Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2003 - 04
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 25 October 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 Monday 25 October 2004
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 25 October 2004

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Monday 25 October 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 Monday 25 October of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Monday 25 October see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to the Advocate General

1
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Advocate General, what role she played in the decision to place a 100 year closure on the Cullen Inquiry into the Dunblane tragedy.

(193769)

2
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Advocate General, on what basis the decision was taken to place a 100 year closure on the Cullen inquiry into the Dunblane tragedy.

(193770)

3
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Advocate General, what statutory basis was cited in placing a 100 year closure on the Cullen Inquiry.

(193771)

Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

4
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what percentage of Government websites meet the Disability Discrimination Act 1995's guidelines on web accessibility; and if she will make a statement.

(193571)

5
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when she will reply to Questions (a) references (i) 189701, (ii) 189717 and (iii) 189718 tabled by the honourable Member for New Forest East on 15th September, (b) references (A) 189988 and (B) 189991 tabled by the honourable Member for New Forest East on 16th September and (c) reference 191819 tabled on 12th October by the honourable Member for New Forest East for Named Day Answer on 18th October.

(193427)

6
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Office since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case.

(193431)

7
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many personnel the Department has recruited under the New Deal in each of the past five years.

(193676)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

8
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Treasury has made of the increase in revenue the Exchequer would receive if the UK's derogation to the European Energy Products Directive which enables private boat users to purchase red diesel was not extended beyond 2006.

(193720)

9
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been raised by the withdrawal of advance corporation tax credit on (a) pensions and (b) charities in each year since it was introduced.

(193802)

10
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average annual cost to (a) local authorities, (b) police authorities, (c) fire authorities and (d) NHS trusts of the (i) withdrawal of advance corporation tax credit on pensions and (ii) increase in national insurance implemented in the 2003 budget has been since their introduction.

(193803)

11
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much private sector finance has been issued in each year since it was introduced; what the average interest rate was in each year; in which years it is scheduled to be repaid; and whether a sinking fund is being established to meet these repayments.

(193804)

12
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the projected levels of private sector finance are over the next three years.

(193805)

13
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the contractor takes some risk in private sector finance agreements.

(193806)

14
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the national debt (a) is and (b) was in 1997.

(193812)

15
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the (a) Public Sector Loan Board and (b) Treasury gives advice to local authorities on how to reschedule debt to reduce interest rates paid.

(193813)

16
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what actions HM Customs and Excise is taking to stop meat being smuggled into the United Kingdom from overseas.

(193793)

17
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of working people living in the Tooting parliamentary constituency are in full-time employment.

(193794)

18
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the rate of unemployment in the Greater London area is.

(193796)

19
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Office of National Statistics will release the full set of the 2001 Census data.

(193752)

20
N Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Warrington are in receipt of the minimum wage.

(193301)

21
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications of tagging a taxpayer's (a) National Insurance contributions record and (b) tax records with the existence of a deductions from earnings order made in respect of child support payments.

(193834)

22
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce a procedure for alerting employers when taking on new employees to the existence of an existing deductions from earnings order in respect of child support payments.

(193835)

23
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) he, (b) his departmental Ministers and (c) advisers and officials have held with representatives of (i) Sun City International, (ii) MGM Mirage, (iii) Mandalay Resort Group, (iv) Kerzner International, (v) Las Vegas Sands, Inc., (vi) Harrah's Entertainment, (vii) Caesar's Entertainment and (viii) other foreign casino firms; what the (A) dates and (B) venues of the meetings were; and which individuals were present.

(193763)

24
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case.

(193428)

25
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many personnel the Department has recruited under the New Deal in each of the past five years.

(193675)

26
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent research he has (a) conducted or (b) commissioned into the cost effectiveness of the proposed identity card scheme.

(193996)

27
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the (a) EU Savings Directive and (b) EU Code of Conduct on Business Taxation on the revenue of UK overseas territories.

(193788)

28
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance is provided to procuring authorities about the treatment of PFI arrangements in the accounts of public bodies.

(193891)

29
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193975)

30
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many deaths there were in each of the last five years from (a) suicide, (b) drowning, (c) house fires, (d) other domestic accidents, (e) road traffic accidents, (f) murder and (g) manslaughter; and what percentage were (i) alcohol and (ii) drug related in each case.

(193833)

31
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce measures to compensate for higher duties on petrol and diesel in those areas of the UK with the highest levels of petrol and diesel consumption; and if he will make a statement.

(193708)

32
Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that adequate funds are made available to the Home Office to ensure that Northampton Police Authority receives the grant for the financial year 2005-06 that the national funding formula indicates it needs.

(193760)

33
Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an additional grant to all police authorities for the financial year 2005-06 similar to the additional grant given to all local authorities in December 2003.

(193761)

34
N Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the organisations who have had their assets frozen by the Government where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an organisation is involved in the financing of terrorism; and how much has been frozen in each case.

(193604)

35
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit compensation payments have been authorised since April; and what the (a) total and (b) average value of those payments was.

(193662)

36
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of families claiming new tax credits that (a) needed to provide details for finalising a 2003-04 award, and if appropriate renewing a claim for 2004-05, (b) responded on, or before the 30th September deadline and (c) had awards stopped as a result of not responding by the 30th September deadline.

(193663)

37
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls were made to the Child and Working Tax Credit helpline in each month since August 2003; and how many and what percentage of calls (a) were handled within 20 seconds, (b) were handled in more than 20 seconds, (c) reached an engaged tone and (d) were abandoned.

(193924)

38
Mr Michael Weir (Angus):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many single mothers aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 30 and (c) over 30 years are in receipt of child benefit in (i) Angus constituency and (ii) Scotland.

(193451)

39
Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the accommodation consists of at Royal Lodge, Windsor.

(193943)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

40
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list his public engagements carried out in the week from 18th October.

(193672)

Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners

41
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent representations he has received regarding updating ecclesiastical law, with particular reference to the employment of clergy.

(193768)

Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs

42
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the dining requirements necessary to become a barrister are; what plans he has to remove these requirements; and if he will make a statement.

(193589)

43
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many persons were convicted of offences of intimidation or harming of witnesses in each year since 2001; and how many of those received a custodial sentence.

(193613)

44
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to raise the small claims limit in personal injury cases; and if he will make a statement.

(193868)

45
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what measures the Department is taking to help (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities become judges.

(193476)

46
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how the courts will implement the power to review awards of compensation for personal injury.

(193928)

47
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193986)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

48
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether Point 17 of the Olympic Funding: Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London requires council tax payers in London to fund any overspend associated with the proposed London 2012 Olympics.

(194016)

49
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Olympic Funding: Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London requires the Government to fund any cost overspend associated with the proposed Olympics in London in 2012.

(194017)

50
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many recent meetings she has had with representatives of (a) Sun International, (b) MGM Mirage, (c) Kerzner International, (d) Caesar's Entertainment and (e) the British Casino Association; when those meetings took place; and if she will list the representatives whom she met from each organisation.

(193901)

51
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many recent meetings (a) officials and (b) special advisers of her Department have had with representatives of (a) Sun International , (b) MGM Mirage, (c) Kerzner International, (d) Caesar's Entertainment and (e) the British Casino Association.

(193902)

52
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has visited (a) Las Vegas and (b) Atlantic City in her official capacity.

(193903)

53
N Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioners in Warrington North receive a free television licence.

(193298)

54
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings (a) she, (b) her departmental Ministers and (c) advisers and officials have held with representatives of (i) Sun City International, (ii) MGM Mirage, (iii) Mandalay Resort Group, (iv) Kerzner International, (v) Las Vegas Sands, Inc., (vi) Harrah's Entertainment, (vii) Caesar's Entertainment and (viii) other foreign casino firms; what the (A) dates and (B) venues of the meetings were; and which individuals were present.

(193798)

55
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what protocols are in place governing the attendance of her departmental officials at trade conventions promoting the interests of the foreign gaming industry.

(193799)

56
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193985)

57
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the British Racing Drivers' Club over the future of the British Grand Prix.

(193005)

58
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the planned dates for analogue switch-off are broken down by ITV region.

(193677)

59
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the planned dates are for analogue switch-off for the transmitters at (a) Durris, (b) Rosemarkie, (c) Knock More and (d) Rumster Forest.

(193678)

60
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage in terms of area of (a) the UK and (b) Scotland will have digital television coverage by 31st December (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006.

(193679)

61
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) video cassette recorder manufacturers and (b) their industry representatives regarding analogue switch-off.

(193680)

62
Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what accommodation HRH Princess Anne and her staff occupy at St James' Palace.

(193941)

63
Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what accommodation is occupied by (a) HRH Prince Charles and (b) his staff at Clarence House.

(193942)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

64
N Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost has been to public funds of military deployment and action in connection with the intervention in Iraq since 1st March 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(193361)

65
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18th October, Official Report, column 440W, on Flight ZD576, whether the third parties consulted by the reviewing air marshals before coming to their conclusions on the crash of Flight ZD576 were limited to those providing legal advice; and if he will list the third parties consulted.

(193961)

66
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what facilities are available at RAF Fylingdales; and what future use is envisaged for the base.

(194008)

67
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on (a) considering future options for a nuclear deterrent capability and (b) reaching a decision on whether or not to withdraw the Trident fleet.

(194013)

68
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the Canadian Government on the four submarines sold to the Canadians by the Royal Navy Service.

(192979)

69
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department asked (a) Perth and Kinross District Council, (b) the Black Watch and (c) other organisations to prepare for a welcome back home parade in Perth in November or December.

(193243)

70
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date he first received the request from the United States to redeploy UK troops.

(193244)

71
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date he expects the Black Watch to end their tour of duty in Iraq.

(193245)

72
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what instructions have been given to Black Watch soldiers regarding redeployment in Iraq.

(193246)

73
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what meetings he has had with US officials to discuss lines of command if UK soldiers are to be redeployed in US controlled areas in Iraq.

(193247)

74
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what impact the possible redeployment of UK troops in Iraq will have on the planned increased deployment of UK troops in Afghanistan.

(193479)

75
N Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the final decision will be announced on the conclusions of the End-to-End Review.

(193480)

76
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to sell land occupied by the Whittington barracks near Lichfield.

(193944)

77
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to move the Army Training Regiment for Lichfield.

(193945)

78
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which bases will be used in England over the next five years for the Army Training Regiment .

(193946)

79
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future use of the army barracks at Whittington, Lichfield.

(193947)

80
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when 40 Commando of Royal Marines is due to return to Norton Manor Camp, Taunton.

(193869)

81
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many troops of 40 Commando are in Iraq.

(193870)

82
Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what weapons are available to (a) US, (b) British and (c) Iraqi troops serving in Iraq.

(193647)

83
Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) US, (b) UK and (c) Iraqi troops are serving in Iraq.

(193648)

84
Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role Iraqi troops are playing in Iraq.

(193649)

85
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the Commission for Racial Equality concerning the applicability of the Race Relations Act 1976 to service personnel serving on sovereign bases outside the European Union.

(193710)

86
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 14th October, Official Report, column 327W, on warships, what the timeline is for the refit of HMS Victorious; and when she is expected to return to service.

(193441)

87
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military reservists from Northern Ireland have so far been mobilised for operations in Iraq; and what the average period of service is.

(193558)

88
N Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Factory Number 3533 will be used to print and supply the camouflage fabric for the Cut and Sew tender DC4BESL/1002.

(193791)

89
N Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 30th June, Official Report, column 357W, on Seyntex, for what reason Seyntex was awarded the contract.

(193792)

90
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Future Offensive Air System project; what the project's objectives are; which countries are participating in it; which UK and European aerospace companies are involved; what funding his Department has contributed to its work to date for each of the last five years; and when he expects to make public the outcome of this work.

(193496)

91
Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress on the Army's Falcon tactical formation-level secure communications system.

(193912)

92
Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress on the work of the Royal Air Force's Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit.

(193913)

93
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on European Union defence procurement policy.

(193758)

94
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to paragraphs 50 and 51 of the document Update on Prospects for the European Union in 2004, (Cm 6310), what documentation has been published concerning (a) the nature, function, organisation and finance of the European Defence Agency, (b) the agreement concerning nations within the European Union agreeing to form battle groups to provide rapidly deployable forces and (c) the planned conference in November where member states will be able to discuss their respective commitments.

(193822)

95
N Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to deploy the Queen's Lancashire Regiment to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(193325)

96
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 11th October, Official Report, column 64W, on Iraq, whether Colonel Terrington was aware that the investigation was of a disciplinary nature involving the conduct of US troops.

(193433)

97
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 11th October, Official Report, column 64W, on Iraq, whether Colonel Terrington discussed the investigation with LTC Jordan.

(193434)

98
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 11th October, Official Report, column 64W, on Iraq, whom Colonel Terrington informed about the investigation; and on what dates.

(193435)

99
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 11th October, Official Report, column 64W, on Iraq, when Colonel Terrington was made aware of the investigation; and by whom.

(193436)

100
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Order of Battle in the Iraq theatre of operation will be from 1st November; and if he will make a statement.

(193967)

101
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Harley Dingle site was ever used by his Department as a testing ground for (a) armour piercing munition and (b) any munition containing depleted uranium.

(193875)

102
N Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for maintaining a reserve battalion in south east Iraq following the redeployment of (a) the Black Watch and (b) other troops in Iraq.

(193303)

103
N Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what impact the redeployment of troops outside south east Iraq will have on his decision to cut the number of regiments in the army.

(193304)

104
N Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average tour of duty is for a British soldier in Iraq.

(193305)

105
N Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of changes in the security situation in the south east of Iraq since June.

(193306)

106
N Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the security situation in south east Iraq has improved since June.

(193307)

Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister

107
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what adjustments in the (a) police funding formula and (b) capping regime he plans to make to take account of strategic development plans for expansion in the South-East and East Midlands.

(193638)

108
N Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with (a) other Government departments and (b) local authorities on safety on beaches.

(193432)

109
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of how many surveyors will be required as a result of the seller's packs provisions included in the Housing Bill; how many are available at the present time; and what estimate he has made of how long it will take to train sufficient surveyors.

[R] (193781)

110
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what implementation date the Government plans for the provisions of the Housing Bill relating to seller's packs; and what assessment he has made of whether sufficient professional indemnity insurance will be available in the market by that date.

[R] (193782)

111
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government intends to establish a national database of the information contained in the seller's pack provided for in the Housing Bill; and whether the packs will have to be available in electronic form to purchasers.

(193807)

112
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when all local authorities are expected to supply land searches electronically.

(193808)

113
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on local authorities' progress towards the Government's e targets.

(193809)

114
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much the combined local authority debt (a) is and (b) was in 1997; and what the average rate of interest paid on that debt is.

(193810)

115
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the funding requirement for local authority debt has been in each year since 1997; and what the projected requirement is for this financial year.

(193811)

116
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, in what form electronic versions of sellers' packs must be made available; who will have access to this information; and how the vendor will recover his or her costs from the purchaser.

(193886)

117
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average expenditure per capita of each London Borough on youth services was in each year since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

(194010)

118
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what advice is given to London Boroughs on (a) disposal of property assets and (b) meeting the need for social housing in London; and if he will make a statement.

(194011)

119
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many recent meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Sun International, (b) MGM Mirage, (c) Kerzner International, (d) Caesar's Entertainment and (e) the British Casino Association; when those meetings took place; and if he will list the representatives whom he met from each organisation.

(193898)

120
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many recent meetings (a) officials and (b) special advisers of his Department have had with representatives of (a) Sun International , (b) MGM Mirage, (c) Kerzner International, (d) Caesar's Entertainment and (e) the British Casino Association.

(193899)

121
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he has visited (a) Las Vegas and (b) Atlantic City in his official capacity.

(193900)

122
Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of the (a) City of York Council, (b) Ryedale District Council, (c) North Yorkshire County Council and (d) Scarborough Borough Council budget was met from council tax receipts in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2004-05.

(193905)

123
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to promote the use of disability housing registers.

(193570)

124
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many local authorities in England operate disability housing registers; and if he will make a statement.

(193573)

125
N Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many homeless people there were in Greater London in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) age and (b) borough.

(193188)

126
N Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many local authorities in England he expects to meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010; and if he will list those which are expected not to achieve the Standard.

(193241)

127
N Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his estimate is of the cost of meeting the Decent Homes Standard in each local authority area.

(193242)

128
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which local authorities have (a) started and (b) completed their consultation with tenants on (i) arm's length management organisations (ALMOs), (ii) use of the private finance initiative and (iii) use of stock transfer in relation to ownership of housing; which of those authorities have held ballots with their tenants on ALMOs, PFI and stock transfer; when those ballots were held; and what percentage was (A) in favour and (B) against each option in each such ballot.

(193887)

129
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the cost to public funds of the Centre-Local Government Partnership conference held at Leeds Castle on 14th and 15th October was; and how many Government Ministers attended.

(193360)

130
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the total cost of holding the referendum on an elected regional assembly in the North East.

(193755)

131
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total cost has been of (a) visits made and (b) meetings hosted by Ministers in his Department relating to elected regional assemblies since May 2002.

(193756)

132
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the cost was of producing and publishing (a) the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, Cm. 5511 and (b) the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, Cm 6285.

(193780)

133
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what meetings (a) he, (b) his departmental Ministers and (c) advisers and officials have held with representatives of (i) Sun City International, (ii) MGM Mirage, (iii) Mandalay Resort Group, (iv) Kerzner International, (v) Las Vegas Sands, Inc., (vi) Harrah's Entertainment, (vii) Caesar's Entertainment and (viii) other foreign casino firms; what the (A) dates and (B) venues of the meetings were; and which individuals were present.

(193764)

134
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Association of Caravan and Camping Exempted Organisations was consulted in his review of permitted development rights; and if he will list the organisations which were consulted.

(193908)

135
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case.

(193430)

136
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193984)

137
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussion took place between his Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affars on the effects of the landfill allowance trading scheme on local authorities in growth areas.

(193753)

138
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what additional funding will be given to local authorities in growth areas through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block grant to compensate for the effects of the landfill allowance trading scheme.

(193754)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

139
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the (a) membership is and (b) terms of reference are of the joint working party with the churches and others on the financing of religious voluntary aided schools; when its report is expected; whether the report will be published; and if he will make it his policy to maintain a maximum level of contribution from public funds towards the costs of such schools at 100 per cent. of running costs and 90 per cent. of building costs.

(193611)

140
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much grant he has made to the Sector Skills Development Agency from its inception to date; and what proportion has been (a) spent, (b) retained and (c) returned to the Department.

(193644)

141
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has for additional benchmarks for universities; what consultations HEFCE carries out in respect of benchmarks; and whether he expects the Director General of the Office of Fair Access to be included in such consultations.

(193568)

142
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether he expects the Director General of the Office for Fair Access to commission research into access to university places; and whether he would expect such research to be published.

(193839)

143
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether he plans to publish any further guidance which he gives to the Director General of the Office for Fair Access.

(193840)

144
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what review is taking place of the cost of student fees for students from Commonwealth countries who wish to study here; and if he will make a statement.

(193488)

145
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans his Department has to bring the cost of student fees for students from Commonwealth countries wishing to study here into line with the fees students from a member state of the European Union pay; and if he will make a statement.

(193492)

146
Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Department is taking to encourage more people into fostering.

(193767)

147
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils of school age were educated at home in each age group in (a) Somerset and (b) Taunton in each year since 1997.

(193873)

148
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has recently (a) published and (b) commissioned on the effects of parenting on life chances for children.

(193595)

149
N Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schoolchildren played truant in schools in East Sussex in each of the past five years; and how many days in total were lost through truancy in the county in each of those years.

(193703)

150
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with Student Finance Direct with regard to the delayed payment of student loans; and if he will make a statement.

(193778)

151
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information he has received concerning delays in education authorities assessing entitlement to student grants and payment of fees.

(193779)

152
N Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students were enrolled in full-time higher education courses at UK universities and colleges in each year since 1990; how many of those students were from other EU countries; and how many were from outside the EU.

(193669)

153
N Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students from other EU countries studied at UK universities in each year since 1997; what the aggregate cost of tuition was for those students; and how much those students and their sponsors contributed towards that cost.

(193670)

154
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people have registered with the Teenage Pregnancy Unit website in each year since it was launched.

(193997)

155
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the 2004 annual report for the Teenage Pregnancy Unit will be published.

(193998)

156
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much it cost to set up the Teenage Pregnancy Unit website; what the maintenance costs are estimated to be for each year of its operation; and who is responsible for updating the website.

(193999)

157
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the impact on schools in the Vale of York of his proposed changes to school transport.

(193876)

158
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the reason was for Reed Education losing the contract to provide education services at HM Prison Latchmere House; and whether there are plans to remove their contract to provide education at (a) HM Prison Blakenhurst and (b) HM Prison Brixton.

(193994)

159
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance is provided to procuring authorities within the education system about the treatment of PFI arrangements in the accounts of public bodies.

(193890)

160
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193983)

161
N Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how proposals in the Children Bill [Lords] on information exchange and proposed new systems developed by local authorities will deal with children who enter and leave the jurisdiction of England from or to other parts of the UK; and what discussions his officials have had with officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland on this matter.

(192915)

162
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received regarding secondary school capacity on Canvey Island; and if he will make a statement.

(193511)

163
Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average (a) primary school and (b) secondary school class size in the West Suffolk constituency was in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2003-04.

(193667)

164
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effects in Stroud constituency of (a) abolishing grant-maintained schools, (b) changing school admission arrangements and (c) balloting parents on grammar schools.

(193502)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

165
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the member states' national allocation plans and the treatment of combined heat and power.

(193823)

166
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when Government Departments will publish their plans detailing the actions they will take to deliver energy targets.

(193824)

167
N Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to offer a payment to those affected by a ban on hunting; and whether this would apply if the individual were to emigrate.

(193448)

168
Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Government did not apply for a derogation on the spreading of organic fertiliser in nitrate vulnerable zones within the deadline specified; and what the implications are of not applying within the specified deadline.

(193461)

169
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the information requested in the Extensification Payment Scheme 2004: Status of Subsidiary Holdings is also available on pages 17 and 18 of Farm's 2003 Integrated Administration and Control System form.

(193874)

170
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Minister of State for Rural Affairs had with the Henley Centre about the terms of reference for the recent report on research in the horse industry in Great Britain; and whether the impact on the horse industry of the abolition of hunting formed part of the terms of reference.

(193483)

171
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has discussed the weighting given to heritage in the calculation of need for coastal defences with her counterpart in the Dutch government.

(193487)

172
Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and (b) English Heritage concerning the weighting given to heritage in the calculation of need for coastal defences.

(193493)

173
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 11th October, Official Report, column 89W, on CITES, if she will break down the numbers of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species species.

(193438)

174
Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has held with organic certification bodies on the effect that non-burial of fallen stock might have on the soil's microbiology.

(193624)

175
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the status will be of egg imports from other EU countries where the eggs are produced in conditions that would not meet the standards set for the welfare of laying hens in this country.

(193929)

176
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how payments under the single farm payment between 1st December 2005 and 30th June 2006 will be made; and when they will be made.

[R] (193775)

177
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the expected payment date is for the single farm payments in May 2005; and under what circumstances this payment would be delayed until April 2006.

[R] (193776)

178
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193982)

179
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department or its predecessor applied to the EU Commission for a derogation from the Nitrates Directive to allow applications of 210kg/ha on arable land and 250kg/ha on grass land.

(193442)

180
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of (a) the number of disposable nappies used in each of the last five years, and (b) the costs in each of those years of disposing of those nappies.

(193832)

181
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received from the Scottish Executive regarding the sustainable food procurement initiative.

(193715)

182
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the over thirty month scheme; and if she will make a statement.

(193716)

183
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with overseas brewers with manufacturing bases in the UK to encourage the use of UK-grown raw ingredients.

(193717)

184
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assistance she offers to overseas brewers with manufacturing bases in the UK to encourage their use of UK-grown raw ingredients.

(193718)

185
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what level of financial support has been given to the tobacco-growing industry in the EU in each of the last five years.

(193507)

186
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate has been made of the impact of long line fishing nets on albatross populations; and what progress she has made in eliminating these nets.

(193671)

187
Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on ensuring access by farmers to professional advice and prescriptions from those veterinary surgeons collaborating with veterinary pharmacists who are not providing an emergency clinical service; and if she will make a statement.

(193880)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

188
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Laos about the health and treatment of evangelist Boon Chanh, serving a sentence in Udomsay Province.

(193578)

189
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the size of the population of prison camps in North Korea.

(193579)

190
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Egypt about the continued incarceration of (a) Shaiboub William Arsal and (b) Adly Shakir.

(193580)

191
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of evangelical and pentecostal churches which have been closed down in Eritrea since 21st May 2002.

(193581)

192
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Morocco, (b) the Polisario Front and (c) UN officials on the future constitutional arrangements for the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(194002)

193
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held with members of the New Agenda Coalition in advance of the Non-Proliferation Review Conference in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(194003)

194
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held with Iran on (a) the inspection of nuclear facilities and (b) its policy on the Non-Proliferation Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

(194004)

195
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held by officials of his Department with (a) North Korea, (b) India, (c) Pakistan and (d) Israel on the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(194005)

196
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to publish a statement of the UK Government's aspirations for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2005.

(194006)

197
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who the members of the UK delegation to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2005 will be.

(194007)

198
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he received from British Indian Ocean Territory citizens concerning their economic wellbeing in (a) Mauritius, (b) the Seychelles and (c) the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(194012)

199
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh concerning the amount of funding a student is required to have before a visa is granted to study in the United Kingdom; and what review of this requirement is planned.

(193490)

200
N Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what arrangements were in place prior to 1974 to inform spouses of Foreign, Colonial and Commonwealth Office staff serving abroad but forbidden from working abroad of their obligation to make sufficient National Insurance contributions to secure eligibility for a 100 per cent. basic state pension.

(193619)

201
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 18th October, Official Report, column 469W, on Iraq, if he will make a statement on the length of time between the start of the UK and US occupation of Iraq and the official withdrawal of the 45-minute claim.

(193591)

202
Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the levels of sexual violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.

(193914)

203
Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the Georgia-Abkhaz peace process.

(193915)

204
Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of progress in the peacebuilding framework and role of the United Nations in Somalia.

(193916)

205
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will answer the letter to him dated 6th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to Mr Ilyas.

(193936)

206
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will answer the letter to him dated 1st September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to Mr Abdul Rauf.

(193937)

207
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will answer the letter to him dated 23rd August from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to Ms Saira Asif.

(193938)

208
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will answer the letter to him dated 14th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to Pastor D. Lindsay.

(193939)

209
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many personnel the Department has recruited under the New Deal in each of the past five years.

(193673)

210
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the government of Iran about the sentence of death by stoning given to 13 year old Zhila Izadi; and if he will make a statement.

(193061)

211
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations Her Majesty's Government made to the government of Iran about the sentence of death awarded to 16 year old Atefeh Rajabi and carried out in public in Neka during August (a) prior to her execution and (b) after her execution; and if he will make a statement.

(193062)

212
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what research has been undertaken to monitor the treatment of asylum seekers deported from Britain; and what proportion of failed asylum seekers suffered imprisonment, torture or death within 12 months of their deportation from the UK in the last period for which figures are available.

(193468)

213
N Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether, in 2002, (a) a Minister in the Foreign Office and (b) an ambassador indicated to the United States Administration that the UK Government backed regime change in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(193646)

214
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193981)

215
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Secretary of State for Defence of 18th October, Official Report, column 642, on UK forces (Iraq), what assessment he has made of the effect of alleged corruption at the UN during the Oil for Food Programme on the current insurgency in Iraq.

(193174)

216
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with the Secretary General of the UN during his visit to London on 19th October on alleged corruption at the UN during the Oil for Food Programme in Iraq.

(193175)

217
N Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of the United States State Department's decision to waive the decertification of Uzbekistan for financial aid on grounds of national interest; and if he will make a statement.

(193173)

218
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the recent elections and referendum in Belarus; what representations he has made to the Belarus Government concerning the elections and referendum, with particular reference to poll rigging and intimidation of voters; when and in what forum he will next raise the situation in Belarus with the UK and European partners; and what recommendations for future action he will make to them.

(193463)

219
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on recent discussions with the Argentinian government in relation to the future of the Falkland Islands.

(193464)

220
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions have taken place with the governments of (a) Argentina, (b) Chile, (c) Brazil and (d) Uruguay regarding port blockades on vessels travelling to and from the Falkland Islands.

(193465)

221
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions have taken place with the governments of (a) Argentina, (b) Chile, (c) Brazil and (d) Uruguay regarding flights to and from the Falkland Islands over their airspace; and if he will make a statement.

(193466)

222
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many opium seizures have been made (a) in Afghanistan and (b) on Afghan borders since UK forces took control of the international community's efforts to stop the flow of drugs from Afghanistan.

(193467)

223
N Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) representations he has made to and (b) assurances he has received from the United States that, should they mount an operation to bring Fallujah under Iraqi Government control, there are plans in place to fulfil the Coalition's obligations to civilians affected by the operation under Article 16 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in time of war; and if he will make a statement.

(193481)

224
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to encourage Belarus to (a) work towards becoming a democracy, (b) ensure that the electoral process is not subject to Government interference and (c) ensure that the opposition is not subject to intimidation and violence.

(193819)

225
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the constitutional referendum in Belarus that will allow the President to seek unlimited terms in office.

(193820)

226
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have taken place with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe regarding the recent referendum vote in Belarus; and if he will make a statement.

(193821)

227
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) matters were discussed and (b) agreements were made during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 19th October.

(193513)

228
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received regarding negotiations for Turkish accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement.

(193506)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

229
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed in Nottingham (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(193590)

230
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting times for operations in Nottingham were (a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(193612)

231
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional NHS facilities have been made available to people in Nottingham since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(193614)

232
N Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what calculations were made by his Department to reach the figure of £26.6m allocated to the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority for 2004-05.

(193577)

233
N Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the budget of the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority is allocated to the task of acting in a regulatory role for independent recruitment agencies in the health sector.

(193586)

234
N Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will break down the budget allocated to the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority for 2004-05 by main budget heading.

(193587)

235
N Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons are for the decrease in the monies allocated to the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority between 2002-03 and 2004-05.

(193588)

236
N Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential for conflict of interest between the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority's role as a regulator of independent recruitment agencies in the health sector and its own role in recruiting NHS staff.

(193615)

237
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the energy/carbon strategy by NHS estates will be published; and how it has taken into consideration the role of good quality combined heat and power plant.

(193826)

238
N Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals in Hampshire are operating with a shortfall in the operational requirement for accident and emergency staff; and how many employees this shortfall amounts to at each hospital.

(193497)

239
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average per capita spending on (a) primary care, (b) mental health and (c) hospital care in Islington North constituency was in each year since 1996-97.

(194009)

240
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements are available for Iraqi nationals who are victims of violence in the war and who cannot be treated in Iraq due to medical deficiencies to be treated in hospitals in England; and if he will make a statement.

(194014)

241
N Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on bursaries available for those wanting to train as a nurse, with particular reference to entitlement to student childcare.

(193142)

242
N Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the student childcare helpline does not indicate how much childcare assistance an individual is likely to receive until they have been accepted onto a course for nurse training.

(193143)

243
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask the management of Birmingham Heartlands Hospital to carry out an urgent investigation into levels of cleanliness and hygiene and to publish its findings.

(193777)

244
Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budget is for NHS Live 2004 in the area covered by Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority.

(193910)

245
Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 18th October, Official Report, column 497W, on pharmacies, what progress he is making in reviewing legislation regarding the arrangements for the dispensing and sale of medicines; and when he intends to consult on possible changes.

(193449)

246
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) care homes and (b) care home beds there have been in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) Tyne and Wear and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997.

(193605)

247
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England have been in (i) voluntary sector, (ii) local authority and (iii) private sector care homes in each year since 1997.

(193606)

248
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new care homes have been built by local authorities in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

(193607)

249
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new care homes are being built in the private sector in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

(193608)

250
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost to public funds of a patient in a care home in (a) the private sector, (b) the local authority and (c) the voluntary sector has been in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) Tyne and Wear and (iv) England in each year since 1997.

(193609)

251
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new care homes have been built in the voluntary sector in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

(193610)

252
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care homes have closed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

(193633)

253
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been on the waiting list for care homes in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

(193634)

254
Mr Douglas Hogg (Sleaford & North Hykeham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the provision of NHS dentistry within a 20 mile radius of Sleaford; and what steps he will take to ensure that new patients will be accepted for NHS dentistry services in the area.

(193838)

255
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 20th October, Official Report, column 791W, on gender dysphoria, if he will make it his policy to collect centrally the average waiting times for a first appointment at each gender identity clinic for people suffering from gender dysphoria.

(194032)

256
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make infection control induction training mandatory for all NHS medical staff; when this training will begin; and what the estimated cost of this training will be per year.

(193452)

257
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has instructed commissioners to include information on infection rates of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in the information provided under Patient Choice.

(193453)

258
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which (a) procedures and (b) products that claim effectiveness in their ability to prevent or control methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus have been introduced by the NHS as a result of the Department of Health's rapid review processes.

(193454)

259
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the trusts operating with bed occupancy levels higher than the Department of Health's target of 82 per cent.

(193455)

260
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in each (a) hospital and (b) trust in England have contracted methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in the NHS since 1997.

(193456)

261
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in each (a) hospital and (b) trust in England have contracted methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in the NHS since 1997, broken down into age groups (a) 0-10, (b) 11-20, (c) 21-30, (d) 31-40, (e) 41-50, (f) 51-60, (g) 61-70, (h) 71-80, (i) 81-90 and (j) older than 90 years.

(193457)

262
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the trusts which require consultation as a mandatory step between infection control teams and contract tendering procedures for (a) new build projects, (b) cleaning, (c) laundry services and (d) catering services.

(193458)

263
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is being taken by primary care trusts to improve transport links to healthcare facilities in North Yorkshire.

(193892)

264
N Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding has been allocated to (a) North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and (b) North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust for dental services in the past two years.

(193499)

265
N Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists there were in (a) North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust, (b) North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and (c) Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997.

(193500)

266
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the likely number of (a) smart card and (b) biometric card readers which will be needed in hospitals and general practitioner surgeries in the next 10 years.

(193995)

267
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is provided to procuring authorities within the NHS about the treatment of PFI arrangements in the accounts of public bodies.

(193889)

268
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193980)

269
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16th September, Official Report, column 1762W, on military low flying, if he will undertake a study into the health effects of military low flying on people living within military tactical training areas.

(193728)

270
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the over-thirty month scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(193684)

271
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the over-thirty month scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(193685)

272
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the over-thirty month scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(193686)

273
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Meat and Livestock Commission regarding the over-thirty month scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(193687)

274
Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his officials have had with representatives of (a) the food and drink industry and (b) the advertising industry since January.

(193469)

275
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have received treatment for (a) type I diabetes and (b) type II diabetes and associated conditions in North Cheshire Hospital Trust during the last 12 months.

(193629)

276
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have received treatment for coronary heart disease and associated conditions in North Cheshire Hospitals Trust during the last 12 months.

(193630)

277
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have received treatment for stroke and associated conditions in North Cheshire Hospitals Trust during the last 12 months.

(193631)

278
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have received support from NHS dieticians in Warrington in the last 12 months.

(193632)

279
Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with chronic pain have been referred to North Cheshire Hospital trust in the last 12 months; what services are available to them; and how many specialist staff, broken down by grade, are providing the services.

(193645)

280
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is provided to NHS trusts on the use of air ambulances.

(193964)

281
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost to the NHS has been of helicopter hire for emergency services purposes in each year since 1992.

(193965)

282
Mr John Taylor (Solihull):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on (a) the incidence of MRSA at Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS hospitals and (b) the remedial action which is being taken.

(193597)

283
N Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of MRSA were recorded in each year since 1997; and how many resulted in death (a) in and (b) not in hospital.

(193550)

284
Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce regulations requiring mandatory labelling on homemade cakes, biscuits and jams sold in aid of charity; and if he will make a statement.

(193879)

285
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) UK and (b) Scottish recipients are anticipated to qualify for the Skipton Fund support for those who have contracted Hepatitis C from infected NHS blood products; and if he will make a statement.

(193650)

286
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff members the Skipton Fund are employing to respond to the applications for help from those infected with Hepatitis C; and if he will make a statement.

(193651)

287
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the ease of access for applicants to information about the progress of their applications from the Skipton Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(193652)

288
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria have been developed for the appointment process of the directors of the Skipton Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(193653)

289
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the term of office is for the directors of the Skipton Fund once they have been appointed; and if he will make a statement.

(193654)

290
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library correspondence with the Scottish Executive pertaining to (a) the establishment of the Skipton Fund and (b) the directors of it; and if he will make a statement.

(193655)

291
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether, when the Skipton Fund was established, its directors were drawn from the Macmillan Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(193656)

292
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, from what backgrounds the directors of the Skipton Funds have been recruited.

(193657)

293
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many recipients of the Skipton Fund have previously been beneficiaries of the Macmillan Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(193658)

294
Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of those who have received financial compensation from the Skipton Fund, were Scottish residents; and if he will make a statement.

(193659)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

295
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time spent by a police officer is between arrest to a charge cleared by the Crown Prosecution Service; what this represents as a percentage of the officer's working day; and if he will make a statement.

(193878)

296
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to bring into force section 174 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 requiring judges to give reasons for, and explains the effect of, sentences in ordinary language; and if he will make a statement.

(193932)

297
John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many known members of the Falun Gong movement have applied for asylum in each of the last four years; how many of these have had their application rejected; and how many are still awaiting a decision.

(193616)

298
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what use has been made of the power of courts in 10 street crime force areas to remand young offenders aged 12 to 16 years into secure accommodation.

(193582)

299
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the offences for which young offenders have been remanded in secure accommodation under section 130 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

(193583)

300
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young offenders have been subject to the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme since its launch; and what the recidivism rate has been of those who participated in it.

(193584)

301
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals have been detained on his authority under anti-terrorist legislative powers; how many are now detained; and for how long each individual has been detained.

(194001)

302
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average spending per capita on policing in the Islington North constituency was in each year since 1996-97.

(194015)

303
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is being taken by (a) his Department, (b) the police authorities and (c) immigration officials to seek to prevent women from overseas countries seeking residency in the United Kingdom to become self-employed prostitutes; and if he will make a statement.

(193470)

304
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) state-run and (b) privately-run prisons there are in the UK.

(193471)

305
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK during the last 12 months.

(193472)

306
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the establishment of new prisons in England and Wales; and if he will list the proposed sites of these prisons.

(193474)

307
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officers serving in the Metropolitan Police Force have resigned from the force in each of the last three years to transfer to another police force in the United Kingdom.

(193475)

308
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there are in the London Borough of Wandsworth; and how many are from ethnic minorities.

(193478)

309
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will extend the number of hours a student from overseas in the United Kingdom on a visa is able to work; and if he will make a statement.

(193491)

310
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what confiscation of drugs has taken place in the Greater London area during the last 12 months.

(193797)

311
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reported cases of violence against women there have been in the Metropolitan Police Force area during the last 12 months.

(193800)

312
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many category A prisoners who were (a) men and (b) women were detained in prisons in England and Wales on 1st October.

(193968)

313
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many appeals against a refusal to grant asylum are awaiting hearing in the Greater London area.

(193969)

314
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prison inmates who were (a) men under the age of 21 years and (b) women under the age of 21 years were serving a prison sentence in England and Wales on 1st March 2003.

(193970)

315
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent attacks against Asian men were recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

(192980)

316
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) drug offences, (b) thefts from vehicles and (c) burglaries were recorded in the last 12 months in Coventry South.

(192981)

317
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress of the intermittent custody pilots which have been taking place in two purpose-built prison units since January.

(193927)

318
Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to publish the amended eligibility criteria in relation to the one-off exercise to allow families who have been here for at least three years to stay launched in 2003; and whether he plans to extend the deadline for applications beyond 31st December.

(193460)

319
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of (a) racially aggravated offences, (b) violent crime, (c) robbery of personal property and (d) drug offences have been recorded in (i) Avon and Somerset constabulary area and (ii) England in each year since 1997.

(193871)

320
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions there have been for anti-social behaviour in (a) Taunton and (b) Avon and Somerset Police Force area in each year since 2000.

(193872)

321
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has recently (a) published and (b) commissioned on the effects of parenting on life chances for children.

(193594)

322
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what instructions he has issued to police forces with reference to the enforcement of the horse passport regulations.

(193484)

323
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what authority the Greater Manchester Police has demanded sight of horse passports from horse riders on the road.

(193485)

324
Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his target number is for police officers per head of population in (a) urban and (b) rural areas.

(193909)

325
Mr Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes in the regime for local authority funding on the ability of Kent Police to meet their crime reduction target; and if he will make a statement.

(193911)

326
Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the North Yorkshire Police Authority budget was met from council tax receipts in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 2004-05.

(193904)

327
Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support he will provide to victims in North Devon following the closure of the Victim Support office in Barnstaple.

(193962)

328
N Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons visa applicants are asked not to contact the Immigration and Nationality Directorate about their applications.

(193551)

329
Mr Douglas Hogg (Sleaford & North Hykeham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if, when determining funding for police services in Lincolnshire for financial year 2005-06, he will make specific provision of £1.9 million to assist in covering the cost of police pensions in that year.

(193841)

330
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the figures from the evaluation of the Metropolitan Police Service's participation in the Community Support Officer detention power pilot were for (a) the average length of detentions, (b) the number of instances in which the 30 minute period was exceeded, (c) the number of instances in which the detainee had to be released because the time limit had been reached, (d) the outcome at the end of each detention and (e) the total number of times the power was used.

(193888)

331
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will answer the letter to him dated 6th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to Ms J. Lloyd.

(193935)

332
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will answer the letter to him dated 14th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to Mr Kevin Andre Dunn.

(193940)

333
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case.

(193429)

334
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many personnel the Department has recruited under the New Deal in each of the past five years.

(193674)

335
N Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken to reach a final decision on an asylum application was in the last period for which figures are available.

(193299)

336
N Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for (a) which countries of origin and (b) what periods since 1997 it has been the policy of his Department not to enforce the return of failed asylum seekers.

(193308)

337
N Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people originally granted exceptional leave to remain have been (a) refused and (b) granted indefinite leave to remain in each of the last five years.

(193309)

338
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many money payment supervision orders were made in each of the last 10 years.

(192727)

339
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what percentage of cases where individuals were fined following a criminal conviction in England and Wales a means inquiry was commissioned in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.

(192728)

340
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to link the ability to pay to the size of fine imposed following a criminal conviction in England and Wales.

(192729)

341
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to publish a business case in respect of contestability plans for the probation and prison services.

(192730)

342
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether psychotherapy courses in respect of HMP Dovegate have been curtailed since February.

(192731)

343
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what (a) grounds and (b) legal authority the web servers of the news agency Indymedia were seized on 7th October.

(193709)

344
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from foreign governments with regard to the seizure of computer equipment from the independent news agency Indymedia on 7th October.

(193714)

345
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fixed penalties have been issued to persons by police, other than in motoring cases, in the last year for which figures are available; what the total financial value of fixed penalties is; how much has been paid; and how much remains outstanding.

(193310)

346
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Home Office initial decision-makers in relation to asylum applications were in the post on 1st September in each of the last seven years.

(193311)

347
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many accommodation centres for asylum seekers are operational; and if he will make a statement.

(193312)

348
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money was spent on recruitment programmes for the Special Constabulary over the last five years; and how much of this was spent on advertising.

(193893)

349
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special constables have become members of the full time Police Force in each of the last five years.

(193894)

350
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the latest figure is for the number of anti-social behaviour orders issued.

(193989)

351
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were jailed in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 under section 111 of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 for a third offence of burglary.

(193991)

352
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) household knives and (b) other types of knife were seized by the police in each of the last three years.

(193992)

353
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value is of each of the new contracts for the electronic monitoring of offenders awarded by his Department to (a) Securicor Justice Services Ltd and (b) Premier Monitoring Services Ltd; and what the basis is of the estimate of savings to the Home Office of around 35 per cent. arising from the new contracts.

(193993)

354
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the number of organised criminal gangs operating in the UK.

(194018)

355
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193979)

356
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what records he has of the number of incidents of mistreatment of badgers in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years.

(193729)

357
Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many entrants to the country who have arrived at John Lennon Airport, Liverpool in the last three years and been asked to report to immigration control have subsequently absconded or not reported back.

(193866)

358
Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) level of police grant, (b) total police budget, including itemised special project funding and (c) the number of police officers and community support officers in Cheshire was in each of the last seven years.

(193627)

359
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he intends to change the guidance he gives to the police in respect of cycling on pedestrian footways; and if he will make a statement.

(193504)

360
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the prospects for those detained (a) at HMP Belmarsh and (b) elsewhere within the Prison Service since 2001, under Part 4 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, to be brought to trial or released.

(193569)

361
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners held at Broadmoor Hospital are detained under provisions of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

(193660)

362
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures are in place to assess the mental health condition of people detained within the Prison Service under provisions of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

(193661)

363
Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many racist (a) attacks and (b) threats police authorities have recorded in 2004.

(193801)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

364
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the Department's priorities for working with the government of Kenya.

(193473)

365
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports he has received from the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh on the ongoing effect of the recent floods that took place in Bangladesh; what assistance the UK has given to that country; and if he will make a statement.

(193489)

366
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193978)

367
N Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) monetary and (b) non-monetary assistance the Uzbek Government receives from the United Kingdom Government; and if he will make a statement.

(193171)

368
N Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) monetary and (b) non-monetary assistance the Uzbek Government received from the United Kingdom Government (i) between 1998 and 2001 and (ii) since 11th September 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(193172)

369
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps have been taken to encourage Afghan farmers to move from growing poppies to other food crops.

(193437)

370
Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to provide assistance to (a) Niger, (b) Mauritania, (c) Chad, (d) Gambia, (e) Mali and (f) Senegal, following the recent plague of locusts that has ravaged crops and land.

(193818)

371
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his policy is for dealing with illegal logging; and if he will make a statement.

(193509)

Questions to the Leader of the House

372
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Leader of the House, what use honourable and Right honourable Members have made of their facility to visit European institutions in each of the years for which figures are available; and what his policy is on encouraging honourable and Right honourable Members to make fuller use of the provision.

(193598)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

373
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether charges for water applied through the regional rate will be removed when water meters are introduced.

(193564)

374
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether an equality impact assessment has been conducted on the different treatment of men and women sole earners in relation to inclusion of spouses in pension provision; and if he will make a statement.

(193565)

375
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many students have been suspended from each of Northern Ireland's universities in each of the last five years; and how many have been suspended for anti-social behaviour that took place off-campus.

(193668)

376
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of child support cases in Northern Ireland were being assessed under the new criteria as of 1st October.

(193552)

377
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many properties purchased under the scheme to purchase evacuated dwellings are on the market; how many properties have been on the market for (a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 18 months and (d) over 18 months; and what the total market value of these properties is.

(193553)

378
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people called Crimestoppers in Northern Ireland in each of the past four years; and what budget allocation has been made in each year to cover the costs of the scheme.

(193554)

379
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prostate cancer sufferers received treatment in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and what steps he is taking to increase awareness of prostate cancer in Northern Ireland.

(193555)

380
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many small businesses received start-up funding in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and how many of these businesses were still operating as of 1st September.

(193556)

381
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were convicted of illegal fly-tipping in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what penalties are available for those convicted of illegal fly-tipping; and what steps he is taking to prevent illegal fly-tipping.

(193557)

382
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his latest estimate is of the size of the travelling community in Northern Ireland.

(193559)

383
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions missiles or explosive devices have been thrown (a) at the perimeter fence and (b) into the yard of Mountpottinger Police Station in each of the past 12 months; and whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland has discovered similarities between these devices and devices discovered in or believed to have been thrown over the interfaces between the Short Strand area and the adjacent streets of Cluan Place, Susan Street, Tower Street, Duke Street and Beechfield School.

(193560)

384
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list company pension funds affecting Northern Ireland workers which have applied for Government assistance through the Pension Protection Fund.

(193561)

385
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to introduce relief for homeowners facing the prospect of being forced to sell or re-mortgage their homes because of an income reduction caused by a pension shortfall.

(193562)

386
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on progress with development of the Oral Health Strategy.

(193563)

387
N Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what definition he uses of (a) special waste and (b) hazardous waste.

(193723)

388
N Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 674W, on hazardous waste, why incidences of illegally disposed special waste were not recorded before 2002.

(193724)

389
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy.

(193746)

390
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how the Planning Appeals Commission has been guided by the Regional Development Strategy when considering planning appeals; how often the PAC has referred to the strategy in its decision making; and if he will make a statement.

(193747)

391
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of (a) female and (b) male pensioners in Northern Ireland are in receipt of the full basic state pension.

(193748)

392
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of (a) female and (b) male pensioners in Northern Ireland are in receipt of pension credit.

(193751)

393
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the regulations in Northern Ireland which prevent wheelchair users from being eligible to donate blood through the Blood Donation Service.

(193930)

394
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what review he has carried out of the operation of the regulations in Northern Ireland which prevent permanent wheelchair users from donating blood; and what plans he has to amend them.

(193931)

395
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many in each category of farm payments due to be paid by 30th June remain outstanding; and what the value is of outstanding payments.

(193917)

396
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the risk to human health of allowing cattle aged over 30 months to re-enter the food chain in Northern Ireland.

(193918)

397
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to secure the lifting of restrictions on the export of beef from Northern Ireland.

(193919)

398
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what factors underlie the Government's policy not to allow parents a ballot before ending academic selection at grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

(193920)

399
The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many working hours have been lost as a result of the recent strike action in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

(193599)

400
The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many planning applications were lodged with the Planning Service, broken down by region in Northern Ireland in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03; and how many cases in each region have not to date been determined by the Planning Service.

(193600)

401
The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on his policy on lignite mining.

(193601)

402
The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many full-time reserve officers will lose their job as a result of the decision to reduce the FTR element of the police in (a) Ballymena, (b) Moyle, (c) Ballymoney, (d) Coleraine, (e) Larn, (f) Carrickfergus and (g) Antrim District Command Unit areas.

(193602)

403
The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many tourists visited Northern Ireland between April and September; what locations they visited; and how many overnight stays they made.

(193603)

404
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action he will take to prevent development without prior planning permission through the operation of the retrospective planning process.

(193439)

405
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the total public expenditure in the Province resulting from chronic pain in each of the last five years.

(193690)

406
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the public expenditure on all health and personal social services was per head of population in the Province in each of the last five years.

(193691)

407
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of Northern Ireland patients who have been advised that they will have NHS-funded surgery in the private sector this year, but have not as yet received treatment.

(193692)

408
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of residents in each health board area of the Province are registered with a dentist.

(193693)

409
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients in the Province (a) died from and (b) were diagnosed with each of the different forms of colorectal cancers in each of the last 10 years.

(193695)

410
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which groups and individuals have received grants from the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund through its multiple programmes; and what amounts were received in each case.

(193696)

411
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the impact of the implementation of Agenda for Change on the 13th July public holiday in the Province.

(193697)

412
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what changes to public holidays would result from the implementation of Agenda for Change in the Province.

(193698)

413
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many long-waiters from the Province have had surgery privately funded through the NHS since 1st January; and how many more are expected to receive surgery before the end of the year.

(193699)

414
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much public funding has been spent on providing surgery for patients from Northern Ireland within the private sector.

(193700)

415
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the total public expenditure in the Province resulting from back pain in the last year for which figures are available.

(193701)

416
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of disposable nappies used in the Province in the last year for which figures are available; and what the resultant cost of disposal was.

(193704)

417
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the cost of medically-related benefits in the Province in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how much of that resulted from chronic pain.

(193705)

418
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many pain sufferers in the Province are diagnosed with depression.

(193706)

419
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in the Province who lost jobs on account of suffering pain in each of the last five years.

(193707)

420
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost of prescribing by each general practitioner surgery in the Province has been in the last year.

(193711)

421
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost was in 2003 of the prescribing of mediboxes by each general practitioner surgery in the Province.

(193759)

422
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department spent on advertising in each of the last 10 years.

(193765)

423
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are in receipt of invalid care allowance in Northern Ireland.

(193440)

Questions to the Prime Minister

424
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Prime Minister, whether he has made recent representations to President Bush about the (a) legality and (b) practicality of the Bush Doctrine; and whether he has discussed with him alternative means of dealing with potential threats from rogue states.

(193933)

425
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Prime Minister, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to allow the United Nations a right of action against sovereign states which pose (a) a potential threat to international peace and security and (b) an actual or imminent risk of humanitarian catastrophe or violations of basic human rights.

(193934)

426
N Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will take steps to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor to the salary of other Cabinet Ministers from the date on which the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs ceases to act as head of the judiciary.

(193766)

427
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Prime Minister, how many recent meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Sun International, (b) MGM Mirage, (c) Kerzner International, (d) Caesar's Entertainment and (e) the British Casino Association; when those meetings took place; and if he will list the representatives whom he met from each organisation.

(193895)

428
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Prime Minister, how many recent meetings his (a) officials and (b) special advisers had with representatives of (a) Sun International , (b) MGM Mirage, (c) Kerzner International, (d) Caesar's Entertainment and (e) the British Casino Association.

(193896)

429
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Prime Minister, whether he has visited (a) Las Vegas and (b) Atlantic City in an official capacity.

(193897)

430
N Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Prime Minister, whether the war cabinet for the Iraq war is still extant.

(193712)

431
N Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Prime Minister, how often the full Cabinet has considered the commital of extra troops to Iraq.

(193713)

432
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings (a) he and (b) his advisers and officials have held with representatives of (i) Sun City International, (ii) MGM Mirage, (iii) Mandalay Resort Group, (iv) Kerzner International, (v) Las Vegas Sands, Inc., (vi) Harrah's Entertainment, (vii) Caesar's Entertainment and (viii) other foreign casino firms; what the (A) dates and (B) venues of the meetings were; and which individuals were present.

(193762)

433
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he had with the Secretary General of the UN during his visit to London on 19th October over alleged corruption at the UN during the Oil for food programme in Iraq.

(193176)

434
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) matters were discussed and (b) agreements were made during his meeting with United Nations Secretary - General Kofi Annan on 19th October; and if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with the United Nations.

(193512)

435
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Prime Minister, when he was first made aware that the Joint Intelligence Committee had described evidence of Iraq's weaponry as sporadic, patchy and limited.

(193501)

436
Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will take steps to provide an opportunity for a parliamentary vote when there is future intention to invade another country.

(193495)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

437
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 23rd August from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs J A Higham.

(193574)

438
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on energy needs of Scotland over the next 15 years.

(193757)

Questions to the Solicitor General

439
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance has been given on the level of evidence needed to bring a successful prosecution for offences of domestic violence.

(193877)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

440
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects to announce revised anti-bribery guidelines within the rules which came into force on 1st May to be followed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

(193443)

441
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which companies and organisations her Department consulted in drawing up the original anti-bribery guidelines to be followed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

(193444)

442
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the results were of the consultation her Department conducted with interested organisations and companies to ascertain their views on the anti-bribery guidelines which came into force on 1st May.

(193445)

443
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what forecasts (a) her Department and (b) the Treasury conducted which estimated the monetary impact of the anti-bribery guidelines which came into force on 1st May on the volume of business supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and what the results of those forecasts were.

(193446)

444
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what new forecasts she is conducting on the monetary impact of her revised anti-bribery guidelines on the volume of business supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and when the results of those new forecasts will be made available.

(193447)

445
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which 40 countries made the greatest value of exports to the UK in each year from 2001 to 2004.

(193725)

446
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps (a) she and (b) Ofcom is taking to protect people from silent telephone calls by commercial power diallers; and if she will make a statement.

(193585)

447
N Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the anti-corruption procedures brought in by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1st May.

(193166)

448
N Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list (a) the companies and (b) the countries for which the Export Credits Guarantee Department has approved interim arrangements in relation to its anti-corruption procedures since May.

(193167)

449
N Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which organisations have made representations to her Department, regarding the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1st May; and if she will place these representations in the Library.

(193168)

450
N Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions since May the Export Credits Guarantee Department has used its new audit powers to audit customer books.

(193169)

451
N Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to revise the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1st May; and if she will make a statement.

(193170)

452
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the revised updated energy projections will be published.

(193825)

453
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the projection is for good quality combined heat and power capacity in each year from 2005 to 2009.

(193827)

454
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the cost effectiveness in terms of carbon savings, using Treasury Green Book Guidance for public sector investment, of the (a) Clear Skies Programme, (b) Community Energy Programme, (c) Innovation Programme, (d) Major PV Demonstration Programme and (e) the Scottish Communities and Householder Renewables Initiative.

(193828)

455
Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the development of airblown gasification combined cycle technology developed by British Coal for making electricity from coal.

(193829)

456
Mr Martin Caton (Gower):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Government will make available to other countries, proposing to construct coal-fired power stations, the airblown gasification combined cycle technology developed by British Coal.

(193830)

457
Clive Efford (Eltham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment has been made of the implications of using neighbourhood renewal areas in inner cities as part of the criteria for determining the definition of deprived areas used in the Post Office reinvention programme.

(194000)

458
Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October, to the honourable Member for Glasgow Anniesland, Official Report, column 649W, on offshoring, if she will place a copy of the evidence referred to in the Library.

(193462)

459
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many vision boards have been established in Lancashire; what area each vision board will cover; who will serve on each vision board; and who the chairperson of each board is.

(193625)

460
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the role of vision boards.

(193626)

461
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what definition her Department uses of the term consumer; and whether it includes (a) businesses and (b) public sector organisations.

(193963)

462
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what requirements there are for mandatory labelling of products for business to business sales, to ensure that the customer is receiving the (a) quantity and (b) quality of the product as advertised.

(193966)

463
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) anonymous, (b) named and (c) third party complaints of alleged non-compliance with the national minimum wage were received by the Inland Revenue enforcement agency in each financial year since 1999, including the current financial year to date; how many of the employers complained against in each financial year were found to be not complying with the national minimum wage; and what level of underpayment was identified in relation to the complaints in each financial year.

(193621)

464
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many investigations of employers suspected of non-compliance with the national minimum wage were conducted by the Inland Revenue enforcement agency on the basis of its analysis of tax credit and other data, in each financial year since 1999; how many of the employers investigated were found to be not complying with the national minimum wage; and what the level of underpayment of the national minimum wage identified in relation to such investigations was in each financial year.

(193622)

465
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the cost was to her Department of producing, printing and direct mailing to employers its August 2004 booklet New laws for resolving disputes: key information for employers; and what the additional cost was of revising, re-printing and re-mailing to employers the new version of this booklet.

(193623)

466
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what meetings (a) she, (b) her departmental ministers and (c) departmental advisers and officials have held with representatives of (i) Sun City International, (ii) MGM Mirage, (iii) the Mandalay Resort Group, (iv) Kerzner International, (v) Las Vegas Sands Inc., (vi) Harrah's Entertainment, (vii) Caesar's Entertainment and (viii) other foreign casino firms; what the (A) dates and (B) venues were of the meetings; and which individuals were present.

(193721)

467
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what protocols are in place governing the attendance of her departmental officials at trade conventions promoting the interests of the foreign gaming industry.

(193722)

468
N Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Women and Equality on 12th October, Official Report, column 177, on what basis it was calculated that clause 2 and Schedule 1 of the Civil Partnership Bill could cost the taxpayer £1 billion a year and the private sector some £1.25 billion a year.

(193326)

469
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what legislation is in place to protect (a) directory and (b) ex-directory private telephone owners from (i) domestic and (ii) international automated computer dialled telesales phone calls; and what her assessment is of the effectiveness of this legislation.

(193783)

470
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the forthcoming competition deadlines are for grants for research and development in each region.

(193784)

471
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the value is of the awards offered by her Department from the grant for research and development regional competitions held in May this year (a) in total and (b) broken down by region.

(193785)

472
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the budget is for the grant for research and development for each year between 2004 to 2007.

(193786)

473
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her assessment is of the security implications of the legal requirement for companies targeted by animal rights activists to provide copies of their shareholder registers; and what plans she has to restrict the right of access to companies' share registers in such cases.

(193787)

474
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to involve staff from the regional development agencies in the administration of the grant for research and development.

(193789)

475
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what change there has been in her Department's spending priorities to accommodate an increase in funds for grants for research and development in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

(193790)

476
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193977)

477
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claimants have received payments from the Icelandic Water Trawlerman's Scheme (a) under the scheme which closed in 2002 and (b) under the extension to the scheme announced by her Department.

(193682)

478
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average payment made to each claimant from the Icelandic Water Trawlerman's Scheme was (a) under the scheme which closed in 2002 and (b) under the extension to the scheme announced by her Department.

(193683)

479
Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what reports she has received from British Nuclear Fuels Limited in respect of the technical possibility of the encapsulation and long-term storage of previously wet-stored magnox fuel.

(193503)

480
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has received regarding late payment of commercial debts; and if she will make a statement.

(193505)

481
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether she plans to change the statement on behalf of Crown Departments relating to the Brumark case to take account of National Westminster Bank Plc -v- Spectrum.

(193816)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

482
N Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) trunk road in Hampshire are classified as being in disrepair.

(193498)

483
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the current level of debt of (a) Network Rail and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority is.

(193885)

484
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many bus drivers employed within the Greater London area were subjected to physical attacks in the last 12 months.

(193477)

485
Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce legislation to address overbooking of flights by commercial airlines.

(193459)

486
N Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been spent by the Highways Agency on main road noise protection measures in each of the last five years; and how much is planned to be spent in each of the next three years.

(193620)

487
N Mr Michael Jabez Foster (Hastings & Rye):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to make a decision on the construction of the Hastings and Bexhill link road.

(193189)

488
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties are in place to penalise companies which break the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's regulations by producing off-road number plates.

(194031)

489
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many representations he has received in response to his consultation on a proposed toll M6 Expressway.

(193817)

490
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce measures to ensure that learner drivers have experience of night time driving before taking the practical driving test.

(193831)

491
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much public subsidy has been paid to Arriva Trains Northern in the current financial year; and what the projected level of public subsidy that will be paid to Arriva for the provision of Northern Rail passenger services will be after 17th October.

(191641)

492
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much public subsidy has been paid to First North Western in the current financial year; and what the projected level of public subsidy that will be paid to the First Group for the provision of Northern Rail passenger services will be after 17th October.

(191642)

493
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on proposed reforms to the charging system for airlines for the use of air navigation purposes.

[R] (193772)

494
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research has been done on the possible effects of reform of the charging system for airlines on smaller regional airlines; and what the result was of this research.

[R] (193773)

495
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has consulted the European Regions Airline Association on the proposed reforms to the charging system for airlines for the use of air navigation purposes.

[R] (193774)

496
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193976)

497
N Mr John Taylor (Solihull):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the proposals for compensation to near neighbours of the suggested second runway at Birmingham International Airport; what the (a) noise and (b) physical distance parameters will be; what the personal circumstances of qualifying claimants will be; and if he will bring forward a compensation scheme funded by central government.

(193694)

498
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the levels of (a) vehicular and (b) pedestrian traffic using the Port of Newhaven have been in each of the last five years.

(193906)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

499
John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners are estimated to be living below the poverty line in Scotland.

(193617)

500
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18th October, Official Report, column 478W, on telephone inquiries, whether ATOS Origin employs an incentive or rating scheme in relation to (a) inquiries and (b) mailings related to the direct payment of pensions and benefits.

(193486)

501
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in the Tooting constituency will be eligible for the winter fuel allowance for winter 2004-05.

(193795)

502
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners living in the London Borough of Wandsworth benefited from last year's winter fuel payment scheme.

(193971)

503
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) men and (b) women have reached retirement age in the UK and are in receipt of a state retirement pension.

(193972)

504
Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people living in England and Wales receive industrial injury benefit as a result of suffering from asbestosis.

(193973)

505
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress he has made on his plans for a pilot scheme for personal injury claims handling; and if he will make a statement.

(193867)

506
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for how many children, broken down by age, Child Support Agency payments have been calculated in each year since the Agency's inception.

(193907)

507
Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what investigations he has made into the Child Support Agency computer system being unable to process payments into banks with a sort code commencing with 0; and what assessment he has made of the number of people affected by this problem.

(193494)

508
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the ratio was in each year since 1990 of the average incapacity benefit payment to the average jobseeker's allowance payment in cases in which the claimant claimed both benefits for a year or more.

(193592)

509
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research he has recently (a) published and (b) commissioned on the effects of parenting on life chances for children.

(193593)

510
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of incapacity benefit claimants have undergone a medical examination in each year since 1990.

(193596)

511
N Charles Hendry (Wealden):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what European Union legislation applies to access rights for the disabled.

(193702)

512
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of (a) female and (b) male pensioners in England and Wales are currently in receipt of the pension credit.

(193749)

513
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of (a) female and (b) male pensioners in England and Wales are in receipt of the full basic state pension.

(193750)

514
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have left the New Deal for Young People to enter the Welfare to Work Programme (a) after claiming jobseeker's allowance for six months or more and (b) after claiming jobseeker's allowance for less than six months because they have (i) a physical disability, (ii) a learning disability and (iii) been advised to by a personal adviser, in each year for which the information is available.

(193572)

515
N Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Warrington North receive pension credit; what the average award made is; and how much has been spent on funding pension credits in Warrington.

(193300)

516
N Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Warrington have been assisted by (a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the over 25s, (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents, (d) the New Deal for Disabled People and (e) the New Deal for the over 50s.

(193302)

517
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each method of enforcement of payment of child support used by the Child Support Agency.

(193836)

518
Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assistance the Child Support Agency is able to give applicants for child support in investigating the financial circumstances of the parent responsible for paying child support.

(193837)

519
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts.

(193974)

520
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects existing Child Support Agency cases to migrate to the new system of liability calculation; and if he will make a statement.

(193681)

521
Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training opportunities are available for older workers who wish to retrain to achieve Council for Registered Gas Installers qualifications; and how local information on access to those opportunities can be obtained.

(193628)

522
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in Castle Point will benefit from the winter heating allowance in 2004.

(193508)

523
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his strategy is for rolling out the new Child Support Agency assessment rules for all absent parents.

(193510)

524
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when figures on the Child Support Agency new system (a) compliance and (b) throughput will be available; and what estimates have so far been made.

(193618)

525
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the value of expenditure (a) in cash terms, (b) at current prices and (c) as a share of gross domestic product on (i) retirement pensions, (ii) winter fuel payments, (iii) means-tested benefits for pensioners, (iv) all other benefits for pensioners and (v) free television licences in each year from 1992-93 to the end of the public expenditure planning period.

(193664)

526
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the average weekly maintenance (a) assessments and (b) payments for (i) one qualifying child, (ii) two qualifying children and (iii) three or more qualifying children for Child Support Agency cases on the (A) old and (B) new system.

(193665)

527
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place the latest New Child Support Scheme Progress Report in the Library.

(193666)

528
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Right honourable Member for Oxford East's oral evidence of 11th February to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, on the Child Support Agency reforms, when the recovery programme to enable old CSA cases to be transferred to the new system began; how many cases have so far been transferred; how many cases are still to be transferred; what upgrades to the telephony and computer system have been made; and if he will make a statement.

(193719)

529
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people who need to make a claim to receive the 2004-05 winter fuel payment; and how many claims were received on or before 24th September.

(193921)

530
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of companies which, under the regulations introduced on 8th October 2001 (a) are obliged to provide and (b) have so far failed to offer access to a stakeholder scheme; how many companies the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority has fined for non-compliance; and what the average value of those fines was.

(193922)

531
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will break down the 38 per cent. reduction in income support and jobseekers' allowance fraud since 1997 referred to in his Department's press release, Dutch Counterparts to Crack Down on Benefit Fraud, of 20th October, by category of benefit.

(193923)

532
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which Child Support Agency senior managers received performance related bonuses in 2003-04; and what the value of each of those bonuses was.

(193925)

533
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what percentage of calls made to the Pension Service in each month since January (a) were answered, (b) were abandoned and (c) received an engaged tone.

(193926)

534
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 638W, on pensions, for what reasons the introduction of equal treatment for men whose wives die before reaching state pension age has been delayed until 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing this change before 2010.

(193987)

535
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls were made to the pension credit application line in each month since July; and how many and what percentage of calls (a) were answered within 30 seconds, (b) received an engaged tone or recorded message that all agents are busy and (c) were abandoned.

(193988)

536
Mr Michael Weir (Angus):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners are in receipt of (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit in (i) Angus and (ii) Scotland.

(193450)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

537
N Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contingency preparations have been made by the coalition to provide for refugees that may flee an operation to bring Fallujah back under Iraqi Government control; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (193482)

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Revised 25 October 2004