and photographs after being found guilty under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (a) Wales and (b) England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003. | | (162182) | 228
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were required to provide fingerprints and photographs when attending a police station in connection with a possible offence relating to section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (a) Wales and (b) England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003. | | (162183) | 229
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions were carried out under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (a) Wales and (b) England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003. | | (162184) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 230
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much customs levy the Government paid on food aid given to developing countries in 2003-04. | | (162189) | 231
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. | | (162250) | 232
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make it his policy to raise with the international community the need to deal with the malaria problem in the Nzerekore region in Guinea, with particular reference to the Kouankan and other refugee camps; and if he will make a statement. | | (162194) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 233
| David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the flying of the Union Flag on public buildings on designated days when the Union Flag is flown on Government buildings in Northern Ireland. | | (162408) | 234
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's meeting with representatives of Belfast City Airport on 10th March. | | (161347) | 235
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what legislation or regulations prevent diabetes sufferers from serving as ambulance drivers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (161349) | 236
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether citizenship ceremonies taking place in Northern Ireland will follow exactly the same format as in the rest of the United Kingdom. | | (161397) | 237
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many suicides took place in prisons in Northern Ireland in 2003; and what steps have been taken to eliminate the risk of suicide in prisons in Northern Ireland. | | (162143) | 238
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures have been put in place to assess vulnerable inmates in prisons in Northern Ireland who are at risk of suicide; and what measures he is taking to protect those who have been assessed as being at risk of suicide in prison. | | (162144) | 239
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in the Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency have been excluded from the electoral register on grounds of insufficient mental capacity in each of the last three years. | | (162169) | 240
| Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is regarding returning original documents held by his office from the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916 to (a) the nearest living relative and (b) the National Archives of Ireland. | | (162316) | 241
| Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason his Office retained original documents on the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916. | | (162319) | Questions to the Prime Minister 242
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received on the reform of the (a) United Nations Charter and (b) international law to limit the sovereignty of nations in cases of (i) urgent humanitarian need and (ii) the threatened aquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction. | | (162276) | 243
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Prime Minister, what proposals he has for reform of the United Nations Charter to allow the United Nations greater rights (a) to intervene within the territory of member states and (b) otherwise to override their sovereignty. | | (162309) | 244
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his speech of 5th March, under what circumstances he supports the right of sovereign states to take pre-emptive action against other states. | | (162305) | 245
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, what his policy is in respect of providing substantive answers to Written Parliamentary Questions where he concludes that to provide such answers would be detrimental to the work of Government. | | (162307) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 246
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the effects of reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. | | (162303) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 247
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she has taken to enhance science in her Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162244) | 248
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the (a) resource budget, (b) administration costs and (c) staff numbers of the (i) Database Market Strategy Group (Patent Office), (ii) Small Business Investment Task Force, (iii) Small Business Council, (iv) Partnership Fund Assessment Panel, (v) Measurement Advisory Committee, (vi) Industrial Development Advisory Board, (vii) Council for Science and Technology, (viii) Committee on Cleaner Coal Technology, (ix) National Consumer Council, (x) Gas and Electricity Consumer Council and (xi) British Hallmarking Council are for 2003. | | (162421) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 249
| Andrew Bennett (Denton & Reddish):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the new platform 1 at Stockport Station to be in use; who paid for it; and whether its introduction to use is dependent on new signalling. | | (162420) | 250
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much revenue has been raised in fines imposed as a result of speed cameras in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough since 1997. | | (162332) | 251
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made (a) in Greater London and (b) in each London Borough in achieving the Ten Year Plan targets for growth of more than 12 per cent. by 2010 compared with 2000 in the use of (i) bus services and (ii) light rail. | | (162350) | 252
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162243) | 253
| Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when railway bridge works at (a) Skew Bridge, Salisbury will be completed and (b) Broken Cross Bridge, Ford will be started. | | (162449) | 254
N | Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money has been spent (a) settling and (b) contesting claims registered at employment tribunals since the beginning of 2003 in the Department for Transport for (i) race discrimination, (ii) sex discrimination, (iii) disability discrimination, (iv) unfair dismissal and (v) equal pay. | | (161046) | 255
N | Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many days have been lost owing to stress in (a) the Department for Transport and (b) Transec Division. | | (161047) | 256
N | Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether each agency in the Department for Transport has disciplinary procedures which comply with (a) the ACAS handbook on discipline and grievances at work and (b) the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. | | (161048) | 257
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the Crossrail project. | | (162442) | 258
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much public money will be spent on the Crossrail project. | | (162448) | 259
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans there are for the cost of tickets on Crossrail services. | | (162456) | 260
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much it cost to maintain Romford railway station in the last financial year for which figures are available. | | (162459) | 261
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much public funding has been invested in (a) Romford and (b) Gidea Park railway stations in the last five years. | | (162460) | 262
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for the future of Network Rail. | | (162461) | 263
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how long the Government expects to continue subsidising Network Rail. | | (162462) | 264
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what Government subsidies are given to rail operators, other than those which are given to Network Rail. | | (162463) | 265
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost of the Crossrail project is expected to be. | | (162464) | 266
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has for new high speed rail lines. | | (162469) | 267
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what total amount of public funds has been spent on the Channel Tunnel and associated works since 1986; and what assessment he has made of the economic stability of the Tunnel in the future. | | (161696) | 268
N | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the operators of the Channel Tunnel rail services; and if he will make a statement. | | (161697) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 269
| Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Hackney North and Stoke Newington have benefited from the New Deal for (a) young people, (b) long-term unemployed and (c) lone parents. | | (162289) | 270
| Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the impact of his Department's policies on the constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1997. | | (162290) | 271
| Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value is of the contracts awarded to (a) At Work (Talent) North London and (b) Reed in Partnership in North London in connection with the Ethnic Minority Outreach Programme; what targets were agreed when the contracts were awarded; and how many people (i) have been helped into work and (ii) have achieved other job outcomes as a result of those contracts, broken down by ethnic background. | | (162311) | 272
| Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has received the report from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee on its review of Prescribed Disease A11. | | (162310) | 273
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of average male earnings the State Retirement Pension for a single person represented in each year from 1994 to 2004. | | (162177) | 274
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. | | (162247) | 275
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is a website giving advice and guidance for citizens from EU accession states wishing to work in the UK from 1st May; and if he will make a statement. | | (161982) | 276
N | Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a family's ability to buy healthy food is taken into account in the Government's measurement of child poverty. | | (161909) | 277
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what performance measures are in place for Child Support Agency caseworkers in English regions; what the most recent performance delivery against these measures was; and how many caseworkers in Yorkshire have been disciplined for poor service provision in the last three years. | | (162156) | 278
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many caseworkers are employed by the Child Support Agency, broken down by region. | | (162167) | 279
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the target response times are for the Child Support Agency telephone helpline; and what the most recent performance delivery against these targets is. | | (162170) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 280
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the pensioner population is in (a) each London borough and (b) England. | | [Transferred] (162407) | 281
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance he has published for estate agents on the requirements of the money laundering regulations which comes into force on 1st March; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (162457) | 282
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a photcopy of a conveyancing solicitor's or conveyancer's identification documentation will be sufficient to enable estate agents to meet the money laundering regulations. | | [Transferred] (162458) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 283
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much money the Treasury plans to set aside in 2005 for local government grants. | | [Transferred] (162450) | 284
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much money the Treasury set aside for local government grants in (a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001 and (d) 2003. | | [Transferred] (162451) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 285
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has (a) to re-convene the Peat Working Group and (b) to engage the United Kingdom gardening industry in helping the Government to meet its target of 90 per cent. of growing media and soil improvers to be peat-free by 2010. | | [Transferred] (162234) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 286
| Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) median, (b) highest and (c) lowest consumption of eggs per person in the UK was amongst (i) infants, (ii) children, (iii) young adults and (iv) adults, according to the findings of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. | | [Transferred] (162173) | 287
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered heroin addicts there were in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each of the last five years. | | [Transferred] (162339) | 288
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the research carried out by Professor Denis Murphy of the Biotechnology Unit of Glamorgan University into the contamination of UK soya products by GM soya. | | [Transferred] (162175) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 289
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are detained in Maghaberry Prison; and how many of those are (a) male, (b) female and (c) children. | | [Transferred] (162151) | 290
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of stay was for an asylum seeker in the last two years at Maghaberry Prison. | | [Transferred] (162152) | 291
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether asylum seekers detained at Maghaberry Prison are (a) subject to normal prison rules and (b) held separately from (i) sentenced and (ii) remand prisoners. | | [Transferred] (162168) | 292
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for how long Maghaberry Prison will be used to detain asylum seekers. | | [Transferred] (162235) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 293
N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to eliminate punishment beatings. | | [Question Unstarred] (160819) |
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