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House of Commons
Session 2003 - 04
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The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 27 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 27 May 2004
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 27 May 2004


This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 27 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 27 May of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 27 May see Part 2 of this paper.


Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
1
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what mechanisms exist to distinguish between those matters which are his Department's responsibilities and those which are directly those of the Prime Minister.
(176655)
2
N
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30th April, to the honourable Member for Eddisbury, Official Report, column 1319W, on gold-plating, if he will list cases of unforeseen or undesired over-implementation identified by the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit, broken down by (a) the EU Directive, (b) the Department responsible for implementation and (c) the option taken that went beyond the minimum necessary to comply with the European Directive.
(176100)
3
N
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30th April, to the honourable Member for Eddisbury, Official Report, column 1319W, on gold-plating, if he will list the instances of the implementation of EU legislation where, due to exceptional reasons, it has been deemed necessary to over-implement Directives, broken down by (a) the EU Directive and (b) the Government department responsible.
(176101)
Questions to the Chairman of the Catering Committee
4
Mr Ken Purchase (Wolverhampton North East):To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, if he will make a statement on the change in arrangements relating to the locking of the door between Strangers' Bar and the terrace; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the new arrangements for (a) convenience of access for honourable Members and (b) emergency evacuation in the event of a fire.
(176395)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
5
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10th May, Official Report, column 150W, on statutory paternity pay, when the statistics will become available.
(176441)
6
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to help businesses administer the statutory paid paternity leave introduced on 6th April 2003; what targets have been set for this work; and what budget has been allocated.
(176521)
7
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many senior citizens in Blackpool North and Fleetwood qualified for the 10 pence rate of income tax in each year since its introduction.
(176402)
8
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the origins of the responses to the document Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change; and how many were received from (a) registration officers, (b) genealogists and (c) the general public.
(176583)
9
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff were employed by (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise at 24th May.
(176405)
10
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 which he announced in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176513)
11
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1st April, Official Report, column 1677W, on the Gershon Review, when he expects the first reductions in the number of civil servants to be made as a result of the Gershon Review.
(176514)
12
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Mr David Varney regarding the timescale for the (a) commencement and (b) completion of the reduction of 14,000 civil servants in the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise; and what the outcome of those discussions was.
(176515)
13
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what targets he has given Mr David Varney for the (a) commencement and (b) completion of the reduction of 14,000 civil servants in the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
(176516)
14
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 6th May, Official Report, column 1737W, on efficiency gains, when he expects the first of these job reductions to be made.
(176544)
15
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 6th May, Official Report, column 1737W, on efficiency gains, what the baseline employment figures in (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise are for the job reductions listed.
(176545)
16
N
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment in Manchester Central over the last seven years.
(175715)
17
N
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many workers in Manchester Central have benefited from the national minimum wage.
(175716)
18
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to give tax relief to businesses that employ retained firefighters.
(176264)
19
N
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit will commence work; and how many staff it will employ.
(176258)
20
N
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total costs, including employment, are for the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit for this financial year.
(176259)
21
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many hours of refresher training Customs and Excise investigators (a) were scheduled to receive prior to July 2003 and (b) have been scheduled to receive since July 2003.
(176423)
22
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Customs and Excise investigators (a) completed refresher training in each of the three years prior to July 2003 and (b) have completed such training since July 2003.
(176424)
23
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Customs and Excise investigators there (a) were immediately prior to July 2003 and (b) have been since July 2003.
(176425)
24
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects the next Butterfield Review to report.
(176426)
25
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures have been introduced since July 2003 to handle and manage human sources in Customs and Excise investigations.
(176427)
26
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures have been implemented since July 2003 to ensure that Customs and Excise personnel retain adequate records when dealing with sources in Customs and Excise investigations.
(176428)
27
N
Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) estimate he has made and (b) research he has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on the value of the sale of the analogue wave band to public funds.
(174047)
Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs
28
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in the Department's administration budget by 2008, announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176499)
29
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what training provision is provided for clerks to magistrates' courts in the use and application of anti-social behaviour orders.
(176013)
30
Mr John Taylor (Solihull):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the dialogue between the Judicial Studies Board and the Sentencing Advisory Council.
(176614)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
31
N
Tony Cunningham (Workington):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she expects responsibility for licensing to be transferred to local authorities.
(176338)
32
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how often since 1997 (a) her Department and (b) its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment; and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997.
(176572)
33
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of her Department's annual budget is administered through non-departmental public bodies.
(176421)
34
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what research her Department has commissioned on the role which regional assemblies could play in service delivery in her Department's sectors.
(176422)
35
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of trends in the number of visitors to museums neither funded by her Department nor participating in the Renaissance in the Regions programme.
(176455)
36
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of administration costs in her Department for (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06, broken down by (i) salary and (ii) other costs.
(176456)
37
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which areas have been targeted for support under the Positive Activities for Young People programme; how these areas were decided upon; what targets have been set for the programme; and how success in those targets will be measured.
(176457)
38
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what strategic issues have been given priority by her Department's Strategy, Policy and Delivery Division.
(176458)
39
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost of the Creative Partnerships programme was in its first full year.
(176459)
40
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the impact of the Positive Activities for Young People scheme on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
(176460)
41
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which councils have been included in the Cultural Services Excellence Network; and what the criteria for inclusion were.
(176461)
42
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had on food advertising during children's programmes; and if she will make a statement.
(176409)
43
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in her Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176501)
44
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the availability in public libraries of reading material for those with reading disabilities.
(176522)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
45
N
Mr A.J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4th May to the Right honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, Official Report, column 1450W, on RAF Boulmer, if he will review, under the terms of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, his decision to cite Exemption 2 of the Code in support of his decision not to disclose details of the Investment Appraisal.
(176337)
46
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money his Department spent in Afghanistan in each of the last three years; and if he will provide a breakdown of that expenditure by main heading.
(176598)
47
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Memorandum of Understanding agreed with India concerning the supply of Hawk advanced jet trainers allows the project to be suspended by the UK if circumstances in India change; and if he will make a statement.
(176447)
48
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often since 1997 (a) his Department and (b) its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment; and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997.
(176573)
49
N
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the man training days budget for the Territorial Army was for each of the last 10 years; how many man training days that represents in each case; what the manning establishment of the Territorial Army was in each of the last 10 years; and what the actual manning level was in each year.
(176099)
50
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were employed by the Disposal Services Agency in each of the last three years; what the staff costs were in each of those years; and what the forecast cost is for each of the next two years.
(176429)
51
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of the Defence Assistance Fund was for each of the last four years; and how much of those costs in each year was used to promote military exports.
(176430)
52
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money was received through the commercial exportation levy in each of the last four years.
(176431)
53
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of the Export Support teams was in each of the last three years; and what the forecast cost is for each of the next two years.
(176440)
54
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Typhoon to enter service with the RAF.
(176472)
55
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress on the Typhoon programme.
(176473)
56
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from QinetiQ about the Typhoon's software and computer programmes.
(176474)
57
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on problems experienced with the Typhoon's software programmes; whether he expects the software problems to delay the Typhoon's entry into service with the RAF; and what estimate he has made of the cost of correcting the problems.
(176475)
58
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the companies involved in the Typhoon programme about that aircraft's software and computer programmes.
(176476)
59
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the RAF about the Typhoon's software and computer systems.
(176477)
60
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of (a) the Typhoon's capability as a single seat fighter in all conditions and in all combat roles and (b) the need for a second crew member for certain operations.
(176478)
61
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the RAF's future requirement for fast jet pilots.
(176479)
62
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008, announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176505)
63
N
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he intends to object for operational flying reasons to the erection of a wind turbine at Shipdham in Norfolk.
(176125)
64
N
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received from the NATO Secretary-General regarding the security situation in Afghanistan.
(176360)
65
N
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the 1st Battalion of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment will be replaced as a spearhead battalion in Kosovo; and by which units.
(176361)
66
N
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding the security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
(176362)
67
N
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the results of the force generation conference held in Brussels in March with the aim of manning and equipping the First Stage of the expansion of NATO's role in Afghanistan.
(176363)
68
N
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the countries contributing to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; and what the current contribution of each country is.
(176364)
Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister
69
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what procedures are in place to consult stakeholders on the content of guidance proposed to support the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
(176564)
70
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will introduce into the Building Regulations limitations on the generation of smoke and toxicity from construction materials.
(176565)
71
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he proposes to retain compartmentation as the basis of fire protection in non-domestic buildings when Approved Document B to the Building Regulations is next reviewed.
(176566)
72
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to change the requirements for compartmentation fire protection in large warehouses in the next review of Approved Document B to the Building Regulations.
(176567)
73
N
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was spent on first class travel for departmental and executive agency employees in each year since 2001.
(175752)
74
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he defines a seafront wooden chalet as a second home for the purposes of council tax liability.
(176432)
75
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many retained firefighters have been in service during each of the last four years.
(176261)
76
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to help in the recruitment of more retained firefighters.
(176262)
77
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will extend the key worker definition to include (a) firefighters and (b) retained firefighters for the purposes of the affordable housing initiative.
(176263)
78
N
Mr David Rendel (Newbury):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list for (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05 the local authorities for which a funding (i) ceiling and (ii) floor has been imposed.
(176366)
79
N
Mr David Rendel (Newbury):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list for each local authority for which a ceiling has been imposed (a) the grant calculated by the funding formula and (b) the grant actually received in real terms figures for (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05; and what the difference was in each case, expressed as a percentage of the local authority's council tax intake.
(176367)
80
Christine Russell (Chester, City of):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people moved to the North West from within the UK in (a) June 2003, (b) March 2003, (c) December 2002 and (d) June 2002.
(176481)
81
Christine Russell (Chester, City of):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people living in the North West in (a) June 2003, (b) March 2003, (c) December 2002 and (d) June 2002 originated from different areas of the UK.
(176482)
82
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to introduce council tax for (a) static holiday caravans and (b) touring caravans.
(175944)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
83
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to extend the use of (a) cavity barriers in roofs and (b) non-combustible panels in compartmentation when (i) refurbishing existing school buildings and (ii) constructing new school buildings.
(176563)
84
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what (a) advice and (b) guidance he has issued to local education authorities regarding their implementation of healthy eating schemes.
(176317)
85
N
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the drop-out rate for students studying medicine on courses which lead to registration as a doctor was in the latest year for which figures are available.
(176245)
86
Ann Coffey (Stockport):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent progress has been made in establishing (a) children's trusts, (b) children's centres and (c) neighbourhood nurseries.
(176523)
87
Ann Coffey (Stockport):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the operation of the Adoption Register.
(176524)
88
Ann Coffey (Stockport):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what response he has made to the consultation on the Children's Green Paper, Every Child Matters.
(176525)
89
Ann Coffey (Stockport):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what decisions he has made on the role of children and young people in the selection of a Children's Commissioner for England.
(176570)
90
N
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the Government's commitment, including private finance initiative credits, is for each successful wave one bid in the Building Schools for the Future initiative for each relevant fiscal year.
(176257)
91
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will take steps to increase the number of books, magazines and newspapers available in large print, audio, Braille and electronic formats accessible to people with a visual impairment, dyslexia or other reading disability; and if he will make a statement.
(176682)
92
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been invested in Blackpool North and Fleetwood to build long-term school sports facilities.
(176397)
93
Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children were in classes of 31 or more in infant schools and infant classes in primary schools in Brighton and Hove in each year since 1996-97.
(176574)
94
Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the funding per pupil was in the Brighton and Hove Local Education Authority in each year since 1997-98.
(176575)
95
Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many full-time equivalent teachers were working in schools in Brighton and Hove in each year since 1996-97.
(176576)
96
Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much capital funding was allocated to schools in Brighton and Hove in each year since 1996-97.
(176577)
97
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176500)
98
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on apprenticeship schemes supported by the Department.
(176483)
99
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the level of bullying in schools in the Vale of York, with particular reference to those within the City of York.
(176688)
100
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures he is taking to tackle bullying in schools; what guidance his Department has issued to teachers and schools about the prevention of bullying; and if he will publish his guidance.
(176689)
101
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received on the level of bullying in the Vale of York.
(176690)
102
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much central funding was available to schools in the Vale of York in each of the past three years for programmes to combat bullying.
(176691)
103
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the average number of school days missed per pupil per year as a result of bullying in the Vale of York in each of the past three years.
(176692)
104
Mr Gerry Steinberg (Durham, City of):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average funding per student studying A levels at (a) a sixth form college, (b) a further education college and (c) a sixth form attached to a comprehensive school is in the 2004-05 financial year.
(176442)
105
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the start-up costs for enabling students to apply for student loans online are; and what the running costs will be in each year up to 2007-08.
(176418)
106
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will estimate the number of students who will apply for student loans online in each year up to 2007-08.
(176419)
107
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funding will be made available in each year up to 2007-08 to provide those over the age of 40 years with a first Level 2 qualification; and if he will make a statement.
(176420)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
108
N
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons she has not replied to the letter of 27th November 2003 from Mr Jim Morrison, President of the Aluminium Federation on the problems of the export of waste under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994; and if she will make a statement.
(174996)
109
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how often since 1997 (a) her Department and (b) its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment; and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997.
(176569)
110
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many properties were protected against flood risk in the flood risk areas in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04; and how many have been so protected in 2004-05 to date.
(176414)
111
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many properties were protected from coastal erosion from an eroding frontage in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04; and how many have been so protected in 2004-05 to date.
(176415)
112
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the indication priority score for coastal defence schemes for 2006-07.
(176416)
113
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many homes in Blackpool North and Fleetwood have benefited from the Home Energy Efficiency and Warm Front Schemes.
(176401)
114
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) staffing and (b) staff costs for her core Department, excluding executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are for 2004-05, in respect of (i) the environment protection strategy, (ii) environment quality and waste, (iii) climate, energy and environmental risk, (iv) water, (v) European Union and international policy, (vi) economics and statistics, (vii) food industry and crops, (viii) sustainable agriculture and livestock products, (ix) fisheries, (x) land management and rural development, (xi) the rural delivery review, (xii) wildlife, countryside, land use and better regulation, (xiii) Haskins policy implementation, (xiv) rural policy, (xv) Government Offices of the Regions, (xvi) veterinary, (xvii) Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy and zoonoses, (xviii) animal health and welfare planning, (xix) animal health, (xx) policy and corporate strategy, (xxi) finance, planning and resources, (xxii) delivery strategy, (xxiii) the State Veterinary Service, (xxiv) e-Business, (xxv) e-nabling DEFRA programme, (xxvi) communications, (xxvii) corporate services, (xxviii) the Rural Development Service, (xxix) the Science Directorate, (xxx) Legal Directorate A and (xxxi) Legal Directorate B.
(176406)
115
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) staffing and (b) staff costs for the Environment Agency are for 2004-05 in respect of its activities on (i) central administration, (ii) flood defence, (iii) water resources, (iv) environmental protection, licensing activities, (v) environmental protection, non-licensing activities, (vi) fisheries, (vii) recreation and conservations (viii) navigation and (ix) other activities.
(176407)
116
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in her Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176510)
117
Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has held with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser on the reasons for increased use of the Thames Barrier.
(176484)
118
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Norwegian companies and operators are engaged in aquaculture in the United Kingdom; and how many people, in full-time equivalents, are employed by those companies.
(176626)
119
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from Norwegian companies and operators engaged in aquaculture in the UK as to the continued viability of their operations in the UK; and if she will make a statement.
(176627)
120
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the costs to the farming industry of implementing the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 in each of the next 10 years.
(176642)
121
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether conformity with the provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 is (a) included and (b) to be included in the cross-compliance requirements of the Mid-Term Common Agricultural Policy Review.
(176646)
122
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice she has given to farmers on identifying materials containing asbestos in premises under their control.
(176648)
123
N
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that the area of traditional apple orchards that is not currently covered by the countryside stewardship scheme is included in 2005.
(176313)
124
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason her Department granted a licence to Wyevale Garden Centre near Thornbury to shoot robins; and if she will make a statement.
(176392)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
125
Mr John Battle (Leeds West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government intends to vote on the UN Security Council Resolution 1487, moved by the United States, relating to the renewal of the mandate of the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement.
(176433)
126
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last discussed the threat to safety of members of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
(176606)
127
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate the percentage of staff time devoted to promoting UK exports by (a) UK embassies in general and (b) the UK embassy in Saudi Arabia.
(176413)
128
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how often since 1997 (a) his Department and (b) its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment; and what the cost of portable appliance testing was in each year since 1997.
(176571)
129
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to member states of the European Union in relation to the treatment by Iran of the Baha'is and other religious minorities; and if he will make a statement.
(176656)
130
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the level of protection afforded by the Government of Bangladesh to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Bangladesh.
(176437)
131
Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the articles in the draft European Constitution where decision-making by qualified majority vote replaces unanimity in the existing treaties.
(176568)
132
N
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the Government will take to secure compensation for the effects on Gibraltar of Spain's interference in free movement of cruise ships; and if he will make a statement.
(175573)
133
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK Government was aware between 1985 and the start of the Gulf War in 1991 that Iraq had a biological weapons programme .
(176562)
134
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 15th March of the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, what export controls were in place at the time of the sale of biological materials to Iraq by the United States.
(176578)
135
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176512)
136
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise at the United Nations the issue of compensation by Libya for victims of their sponsored terrorism in the United Kingdom.
(176404)
137
N
Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who is responsible for deciding on the use of oil assets in Iraq.
(174045)
138
N
Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many barrels of oil have been exported from Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein; what value this represents; and what use has been made of these funds within Iraq.
(174046)
139
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, under which UN Security Council resolution the Greek Cypriot Administration is classified as the Government of Cyprus.
(176584)
140
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on the international (a) trade, (b) communication and (c) sport restrictions on Northern Cyprus of the Turkish Cypriot vote to accept the Annan Plan.
(176585)
141
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will permit direct flights between Northern Cyprus and United Kingdom airports following the Turkish Cypriot vote to accept the Annan Plan.
(176586)
142
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will take steps within the European Union to promote the amendment of legislation restricting trade and communications with Northern Cyprus following the vote to accept the Annan Plan; and whether the Government plans to provide financial assistance to Northern Cyprus.
(176587)
143
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK High Commission office in Northern Cyprus will be upgraded following the Turkish Cypriot vote to accept the Annan Plan.
(176588)
144
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to invite representatives of the Turkish Cypriot administration to enter discussions with the Government on the future of Northern Cyprus.
(176589)
145
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus London Representative Office will be changed following the vote to accept the Annan Plan.
(176590)
146
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will take steps to promote the repeal of UN Security Council Resolution 541.
(176591)
147
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government would support an invitation from the UN Security Council and General Assembly for Turkish Cypriot elected leaders to address UN meetings; and if he will make a statement.
(176592)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
148
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff are employed by the National Patients Safety Agency.
(175936)
149
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the estimated cost of registration with the new Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council will be.
(175937)
150
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the annual budget of the National Patients Safety Agency (a) was in 2003-04 and (b) will be in 2004-05; and if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure in 2003-04 by budget subhead.
(175938)
151
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his proposals for statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture will require health practitioners using the title acupuncturist but registered with existing statutory bodies to be subject to additional regulation if they wish to continue to use the title acupuncturist.
(175986)
152
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the validity of the four-week follow-up in determining the success of smoking cessation programmes.
(176102)
153
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact the NHS smoking cessation services have had on the number of people who have stopped smoking in each year since 1999.
(176103)
154
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Medway Care Agency was included on the Government's approved list of recruitment agencies who have signed up to the code of practice on ethical recruitment.
(176293)
155
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the approved list regarding those agencies who had signed up to the Government's code of practice on ethical recruitment was made available to the South Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; and how they were made aware of its existence.
(176294)
156
Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Mr Tawanda Machigura was recruited directly from Zimbabwe by the Medway Care Agency; between what dates he was on Medway Care Agency's lists; and what work he had undertaken prior to signing up with Medway Care Agency.
(176394)
157
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the Department's IT budget will be assigned to the roll-out of picture archiving and communications systems; and if he will make a statement.
(176652)
158
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timescale is for introducing picture archiving and communication systems across the NHS.
(176653)
159
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many imaging and radiodiagnostics examinations and tests were carried out in the NHS (a) without intervention and (b) with intervention (i) in total, (ii) in imaging departments and (iii) in other departments in each year since 1997, broken down by (A) CT, (B) MRI, (C) obstetric ultrasound, (D) non-obstetric ultrasound, (E) radioisotopes, (F) radiographs with no fluoroscopy and (G) fluoroscopy.
(176654)
160
N
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on the implications for healthy eating of the use of vending machines in schools.
(176126)
161
N
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the latest scientific evidence on infection rates for vCJD, with particular reference to links with BSE.
(176127)
162
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 1391W on rubbber ferrules, who his Department's supplier of rubber ferrules is; and in what country this company is based.
(176657)
163
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procurement and tendering systems are used by NHS bodies in the appointment of communications consultants, with particular reference to the appointment by the Shaping Health Services Project Board of Clear Communications.
(176240)
164
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the (a) Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority, (b) Chiltern and South Bucks Primary Care Trust, (c) Vale of Aylesbury Primary Care Trust, (d) Wycombe Primary Care Trust, (e) Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (f) Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust and (g) Two Shires Ambulance Trust agreed to accept a share in the cost of employing Clear Communications as comunications consultants in relation to the Shaping Health Services proposals for health service provision in Buckinghamshire.
(176241)
165
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS bodies in England and Wales are employing Clear Communications as comunications consultants.
(176242)
166
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost to date is to the (a) Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority, (b) Chiltern and South Bucks Primary Care Trust, (c) Vale of Aylesbury Primary Care Trust, (d) Wycombe Primary Care Trust, (e) Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (f) Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust and (g) Two Shires Ambulance Trust of employing Clear Communications as communications consultants in relation to the Shaping Health Services proposals for health service provision in Buckinghamshire.
(176243)
167
N
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost to NHS bodies in England has been of payments to Clear Communications in (a) 2003, (b) 2002 and (c) 2001.
(176244)
168
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health last met Consumers for Health Choice and other stakeholders to discuss their concerns about the Food Supplements Directive; what actions arose from that meeting; and what progress has subsequently been made in addressing the issues raised.
(176534)
169
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he next expects that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health will meet Consumers for Health Choice and other stakeholders to discuss interpretation and implementation in the UK of the Food Supplements Directive.
(176535)
170
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from Consumers for Health Choice in relation to the interpretation and implementation of the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make a statement.
(176536)
171
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health last met Commissioner Byrne to discuss the Food Supplements Directive; what was agreed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.
(176537)
172
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from Right honourable and honourable Members in relation to the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make a statement.
(176538)
173
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what costs were incurred by the Government in opposing the application of the Health Food Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Health Stores to the High Court in London for referral to the European Court of Justice of their case in relation to the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make it his policy not to pursue those costs should the case prove unsuccessful.
(176582)
174
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.
(176493)
175
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many attendances at family clinics by people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years there were in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by sex.
(176494)
176
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years there were in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.
(176495)
177
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections was in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.
(176496)
178
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were fitted with a contraceptive implant in the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000.
(176497)
179
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.
(176498)
180
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to introduce a system of food labelling which is more easily understood by consumers.
(176403)
181
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many carers have had their needs assessed (a) in the North-West and (b) in Warrington since the introduction of such assessment.
(176410)
182
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on supporting carers in Warrington North in each year since 1997.
(176411)
183
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176507)
184
Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department will be taking to support Alzheimer's Awareness Week from 13th to 20th June.
(176467)
185
Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many trusts were treating foreign patients on the latest date for which figures are available.
(176468)
186
Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what analysis his Department has made of the composition of trust boards in England, with particular reference to the (a) age, (b) nationality and (c) gender of members.
(176480)
187
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is being taken to train more people in orthotics.
[R] (176520)
188
N
Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment the Government has made of the impact of people smoking on television and in films upon young people's decision on whether or not to start smoking.
(176288)
189
Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the (a) monthly and (b) total cost of the delay in building the new Manchester Children's hospital.
(176639)
190
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out his proposals for future terms and conditions for speech and language therapists in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.
(176517)
191
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the numbers of speech and language therapists requiring pay protection from April 2005; and if he will make a statement.
(176518)
192
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the proposals for working hours for speech and language therapists; and how these will be reflected in earnings.
(176519)
193
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will urge food manufacturers to label their foods more precisely in order to avoid serious allergic reactions with particular reference to anaphylactic shock.
(176580)
194
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many abortions were carried out (a) in NHS facilities and (b) in private facilities on residents of South Gloucestershire in the most recent year for which figures are available.
(176391)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
195
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has regarding the training programme for probation officers after (a) 2006 and (b) 2008.
(176314)
196
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of probation officers required over the next five years.
(176315)
197
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with (a) probation officers and (b) their representatives regarding the provision of their pensions under the National Offender Management Service; and if he will make a statement.
(176316)
198
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much public funding has been spent on the e-crime strategy since it was introduced.
(176611)
199
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the availability of forensic computing skills in law enforcement.
(176694)
200
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the 10 most successful asset recovery operations.
(176641)
201
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, what reports he has received from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory assessments of the effects of Tetra exposure on various types of cells; and whether this research is continuing.
(176449)
202
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, whether the research by Imperial College includes research into the health effects of (a) Airwave handsets and (b) Tetra masts.
(176450)
203
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, what health issues are being researched by the University of Birmingham and the University of Manchester in their research into patterns of work of Airwave users.
(176451)
204
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 1419W, on identity cards, if he will list all the categories of person who have not applied for an identity card who, under the proposals in the draft Identity Cards Bill, will be recorded on the National Identity Register.
(176452)
205
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 1419W, on identity cards, what biometric data will be used in the processes being tested.
(176453)
206
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 1419W, on identity cards, whether failure to produce an identity card as proposed by the draft Identity Cards Bill will provide grounds for arrest in circumstances where a non-arrestable offence is suspected.
(176454)
207
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, what further work has been carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board on modelling specific absorption rates arising from Tetra masts.
(176485)
208
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, what research has been carried out by the Radiocommunications Agency (now Ofcom) in checking the biological effects of low level electro-magnetic radiation from Tetra base station.
(176486)
209
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, what research is being carried out by King's College, London under the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme into the health effect of Tetra base stations and masts.
(176487)
210
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, when he expects each of the research projects he refers to in his Answer to report.
(176488)
211
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 352W, on Tetra, if he will list the people carrying out the research by Microwave Consultants Limited into specific absorption rates from Tetra equipment; whether this research includes Tetra masts; and what the source of funding is for this research.
(176489)
212
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he last visited Durham gaol.
(176660)
213
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women have been held at Durham gaol in each month since 1st May 2003.
(176661)
214
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when Durham gaol was last inspected.
(176662)
215
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many governors there have been at Durham gaol since 1st May 1999.
(176663)
216
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of service at any one prison has been of the current Governor of Durham gaol.
(176664)
217
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have been released on early release from Durham gaol since 1st May 2003.
(176665)
218
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners absconded from Durham gaol in each year since 1st January 1997.
(176666)
219
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deaths have taken place in Durham gaol in each year since 1st January 1997; and how many of these were due to (a) suicide and (b) natural causes.
(176667)
220
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the refurbishment programme at Durham gaol.
(176668)
221
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the total capacity in Durham gaol in each of the next 10 years.
(176669)
222
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours of the prisoners' day at Durham gaol was devoted to purposeful activity in the last year for which figures are available.
(176670)
223
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff at Durham gaol have been on sick leave in each month since 1st May 2003.
(176671)
224
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long stakeholders have been given to respond to the paper on the structure of the National Offender Management Service.
(176675)
225
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether representatives from the voluntary sector have been asked to join the National Offender Management Service Advisory Board.
(176676)
226
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will have statutory responsibility for prisoners' families under the National Offender Management Service arrangements.
(176677)
227
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements are being made for Pathfinder Projects under the National Offender Management Service structure; and if he will make a statement.
(176678)
228
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from Interpol on the Government's decision to grant leave to remain in the UK for Mr Akezhan Kazhegeldin, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
(176625)
229
N
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who owns the Neighbourhood Watch logo.
(176390)
230
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) acceptable behaviour certificates, (b) interim anti-social behaviour orders and (c) full anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in (i) Wales, (ii) the South Wales Police Authority region, (iii) the Bridgend Division of the South Wales police and (iv) the Ogmore constituency.
(176579)
231
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will implement the recommendation on oversight arrangements in relation to visible security patrols in residential areas set out in the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation study.
(176393)
232
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176511)
233
N
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries (a) are reluctant and (b) refuse to accept the return of failed asylum seekers from the UK.
(176289)
234
N
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether China is prepared to receive back failed asylum seekers from the UK.
(176290)
235
N
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of asylum applicants claimed asylum in the UK (a) at Dover, (b) at other UK seaports, (c) at Heathrow Airport, (d) at Gatwick Airport, (e) at other UK airports, (f) in-country within 14 days of arrival and (g) in-country over 14 days of arrival in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003.
(176291)
236
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many consultants have been seconded to his Department to work on identity cards; and at what expense.
(176239)
237
N
Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom have been detected and served with illegal entry papers (a) on entry and (b) in country in each month since December 2001.
(176336)
238
Mr John Taylor (Solihull):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the dialogue between the Judicial Studies Board and the Sentencing Advisory Council.
(176615)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
239
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the population of Pashtun in Afghanistan have access to safe drinking water.
(176593)
240
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the irrigation projects in Afghanistan that receive financial assistance from his Department.
(176594)
241
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money from his Department has been (a) allocated for and (b) spent on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in each of the last three years.
(176595)
242
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths in Herat, Afghanistan since 1st January.
(176596)
243
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money has been (a) allocated for and (b) spent by his Department on development aid to Afghanistan in each of the last three years.
(176597)
244
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in how many areas of Afghanistan the National Solidarity Programme is distributing aid.
(176599)
245
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with the Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief about the impact of the security situation on the distribution of aid.
(176600)
246
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the level of voter registration in Afghanistan.
(176601)
247
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate he has made of the number of rapes committed by members of armed factions in Afghanistan against women.
(176602)
248
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the UK-based non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan.
(176603)
249
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many aid projects funded by his Department have been discontinued in Afghanistan.
(176604)
250
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions have taken place between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Sudan regarding reports of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement.
(176607)
251
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many of the consultants used by his Department since 1997 have been based in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States and (c) the recipient country for the project.
(176608)
252
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the budget of his Department was (a) allocated and (b) spent in the last quarter of the financial year in each of the last seven years.
(176609)
253
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what written representations from aid donors he has received on humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan; and if he will publish those representations.
(176610)
254
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent by his Department on the use of consultants in each year since 1997.
(176658)
255
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cost to public funds of travel expenses incurred by Ministers in his Department in (a) domestic journeys and (b) journeys abroad was in each year since 1997.
(176659)
256
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176504)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
257
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applicants who were born in Northern Ireland have been rejected for service in the British Army owing to previous criminal convictions in the last 10 years; and what the offence was in each case.
(176683)
258
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many recruits undergoing training with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case.
(176684)
259
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many recruits undergoing training with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have relatives with criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case.
(176685)
260
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many serving Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have relatives with criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case.
(176686)
261
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many medals have been awarded to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment since 1974; and what steps are being taken to ensure that those who served before 1976 receive the medals to which they are entitled.
(176687)
262
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what investigations have been carried out into possible collusion between the Provisional IRA and officers in the Gardai Siochana in the Irish Republic concerning terrorist incidents in the South Armagh area in early 1985 which resulted in 13 RUC officers being murdered.
(176581)
263
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many incidents of theft from cars parked in car parks operated by and on behalf of the Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland there were in 2003.
(176628)
264
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prosecutions there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years of drivers who had in excess of twice the legal limit of alcohol in their blood.
(176629)
265
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the levels of criminal activity in areas of Northern Ireland that are now covered by CCTV compared to the levels before that coverage commenced.
(176630)
266
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much public funding has been allocated through Northern Ireland departments to the Maiden City Festival in Londonderry in each of the last three years.
(176631)
267
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many visits have been made to the East Londonderry constituency by Ministers of the Northern Ireland Office in the past 12 months.
(176632)
268
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much public money was spent on assisting small businesses in Northern Ireland during 2003.
(176633)
269
N
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the extension of the Hunting Bill to Northern Ireland.
(175638)
270
N
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average earnings in Northern Ireland are; and if he will make a statement.
(175639)
271
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the conditions of employment are for members of the (a) full-time and (b) part-time Reserve of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
(176539)
272
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many hours per month members of the part-time Reserve of the Police Service of Northern Ireland are required to work to qualify for validation of training; and if he will make a statement.
(176540)
273
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the progress being made on the implementation of a sustainable transport plan for Northern Ireland.
(176542)
274
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he intends to publish his Department's response to the Office of Law Reform's consultation paper, Physical Punishment in the Home - Thinking about the Issues, Looking at the Evidence.
(176543)
275
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176506)
276
Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the first meeting of the Strategic Implementation Group following the publication of the Costello Report will take place.
(176530)
277
Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what capital expenditure there has been on each school in the grammar school sector in each year since 1989.
(176531)
278
Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry & Armagh):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for the publication and circulation of the second part of the Curran Report into teachers' salaries and conditions of service.
(176679)
279
N
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients under the age of 16 are awaiting heart transplants in Northern Ireland.
(176253)
280
N
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average length of waiting time between diagnosis and assessment of patients requiring heart transplant was in Northern Ireland in 2003.
(176254)
281
N
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to reduce the length of time between diagnosis and assessment of patients requiring heart transplants in Northern Ireland.
(176255)
282
N
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what provision is made for counselling of parents of children under 16 in Northern Ireland who are diagnosed as being in need of a heart transplant.
(176256)
Questions to the Prime Minister
283
N
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he has received about re-introducing the Hunting Bill in this Session; and if he will make a statement.
(176292)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
284
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176508)
Questions to the Solicitor General
285
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Solicitor General, how many investigation legal advisers there (a) were immediately prior to July 2003 and (b) have been since July 2003.
(176434)
286
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Solicitor General, what plans there are to transfer responsibility for investigation legal advisers to HM Treasury.
(176435)
287
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Solicitor General, what plans the Law Officers have to increase the number of investigation legal advisers.
(176436)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
288
Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid to solicitors under the Claims Handling Agreement involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers.
(176616)
289
Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claimants have had final settlement through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers.
(176617)
290
Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid to claimants through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers.
(176618)
291
Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claimants have had interim payments to date through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers.
(176619)
292
Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid to date to each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers.
(176620)
293
Mr John Battle (Leeds West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action has been taken against social dumping by Belgian contractors of EDF in the engineering construction of new flue gas desulphurised power stations in the UK; and if she will make a statement.
(176439)
294
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many new businesses have started up in Bootle since 1997.
(176526)
295
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government has taken to help small businesses in Bootle since 1997.
(176527)
296
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many and what percentage of women in Bootle have taken 26 weeks' maternity leave since 1997.
(176528)
297
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many workers in Bootle have benefited from the national minimum wage.
(176529)
298
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the level of private sector investment in Afghanistan has been in each of the last three years.
(176605)
299
N
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the European Union Directives her Department was responsible for implementing since 1997 that were (a) submitted to and (b) discussed by the Regulatory Impact Unit; and whether the proposed method of implementation was identified as going beyond the minimum necessary to comply with the European Directive and represented over-implementation in each case.
(176104)
300
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 431W, on leave, if she will place in the Library the surveys on the provision of contractual leave and pay referred to.
(176438)
301
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess the take-up by fathers of their statutory right to paid paternity leave since 6th April 2003; what targets for take-up have been set; and how much has been spent informing fathers of their new rights.
(176561)
302
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outstanding amounts of Export Credits Guarantee Department guarantees in respect of military equipment were in financial years (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.
(176443)
303
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff have been seconded from the private sector to the Export Credits Guarantee Deparment in the last 10 years, stating in each case (a) the companies from which they have been seconded and (b) the start and end dates of the secondment.
(176444)
304
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what legislative measures her Department proposes to take against spam; and if she will make a statement on the estimated cost of spam to British businesses.
(176612)
305
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on Royal Mail's performance against letter and package delivery targets in London.
(176613)
306
Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the transfer of pension rights and benefits under TUPE for members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme into the Industry Wide Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme complied fully with Article 3 of the EU Acquired Rights Directive; and if she will make a statement.
(176636)
307
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in her Department's administration budget by 2008, announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176502)
308
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many coal compensation scheme claims have resulted in full and final settlements of less than (a) £1,000 and (b) £500.
(176105)
309
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many coal compensation scheme claims have resulted in solicitors being paid more than claimants.
(176106)
310
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations have been made to her since Easter about the possibility of minimum payments for coal compensation schemes.
(176107)
311
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Department's policy is on a defined claimant's representative receiving a fee for passing on a claim to another solicitor in coal compensation cases.
(176108)
312
Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Innovation Review, what research the Government has carried out into customer value and brand reputation marketing; and if she will make a statement.
(176417)
313
Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to carry out further research in the areas of brand reputation, customer value and marketing and their role in the innovation process.
(176446)
314
Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Innovation Review, what plans the Government has to help companies make more effective use of marketing and branding as a means of delivering successful innovation and increasing customer satisfaction.
(176448)
315
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 25th May, ref 172371, what the cost was of the staff employed in press and public relations in each regional development agency in each of those years.
(176680)
316
Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of the United Kingdom's (a) visible and (b) invisible imports came from the European Union in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what their value was.
(176672)
317
Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of the United Kingdom's (a) visible and (b) invisible exports went to the European Union in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what their value was.
(176673)
318
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to ensure that the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will have the (a) capacity and (b) competence to (i) deal with and (ii) give due weight to the full range of issues for which it will be responsible.
(176490)
319
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what practical steps the Government is taking to address issues of equality.
(176491)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
320
N
Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Safer City Project in reducing (a) road accidents and (b) road casualties in Gloucester.
(176215)
321
N
Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his policy that part of the capital cost of the proposed guided bus scheme should be paid by way of loan money raised by Cambridgeshire County Council.
(176260)
322
N
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rescue operations have taken place of people caught in the rising tides in Morecambe Bay since 5th February.
(176335)
323
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on progress being made on the implementation of a sustainable transport plan.
(176541)
324
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176509)
325
N
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the need for social inclusion benefits in the criteria for assessment of the Blackpool Light Rail bid in the light of the National Audit Office Report, Improving Public Transport in England through light rail.
(175509)
326
Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the UK airports he estimates will have the necessary pier ready when the Airbus 380 starts commercial operations.
(176638)
327
Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of piers being prepared for the Airbus 380 at United Kingdom airports.
(176640)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
328
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what enquiries he has made about the wind-up of the Warwick and Debenholt pension schemes since 19th April 2002; and if he will make a statement.
(176532)
329
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what enquiries he has made about the wind-up of the Cheney pension schemes since 19th April 2002; and if he will make a statement.
(176533)
330
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Scotland receive council tax benefit.
(176492)
331
N
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost was of over-payments to pensioners in each year since 1997.
(175753)
332
N
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedures are in place to enable pensioners who have been over-paid to pay sums back to the Department.
(175754)
333
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to increase the number of books, magazines and newspapers available in large print, audio, Braille and electronic formats accessible to people with a visual impairment, dyslexia or other reading disability; and if he will make a statement.
(176681)
334
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Warrington North are receiving the winter fuel allowance; and how many of those in receipt of the allowance qualify for the higher rate of allowance payable to the over 80s.
(176408)
335
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Warrington North are receiving free television licences.
(176412)
336
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17th March, Official Report, column 331.
(176503)
337
N
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mothers in Manchester Central have made use of the Sure Start maternity grant.
(175713)
338
N
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents in Manchester Central have gained work through the New Deal programme.
(175714)
339
N
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's target time is from application to hearing for appeals concerning industrial injuries disablement benefit diseases; and what the average waiting time has been for those whose appeals are currently being heard.
(175717)
340
Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of his Department's employees are working in Strathkelvin and Bearsden.
(176469)
341
Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of his Department's employees are working in Scotland.
(176470)
342
Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department plans to spend on advertising the introduction of new requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
(176471)
343
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the number of farm buildings in England in which asbestos may be present.
(176643)
344
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the tonnage of materials containing white asbestos in use by the farming industry; and what the total costs of disposal would be at current prices.
(176644)
345
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the health risks to farmers and their employees arising from (a) working in, (b) repairing and (c) dismantling farm buildings clad with corrugated sheeting made from asbestos cement containing white asbestos.
(176645)
346
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether farmhouses occupied by farmers or their employees are regarded as workplaces for the purposes of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
(176647)
347
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether financial assistance is available to the farming industry to assist in complying with the provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
(176649)
348
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when farmers will be expected to be fully compliant with the provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
(176650)
349
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what advice he has given farmers on alternatives to white asbestos construction products used specifically for the purposes of fire prevention and insulation in farm buildings; and what assessment has been made of the safety of these alternatives.
(176651)
350
Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the health and safety impact of passive smoking on the health of employees in the entertainment industry; and if he will make a statement.
(176634)
351
N
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the decision of the appeal tribunal on 23rd April to pay income support to Mr F.A. Street of Kingsbridge, Devon from 31st October 2003 will be implemented; and what the reasons are why payment has not been made.
(176216)
352
N
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent in the last 12 months, and how much is planned to be spent in the next 12 months, on upgrading premises and equipment at Shanklin Jobcentre.
(176365)
353
N
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the annual cost of running the Pension Protection Fund, broken down by (a) direct costs of employing staff, (b) costs paid to outside bodies including (i) investment managers and (ii) actuaries and (c) the costs of collecting the levy by the New Pension Regulator.
(175945)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
354
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of visible exports was accounted for by identified military equipment, including aerospace equipment, in each year from 1999 to 2003.
[Transferred] (176445)
355
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Blackpool North and Fleetwood on the latest date for which figures are available.
[Transferred] (176398)
356
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new jobs have been created in Blackpool North and Fleetwood since 1997.
[Transferred] (176399)
357
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of unemployment was in each year since 1997 in Blackpool North and Fleetwood.
[Transferred] (176400)
358
Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has commissioned on the effect upon historic houses of the tax on pre-owned assets.
[Transferred] (176462)
359
Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the average net contributions of each EU member state to the EU budget since 1995.
[Transferred] (176674)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
360
N
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on his policy on the inclusion of pupils with special needs in mainstream schools.
[Question Unstarred] (175997)
361
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many care workers working in private sector care homes were trained in basic hygiene through Learning and Skills Council funding in the last year for which figures are available.
[Question Unstarred] (175990)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
362
Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she has taken to ensure that strategic plans are prepared for each navigable canal or inland waterway; and if she will make a statement.
[Transferred] (176635)
Questions to the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission
363
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans he has made for the House to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.
[Transferred] (176637)

 
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