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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Monday 23 May 2005
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 23 May 2005
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Monday 23 May of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Monday 23 May of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Monday 23 May see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much businesses based in Orkney and Shetland have paid in rents to the Crown Estate in each of the last five years. | | (583) | 2
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the average amount that will be paid to a primary school in respect of the extra payments announced in the budget for 2005-06. | | (347) | 3
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of UK households were headed by (a) couples and (b) married couples, in each year from 1979-80 to 2004-05; what the estimated figures are for 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (822) | 4
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Customs 2002 Committee, (ii) Committee for the application of the rules on the manufacture and placing on the market of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and (iii) Committee on the movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (principles) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (553) | 5
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Customs Co-operation Subcommittee - EEC-Hong Kong, (ii) EEC- Mexico Special Committee on Customs Co-operation and (iii) Advisory Committee on the Communities' own resources met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (575) | 6
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Customs Code Committee - customs valuation, (ii) Customs Code Committee - customs warehouses and free zones and (iii) Customs Code Committee - customs procedures with economic impact met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (630) | 7
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Customs Code Committee - counterfeit and pirated goods, (ii) Customs Code Committee - single administrative document and (iii) Customs Code Committee - movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (638) | 8
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on mutual assistance in customs and agricultural matters, including operation of the CIS, (ii) Customs Code Committee - general customs rules and (iii) Customs Code Committee - recovery of claims met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (640) | 9
N | Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the electorate was in each parliamentary constituency in the UK in (a) May 1997, (b) June 2001 and (c) May 2005 (i) in total and (ii) broken down for each constituency, ranked according to the size of change in the electorate between 1997 and 2005, showing the ward with the greatest decrease in electorate at the head and the ward with the greatest increase at the bottom of each list. | | (168) | 10
N | Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve productivity in the public sector. | | (175) | 11
N | Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for infrastructure investment in Mid Sussex. | | (178) | 12
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints have been made (a) directly and (b) through honourable Members in the last 12 months on how the Inland Revenue office in Preston deals with tax credit queries. | | (104) | 13
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when a Minister last visited the Inland Revenue office in Preston to see how tax credit applications are handled. | | (105) | 14
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to increase the staff in the Inland Revenue office in Preston to deal with tax credit applications and queries. | | (106) | 15
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons Chatham entry processing unit has been closed. | | (162) | 16
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what environmental impact assessment was prepared before the selection of Dover entry processing unit (EPU) over Chatham EPU. | | (163) | 17
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the criteria that led to the selection of Dover entry processing unit over Chatham EPU. | | (164) | 18
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria were used in making the decision that (a) Felixstowe, (b) Tilbury and (c) Dover would keep its entry processing unit. | | (268) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 19
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Government's commitment to remove the disqualification of Irish nationals from senior Civil Service posts. | | (517) | 20
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what plans he has (a) to make more public services available online and (b) to develop the responsibilities of the e-Government unit. | | (550) | 21
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many vehicles there are in the ministerial fleet, broken down by type; how many have a chauffeur; what greener fuel alternatives have been studied; and what the running costs of the fleet were in each of the last five years. | | (455) | 22
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list civil servants seconded to European Union (a) institutions and (b) working committees, broken down by post occupied; and what the appointment criteria were in each case. | | (494) | 23
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the (a) role, (b) function and (c) budget of the Office of Public Sector Information. | | (870) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 24
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when the Boundary Commission's proposals for parliamentary boundary changes will be implemented. | | (528) | 25
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that honourable Members can receive an electronic copy of the marked electoral register for their constituency. | | (531) | 26
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which judges are ticketed to try rape on the south eastern circuit. | | (584) | 27
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether any judge had his or her ticket to try rape withdrawn during (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. | | (585) | 28
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what re-training is given to judges ticketed to try rape; and after what intervals from the date of their ticketing such training is given. | | (586) | 29
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether recorders may be ticketed to try rape. | | (587) | 30
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what proportion of applications to admit previous sexual history in rape trials was successful during (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. | | (588) | 31
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what monitoring is carried out of the frequency with which individual judges allow applications to admit previous sexual history in rape trials. | | (589) | 32
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the contents are of the Judicial Studies Boards serious sexual offence courses; and who is obliged to attend them. | | (590) | 33
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many applications to admit previous sexual history were made in rape trials in England and Wales in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. | | (592) | 34
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, by what criteria judges in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division are selected to hear rape appeals. | | (594) | 35
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what training on trying rape is given to judges prior to them being ticketed to hear such trials. | | (595) | 36
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether High Court judges have to be ticketed to try rape. | | (596) | 37
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what proportion of rape trials were cracked at court with the defendant tendering a plea of guilty to a lesser offence during (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. | | (611) | 38
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what proportion of rape allegations resulted in a guilty plea in England and Wales during (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. | | (612) | 39
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which circuit judges on the north eastern circuit are licensed to try rape and serious sexual offences. | | (614) | 40
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what criteria are applied to the decision on whether to ticket a judge to try rape; and who applies them in an individual case. | | (615) | 41
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many of the judges who sit on criminal cases in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division had previously been ticketed to try rape trials. | | (616) | 42
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will include trials concerning special measures amongst those where special measures for the protection of witnesses are automatically approved. | | (734) | 43
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the accession of the EU to the Hague Conference on International Private Law. | | (448) | 44
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will list UK judges eligible to sit in European courts; and if she will list (a) EU-funded courses in which they have participated and (b) EU grants which their chambers have received. | | (495) | 45
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will list the special advisers employed within the Department. | | (93) | 46
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the estimated cost was to public funds of administering the General Election in 2005. | | (94) | 47
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate the Government has made of the cost to public funds of postal voting in the (a) European Parliamentary elections in 2004 and (b) General Election in 2005. | | (95) | 48
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the new arrangements for the handling and storage of marked electoral registers at Pickfords. | | (96) | 49
N | Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the fees structure for accessing marked electoral registers is. | | (97) | 50
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make it an offence for candidates for parliamentary elections to use children in their election addresses where the children are shown wearing uniforms of schools they do not attend and where the school in question has not given permission. | | (654) | 51
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many people in each year since 1995 have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of certifying in the electoral registration form that individuals were living at an address when they were not. | | (655) | 52
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many people have been imprisoned in each year since 1995 for offences under electoral law. | | (656) | 53
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will review the penalties for election offences; and if she will make a statement. | | (745) | 54
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make it her policy for all legislation for which her Department has responsibility to be available online. | | (789) | 55
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many (a) confirmed instances, (b) allegations and (c) estimates of (i) postal votes being delivered to the wrong address, (ii) postal votes being delivered that had not been applied for, (iii) postal votes not being delivered that had been applied for, (iv) postal votes not being delivered in time for them to be returned, (v) postal votes being delivered in the wrong envelopes, (vi) people receiving both postal votes and polling cards, (vii) people receiving more than one postal vote and (viii) applications for postal votes for people being made at an address where they do not live and that they do not use for correspondence have been reported to the Department for each parliamentary constituency in relation to the 2005 General Election. | | (411) | 56
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will list the petitions made to Election Commissioners concerning allegations of electoral fraud involving postal votes since 1997; and what the findings of the Election Commissioners were in each case. | | (412) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 57
N | Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to provide licence fee evasion rates on a local authority area basis. | | (352) | 58
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much public money has been given to Norfolk Sport in the last five years. | | (471) | 59
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much public money has been given to Sport UK in the last five years. | | (472) | 60
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether officers serving in the Royal Parks Constabulary over the age of 55 years will be required to take part in an eligibility exercise to assess their suitability for the Metropolitan Police. | | (641) | 61
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the employment rights of Royal Parks Constabulary officers will be if they are over the age of 55 years but do not complete an application form to join the Metropolitan Police. | | (642) | 62
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department (a) plans to have and (b) has had with the (i) European Commission, (ii) other Government departments and (iii) other interested parties, regarding the collective bargaining of Premier League Football television rights. | | (781) | 63
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect on small bars within larger premises of the recent change to licensing fees; and if she will make a statement. | | (678) | 64
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with representatives of sports clubs which run small bars as ancillary businesses about the impact on those bars of the recent changes in licensing fees; and if she will make a statement. | | (695) | 65
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of the Arts Council England's budget was spent on financial support for gospel choirs in the last year for which figures are available. | | (566) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 66
| Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether British service personnel have been (a) deployed and (b) seconded to (i) Guantanamo Bay, (ii) Guam and (iii) Diego Garcia since 1994. | | (506) | 67
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding a role for NATO in the Darfur region. | | (857) | 68
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role he expects NATO to play in Darfur. | | (867) | 69
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the Home Service part-time officers and soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment are not eligible for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. | | (346) | 70
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information he has received concerning explosions emanating from Shoeburyness and Foulness Island between 13.45 and 14.00 on Monday, 16th May; and if he will make a statement. | | (101) | 71
N | Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects that the air accident inquiry into the RAF Hercules crash near Baghdad will be completed; and if he will publish the report. | | (403) | 72
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effects of the declarations to the Joint Forces Agreement in Bosnia involving Morocco, OJ L34 of 8th February on the liability of UK personnel serving in the Balkans, with particular reference to culpability; and if he will make a statement. | | (499) | 73
N | Stewart Hosie (Dundee East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recruitment targets were established for each of the Scottish infantry regiments for (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) each month since January 2003; and what the level of recruitment was in each case. | | (348) | 74
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the combat clothing items delivered under the cut and sew contract have been supplied from China. | | (803) | 75
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Royal Navy of the report and findings of the Inquiry into the fire on board HMCS Chicoutimi. | | (653) | 76
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK officer acting as Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq advised (a) the US authorities and (b) his supervisors in the chain of command that some of the interrogation techniques in the CJIF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy Document (i) were inhumane under UK case law and (ii) constituted a potential breach of the Geneva Conventions in the view of the Government. | | (271) | 77
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) physical, (b) environmental and (c) health impacts of the detonation of a single trident nuclear warhead in an urban area. | | (272) | 78
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq asked Major George O'Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib. | | (273) | 79
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq saw the International Committee of the Red Cross working paper based on a visit to Abu Ghraib in October 2003. | | (274) | 80
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of producing Air Publication 3003: A Brief History of the Royal Air Force; and how many copies of this book were produced. | | (671) | 81
N | Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for ordering the new aircraft carriers. | | (176) | 82
N | Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the first squadron of the Joint Strike Fighter to be declared operational. | | (177) | 83
| Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what legal advice the Government has taken concerning the obligations of intelligence personnel to report abuse of detainees in US custody. | | (512) | 84
| Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what legal advice the Government has taken concerning the obligations of intelligence personnel (a) to report and (b) to intervene to stop breaches of the Geneva Conventions at US interrogation facilities. | | (513) | 85
| Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to paragraph 80 of the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report, The Handling of Detainees by UK intelligence personnel in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and Iraq, (Cm. 6469), on what dates before 28th June 2004 members of the armed forces (a) escorted civilian intelligence personnel to US-controlled detention facilities in Iraq, (b) handed such personnel over to US Armed Forces or other US personnel and (c) handed such personnel over to civilian contractors. | | (529) | 86
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons people who enlisted in the armed services during the Second World War and who worked in mining and other industries are not eligible for war disablement pensions when suffering illness or disablement as a consequence of that service. | | (548) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 87
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government makes available (a) grant aid and (b) other forms of support for the re-development of derelict retail precincts. | | (555) | 88
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his Department's requirement is for the number of houses to be built in Redcar in each of the next 10 years. | | (565) | 89
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what acreage of England lies under roads; and what percentage of land area this represents. | | (461) | 90
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what percentage of the income from tenants rental payments to housing associations was taken by the Government to pay for housing benefit in the last year for which figures are available. | | (201) | 91
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total revenue received by Chesterfield Borough Council in tenants' rent payments was in each year since 1997; and what proportion of this revenue was taken by central government to fund housing benefit. | | (202) | 92
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans his Department has to change the council housing funding mechanism to ensure that the total revenue from tenants' rent payments can be used by the council for (a) the maintenance and repair of housing and (b) the staff costs of the housing departments. | | (203) | 93
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if his Department will implement the fourth option for the modernisation of council housing. | | (204) | 94
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to change the funding mechanism for those councils whose tenants vote for their housing to remain under council control. | | (205) | 95
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was taken in negative subsidy from (a) all housing associations and (b) housing associations in Chesterfield in each of the last two years. | | (580) | 96
N | Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was taken in negative subsidy from (a) all councils and (b) Chesterfield Borough Council in each of the last two years. | | (581) | 97
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the (a) financial allocation and (b) out-turn expenditure of each of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder areas in England was in 2004-05. | | (732) | 98
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what he expects will be the maximum fees chargeable by local councils to handle complaints under the high hedges provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (682) | 99
N | Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will define sustainable development in relation to the Government's housing targets in the South East. | | (174) | 100
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidelines mobile network providers have to follow to set up mobile telephone masts; what plans he has to review the guidelines; and whether mobile network providers have to consult nearby residents before installing masts. | | (577) | 101
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will take steps to reduce the levels of council tax in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. | | (786) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 102
N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the likely impact on academic standards of the academic boycott on Israel proposed by the Association of University Teachers; and if she will make a statement. | | (418) | 103
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations she has received regarding reported intimidation experienced by Jewish students at the School of Oriental and African Studies; and if she will make a statement. | | (419) | 104
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are in place in (a) the state sector and (b) the private sector to prevent cheating in examinations or coursework leading to a qualification; what sanctions apply to those found to have cheated or assisted in cheating; and if she will make a statement. | | (469) | 105
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the recruitment figures were in each local education authority for (a) primary and (b) secondary teachers in the last year for which figures are available; and how many unfilled vacancies there were in each. | | (765) | 106
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the impact of Surestart in Everton, Liverpool; and if she will make a statement. | | (415) | 107
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which organisation will be conducting the next round of the PISA survey. | | (582) | 108
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many secondary schools are under special measures in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. | | (853) | 109
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent discussions she has had with the Hammersmith and Fulham Local Education Authority. | | (854) | 110
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps she is taking to improve educational standards in Hammersmith and Fulham, with particular reference to schools under special measures. | | (855) | 111
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many applications for places in Hammersmith and Fulham schools were turned down in 2004-05. | | (856) | 112
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools have been subject to the Fresh Start programme since its inception; and how many of these schools have been (a) closed and (b) converted to academies. | | (750) | 113
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many temporary classrooms are in use in each local education authority. | | (751) | 114
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the progress of each successful bid in the Building Schools for the Future initiative. | | (752) | 115
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the backlog of repairs is for each local education authority. | | (758) | 116
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will give (a) the name, (b) the reason for closure and (c) the local education authority for every school closed in each year since 1997. | | (759) | 117
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her estimate is of Government spending on the educational maintenance allowance projected for each year from 2004-05 to 2009-10; and if she will make a statement. | | (823) | 118
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what emergency accommodation provision is in place for children who run away from home; what plans she has to increase these facilities; and if she will make a statement. | | (673) | 119
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funding her Department has provided to improve education of people with autism in each of the last five years; what plans she has to increase this amount; and if she will make a statement. | | (677) | 120
N | Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, for what reason Otley College decided to close the IT training centre at Colchester. | | (269) | 121
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Department is taking to combat homophobic abuse and bullying in schools. | | (541) | 122
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Department plans to introduce a requirement for every school to have a policy to deal with homophobic bullying. | | (547) | 123
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures she is taking to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement. | | (756) | 124
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures she is taking to assist Hertfordshire's schools to recruit and retain teachers; and if she will make a statement. | | (767) | 125
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what her policy is on preserving the right of teachers to retire at 60 years of age; and if she will make a statement. | | (768) | 126
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps she is taking to protect those attending schools and other learning institutions from (a) racial abuse, (b) harassment and (c) assault; and if she will make a statement. | | (769) | 127
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what central funding is provided for training courses in plumbing in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement. | | (770) | 128
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many prosecutions have been brought against parents for assaulting teachers in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. | | (775) | 129
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures she is taking to increase the pool of mathematics and science teachers available to secondary schools; and if she will make a statement. | | (776) | 130
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures she is taking to protect teachers from physical and verbal assault from (a) students and (b) parents; and if she will make a statement. | | (778) | 131
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures she will take to assist parents who fail to get their children into any of their chosen schools in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement. | | (779) | 132
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to increase parental choice at (a) primary and (b) secondary school levels in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement. | | (780) | 133
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures she is taking to reduce secondary school class sizes in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement. | | (787) | 134
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many new secondary schools have opened in Hertfordshire in each year since 1997; and how many new secondary schools are scheduled to open in Hertfordshire in each year between 2005 and 2011. | | (788) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 135
| Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consultations were held before the decision to include motorbike trials in section C of the Guidance on Single Payment Scheme and Non-Agricultural Use. | | (477) | 136
| Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the principal reasons were for classifying motorbike trials under section C of the Guidance on Single Payment Scheme and Non-Agricultural Use. | | (485) | 137
| Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received concerning the banning of motorbike trials on agricultural land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme. | | (486) | 138
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the consequences for the Spanish Government of losing ECJ case C-42/03 (OJ C19 of 22nd January) on failing to control excess to quota fishing; what representations she has made on the issue; what the scale of surfeit was; and if she will make a statement. | | (502) | 139
| Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received about the effects and desirability of ear tags on cattle and cattle passports following reforms to the single farm payment arrangements. | | (672) | 140
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (ii) Committee on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs, (iii) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for cereals and (iv) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for dehydrated fodder met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. | | (552) | 141
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for the implementation of the Community framework for co-operation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution, (ii) Committee for the implementation of legislation on ambient air quality assessment and management, (iii) Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the air quality limit values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates and (iv) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Directive on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. | | (571) | 142
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors, (ii) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress and for the implementation of the Directive on contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms and (iii) Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress and implementation of the Directive on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. | | (629) | 143
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for the implementation of the Directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars, (ii) Advisory Committee for the implementation of the Directive on the limitation of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations and (iii) Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on the prevention and reduction of the environmental pollution by asbestos met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. | | (634) | 144
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on a limit value for lead in the air, (ii) Advisory Committee for the implementation of the Directive on the reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and (iii) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress and the implementation of the Directive on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. | | (637) | 145
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) the Government of Norway and (b) other governments on the practice of whaling; and if she will make a statement. | | (675) | 146
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of farmers who will receive (a) more and (b) less funding through the redistribution of the dairy premium to be made under the Single Farm Payment Scheme; and if she will make a statement. | | (679) | 147
| Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a summary of responses to the consultation on Snares and Traps, The Way Forward, which closed on 13th November 2003. | | (744) | 148
N | Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the public consultation on Article 8.2 of Council Directive (EU) 338/97. | | (270) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 149
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has held with (a) the Russian government and (b) the Chinese government regarding the placing of the situation in Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. | | (651) | 150
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what financial and logistical support has been provided to the African Union in support of its plans to increase the monitoring force in Darfur to 7000. | | (858) | 151
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made towards encouraging an end to impunity for those committing attacks against humanitarian workers in Darfur. | | (859) | 152
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of reports that the government of Sudan continues to arm and supply the Janjaweed forces in Darfur. | | (860) | 153
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the UN Security Council's referral of the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court upon the behaviour of the government of Sudan. | | (861) | 154
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of reports of a substantial military build-up by the Sudan government in West Darfur. | | (862) | 155
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of when the African Union will be able to deploy a force of 7,000 to Darfur. | | (871) | 156
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the current size of the African Union force in Darfur. | | (872) | 157
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the death toll, including deaths as a result of violence, in Darfur. | | (873) | 158
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what represenations he has made to the Government of Sudan regarding the forthcoming peace talks in Abuja. | | (874) | 159
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Burma. | | (875) | 160
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the condition of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience held in Burma. | | (876) | 161
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the French government regarding Total Oil's investment in Burma. | | (877) | 162
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions have taken place at the United Nations regarding the situation in Burma. | | (878) | 163
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations for the situation in Burma to be made an agenda item for the next meeting of the UN Security Council. | | (879) | 164
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Burma regarding the use of chemical weapons against Karenni people in eastern Burma. | | (880) | 165
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of reports of the use of chemical weapons by the Burma Army against Karenni people in eastern Burma. | | (881) | 166
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will (a) make representations to ASEAN to strip Burma of its chairmanship, (b) make it his policy not to participate in meetings with ASEAN under Burma's chairmanship and (c) urge ASEAN to suspend Burma. | | (887) | 167
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) role, (b) membership and (c) legal basis of the European Union Civil Service Tribunal. | | (496) | 168
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the establishment of the European Administrative School; what its role is; whether European Parliament personnel will be required to attend, with particular reference to political group staff; what requirement there will be for balance in the presentation of European integration; and where it will be sited. | | (498) | 169
N | Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which events to be held during the UK Presidency of the EU Scottish Executive Ministers have been invited to attend. | | (349) | 170
N | Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which events to be held during the UK Presidency of the EU will be held in Scotland. | | (350) | 171
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Joint Committee (EEC-India), (ii) Joint Committee (EC-Laos) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Macao) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (573) | 172
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) EEC-Mercosur Joint Advisory Committee, (ii) Joint Committee (EEC-Argentina) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Brazil) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (627) | 173
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Joint Committee (EEC-Vietnam), (ii) Joint Committee (EEC-Central America) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Mexico) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (632) | 174
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Joint Committee (EEC-Nepal), (ii) Joint Committee (EEC-Pakistan) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Sri Lanka) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (635) | 175
| Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, under what circumstances M16 may decide that major decisions it takes need not be communicated to him; and what mechanism exists to ensure such decisions are in the public interest. | | (509) | 176
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to change travel advice relating to Yemen. | | (576) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 177
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes there have been to fees charged by the Commission for Social Care Inspection since 1997; what representations she has received on charges; and if she will make a statement. | | (407) | 178
N | Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the clinical innovations available in privately run diagnostic and treatment centres which are not to be found in any NHS hospital or diagnostic and treatment centre. | | (478) | 179
N | Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS Direct is to be franchised out to the private sector. | | (479) | 180
N | Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the arm's length NHS bodies covered by the recent review, indicating in each case their 2005-06 budget, the date on which they were established and what has been decided about their future. | | (480) | 181
N | Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what restrictions she intends to place on the recruitment of staff from the NHS by the private diagnostic and treatment centres which she has recently announced. | | (481) | 182
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many case managers have been appointed to review health service complaints referred to the Healthcare Commission; how many such cases are outstanding; and if she will make a statement. | | (102) | 183
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average change in the fees charged by private sector nursing homes was in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005. | | (409) | 184
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what her assessment is of the effect regulations relating to nursing homes introduced in the last five years have had on fees charged by nursing homes; and if she will make a statement. | | (414) | 185
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many overseas nurses were trained in the (a) NHS and (b) private sector in the last year for which figures are available. | | (473) | 186
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has for the development of the IT programme in the National Health Service; and when she expects it to be completed. | | (505) | 187
| Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) single-handed GP practices and (b) two-partner GP practices there are in Chiltern and South Bucks Primary Care Trust area at the latest date for which statistics are available; and what percentage these practices represent of the total number of GP practices in the primary care trust area. | | (805) | 188
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were available for use in the Charing Cross Hospital on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many were available in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. | | (799) | 189
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the finanical position of the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust. | | (800) | 190
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the future of Charing Cross Hospital. | | (801) | 191
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to visit Charing Cross Hospital. | | (802) | 192
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust about the Charing Cross Hospital. | | (806) | 193
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were postponed in the Charing Cross Hospital in (a) 1992, (b) 1997, (c) 2001 and (d) 2004. | | (809) | 194
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to visit Hammersmith Hospital. | | (810) | 195
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what services hospitals must be able to provide in order to obtain trauma centre status. | | (811) | 196
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions her predecessor had with the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust in regard to the Charing Cross Hospital. | | (812) | 197
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of emergency admissions in the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust area are to (a) Charing Cross Hospital and (b) Hammersmith Hospital. | | (813) | 198
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints (a) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) her Department has received in the last 12 months regarding the accessibility of Hammersmith Hospital for (i) patients and (ii) staff. | | (826) | 199
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the (a) readiness and (b) capability of Charing Cross Hospital to act as the Trauma Centre for West London. | | (828) | 200
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust regarding the status of Charing Cross Hospital as a major trauma centre. | | (829) | 201
N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the application to mobile roadside cafés of (a) smoking and (b) health and safety regulations relating to food preparation. | | (468) | 202
| Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many paediatric oncology beds were available in England on Sunday 8th May. | | (507) | 203
| Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there are for paediatric oncology nurses; and how many have been vacant for the last three months. | | (508) | 204
| Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children have had to wait more than 10 days for a paediatric oncology bed in England during the last two years. | | (510) | 205
| Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average occupancy rate for paediatric oncology beds in England was in the last period for which figures are available. | | (511) | 206
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many drug addicts were being treated by GPs in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) England on the latest date for which figures are available. | | (6) | 207
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many foreign nurses were employed in the NHS in Lancashire (a) in 1997, (b) in 2001 and (c) on the latest date for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total those numbers represents in each case. | | (652) | 208
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust area are within five years of retirement; and what percentage of the total this represents. | | (662) | 209
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with multiple sclerosis therapy centres about the cost of Healthcare Commission inspections; and if she will make a statement. | | (658) | 210
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will exempt multiple sclerosis therapy centres from the need to undergo Healthcare Commission inspections; and if she will make a statement. | | (659) | 211
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research she has commissioned on the effects on human health of hydrogenerated vegetable oil; and if she will make a statement. | | (660) | 212
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans there are to increase the number of NHS dentists in Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement. | | (680) | 213
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what inspections are made on the quality of NHS dental care; and if she will make a statement. | | (681) | 214
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of MRSA have been identified in hospitals in (a) England and (b) Devon in each of the last five years; and what guidance the Department has issued to (i) staff and (ii) visitors to reduce levels of MRSA. | | (109) | 215
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent research the Government has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the health effects of mobile phones on people in rural areas; and what plans the Government has to issue guidance on those effects. | | (539) | 216
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Health Protection Agency is expected to publish the conclusions of its review of the law concerning the treatment of people with infectious diseases against their will. | | (542) | 217
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to review the (a) pay and (b) working hours of nurses in the National Health Service. | | (567) | 218
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS takes to ensure the maintenance of adequate staffing levels. | | (568) | 219
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures she is taking to protect NHS staff from violent assaults; and if she will make a statement. | | (777) | 220
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners there are in (a) Hertfordshire and (b) England per head of population. | | (782) | 221
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to increase the number of general practitioners in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement. | | (783) | 222
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many administrators working in Hertfordshire NHS trusts receive pay in excess of £100,000 per annum; and if she will make a statement. | | (784) | 223
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures she is taking to retain experienced clinical staff in Hertfordshire's NHS trusts; and if she will make a statement. | | (785) | 224
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures she is taking to reduce the incidence of MRSA at Chase Farm Hospital. | | (791) | 225
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many out-of-hours general practitioners there are per thousand of the population in (a) the area covered by South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, (b) the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority and (c) England. | | (645) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 226
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to assess the effectiveness of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004. | | (569) | 227
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to assess the effectiveness of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. | | (570) | 228
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what audit is carried out by his Department of the applications made to admit previous sexual history in rape trials. | | (591) | 229
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans there are for allowing out of court video taped cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses to be admitted into criminal trials. | | (603) | 230
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what date he expects video interviews of complainants will become admissible as their evidence in chief in rape trials. | | (604) | 231
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the research carried out by London Metropolitan University into section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. | | (733) | 232
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of migrants who apply for refugee status and for whom it is determined that they do not qualify, have been removed from the UK since May 2004; and what the average time between refusal and removal was over that period. | | (661) | 233
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the process by which those who fail to be granted refugee status have their status in the UK determined thereafter. | | (663) | 234
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to appoint the independent monitor of accommodation centres for asylum seekers. | | (664) | 235
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which local authorities have provided housing for people who have been granted refugee status since 1st May 2004; and how many such people were housed by each local authority. | | (665) | 236
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many accommodation centres for asylum seekers other than that proposed at Bicester he expects to be built over the next five years. | | (666) | 237
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria will be used in deciding which migrants applying for refugee status have that status determined at the proposed accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. | | (667) | 238
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants for refugee status he expects will be processed each year at the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. | | (668) | 239
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what he expects the average cost will be of processing an applicant for refugee status at the proposed accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. | | (669) | 240
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether applicants for refugee status whose status is determined at the proposed accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester and whose application fails will be (a) detained at Campsfield detention centre and (b) free to make their own arrangements for their removal from the UK. | | (670) | 241
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants claimed refugee status in each month in the last three years. | | (696) | 242
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the average cost of processing applications by migrants claiming refugee status to determine whether they are entitled to refugee status. | | (697) | 243
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of migrants who apply for refugee status and for which it is determined that they do not qualify have appealed in the last 12 months; and what the average length of time for determining such appeals over that period was. | | (698) | 244
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects his office to reach a decision on the case of Mrs Alexis Perreira in respect of her application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. | | (416) | 245
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for indefinite leave to remain in the UK were received in each year from 1997. | | (514) | 246
| Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on refurbishment costs for the first floor of Litherland House since his Department commenced its occupation. | | (556) | 247
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's policy is on the use of anti-social behaviour orders against individuals taking part in political demonstrations. | | (731) | 248
| Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long the Tetra telecommunications mast in Haverfordwest will remain in its temporary location on top of Haverfordwest Police Station. | | (482) | 249
| Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Tetra telecommunications mast in Haverfordwest was activated. | | (483) | 250
| Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he has issued concerning the siting of Tetra communications masts in the vicinity of (a) special schools and (b) schools. | | (484) | 251
| Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of the location of the Tetra mast in Haverfordwest; and if he will make a statement. | | (657) | 252
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many accidents involving (a) Kent Police and (b) Metropolitan Police (i) pursuit and (ii) patrol vehicles and drivers and members of the public resulting in serious injuries or death there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (100) | 253
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers in the (a) Kent Police Force and (b) England hold (i) advanced police driving licences and (ii) patrol car licences. | | (98) | 254
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many accidents involving police (a) pursuit and (b) patrol cars and drivers and members of the public resulting in serious injuries or death there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (99) | 255
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the case of Mr Hugh Hickson, formerly of the Prison Service, referred to in the letter of 4th April from the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the honourable Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. | | (449) | 256
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to (a) develop the launch of the national identity register of instructions to issue identity cards and (b) review the Police IT Organisation. | | (549) | 257
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on levels of (a) violent crime, (b) car crime, (c) robbery and (d) burglary in Hammersmith and Fulham constituency. | | (824) | 258
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many community support officers are operational in Hammersmith and Fulham constituency. | | (825) | 259
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are stationed in Hammersmith and Fulham constituency. | | (827) | 260
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the clear-up rates for (a) burglary, (b) robbery, (c) violent crime, (d) car crime and (e) sexual offences were in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in the last year for which figures are available. | | (848) | 261
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what average length of time a police officer in Hammersmith and Fulham was occupied following an arrest before resuming their patrol in the last period for which figures are available. | | (849) | 262
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dispersal orders have been issued in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham during the past 12 months. | | (850) | 263
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham during the past 12 months. | | (851) | 264
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he and his Department have had with the (a) Police Borough Commander for Hammersmith and Fulham and (b) her officers. | | (852) | 265
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the causal requirement for Council Decision 2005/169/EC, adding Israel to the list of states with which the Director of Europol may conduct negotiations. | | (493) | 266
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the deletion of South Shields from designated border inspection posts under Commission Decision 2005/102/EC of OJ L33 of 5th February. | | (500) | 267
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the role in the EU of SitCen. | | (503) | 268
| Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of the Intervention Capital Fund was allocated to social enterprises in each year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (762) | 269
| Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used in allocating funding from the Intervention Capital Fund; and if he will make a statement. | | (763) | 270
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to require police forces to adopt as standard the police staff council handbook. | | (523) | 271
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces have fully adopted the pay and conditions set out in the police staff council handbook. | | (524) | 272
| Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding mandatory adoption of the police staff council handbook. | | (525) | 273
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what stage the visa applications for (a) Bukola Fakeye, reference F1054346 and (b) Lucky Osadolor, reference B1127338 have reached; and if he will make a statement. | | (103) | 274
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on issuing food vouchers to asylum seekers. | | (755) | 275
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what police investigations are ongoing into allegations of electoral fraud involving postal votes; and what the outcome has been of each completed police investigation into allegations of electoral fraud involving postal votes since 1997. | | (410) | 276
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's plans are for the modernisation of the Police Service; and if he will make a statement. | | (561) | 277
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he plans to have with the Police Federation concerning a reform programme for the Police Service. | | (562) | 278
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the policing targets instructing officers to make four arrests per month for specified offences or face the prospect of disciplinary action. | | (563) | 279
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to equip frontline officers with Taser stun guns. | | (564) | 280
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to re-introduce police foot patrols in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. | | (757) | 281
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he is taking to assist Hertfordshire Constabulary in retaining experienced police officers with more than three years' service; and if he will make a statement. | | (773) | 282
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent crimes were reported in Hertfordshire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (792) | 283
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he is taking to (a) reduce street crime in Hertfordshire, (b) tackle binge drinking and (c) tackle drug-related crime; and if he will make a statement. | | (798) | 284
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of the prison population had previously served a period in prison as a convicted prisoner (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) 10 years earlier. | | (646) | 285
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the enabling regulations to bring into force Section 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 will be laid; and if he will make a statement. | | (790) | 286
| Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the target times are for (a) making awards and (b) settling cases by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority; and what the most recent figures are for performance against those targets. | | (540) | Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission 287
| Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House purchases electricity on a green tariff. | | (402) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 288
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action his Department has taken to ensure that humanitarian access in Darfur is improved in preparation for the rainy season. | | (863) | 289
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate he has made of the number of civilians without access to humanitarian assistance in Darfur. | | (864) | 290
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action his Department has taken in response to the statement by the UN that a rapid deterioration of local coping mechanisms among the local population has taken place in Darfur. | | (865) | 291
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the physical security conditions for humanitarian operations in Darfur. | | (866) | 292
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what mechanisms are in place to ensure co-ordination between countries which give aid to developing nations; and if he will make a statement. | | (522) | 293
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. | | (888) | 294
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance he is proposing to provide to Yemen following the recent outbreak of smallpox. | | [R] (551) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 295
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the document A Shared Future. | | (452) | 296
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether an audit has been conducted of whether there is a neutral working environment in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. | | (453) | 297
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will break down the complement of the Northern Ireland Prison Service in each of the last five years by (a) community background and (b) gender. | | (454) | 298
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when, on present trends, it is calculated that the Northern Ireland Prison Service will be reflective of the community as a whole in terms of community background. | | (504) | 299
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the Children's Fund. | | (515) | 300
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he intends to ban the flying of (a) sectarian and (b) national flags from public property. | | (516) | 301
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Senior Civil Service Review. | | (538) | 302
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that parades for which no proper application has been submitted to the Parades Commission can be regulated by the Parades Commission. | | (558) | 303
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on progress in implementing each recommendation made by the Senior Civil Service Review. | | (559) | 304
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the composition by community background of security guards whose uniforms bear Crown insignia was on the latest date for which figures are available. | | (617) | 305
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for whom security guards on the Stormont estate with Crown insignia on their uniforms work. | | (618) | 306
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether security guards providing services to Northern Ireland Civil Service buildings wear Crown insignia. | | (619) | 307
N | Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what commitment the British Government made in the Joint Declaration on the unemployment differential. | | (620) | 308
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of people living in Northern Ireland were living in areas that were more than 90 per cent. (a) Catholic and (b) Protestant in each of the last three censuses. | | (621) | Questions to the Prime Minister 309
N | Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):To ask the Prime Minister, for what reasons the comprehensive press briefing on the content of the Queen's Speech was not made available to honourable Members in the Vote Office at the start of the debate on 17th May. | | (388) | 310
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Prime Minister, whether the Deputy Prime Minister has responsibilities in Government for matters other than those for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible. | | (526) | Questions to the Solicitor General 311
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the attrition rate in rape prosecutions. | | (593) | 312
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what the Crown Prosecution Service's policy is on dealing with defence applications to admit previous sexual history in rape cases which were not made in accordance with rules of court prior to trial. | | (597) | 313
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what monitoring is carried out by (a) the Law Officers and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service on the timing of applications by the defence to admit previous sexual history in rape trials, in relation to the trial date. | | (598) | 314
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what monitoring is carried out by (a) the Law Officers and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service of defence applications to introduce previous sexual history into rape trials. | | (599) | 315
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what quality control the Crown Prosecution Service carries out on barristers instructed to prosecute rape trials. | | (600) | 316
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, how many specialist rape prosecutors there are in England and Wales. | | (601) | 317
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what advice the Crown Prosecution Service gives to police about the inclusion of details of a rape complainant's previous sexual history in a witness statement made for trial. | | (602) | 318
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what the Crown Prosecution Service's policy is on the use of video interviews of rape complainants as evidence in chief. | | (605) | 319
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what proportion of applications to admit previous sexual history into rape trials was (a) opposed and (b) not opposed by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last period for which figures are available. | | (606) | 320
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what training the Crown Prosecution Service provides for barristers instructed for the prosecution in rape cases. | | (607) | 321
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, how many applications by the Crown Prosecution Service for the use of special measures to protect complainants in trials concerning domestic violence were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful during (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004. | | (608) | 322
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, how many applications for the use of special measures for complainants in trials concerning domestic violence were made by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2003 and 2004. | | (609) | 323
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, what his policy is on writing to rape complainants to explain why a discontinued case would not proceed. | | (610) | 324
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Solicitor General, if he will make it his policy that the complainant should be personally visited by the Crown Prosecution Service lawyer who makes the decisions when cases of rape are discontinued. | | (613) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 325
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much public expenditure on matters relating to the nuclear industry there has been since 1st May 1997; and what estimate he has made of future identified public liabilities in respect of existing activities. | | (169) | 326
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much and what percentage of public expenditure on energy research and development was spent on research and development for (a) nuclear fission, (b) nuclear fusion, (c) fossil fuel generation and (d) renewable energy sources in each year since 1997. | | (170) | 327
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much and what percentage of public expenditure on energy research and development for the financial year 2004-05 was planned to be spent on research and development for (a) nuclear fission, (b) nuclear fusion, (c) fossil fuel generation and (d) renewable energy sources. | | (171) | 328
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to close permanently the Thorp reprocessing plant. | | (172) | 329
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total expenditure to date on the Thorp reprocessing plant has been; and how much income has been generated by the plant during that period. | | (173) | 330
N | Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which Royal Mail offices in Northern Ireland have initiated affirmative action measures as a result of an under-representation of a section of the community; what the religious breakdown was in each case; and what change there has been in composition in each case since affirmative action was undertaken. | | (351) | 331
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether consent from the Scottish Executive is required for nuclear generation stations to be built or extended in Scotland. | | [R] (530) | 332
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when his Department will respond to the recommendations made to his Department in December 2004 concerning a strategic framework for hydrogen technology; when he expects the UK to have a hydrogen energy strategy; and if he will make a statement. | | (578) | 333
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether British Nuclear Fuels Limited is involved in the proposed building of a uranium enrichment facility in New Mexico; whether his Department has been consulted on the project; and if he will make a statement. | | (470) | 334
N | Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps were taken to put into effect the renaming of the Department as the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry; and what the cost of those steps was. | | (107) | 335
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effects of ECJ ruling C-88/04, 2005/C 45/21, OJ C45 of 19th February; and if he will make a statement. | | (492) | 336
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the Court of Auditors audit on the raw tobacco market, C41 OJ 17 Feb 05. | | (497) | 337
| Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much funding from the Phoenix Fund has been invested in (a) sole traders, (b) small business and (c) social enterprises through community development finance initiatives in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. | | (761) | 338
| Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research the Department commissioned on the levels of interest rates charges by community development finance institutions supported by the Phoenix Fund; and if he will make a statement. | | (764) | 339
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made since 1st April of the merits of asking the Serious Fraud Squad to investigate solicitors who have doubled-charged clients claiming under the coalminers' compensation scheme. | | (165) | 340
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many requests for information regarding the 1984-85 miners' strike under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been refused by his Department. | | (166) | 341
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which solicitors have not agreed to his Department's proposed scheme of £500 minimum compensation for successful claims for miners' industrial disease. | | (167) | 342
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria his Department used in making the decision to refuse compensation claims for surface workers employed by British Coal in coal prep plants. | | (474) | 343
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library papers prepared in relation to the signing of the agreement with Vendside Limited for miners' industrial disease compensation. | | (475) | 344
| Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action is being taken to prosecute Alvis plc for the payment made to Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana in order to secure the contract from the Indonesian Government to supply Scorpion armoured fighting vehicles; and if he make a full statement. | | (557) | 345
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) the Advisory Committee for the transparency of measures governing the pricing of medicinal products for human use, (ii) Advisory Committee on standardisation in the field of information technology (Sogits) met and (iii) Standing Committee for the harmonisation of national legislation relating to recreational craft met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (554) | 346
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Standing Committee for the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts, (ii) Standing Committee for the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning pressure equipment and (iii) Committee for the implementation of projects, actions and measures for the interoperability of trans-European networks for the interchange of data between administration (IDA) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (574) | 347
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on the Directives on names and labelling of textile products and (ii) Standing Committee on the harmonisation of national legislation on cableway installations designed to carry passengers met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (626) | 348
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Standing Committee on the approximation of the laws relating to construction products, (ii) Standing Committee on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to machinery and (iii) Standing Committee on medicinal products for human use met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (631) | 349
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Standing Committee for veterinary medicinal products, (ii) Standing Committee on technical rules and standards, including rules relating to information society services and (iii) Management Committee on horizontal questions concerning trade in processed agricultural products not listed in Annex I met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (639) | 350
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assistance his Department is giving to reseach bodies to encourage them to use scientific reseach techniques which do not involve animals for risk assessments on chemicals; and if he will make a statement. | | (674) | 351
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much public money British Energy Ltd has received since 1996. | | (754) | 352
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to encourage the (a) establishment and (b) growth of small and medium enterprises in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. | | (771) | 353
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to preserve the UK's opt-outs from the Working Time Directive; and if he will make a statement. | | (772) | 354
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures he is taking to encourage (a) national and (b) international investment in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. | | (774) | 355
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the implications for the working arrangements of honourable Members of the proposed changes to the rights of UK workers to opt out of the Working Time Directive; and if he will make a statement. | | (643) | 356
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the proportion of the adult population in (a) the UK, (b) the South West and (c) South Gloucestershire that had domestic access to e-mail (i) in the latest year for which estimates are available and (ii) five years earlier. | | (644) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 357
| Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the size of the UK merchant marine was by (a) tonnage and (b) number of ships (i) in the last period for which figures are available and (ii) 20 years ago. | | (793) | 358
| Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) officers and (b) seamen were serving in the merchant marine (i) in the last year for which figures are available and (ii) 20 years ago. | | (794) | 359
| Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what exercises the (a) armed forces and (b) emergency services have carried out with (i) ships and (ii) staff of the merchant marine to prepare for terrorist risks (A) at sea, (B) from the sea to coastal regions and (C) in ports. | | (795) | 360
| Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what exercises the (a) armed forces and (b) emergency services have carried out with (i) airlines and (ii) the commercial aviation sector in relation to the terrorist threat from (A) surface to air missiles and (B) hijacked aircraft used as weapons. | | (796) | 361
| Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to measure trends in numbers of complaints related to aircraft noise at the UK's major airports; whether the Government has commenced implementation of EU Directive 2002/49/EC on noise mapping; and what measures the Government introduced to promote research and development into new low noise engine and airframe technologies. | | (797) | 362
N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce his decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into the Potters Bar derailment. | | (108) | 363
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the future of Thameslink 2000. | | (746) | 364
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the future franchise for Thameslink services serving Mill Hill and Hendon. | | (747) | 365
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the new timetable for Thameslink services for Mill Hill, with particular reference to the ending of the fast train service from Mill Hill to central London. | | (748) | 366
N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce (a) further toll motorways and (b) tolls on other major roads. | | (450) | 367
N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to tackle aircraft emissions. | | (451) | 368
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on his policy on providing support for the construction of energy points for the refuelling of alternatively fuelled road vehicles. | | (456) | 369
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the estimated end of life of the UK's suspension bridges. | | (457) | 370
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list European Union working groups to which his Department sends representatives. | | (458) | 371
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list items of legislation within his responsibilities that are being discussed at European Union level. | | (459) | 372
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total length is of UK (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads; and how many miles of each were built in each year since 1997. | | (460) | 373
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many parking spaces there are in Central London in (a) street slots and (b) car parks. | | (462) | 374
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles are registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, broken down by category. | | (463) | 375
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost is of constructing a mile of (a) motorway and (b) trunk road. | | (464) | 376
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the levels of (a) motorway and (b) trunk road congestion were in each year since 1997. | | (465) | 377
N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads were affected by major roadworks on 18th May. | | (466) | 378
N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list areas were studies are being undertaken on sites of (a) historical, (b) environmental and (c) archaeological importance that are being considered as possible new motorway and trunk road routes. | | (467) | 379
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the likely effects of an increase in the speed limit on motorways. | | (476) | 380
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on his policy on the removal of graffiti from motorway bridges. | | (487) | 381
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on further planned changes to the driving test. | | (488) | 382
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list (a) historical and (b) archaeological sites that have been subject to (i) appeals against road construction and (ii) emergency excavation in road construction since 1997; and if he will list those where the road encroachment was authorised. | | (489) | 383
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on his policy on the construction of bypasses; and which areas have submitted (a) proposals and (b) objections to proposals to him since 1997. | | (490) | 384
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on his policy on the development of aesthetics in the design of motorways and flyovers. | | (491) | 385
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications of the completion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link for (a) London Bridge and (b) Waterloo stations. | | (110) | 386
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated total cost is of the tunnelled section of the A303 in Wiltshire near Stonehenge. | | (111) | 387
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is of the tunnelled section of the A3 at the Devil's Punchbowl near Hindhead in Surrey. | | (112) | 388
N | Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's (a) policy on and (b) funding commitment for the Thameslink Rail project is. | | (113) | 389
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the level of capacity on the East Coast route between Kings Cross and Thirsk. | | (889) | 390
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions have taken place over the last 12 months with EU countries on design and effectiveness of road humps. | | (408) | 391
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the merits of the design of the cushion road hump last underwent scientific testing; and what the conclusions of those tests were. | | (518) | 392
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many sets of cushion road humps have been installed in England and Wales. | | (519) | 393
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultations are planned with (a) fire services, (b) providers of bus services, (c) funeral directors, (d) the police and (e) ambulance services about the design of traffic calming measures, with particular reference to the cushion road hump. | | (520) | 394
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what feedback has been received from (a) fire services, (b) providers of bus services, (c) funeral directors, (d) the police and (e) ambulance services about the design of traffic calming measures, with particular reference to cushion road humps. | | (521) | 395
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library (a) a list of the members of the EU Transport Directorate's Driver Licensing Committee and their official contact details and (b) a list of the members of the European Working Group on Eyesight indicating (i) official contact details, (ii) credentials experience and (iii) at what stage they are at with their revision of Annex III of the 2nd Directive on Driving Licensure. | | (413) | 396
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for the estabishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system, (ii) Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods and (iii) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of recording equipment in road transport (tachographs) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (572) | 397
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation and (ii) Committee on application of the legislation on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports met; when and where these meetings took place; what Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (628) | 398
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on the driving licence met, (ii) Advisory Committee on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes and (iii) Advisory Committee on the definition and use of compatible technical and operating standards and specifications for the procurement of air-traffic management equipment and systems met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (633) | 399
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on implementation of Protocol 9 to the Act of Austria concerning transport by road and rail and combined transport (Ecopoints), (ii) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of roadworthiness tests of vehicles and (iii) Committee for a transparent system of harmonised rules for restrictions on heavy goods vehicles involved in international transport on designated roads met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. | | (636) | 400
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received regarding the proposed development of facilities at Nottingham East Midlands airport. | | (753) | 401
| Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisation has responsibility for determining temporary speed limits in the event of a motorway accident; at what level of seniority in that organisation the decision is made; what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of the level at which such limits are set and the duration for which they apply; and if he will make a statement. | | (647) | 402
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of the recent works by the Highways Agency to Junction 14 on the M5; at what times of day the newly-installed traffic lights will be in service; and if he will make a statement. | | (648) | 403
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the schedule for completion is for the Northern Distributor Road around Sittingbourne. | | (417) | Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality 404
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what plans the Government has to improve pay progression for women. | | (543) | 405
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what plans the Government has to curb poverty amongst women. | | (544) | 406
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what assessment she has made of changes in living standards for women since 1997. | | (545) | 407
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what plans the Government has to review the Equal Pay Act 1970. | | (546) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 408
| Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average Social Fund Community Care Grant award was in (a) England and (b) each region in each year since 1997-98. | | (527) | 409
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of initial decision-making on Social Fund Community Care Grant application. | | (649) | 410
N | Vera Baird (Redcar):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the level of additional funding required for the Social Fund Community Care Grant scheme to ensure that all high and medium priority claims are met. | | (650) | 411
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of JobCentres has been converted to the JobCentre Plus format in each year since the inception of the programme. | | (404) | 412
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken by the Child Support Agency to reply to a letter from a member of the public is in the last year for which figures are available. | | (804) | 413
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when Child Support Agency cases that pre-date the new system will be transferred onto the new system. | | (749) | 414
| Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what type of cars were bought by the Government's Motability scheme in each year since 2000. | | (735) | 415
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is towards publicising methods of paying benefits that do not require the recipient to hold a bank or similar account. | | (766) | 416
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children were classified as living in poverty in each year from 1979-80 to 2005-06; what targets have been set for each year to 2020; and if he will make a statement. | | (807) | 417
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effect on levels of unemployment since 1997 of (a) the New Deal and (b) JobCentre Plus initiatives; and if he will make a statement. | | (814) | 418
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the employment rate in the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to increase it. | | (815) | 419
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what basis his Department set a target employment rate of 80 per cent. for the UK; by what date he expects this target to be reached; and if he will make a statement. | | (816) | 420
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the medical reasons were for claims for incapacity benefit in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (817) | 421
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he will make a statement on the Pathways to Work pilots; by what date the schemes will be rolled out to cover (a) one-third and (b) the whole country; and if he will make a statement. | | (818) | 422
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of total departmental spending was in each year from 1980-81 to 2004-05; and what the projected figures are for each year to 2009-10 in (a) 2003-04 prices and (b) cash terms. | | (819) | 423
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the number of employees in (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies for each year from 1985-86; what the planned figures are for each year to 2008-09; and if he will make a statement. | | (820) | 424
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to reduce staff numbers in his Department in the next three years; in which areas reductions will be made; and if he will make a statement. | | (821) | 425
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the difficulties faced by individuals with mental health problems in receiving benefits into bank accounts. | | (868) | 426
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the number of UK pensioners living in absolute poverty for each year from 1985-86 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (869) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 427
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the 10 local authority areas in the UK with the (a) lowest employment rate and (b) highest unemployment rate; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (808) | 428
| Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the percentage of people suffering from autism who are in employment; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (676) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 429
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the number of Government employees likely to be affected by ECJ case 2005/C31/16 of OJ C31 of 5th February; where such staff are located; what estimate has been made of the cost of implementation; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (501) |
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