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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Friday 21 October 2005
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 21 October 2005
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Friday 21 October of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Friday 21 October of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Friday 21 October see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of Government expenditure has been allocated to each Government department, in each year from 1997; and what the outturn percentage of total spending for each Department was in each year. | | (20581) | 2
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the value of professional indemnity insurance when a firm failing its obligations will be eligible for support from the Investors Compensation Scheme. | | (20903) | 3
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the likely impact on (a) jobs and (b) the economy in the UK of the proposal to charge VAT on insurance-related services. | | (20418) | 4
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures are in place to alert staff responsible for tax credits when a claim for working tax credit contains (a) job details and the number of hours worked, but no income details leading to a maximum award of tax credit and (b) the disability element in respect of a partner in a joint claim who has given job details and hours worked but no income details. | | (21082) | 5
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18th October, Official Report, column 948W, on tax credits, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Customer Service Manual and Customer Contact Clarity of Writing: 2005-06 Guide. | | (21173) | 6
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the eleventh recommendation of the Eighth Report of the Transport Select Committee of Session 2004-05 on Search and Rescue (HC 322-1); and if he will make a statement. | | (20288) | 7
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (20995) | 8
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21122) | 9
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10th October, Official Report, column 292W, on game rearing farms, what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue which is lost because game farms are not accurately registered for non-domestic rates. | | (21103) | 10
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have benefited from child benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. | | (21044) | 11
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the change in the level of unemployment has been in the Jarrow constituency in each year since 1997. | | (21055) | 12
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of youth unemployment has been in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. | | (21056) | 13
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money has been overpaid to tax credit recipients in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005 to date. | | (21057) | 14
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many births to women resident in (a) Fareham, (b) Gosport, (c) Portsmouth and (d) Havant local authority areas took place in (i) Blackbrook Maternity Unit, (ii) the Mary Rose Unit, St Mary's Hospital Portsmouth, (iii) other Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, (iv) other NHS hospitals, (v) at home and (vi) elsewhere in (A) 2003 and (B) 2004. | | (20373) | 15
| Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will break down the tax relief given on approved pension scheme contributions in 2004-05 by decile of the pre-tax income distribution. | | (20936) | 16
| Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the tax relief given on approved pension scheme contributions in 2004-05 was given to taxpayers with a taxable income of more than £100,000 a year. | | (20938) | 17
| Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the tax relief given on account of approved pension scheme contributions in 2004-05 was given to (a) taxpayers paying the 40 pence higher rate of income tax and (b) taxpayers who would have been paying the 40 pence higher rate of income tax were it not for this relief. | | (20951) | 18
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the Government received from the duty levied on fuel oil in the financial years (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04 and (c) 2004-05; what revenue his Department estimates it will receive in the financial year 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (21090) | 19
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much VAT the Treasury collected from the sale of fuel oil in the financial years (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04 and (c) 2004-05; what revenue his Department estimates it will receive in the financial year 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (21091) | 20
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants are in receipt of child tax credits, broken down by (a) district housing executive area and (b) parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement. | | (21253) | 21
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual amount received from corporation tax in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. | | (21180) | 22
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what public consultation was undertaken before the decision was made that payment of tax would not be accepted at local tax offices after 31st December. | | (20881) | 23
N | David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle the smuggling of guns and gun components. | | (19492) | 24
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the level of public borrowing in 2005-06. | | (21014) | 25
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether public borrowing is estimated to exceed spending at the end of the current financial year. | | (21015) | 26
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reform the fiscal rules. | | (21016) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 27
| Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what arrangements are planned under the new pension arrangements to maintain civil servants' pension rights (including qualifying dates) in the event of service being broken on account of (a) illness, (b) family responsibilities, (c) unpaid leave and (d) other causes. | | (20966) | 28
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment he has made of the literacy and numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21008) | 29
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21118) | 30
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the implemenation of the Strategy on Adult Basic Skills for the Civil Service. | | (21188) | 31
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment he has made of the literacy and numeracy skills of new Civil Service staff recruited through the Fast Stream Accelerated Development programme. | | (21189) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 32
| David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what measures are in place to ensure that laboratories licensed to perform court admissible DNA tests conform to the standards required by the ISO 17025 Certificate. | | (20883) | 33
N | Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when the Government intends to publish its (a) analysis of the potential risk of losing commercial court business to further jurisdictions and (b) business case for the renovation of the commercial court. | | (20461) | 34
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which provisions of the Electoral Administration Bill will apply to Northern Ireland. | | (20451) | 35
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to her Department. | | (21009) | 36
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department. | | (21108) | 37
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the rates of employee absence in her Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21019) | 38
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will bring forward legislation to allow electoral registration officers to consult central Government databases in order to maximise registration. | | (20942) | 39
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the remit of the Legal Services Board will be; and when it will commence operations. | | (21129) | 40
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many arrests there have been in each year since 1997 for non-voter registration. | | (20773) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 41
N | Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote tourism in England. | | (20374) | 42
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to her Department. | | (21010) | 43
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department. | | (21109) | 44
N | Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of (a) people and (b) households in (i) Kettering constituency, (ii) Northamptonshire and (iii) England can receive analogue but not digital television signals. | | (20283) | 45
| Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effects on the construction of the Stonehenge Visitors Centre on the delay of constructing the A303 improvements. | | (20894) | 46
| Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many representations she has received from police authorities raising concerns about the effects of the Licensing Act 2003 since the Act passed; and if she will make a statement. | | (21088) | 47
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the projects that have unsuccessfully applied for grants from the Big Lottery Fund in the past 12 months; and for what reasons each application was turned down. | | (21083) | 48
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance her Department follows on answering Written Parliamentary Questions. | | (21084) | 49
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support her Department has given to each of the (a) executive non-departmental public bodies, (b) advisory bodies and (c) public corporations for which her Department is responsible in each year since 1997. | | (21085) | 50
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings members of her Department have had with representatives from (a) the Natural History Museum, (b) the Royal Armouries, (c) Sir John Soane's Museum, (d) Sport England, (e) the Tate Gallery, (f) the UK Film Council, (g) the British Library, (h) UK Sport, (i) the Victoria and Albert Museum, (j) Visit Britain and (k) the Wallace Collection since 1st January; and what issues were discussed in each meeting. | | (21156) | 51
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials of her Department have had with representatives from the (i) National Lottery Commission, (ii) National Maritime Museum, (iii) National Museum of Science and Industry, (iv) National Portrait Gallery, (v) National Gallery, (vi) National Heritage Memorial Fund (Heritage Lottery Fund), (vii) Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, (viii) Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, (ix) Museum of London, (x) Millennium Commission, (xi) Imperial War Museum, (xii) the Tate, (xiii) Horserace Betting Levy Board, (xiv) Football Licensing Authority, (xv) Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust, (xvi) Historic Royal Palaces, (xvii) Gaming Board, (xviii) Geffrye Museum, (ixx) English Heritage, (xx) CABE, (xxi) Big Lottery Fund, (xxii) Arts Council England, (xxiii) Alcohol Education and Research Council, (xxiv) Churches Conservation Trust and (xxv) British Museum since 1st January; and what issues were discussed in each meeting. | | (21157) | 52
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions took place between Ministers in her Department and UK Sport on the recent election to the chairmanship of the British Olympic Association. | | (20453) | 53
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14th October, Official Report, column 605, on BOA Chairman, whether officials discussed the election of the new Chairman of the British Olympic Association with (a) candidates for the post, (b) potential candidates and (c) voting members. | | (20870) | 54
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many motorsport projects have been financially supported by the Government through the Motorsport Unit since its inception; what total amount of Government assistance they have received; how many of these projects are in Gloucestershire; how much each project in Gloucestershire has received; and if she will make a statement. | | (20294) | 55
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the rates of employee absence in her Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21029) | 56
N | Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total value of National Lottery ticket sales in the Isle of Man has been in each year since 1994. | | (20468) | 57
N | Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the current balance of Lottery funds held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund on behalf of the Millennium Commission. | | (20469) | 58
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that businesses situated in all parts of the United Kingdom are able to tender for contracts to supply goods and services in respect of the London Olympics 2012. | | (21195) | 59
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 715W, on the London Olympics, whether companies involved in supplying goods and services in connection with the Candidate City bid are being consulted on the procurement strategy. | | (21237) | 60
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 715W, on London Olympics, when the procurement strategy will be published. | | (21238) | 61
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 715W, on the London Olympics, how the procurement strategy will deal with (a) disposable or one-off goods and services and (b) contracts in respect of infrastructure. | | (21239) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 62
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any arrests have been made following the reports of fraud at the Adjutant General's office; and if he will make a statement. | | (20880) | 63
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) training programmes and (b) visits have been undertaken by UK military forces in (i) Uzbekistan, (ii) Tajikistan, (iii) Kyrgystan and (iv) Turkmenistan. | | (20975) | 64
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the present rules of engagement of UK forces and special forces in Iraq permit forces to operate over the border with Iran. | | (21013) | 65
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military bases have been closed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998. | | (20448) | 66
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilian staff employed by the Department have been made redundant in each year since 1998. | | (20449) | 67
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in the negotiations with the trade union side about an enhanced redundancy package for civilian staff employed by the Department in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (20450) | 68
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21011) | 69
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21111) | 70
| Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the training schemes available to members of overseas armed forces (a) at Ministry of Defence establishments in the UK and (b) provided by members of the UK armed forces overseas. | | (21046) | 71
| Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the repatriation of Royal Naval equipment seized by Iranian forces in the Shatt-Al-Arab. | | (21205) | 72
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in Whitehall Headquarters in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each year. | | (21097) | 73
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research into (a) fission and (b) fusion reactors his Department has funded in each year since 1975. | | (20978) | 74
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of (a) health problems of British troops returning from serving in Iraq and (b) the causes thereof. | | (21158) | 75
N | Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the operational status of the United Kingdom's aircraft carriers. | | (20371) | 76
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average weekly expenditure by the Government on military operations in Iraq has been over the last three months; and if he will make a statement. | | (21215) | 77
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he has received of torture being conducted at the Jamiyat prison in Basra. | | (20519) | 78
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the raid on the Jamiyat prison on 26th September was approved in advance by (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department. | | (20520) | 79
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has requested the return of the (a) car and (b) equipment seized at the time of the arrest of the two military intelligence officers on 19th September in Basra. | | (20521) | 80
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate (a) he has made and (b) the Iraqi authorities have made of the number of civilian casualties during the events of 19th September in Basra. | | (20522) | 81
N | Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the review of abuse investigations in Iraq announced earlier this year by General Sir Mike Jackson has been completed; and whether a date has been set for its publication. | | (20523) | 82
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether either of the two military intelligence officers arrested in Basra on 19th September were (a) carrying non-UK passports and (b) not of UK nationality. | | (21098) | 83
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many investigations of alleged ill-treatment by service personnel in Iraq have been discontinued at a commanding officer's request before the Army Prosecuting Authority has had an opportunity to consider them. | | (21099) | 84
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether instances of requests by the Army Prosecuting Authority for military police to conduct further investigations into cases of alleged abuse in Iraq not being carried out have been drawn to his attention. | | (21100) | 85
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21027) | 86
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to send more British troops to Afghanistan. | | (21059) | 87
| John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF personnel have been transferred in 2005 from front line squadrons to work in the Harrier Maintenance Facility on the Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme; and how many volunteered to do so. | | (21128) | 88
| Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average waiting period before an application for a 1939-45 medal is dealt with was in 2004-05; and if he will make a statement. | | (21130) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 89
N | Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will extend the disabled persons council tax reduction to those who suffer from profound deafness. | | (20375) | 90
N | Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the consultees on the draft codes of practice for student hostels drawn up by Universities UK and the Accreditation Network; who responded to the consultation; and if he will place a copy of their replies in the Library. | | (20767) | 91
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Office. | | (21110) | 92
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what modelling work his Department is doing to evaluate the infrastructure needs for its housing projections in (a) the South East and (b) London. | | (21092) | 93
| Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps his Department has taken to prevent the practice of land banking in green belt areas. | | (21208) | 94
| Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what area of land within the green belt has been the subject of planning permission granted for housing development since 1997. | | (21209) | 95
| Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what total area of land within the green belt has had a change of use status since 1997. | | (21210) | 96
| Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, under what budget headings he expects his Department's contribution to the Thames Gateway project to be spent. | | (20930) | 97
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to promote (a) local sustainability, (b) the protection of local environments, (c) local services and facilities, (d) local economies and (e) the local democratic process; and if he will make a statement. | | (20292) | 98
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the rates of employee absence in his Office have been in each year since 1997. | | (21022) | 99
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many fires broke out in Essex in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage were caused by arson. | | (21037) | 100
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recommended acreage of public open space has been set for each local authority; and how much is available in each local authority listed in descending order according to the greatest difference. | | (20941) | 101
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to increase the number of units of (a) social and (b) affordable housing in Hartlepool constituency. | | (20933) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 102
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her Answer of 18th October, ref 18649, on national vocational qualifications; how many national vocational qualifications were awarded (a) in food preparation and cooking and (b) without the nutrition element in each of the last five years. | | (21165) | 103
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimates she has made of the percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers who participate in after-class tutoring (i) at their school of employment and (ii) at another venue. | | (20967) | 104
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which neighbourhood drop-in centres offer tutoring and homework help for primary school age children, in (a) London and (b) Kingston and Surbiton, broken down by those centres that are Government funded. | | (21043) | 105
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of its total budget was spent by Lancashire Local Education Authority on special needs education in each of the last 10 years. | | (21161) | 106
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to her Department. | | (21012) | 107
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department. | | (21112) | 108
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list in ascending order the percentage change in 16 to 18 years participation budgets for education in Learning and Skills Council sub-regions between 2003-04 and 2004-05. | | (20290) | 109
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list in ascending order the percentage change in the adult participation in further education budgets for each Learning and Skills Council sub-region between 2003-04 and 2004-05. | | (20291) | 110
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the position of the UK in the recent report by the National Centre for Languages. | | (20957) | 111
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what policies the Government has in place to improve boys' GCSE examination results; and how much funding has been allocated for such policies in 2005-06. | | (21030) | 112
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding has been allocated in 2005-06 to helping children who run away from care homes; and what steps are being taken to tackle the problem. | | (21031) | 113
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the rates of employee absence in her Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21040) | 114
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many state school playing fields have been sold since 1997. | | (21060) | 115
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many detentions were issued in schools in Greater London in each of the last five years. | | (21086) | 116
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students have studied a foreign language at degree level in an English university in the last 10 years after living for over five years in the country where the foreign language is the native tongue. | | (21087) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 117
| Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to align local authorites' waste collection targets with those set for packaging manufacturers. | | (20974) | 118
N | Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. | | (20376) | 119
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the powers of the EU Commission to overrule the wish of member states to declare GM-free zones or regions following the recent European Court decision. | | (20770) | 120
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on where and why the Department will give licences for the use of snares. | | (20771) | 121
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action she has taken in response to the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Brazil. | | (21152) | 122
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will carry out an investigation into whether a member of her Department leaked a copy of the recent report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Protection. | | (21153) | 123
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to her Department. | | (21007) | 124
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department. | | (21113) | 125
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how climate change mitigation policies developed by the National Assembly for Wales were represented in the deliberation of European Union environment ministers at the EU Environment Council on 17th to 18th October. | | (20977) | 126
| Mr Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the merits of a plastic bag tax; and if she will make a statement. | | (20891) | 127
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of costs resulting from the illegal dumping of hazardous waste in Essex in the last period for which figures are available. | | (21020) | 128
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the rates of employee absence in her Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21024) | 129
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that private landowners in the Thames Gateway maintain effective flood defences within their property. | | (21068) | 130
| Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group's estimate of the expenditure needed to achieve Government fuel poverty targets by 2010; and what her Department's estimate is of the resources required for this purpose. | | (21254) | 131
| Mark Williams (Ceredigion):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the welfare of goats of (a) single tagging and (b) double tagging; and if she will make a statement. | | (21216) | 132
| Mark Williams (Ceredigion):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to administer European Council regulation (EC) 21/2004, regarding the identification of sheep and goats. | | (21217) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 133
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the Government is putting forward to EU (a) partners and EU (b) institutions for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement. | | (21190) | 134
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments are involved in discussions on the European Union's next financial perspective and the future of the UK's abatement; and if he will make a statement. | | (21191) | 135
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the negotiations concerning (a) the European Union's next financial perspective, (b) the future of the UK's abatement and (c) the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. | | (21192) | 136
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which (a) Ministers from EU member states and (b) European Commissioners (i) he and (ii) Ministers in his Department have met during the course of the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union to discuss the European Union's next financial perspective and the future of the UK's abatement; what discussions (A) he and (B) Ministers in his Department have held with each; and if he will make a statement. | | (21193) | 137
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the Government is putting forward to EU (a) partners and EU (b) institutions with regard to the European Union's next financial perspective; and if he will make a statement. | | (21194) | 138
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21005) | 139
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21114) | 140
N | Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the Israeli security fence on the number of suicide bombings in Israel. | | (20284) | 141
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when each decree made by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq expires; and if he will arrange for the texts of the decrees to be (a) placed in the Library and (b) posted on his Department's website. | | (20987) | 142
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to appoint a Director for the Americas. | | (21131) | 143
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21023) | 144
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help British citizens to find information on the whereabouts of their relatives who may have been affected by the earthquake in South Asia. | | (21034) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 145
| Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions her Department has had with the Royal College of Nursing on putting the management of the proposed new Oxfordshire primary care trust out to tender to the private sector. | | (20896) | 146
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to expand the use of direct payments in social care services. | | (20421) | 147
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to integrate delivery of rehabilitation services across the NHS and social services departments. | | (20422) | 148
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to increase the number of fully qualified rehabilitation workers for visually impaired people. | | (20423) | 149
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to increase consistency in rehabilitation services provided for visually impaired people living in different parts of England. | | (20460) | 150
N | Mr John Baron (Billericay):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to expand the role of the independent and voluntary sectors in providing social care services. | | (20873) | 151
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines her Department has issued on how long the Healthcare Commission should take (a) to make a decision on whether to conduct an inquiry and (b) to hold an inquiry and produce a report following the death of a patient in NHS care. | | (20897) | 152
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) guidelines and (b) procedures her Department has in place to ensure patients who cannot communicate verbally are able to express themselves to staff. | | (20898) | 153
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training (a) medical and (b) non-medical staff receive to be able to serve those with learning difficulties who use the NHS; and if she will make a statement. | | (20899) | 154
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she has taken to ensure that all those with a learning disability have that disability recorded on all medical records and NHS documents. | | (20900) | 155
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints the Healthcare Commission has received about the treatment of patients unable to communicate verbally in each year since its creation. | | (20901) | 156
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many requests the Healthcare Commission has received to conduct an inquiry into a patient death in hospital in each year since its creation; and how many of these requests have led to inquiries being launched. | | (20902) | 157
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she plans to take to consult local communities and other stakeholders about proposals to outsource the commissioning function of primary care trusts. | | (20964) | 158
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards she plans to put in place to ensure that an outsourced provider of the commissioning function of a primary care trust is not owned by an organisation that is also competing to provide services in the same area. | | (20965) | 159
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether as part of her plans for a patient-led NHS local authorities will be able to bid to discharge the commissioning function of primary care trusts. | | (21047) | 160
N | Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the likely effects on public health of asylum seekers being unable to access NHS services apart from accident and emergency. | | (20445) | 161
| Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the number of university students who consume alcohol on a (a) daily and (b) weekly basis. | | (20968) | 162
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has for additional funding for (a) Liverpool Royal University Hospital and (b) Liverpool Royal Children's Hospital at Alderhey. | | (20417) | 163
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care homes have closed in the Ribble Valley in each of the last five years. | | (21164) | 164
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the population of (a) Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands can be inoculated against influenza and other viral infections with retro-virus from existing stocks should there be a health emergency; and if she will make a statement. | | (20879) | 165
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) medical departments and services and (b) number of inpatient beds will be provided at the new hospital under construction in Lichfield. | | (20882) | 166
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans there are for the provision of a minor injuries unit at the new hospital under construction in Lichfield; and if she will make a statement. | | (20893) | 167
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list (a) the medical services and inpatient beds provided by the Lichfield Victoria and Lichfield St Michael's and Hammerwich hospitals and (b) medical services and inpatient beds which will be provided by the new hospital under construction in Lichfield. | | (20895) | 168
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the primary care trusts proposed for merger or reconfiguration in plans submitted by strategic health authorities under Commissioning a Patient-led NHS; and how she expects each primary care trust will be affected. | | (21093) | 169
| Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons screening for bowel cancer in England is limited to people over the age of 60 years; and if she will extend the age range to include people between 50 and 60 years. | | (21151) | 170
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to her Department. | | (21004) | 171
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department. | | (21115) | 172
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her Oral Answer of 17th October, Official Report, column 632W, on avian influenza, what definition of healthcare worker she plans to use for these purposes; and which categories of worker will be eligible for priority supplies of antivirals. | | (21145) | 173
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how stockpiled supplies of antiviral drugs will be distributed. | | (21219) | 174
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with pharmaceutical wholesalers with regard to stockpiling and distribution of (a) antiviral drugs and (b) protective masks and clothing. | | (21220) | 175
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12th October, Official Report, column 538W, on carbon monoxide poisoning, what the relevant support group is in (a) north and (b) south England for (i) information on awareness of carbon monoxide and (ii) medical advice on carbon monoxide; and if she will make a statement. | | (21069) | 176
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much her Department spent per capita on NHS dentistry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997. | | (21045) | 177
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners per head of population there have been in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) England in each year since 1997. | | (21049) | 178
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors have been employed in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) England in each year since 1997. | | (21050) | 179
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time in hospitals in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) England has been in each year since 1997. | | (21051) | 180
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been diagnosed with lymphoedema in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997. | | (21052) | 181
N | Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the at-risk population of (a) the Kettering Primary Care Trust area, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England is expected to be inoculated against existing strains of influenza by 31st December. | | (20281) | 182
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what priority she gives to workers in the energy industry in her contingency plans to protect key workers in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza. | | (20952) | 183
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cumulative deficit is for each strategic health authority. | | (20956) | 184
| Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deliveries of Tamiflu she expects to receive in each month until the planned number of courses have been stockpiled. | | (20877) | 185
N | Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospital acquired infections were caused by contaminated surgical instruments in the last period for which figures are available. | | (19391) | 186
N | Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made with the national surgical instrument decontamination supercentre programme in England. | | (19392) | 187
| Laura Moffatt (Crawley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if her Department will take steps to encourage the entry of (a) women and (b) people from minority ethnic groups into academic medicine. | | (21187) | 188
| Laura Moffatt (Crawley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether pensionable service of women doctors in the NHS scheme between 1972 and 1988 is taken into account when calculating the eventual widowers' pensions. | | (21255) | 189
| Laura Moffatt (Crawley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women doctors contributed to the NHS pension scheme between 1972 and 1988; and what contributions were made by (a) men and (b) women to the scheme between those dates, expressed as a percentage of salary. | | (21256) | 190
| Laura Moffatt (Crawley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the spouses of male and female members of the NHS pension scheme, both contributing the same amounts to the scheme between 1972 and 1988, are entitled to the same pension following the death of their spouse. | | (21257) | 191
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether cancer drugs are approved more rapidly if applications are restricted to national use and do not require European approval by the EU's Committee for Medicinal Products for formal marketing approval. | | (20983) | 192
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the UK's financial contribution to the cost of running the EU's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use was in each of the last five years. | | (20988) | 193
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with countries which have already approved Herceptin on the effectiveness of the drug against early stage breast cancer. | | (20990) | 194
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research her Department has commissioned into the UK's success rate at treating breast cancer compared with other EU member states. | | (20991) | 195
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many drugs have been approved by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency for formal marketing approval in each of the last five years. | | (20992) | 196
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time taken by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency was to approve a cancer drug for formal marketing approval is in the last year for which figures are available. | | (20993) | 197
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will discuss the effectiveness of Herceptin on early stage treatment of breast cancer with the Secretary of State for Scotland. | | (20994) | 198
N | Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the outturn against planned expenditure for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Strategic Health Authority in 2005-06; and what the predicted outturn is for (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. | | (20424) | 199
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of whether there are links between abortion and the incidence of breast cancer; and if she will make a statement. | | (20293) | 200
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much Government funding has been directed towards the creation of a vaccine for the H5N1 influenza virus. | | (21021) | 201
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rates of employee absence in her Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21026) | 202
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding has been allocated for educating and advising parents on the benefits of a healthy diet for their children in 2005-06. | | (21035) | 203
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what clinical negligence payments have been made by hospital trusts in (a) Essex and (b) London since 1997. | | (21066) | 204
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures she is implementing to improve the provision of obesity treatment by primary care organisations. | | (21094) | 205
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will publish proposals submitted for new obesity indicators by her Department to the quality and outcomes framework review. | | (21095) | 206
| Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research she has evaluated on the obesity treatment provided by primary care organisations. | | (21096) | 207
N | David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for South Cambridgeshire of 21st July, Official Report, column 2703W, on the influenza pandemic plan, when the updated UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan will be published. | | (19493) | 208
N | David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she expects the Mental Health Bill to be introduced. | | (19494) | 209
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been made of the merits of contestability in the provision of health services in West Yorkshire. | | (21048) | 210
N | Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what quantities of influenza drugs her Department plans to stockpile in preparation for a potential avian influenza pandemic. | | (20823) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 211
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were successfully prosecuted for murder, where they were judged to have been provoked (a) between 1996 and 2001 and (b) since 2001. | | (21053) | 212
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme who have unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 were categorised under each of the penalty point categories listed in section 13e of the scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (21211) | 213
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme have had their compensation (a) withheld and (b) reduced due to their unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (21212) | 214
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme who do not have unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 applying for compensation for a murder have (a) been refused or (b) received reduced compensation because the victim had unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in each of the last five years for which records are available. | | (21213) | 215
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme who have unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 applying for compensation for a murder have (a) been refused and (b) received reduced compensation although the victim did not have any unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in each of the last five years for which records are available. | | (21214) | 216
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of applications for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001 have been successful in each year of its operation. | | (21258) | 217
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time has been of an application for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001 in each year of its operation. | | (21259) | 218
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for compensation made on behalf of murder victims have been refused due to the victim having been judged to have provoked their attack under section 13d of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001 in each year of its operation. | | (21260) | 219
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for compensation made on behalf of murder victims have been refused due to the victim having been judged to have provoked their attack under section 13d of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 1996, in each year of its operation. | | (21261) | 220
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of cases have been considered for more than two years before a decision has been reached under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001. | | (21262) | 221
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of applicants, under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001 have received compensation in each year of its operation. | | (21263) | 222
| Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001. | | (21264) | 223
N | Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of refused asylum seekers who did not make section 4 declarations in each of the last five years. | | (20444) | 224
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley in each of the last three years. | | (21159) | 225
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) levels of and (b) detection rates for (i) violent crime, (ii) car crime, (iii) sexual crime, (iv) burglary and (v) robbery were in the Ribble Valley constituency in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (21160) | 226
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21003) | 227
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21116) | 228
| Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the statement of 18th October, Offcial Report, column 765, on the Identity Cards Bill, when his Department will publish the gateway reviews that have been undertaken with regard to identity cards; which gateway reviews have been completed; and if he will publish their (a) red, amber, green status and (b) recommendations. | | (21155) | 229
N | Justine Greening (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which prisons undertake work for the company Pyramid Posters Ltd; what the value of such contracts with each prison is; what the (a) start date and (b) duration of each contract is; and if he will make a statement. | | (20518) | 230
N | Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of recently introduced legislation in dealing with religiously offensive material; and if he will make a statement. | | (20282) | 231
N | Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department will reply to the letter of 1st July from the honourable Member for Aylesbury to the Secretary of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate about the case of Mr A.M., husband of Mrs F.R. of Aylesbury, case reference LR 1476013470/1. | | (20372) | 232
| Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many senior police officers expressed serious concerns to the Government about the Licensing Act 2003 when the consultation on the legislation was taking place. | | (20932) | 233
| Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the probation facilities in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. | | (21089) | 234
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21018) | 235
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children under the age of 10 years would have been charged in the last 12 months if they had been over the age of criminality when they committed their misdemeanour. | | (21032) | 236
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to police forces in England and Wales of dealing with hoax bomb threats has been since 7th July. | | (21033) | 237
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Government of arson in (a) England and Wales and (b) Essex in the last year for which figures are available. | | (21036) | 238
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on tackling the possession of firearms amongst young males. | | (21062) | 239
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on tackling the link between drug addiction and shoplifting. | | (21063) | 240
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in (a) Romford, (b) Essex and (c) London since 1999. | | (21064) | 241
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list measures introduced to tackle anti-social behaviour since 1997; and how frequently each measure has been used in each region (a) in total and (b) per 100,000 population. | | (20943) | 242
N | Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding has been made available to support the victims of domestic violence and their children in (a) South Bedfordshire District and (b) Dacorum borough in each of the last three years. | | (20289) | 243
| Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister for Immigration will reply to the letters from the Right honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 29th July and 26th September regarding Mrs Basma Rahman, Home Office Reference Number K1149709. | | (21058) | 244
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what flexibility local magistrates have in deciding whether to publish the names of youths (a) with anti-social behaviour orders and (b) convicted of other offences. | | (20934) | 245
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fox hunts have been prevented from taking place since the Hunting Act 2004 was enacted. | | (20824) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 246
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance he is providing to the people of the Atlantic Coast in Nicaragua. | | (20536) | 247
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make the disbursement of further UK funds in Nicaragua dependent upon a significant proportion of those funds being spent to help those on the Atlantic Coast. | | (20537) | 248
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21002) | 249
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21117) | 250
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what monitoring has taken place of funds allocated for HIV/AIDS orphan and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa. | | (21102) | 251
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list the organisations that have received funds to provide services for HIV/AIDS orphan and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa in 2005-06. | | (21150) | 252
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the implications of climate change for humanitarian response; and if he will make a statement. | | (20931) | 253
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21038) | 254
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the UK Government's total financial contribution to the peace-keeping operation in Liberia has been. | | (21065) | 255
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid the UK provided to Swaziland in real terms in each of the last 20 years. | | (20940) | Questions to the Leader of the House 256
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Office. | | (21001) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 257
N | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will introduce financial help towards childcare costs for NHS-funded students in Northern Ireland. | | (20452) | 258
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21000) | 259
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21119) | 260
N | Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total cost of the publication Civil Partnership: what does it mean for you was; and which organisations were consulted in relation to its content. | | (20768) | 261
N | Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the provision of school crossing patrolmen/women at primary schools in Northern Ireland. | | (18685) | 262
N | Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether an education board is obliged immediately to replace a retiring school crossing patrolman/woman with a new patrolman/woman whenever real risk to the safety of school children attending school is assessed to exist. | | (18686) | 263
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive dwellings are deemed unfit for occupancy, broken down by housing district; and if he will make a statement. | | (21196) | 264
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to encourage progress in promoting household energy efficiency in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (21197) | 265
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland are in receipt of disability living allowance high rate case component as well as the high rate mobility component. | | (21198) | 266
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the replacement of Torr Bank Special Needs School is expected to commence; and if he will make a statement. | | (21199) | 267
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many fire-related deaths there have been in each constituency in the Province in the last three years. | | (21200) | 268
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many homes in the co-ownership scheme there are in each parliamentary constituency in the Province; how many more are planned for 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (21201) | 269
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive dwellings have been sold to tenants since the scheme was first introduced to Northern Ireland. | | (21202) | 270
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance benefits, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) income support and (d) housing benefits, broken down by (i) district housing executive area and (ii) parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement. | | (21251) | 271
| Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who will receive priority access to vaccination against avian influenza if an outbreak of the disease occurs in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (21252) | 272
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many drug addicts were prescribed diamorphine in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by health board or trust. | | (21166) | 273
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in Northern Ireland have licences to prescribe diamorphine. | | (21167) | 274
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Neighbourhood Watch schemes are in operation in Northern Ireland. | | (21168) | 275
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding is available for Neighbourhood Watch in Northern Ireland. | | (21169) | 276
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many children were in public care in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by age and sex. | | (21170) | 277
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many girls under the age of 16 years became pregnant in each health board in the last year for which figures are available (a) in total and (b) expressed as a percentage of under-16s in descending order by region. | | (21171) | 278
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of adults aged over 25 years were seeking paid work in each region in the last year for which figures are available ranked in descending order by region. | | (21172) | 279
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what method the Police Service of Northern Ireland uses when choosing the area to target in a motoring offence operation. | | (21174) | 280
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were involved in Operation Viper. | | (21175) | 281
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Police Service of Northern Ireland speeding or road tax detection units there were on the Bangor to Belfast road between the hours of 9 am and 1pm on Sunday 24th July. | | (21176) | 282
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cases were (a) investigated, (b) successfully concluded, (c) closed without action and (d) under investigation by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland. | | (21177) | 283
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) property and (b) other assets have been (i) frozen and (ii) recovered in Northern Ireland by the Assets Recovery Agency. | | (21178) | 284
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the cases investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland relate to persons believed to be (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist; and how many of the cases successfully concluded fall into each of these two categories. | | (21179) | 285
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many children there are in each region whose parents are divorced ranked in descending order; and what percentage of all children this represents in each case. | | (21181) | 286
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of households in each region were without household insurance in the most recent year for which figures are available ranked in descending order. | | (21182) | 287
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many suicides by people aged 15 to 24 there were in each region in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by sex and ranked in descending order; and what percentage of all suicides this represents. | | (21183) | 288
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of pensioners in each region do not have a telephone, ranked in descending order. | | (21184) | 289
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of young adults aged 16 to 18 years in each region were not in education, training or work in the most recent year in which figures are available, ranked in descending order. | | (21185) | 290
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many low birth rate babies there were in each region in the most recent year in which figures are available ranked in descending order; and what percentage of all births this represents. | | (21186) | 291
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prisoners were released on temporary licence in the last year for which figures are available; on how many occasions; for what purpose; and on how many of these occasions the prisoner (a) failed to return and (b) otherwise breached the conditions of the licence. | | (21240) | 292
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many marriage ceremonies have taken place in (a) Antrim Borough Council and (b) Ards Borough Council in each of the last five years. | | (21241) | 293
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many marriage licences were issued by (a) Antrim Borough Council and (b) Ards Borough Council in each of the last five years. | | (21243) | 294
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were convicted of a rape charge in each of the last five years. | | (21244) | 295
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions people have been caught smuggling narcotics into prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many people have been charged. | | (21245) | 296
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many rapes there were in each of the Police Service of Northern Ireland district commands in each of the last five years. | | (21246) | 297
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were caught with narcotics while serving prison sentences in each of the last 10 years. | | (21247) | 298
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how the members of the board of the Northern Ireland Events Company were chosen; what their attendance allowance is; and how much funding was given by central Government to the company in each year since its formation. | | (21248) | 299
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were injured by fireworks in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the running of a safety advertising campaign for 2005. | | (21249) | 300
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the streets and roads in the greater Belfast area used by the Police Service of Northern Ireland during Operation Viper. | | (21250) | 301
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was spent on community restorative justice programmes in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years. | | (20363) | 302
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Department planned expenditure is on community restorative justice programmes in the next financial year. | | (20364) | 303
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list each community restorative justice project funded by his Department. | | (20365) | 304
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many community restorative justice programmes are located in (a) Unionist areas and (b) Nationalist areas. | | (20366) | 305
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish the protocols for community restorative justice schemes. | | (20367) | 306
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the protocols governing community restorative justice schemes will include a requirement for those who run schemes to co-operate with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. | | (20368) | 307
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have completed community restorative justice programmes in each of the last four years. | | (20369) | 308
N | Sammy Wilson (East Antrim):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to bring forward legislation to permit the recruitment of community support officers in Northern Ireland. | | (20370) | Questions to the Prime Minister 309
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, what factors he took into account in deciding whether the (a) Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) Trade and Industry Secretaries of State should accompany him on his recent visit to (i) China and (ii) India. | | (20580) | 310
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 12th October, Official Report, columns 662-3W, on Lord Birt, what measures were in place at the time of Lord Birt's employment with McKinsey. | | (20772) | 311
N | Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Prime Minister, from what budget the cost of his helicopter journey to Kettering General Hospital in February was met. | | (20285) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 312
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (20999) | 313
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21120) | Questions to the Solicitor General 314
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to the Law Officers' departments. | | (20998) | Questions to the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 315
| Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet):To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Speaker's Committee last reported to the House on the exercise of its functions. | | (21101) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 316
N | Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to ensure continuity of support and funding for the UK's renewable energy industry. | | (20517) | 317
N | Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government's policy is on the anti-dumping legislation on polythene bags being proposed by the European Commission. | | (20524) | 318
N | Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action he is taking to ensure that British companies are not adversely affected by higher energy costs than their European competitors. | | (20525) | 319
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (20997) | 320
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21121) | 321
| Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his assessment is of the impact on employment levels in the small shops sector of (a) the introduction of and (b) subsequent increases in the minimum wage. | | (20878) | 322
| Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on Royal Mail's planned auction of the Rosewall Sculpture. | | (21126) | 323
| Paul Holmes (Chesterfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Royal Mail Group, plc. regarding the auction of the Rosewall Sculpture. | | (21127) | 324
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effects of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on the investment intentions of the electricity generating sector; and if he will make a statement. | | (20953) | 325
| Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received regarding the effects of the Emissions Trading Scheme on the investment intentions of the electricity generating sector. | | (20954) | 326
N | Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects the report following the anti-bribery and corruption consultation by the Export Credit Guarantee Department to be published; and if he will make a statement. | | (20420) | 327
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions enforcement action has been taken against companies for acting in breach of telephone preference service rules in each of the last five years. | | (20955) | 328
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) publications and (b) surveys his Department has published in each year since 1997; and how many copies of these publications have been (i) distributed to businesses in hard copy and (ii) placed on the Department's website. | | (20958) | 329
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what cost benefit analysis is undertaken by his Department prior to commissioning publications and surveys; and if he will make a statement. | | (20959) | 330
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many small businesses have consulted the Small Business Service in each year since 1997. | | (20960) | 331
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what awards his Department has sponsored in the last 12 months; what the value was of each; and how many entries were received for each award. | | (20961) | 332
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when representations received during the consultation on the Export Credits Guarantee Department's anti-bribery and corruption procedures will be available on the Department's website. | | (20962) | 333
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people in Norfolk have been paid at the level of the national minimum wage since its introduction. | | (20963) | 334
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the cost benefit analysis undertaken by his Department in respect of (a) over-indebtedness monitoring paper Q2 2005, (b) the UK: the number one location for European headquarters, (c) public policy: using market-based approaches, (d) flat panel displays in the UK: a guide to UK capability 2005-06 edition, (e) women in the IT industry; Phase 2 Research: how to retain women in the IT industry and (f) people strategy and performance: results from the second work and enterprise business survey. | | (20984) | 335
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the opportunities during the UK presidency of the European Union to improve the transparency and accountability of trade policy making within Europe; and if he will publish the (a) agenda, (b) attendance and (c) minutes of the meetings of the Article 133 committee. | | (20985) | 336
| Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Government will renegotiate the trade negotiation mandate of the European Commission in its presidency of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. | | (20986) | 337
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what arrangements there are for the review of security at the Dounreay Atomic Energy Research Centre. | | (20980) | 338
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what meetings (a) he and (b) his Departmental officials have had with (i) the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and (ii) the nuclear industry trades unions in respect of the implications for the implementation of the NDA legacy management strategy of the potential sale of the British Nuclear group. | | (20981) | 339
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the efficiency of Capita as the agents for delivery of the compensation for widows and families of deceased miners. | | (20982) | 340
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid to Vendside employees for attending meetings with his Department since January 1999, in allowances and travel expenses. | | (20769) | 341
| Mr Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the costs which may be incurred by local authorities as a result of the change in the timescale for the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive Legislation; and if he will make a statement. | | (20892) | 342
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21028) | 343
N | David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures the Government has introduced since 1997 to combat spam emails; and if he will make a statement. | | (20579) | 344
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Government is taking to enable African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to have the option of signing either an economic partnership agreement or a pro-development alternative. | | (21146) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 345
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to issue draft orders for the proposed A21 upgrade between Hurst Green and Flimwell. | | (20431) | 346
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have applied for statutory blight compensation in relation to the proposed A21 upgrade between Hurst Green and Flimwell. | | (20432) | 347
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on (a) noise pollution, (b) speed restrictions and (c) road dualing in relation to the proposed A21 upgrade between Hurst Green and Flimwell. | | (20433) | 348
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the financing of road improvements and proposed upgrades along the A21 in East Sussex. | | (20434) | 349
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received opposing the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Hurst Green. | | (20435) | 350
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to implement the conclusions of the Tyneside Area Multi-Modal Study. | | (21017) | 351
N | Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the public private partnership funding arrangements for the Northern Line; and if he will make a statement. | | (20286) | 352
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total Government spending on public transport schemes in Lancashire has been in each year since 1997. | | (21162) | 353
| Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road (a) accidents and (b) fatalities there have been on the (i) A59 and (ii) M6 in Lancashire in each of the last 10 years. | | (21163) | 354
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer implementation of the eleventh recommendation of the Eighth Report from the Transport Services Committee of Session 2004-05 on Search and Rescue (HC 322-1); and if he will make a statement. | | (20287) | 355
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (20996) | 356
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21123) | 357
| Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the options for improvements to the A303 past Stonehenge. | | (21218) | 358
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library (a) copies of papers circulated at and (b) the final declaration of the conference convened by the UK Presidency of the European Union on Aviation and Emissions Trading held on 26th to 27th September. | | (20979) | 359
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21025) | 360
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of administering the speed camera network was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by main area of expenditure. | | (21067) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 361
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21125) | 362
| Peter Law (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will set a timetable for the implementation of those parts of the Richard Commission Report on powers of the National Assembly for Wales that he intends to implement. | | (20976) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 363
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. | | (21006) | 364
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. | | (21124) | 365
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents have been found to be avoiding paying the correct amount of child support in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. | | (21041) | 366
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received winter fuel payments in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK since their inception. | | (21054) | 367
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the revenue yield for each of the next 20 years from ending all new claims for savings credit beyond January 2006, while continuing with existing claims; and if he will make a statement. | | (21207) | 368
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will extend the winter fuel payment scheme to disabled people under the age of 65; and if he will make a statement. | | (20295) | 369
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. | | (21039) | 370
| Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of households which did not take-up entitlement to council tax benefit, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of the number of eligible households, listed in descending order of percentage take-up. | | (20944) | 371
| Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many uncleared Child Support Agency cases are awaiting processing in East Dunbartonshire. | | (21104) | 372
| Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of Child Support Agency cases which are being handled where the non-resident parent has been assessed as nil liability. | | (21105) | 373
| Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of Child Support Agency cases which are being handled where the non-resident parent has yet to be assessed because their employer is being traced. | | (21106) | 374
| Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the operation of the Child Support Agency's computer systems. | | (21107) | 375
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what performance targets have been set in relation to benefit fraud investigations being undertaken in a prompt and efficient manner. | | (20935) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 376
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his estimate is of the cost to the Government of dropping the plans to raise public sector pension ages to 65 years for existing public sector workers in each of the next 40 years; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (21206) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 377
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the playing of cricket in state schools. | | [Transferred] (21061) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 378
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 6th July, Official Report, column 418W, on fly-tipping, if she will provide the most recent information she has in the same format. | | [Transferred] (21042) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 379
| Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will support a programme of inspection, verification and monitoring of any stocks of chemical and biological weapons held by (a) Israel and (b) other states in the Middle East. | | [Transferred] (21203) | 380
| Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will call on the Israeli Government to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency in an inspection programme of all appropriate sites in Israel. | | [Transferred] (21204) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 381
| Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in Northern Ireland have a valid British passport. | | [Transferred] (21242) | 382
| Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions for speeding which have not relied upon speed camera evidence have been brought in each of the last five years. | | [Transferred] (20939) |
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