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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 8 June 2005
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 8 June 2005
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 8 June of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 8 June of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 8 June see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will take steps to improve the (a) speed and (b) relevance of replies by Government departments to letters and inquiries from (i) honourable Members and (ii) the public. | | (2861) | 2
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will take steps to introduce new performance indicators and a table of rankings for the performance of (a) Government departments and (b) ministers in responding to correspondence from honourable Members and the public. | | (2862) | 3
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will institute a system of beacon status and special measures to encourage improvements in ministerial and departmental performance in responding to correspondence from honourable Members and the public. | | (2863) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 4
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance has been given to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in respect of deferment of VAT payments by companies suffering losses as a result of MG Rover going into administration; what guidelines are in operation on this; and if he will make a statement. | | (2741) | 5
N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who immigrated into the UK in each year between 1990 and 2004. | | (2581) | 6
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of changes in the taxation of red diesel on (a) owners and (b) users of canal barges. | | (2765) | 7
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to maximise collection of taxes and revenues from businesses. | | (2937) | 8
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of personal wealth per head of population in each (a) region and (b) nation of the United Kingdom. | | (2837) | 9
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people he estimates did not pay income tax in 2004-05. | | (2839) | 10
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 of removing from income tax liability the first £10,000 of income; and how many people he estimates this would remove from income tax liability. | | (2840) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 11
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many personnel are employed by the Department to explain the operation of the criminal justice system to the public. | | (2828) | 12
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of magistrates resident in Nottingham North; and if she will take steps to improve recruitment of magistrates in that constituency. | | (2829) | 13
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans she has to involve honourable Members in delivering the objectives of her Department. | | (2858) | 14
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many magistrates there are in each Commission Area, broken down by constituency; and what assessment she has made of trends in recruitment. | | (2859) | 15
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment she has made of the proportion of magistrates from each socio-economic group in each year since 1997. | | (2871) | 16
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to reduce the proportion of the legal aid budget expended on very high cost criminal cases. | | (2813) | 17
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to grant the victims of certain crimes and their families a right to representation and advocacy in court. | | (2814) | 18
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to reform provisions relating to jury research and impropriety. | | (2815) | 19
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to reform the law relating to bailiffs and the enforcement of fines. | | (2816) | 20
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to reform the family justice system. | | (2819) | 21
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to bring forward a Judicial Pensions Bill. | | (2820) | 22
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether the Department plans to televise court hearings. | | (2821) | 23
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on plans to make statutory changes to the common law tort of negligence. | | (2822) | 24
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to amend the system of legal aid in fraud trials. | | (2823) | 25
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to raise the limit on small claims for personal injury cases. | | (2824) | 26
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to regulate advertising by compensation claims management companies. | | (2830) | 27
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to reduce the number of (a) ineffective and (b) cracked trials. | | (2853) | 28
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the capacity of the unified Courts Service to make more effective use of its resources. | | (2749) | 29
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when she plans to publish the findings of the Fundamental Legal Aid Review announced in May 2004; and if she will make a statement. | | (2761) | 30
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what percentage of trials in magistrates' courts in the Greater London area were ineffective on the date fixed for trial in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (2964) | 31
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of names on the current electoral register that were rolled forward from the previous year's register. | | (2745) | 32
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the Government's policy is on individual voter registration. | | (2948) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 33
| Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications have been made in (a) South Shropshire and (b) Bridgworth District Council areas for the new licences introduced by the Licensing Act 2003; what estimate she has made of the number of applications in each council area which remain to be made; and if she will make a statement. | | (2795) | 34
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to tackle racism in football. | | (2959) | 35
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to promote (a) theatre and (b) classical music. | | (2960) | 36
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations her Department has made to the EU Commission on the sale of the Tote. | | (2697) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 37
| Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects a decision to be made on whether to allow full rights of accompanied service to the wives of Gurkha soldiers. | | (2827) | 38
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British service personnel are (a) deployed and (b) stationed in (i) Germany, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (iv) Croatia, (v) Kosovo, (vi) Albania, (vii) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (viii) Sierra Leone, (ix) the Gulf Region, (x) Turkey, (xi) Gibraltar, (xii) Belize, (xiii) Kenya, (xiv) Canada, (xv) the Falkland Islands, (xvi) Cyprus, (xvii) Brunei and (xviii) Afghanistan. | | (2663) | 39
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the (a) Royal Navy, (b) British Army and (c) Royal Air Force have resigned citing poor financial remuneration as their principal reason for leaving since 2003. | | (2664) | 40
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the C130K aircraft based at RAF Lyneham are due to be redeployed to RAF Brize Norton. | | (2637) | 41
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the Royal Air Force to use Fairford air base jointly with the US Air Force after the runway is refurbished at RAF Brize Norton. | | (2638) | 42
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Royal Air Force DC10 and Tri-Star fleets to be phased out-of-service. | | (2639) | 43
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which new aircraft will be based at RAF Brize Norton; and what their in-service dates will be. | | (2641) | 44
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of lessons to be learned on the provision of appropriate and adequate security arrangements by UK troops in Iraq from the experiences at Camp Breadbasket; and if he will make a statement. | | (2717) | 45
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make representations to his United States counterpart to investigate claims made by former US Marine Jimmy Massey that US coalition forces in Iraq shot dead unarmed Iraqi civilians at roadblocks in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. | | (2904) | 46
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which minehunters are to be fitted with the very shallow water unmanned underwater vehicle system (Remus); what the in-service date is; whether all minehunters will be fitted with this system; and if he will make a statement. | | (2973) | 47
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to recover the naval equipment held by the Iranian authorities; and if he will make a statement. | | (2974) | 48
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current estimate for the (a) in-service date and (b) cost of Royal Navy tankers under the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainabililty programme is; what the original estimates were; and if he will make a statement. | | (2975) | 49
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the decommissioning date for RFA Grey Rover is. | | (2976) | 50
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vessels in the Trafalgar Class have been subject to unscheduled operating restrictions in the last 12 months; what the causes were; and if he will make a statement. | | (2977) | 51
N | Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on preliminary (a) studies and (b) projects relating to the possible next generation of British nuclear weapons in each of the past four years; and what sums have been earmarked for expenditure in each of the next four years. | | (2000) | 52
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to encourage young people to join the armed forces. | | (2961) | 53
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in how many security incidents members of UK armed forces have been involved in Afghanistan since December 2004. | | (2694) | 54
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan. | | (2695) | 55
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contingency measures his Department has in place to support UK armed forces personnel based in Afghanistan, in the event of a deterioration in the security situation there. | | (2696) | 56
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the Territorial Army centres in the North West of England. | | (2709) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 57
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the progress made by local authorities in producing written constitutions; and if he will make a statement. | | (2825) | 58
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to review national planning policy guidance on mobile telephone telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. | | (2740) | 59
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his policy is on mobile phone operators sharing telecommunications masts; what steps he has taken to encourage operators to do so; and if he will make a statement. | | (2746) | 60
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received since 2001 against the current planning law on mobile phone telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. | | (2747) | 61
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what investigation his Department has undertaken into the fees charged by local planning authorities for planning applications for mobile telephone telecommunication masts; and if he will make a statement. | | (2748) | 62
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum average earnings are for eligibility for Social Homebuy. | | (2924) | 63
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the sites designated for Social Homebuy. | | (2925) | 64
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the Local Government Association on local government pensions; and what plans he has to tackle deficits in local government pension funds. | | (2926) | 65
N | Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on Government plans to build 21,000 homes on Green Belt around Bournemouth. | | (1876) | 66
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of local government staff employed primarily in electoral administration (a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (2744) | 67
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what executive powers local strategic partnerships have. | | (2644) | 68
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the Government's policy is on honourable Members being members of local strategic partnerships. | | (2645) | 69
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the composition of each local strategic partnership is. | | (2646) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 70
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will establish a system to introduce low income students to employers who in return for a year's secondment will pay their university fees; and if she will make a statement. | | (2866) | 71
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to involve honourable Members in her review of exclusions and bad behaviour. | | (2867) | 72
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what information her Department has distributed to secondary school pupils on the restoration of student grants. | | (2868) | 73
| Mr Eric Forth (Bromley & Chislehurst):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will publish the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency document, Value for Money Review of School Management Information Systems; and if she will place a copy in the Library. | | [R] (2648) | 74
| Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what proportion of secondary schools in (a) Birmingham, (b) Dudley, (c) Coventry, (d) Sandwell, (e) Solihull, (f) Walsall, (g) Wolverhampton, (h) Worcestershire, (i) Staffordshire, (j) Shropshire, (k) Telford and Wrekin, (l) Warwickshire and (m) Stoke-on-Trent receive the Leadership Incentive Grant. | | (2850) | 75
| Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria are used to decide which schools receive the Leadership Incentive Grant; and whether she plans to change the criteria. | | (2851) | 76
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps she has taken to take forward the out of classroom education manifesto; and if she will make a statement. | | (2682) | 77
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to reform the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. | | (2817) | 78
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the participation rates of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in her Department's anti-bullying consultations. | | (2716) | 79
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what changes she has made to the criteria for obtaining a grant from the Parenting Fund. | | (2750) | 80
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress she has made in ensuring that all schools adopt a whole-school approach to their food in school policies. | | (2751) | 81
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many further education colleges have reported that they expect to be in financial deficit in this finanical year; and if she will make a statement. | | (2743) | 82
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list the representations received in the last three months from (a) schools and (b) local education authorities on implementation of the workload agreement. | | (2766) | 83
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students in England failed one or more A level examinations in each year since 1997. | | (2906) | 84
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much the Government has spent on bursaries in each of the last five years. | | (2927) | 85
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps is the Government taking to lower the rate of unauthorised absences in secondary schools. | | (2931) | 86
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was spent per student in secondary schools in England in each year since 1997. | | (2953) | 87
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of sexually-transmitted diseases in schools. | | (2954) | 88
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the burden of administration in schools. | | (2956) | 89
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps she is taking to enable teachers to participate in salary sacrificing schemes to secure tax relief on child care vouchers; and if she will make a statement. | | (2633) | 90
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether she plans to make the vocational qualification in school catering a national vocational qualification. | | (2796) | 91
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what role the British Nutrition Foundation has in (a) developing the content of food and nutrition courses in schools and (b) developing the course content of the vocational qualification in school catering. | | (2798) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 92
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to review the system of litter abatement orders. | | (2640) | 93
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that there are robust targets for farm animal welfare in the England Rural Development Programme from 2007. | | (2675) | 94
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what standards for animal welfare will apply to agri-environmental schemes under the England Rural Development Programme from 2007-08; and what discretion she has to seek derogations from EU standards. | | (2676) | 95
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the sewer capacity in (a) Stroud, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) England. | | (2677) | 96
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to define microbial public health standards for (a) water courses and (b) discharges into them. | | (2678) | 97
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) she and (b) the Environment Agency have had with Local Agenda 21 groups about pollution of water courses. | | (2679) | 98
| Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on permitted activities on land for which Single Farm Payments are made; and if she will take steps to classify paragliding and hand-gliding as permitted activities. | | (2693) | 99
| Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance she has issued to farmers in relation to ensuring the United Kingdom meets its biofuels targets under the EU Biofuels Directive. | | (2794) | 100
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons sugar beet is treated differently from potatoes in relation to authorised entitlements on land under the Single Farm Payments system. | | (2875) | 101
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the reasons are for the rule that any animal must be slaughtered within 48 hours of sale; if she will (a) extend this period by a further 24 hours over weekends and (b) include reference to lairage; and if she will make a statement. | | (2876) | 102
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to change the system whereby councils' targets to increase recycling are based on a percentage increase on their previous volumes. | | (2758) | 103
| Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences to kill cormorants have been issued in each Government Office region under her Department's revised policy announced on 16th September 2004; and how many cormorants have been licensed to be killed in each region as a result of such licences. | | (2692) | 104
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what use is made of revenues raised from National Rod Licence fees. | | (2915) | 105
| Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of carbon that is released per unit of electricity through the lifecycle of a nuclear power station, taking into account the building of the nuclear station and the transportation of nuclear materials; and if she will make a statement. | | (2642) | 106
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will revise the advice given to local authorities on handling complaints relating to low-frequency noise to assist them in detecting the source of low-frequency noise. | | (2721) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 107
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with member states of the African Union regarding the treatment of Médecins Sans Frontières officials in Darfur. | | (2625) | 108
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Sudan regarding the arrest of Médecins Sans Frontières officials in Darfur. | | (2626) | 109
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the United States Administration regarding the human rights record of the government of Uzbekistan. | | (2627) | 110
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Uzbekistan regarding the handling of protests in Eastern Andijan on 13th May. | | (2628) | 111
| John Bercow (Buckingham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Uzbekistan regarding respecting human rights. | | (2629) | 112
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of the assassination of Samir Kassir in the Lebanon; what his policy is on the extension of the UN enquiry into the death of Rafic Hariri to the case of Mr Kassir; what assistance the United Kingdom is giving to the enquiry; and if he will make a statement. | | (2738) | 113
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the role is of the European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency; when it was established; how it is financed; what the UK contribution was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (2879) | 114
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contribution the UK is making to (a) the NATO Trust Fund project for the destruction of anti-personnel landmines in Serbia and Montenegro and (b) the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance for its work in Balkan countries in this financial year; what further UK funding is proposed; in what countries work is planned; and if he will make a statement. | | (2920) | 115
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what position UK representatives are taking in discussions at the United Nations on the extension of the mandate for troops in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. | | (2933) | 116
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the human rights compliance of the (a) immigration and (b) labour policies of Malaysia. | | (1856) | 117
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the US authorities concerning the case of Luis Posada, wanted for extradition in connection with alleged terrorism. | | (2685) | 118
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Colombian Government on the recent arrest of the Colombian Agricultural Trade Union representative Hernando Hernandez Tapasco; and if he will make a statement. | | (2860) | 119
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of Uganda to host the 2007 meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government; and if he will make a statement. | | (2754) | 120
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether entry visas were issued to opposition politicians to attend the London debate on constitutional amendment in Uganda. | | (2755) | 121
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what preparatory work has been carried out in relation to the European External Action Service. | | (2674) | 122
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will answer the letter dated 15th April from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs S. Siddique. | | (2632) | 123
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the UK's relations with Zimbabwe. | | (2846) | 124
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the incidence of fraud in each EU programme has been in each of the last five years; what steps are being taken to guard against such fraud; and if he will make a statement. | | (2762) | 125
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help maintain fish stocks in the seas surrounding the Falkland Islands. | | (2958) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 126
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which primary care trusts have introduced simple and routine chiropody services through measures other than by a registered podiatrist or chiropodist; and how many NHS patients have received chiropody treatment through measures other than by a registered podiatrist or chiropodist in each of the last 10 years. | | (2160) | 127
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the provision of simple and routine NHS chiropody services by primary care trusts other than by a registered podiatrist or chiropodist; and if she will make a statement. | | (2161) | 128
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms have been put in place to assess the provision of simple and routine chiropody services by primary care trusts other than by a specialist podiatrist or chiropodist; and if she will make a statement. | | (2162) | 129
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what definition of simple and routine services she uses in relation to chiropody services; and if she will list NHS chiropody treatments which are included within the definition. | | (2163) | 130
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions were issued in each of the last five years for (a) atypical, (b) traditional and (c) all antipsychotic medication in each (i) region and (ii) health authority for (A) 0 to 15 years, (B) 16 to 59 years and (C) 60 years and over age groups. | | (2909) | 131
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list local authorities in England which have established (a) adult protection policies and (b) adult protection committees following publication of the No Secrets guidance. | | (2910) | 132
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data on the (a) nature and (b) volume of elder abuse has been collected to date as part of the Modernisation of Adult Social Care Research Initiative. | | (2911) | 133
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the establishment of a national data collection system on adult abuse; and if she will make a statement. | | (2912) | 134
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the recording of adverse events in domiciliary care services. | | (2913) | 135
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to make the Quality and Outcomes Framework indicator for medication reviews for repeat prescriptions available to (a) honourable Members and (b) the public. | | (2914) | 136
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Healthcare Commission has responsibility for measuring compliance with the quality and outcomes framework indicator for medication reviews for repeat prescriptions; and if she will make a statement. | | (2916) | 137
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People milestone for (a) annual medicine reviews for all people over 75 years and (b) six monthly medicine reviews for people over 75 years taking four or more medicines. | | (2917) | 138
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the population aged over 75 years being treated with four or more prescribed medicines at one time in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2918) | 139
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether she expects the National Framework on Continuing Care to contain national eligibility criteria for fully-funded NHS continuing care. | | (2928) | 140
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she expects to publish the reponse to the Health Committee report published in April on NHS Continuing Care. | | (2929) | 141
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she expects to publish the National Framework on Continuing Care. | | (2930) | 142
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases related to retrospective continuing care assessments have been taken up by the Ombudsman at appeal; and how many of these were upheld. | | (2936) | 143
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the incidence of MRSA in NHS hospitals. | | (2878) | 144
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research she has commissioned on the (a) physical causes and (b) treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis; and how much has been spent on such research in each of the last five years. | | (2882) | 145
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed by NHS Direct at 31st December (a) 2004, (b) 2003, (c) 2002 and (d) 2001; and if she will make a statement. | | (2883) | 146
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average monthly running costs of NHS Direct were in each year since its inception; and if she will make a statement. | | (2884) | 147
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evaluation has taken place of the performance of NHS Direct; and if she will make a statement. | | (2885) | 148
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funds have been committed to improving access to primary care in Hornsey and Wood Green since 1997; and if she will make a statement. | | (2886) | 149
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of routine appointment waiting times at general practitioner surgeries in Hornsey and Wood Green; and if she will make a statement. | | (2887) | 150
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what her latest estimate is of the general practitioner to patient ratio in Hornsey and Wood Green; and if she will make a statement. | | (2888) | 151
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much government funding has been allocated to research into MRSA in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. | | (2889) | 152
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases have been dealt with by NHS Direct; how many calls have been abandoned; how many call centres are operational; where each centre is located; what the running costs of each call centre were in each year since its inception; and if she will make a statement. | | (2932) | 153
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education and Skills on the setting of higher nutritional standards for school meals. | | (2752) | 154
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations she has received on establishing more exemptions from prescription charges for patients with long-term conditions. | | (2753) | 155
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent NHS dentists have been employed in North Shropshire constituency in each of the last five years. | | (2789) | 156
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent NHS general practitioners have been employed in North Shropshire constituency in each of the last five years. | | (2790) | 157
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the sale of illegal meat unfit for human consumption in restaurants. | | (2952) | 158
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to improve the efficiency of the ambulance service. | | (2963) | 159
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the allocated capital funding for years (a) one and (b) two has been spent on digital cameras and related software for the screening of people with diabetes. | | (2810) | 160
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action she plans to take to tackle non-compliance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis. | | (2700) | 161
| Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the number of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who would benefit from anti-TNFa therapy but who do not receive it; and if she will make a statement. | | (2737) | 162
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role the British Nutrition Foundation has in advising her Department on food and nutrition policy. | | (2797) | 163
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the implications of changes in the structure and funding of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for the availability of new treatments for cancer patients. | | (2155) | 164
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budget is for (a) (i) the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and (ii) the Health Protection Agency in 2004-05 and (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2005-06. | | (2156) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 165
N | Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizens of EU accession state countries are registered to work in the UK. | | (1814) | 166
N | Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list (a) education services, (b) health services, (c) publicly-funded housing, (d) benefits, (e) employment protection and (f) other public services to which (i) citizens of the EU Accession State countries who have not registered to work but who are living in the UK with families and (ii) their families are entitled; and to which services (A) those who have registered for work and (B) their families are entitled. | | (1815) | 167
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department's information held on alleged Nazi war criminals includes information on any persons who were formerly detained in the category known as black prisoners of war during the Second World War; and if he will make a statement. | | (2680) | 168
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress is being made in the investigations for war crimes into the former members of the SS Galician division believed to be resident in the UK; and if he will make a statement. | | (2681) | 169
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the resources available (a) to the Metropolitan Police to investigate and (b) to the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute alleged Nazi war criminals resident in the UK; and if he will make a statement. | | (2683) | 170
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will assess the merits of professional historians assisting the Metropolitan Police in war crimes investigations; and if he will make a statement. | | (2684) | 171
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a list of suspected Nazi war criminals believed to be resident in the UK was supplied to the UK by the USSR in 1988; and if he will make a statement. | | (2686) | 172
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter from the then Immigration Minister of 8th February to the honourable Member for Hendon, on how many alleged Nazi war criminals who may be living in the UK his Department holds personal information; if he will pass the information to the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorism branch; whether the information held includes information on any of those individuals named in the list communicated to him by the honourable Member for Hendon; and if he will make a statement. | | (2718) | 173
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) budget and (b) expenditure of the London Probation Service was in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. | | (2864) | 174
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what ratio of staff to clients is operated by the London Probation Service; and if he will make a statement. | | (2865) | 175
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding per head of population the Metropolitan Police Service received in each year since 1995 from (a) central funds and (b) precept; and if he will make a statement. | | (2890) | 176
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints under active investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission are (a) less than one year old, (b) one to three years old, (c) three to five years old and (d) over five years old; and if he will make a statement. | | (2891) | 177
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents involving police service vehicles there were in each year since 1995, broken down by police authority; and if he will make a statement. | | (2892) | 178
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff vacancies there were at each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution on 31st December (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004; and if he will make a statement. | | (2893) | 179
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evaluation has taken place of the Police Standards Unit since its inception; and if he will make a statement. | | (2894) | 180
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police patrol vehicles, (b) police vans, (c) unmarked police vehicles and (d) other police vehicles are available in each London borough; and if he will make a statement. | | (2895) | 181
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received on the remuneration of London-based prison staff; and if he will make a statement. | | (2896) | 182
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many teenagers in the London Borough of Haringey he estimates have tried class A drugs in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. | | (2897) | 183
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of crime in the London Borough of Haringey was deemed to be drug-related in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. | | (2898) | 184
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of domestic violence were reported in the London Borough of Haringey in each year since 1995; how many fatalities were recorded as a result of these incidents; and if he will make a statement. | | (2899) | 185
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts and (b) senior police officers on tackling (i) child prostitution and (ii) child trafficking; what proposals were examined; and if he will make a statement. | | (2900) | 186
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) sex offenders, (b) drug users, (c) domestic violence offenders and (d) mentally ill persons are being dealt with by the London Probation Service; and if he will make a statement. | | (2901) | 187
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many homophobic hate crimes there have been since recording began, broken down by London borough; and if he will make a statement. | | (2921) | 188
| Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to conduct a computerised model for the national identity card system. | | (2636) | 189
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the paper approved by the National Council of Victim Support in March on an external review of the role, scope and location of the Victim Support National Office; and if he will make a statement. | | (2699) | 190
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for judge-alone trials in fraud cases. | | (2812) | 191
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Department has to change arrangements relating to coroners and death certification. | | (2854) | 192
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will answer the letter dated 22nd April from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Nisar Ahmo. | | (2630) | 193
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will answer the letter dated 23rd March from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr N. Hussain. | | (2631) | 194
| Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide financial assistance to large rural parish councils that receive no regular police patrols to employ community support officers. | | (2791) | 195
| Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure West Mercia police force continues to patrol the parish of Pontesbury, Shropshire. | | (2793) | 196
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the staff at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre previously worked at St John's Centre at Tiffield. | | (2877) | 197
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what response he will make to the review of the use of restraint in secure training centres; and if he will make a statement. | | (2902) | 198
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the review of the use of restraint in secure training centres for young people. | | (2903) | 199
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase opportunities for prisoners to play team sport; and if he will make a statement. | | (2702) | 200
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has commissioned regarding rates of reoffending by prisoners who play team sports in prison. | | (2703) | 201
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of (a) community rehabilitation orders, (b) community punishment orders and (c) drug treatment and testing orders were breached in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2705) | 202
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of defendants conditionally discharged for an offence reoffended within the period of discharge. | | (2706) | 203
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many defendants in magistrates' courts in Greater London have been remanded (a) in custody and (b) on bail for pre-sentence reports in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available; how many of those have returned to court with no report prepared on the due date; and if he will make a statement. | | (2710) | 204
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at which young offender institutions prisoners are (a) taught and (b) able to play (i) football, (ii) cricket and (iii) rugby. | | (2711) | 205
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours on average were spent per week by prisoners at each young offender institution on (a) education and (b) sport in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2712) | 206
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours on average were spent per week by prisoners at each young offender institution (a) in and (b) out of cells in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2713) | 207
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase educational opportunities for prisoners; and if he will make a statement. | | (2714) | 208
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work permits were issued in each of the last three years to individuals to work in the information technology sector; how many persons granted a permit (a) failed to return to their country of origin on its expiry and (b) were notified by the company concerned to his Department as having failed to return. | | (2715) | 209
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of crime was (a) alcohol-related and (b) drug-related in each of the last three years. | | (2831) | 210
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) the immigration status and (b) the nationality of convicted defendants in magistrates' courts in the Greater London area is recorded. | | (2834) | 211
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many recommendations for deportation in respect of convicted criminals have been made by the judiciary in (a) Crown Courts and (b) magistrates' courts in each of the last three years. | | (2835) | 212
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many nationals of the EU accession countries have been convicted of crimes in the Greater London area in the last 12 months. | | (2836) | 213
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of initial asylum decisions were successfully appealed by the applicant in each of the last five years. | | (2841) | 214
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of his Department's employees were engaged (a) part-time and (b) full-time on asylum removals in each of the last five years. | | (2842) | 215
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to bring forward proposals to hear asylum applications offshore; and if he will make a statement. | | (2843) | 216
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to speed up the asylum process. | | (2844) | 217
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time between initial decisions in asylum applications and the hearing of an appeal was in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2845) | 218
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of asylum applications received an initial decision within (a) one month, (b) two months and (c) three months of application in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2847) | 219
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to increase the rate of removal of failed asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. | | (2848) | 220
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK. | | (2849) | 221
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total value was of fixed penalty notices handed out by the police in the Greater London area in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage of this sum remains unrecovered. | | (2965) | 222
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the forms completed by the police following (a) the report of a criminal offence and (b) the arrest of a suspect. | | (2966) | 223
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what educational opportunities are available to prisoners sentenced to three months imprisonment or less. | | (2967) | 224
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of persons arrested for a trigger offence under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 have tested positive for drugs in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (2968) | 225
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce the supply of drugs from Afghanistan to the UK. | | (2969) | 226
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applicants have had their asylum application refused but have not been removed because of successful Human Rights Act 1998 applications in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (2970) | 227
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons were granted (a) indefinite leave to remain and (b) exceptional leave to remain in each of the last eight years. | | (2971) | 228
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methods are used by his Department to assess the age of young asylum seekers. | | (2972) | 229
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dispersal orders are in force; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of dispersal orders. | | (2728) | 230
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in England have dedicated teams responsible for investigating election offences; and if he will make a statement. | | (2736) | 231
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the grooming of teenage girls on the internet; and if he will make a statement. | | (2905) | 232
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are serving life sentences in England and Wales. | | (2907) | 233
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prison inmates have escaped from prisons in England and Wales in each of the last eight years. | | (2908) | 234
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the prison population in England and Wales is, broken down by gender. | | (2934) | 235
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to stop illegal immigration into the UK. | | (2935) | 236
| Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children were reported to the police as missing from home in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) region, (b) age and (c) gender. | | (2647) | 237
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which external consultants his Department received advice on the biometric technology to be used for the proposed identity cards. | | (2698) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 238
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid was donated by the United Kingdom to each African country per head of population in the last financial year; and what ranking the Government applies to the relative poverty of African countries. | | (2739) | 239
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many developing countries trade with the EU. | | (1857) | 240
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with the Indian Government regarding AIDS in India; and he will make a statement. | | (1858) | 241
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the level of HIV/AIDS in Brazil. | | (1859) | 242
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to promote economic growth in Tanzania. | | (2938) | 243
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations the Government has made to the Nigerian government on corruption; and if he will make a statement. | | (2939) | 244
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to reduce trade barriers in Africa. | | (2940) | 245
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to encourage development in Sierra Leone. | | (2941) | 246
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to assist in tackling HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. | | (2942) | 247
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to assist in raising living standards in Nigeria. | | (2943) | 248
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to encourage African governments to tackle corruption. | | (2944) | 249
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance the Government is providing to help tackle HIV/AIDS in Botswana. | | (2945) | 250
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance the Government is providing to alleviate debt in sub-Saharan African countries. | | (2946) | 251
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in what ways the Government is working with the government of the Ivory Coast to tackle its debt. | | (2947) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 252
| Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of people used each of the four approved forms of identification at the General Election in Northern Ireland on 5th May. | | (2799) | 253
| Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prescriptions were issued in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those did not require payment by the recipient. | | (2800) | 254
| Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many dentists based in Northern Ireland commenced practice within the NHS during 2004. | | (2801) | 255
| Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many dentists were taking new NHS patients in Northern Ireland at the end of 2004. | | (2802) | 256
N | Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total amount of Northern Ireland Tourist Board investment has been in each Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years. | | (2340) | 257
N | Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the (a) terms of reference and (b) work programme of the Forestry Division in Northern Ireland are. | | (2001) | 258
N | Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the budget for forest parks in Northern Ireland is in 2005-06, broken down by main budget head; and what staffing costs are estimated to be in 2005-06. | | (2002) | 259
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the £200 bonus to pensioners to assist with payment of the council tax will be made available to pensioners in Northern Ireland to assist with the payment of local rate bills. | | (1741) | 260
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Pre-School Education Advisory Group places were allocated to (a) Kileeshil playgroup, (b) Gallally playgroup, (c) An-Terrain playgroup and (d) Little Acorns playgroup in the Southern Education and Library Board area in (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05. | | (1742) | Questions to the Prime Minister 261
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the powers available to him under the Royal Prerogative. | | (2826) | 262
| Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will establish a Royal Commission to develop a long-term strategy on improving and promoting social behaviour and reducing anti-social behaviour. | | (2869) | 263
| Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):To ask the Prime Minister, whether it is his intention that the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs should retain this title in addition to the title of Lord Chancellor. | | (2818) | Questions to the Solicitor General 264
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Solicitor General, what the cost was of the trial of the individuals who broke into the House of Commons Chamber in September 2004. | | (2720) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 265
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assistance is available to companies supplying MG Rover who are not located in the West Midlands; what assessment has been made of claims of retention of title made by Rover suppliers in respect of stock supplied to Rover; and what assistance is planned to be given to companies with such claims. | | (2742) | 266
N | Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has held with (a) the Association of British Travel Agents, (b) the Federation of Tour Operators and (c) the Association of Independent Tour Operators regarding steps to reduce the regulatory burden in the travel industry. | | (2164) | 267
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his policy is for protecting natural gas supplies being imported into the UK from the (a) former Soviet Union and (b) Middle East up to 2020. | | (2978) | 268
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of the UK's energy needs are met by natural gas; and what the forecast is for (a) 2010 and (b) 2020. | | (2979) | 269
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, from where he expects natural gas used in the UK to be sourced in (a) 2010 and (b) 2020; and in what quantities. | | (2980) | 270
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the number of days of strategic reserves of (a) petroleum and (b) oil held; how this estimate was calculated; and if he will make a statement. | | (2660) | 271
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what meetings were held in his Department during the period Parliament was dissolved concerning the security of supply of road fuels and strategic reserves; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings. | | (2661) | 272
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received from the petroleum supply industry concerning the security of supply and strategic reserves. | | (2662) | 273
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which minister signed the coal health agreements in 1999 with (a) Vendside and (b) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. | | (2405) | 274
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings have taken place between his Department and Clare Walker of Vendside since 1998. | | (2518) | 275
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has made to the Coal Authority about its website directing coal health claimants to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. | | (2519) | 276
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what investigations have been instigated by his Department into (a) Walker and Co (Claims Management) Ltd and (b) Indiclaim Ltd concerning charging for coalminers compensation. | | (2520) | 277
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) departmental press releases and (b) parliamentary (i) written and (ii) oral statements during 1999 referred directly to the vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease agreements with the Union of Democratic Mineworks and Vendside. | | (2643) | 278
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which 20 solicitors received the highest number of deceased miners' claims in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004. | | (2665) | 279
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many industrial disease claims for deceased miners were submitted in 2004. | | (2666) | 280
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many deceased miners' claims were submitted by Vendside in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. | | (2667) | 281
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many deceased miners' claims were submitted by (a) Beresfords, (b) Wake Smith, (c) AMS Law and (d) Moss solicitors in 2004. | | (2668) | 282
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what requests he has made to Wake Smith solicitors to repay monies to his Department following payments by Wake Smith solicitors to Indiclaim Ltd in connection with the miners' industrial disease compensation scheme. | | (2669) | 283
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many solicitors' firms have claimed back money from his Department whilst paying fees to (a) Walker and Co Claims Management Ltd and (b) Indiclaim Ltd in connection with the miners' industrial disease compensation scheme. | | (2670) | 284
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many deceased miners' claims were submitted from (a) Bassetlaw constituency, (b) Mansfield constituency, (c) Nottinghamshire, (d) East Midlands and (e) Yorkshire in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004. | | (2671) | 285
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims for dispersement payments have been refused to Richmonds solicitors. | | (2672) | 286
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims for deceased miners were submitted by more than one party in each year between 2001 and 2004. | | (2673) | 287
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when his Department gave authority for the claims handling agreement with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers to be run by Vendside Ltd. | | (2707) | 288
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who the individual signatories were to the claims handling agreements of 1999 between his Department and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers and Vendside Ltd. | | (2708) | 289
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions took place with the Treasury on the VAT implications of his Department's agreement with Vendside Ltd. | | (2729) | 290
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether his Department has referred the matters connected with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers and Vendside Ltd which it is investigating to the National Audit Office. | | (2730) | 291
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what audit his Department has (a) carried out and (b) commissioned into (i) whether there has been abuse of deceased coalminers' claims for industrial disease and (ii) what potential exists for such abuse. | | (2731) | 292
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which 20 solicitors have received the highest average payments per claim for work done in connection with deceased miners' claims. | | (2732) | 293
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many employees of AON Irisc had previously worked for the National Coal Board on the date of the signing of the DTI/Irisc contract for coal health claims. | | (2733) | 294
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what safeguards have been put in place to protect the interests of his Department when a senior Irisc employee leaves to take up employment with a solicitor or claims handler. | | (2734) | 295
| John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons his Department signed coal health agreements with both Vendside and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. | | (2735) | 296
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of average full-time workers' pay in the South West Region in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency. | | (2838) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 297
N | Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passenger miles were travelled on (a) buses and (b) light-rail in each transport authority in England in each year since 1996. | | (1813) | 298
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 131W, on Thameslink, whether (a) fast and (b) semi-fast trains stopped at (i) Mill Hill and (ii) Hendon under the Thameslink timetable in operation before the Summer 2005 timetable; whether (A) fast and (B) semi-fast trains will stop under the new Summer 2005 timetable at (1) Mill Hill and (2) Hendon; what the reasons for the changes to the timetable are; what assessment he has made of the effect of the new timetable on commuters from Mill Hill and Hendon; and if he will make a statement. | | (2719) | 299
N | Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to impose a levy on outbound UK air passengers, in the form proposed by the Civil Aviation Authority, to fund a consumer protection regime. | | (2165) | 300
| Stewart Hosie (Dundee East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account will be taken of (a) engine size, (b) emissions and (c) fuel efficiency when calculating road charging prices. | | (2880) | 301
| Stewart Hosie (Dundee East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the likely effects on tourism of a road charging scheme. | | (2881) | 302
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the maximum number of people that could be carried each weekday on an unbroken direct rail route between (a) London and Manchester and (b) London and Liverpool; and how many he estimates could be carried in standard class in each case. | | (2757) | 303
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles on average use the M6 between Stoke and Knutsford on each week day in the last period for which figures are available. | | (2763) | 304
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research he has evaluated on (a) the purposes for car journeys on the M6 and (b) the average length of car journeys on the M6. | | (2764) | 305
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on plans for a pay-as-you-go drive system. | | (2949) | 306
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list airlines which have been banned from travelling inside UK airspace. | | (2950) | 307
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government's plans are for airport expansion. | | (2951) | 308
| Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will initiate a review of legislation governing the use of vehicles for school transport contracts which do not have safety belts fitted. | | (2870) | 309
| John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will (a) withdraw the Complete Official Learner's Driving Pack published by The Stationery Office, (b) amend the inaccurate information it contains and (c) refund the cost to learner drivers and others who have purchased the Pack. | | (2852) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 310
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the provision of digital signals which would allow free view set-top boxes to be used in Welsh valley communities. | | (2767) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 311
N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost of (a) invalidity benefit and (b) incapacity benefit (i) in cash terms, (ii) in real terms and (iii) as a proportion of the benefit budget for people of working age has been in each of the last 30 years. | | (1875) | 312
N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people had been claiming incapacity or invalidity benefit for (a) up to one year, (b) one to two years, (c) two to three years, (d) three to four years, (e) four to five years, (f) five to 10 years, (g) 10 to 15 years and (h) 15 years and over in each of the last 30 years. | | (2159) | 313
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to encourage unemployed young people to learn new skills. | | (2955) | 314
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to increase the state pension. | | (2957) | 315
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much time elapsed between agreement by the Child Support Agency of the payments to Simone Hampshire, a constituent of the honourable Member for Sittingbourne & Sheppey, and her receipt of such payments. | | (2109) | 316
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will investigate the Child Support Agency's handling of the case of Simone Hampshire. | | (2634) | 317
| Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make representations to the Child Support Agency to resolve the case of Simone Hampshire. | | (2635) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 318
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what percentage of cases set down for committal by magistrates in the Greater London area were not ready for committal on the due date in the last period for which figures are available. | | [Transferred] (2701) | 319
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans she has to set up designated drugs courts in the Greater London area; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (2704) | 320
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many deputy district judges (magistrates' courts) were in post on 1st January in each of the last five years. | | [Transferred] (2832) | 321
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many district judges (magistrates' courts) were in post on 1st January in each of the last five years; and what plans she has to increase the number. | | [Transferred] (2833) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 322
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action has been taken on unexploded ordnance in the region of Iraq where the UK has responsibility; how much has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date by the UK for this purpose; how much ordnance has been destroyed; what estimate has been made of unexploded ordnance still to be dealt with in the area; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (2919) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 323
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is possible for the precepts paid by local authorities to waste disposal authorities to be calculated on the number of Band D properties only, without reference to councils' success in achieving recycling targets. | | [Transferred] (2756) | 324
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many waste disposal authorities calculate the precept imposed on local councils without reference to the amount of recycling done by any given council. | | [Transferred] (2759) | 325
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will implement changes to the method whereby waste disposal authorities calculate local authorities' precepts to encourage recycling. | | [Transferred] (2760) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 326
| Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide financial assistance to establish a shelter for women who have suffered domestic abuse in Shrewsbury. | | [Transferred] (2792) |
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