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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Tuesday 23 March 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 23 March 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 23 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 Tuesday 23 March of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 23 March see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
N | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what effect the proposed merger of HM Customs and Excise with the Inland Revenue and reduction in staffing levels will have on the number of frontline uniformed customs officers in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) the Highlands and Islands and (d) Orkney and Shetland; and if he will make a statement. | | (163268) | 2
N | Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his best estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of the 10 per cent. credit that individual savings accounts receive on dividend distributions that will be abolished from April in each year since its introduction. | | (163077) | 3
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessments his Department has made of the costs to the economy as a whole caused by poor consumer understanding of the (a) financial services and (b) consumer credit industries. | | (163360) | 4
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will commission research to assess consumers' understanding of the different regulatory systems for equity release and home reversion schemes once the new Financial Services Authority's regulation comes into force. | | (163380) | 5
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints there were to (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) HM Customs and Excise and (c) district valuers' offices in each of the last three years. | | (156868) | 6
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in (a) the UK and (b) Huddersfield in each year since 1997. | | (163387) | 7
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will publish a consultation paper on the introduction of the community benefit society asset locks described in the Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (163340) | 8
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will (a) raise the figure below which pensioners may retain the full benefit of age-related allowances and (b) reduce the effect of the taper above that figure. | | (163342) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 9
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when the Department expects to announce the outcome of the inquiry into the conduct of the Cleveland Coroner. | | (162985) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 10
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to secure the financial future of the British Federation of Film Societies. | | (163381) | 11
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received from film societies concerning their funding from the UK Film Council. | | (163382) | 12
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the British Film Institute actively supports the work of the British Federation of Film Societies and its constituent members.
| | (163384) | 13
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) the British Film Institute and (b) the British Federation of Film Societies concerning the Annual Films Viewing Weekend and its continuation on a financial basis that supports local film societies. | | (163385) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 14
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department will determine its response to the End-to-End Review; and if he will make a statement. | | (162990) | 15
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the names of (a) full-time and (b) reservist personnel who refused to serve in Iraq, and the action taken against them; and if he will make a statement. | | (162401) | 16
N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the discharge of Chris Rowlands from the Army. | | (162402) | 17
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met his European Union counterparts to discuss matters relating to the security situation in (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia-Montenegro. | | (163223) | 18
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the Government of Serbia-Montenegro regarding Prime Minister Kostunica's proposal for the deployment of Serbian forces to Kosovo. | | (163224) | 19
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the borders between (a) Kosovo and Albania and (b) Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are adequately secured; and who controls them. | | (163225) | 20
N | Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Kosovo towns of (a) Mitrovica, (b) Orahovac and (c) Pristina. | | (163226) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 21
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many community and resident representatives have resigned from positions in regeneration partnerships over the past three years; and what assessment he has made of their reasons. | | (162573) | 22
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the adequacy of current arrangements for payments made to residents and community representatives involved in regeneration programmes. | | (162574) | 23
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what penalties there are for mobile phone companies that fail to consult on the (a) erection and (b) upgrading of mobile phone masts. | | (163357) | 24
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what monitoring his Department undertakes of the extent to which mobile phone companies share masts. | | (163358) | 25
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what requirements there are for mobile phone companies to consult residents when mobile phone masts near their homes are upgraded. | | (163359) | 26
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will assess the difference between the level of housing management and maintenance allowance for Brent Council in 2003-04 calculated using national crime statistics and the level using more local crime statistics. | | (163362) | 27
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, for what reason crime levels used in the calculation of housing management and maintenance allowances are county-wide figures; and if he will use more local figures in such calculations. | | (163365) | 28
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment has been made of the impact of the new arrangements for housing management and maintenance allowances on the Government's child poverty strategy. | | (163370) | 29
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will reflect the costs of administering a housing service to areas with high ethnic minority populations in the formula used to calculate management and maintenance allowances. | | (163371) | 30
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will amend the management and maintenance allowance for housing revenue accounts to take account of overcrowding. | | (163372) | 31
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether central funding is available for training for members of local authority standards committees. | | (163375) | 32
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment has been made of the training offered to members of local authority standards committees. | | (163376) | 33
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to ensure that the London electorate is able to understand (a) the range of elections in June and (b) the different voting system they will have to use. | | (163378) | 34
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the basis of valuations to be used for compulsory purchase orders when the land to be acquired is designated for road building. | | (162986) | 35
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the potential use of Government-owned sites in Fareham for affordable housing. | | (162987) | 36
| Tom Levitt (High Peak):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities in respect of minimum standards for the (a) provision, (b) distribution and (c) maintenance of public toilets; and what guidelines are issued regarding public consultation on public toilets. | | (163427) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 37
N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many of the Higher Education Bill's (a) clauses and (b) schedules were (i) debated, (ii) partially debated and (iii) not debated during the recent committee stage. | | (162988) | 38
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the merits of Sure Start centres offering a facility for (a) consumer and (b) financial advice; and if he will meet the Consumers' Association to discuss the matter. | | (163361) | 39
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Association of London Government about the Funding of a Better Future report. | | (163379) | 40
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if his Department will encourage universities to offer credits for work experience on university courses. | | (163417) | 41
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions his officials have had with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit about their research into the effect of increased pupil mobility on education in London. | | (163418) | 42
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what changes he has made since February 2003 to his policy on the introduction of a targeted grant for local education authorities with high mobility. | | (163419) | 43
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether there is evidence of a disproportionate effect in London authorities arising from pupil mobility. | | (163420) | 44
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether good practice guidelines on pupil mobility have been issued. | | (163421) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 45
N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action she is taking to ensure that illegally logged timber on board MV Greveno does not enter the United Kingdom. | | (163172) | 46
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities have sufficient funds to promote home-based waste separation for recycling. | | (163153) | 47
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities meet their objectives for home based waste separation for recycling within the EU timeframe. | | (163154) | 48
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list parish and town councils (a) which have been granted Quality Status, broken down by county area and (b) whose status is being assessed. | | (162828) | 49
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list parishes and towns which have been awarded Parish Transport Grant in each year since the scheme's inception. | | (162829) | 50
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the re-opening of the Cotswolds canals; and what discussions she has had with the Heritage Lottery Board with regard to the bid which has been submitted. | | (162830) | 51
N | Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures her Department has put in place to contain the recent outbreak of brucellosis in Cornwall. | | (163150) | 52
N | Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she was informed that cattle feeding studies involving Chardon LL fodder maize had been requested by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding Stuffs. | | (162979) | 53
N | Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the results of the Reading University Chardon LL feeding studies involving broiler chickens. | | (162980) | 54
N | Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the results obtained from the Chardon LL cattle feeding studies which were completed at the Reading University Centre for Dairy Research in 2002. | | (162981) | 55
N | Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) meat and (b) milk from the cattle involved in the Chardon LL feeding studies at Reading University has entered the food chain. | | (162982) | 56
N | Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she gave consent for harvested Chardon LL forage maize from farm-scale evaluation sites to be taken off-site and used in cattle feeding studies at the Reading University Centre for Dairy Research. | | (163076) | 57
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether in the event that the Government chooses to implement the large combustion plants directive (LCPD) through a national plan approach her Department will seek amendments to the Integrated Pollution Preventative and Control (IPPC) Directive to allow emission limits to be met via the trading of S02, NOx and dust emission allowances in place of the IPPC's existing requirements to meet the LCPD's emission limit values. | | (162403) | 58
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the emission limit values under the large combustion plants directive apply to existing coal-fired power stations operating under a National Emission Reduction Plan. | | (162404) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 59
N | Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Egyptian Government since 13th January regarding Mr Maajid Nawaz. | | (163254) | 60
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the overall annual cost to public funds has been, including the 2.5 staff cited in the Cabinet Office publication, Public Bodies 2003, of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission; and when spending on it will next be reviewed. | | (162732) | 61
N | Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to public funds, including staff, is of the (a) Great Britain-China Centre, (b) British Association for Central and Eastern Europe and (c) Britain-Russia Centre in the current financial year; and when the cost of each will next be reviewed. | | (162733) | 62
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Kosovo towns of (a) Mitrovica, (b) Orahovac and (c) Pristina. | | (163393) | 63
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the future of Kosovo within a Serbia-Montenegro federation. | | (163394) | 64
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the reconstruction programme required in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. | | (163395) | 65
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from the Serbia and Montenegro Government regarding Prime Minister Kostunica's proposal for the cantonisation of Kosovo. | | (163396) | 66
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the Kosovo Serbs' proposal regarding establishment of Serb enclaves within Kosovo. | | (163397) | 67
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his counterparts from other EU member states to discuss matters relating to the security situation in (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia and Montenegro. | | (163398) | 68
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the borders between (a) Kosovo and Albania and (b) Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are adequately secured; and who controls them. | | (163399) | 69
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to take forward work on arms control as part of the UK's (a) chairmanship of the G8 and (b) presidency of the European Council in 2005. | | (163356) | 70
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his officials have had with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka about the needs of Muslims in Sri Lanka. | | (163363) | 71
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to stop the displacement of Muslims in Sri Lanka. | | (163364) | 72
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government about the inclusion of the Sri Lankan Muslim community in peace talks. | | (163366) | 73
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the (a) Eritrean and (b) Ethiopian governments observe the rulings of the Independent Boundary Commission; and what action it is taking where these rulings are ignored. | | (163367) | 74
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent involvement the UK Government has had in the dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia. | | (163403) | 75
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with countries which are not signatories to the Ottawa Convention about their signing up to the Convention. | | (163404) | 76
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will release in part or in full the police report into the killing of Aquila al-Hashimi. | | (163412) | 77
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the political situation in (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia and Montenegro. | | (163257) | 78
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the final determination of the status of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. | | (163258) | 79
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) meetings have been held and (b) initiatives have been undertaken by (i) NATO, (ii) the EU and (iii) the United Kingdom bilaterally to achieve a settlement in Kosovo in the past two years, broken down by date; and if he will make a statement. | | (163259) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 80
N | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the Question reference 156621 tabled by the honourable Member for Orkney and Shetland on 25th February, on the promotion of organ donation. | | (163267) | 81
N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the containment of tuberculosis, with particular reference to containment of strains which may not respond to treatment by established procedures. | | (162914) | 82
N | Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department has taken to ensure that the NHS co-operates with other agencies to tackle alcohol-related violence. | | (162781) | 83
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Department for Transport about the effect on the NHS of making the wearing of bicycle helmets compulsory. | | (163409) | 84
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the level of risk to public health to those living close to mobile telephone masts changes according to the type of mast. | | (163430) | 85
| Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that general practitioner practices will be granted at least three choices of information technology suppliers under the new General Medical Services contract. | | (163348) | 86
N | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what incentives are being offered to dentists to practise NHS dentistry in Pendle. | | (162783) | 87
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Levent ophthalmology teams contracted by Trent Strategic Health Authority; and what plans he has to extend their contracts in the Trent region. | | (163341) | 88
N | Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where the archives of the former Leeds Community Health Council have been lodged; and how they may be accessed by honourable Members. | | (162860) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 89
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the results of his Department's review of sexual assault referral centres will be published. | | (162983) | 90
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will bring section 144 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 into force as a matter of urgency. | | (162984) | 91
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it a policy of the Government to require those convicted of crimes, who are provided with a new identity upon their release, to contribute to the costs involved where they have the means to do so. | | (163151) | 92
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were (a) eligible for and (b) released under the home detention curfew scheme in each prison region during January and February. | | (163269) | 93
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were recalled for failing to adhere to home detention conditions during January and February in each prison region. | | (163270) | 94
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the changes made to the eligibility rules for the home detention curfew scheme, broken down by date. | | (163271) | 95
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library copies of circulars to governors and other communications to prison authorities issued this year which included instructions on the operation of the home detention curfew scheme. | | (163272) | 96
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11th March, Official report, column 1673W, on prisons, what monies will be made available to (a) build and (b) manage the projected prison establishments. | | (163273) | 97
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons are on duty on a full-time basis to stop and search vehicles for suspected illegal immigrants at the port of Immingham. | | (162824) | 98
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants through the port of Immingham. | | (162825) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 99
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if his Department will undertake an assessment of (a) the benefits of establishing credit unions in Iraq and (b) changing existing banking legislation to that end. | | (163353) | 100
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what part his Department played in discussions within the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq leading to changes to Iraq's banking legislation; and for what reasons no provision was made for credit unions. | | (163354) | 101
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what work (a) his Department, (b) the Coalition Provisional Authority and (c) non-governmental organisations are undertaking in Iraq to (i) build confidence in the banking system and (ii) ensure that women have equal access to (A) banks and (B) other financial services. | | (163355) | 102
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will increase resources made available for water management in Africa. | | (163374) | 103
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what efforts (a) his Department and (b) the Coalition Provisional Authority are taking to ensure that the judicial system in Iraq offers equal justice for women. | | (163405) | 104
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) resources and (b) financial support the (i) Coalition Provisional Authority and (ii) UK Government are offering to develop the Iraqi judicial system. | | (163406) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 105
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs in Scotland dependent upon the mineral water industry. | | (162989) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 106
| Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the importance of the Al-Ghawar oil field to the global oil market. | | (163400) | 107
| Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the risks to sustaining output from the Al-Ghawar field at current levels. | | (163401) | 108
| Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of short to medium term excess of oil and over-supply for oil on policy towards promoting development of more North Sea hydrocarbon resources. | | (163402) | 109
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) assessments and (b) surveys her Department has (i) used and (ii) commissioned to assess the reasons why foreign companies (A) open and (B) maintain offices in London. | | (163369) | 110
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what timetable has been established for drawing up (a) regulations under the Fireworks Act 2003, (b) a media and public awareness strategy about the new regulations and (c) training for police and local authorities on dealing with the new regulations. | | (163373) | 111
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assurances have been given that arms components exported to (a) Angola and (b) Namibia will not be used in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | | (163413) | 112
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many open individual export licences for arms components have been granted to (a) Côte d' Ivoire, (b) Nigeria, (c) Senegal, (d) Colombia, (e) Angola and (f) Namibia in each year since 2002 broken down by (i) type, (ii) volume and (iii) value; and under what conditions each licence was granted. | | (163414) | 113
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps have been taken to ensure that components for machine guns exported to (a) Côte d' Ivoire, (b) Nigeria and (c) Senegal have not been exported in contravention of the Economic Council of West African States Moratorium. | | (163415) | 114
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what weapons components have been licensed to (a) Brazil, (b) Jordan, (c) Malaysia, (d) Singapore, (e) Turkey, (f) South Korea and (g) South Africa in the last two years; and what quantities each of those countries has received. | | (163416) | 115
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will assess the merits of establishing a cross-government body to ensure that all armaments manufactured in the UK carry easily traceable identifying marks and serial numbers. | | (163425) | 116
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether her Department offers support for tobacco companies to develop their markets in developing countries. | | (163426) | 117
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will meet ministerial colleagues from other Departments at the earliest opportunity to discuss ways in which to alert the public to the dangers of carbon monoxide leakage from faulty gas appliances. | | (163388) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 118
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the International Maritime Organisation about international action to combat piracy. | | (163343) | 119
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what losses were incurred by (a) British-flagged and (b) British-managed ships owing to acts of piracy in each of the last 10 years. | | (163344) | 120
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the future trends of piracy against British vessels. | | (163345) | 121
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last met representatives of (a) ship owners and (b) maritime trade unions to discuss piracy. | | (163346) | 122
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last discussed sea piracy with the Secretary of State for Defence. | | (163347) | 123
N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library the conclusions of the research project sponsored by his Department into the safe limits for headlamp glare; and if he will make a statement on the action the Government intends to take in the light of the conclusions of the report. | | (163152) | 124
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what advice he offers to local authorities on their subsidy regime for bus services; and what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on school transport policies. | | (162826) | 125
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Transport Commissioners have been consulted on the closure of Stroud bus station. | | (162827) | 126
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to bring forward legislation to make the wearing of bicycle helmets compulsory on (a) A roads, (b) B roads and (c) on public footpaths. | | (163377) | 127
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will seek information about the advantages and disadvantages of compulsory cycle helmet use in (a) the USA, (b) Australia, (c) Canada and (d) New Zealand. | | (163408) | 128
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the roadworks being undertaken between junctions 1 and 2 of the M1 motorway and the roadworks being undertaken on Hendon Way, London have not been phased and carried out consecutively. | | (162859) | 129
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the hold-up of traffic flows on the M25 consequent on the accident in the vicinity of junctions 29 and 31 on 17th March, with particular reference to (a) the length in miles of the hold-up at its peak and (b) the duration of the hold-up; and what actions were taken by the (i) Highways Agency and (ii) Essex and Kent Police (A) to advise motorists of the hold-up and (B) to ameliorate the delay and congestion, broken down by time. | | (163256) | 130
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evaluation of the recently introduced Driving Test Hazard Perception Test his Department has carried out; and if he will make a statement. | | (163349) | 131
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department carried out in preparation for the introduction of the Driving Test Hazard Perception Test; and if he will make a statement. | | (163350) | 132
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has carried out on the reaction of people from different age groups to the new Driving Test Hazard Perception Test; and if he will make a statement. | | (163351) | 133
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to modify the content of format of the new Driving Test Hazard Perception Test; and if he will make a statement. | | (163352) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 134
N | Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of state payments to pensioners, including income related benefits, was represented by National Insurance pension benefits, in (a) 1983, (b) 1993 and (c) 2003. | | (162405) | 135
N | Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of all pensioner income was represented by National Insurance pension benefits, in (a) 1983, (b) 1993 and (c) 2003. | | (162406) | 136
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when earnings disregards for claimants were last reviewed; and what plans he has to increase them. | | (162572) | 137
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from mountaineering organisations in relation to the Health and Safety Executive's proposed regulation for working at height; and if he will make a statement. | | (163422) | 138
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research his Department has conducted into the impact of the Health and Safety Executive's proposed regulation for working at height upon (a) mountaineering, (b) hill walking, (c) abseiling, (d) rock climbing and (e) caving; and if he will make a statement. | | (163423) | 139
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Health and Safety Executive's proposed regulations for working at height on the rural economy; and if he will make a statement. | | (163424) | 140
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision he has made for the increase in his Department's services to address London's projected population increase; and what plans he has put in place to deal with the employment needs for the population increase. | | (163407) | 141
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will convene a meeting at the earliest opportunity with the gas supply industry, the Health and Safety Executive and other relevant agencies to plan a national campaign to address the dangers of carbon monoxide poison from domestic gas appliances. | | (163392) | 142
N | Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the state retirement pension entitlements are of women who are married to younger husbands. | | (162686) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 143
N | Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach across Government departments to (a) the reduction in civil service jobs (i) announced in the Budget Statement and (ii) that may follow from the Gershon Review and (b) the proposals to relocate employment of civil servants contained in the Lyons report; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (163266) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 144
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what efforts are being made by the Iraqi Survey Group to use the serial numbers on weapons found in Iraq to trace (a) where and (b) when the weapons were made. | | [Transferred] (163383) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 145
N | Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is planning to take in response to the Wanless Report on Public Health. | | [Question Unstarred] (162786) | 146
N | Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest estimated cost is of a hip replacement operation on the NHS. | | [Question Unstarred] (162790) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 147
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was given to (a) Essex and (b) Kent Police traffic divisions in respect of their work on the M25 in each of the last three years; how many (i) officers and (ii) units were deployed following the road traffic accident in the vicinity of junctions 29 and 31 on 17th March; for how long they were deployed; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (163255) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 148
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what provision has been made to extend funding for (a) the Small Arms and Light Weapons Global Conflict Prevention Pool beyond 2004 and (b) the United Nations Development Programme global weapons collection programme. | | [Transferred] (163368) | 149
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has to extend small arms and light weapons destruction projects. | | [Transferred] (163428) | 150
| Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his officials have discussed assistance to The Economic Council of West African States (ECOWAS) to combat small arms problems in West Africa with the ECOWAS Secretariat. | | [Transferred] (163429) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 151
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that householders (a) obtain and (b) use certified carbon monoxide detectors. | | [Transferred] (163386) | 152
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with gas suppliers on (a) the need for regular gas checks and (b) the efficient operations of gas appliances in the domestic setting. | | [Transferred] (163389) | 153
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce a statutory requirement for all homes to have their gas appliances checked on a regular basis. | | [Transferred] (163390) | 154
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last 10 years of landlords whose neglect of gas appliances caused the death of their tenants. | | [Transferred] (163391) |
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