House of Commons portcullis
House of Commons
Session 2003 - 04
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 13 May 2004

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.
 


 

Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 13 May 2004
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 13 May 2004


This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 13 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 Thursday 13 May of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 13 May see Part 2 of this paper.


Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
1
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173357)
2
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Government discounts to private health club membership for firemen, nurses, police and ambulance workers as part of its initiative to cut obesity have not been extended to all categories of civil servants.
(173321)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
3
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173363)
4
N
Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many taxpayers have sought to divert or withhold the proportion of their contribution going to military expenditure in the last three years.
(167871)
5
N
Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations entitled peace tax returns' have been received by the Treasury.
(167872)
6
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the review of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 covers the regulation of credit derivatives.
(173263)
7
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Havant of 26th April, Official Report, column 746W, if he will break down the figures by region, giving (a) total numbers and (b) percentages of the total in each case.
(173310)
8
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many instances of the (a) import and (b) export of (i) whitecoat and (ii) blueback sealskin and sealskin apparel, in contravention of the EU trade embargo have been discovered in each of the last three years in (A) the UK and (B) the remainder of the EU.
(173213)
9
Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 11th May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.
(173080)
10
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Greater London, broken down by borough, from 1997 to 31st December 2003.
(173248)
11
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new jobs have been created in London, broken down by borough, since 1997.
(173249)
12
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in Blackpool South have received the child tax credit.
(173065)
13
Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Sir Peter Gershon regarding the total savings in public sector employment within the Department for Trade and Industry as a result of his efficiency review.
(173375)
14
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value of the gold held in UK reserves was at the afternoon fix on 11th May.
(173350)
Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs
15
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173356)
16
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many persons were fined by magistrates' courts in England and Wales in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of the fines were collected in each year.
(173119)
17
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to employ additional trained staff to assist defendants with completing means enquiry forms.
(173121)
18
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, in what circumstances a fine imposed by a magistrates' court in England and Wales is written off.
(173122)
19
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, at what percentage of courts in England and Wales it is possible to make regular cash payments to court staff following the imposition of a fine.
(173123)
20
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the average annual salary of a Magistrates' Court Enforcement Officer is in (a) Greater London and (b) the rest of England and Wales.
(173124)
21
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what discussions he has had with the police about the provision of verifiable information in respect of summonses of individuals to appear at magistrates' courts in England and Wales.
(173125)
22
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether the unified court boundaries to be introduced next year will be coterminous with (a) probation and (b) prison service boundaries.
(173126)
23
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what representations he has received on voting rights for expatriates; and what plans he has to change them.
(173081)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
24
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173354)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
25
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173361)
26
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome was of the investigation into the deaths of (a) Sapper Luke Allsopp and (b) Staff Sergeant Simon Cullingworth; whether Her Majesty's Government received a response to it from the families of the men; and if he will make a statement.
(173317)
27
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what further investigations his Department has undertaken into the (a) reasons and (b) those responsible for the flakjackets missing since 1999; what conclusions he has reached; and if he will make a statement.
(173318)
28
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome was of the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police soldiers killed in Iraq on 24th June 2003; whether Her Majesty's Government received a response to it from the families of the men; whether he plans to make public the relevant communications log; and if he will make a statement.
(173319)
29
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in how many cases involving (a) the killing and (b) the serious wounding of Iraqi civilians the local commander decided not to institute an investigation, broken down by unit.
(173337)
30
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases being made by Iraqi men or women against British military forces serving in Iraq are of alleged (a) deaths, (b) physical abuse and (c) unacceptable behaviour; how many of these complaints (i) have been investigated and (ii) are still under investigation; and if he will make a statement.
(173076)
31
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to provide the British public with information on the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
(173227)
32
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what communications his Department has had with other Arab nations regarding the allegations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
(173228)
33
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what strategy his Department will use to deal with the anti-Coalition sentiment stemming from the allegations of abuses of Iraqi prisoners.
(173229)
34
Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rules govern the rights of (a) RAF and (b) US Air Force aircraft to fly over (i) nuclear power stations and (ii) residential areas; and what breaches of such rules there have been in the past six months in (A) the United Kingdom and (B) Gloucestershire.
(173199)
35
N
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the title of Royal Naval Engineering Artificer is to be replaced by Engineering Technician; and whether there will be a change in the standards expected of occupants of the post.
(172858)
36
N
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there will be apprenticeships in the Royal Navy in the future; and if he will make a statement.
(172859)
37
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will answer the Question from the honourable Member for Portsmouth South, ref 160911, tabled on 9th March.
(173351)
38
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the delivery of the A400M.
(173371)
39
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress with the Watchkeeper programme.
(173372)
40
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the Gibraltar Regiment.
(173373)
41
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his statement in reply to the honourable Member for Mid-Sussex, of 10th May, Official Report, column 27, what prompted ministerial instructions that investigations should take place.
(173259)
42
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the provisions of the Third Geneva Convention, articles 70, 122, 12 and the Fourth Geneva Convention, articles 106, 136, 137, 138, 140 are delivered to the families of Iraqi prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
(173452)
43
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was informed by his officials at their meeting in April that the concerns raised by the ICRC in their interim report were being investigated.
(173453)
44
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Iraqis he estimates have been arrested by mistake since the start of the conflict.
(173454)
45
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether, when the administration of Camp Bucca was handed back to the British Armed Forces, they began to investigate the allegations of ill-treatment detailed to the International Committee of the Red Cross by detainees.
(173455)
46
Alice Mahon (Halifax):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has studied the Amnesty International Report published on 6th May, Protecting the Human Rights of Women and Girls Trafficked for Forced Prostitution in Kosovo; what assessment (a) he and (b) his Department have made of the Report's claims that the international community, including United Kingdom members of KFOR and the UN, make up a significant concentration of these women's clientele; and if he will make a statement.
(173235)
47
N
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance he has issued to UK service personnel on whether the use of hoods on detainees constitutes inhuman treatment for the purposes of the UN Convention Against Torture.
(173019)
48
N
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the death mentioned at paragraph 44 of the International Committee of the Red Cross Report on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other protected persons in Iraq said to have occurred on 22nd September 2003 was the result of actions by British armed forces.
(173020)
49
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the land over which which his Department acquired rights in Scotland between (a) 1980 and 1990, (b) 1990 and 2000 and (c) 2000 to the present, including areas of foreshore; and if he will make a statement.
(173438)
50
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the land in Scotland not owned or leased by his Department but over which it has limited rights, including areas of foreshore; and if he will make a statement.
(173439)
51
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the Department acquired rights over land and foreshore not owned by, or leased to the Department in Scotland in the period of (a) 1980 to 1990, (b) 1990 to 2000 and (c) 2000 to the present; and if he will make a statement.
(173440)
52
Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the deployment of troops in Kosovo.
(173374)
53
Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the Royal Navy's ship visits to (a) Spanish ports and (b) Gibraltar in the last 12 months.
(173376)
54
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of (a) the British armed forces and (b) the British medical auxiliaries, broken down by rank, have been suspended from duty in Iraq as a result of activities that may have breached the Geneva conventions in respect of the treatment of detainees.
(173339)
55
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what specific training has been given to British servicemen and women in respect of (a) interviewing and (b) managing civilian detainees in Iraq; and if he will place a copy of the manual used in such training in the Library.
(173340)
56
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library transcripts of the media interviews he gave on 10th May on the situation in Iraq and investigations into alleged abuse of detainees in British custody in Iraq.
(173344)
57
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason it was decided not to provide the Prime Minister's special envoy on human rights in Iraq with the report by the International Committee of the Red Cross on alleged abuse of detainees held in British custody, dated February 2004.
(173345)
Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister
58
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173360)
59
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will take steps to discourage migration within the UK from areas of sufficient housing supply to those where it is in deficit.
(173112)
60
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will publish the provisional findings of 2002-03 data from the English House Condition Survey; how many (a) council and (b) registered social landlord properties that were classified in the survey as non-decent; and what the total cost of the repair backlog on these properties is.
(173413)
61
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he will announce a target for the provision of additional social housing to address long-term need.
(173414)
62
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government expects to meet its target of 100,000 affordable homes by 2004; and what the state of progress was on 1st April.
(173415)
63
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government is on track to achieve its target of elimination of non-decent stock by 2010; and what proportion of stock remained non-decent on 1st April.
(173416)
64
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government achieved its target of cutting the number of non-decent local authority homes by a third by April; and how many local authority homes were classed non-decent on 1st April.
(173417)
65
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government achieved its target of cutting the number of non-decent housing association homes by a third by April; and how many housing association homes were classed as non-decent on 1st April.
(173418)
66
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government achieved its target of reducing the council house repairs backlog by at least 900,000 properties by April; and what the estimated number of council house properties suffering from a backlog of repair was on 1st April.
(173419)
67
Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether a local authority has the power to suspend one of the authority's statutory officers before the appointment of a designated independent person under The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, if the authority has received an independent report from an external consultant of the serious effect of bullying and harassment by the statutory officer on the physical and mental well-being of other officers of the authority.
(173348)
68
Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether a local authority has the power to suspend one of the authority's statutory officers before the appointment of a designated independent person under The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, if the authority has received more than one allegation of bullying and harassment by the statutory officer; and if he will make a statement.
(173349)
69
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how the change in the level of council funding for housing has affected the residents of Blackpool South since 1997.
(173072)
70
N
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities have been capped in the last 25 years.
(172931)
71
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local authorities in Essex which (a) retain control of housing stocks and (b) have made representations to him about large scale voluntary transfer of their housing stocks.
(173085)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
72
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173355)
73
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the requirements are for pre-school assistants to be able to work in pre-schools; and if he will make a statement.
(173382)
74
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many registered pre-schools there are in the UK.
(173412)
75
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been invested in developing school sports facilities in Bootle since 1997.
(173185)
76
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of children in the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne achieved (a) national standards at (i) Key Stage 1 and (ii) Key Stage 2 and (b) five A* to C graded GCSEs in each year since 1997; what the national average was in each year; and what assessment he has made of the relationship between reaching national standards at Key Stages 1 and 2 and the achievement of five grade A* to Cs at GCSE.
(173276)
77
Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will introduce measures to promote recycling in schools.
(173198)
78
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students from (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster are attending university; and how many of these students pay (i) no tuition fee and (ii) a partial tuition fee.
(173320)
79
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent changes he has made to the regulation of childcare; and if he will make a statement.
(172854)
80
N
Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, to whom Connexions partnerships are accountable.
(172849)
81
N
Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans there are to change the number of beds in local authority secure children's homes; and if he will make a statement.
(172850)
82
N
Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the secure children's homes in England.
(172851)
83
N
Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the future of secure children's homes in England.
(172852)
84
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average teacher-to-pupil ratio in infant classes was in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England in each year since 1997.
(173383)
85
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average infant class size was in the (a) Jarrow constituency and (b) North East in each year since 1997.
(173384)
86
N
Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are being taken to reduce levels of teenage pregnancy in the UK.
(172574)
87
N
Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the effect of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy on the number of teenage pregnancies in the UK.
(172576)
88
N
Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are being taken in schools to (a) promote the safer sex message and (b) reduce unplanned pregnancies.
(172577)
89
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many primary school closures there were in Greater London, broken down by local education authority, in each year since 1997.
(173254)
90
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) black Caribbean, (b) Pakistani, (c) black African, (d) Bangladeshi, (e) white, (f) Indian and (g) Chinese (i) males and (ii) females achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE in each year since 1994 in Greater London, broken down by borough.
(173255)
91
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) Pakistani, (b) black African, (c) Bangladeshi, (d) white, (e) Indian, (f) Chinese and (g) black Caribbean (i) males and (ii) females achieved (A) level 2 or above at Key Stage 1, (B) level 5 or above at Key Stage 3 and (C) level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 in (1) English, (2) mathematics and (3) science in each year since 1994 in Greater London, broken down by borough.
(173256)
92
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many vacant secondary school places there were in Greater London, broken down by borough, in each year since 1997.
(173257)
93
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the staying-on rate at 16 years was for Greater London, broken down by local education authority, in each year since 1997.
(173258)
94
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many mothers in each Greater London borough (a) are eligible for and (b) have taken up the Sure Start maternity grant.
(173332)
95
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was spent on capital projects in schools in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173322)
96
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers were employed in state schools in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173323)
97
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teaching assistants were employed in state schools in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173324)
98
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people were employed in state schools in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173325)
99
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average class size in state primary schools was in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173326)
100
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many passes in GCSE at grades A* to C or equivalent were achieved by students in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173327)
101
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many passes at A-Level were achieved by students in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.
(173328)
102
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total expenditure was on state primary schools in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 until 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the Unitary Authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 until 2003.
(173329)
103
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to promote school councils in primary schools.
(173330)
104
Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to promote the (a) teaching of history and (b) testing of historical knowledge in primary schools.
(173331)
105
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has further to develop Sure Start programmes in Tamworth constituency, with particular reference to rural areas.
(173279)
106
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) primary school teachers, (b) secondary school teachers and (c) education support staff there were in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 10 years.
(173280)
107
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much public money has been spent on computers for schools in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) Staffordshire in the last five years.
(173281)
108
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Tamworth constituency (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.
(173282)
109
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many families in Tamworth constituency have benefited from the Computers Within Reach programme; and how many teachers have benefited from the Computers for Teachers programme.
(173283)
110
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what public funding has been spent on adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Tamworth constituency in the last 10 years.
(173284)
111
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much it cost to educate a pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Staffordshire in 2003-04.
(173285)
112
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children in the Tamworth constituency played truant from school in each of the last 10 years.
(173286)
113
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many childcare places have been created in Blackpool South since 1997.
(173066)
114
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Blackpool South in each of the last seven years.
(173067)
115
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Blackpool South (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.
(173068)
116
N
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much, at today's prices, was spent on average per (a) secondary and (b) primary school in each of the last 15 years; and what the planned spending is in each of the next four years.
(172933)
117
N
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of pupils achieved each level for (a) literacy and (b) numeracy at Key Stage 2 in each year since the introduction of SATs.
(172934)
118
Phil Sawford (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the first destination of first degree graduates was in each year since 1997; and how many and what percentage (a) found employment in the UK, (b) found employment overseas, (c) are undertaking further study, (d) are not available for employment, study or training and (e) are assumed to be unemployed.
(173087)
119
Phil Sawford (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to monitor the first destination of first degree graduates each year in terms of (a) those who find employment and (b) the type of employment they find.
(173088)
120
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 5th May, Official Report, column 1583W, on Marriage and Relationship Support, if he will list the pilot projects being funded through the Marriage and Relationship Support Grant programme.
(173433)
121
Ian Stewart (Eccles):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will provide funding to help further education colleges in the City of Salford to refurbish and rebuild their estates.
(173127)
122
Ian Stewart (Eccles):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people in the Eccles constituency he expects to stay in education as a result of the introduction of education maintenance allowances; and if he will provide additional funding to further education colleges in the City of Salford to support additional students.
(173132)
123
N
Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what reports he has received on the exclusion of disruptive children from schools during OFSTED inspections.
(172375)
124
N
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding will be made available for the establishment of (a) Young Apprenticeships, (b) Pre-Apprenticeships, (c) Apprenticeships and (d) Advanced-Apprenticeships in the next financial year.
(172975)
125
N
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress has been made in reducing the number of adults without a NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification by 2010; and if he will make a statement.
(172976)
126
N
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many adults achieved an NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
(172977)
127
N
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average cost of (a) a GCSE, (b) an intermediate GNVQ, (c) an AS-level and (d) an NVQ level-2 or equivalent vocational qualification are; and how many people achieved each of these qualifications in 2003.
(172978)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
128
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173359)
129
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role her Department has played in ensuring that private finance initiative projects create the minimum of environmental damage.
(173113)
130
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the (i) sustainability and (ii) environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects and (b) the effectiveness of the PFI process in delivering environmentally sustainable projects.
(173114)
131
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role her Department (a) has and (b) plans to take to make the private finance initiative process more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability.
(173115)
132
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department has taken to ensure other Government departments deliver sustainability within private finance initiative projects.
(173116)
133
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the contracts awarded to W.S. Atkins by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies since June 2001, broken down by (i) value of the contract and (ii) nature of the work.
(173117)
134
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research has been conducted by or for her Department on bioremediation using genetically modified organisms.
(173118)
135
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, further to her Answer of 5th May, to the honourable Member for Romford, Official Report, column 1497W, on rats, whether a local authority using the enforcement and monitoring powers she refers to may (a) require a water authority to (i) carry out a programme of sewer baiting and (ii) improve the sewer infrastructure in its area and (b) require a railway authority to (A) maintain embankments to a reasonable standard and (B) clear dumped rubbish and litter on their land on a regular basis, in its area; and if she will make a statement.
(173239)
136
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) risk to human health and (b) impact on the environment of discarded waste from fast food outlets; what action she requires to be taken to deal with this problem, and by whom; and if she will make a statement.
(173240)
137
N
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for farmers of the timescale for distribution of integrated administration and control system forms to farm businesses this year.
(173016)
138
N
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) acres and (b) hectares of land have been used for GM crop trials in each of the last five years for which records are available (i) as part of the Government's farm scale evaluation, (ii) for other experimental purposes and (iii) for other purposes.
(173017)
139
N
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many sites GM crops have been grown in the UK in the last five years for which records are available; and how many were (a) part of the Government's farm scale evaluation and (b) for other purposes.
(173018)
140
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers she has to ensure that competition exists in milk processing in Lancashire.
(173309)
141
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many homes in Blackpool South have benefited from the Home Energy Efficiency and Warm Front Schemes.
(173069)
142
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken (a) to protect orchards and (b) to ensure that fruit varieties do not become extinct.
(173316)
143
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance she gives to local authorities on re-routing public rights of way in order to make pedestrian crossings at rail lines safer.
(173084)
144
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to which countries EU-grown tobacco is exported.
(173189)
145
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received on the hazards that can be caused by beekeeping.
(173089)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
146
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173352)
147
N
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Libyan Government concerning the sentencing to death of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor for allegedly infecting children with HIV; what discussions the Government has held with European partners on this matter; what plans the Government has to raise this matter at the UN Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.
(172667)
148
N
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens were imprisoned abroad in each of the last three years, broken down by country of imprisonment.
(171254)
149
N
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens were (a) killed and (b) murdered whilst living in or visting another country in each of the last three years, broken down by the country in which the deaths occurred.
(171255)
150
N
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens were sentenced to life imprisonment abroad in each of the last three years, broken down by country of imprisonment; and how many of these sentences were revised on appeal.
(171256)
151
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK personnel operating at the British Embassy, Bogota, are absent from the diplomatic list; for what reason they are absent; what their activities and roles are; and if he will make a statement.
(173236)
152
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received alleging that UK personnel are involved in providing training in interrogation techniques in Colombia, some of which may be inappropriate; and if he will make a statement.
(173237)
153
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the countries where UK personnel are involved in providing training in interrogation techniques; whether the hooding of those being interrogated forms part of the training; and if he will make a statement.
(173238)
154
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd March, Official Report, column 541W, on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, what representations he has received from Russia about the Adaptated Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty; for what reasons the enlargement of NATO went ahead without an agreement for the continuance of a CFE Treaty; whether the new NATO states were required to give a commitment to join a CFE Treaty; whether they have given such a commitment; what commitments on (a) restraint on troop numbers and (b) build-ups NATO has given in the absence of an agreed CFE Treaty; and if he will make a statement.
(173386)
155
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the United States Administration, and with whom, on the cases of abuse that have taken place against Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
(173074)
156
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) discussions concerning and (b) involvement in the further inquiries that are to take place into the Julie Ward murder in Kenya his Department plans; with whom discussions are to take place; and if he will make a statement.
(173292)
157
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) other Ministers from his Department (i) have met and (ii) intend to meet Mr John Ward to discuss the murder of his daughter, Julie Ward, in Kenya; and if he will make a statement.
(173293)
158
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the international community will ensure that the future Palestinian Government installs democratic institutions as part of the Middle East Peace Plan.
(173243)
159
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of the oral and written concerns made by the International Committee of the Red Cross Coalition forces during 2003 were received by his Department; and what action was taken.
(173201)
160
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he was informed that the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004 had been received by his Department; and when he asked to see it.
(173220)
161
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action has been taken by the Coalition Provisional Authority to investigate the allegations of brutality and illegality by Iraqi police, contained in the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004.
(173221)
162
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the United States Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, concerning the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004.
(173222)
163
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions took place, upon receipt of the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004, between British and US officials of the Coalition Provisional Authority.
(173244)
164
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason Sir Jeremy Greenstock's Office did not immediately forward to his Department the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February on receipt.
(173264)
165
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who within the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority has responsibility to monitor and ensure that Geneva Convention requirements are met by Coalition forces; how often such monitoring is conducted; and to whom the individual or individuals report their findings.
(173451)
166
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 30th January, Official Report, column 581W, on Iraq, whether the source upon which it based its claim in the September 2002 dossier, that Iraq sought to procure uranium from Africa, is the same information that it understands was discussed with the International Atomic Energy Authority before 7th March 2003.
(173387)
167
N
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to his Department has been for (a) first and (b) business class travel incurred by employees in each of the last three financial years; and which of his Department's staff are entitled to travel (a) first and (b) business class.
(172114)
168
N
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much has been spent from his Department's budget towards paying school fees for children of his Department's staff in each of the last three years.
(172115)
169
N
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what percentage of policy entrants to his Department in each of the last five years attended public or independent schools.
(172116)
170
N
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who the members of the Departmental Board are, broken down by (a) gender, (b) race or ethnicity, (c) whether they attended public or independent school and (d) whether they attended Oxford University or Cambridge University; and how long each has been in post.
(172117)
171
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received concerning (a) threats to and (b) abuses of human rights of native tribes in Colombia by (i) paramilitary groups and (ii) drugs lords; and if he will make a statement.
(173367)
172
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinators' comments on 10th May concerning the humanitarian situation in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.
(173368)
173
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) aid and (b) relief plans are in place for a possible humanitarian crisis in Colombia; what the predicted roll-out times are; and if he will make a statement.
(173369)
174
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) senior members of his Department, (c) the UK Government's representatives in Colombia, (d) the Government's representatives in New York and (e) his ministerial colleagues in London have (i) had, (ii) agreed to have and (iii) sought to have with (A) Jan Egeland, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, (B) other officials of the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (C) members and representatives of the Government of Colombia and (D) non-governmental organisations, in the UK and Colombia, following Jan Egeland's statement of 10th May; and if he will make a statement.
(173370)
175
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the accessibility for humanitarian groups of the more remote areas of Colombia; what discussions he has had on this with his Colombian counterpart; what assurances (a) he has requested and (b) he has received with regard to the Colombian Government's efforts to facilitate access to all parts of Colombia; and if he will make a statement.
(173435)
176
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department last assessed the security and humanitarian situation in the Chocó Department in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.
(173436)
177
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received concerning the plight of Colombian refugees (a) seeking to enter and (b) who have already entered Panama; what assistance his Department has offered to the Government of Panama better to deal with the influx of refugees from Colombia; and if he will make a statement.
(173437)
178
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many United Kingdom citizens have been arrested while on holiday in Thailand in each year since 1997; if he will list the five most common charges United Kingdom citizens were arrested for; how many United Kingdom citizens were sentenced in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
(173457)
179
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart from the Gambia concerning child prostitution and sex tourism; and if he will make a statement.
(173458)
180
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of Colombia's (a) economic and (b) humanitarian situation; and when this was last updated.
(173459)
181
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the numbers and (b) the (i) economic and (ii) security implications of the internally displaced persons currently within Colombia; how this situation has developed over the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
(173460)
182
Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on human rights abuses committed by the Government of Zimbabwe.
(173411)
183
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Commander of the United States forces in Iraq has had with (a) the current British representative or his predecessor to the Coalition Provisional Authority and (b) the Commander of British Forces in Iraq about the allegations made in respect of the abuse of detainees at (i) the Abu Ghraib prison and (ii) other prisons in Iraq; and what the outcome has been of communications on the matter.
(173338)
184
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what arrangements are in place for (a) information sharing and (b) joint decisions between Paul Bremer and his American staff at the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the United Kingdom representation in the CPA.
(173346)
185
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to seek a new settlement plan for the EU for the Cyprus problem which does not involve the indefinite presence in Cyprus of foreign troops.
(173224)
186
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis that refugees should, in reasonable time, be allowed the right to return to their homes.
(173225)
187
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis that Cyprus has control of future migration across its sovereign borders.
(173226)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
188
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173353)
189
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to reply to the honourable Member for Southend West's letters of 26th March and 19th April regarding the Human Tissue Bill.
(173378)
190
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money the Government intends to invest to promote gamete donation.
(173379)
191
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what protocols are in place to ensure that no coercive practices are involved in the targeting of gamete donation.
(173380)
192
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many licensed clinics providing fertility treatment have obtained licences for embryonic stem cell research.
(173381)
193
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the application to the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority by Professor Alison Murdoch for a licence to create human embryonic stem cell lives using nuclear transfer and parthenogenically activated oocytes.
(173434)
194
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to his Department of freezing prescription charges at their current price over the next five years.
(173184)
195
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists working within the London Borough of Wandsworth provide National Health Service dental treatment within their practice; and if he will make a statement.
(173077)
196
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what medical treatment there is the longest waiting time for (a) consultation and (b) treatment at NHS hospitals within the Greater London area.
(173078)
197
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what development projects are proposed for St George's Hospital, Tooting within the next three years; and what the estimated cost is of each.
(173079)
198
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes would be required to maintain accident and emergency services at Epsom Hospital following a demerger of the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.
(173230)
199
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what capital charges are payable on the Epsom Hospital site.
(173231)
200
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to finalise compensation arrangements for those who contracted hepatitis C from blood transfusions.
(173232)
201
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what study has been carried out by the East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey Primary Care Trust on the viability of demerging the Epsom and St Helier Trust.
(173233)
202
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the representation by East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey Primary Care Trust to the Chief Executive of the South West London Strategic Health Authority during the recent arbitration hearing about the possibility of demerging the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.
(173234)
203
N
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will respond to the letter he has received from Mr C. J. Ray of Ash Vale, Surrey, a constituent.
(172796)
204
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase his Department's budget allocation to genetic research into the causes of Alzheimer's in the current financial year.
(173265)
205
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of his Department's budget has been allocated to genetic research into the causes of Alzheimer's in each year since 2000.
(173268)
206
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of his Department's budget was spent on the development of treatment and care for Alzheimer's sufferers in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the provision for those with Alzheimer's.
(173269)
207
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what future funding has been allocated specifically in relation to the development of treatment and care for Alzheimer's sufferers.
(173271)
208
N
Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV; and what assessment he has made of its impact on the sexual health of young people in the UK.
(172575)
209
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many non-clinical staff were employed in each primary care trust in England at September 2003, broken down by grade.
(173090)
210
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many occasions the NHS IT forum of clinical advisers has met; and when it last met.
(173091)
211
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to involve (a) clinicians and (b) end users in the development of the NHS IT system; and if he will make a statement.
(173092)
212
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons are for the disbandment of the NHS IT forum for clinicians; and if he will make a statement.
(173093)
213
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his most recent estimate is of the number of people infected by hepatitis C.
(173190)
214
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish his Department's strategy on hepatitis C.
(173191)
215
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will launch his Department's awareness campaign on hepatitis C; at what targets it is directed; and what the budget is for the campaign.
(173192)
216
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Blackpool South in each of the last seven years.
(173070)
217
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many residents of Blackpool South aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests.
(173071)
218
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what code of practice is in place to prevent conflicts of interest concerning solicitors whose practices undertake medical negligence cases who are a (a) board member and (b) chairman of a health trust.
(173308)
219
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a further statement on the payment of compensation to patients who were infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment.
(173377)
220
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in removing regional variations in the (a) diagnosis and treatment and (b) outcomes for prostate cancer.
(173086)
221
Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the 10 most common conditions in children are.
(173287)
222
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how frequently and for what type of surgeries disposable instruments are used in NHS hospitals.
(173177)
223
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has commissioned on the possible risk of haemorrhages when using disposable instruments during operations.
(173178)
224
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he would take in response to research which showed a correlation between using disposable instruments and increased risk of haemorrhages.
(173179)
225
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the inclusion of Prevenar in the UK childhood immunisation programme.
(173180)
226
N
Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what translation costs were incurred within the National Health Service in 2003-04.
(172374)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
227
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173358)
228
Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will give a guarantee that sex offenders will not be resettled in approved probation and bail hostels that are situated near to schools, play areas and swimming pools.
(173176)
229
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women from Russia have sought political asylum in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and how many applications have been granted.
(173288)
230
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) removed and (b) deported from the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.
(173289)
231
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new prisons are planned for England and Wales which will be opened within the next three years; where these prisons will be located; and if he will make a statement.
(173290)
232
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women who are category A prisoners were being held in prison in England and Wales on 1st May.
(173291)
233
N
Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision his Department made prior to 1st May to ensure that those to whom his Department had written indicating the termination of support and housing benefits had in their possession the documents necessary to enable them (a) to seek work in the UK and (b) to return to their EU member state of origin.
(172927)
234
N
Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passports belonging to former asylum seekers, since 1st May EU citizens, are held by the Immigration and Nationality Service; when he expects that these documents will be returned to their owners; and if he will make a statement.
(172928)
235
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an identity card card reader will be available for purchase by the general public under proposals in the Draft Identity Cards Bill and consultation document (Cm 6178).
(173128)
236
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the members of the Identity Cards Programme Board.
(173130)
237
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) availability and (b) reliability of technology designed to identify duplicate identities based on identical biometric information.
(173131)
238
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances the police are entitled to enter private property without a warrant.
(172857)
239
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has (a) to institute a voluntary assisted return programme for refugees from Iraq and (b) to begin forcibly returning individuals to Iraq who have been refused refugee status and other forms of protection in the UK.
(173215)
240
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the status is of Iraqi individuals who were refused refugee status and other forms of protection in the UK in 2003.
(173216)
241
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals from Iraq have been refused refugee status and other forms of protection in each month this year; and what their current status is.
(173217)
242
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers from Iraq, having exhausted all domestic remedies, are receiving support on the basis that there is no safe route of return.
(173218)
243
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will answer the Question tabled by the honourable Member for Portsmouth South on 29th January, ref. 152147.
(173275)
244
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many racially aggravated incidents were recorded in each of the last seven years by the Metropolitan police, broken down by local authority area.
(173250)
245
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) public and (b) charity funds were spent on tackling drugs misuse in Greater London, broken down by borough, in each year since 1997.
(173251)
246
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many people there are in Greater London, who are addicted to drugs, broken down by borough.
(173252)
247
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate what proportion of crime in Greater London, was connected to drug addiction in each year since 1997, broken down by borough.
(173253)
248
N
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many racial equality councils are estimated to be in danger of closure as a result of recent allocations of Commission for Racial Equality section 44 funding for 2004-05.
(172860)
249
N
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the Commission for Racial Equality has decided to grant its section 44 funding to groups other than racial equality councils.
(172861)
250
N
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were received for Commission for Racial Equality section 44 funding in each of the last five bid rounds.
(172862)
251
N
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) racial equality councils and (b) other organisations have received Commission for Racial Equality section 44 funding for 2004-05; and what amounts have been allocated to each organisation.
(172863)
252
N
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what involvement his Department has had in the allocation of Commission for Racial Equality section 44 funding for 2004-05.
(172864)
253
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the rates were of (a) recorded offences, (b) detected offences and (c) cases brought to justice for burglaries in North Yorkshire in (i) April 1997, (ii) April 2000 and (iii) April 2003.
(173410)
254
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners are serving a life sentence; how many of these have served (a) less than 10 years, (b) between 10 and 15 years, (c) between 15 and 20 years, (d) between 20 and 25 years, (e) between 25 and 30 years and (f) longer than 30 years.
(173103)
255
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list prisons which accommodate life sentence inmates; what the capacity of each prison is; and how many and what percentage of prisoners are serving life sentences.
(173104)
256
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many current life sentence prisoners are detained beyond the expiry of their tariff for (a) less than five years, (b) between five and 10 years, (c) between 10 and 15 years and (d) more than 15 years.
(173105)
257
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of life sentence prisoners detained more than five years beyond the expiry of their tariff refuse to comply with penal and parole regimes that require the prisoner to admit their guilt or confront offending behaviour.
(173106)
258
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons were convicted by a criminal court in (a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1995 and (d) 2000; and how many and what percentage of convictions were subsequently overturned.
(173107)
259
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of miscarriages of justice at each level of the criminal justice system in each of the last 10 years.
(173108)
260
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures are in place to review case files following a referral to the courts by the Criminal Case Review Commission; and what mechanisms are in place (a) to address case-particular errors and (b) to identify general improvements that may reduce the risk of further miscarriages of justice.
(173109)
261
N
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost was of removing Ms Bernice Wairimu Kamau to Nairobi, broken down by each itemised cost associated with the removal.
(172795)
262
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much public funding has been spent on CCTV cameras in Blackpool South since 1997.
(173062)
263
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to deal with prisoners who complain of rape and sexual assault.
(173133)
264
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) permanent and (b) seconded staff were employed at the National Criminal Intelligence Service in each of the last five years.
(173134)
265
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received regarding the number of police officers seconded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service.
(173135)
266
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress he has made towards setting a target for the proportion of asylum claims, including final appeal, to be determined within six months.
(173136)
267
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) private companies and (b) Government departments have taken part in the UK Passport Service's Personal Identification Project; which databases were used in the exercise; and how the scheme is being evaluated.
(173175)
268
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will provide a substantive reply to the Question tabled by the honourable Member for Faversham and Mid Kent, ref 168371, on processing of seasonal agricultural workers scheme visas from Romania and Bulgaria.
(172926)
269
N
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what principles govern the allocation of funds received from the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; and if he will give examples of where and how this money has been spent.
(172932)
270
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what change there has been in the number of people claiming benefits since 1st May.
(173181)
271
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from EU accession countries arrived at UK international (a) airports and (b) bus stations on the first week of May.
(173182)
272
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from EU accession countries arrived at UK international (a) airports and (b) bus stations in the first week of May last year.
(173183)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
273
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173366)
274
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much (a) money and (b) aid in kind the UK has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to date to the (A) International Organisation for Migration and (B) the UN Development Fund for Women within the framework of the UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Columbia 2003; and if he will make a statement.
(173442)
275
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many people his Department estimates to be (a) internally displaced in Colombia, (b) displaced from Colombia to Panama and (c) displaced from Colombia to Venezuela; how these figures have changed since 2000; and if he will make a statement.
(173443)
276
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes aimed at (a) aiding internally displaced people and (ii) aiding indigenous tribes his Department (i) has established since 2000, (ii) runs, (iii) helps to run, (iv) finances and (v) helps finance in Columbia; how many people each has (A) housed and (B) fed per annum since 2000; and if he will make a statement.
(173444)
277
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid his Department has provided to the Gambia in each year since 1997.
(173445)
278
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what educational programmes aimed at children between the ages of six and 16 his Department (a) has established since 1997, (b) runs, (c) helps run, (d) finances and (e) helps finance in the Gambia.
(173446)
279
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what sexual education programmes his Department (a) has established since 1997, (b) runs, (c) helps run, (d) finances and (e) helps finance in the Gambia.
(173447)
280
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the international initiatives in the Gambia that his Department has participated in (a) financially and (b) logistically since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
(173448)
281
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much (a) money and (b) aid in kind the UK has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to date to the Food and Agriculture Organisation within the framework of the UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Colombia 2003; and if he will make a statement.
(173449)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
282
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discretion is available to principals and governors in applying the guidance on class sizes in practical subjects in post-primary schools contained in Circular 2004-05.
(173202)
283
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by what percentage funding for the Age Weighted Pupil Unit changed this year.
(173203)
284
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by what percentage the Department of Education's budget changed this year.
(173204)
285
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many teachers took long-term sick leave during each of the last five academic years.
(173205)
286
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what advice has been given to school principals regarding their legal rights and responsibilities in relation to employees who go on strike.
(173206)
287
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made towards settling the teachers' pay dispute; and if he will make a statement.
(173207)
288
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether (a) choir and (b) orchestra are considered practical subjects for the purposes of restricting class sizes in post-primary schools as outlined in Circular 2004-5.
(173208)
289
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the limitation on class sizes in music lessons is affected by (a) the types of instruments being used and (b) the number of pupils using instruments.
(173209)
290
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations he has received from (a) students and (b) higher education institutions regarding the (i) introduction of an independent adjudicator to hear student complaints and (ii) ending of the Jurisdiction of the Visitor Scheme.
(173210)
291
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason the decision was taken by the Department of Education, outlined in Point 15 of Circular 2004-5, to supersede the exception previously granted to class sizes in music by Circular 2001-14 and the Department's letter dated 19th December 2001.
(173211)
292
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to extend educational policy on essential skills beyond numeracy and literacy; and if he will make a statement.
(173212)
293
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what conditions of (a) copyright and (b) royalty payments are attached to grant aid awarded by the (i) Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (ii) Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, (iii) Ultach Trust and (iv) Foras na Gaeilge for the publication of creative writing in the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
(173186)
294
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total amount of public money granted by the (a) Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (b) Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and (c) Ulster Scots Agency was towards the publication of creative writing in the Ulster Scots language in Northern Ireland in each year since 1999.
(173187)
295
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what conditions of (a) copyright and (b) royalty payments are attached to grant aid awarded by the (i) Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (ii) Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and (iii) Ulster Scots Agency.
(173188)
296
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in the application to the European Commission for clearance for a scheme to reduce electricity tariffs in Northern Ireland.
(173409)
297
N
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reasons Part 3 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 has not yet been brought into operation; and if he will make a statement.
(172370)
298
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the dates on which he has had meetings with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland since his appointment as Secretary of State.
(173266)
299
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of his Department's health budget has been allocated to genetic research into the causes of Alzheimer's in each year since 2000.
(173267)
300
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will introduce bye-laws to control jet skis and powerboats in Lough Erne.
(173270)
301
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what future funding has been allocated specifically in relation to the development of treatment and care for Alzheimer's sufferers.
(173272)
302
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of his Department's health budget was spent on the development of treatment and care for Alzheimer's sufferers in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the provision for those with Alzheimer's in Northern Ireland.
(173273)
303
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the outcome of Love for Life's central funding bid to (a) the Department for Education and (b) the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety will be announced.
(173274)
Questions to the Prime Minister
304
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the United States Administration, and with whom, on the cases of abuse that have taken place against Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
(173075)
305
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Prime Minister, when he received a copy of the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004 into allegations of abuse by Coalition forces of Iraqi detainees.
(173200)
306
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Prime Minister, what changes to the (a) political and (b) military strategy in Iraq are being considered by the (i) UK Government and (ii) US Administration as a consequence of the International Committee for the Red Cross report in February 2004.
(173219)
307
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, on what date he was first informed of the existence of the Report by the International Committee of the Red Cross on the treatment by the Coalition forces of prisoners of war and other persons protected by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during arrest, internment and interrogation, dated February 2004; and on what date he read it.
(173341)
Questions to the Solicitor General
308
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):To ask the Solicitor General, how many cases in the Merseyside area were referred to (a) the Crown Court and (b) a magistrates' court in each year since 1997; and how many of those cases were subsequently discontinued.
(173129)
309
N
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Solicitor General, which areas will be covered by the new anti-social behaviour prosecutors; and what mechanisms are in place for spreading best practice in combating anti-social behaviour.
(172930)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
310
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173365)
311
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to help United Kingdom firms supply the Chinese market for renewable energy.
(173456)
312
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many cases have been handled by the Insolvency Service Protracted Realisations Unit in each year since 1998; what the (a) gross and (b) net flow of cases was in each year; and what the average professional fee charged by an insolvency practitioner handling a protracted realisations unit case during that time was.
(173277)
313
N
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of the total deductions made from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compensation payments by (a) solicitors, (b) call farming agents and (c) the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers South Wales.
(173026)
314
N
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether DMH (a) has been removed at any time and (b) is currently removed from the list of approved solicitors dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compensation claims.
(173027)
315
N
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what level of compliance with the recent Law Society guidance on repayment of deductions from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compensation payments has been achieved.
(173028)
316
N
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what commercial training or experience is required for each grade of staff of UK Trade and Investment.
(172113)
317
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims handling agreements there are under the Coalminers Compensation Scheme; on what dates they were signed; and by whom.
(172982)
318
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many instances have been (a) notified to the Department and (b) identified by the Department of claims under the Coalminers Compensation Scheme whch have required additional costs outwith those paid by the Department under the claims handling agreement.
(172983)
319
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many medical assessments and offers have been disputed by Raleys solicitors under the Coalminers Compensation claim for chronic pulmonary obstructive disease and vibration white finger which have required additional expenditure outwith the costs covered by the Department under the claims handling agreement.
(172984)
320
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government has taken to help small businesses in Blackpool South since 1997.
(173063)
321
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many workers in Blackpool South have benefited from the national minimum wage.
(173064)
322
N
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff were employed in a press office or public relations capacity (a) by Advantage West Midlands and (b) by each regional development agency in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002 and (v) 2003.
(172371)
323
N
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the cost was of (a) developing and (b) maintaining (i) the Advantage West Midlands website and (ii) each regional development agency's website in each financial year since 1999.
(172372)
324
N
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the salary bill was of (a) Advantage West Midlands and (b) each regional development agency for staff employed in a press office or public relations capacity in each financial year since 1999; and what the average salary was for staff employed in a press office or public relations capacity in each case in each year.
(172373)
325
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons she rejects the British Chambers of Commerce estimation of the costs to businesses of regulations introduced since 1997.
(173260)
326
Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment her Department has made of the number and types of UK companies (a) exporting goods to, (b) exporting services to and (c) investing capital in the Gambia since 1997; and if she will make a statement.
(173441)
327
Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the likely impact on the UK coal industry of the Large Combustion Plants Directive.
(173388)
328
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment she has received on the adequacy of protection measures against malevolent adversaries and terrorists at nuclear installations.
(173342)
329
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the operation to date of the Sellafield MOX plant.
(173347)
330
N
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made in agreeing the future financial governance of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
(172733)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
331
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173364)
332
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been made available to local authorities specifically to promote car-sharing, car clubs, education programmes to promote walking and cycling or other soft measures to address transport issues in each year since 1997.
(173312)
333
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has undertaken to assess the relative costs and benefits of capital expenditure and revenue expenditure on transport.
(173313)
334
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has undertaken into the (a) growth and (b) popularity of formal car-sharing through online systems.
(173314)
335
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of car-sharing within schools as a means of reducing congestion associated with the school run.
(173315)
336
N
Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will make an announcement of his decision on the Light Rapid Transit project between Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth.
(172376)
337
Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the use of concessionary bus fares for older people in England and Wales; and what plans he has for future changes.
(173262)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
338
Mr Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will discuss with the National Assembly for Wales the procedure for applying for Education Maintenance Allowance.
(173110)
339
Mr Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will discuss with the National Assembly for Wales the timetable for enabling people in Wales to apply for Education Maintenance Allowance.
(173111)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
340
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.
(173362)
341
N
Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will fund compensation for members of occupational pension schemes who have suffered serious loss and will not be eligible for the Pension Protection Fund.
(172712)
342
N
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the advice he gives to those (a) public and (b) private pension schemes which will allow a recipient to keep a widow's pension in the event of re-marriage.
(172853)
343
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will publish an assessment of the incapacity benefit pilots; and if he will make a statement.
(172855)
344
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether those in receipt of incapacity benefit are registered by ethnic background; and if he will make a statement.
(172856)
345
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents have been found guilty of avoiding paying the right amount of child support in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK, in each year since 1997.
(173245)
346
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what action he will take to provide further support to single parents whose former partners are avoiding paying the right contribution to their child's upbringing.
(173246)
347
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to introduce further measures to give the Child Support Agency power to take action against parents not paying the right amount of alimony.
(173247)
348
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of (a) men, (b) women and (c) children in each ethnic group are living in poverty, defined as below 60 per cent. of median income (i) before and (ii) after housing costs, in each Greater London borough.
(173333)
349
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of pension credit are receiving (a) less than 10 pence per week, (b) 10 pence to 19 pence per week, (c) 20 pence to 29 pence per week, (d) 30 pence to 39 pence per week, (e) 40 pence to 49 pence per week, (f) 50 pence to 59 pence per week, (g) 60 pence to 69 pence per week, (h) 70 pence to 79 pence per week, (i) 80 pence to 89 pence per week and (j) 90 pence to 99 pence per week in each Greater London borough.
(173334)
350
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for winter fuel payments were disallowed because of late application in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03 in each Greater London borough.
(173335)
351
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the deadlines for applications for winter fuel payments were in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.
(173336)
352
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mothers in Blackpool South have received the Sure Start Maternity Grant.
(173061)
353
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) claims and (b) successful claims for carers' allowance were made in each of the last three years for which figures are available to (i) claimants under 65 years and (ii) claimants over 65 years.
(173073)
354
Phil Sawford (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, using the 1999 Millennium Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey, how many children he estimates lived in families with below 70 per cent. of the before housing costs national median income who also lacked (a) one or more and (b) two or more of the necessities proposed in the annex of the document Measuring Child Poverty; and how many of those categorised as missing out on (i) one or more and (ii) two or more of the list of necessities did not have before housing cost incomes below 60 per cent. of median income in 1999.
(173450)
355
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a breakdown by local authority of (a) savings achieved under the Weekly Benefit Savings scheme, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) weekly benefit savings as a percentage of benefit expenditure for (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02.
(172979)
356
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a breakdown by local authority of the (a) financial rewards received under the Security Against Fraud and Error Scheme, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) financial rewards received under the Security Against Fraud and Error Scheme as a percentage benefit expenditure for the most recent year available.
(172980)
357
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a list of the local authorities (a) not complying, (b) partially complying and (c) fully complying with the verification framework for the most recent year available.
(172981)
358
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects to have prepared estimates for the number of people contracted out of second tier state pension provision in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.
(173241)
359
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the online national insurance retirement pension forecast to be available.
(173242)
360
N
Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether (a) the Chairman, (b) the Chief Executive and (c) the staff of the Pension Protection Fund will be in pensionable employment liable for the levy to the Pension Protection Fund.
(172929)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
361
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Bootle on the latest date for which figures are available.
[Notice originally given on 14th May 2004] (173145)
362
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new jobs have been created in Bootle since 1997.
[Notice originally given on 14th May 2004] (173146)
363
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Bootle from 1997 to 31st December 2003.
[Notice originally given on 14th May 2004] (173147)
364
Jim Dowd (Lewisham West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Association of British Insurers in the last 12 months in relation to the service provided by Norwich Union to its policy holders.
[Transferred] (173223)
365
N
Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the current un-needed surplus is in the National Insurance Fund.
[Question Unstarred] (172728)
366
N
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what preparations he is making for discussions at the forthcoming meeting of the G7 finance ministers on tackling world debt.
[Question Unstarred] (172732)
367
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the VAT status is of supplies made to local education partnerships.
[Notice originally given on 14th May 2004] (173138)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
368
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many representations the Government has received since May 2003 from Amnesty International in respect of the shooting of or other injuries to Iraqi civilians.
[Transferred] (173343)
Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister
369
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what restrictions are placed on local councillors in respect of (a) receiving representations from residents in respect of planning applications when they are (i) a member of the planning committee and (ii) any other councillor and (b) the ability of these councillors then to speak in debate on such representations.
[Transferred] (173082)
370
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the occasions when costs have been awarded against (a) a local council and (b) councillors following an appeal against their refusal to grant planning permission when their decision was to uphold their local plan.
[Transferred] (173083)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
371
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will place in the Library the presentation made by Mr Robert Osborne at the Conference for the Education Building Development Officer Group in 2003.
[Notice originally given on 14th May 2004] (173137)
372
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he held with (a) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the operation of arm's length management organisations and (b) the Department of Health on the operation of local improvement finance trusts before establishing local education partnerships.
[Notice originally given on 14th May 2004] (173148)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
373
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is him policy to seek a legally binding international arms trade treaty.
[Transferred] (173278)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
374
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to link the level of fines to a convicted individual's income.
[Transferred] (173120)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
375
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 9th December 2003, Official Report, column 422W, on Iraq, whether the complete review of missing drugs and supplies has finished; what the findings were; whether new drug supply systems are now fully operational; whether supply accounting and reporting systems are in place; what the new national drug formulary comprises; whether shortages of medicine in Iraq are continuing; when he expects full medical supplies will get through to the Iraqi people; and if he will make a statement.
[Transferred] (173385)
Questions to the Prime Minister
376
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions, and on what dates, he has chaired meetings on regulatory reform since 1997.
[Transferred] (173261)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
377
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government Office of the South East has to initiate discussions with appropriate authorities to determine the future (a) investment and (b) infrastucture needs of the Port of Southampton following the decision on Dibden Bay; and if he will make a statement.
[Transferred] (173214)

 
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