Questions for Oral or Written Answer beginning on Wednesday 5 May 2004 (the 'Questions Book') Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 5 May 2004 This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 5 May 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 5 May of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 5 May see Part 2 of this paper. Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the EU directives since May 1997 which have been incorporated into UK law by Parliament; and which items of UK legislation so incorporating an EU directive have subsequently been (a) revised and (b) repealed. | (171163) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 2 N | Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the unemployment figures were in the constituency of Edmonton for (a) 1991-92, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2003. | (169302) | 3 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact of job growth in the private sector over the past seven years upon employment figures in the public service. | (171242) | 4 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) change and (b) percentage change he expects in levels of public spending excluding health, education and defence (i) in 2004-05 compared to 2003-04 and (ii) in 2005-06 compared to 2004-05. | (171243) | 5 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of which significant economic factors have had an effect on the level of Government revenue over the last seven years. | (171258) | 6 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much he expects employment in the public sector, excluding the areas of health and education, to change from financial year (a) 2004-05 to 2005-06 and (b) 2005-06 to 2006-07. | (171259) | 7 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects to meet his target of having achieved a modest surplus across the current economic cycle ending in fiscal year 2005-06. | (171292) | 8 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how income tax receipts as a percentage of the total tax take have varied over the last 20 years. | (171310) | 9 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how tax income from pensioners has changed over the last 20 years. | (171311) | 10 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on variations in the workforce employed in the public sector in England over the last 20 years. | (171312) | 11 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal incentives are available to UK companies involved in the development of fuel cell technologies; and if he will make a statement. | (171264) | 12 N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the effect on revenue from employee national insurance contributions (NICs) if the rate of NICs for employees who are not contracted out of the state second pension were to be reduced to the rate currently paid by employees who are contracted out. | (171034) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 13 N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many house repossessions there have been in each region per quarter since 2002. | (171164) | 14 | Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment he has made of the common barriers deterring applications from ethnic minority groups to the judiciary. | (171309) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 15 N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the Kinnegar Army base at Holywood, County Down. | (170031) | 16 N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the number of premature voluntary release applications (a) received and (b) approved in the last 12 months in (i) 1 Para, (ii) 2 Para and (iii) 3 Para; and if he will make a statement. | (169306) | 17 N | Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the strength of the Parachute Regiment at (a) 1st April 2003 and (b) 1st April 2004 and the estimated strength for 1st April 2005; and if he will make a statement. | (169307) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 18 | Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he plans to announce the decision on the 2004 housing stock transfer programme. | (171266) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 19 | Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been allocated to schools in Bootle for information and communications technology since 1997. | (171297) | 20 | Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many childcare places have been created in Bootle since 1997. | (171298) | 21 | Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of 11 year old pupils in Bootle reached level four in (a) mathematics and (b) English in the last seven years. | (171299) | 22 | Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of 15 and 16 year olds in Bootle achieved more than five GCSEs at grade A-C or GNVQ equivalent in each of the last seven years. | (171300) | 23 | Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people in Bootle have received a computer to assist in seeking employment or retraining. | (171305) | 24 | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 27th April, Official Report, column 975W, on information and communication technologies, if he will place in the Library the independent research to which he refers. | (171289) | 25 | Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will set a target date for the completion of outstanding repairs to school buildings. | (171237) | 26 | Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the Government's progress towards achieving its target of rebuilding or remodelling 650 schools by 2004. | (171239) | 27 | Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the Government's progress towards achieving its target for substantial repairs to be made to 7,000 schools by this year. | (171240) | 28 | Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the cost was of outstanding repairs to school buildings identifed by the 2003 Asset Management Survey; and when he will publish the full results of that survey. | (171241) | 29 N | Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children received free school meals in the constituency of Edmonton in (a) 1991-92, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2003. | (169304) | 30 N | Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the GCSE results in the constituency of Edmonton were in (a) 1991-92, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2003. | (169305) | 31 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many new classroom assistant positions have been created in England in the last seven years. | (171313) | 32 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how average class sizes have varied in the last 20 years in England. | (171314) | 33 N | Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in which local education authorities there are middle schools as part of a three tier school system. | (171162) | 34 | Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what Government expenditure on early years education was in each year since 1997, broken down by main budget heading. | (171302) | 35 | Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of Ofsted in regulating childminders. | (171303) | 36 | Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of children's information services. | (171304) | 37 | Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of Childcarelink. | (171306) | 38 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to improve the availability of reading material for those with reading disabilities. | (171265) | 39 | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many 14 and 15 year olds were studying for vocational qualifications in each year since 2001. | (171244) | 40 | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many 14 and 15 year olds are studying for (a) NVQs and (b) vocational GCSEs. | (171245) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 41 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many homes in South Ribble have benefited from the Warm Front and Home Energy Efficiency Schemes. | (171278) | 42 | Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 29th April, Official Report, column 1180W, on badgers, when she expects to decide whether to allow departmental policymakers access to the interim results of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. | (171271) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 43 | Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what way the proposed European constitution takes into consideration cultural and religious diversity. | (171308) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 44 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many residents in South Ribble awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital for quicker treatment in the last 12 months. | (171268) | 45 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the levels of elective admission to the NHS in South Ribble in the past five years. | (171269) | 46 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in South Ribble. | (171270) | 47 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many residents in South Ribble aged over 60 years have benefitted from the abolition of charges for eye tests. | (171272) | 48 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in South Ribble in each of the last seven years. | (171273) | 49 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS (a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in South Ribble in each of the last seven years. | (171274) | 50 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes there have been to NHS waiting list times in the last seven years for residents of South Ribble. | (171275) | 51 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients in South Ribble saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. | (171276) | 52 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in South Ribble. | (171277) | 53 | Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many senior citizens in South Ribble have access to free eye tests. | (171279) | 54 | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what expenditure has been allocated by his Department to projects to improve chronic disease management over the next three years. | (171233) | 55 | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost of (a) the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and (b) patients forums will be for each of the next three years. | (171261) | 56 | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost of the regulator of NHS foundation trusts will be for each of the next three years. | (171262) | 57 | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many positions were available on the board of governors for each NHS foundation trust for patients and staff; how many people stood for each position; how many positions were uncontested; and how many positions remain unfilled. | (171263) | 58 | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 27th April, Official Report, column 961W, on the Prison Health Service, what issues had been raised by local services concerning the existing local protocols for ambulance and paramedic access. | (171267) | 59 N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many persons employed by or on behalf of the NHS undertake work relating to road traffic matters, including alleged speeding offences of ambulance drivers; and what the annual salary cost thereof to public funds was in 2003-04. | (171036) | 60 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of those classified as (a) senior managers, (b) managers, (c) clerical and (d) administrative staff within the NHS (i) have medical training and (ii) do not have medical training. | (171290) | 61 | Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to give the National Institute for Clinical Excellence powers to compel pharmaceutical companies to provide unpublished drug research data. | (171235) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 62 N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure that enforcement of immigration controls in (a) Cherbourg and (b) Dorset operates to the same standard seven days per week. | (170600) | 63 N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes have been made to weekend operations involving immigration controls in Dorset during 2004. | (170601) | 64 N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants were removed from lorries in Cherbourg bound for Poole in 2003. | (170602) | 65 N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes have been made to the employment of UK immigration officers in Cherbourg during 2004. | (170603) | 66 N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of staffing of UK immigration officers in Cherbourg was provided in 2003. | (170604) | 67 | David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many life sentence prisoners have been released on parole in each month since January 1995. | (171248) | 68 | David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have taken part in the (a) core, (b) extended, (c) adapted and (d) booster prisoner rehabilitation programmes; how much each programme costs per prisoner; and what impact each programme has had on levels of reoffending. | (171249) | 69 | David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have taken part in the (a) RAPt, (b) Prison 12 Step, (c) Substance Treatment Order, (d) Action on Drugs, (e) FOCUS, (f) Ley Prison Programme and (g) North West Therapeutic Community prisoner rehabiliation programmes; how much each programme cost per prisoner; and what impact each programme has had on levels of reoffending. | (171250) | 70 | David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have taken part in the (a) Enhanced Thinking Skills, (b) Reasoning and Rehabilitation, (c) Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it, (d) Cognitive Self-Change Programme, (e) Cognitive Skills Booster Programme, (f) Healthy Relationships and (g) Prison Addressing Substance-Related Offending prisoner rehabilitation programmes; how much each programme costs per prisoner; and what impact each programme has had on levels of reoffending. | (171252) | 71 | Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcome was of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held on 29th to 30th April; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. | (171291) | 72 | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) traffic police, (b) mounted police, (c) police dog handlers, (d) armed response team officers and (e) Criminal Investigation Department officers there are in Lancashire. | (171232) | 73 N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to ensure that ambulance drivers who are engaged in work of an urgent or emergency nature are neither penalised nor prosecuted for speeding; and if he will make a statement. | (171035) | 74 N | Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the crime figures, including figures for (a) dangerous crime and (b) drug-related offences, in the constituency of Edmonton in (i) 1991-92, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2003. | (169303) | 75 N | Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to re-examine the law on the (a) sale and (b) cultivation of cannabis seeds. | (170146) | 76 | John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information that pertains to public services for which the devolved administrations have responsibility he plans will be held by the National Identity Register. | (171294) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 77 | Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid projects his Department expects to develop in Asia during the next three years; and if he will make a statement. | (171246) | 78 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has for further funding to ensure the Microbicide Development Programme Phase III effectiveness trials of candidate microbicides are completed and facilitate future product development. | (171260) | 79 | Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what work his Department is supporting to improve literacy in Ghana. | (171247) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 80 N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff were employed, by grade, in the Northern Ireland Civil Service in financial years (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04; and if he will list the (i) total salary bill, (ii) average salary and (iii) change in average salary for staff within each grade during these two periods. | (170032) | 81 | Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the timetable is for the production and publication of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy. | (171234) | 82 | Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he intends to take in relation to the illegal dumping of toxic material at the green area, Annadale Embankment, Belfast. | (171236) | 83 N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the (a) procedure and (b) timescale for filling the vacant post of Chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency. | (170784) | 84 N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the reasons given by the Chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency for his resignation. | (170785) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 85 | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many men took (a) parental leave and (b) time off for dependants in each year since 1997 prior to 6th April 2003, broken down by (i) region (ii) income and (iii) length of leave. | (171295) | 86 | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many women have taken (a) ordinary maternity leave and (b) additional maternity leave (i) in each year since 1997 up until April 2003 and (ii) since April 2003, and how many women have taken 52 weeks maternity leave, broken down by region. | (171301) | 87 | Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment the Government has made of the impact on the United Kingdom coal industry of introducing a national emissions reduction plan in order to implement the Large Combustion Plants Directive. | (171238) | 88 N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many respiratory test centres have been paid by her Department for medical assessment for the coalminers' compensation scheme; by whom they are run; and what Government payments they have received. | (170786) | 89 N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of claimants have received (a) interim payments and (b) full and final settlements of the claims registered by the top 10 solicitors, determined by number of claims lodged, for respiratory disease and vibration white finger under the coalminers' compensation scheme. | (170787) | 90 N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many privately funded medical assessments have been received under the coalminers' compensation scheme where the claimant has rejected the assessments paid for by the Government under the scheme. | (170788) | 91 N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many different claims handling agreements were signed by Government under the coalminers' compensation scheme; with whom; by whom they were signed; and when. | (170789) | 92 N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what amount is budgeted by Government for paying solicitors under the miners' compensation scheme for (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006. | (170790) | 93 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she last visited a combined heat and power station. | (171032) | 94 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to meet the Energy White Paper target of 10GWe of combined heat and power by 2010; and what progress has been made towards the target. | (171033) | 95 | Jonathan Shaw (Chatham & Aylesford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets on expanding the moratoria on disconnections for vulnerable groups beyond the winter months. | (171307) | 96 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the steps taken to engage UK industry in the development of fuel cell technologies; and if she will make a statement. | (171280) | 97 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what support will be given to those UK companies involved in the development of fuel cell technologies. | (171281) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 98 | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 26th April, Official Report, column 782W, on shipping, how control measures for ships that do not provide evidence of having an International Security Ship Plan will be enforced. | (171293) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 99 N | Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth & Horncastle):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Government will require solvent employers to make up any shortfall to the full buy-out value of an employer funded pension scheme that has been promised to members as their pension entitlement when the scheme is wound up, regardless of the date when the wind-up commenced. | (169869) | 100 N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which categories of contracted out rebates are (a) paid out in the form of reductions in the rate of national insurance contributions payable by an employee or employer and (b) paid directly into pension funds. | (170980) | 101 | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 21st April, Official Report, columns 19-21WS, for what reasons his Department has increased the amount retained from the monthly payments to EDS from 15 per cent. to 15 to 20 per cent. | (171288) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 102 | Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on reports that the US Army has been firing on ambulances in Fallujah. | [Transferred] (171251) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 103 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the development of combined heat and power in the UK in the last three years. | [Transferred] (171031) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 104 | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many men (a) requested and (b) received paternity pay prior to 6th April 2003 in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) region and (ii) income. | [Transferred] (171296) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 105 N | Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the (a) latest activities of the Welsh monitoring sub-group for the miners' compensation scheme in Wales and (b) latest figures for disbursements under the scheme. | [Question Unstarred] (169188) |
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