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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 17 November 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 17 November 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 17 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 17 November of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 17 November see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will identify whether bank and other accounts held by the late Yasser Arafat in the United Kingdom are holding overseas aid money; and if he will make a statement. | | (199033) | 2
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases involving the overpayment of tax credits have been due to errors by the Inland Revenue (a) in 2004-05 and (b) in total since the start of the scheme. | | (199131) | 3
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Inland Revenue will reply to the letter of 2nd November from the Right honourable Member for Birkenhead, concerning Mr and Mrs Edwards of Birkenhead. | | (199132) | 4
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Inland Revenue will reply to the letter from the Right honourable Member for Birkenhead, dated 11th October, concerning the payment of tax credits to a constituent. | | (199133) | 5
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the tax credit award notices that were sent out in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2003-04 were sent out (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four, (v) five and (vi) six months after the beginning of the financial year for which tax credits were to be paid. | | (199143) | 6
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many jobs have been lost in the manufacturing sector in each component part of the UK in each month since the beginning of 2001. | | (198984) | 7
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of removing the VAT levy on all over-the-counter contraceptives; and what discussions (a) he, (b) his officials and (c) Ministers in his Department have had with the Department of Health about this. | | (198992) | 8
| Mr Michael Weir (Angus):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to assist in stabilising fuel prices; and if he will make a statement. | | (199213) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 9
| Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many press releases he has issued in his ministerial capacity since he took office. | | (199202) | 10
| Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much his office has spent on external consultants to deal with press and media affairs since he took office; and if he will make a statement. | | (199203) | 11
| Pete Wishart (North Tayside):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his Answer of 11th November, Official Report, column 855W, on consultants, how much his office has spent on external consultants excluding press and media since he took office. | | (199204) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 12
| Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when he expects to announce the review of electoral systems. | | (199007) | 13
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what percentage of the population was entitled to civil legal aid in each of the last seven calendar years. | | (198521) | 14
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what proportion of calls received by Community Legal Services in the last period for which figures are available were attributable to each of the areas of advice covered by the service. | | (198522) | 15
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many advisers work for Community Legal Services Direct. | | (198523) | 16
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many callers have been eligible for legal aid and have received free telephone advice since the launch of Community Legal Services Direct in July. | | (198524) | 17
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many calls have been handled by telephone advisers since the launch of Community Legal Services Direct in July. | | (198526) | 18
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to exclude ownership of property from the means testing for eligibility for (a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid. | | (198896) | 19
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the current financial threshold is for eligibility for civil legal aid. | | (198897) | 20
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to reduce the (a) criminal and (b) civil legal aid budget. | | (198898) | 21
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to reduce the overspend on the criminal legal aid budget. | | (198951) | 22
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the change has been in the civil legal aid budget over the last four years; and what the reasons are for the change. | | (198952) | 23
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what support he plans to provide to local authorities to help them in responding to enquiries under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. | | (199017) | 24
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, for what reasons local authorities are not permitted to levy a charge for the time incurred in answering questions from residents under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. | | (199018) | 25
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans he has to reimburse local government for additional costs incurred as a result of responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. | | (199034) | 26
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when he will lay fees regulations before the House to guide local authorities on their response to enquiries from the public under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. | | (199035) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 27
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the proposed VisitBritain online accommodation booking system on existing commercial accommodation booking agencies. | | (198978) | 28
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance she has given to VisitBritain on standards for property which will be made available for booking on the VisitBritain website. | | (198979) | 29
| Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the Arts Council has given to theatre, in each of the last three years; and what proportion of total Arts Council funding this constituted in each year. | | [R] (199142) | 30
| Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the Heritage Lottery Fund has given to museums in each of the last three years; and what proportion of total Heritage Lottery Funding this constituted in each year. | | [R] (199144) | 31
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that there is a competitive market in the provision of cable television to residential customers. | | (199205) | 32
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that analogue cable television networks are converted to digital provision. | | (199207) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 33
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the principal areas covered by departmental files contaminated by asbestos. | | (199009) | 34
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many files contaminated with asbestos he estimates to be accessible to the public under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. | | (199010) | 35
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what effects asbestos contamination of his Department's files will have on access to those files under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. | | (199011) | 36
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department discovered that certain of its files had become contaminated by asbestos; and what action was taken in response to enable those files to be used. | | (199012) | 37
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to decontaminate those of his Department's files which have become contaminated by asbestos; and what he estimates the cost of such decontamination to be. | | (199013) | 38
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 10th November, Official Report, column 716W, on Iraq, what criteria were used to determine which of the 3000 pages of supporting documents were of potential weapons of mass destruction significance. | | (199036) | 39
| Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) personnel and (b) equipment and maintenance costs of (i) an Armoured Infantry (Warrior) Battalion, (ii) an Airportable Infantry Battalion, (iii) a Parachute Regiment Battalion and (iv) a Gurkha Regiment Battalion were in the last period for which figures are available. | | (198987) | 40
| Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected costs between 2008 and 2013 are of a (a) Heavy (Warrior) Battalion, with high-tech upgrade, (b) Medium (FRES) Battalion, with heavy-lift aircraft capability and (c) Light (Airportable) Battalion, with high-tech network-capable upgrade. | | (198988) | 41
| Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate the Department has made of the financial effects of the proposed restructuring process between 2008 and 2013. | | (198989) | 42
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which elements of the Department's cut and sew contract with Cooneen, Watts and Stone Ltd have been satisfied to date. | | (199147) | 43
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on operating penalties on contractors which fail to deliver on contracts due to (a) quality and (b) time. | | (199168) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 44
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many shared ownership properties were sold in Lambeth in each year since 1997; and how many of those properties were purchased by (a) someone already in social housing in that area, (b) someone on the single housing register in that area and (c) a key worker. | | (199070) | 45
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many of the Low Cost Home Ownership units planned for Lambeth in the Housing Corporation's 2004-06 Approved Development Programme are (a) one-bed units, (b) two-bed units, (c) three-bed units and (d) four-bed or more units. | | (199071) | 46
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many of the Low Cost Home Ownership units planned for Lambeth in the Housing Corporation's 2004-06 Approved Development Programme are (a) conventional shared ownership units, (b) Do-it-Yourself shared ownership units, (c) Homebuy units and (d) other forms of low-cost home ownership. | | (199072) | 47
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many shared ownership properties were sold in Southwark in each year since 1997; and how many of those properties were purchased by (a) someone already in social housing in that area, (b) someone on the single housing register in that area and (c) a key worker. | | (199043) | 48
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will break down Low Cost Home Ownership units planned for Southwark in the Housing Corporation's 2004-06 Approved Development Programme by (a) one-bed, (b) two-bed, (c) three-bed and (d) four-bed or more. | | (199044) | 49
| Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will break down Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) units planned for Southwark in the Housing Corporation's 2004-06 Approved Development Programme by (a) conventional shared ownership, (b) key worker shared ownership, (c) Homebuy and (d) other forms of LCHO. | | (199045) | 50
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of new houses built since 1997 were built on (a) greenfield and (b) brownfield sites. | | (199137) | 51
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how affordable housing is defined by his Department in its projection of future housing need. | | (199146) | 52
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many new houses have been planned by his Department for construction in (a) North West Leicestershire and (b) the East Midlands over the next 10 years; what proportion will be on brownfield sites; and what proportion will be affordable housing. | | (199179) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 53
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total allocation of capital expenditure to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Bury Metropolitan Borough Council area was in each of the last seven years. | | (198326) | 54
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pre-school places for (a) under three year olds, (b) three year olds and (c) four year olds were available in Bury North in each of the last seven years. | | (198327) | 55
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children he estimates will benefit from changes in baseline spending on (a) nursery education and (b) Sure Start in 2007-08. | | (199130) | 56
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much expenditure has been allocated to families with children aged 0 to 5 in each year from 1997 to 2008. | | (199141) | 57
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency are receiving education maintenance allowances. | | (198982) | 58
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to reduce class sizes for those over the age of 7. | | (199200) | 59
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the take-up of the education maintenance allowance has been in Amber Valley. | | (199201) | 60
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the shortfall in the London area of trained (a) plumbers, (b) construction workers and (c) electricians. | | (198993) | 61
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the need for (a) level 1 and (b) level 2 further education courses in the Borough of Brent. | | (199014) | 62
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to support small local charities which are trying to combat school bullying. | | (199208) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 63
| Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the disposal of toxic waste. | | (199064) | 64
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has undertaken of the impact of a ban on hunting on those who live in tied housing; and what steps will be taken to protect existing tied tenants. | | (198531) | 65
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what flood prevention schemes have been implemented since 1997; and what the cost of such schemes has been, broken down by county. | | (198530) | 66
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discretion her Department allows Warm Front Scheme managers to (a) repeat grants for households which have already benefited from Warm Front and (b) fast track exceptionally vulnerable households. | | (199209) | 67
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to monitor private landlords' compliance with the requirement to freeze rents for a one or two year period after a Warm Front improvement. | | (199210) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 68
| Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy to support (a) the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as including the former autonomous region of Nagarno-Karabakh and (b) Azerbaijan's right to control its own borders; and if he will make a statement. | | (199104) | 69
| Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the rights of the Bahá'í community in Iran to conduct social, educational and collective religious activities; and if he will make a statement. | | (199103) | 70
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made in policing in Palestinian Territories to maintain the rule of law and prevent violence as set out in the Road Map. | | (199022) | 71
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of Iran's nuclear programme for (a) regional stability and (b) the Middle East peace process. | | (199023) | 72
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the governments of (a) Grenada and (b) the Cayman Islands formally asked his Department for financial and other help following the recent hurricanes. | | (199024) | 73
| Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's assessment is of the human rights situation in Peru; and what action his Department is taking to improve the situation. | | (198986) | 74
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate has been made of the number of redundant fighters in (a) Sierra Leone and (b) Liberia; what assessment has been made of the possibility that these fighters may travel to the Ivory Coast to fight there; and what steps the Government has taken to facilitate alternative employment for soldiers in (i) Liberia and (ii) Sierra Leone. | | (199037) | 75
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions have taken place between the Government and the Russian Federation on the regime in Turkmenistan. | | (199039) | 76
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment has been made of the (a) political and (b) economic situation in Turkmenistan. | | (199040) | 77
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has been made of the possibility of conflict in the Ivory Coast spreading to neighbouring West African countries; and what discussions have taken place with the African Union on preventing regional instability. | | (199041) | 78
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help prevent a full-scale conflict within the Ivory Coast between government forces and northern rebels; and what discussions have taken place between the Government and (a) the UN, (b) the government of France and (c) the Cote D'Ivoire Government on resolving the situation. | | (199042) | 79
N | Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip - Northwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Foreign Ministers of other European Union countries for the maintaining of the EU's embargo on the sale of armaments to the People's Republic of China. | | (198881) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 80
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 28th October, Official Report, column 1340W, on NHS facilities, what the cost of each of the additional facilities listed was. | | (199170) | 81
N | Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women in each strategic health authority have been enrolled on human papilloma virus testing pilots; how many have taken up liquid cytology testing for cervical cancer; and if he will make a statement. | | (198828) | 82
N | Mrs Patsy Calton (Cheadle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made with the introduction of human papilloma virus testing and liquid cytology testing; and what plans he has for future roll-out. | | (198862) | 83
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition will report on iron deficiency anaemia. | | (199138) | 84
| Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the iron intake of children to prevent childhood anaemia; and what assessment it has made of the incidence of childhood anaemia in the UK over the last 20 years. | | (199139) | 85
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in developing a National Cholesterol Awareness Campaign. | | (199196) | 86
| Mr Martin Salter (Reading West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans there are to increase the number of intensive care beds in the Royal Berkshire Hospital. | | (198985) | 87
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the NHS budget was spent providing free contraception in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of NHS spending that represented. | | (198980) | 88
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15th October, Official Report, column 404W, on sexually transmitted diseases, how many were sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed in each primary care trust in each year since 1997; and how many patients sought advice, diagnosis or treatment for suspected sexually transmitted diseases in each primary care trust in each year since 1997. | | (198990) | 89
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the cost of over-the-counter contraceptives on the sexual health of the population. | | (198991) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 90
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what security measures are being taken to protect the UK from the threat of electronic terrorist attacks. | | (198328) | 91
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many weapons have been seized at ports of entry to the United Kingdom in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) type of weapon and (b) location of seizure. | | (198995) | 92
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on providing security at ports in each year since 1997, broken down by location. | | (198997) | 93
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) immigration and (b) security officials have been based at each major port of entry to the United Kingdom, broken down by location, in each year since 1997. | | (198998) | 94
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what use has been made of mobile task-forces as part of an intelligence-led control of immigration. | | (198999) | 95
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) airline liaison officers and (b) immigration officials have been stationed abroad in each year since 1997, broken down by country. | | (199000) | 96
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many sex offenders are absent without authorisation from prisons in England and Wales. | | (199001) | 97
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners convicted of sex offences escaped from open prisons in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. | | (199002) | 98
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners there are, broken down by category of offence. | | (199003) | 99
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences were committed by prisoners who escaped from open prisons in the last three years. | | (199004) | 100
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoner escapes there have been from open prisons in England and Wales in the last three years. | | (199005) | 101
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners are absent without authorisation from prisons in England and Wales; and how many were in open prisons when they absconded. | | (199006) | 102
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 601W, on asylum seekers, for what reasons some local authorities in certain years have negative net expenditure on asylum. | | (199008) | 103
| David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many methadone-related suicides there have been in prisons in each year since 1997. | | (199020) | 104
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been dispersed to each parliamentary constituency in (a) the two years up to the end of 2003 and (b) the latest two-year period for which data is available. | | (199128) | 105
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the steps that have been taken by the brewing and licensed trade industry to combat binge drinking. | | (199192) | 106
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures the Government is taking to tackle domestic violence in Amber Valley; and how many convictions have been reached in the last year. | | (199193) | 107
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the steps that have been taken by credit card companies to combat the purchasing of child pornography on the internet. | | (199194) | 108
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what further steps his Department intends to take to ensure that credit card companies do all they can to combat the purchasing of child pornography on the internet. | | (199195) | 109
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of refugees residing in each parliamentary constituency. | | (198981) | 110
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated number of asylum seekers residing in each parliamentary constituency is. | | (199015) | 111
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals of (a) immigration, (b) asylum and (c) naturalisation cases to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate by honourable Members there have been in each year since 2001, broken down by constituency. | | (199016) | 112
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes were committed (a) per head of population and (b) per police officer in each police force area in England and Wales in (i) 2002-03 and (ii) 2003-04. | | (198324) | Questions to the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 113
| Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission plans to conduct an organisation and methods study of the Library. | | (199127) | 114
| Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether a cost benefit analysis has been carried out on the use of computer workstations by staff in the Serjeant at Arms Department. | | (199180) | 115
| Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment he has made of the potential for hot desking in the Serjeant at Arms Department. | | (199181) | 116
| Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost was of purchasing computer workstations for staff in the Serjeant at Arms Department in the last year for which figures are available. | | (199182) | 117
N | Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip - Northwood):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff were employed in the Library (a) in 1974, (b) in 2000 and (c) at the latest date for which figures are available. | | (198879) | 118
N | Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip - Northwood):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans there are for temporary secondments of staff of the House to work in the offices of honourable Members. | | (198880) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 119
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on his Department's recent discussions with the World Bank on the reassessment of conditional aid to third world countries. | | (198329) | 120
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of funds in US dollars held by the estate of the late Yasser Arafat which originated from (a) United Kingdom bilateral aid and (b) aid from the European Union; and if he will make a statement. | | (198996) | 121
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what co-operation his Department has had with members of the Arab League in alleviating poverty in the Palestinian Territories. | | (199021) | 122
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contribution his Department (a) made and (b) is making to the dispatch of emergency aid to Butuo, Liberia; and if he will make a statement. | | (199183) | 123
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what efforts his Department is undertaking to assist refugees from Côte d'Ivoire in (a) Liberia, (b) Guinea, (c) Mali, (d) Burkina Faso and (e) Ghana; and if he will make a statement. | | (199184) | 124
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessement his Department has made of the numbers of refugees from Côte d'Ivoire that have arrived in (a) Liberia, (b) Guinea, (c) Mali, (d) Burkina Fasco and (e) Ghana in each month since September 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (199185) | 125
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance his Department is providing to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for its voluntary return programme for the repatriation of Liberian refugees; and if he will make a statement. | | (199186) | 126
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate his Department has made of the number of Liberian refugees in West Africa; and if he will make a statement. | | (199187) | 127
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes his Department (a) has set up, (b) is running and (c) is funding in Malaysia to assist the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar; and if he will make a statement. | | (199188) | 128
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Cartagena Declaration on refugees on the (a) definition and (b) treatment of refugees in Latin America; and if he will make a statement. | | (199189) | 129
| Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what development aid has been provided by the Government to the governments of (a) Turkmenistan and (b) Armenia in each year since 2000; what conditions have been attached in each case; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of these conditions. | | (199038) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 130
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) punishment beatings and (b) exclusions there have been in each year since the signing of the Belfast Agreement. | | (199129) | 131
N | Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland will be issued; and what the proposed timetable is for the implementation of the measures that will be recommended in this Strategy. | | (198895) | 132
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding the Children's Fund set up by the Northern Ireland Executive has received in each year since it was introduced; what provision is being made within the Draft Priorities and Budget 2005 to 2008 for future spending on the Fund; and if he will make a statement. | | (199065) | 133
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to engage in delivery of public services as outlined in Investing Together, over the next five years. | | (199066) | 134
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding he expects will be made available for the implementation of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister's Children and Young People's Strategy over the next five years. | | (199067) | 135
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what financial provision is being made for children's services within the Draft Priorities and Budget 2005 to 2008; and what percentage of the total budget (a) was spent in each year since 1999 and (b) will be spent in 2005 to 2008 on services for children. | | (199068) | 136
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what impact he expects the spending plans detailed in the Draft Priorities and Budget 2005 to 2008 will have on (a) exisiting services and (b) new service development for (i) children, (ii) young people and (iii) families in need in Northern Ireland. | | (199069) | Questions to the Prime Minister 137
| Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Prime Minister, what action he plans to take to ensure independent assessment of civilian casualties in Fallujah as a result of the recent military activities; and if he will make a statement. | | (199140) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 138
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her reply of 26th October, Official Report, column 1152W, on the Shareholder Executive, if she will list the organisations with which the Shareholder Executive consults on a regular basis. | | (199172) | 139
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what appointments her Department has made to (a) British Energy plc, (b) BNFL plc, (c) the Export Credits Guarantee Department, (d) Royal Mail plc and (e) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority since June. | | (199173) | 140
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what bonus scheme applies to the directors of the Shareholder Executive. | | (199174) | 141
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the contract of the chief executive of the Shareholder Executive expires; and what contractual agreement applies to an early departure. | | (199175) | 142
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her reply of 26th October, Official Report, column 1150W, on the Shareholder Executive, if she will make a statement on the nature of the clearly defined policy framework by which she will assess the Shareholder Executive. | | (199176) | 143
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Shareholder Executive will publish an annual report of its performance. | | (199177) | 144
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she has taken to provide the Shareholder Executive with appropriate policies regarding (a) working practices and (b) conflict of interest management; and what plans she has to develop the Shareholder Executive's corporate governance structure incorporating (i) public sector monitoring, (ii) mission oversight and (iii) procedural auditing. | | (199178) | 145
N | Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact of the revised anti-corruption procedures announced by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 8th November on its capacity to combat bribery and corruption; and what the purpose of the revised procedure is. | | (198325) | 146
| Mr George Osborne (Tatton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the impact of the rise in UK gas prices on UK manufacturers of fluorochemicals. | | (199171) | 147
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the UK manufacturing sector. | | (198983) | 148
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures are in place to ensure that companies make payments to former employees that are agreed by an employment tribunal. | | (199145) | 149
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial assistance has been made available to companies operating the Harworth and Welbeck collieries in the past five years; whether all such finance has been paid; what recent discussions she has held about the collieries' future; and if she will make a statement. | | (198529) | 150
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to ensure there is a competitive market in television provision to residential customers (a) between infrastructure providers and (b) within each infrastructure provision. | | (199206) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 151
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the Government plans to enforce the new time regulations for commercial drivers and crew. | | (198330) | 152
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cause was of two aeroplanes colliding at Manchester Airport on 4th November; what assessment he has made of precautions in place to prevent such collisions; and if he will make a statement. | | (198331) | 153
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passenger complaints have been made to each of the privatised rail companies in the last year; and how many were made in the previous year. | | (199197) | 154
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what refunds each of the privatised rail companies have given for poor punctuality and service in each of the last three years. | | (199198) | 155
| Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties are imposed on the privatised rail companies for poor service; and on what criteria these penalties are based. | | (199199) | 156
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the section of the A38 between Ashburton and Buckfastleigh to be resurfaced with a noise-reducing surface; and if he will make a statement. | | (198527) | 157
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides on railways there were in each of the last five years, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. | | (198528) | 158
| Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the passenger numbers on trains operated by Virgin Trains into London Euston were during (a) peak hours and (b) off-peak hours in each month from May 2003 to October 2004. | | (199211) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 159
N | Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners benefited from the minimum income guarantee in Newcastle-under-Lyme in each year it was in effect. | | (198525) | 160
N | Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the change in the basic state pension rise has been since 1997. | | (198622) | 161
N | Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners have received pension credit in Newcastle-under-Lyme in each year since it was introduced. | | (198623) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 162
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases of overpayment of the childcare tax credit there were in the last financial year; how much money was overpaid; what the average overpayment was; and what the average weekly repayment is. | | [Transferred] (199134) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 163
| Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ask the US Administration to furnish him with information on the (a) numbers and (b) type of aerial attacks upon Fallujah between 1st and 15th November. | | [Transferred] (199135) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 164
| Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ask the US authorities in Iraq to provide immediate assistance to the International Committee of the Red Cross to enable it to have full and free access to Fallujah. | | [Transferred] (199136) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 165
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what provision has been made for (a) housing, (b) feeding and (c) schooling women and children who have left their homes in Fallujah as a result of coalition forces' action; and what arrangements will be made for these refugees to return to their homes. | | [Transferred] (198994) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 166
| Mr Michael Weir (Angus):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she will take to protect those on lower incomes from the effects of recent increases in gas and electricity prices; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (199212) |
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