Questions for Oral or Written Answer beginning on Wednesday 6 April 2005 (the 'Questions Book') Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 6 April 2005 This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 6 April 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 6 April of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 6 April see Part 2 of this paper. Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1 N | Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the areas in Scotland which he expects to gain public sector jobs under the Lyons review, as indicated in his Budget statement. | (224737) | 2 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the system of assessing rateable values of properties with stables where the stables are used entirely for non-commercial gain. | (224875) | 3 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the percentage of shared ownership house purchase price that is eligible for stamp duty. | (224877) | 4 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will provide a response to the honourable Member for Bassetlaw regarding the tax credits of Graeme Edward Aitkins of Sunnyside, Worksop. | (224878) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 5 N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list the areas in which he has co-ordinated Government policy; when he set himself the task of so doing in each case; what his objectives were; what the outcomes were; and which Government departments were involved. | (224740) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 6 N | Andy Burnham (Leigh):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd March, Official Report, columns 793-4W, on planning, what the (a) location and (b) name of each of the contested planning developments is; how much was spent on mounting and defending the challenge in each case; what the final outcome of each case was; and what the effect on the timescale of each project was. | (224499) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 7 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what policy direction she has given to Lottery distributors regarding the use of Burmese teak. | (224767) | 8 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the use of Burmese teak in the Lottery-funded restoration of HMS Warrior; and what assessment she has made of whether importing Burmese teak for such use is in line with Government policy regarding trade with Burma. | (224768) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 9 | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for injuries and deaths occurring after 6th April provides an exemption to the five-year limit for claims for deafness; and if he will make a statement. | (224796) | 10 | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of whether an additive relationship exists between noise-induced hearing loss and age-related hearing loss; and if he will make a statement. | (224846) | 11 | Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will offer assistance to the Iraqi Government for testing Iraqi citizens who have been exposed to depleted uranium ammunition deployed by the UK in Iraq. | (224762) | 12 | Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the value of gliding training and practice to the armed forces. | [R] (224923) | 13 | Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which gliding clubs are supported by his Department in the Portsmouth and Gosport area; and whether this support is projected to continue. | [R] (224924) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 14 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what criteria he has set for class R exemptions from council tax for narrow boat resident owners. | (224870) | 15 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much has been allocated by his Department for gap funding agreements. | (224797) | 16 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how his Department will evaluate the performance of registered social landlords in connection with provision of staged gap funding. | (224798) | 17 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many gap funding agreements have been signed between his Department and registered social landlords. | (224799) | 18 | Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what arrangements he has in place to monitor the building control and inspection procedures of the National House Building Council; and if he will make a statement. | (224911) | 19 | Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will arrange for an independent inquiry to be held into the building control and inspection procedures of the National House Building Council (NHBC); and if he will invite members of the public dissatisfied with the performance of the NHBC to give evidence. | (224914) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 20 | Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on her Department's estimate of the life expectancy of teachers. | (224851) | 21 | Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the treatment of additional voluntary contributions within the proposed changes to teachers' pensions. | (224852) | 22 | Linda Perham (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what instructions or guidelines are issued to Ofsted inspectors regarding the assessment of learning resources services in further education colleges. | (224835) | 23 | Linda Perham (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what training is given to Ofsted inspectors on the operation of learning resources services in further education colleges. | (224845) | 24 | Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, why the annual student loan repayment threshold is being increased from £10,000 to £15,000 from 1st April for graduates who commenced their studies on or after 1st September 1998. | (224769) | 25 | Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what effect she expects the change to the student loan repayment threshold from 1st April to have on the national student loan repayment book. | (224770) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 26 | Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much in fines the UK has paid to the EU for failing to meet recycling targets in each year since 2001. | (224761) | 27 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of incorrect maps being used for the purposes of the single farm payment have occurred; and if she will make a statement. | (224803) | 28 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she expects that the UK will be able to fulfil its milk quota for the last financial year; and if she will make a statement. | (224804) | 29 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what farm plastic collections are made in (a) Stroud and (b) Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement. | (224805) | 30 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to examine methods of control of peregrine hawks and sparrow hawks, with particular reference to their impact on other bird species. | (224806) | 31 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Department for Trade and Industry on the recent Office of Fair Trading findings on supermarkets. | (224807) | 32 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action she is taking against those farmers who continue to engage in on-farm burial of livestock. | (224808) | 33 | Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the expected issue date for advice on the pre-emptive use of traffic regulation orders, as set out in paragraph 12 of the document 'Use of mechanically propelled vehicles on rights of way: The Government's framework for action'. | (224763) | 34 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the burden of administration on farm assured farms. | (224698) | 35 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many visits on average she expects officials will make to farms in relation to the single farm payment. | (224699) | 36 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements will be put in place for interim payments to be made where there is a delay in the payment of the single farm payment. | (224700) | 37 | Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will require that all sewers and drains are laid by suitably qualified persons. | (224849) | 38 | Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the timetable for alteration of paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. | (224854) | 39 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's proposals to transfer ownership of private sewers and lateral drains from property owners to local water companies. | (224858) | 40 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) consultation and (b) research has been done to assess the effects of proposed changes of ownership of private sewers and lateral drains on the sector, with particular reference to companies working in drain services. | (224859) | 41 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has conducted into the state of the sewers that it will be transferring to water companies; and what representations from water companies have been received on the proposed changes. | (224860) | 42 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of whether average household water bills will increase to take account of the costs to water companies consequent on obtaining ownership of sewers and lateral drains. | (224861) | 43 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that the new Government policy and guidance on the vehicular use of green lanes outlined in Making the Best Byways is open to public consultation for a 12-week period. | (224876) | 44 | Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the operations of NIREX will be (a) overseen and (b) funded under the new management arrangements. | (224848) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 45 | Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations the Government has made to the Iranian Government on human rights. | (224915) | 46 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Ethiopian Government in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005. | (224829) | 47 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Ethiopia. | (224830) | 48 | Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he intends to answer the letters from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to (a) Mr Rashid, dated 14th February, (b) Mrs Iqbal, dated 18th January, (c) Mrs B. Reid, dated 23rd February, (d) Mr Fernando, dated 18th January and (e) Hira Khalid, dated 19th January. | (224866) | 49 | Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what provision his Department makes for assistance to UK citizens encountering long delays in legal actions in other EU countries. | (224853) | 50 | Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what procedures he has established for disaster victim identification following a major overseas incident. | (224855) | 51 | David Winnick (Walsall North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 26th January regarding a constituent, reference GV100/97610/MD. | (224771) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 52 | Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps have been taken to improve mental health services provided to the black and ethnic minority community. | (224872) | 53 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many representations he has received from private and voluntary healthcare providers on fees for inspection by the Healthcare Commission; and if he will place copies in the Library. | (224766) | 54 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 24th March, Official Report, column 1051W, on digital hearing aids, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the 18-week target from referral to patients receiving their digital hearing aids. | (224738) | 55 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence about the provision of (a) Reminyl, (b) Aricept, (c) Exelon and (d) Ebixa treatments by the NHS. | (224824) | 56 | Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were cancelled at the Worcestershire NHS Trust hospital (a) for medical reasons and (b) because of a lack of beds in each year between 1997 and 2005. | (224821) | 57 | Ms Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on whether patients who are being treated privately for a hospital operation may receive public funding to meet part of the cost. | (224765) | 58 | Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on treatment for those who have Klinefelter syndrome; and if he will make a statement. | (224912) | 59 | Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that those with Klinefelter syndrome should be exempt from prescription charges. | (224913) | 60 | Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists in Gosport are accepting new NHS adult patients. | (224881) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 61 | Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many serving police officers have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted of crimes in each year since 1997 in (i) England, (ii) Essex and (iii) Southend. | (224916) | 62 | Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have taken early retirement in (a) Essex and (b) Southend in each of the last five years. | (224917) | 63 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the section 44 funding bid for 2005-06 to the Commission for Racial Equality by Bury Racial Equality Council. | (223929) | 64 | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent research the Department has conducted into attitudes towards volunteering by the recently retired. | (224764) | 65 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Prison and Probation Services achieved the 2004 target to reduce the rate of reconvictions of all offenders punished by imprisonment or by community supervision by 5 per cent. | (224822) | 66 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of literacy and numeracy rates among offenders released from prison. | (224825) | 67 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the percentage of offenders who (a) get a job and (b) live in stable accommodation when they are released from prison. | (224826) | 68 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been refused benefit payments and housing support from the National Asylum Support Service in (a) Leicester and (b) Leicester South in each year since 2002. | (224828) | 69 | Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to answer the letters from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to (a) Mrs J. Kaur, dated 16th February, (b) Mr Malik Fernando, dated 10th February, (c) Mrs Guy Blackburn, dated 9th December 2004 and (d) Mr I. Alkenani, dated 27th January. | (224865) | 70 | Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to answer the letters from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton, with regard to (a) Mr M. Osman Mohammood, dated 14th February, (b) Mrs Waheeda Ahmed, dated 2nd February, (c) Mr Al Ridaj, dated 2nd February, (d) Ms Juliet Kvenor, dated 19th January, (e) Mr K. H. Osman, dated 20th January, (f) Mr Zukrya, dated 31st January and (g) Mr Robinc Banagas Moreno, dated 15th February. | (224867) | 71 | Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures he has established for disaster victim identification in the event of a major incident in the UK. | (224856) | 72 | Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were detained under anti-terrorism legislation in each year since 1975; how many were (a) UK and (b) non-UK citizens; how many of those detained were subsequently charged with (i) terrorist and (ii) other criminal offences; and how many were deported. | (224857) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 73 | Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's work with the World Health Organisation on the launch of the Global Tuberculosis Control Report. | (224809) | 74 | Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when he intends to reply to the letter dated 10th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester Gorton with regard to Mr O. Brobdan, sent again on 22nd February. | (224864) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 75 | Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what alternatives to landfill for waste disposal are available in Northern Ireland. | (224869) | 76 | Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much waste was disposed of to landfill in Northern Ireland in the latest period for which figures are available. | (224873) | 77 | Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consultation there was with members of the Northern Ireland Assembly before the decision to approve the use of the site at Mallusk for landfill. | (224879) | 78 | Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of whether Northern Ireland will reach its recycling targets under the Landfill Directive. | (224880) | Questions to the Prime Minister 79 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 16th March, Official Report, column 301W, on Iraq, whether it was on his instructions that the Attorney General went to Washington in relation to the legal situation relating to war against Iraq on 21st and 22nd July 2003 to have talks with the US Defense Department General Counsel and the Australian Justice Minister. | (224703) | Questions to the Solicitor General 80 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Solicitor General, on how many occasions Professor Christopher Greenwood was paid by the Attorney General's office for legal opinions on the legality of military action against Iraq; and how much was paid in each case. | (224701) | 81 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance Professor Christopher Greenwood was given about appearances in the print and broadcasting media in relation to opinions about the legality of the Iraq war which he provided to the Prime Minister. | (224702) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 82 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will continue the funding of grants for the installation of domestic solar water heating systems. | (224827) | 83 | Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had since 2002 with (a) the Campaign for Real Ale and (b) other stakeholders on beer drinkers receiving a full pint on licensed premises; and what steps are being taken to encourage a consensus amongst stakeholders. | (224810) | 84 | Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when her Department expects to announce the outcome of its consultations on the full pint of beer. | (224811) | 85 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations she has received about Telecom Billing Services Ltd and their premium rate service. | (224871) | 86 N | Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Argyll & Bute, dated 22nd November 2004 and 31st January 2005, concerning a constituent who had lodged a claim against British Coal and her Department. | (224739) | 87 | Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the future structure of NIREX. | (224847) | 88 N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps are being taken in her Department to prepare for the construction of additional nuclear power generating capacity; and what discussions she has had with (a) Sir David King and (b) Mr Geoffrey Norris on the subject. | (224741) | 89 N | Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action the Government is taking to secure the best outcome for regions in the UK from negotiations regarding the European Convergence (Objective 1) Programme post 2006. | (224497) | 90 N | Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action the Government will take to support regions which risk losing eligibility for European Convergence funding in the post 2006 programme because of the effect of enlargement upon allocation of Extra Regio. | (224498) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 91 | Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many helicopter movements there were in the airspace above the London Borough of Sutton in each year since 2001. | (224760) | 92 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the date is for the commencement of the works to upgrade the Dishforth-Barton road to motorway status; and what the estimated duration of the works is. | (224862) | 93 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been proposed for the upgrading of the A1 between Dishforth and Barton to motorway status; and from which budget the costs of the work will be met. | (224863) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 94 N | Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has held with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales Government regarding the management of wildlife on the Dee Estuary. | (224380) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 95 N | Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure compliance with the Government's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent. | [Transferred] (224743) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 96 | Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a system of registration for paid domicilary care workers. | [Transferred] (224823) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 97 | Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21st February, Official Report, column 346W, on roadside advertising, if he will make a statement on the methodology used to evaluate whether roadside advertisements are a cause of road accidents. | [Transferred] (224800) | 98 | Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21st February, Official Report, column 346W, on roadside advertising, whether (a) car drivers, (b) bus drivers and (c) drivers of heavy goods vehicles were consulted as part of the research into whether roadside advertisements contributed to road accidents. | [Transferred] (224801) | 99 | Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21st February, Official Report, column 346W, on roadside advertising, if he will commission a full study into the potential for distraction by temporary wheeled billboards placed next to motorways. | [Transferred] (224802) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 100 | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received about the exempting of equity release capital in calculating pensioner entitlements. | [Transferred] (224874) |
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