|
Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Tuesday 29 June 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 29 June 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 29 June of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 29 June of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 29 June see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Advocate General 1
N | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask the Advocate General, what devolution issues have been raised with her since 25th May. | | (180246) | Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 2
N | Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on the recruitment of magistrates in the Wirral. | | (180766) | 3
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the uptake of e-delivery of government services has been in East Yorkshire. | | (181587) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 4
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the amount of tax relief on pension contributions provided in Scotland in the financial year 2002-03 broken down by (a) higher rate taxpayers, (b) basic rate taxpayers and (c) non-taxpayers. | | (181280) | 5
N | Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) children and (b) adults have been diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumour in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. | | (181363) | 6
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many respondents from industry declared their support for regulation of motor warranties in the public consultation for the Insurance Mediation Directive; and what rationale the Government used in (a) supporting the inclusion of motor warranties in the Directive and (b) supporting exclusions for (i) travel insurance sold as part of a package and (ii) extended warranties. | | (180637) | 7
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to implement the sections of the Finance Bill which allow company pension scheme members to draw a company pension whilst continuing to work for the same employer. | | (181579) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 8
N | Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has for reducing the proportion of the legal aid budget expended on very high cost cases. | | (180756) | 9
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many applications for public funding relating to environmental matters were submitted to the Community Legal Service in each year between 1997 to 2003; how many and what proportion were in receipt of public funding; and what the average proportion of total costs covered by the Funding Certificate was. | | (181513) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 10
| Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen South):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made by Ofcom towards finalising its code on television access services. | | (181512) | 11
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps are being taken to enhance the playing of cricket at state schools. | | (181528) | 12
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much revenue from National Lottery ticket sales has not been paid out in prizes; by whom this revenue is held; what rate of interest is applicable; and to whose benefit that interest accrues. | | (180638) | 13
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to involve Gaelic speaking organisations in the BBC Charter Review. | | (179508) | 14
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recommendations Mr Simon Thurley of English Heritage made to her on the future of Shurland Hall at Eastchurch in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency following his visit; and if she will make a statement. | | (181273) | 15
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she expects to make a decision on the future of Shurland Hall at Eastchurch in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency; and if she will make a statement. | | (181274) | 16
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the British Film Institute about preserving its archive; and if she will make a statement. | | (181412) | 17
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department has made available to digitise the British Film Institute's archive; and if she will make a statement. | | (181458) | 18
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of the British Film Institute's archive has been digitised. | | (181459) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 19
N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the supply of cloth for tentage awarded to Seyntex in 2001; and what specifications on quality were included in the invitation to tender. | | (181298) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 20
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many homeless people there were in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the past five years. | | (181590) | 21
| Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the (a) industrial and (b) employment implications of the bids for the Firelink contract. | | (181556) | 22
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will rule out the use of TETRA technology for the delivery of the proposed Firelink Integrated Radio System for the Fire Service. | | (181547) | 23
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd June, Official Report, column 1462W, on English Heritage, if he will seek advice from the Chief Executive of English Heritage as to the reasons for English Heritage abandoning its regional structure. | | (181551) | 24
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what conclusions relevant to the procurement of a digital radio system for the Fire Service he has drawn from the performance of the Airwave police radio network. | | (181555) | 25
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether it will be possible for fire authorities to repay transitional funding received from his Department in connection with the modernisation programme in the timescale originally required. | | (181563) | 26
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list by local authority area (a) the amount of local authority social housing grant paid in the year 2002-03, (b) the amount of housing capital receipts for the year 2002-03 and (c) the amount of housing corporation grant for the period 2004-05. | | (181566) | 27
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what percentage of (a) privately owned non-rented housing stock, (b) privately owned rented housing stock and (c) publicly owned housing stock in each English region was estimated to be vacant at the most recent date for which data are available. | | (181567) | 28
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his latest estimate is of the degree of compliance by trade unions representing fire service employees with the terms of the settlement by which the industrial action in 2002-03 was ended. | | (181568) | 29
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what progress he has made in his discussions with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on his proposals for devolving responsibility for learning and skills councils to the English regions. | | (181569) | 30
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the implementation of the modernisation of working practices in the Fire Service will lead to the elimination of the provision of beds in fire stations. | | (181570) | 31
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether it is his policy that new negotiating machinery for pay and conditions within the Fire Service must include representatives of fire service unions other than the Fire Brigade Union. | | (181572) | 32
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 19th April, Official Report, column 366W, on regional assemblies, what the total cost of the entertainment of stakeholders, journalists and other non-governmental individuals undertaken as part of the `Your Say' information campaign on elected regional assemblies is; and what the value is of each transaction made under the budget allotted to other expenses. | | (181457) | 33
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether it would be possible to hold the proposed referendums on regional assemblies using conventional voting in polling stations rather than all-postal voting. | | (181526) | 34
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information electors will receive with their ballot papers in the forthcoming referendums on the proposed regional assemblies. | | (181527) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 35
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on how his Department is implementing ethnic monitoring in public law proceedings. | | (180764) | 36
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress he has made in his discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister with regard to the Deputy Prime Minister's proposals for devolving responsibility for learning and skills councils to the English regions. | | (181550) | 37
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the (a) book value of the stakeholding, (b) onward sale price and (c) arrangements for sharing any windfall gain from subsequent refinancing and arrangements are for each of the private finance initiative and public-private partnership schemes his Department has supported for (i) schools, (ii) universities and (iii) learning and skills councils where there has been an onward sale of the private sector stakeholding into secondary market. | | (181499) | 38
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of pupils aged 11 to 18 attend schools catering for (a) 7 to 11, (b) 7 to 13, (c) 5 to 8, (d) 4 to 7, (e) 9 to 13 and (f) other year groups in each local education authority. | | (181009) | 39
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance on criteria for selection he has provided to local learning and skills councils for the provision of free learning for any adult who does not have skills for employability to help them achieve a level 2 qualification; and if he will make a statement. | | (180708) | 40
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many adults he expects to (a) be eligible for and (b) undertake free learning to help them achieve a level 2 qualification. | | (180709) | 41
N | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria he uses when deciding which parliamentary questions should be referred to the Learning and Skills Council; and how many days after receipt of a parliamentary question the Learning and Skills Council is required to provide a reply. | | (180710) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 42
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department will take to ensure that the incident of radioactive water vapour emitted into the atmosphere on 9th June at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station does not harm the environment. | | (180302) | 43
N | Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd June, to Questions 179195, 179196 and 179197, on what date (a) she and (b) her officials had discussions with Home Office Ministers and officials about the firearms consultation paper; what representations she has received from the rural community on the implications of the Home Office firearms consultation paper; and by what mechanisms she has communicated these views to the Home Office. | | (181007) | 44
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about the Government's policy on the stamping of ungraded eggs (a) at the farm gate and (b) at local public markets. | | (181284) | 45
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for judicial review were made against English Nature in the High Court in each year between 1997 and 2003 by (a) individuals, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) corporate entities. | | (181514) | 46
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many judicial reviews brought against English Nature between 1997 and 2003 in the House of Lords were (a) unsuccessful and (b) resulted in an order for costs being made against the applicant; and what the costs awarded were in each case. | | (181515) | 47
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for judicial review against English Nature were granted permission to proceed in the (a) High Court, (b) Court of Appeal and (c) House of Lords in each year between 1997 and 2003 by (i) individuals, (ii) non-governmental organisations and (ii) corporate entities. | | (181520) | 48
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many judicial reviews brought against English Nature between 1997 and 2003 in the (a) High Court, (b) Court of Appeal and (c) House of Lords (i) were successful and (ii) resulted in an order for costs being made against English Nature; and what costs were awarded in each case. | | (181521) | 49
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many judicial reviews brought against English Nature in the (a) High Court and (b) Court of Appeal between 1997 and 2003 (i) were successful and (ii) resulted in an order for costs being made against the applicant; and what costs were awarded in each case. | | (181522) | 50
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evaluation her Department has made of the costs to farmers and hauliers resulting from the continued enforcement of multi-pick-up and drop-off licences; and what assessment she has made of the risks of abandoning such licences. | | (181367) | 51
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will clarify the meaning of the research note by the Countryside Agency enclosed in a letter to the honourable Member for Totnes dated 21st May stating that voluntary agreements enabling canoeists to have greater access to inland waters will require motivated access champions to persuade landowners to get involved in the process and canoeists to support agreements along with whatever conditions are necessary to meet local circumstances. | | (181368) | 52
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what public funds are available to pay land and river owners to improve access for recreational canoeing; and if she will make a statement on the number of rivers to which canoeists have access. | | (181369) | 53
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Countryside Agency paid Brighton University to undertake a study into existing practices for canoeists using inland waters; and if she will make a statement on the feasibility of formal voluntary agreements to increase access to inland waters for canoeists. | | (181370) | 54
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost was of the feasibility study undertaken by the Countryside Agency into increasing access to inland waters for canoeists. | | (181371) | 55
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to commission further independent testing of GM crops. | | (179509) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 56
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what access the International Committee of the Red Cross has to prisoners detained in Afghanistan; and how many International Committee of the Red Cross reports on them have been filed to date. | | (181557) | 57
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether concerns have been raised by the International Committee of the Red Cross with regard to prisoners detained in Afghanistan. | | (181559) | 58
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many prisons and detention camps in Afghanistan are under United Kingdom authority. | | (181561) | 59
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, under which legal jurisdiction (a) civilian contractors and (b) his staff working in Iraq will fall from 1st July. | | (181562) | 60
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the expenditure by his Department on refurbishment of property in each year since 1997. | | (181564) | 61
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what provisions (a) exist at present and (b) will exist after 30th June for the extradition to Iraq of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff and military personnel accused of wrong-doing in that country. | | (181574) | 62
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his role as Chair of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Relations with the USA. | | (181278) | 63
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) powers and (b) duties that will be given to the proposed EU Foreign Minister. | | (180352) | 64
| Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the results of the United Nations 2004 coca survey in (a) Colombia, (b) Peru and (c) Bolivia; and what changes have taken place in the location of coca cultivation in each country. | | (181543) | 65
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what charges are made to Russians when applying for a tourist visa to the United Kingdom. | | (181549) | 66
N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which amendments tabled by the (a) Italian and (b) Irish presidencies of the EU to the draft EU Constitutional Treaty represented the UK Government's proposed changes to the Treaty. | | (181496) | 67
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what use will be made of the media in Iraq to promote free and fair elections in Iraq; and whether special attention will be given to the participation of women in the election as (a) voters and (b) candidates. | | (181516) | 68
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the distribution of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office document Inclusive Government: mainstreaming gender into foreign policy will be; and what follow-up is planned in terms of policy development. | | (181523) | 69
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he has about civic education programmes under way and planned to encourage women to participate in future democratic elections in Iraq; and whether his Department is (a) funding and (b) planning to fund such programmes. | | (181542) | 70
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what programmes are being developed by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq to promote women's human rights; and whether his Department is giving support in this area. | | (181575) | 71
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Botswana regarding the rights and freedoms of the (a) Gana and (b) Gwi bushmen. | | (179506) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 72
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether sexual health will be included in the 2005 to 2008 planning and priorities framework. | | (180403) | 73
N | Geraint Davies (Croydon Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of the annual cost to the NHS of contributing towards the cost of all those opting for private sector operations at a rate of 50 per cent. of the NHS cost for the equivalent operation. | | (181145) | 74
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on hospital waiting lists in (a) Hull and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire. | | (181588) | 75
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were carried out in NHS hospitals in each of the past five years. | | (181591) | 76
N | Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of specialised professional support for brain tumour patients. | | (181361) | 77
N | Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) emotional, (b) practical and (c) financial support is provided by the Government for (i) those suffering from brain tumours and (ii) family carers of brain tumour patients. | | (181362) | 78
N | Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has undertaken into brain tumours in the last five years, with particular reference to childhood brain tumours. | | (181364) | 79
N | Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken by his Department to improve the prognosis for children diagnosed with a brain tumour; and if he will make a statement. | | (181365) | 80
| Mr Peter Pike (Burnley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was invested in healthcare provision in each hospital in each of the last 10 years in (a) Burnley and (b) Lancashire. | | (181525) | 81
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with user and provider bodies in relation to the proposed dental Health Bill. | | (181571) | 82
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) births and (b) terminations there were of babies with Down's Syndrome in each of the last five years. | | (181536) | 83
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) births and (b) terminations there were of babies with (i) spina bifida, (ii) heart defects and (iii) kidney problems recognised during pregnancy in each of the last five years. | | (181538) | 84
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the percentage of terminations conducted in each of the past 10 years on account of potential handicap of the baby. | | (181539) | 85
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of terminations conducted on account of (a) foot deformities, (b) cleft lips and (c) cleft palates in each of the past five years. | | (181541) | 86
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide support for dispensing opticians required to undertake continuing education. | | (179505) | 87
N | Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has officially to recognise dispensing opticians as healthcare professionals. | | (179507) | 88
N | Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the funding of anti-TNF alpha therapy in the Portsmouth Hospitals Trust area. | | (181366) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 89
N | Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications the Home Office has received from new EU citizens under the worker registration scheme since 1st May. | | (181285) | 90
N | Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what target he has been set for the number of hours of purposeful activity to be completed by prisoners in 2004-05. | | (181492) | 91
N | Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the reason is for the difference in the public and private sector targets for the percentage of prisoners held in accommodation units intended for fewer prisoners in 2004-05. | | (181493) | 92
N | Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide his Department's staffing levels for 1998-99, in the format set out in table 6.1 of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2003-04. | | (181494) | 93
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the external consultants which have carried out work for his Department under contracts in the last three years. | | (181500) | 94
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individual records have been added to the national DNA database under section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. | | (181501) | 95
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings the Police Information Technology Organisation has held with representatives of foreign governments and law enforcement agencies in relation to the sharing of information held on their respective databases in the last two years. | | (181502) | 96
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) availability and (b) misuse of fake proof of age cards; and if he will make a statement. | | (181503) | 97
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent research he has commissioned into the skills and qualifications held by (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees. | | (181504) | 98
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for statutory review of a refusal to grant asylum have been submitted; how many such applications have been granted; and how many substantive re-hearings of asylum applications were successful. | | (181505) | 99
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been arrested by the police for immigration offences in each of the last five years. | | (181506) | 100
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many properties are rented by his Department; and at what annual cost. | | (181507) | 101
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders imposed at magistrates' courts in the last three years have subsequently been overturned on appeal. | | (181508) | 102
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police forces in relation to the holding of immigration detainees in police cells; and if he will place copies in the Library. | | (181509) | 103
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions the Prison Service GOLD Incident Command suite has been opened in each month since April 2003; and what the nature was of each incident. | | (181510) | 104
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the accommodation of departmental staff who cannot be housed in the Marsham Street building, with reference to the National Audit Office report PFI: The New Headquarters for the Home Office. | | (181511) | 105
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Prison Service annual report for 2003-04 will contain statistical data on the performance of contracted prisons against key performance indicators; and if he will make a statement. | | (181518) | 106
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his timetable is for the appointment of his nominee to the Metropolitan Police Authority under the terms of the Greater London Authority Act 1999; and what criteria are being used for the selection. | | (181565) | 107
| Mr Peter Pike (Burnley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued since the enactment of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 in (a) England, (b) the Lancashire police force area and (c) the Borough of Burnley. | | (181519) | 108
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the change in numbers of citizens from EU accession countries travelling to the UK since the expansion of the European Union. | | (181577) | 109
N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made towards the implementation of an action plan based on the report of the Insurance Cover Working Group entitled Research into Insurance Cover for the VCS in England; and when it will be completed. | | (181008) | Questions to the Leader of the House 110
N | Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has to encourage awareness of the work of Parliament amongst school children. | | (180768) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 111
N | David Burnside (South Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to halt the decline in the number of farmers in (a) dairy farming and (b) pig production in the province. | | (181272) | 112
| Mr John Hume (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what procedures are in place to ensure that nurses' salaries claimed by general practices are paid at the salary levels claimed from the health boards. | | (181573) | 113
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many days were lost in each department, agency and non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland through staff sickness in each financial year since 1st April 1997; what the average annual number of days lost per employee was as a result of sickness in those years; and what the cost was of such time lost. | | (180824) | 114
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many MOT tests have been cancelled in Northern Ireland because of industrial action in the Civil Service. | | (180825) | 115
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many days each department, agency and non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland has been affected by industrial action since the start of the current dispute involving the Civil Service trade unions; how many man-hours were lost as a result of that industrial action; and what the cost was of that lost time. | | (180826) | 116
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in respect of each category of farm payment, how many payments, of what value, are overdue to farmers in Northern Ireland. | | (180828) | 117
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of each category of driving test has been cancelled in Northern Ireland because of industrial action by the Civil Service. | | (180939) | 118
N | Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the reasons are for not commencing an individual's retirement pension on the day that they reach the specified age. | | (180563) | 119
N | Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to change the current regulations regarding the commencement day of a person's retirement pension. | | (180564) | 120
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implementation by local health trusts of manufacturers' guidelines and recommendations regarding the use and cleaning of endoscopes. | | (181529) | 121
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what dates audits were performed by local health trusts into the safe and effective use of flexible endoscopes (a) between April and June and (b) prior to this period. | | (181530) | 122
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what independent quality control and improvement measures are in place in hospitals in the Province regarding use of flexible endoscopic equipment; and when they were introduced. | | (181531) | 123
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which hospitals in the Province use automated endoscope cleaners; and when use of this process commenced at each hospital. | | (181532) | 124
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the playing of cricket at schools. | | (181533) | 125
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to improve respite services for autism sufferers. | | (181534) | 126
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consideration has been given to creating a regional facility for autism respite. | | (181535) | 127
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) births and (b) terminations of babies with Down's Syndrome there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. | | (181537) | 128
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will estimate the number of terminations conducted in the Province on account of (a) foot deformities, (b) cleft lips and (c) cleft palate in each of the last five years. | | (181540) | 129
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many individuals work for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning; and what the annual salary is of each. | | (181578) | 130
N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the three inquiries will be announced consequent on the Cory Report. | | (181143) | 131
N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to bring forward legislation to implement anti-social behaviour orders. | | (181144) | 132
N | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 18th May, Official Report, columns 936-7W, on civil partnerships, what assessment he has made of the proportion of respondents opposed to the introduction of civil partnerships in Northern Ireland revealed in the report on the consultation. | | (181402) | Questions to the Prime Minister 133
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, for what reason the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not been allocated a place on the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Relations with the USA. | | (181275) | 134
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, for what reasons it was deemed necessary to establish the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Relations with the USA; and on what date it was established. | | (181276) | 135
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, whether the Terms of Reference of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Relations with the USA allow representatives of (a) the US Administration and (b) the US security services to attend. | | (181277) | 136
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, for what reason he has decided not to allocate himself a place on the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Relations with the USA. | | (181279) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 137
N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of the honourable Member for Exeter of 26th May, Official Report, column 1621W, on seamounts, what the involvement of the Scotland Office has been in the work to identify and agree management measures for the seamounts. | | (180402) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 138
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government has taken to promote small businesses in the constituency of Coventry South since 1997. | | (180354) | 139
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects to introduce the regulations implementing the End of Life Vehicles Directive. | | (181544) | 140
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of regulations requiring the last owner of an end of life vehicle to deliver it to an authorised processor prior to the implementation of a scheme which will require manufacturers to make arrangements for processors to accept vehicles manufactured by them free of charge on the number of end of life vehicles being (a) abandoned and (b) deliberately set fire to. | | (181545) | 141
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when proposed regulations requiring end of life vehicles to be delivered to authorised processors will become effective. | | (181546) | 142
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, from how many projects to which it has committed funding the North West Development Agency has withdrawn since 1st April 2003 in (a) Merseyside and (b) Greater Manchester. | | (181553) | 143
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by what amount the forward funding commitments of the North West Development Agency have had to be cut to meet budgetary constraints. | | (181554) | 144
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will reply to the letter of 18th March from the honourable Member for Totnes concerning Mr Bob Bowling of Brixham and grants for solar heating. | | (180636) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 145
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking towards meeting the goals of (a) a 40 per cent. reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents and (b) a 50 per cent. reduction in children killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 2010. | | (180303) | 146
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the effect on the punctuality performance of train operating companies of extensions of scheduled journey times; and if he will publish figures for punctuality performance for mainline services over the most recent 12 month period re-stated to be measured against pre-Hatfield scheduled journey times. | | (181548) | 147
| Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the results of his announcement in January this year of the appointment of regional rail czars to oversee parts of the railway system. | | (181552) | 148
N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much tonnage of goods was lifted by (a) road and (b) rail in each year since 1997. | | (181495) | 149
N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of road accidents in 2003 occurred (a) at road junctions, (b) on roads where lanes had been closed off, (c) on motorways, (d) on dual carriageways, (e) in areas subject to 30 mph speed limits, (f) in areas subject to 40 mph speed limits and (g) in areas subject to 70 mph speed limits. | | (181497) | 150
N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of road accidents in 2003 were caused by (a) people driving without insurance, (b) people in cars without a valid MOT certificate, (c) cars not licensed, (d) people driving whilst disqualified or without valid licences, (e) drivers under the influence of drugs, (f) drivers under the influence of alcohol, (g) drivers who had fallen asleep at the wheel and (h) drivers driving stolen vehicles. | | (181498) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 151
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to promote job seeking services in the constituency of Coventry South since 1997. | | (180353) | 152
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of (a) pensioners in Scotland and (b) eligible pensioners in Scotland have taken up (i) the guarantee credit and (ii) the savings credit elements of pension credit. | | (181281) | 153
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the level of expenditure on pension credit in financial years (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07 in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland. | | (181282) | 154
N | Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Scotland have taken up their entitlement to (a) the guarantee credit and (b) the savings credit elements of pension credit. | | (181283) | 155
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, why Mr G. Waghorn of Ashburton has not received retirement pension since 25th March; and for what reason no reply has been sent to his letters to the Pension Service. | | (180635) | 156
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate how many individuals have experienced a drop in their income as a result of migrating to the child tax credit from income support and jobseeker's allowance. | | (181580) | 157
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many interviews his Department has conducted to help to secure the position of those who have been floated off income support and jobseeker's allowance as a result of their benefits being passported to the child tax credit; and if he will make a statement. | | (181581) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 158
| Mr Peter Pike (Burnley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much investment there has been by British businesses in the economy of China in the last three years for which figures are available. | | [Transferred] (181524) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 159
N | Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when the Department expects the post of Lord Chancellor to be abolished; and if he will make a statement. | | [Question Unstarred] (180759) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 160
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many prisoners have been captured or held by United Kingdom forces in Afghanistan since January 2002; how many were charged with offences; how many have been released without charge; and how many were transferred to the custody of (a) the US authorities, (b) the Afghan Interim Authority and (c) ISAF/NATO authorities. | | [Transferred] (181558) | 161
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many prisoners are being detained in Afghanistan under the authority of (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States and (c) NATO. | | [Transferred] (181560) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 162
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the projected demand for rural housing is in the East Riding of Yorkshire for the next 10 years; and how he intends to meet that demand. | | [Transferred] (181589) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 163
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what action he is taking to retain school playing fields. | | [Transferred] (181576) |
|
