Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 24 November 2005

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 24 November 2005
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 24 November 2005

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 24 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Thursday 24 November of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 24 November see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

1
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31749)

2
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31750)

3
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31751)

4
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the mid-year population estimates were in each metropolitan authority in Tyne and Wear in each year between 1999 and 2004; and what estimate he has made of the population of each authority in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09 based on the estimates for (i) 1999 to 2003 and (ii) 2000 to 2004.

(31630)

5
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made on the likely impact on demand for second homes of the new self-invested personal pension scheme.

(31579)

6
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in how many cases where a tax credit has been processed there was a delay in the computer system generating an award of child or working tax credit in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; and how many such cases there have been in 2005-06.

(31543)

7
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average unit cost of processing new claims for tax credits including capital costs was in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; and what it has been in 2005-06.

(31544)

8
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claimants had their awards processed using an emergency national insurance number in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; what the figures are for 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(31545)

9
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total amount outstanding in backdated tax credits that have not yet been paid where a claim has been processed but a system error has delayed the generation of an award of tax credits was in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05; and how much is outstanding in 2005-06 to date.

(31546)

10
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26th May, Official Report, columns 22-3WS, on tax credit overpayments, with how many voluntary sector bodies discussions have been held on providing more active support and advice for families claiming tax credits; and on what dates.

(31547)

11
Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of child trust vouchers issued have not been invested by parents.

(31887)

12
Stewart Hosie (Dundee East):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many departmental civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

(32262)

13
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies in Tamworth have been (a) fined and (b) forced to cease trading for non-compliance with the national minimum wage since it was introduced.

(32033)

14
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32237)

15
Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls were made to the Stamp Office enquiry line in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by (a) region and (b) reasons for call.

(31924)

16
Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of stamp duty land tax returns were not processed in 2004-05 resulting in fines being levied, broken down by region.

(31925)

17
Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Data Process Unit at the Stamp Office; and if he will make a statement.

(31926)

18
Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Child Trust Fund vouchers have (a) been issued, (b) been invested and (c) failed to be invested in the Bridgend County Borough Council area; and if he will make a statement.

(32344)

19
Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people under the age of 18 years have been killed in accidents in each of the last five years.

(32116)

20
Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people under the age of 18 years have committed suicide during each of the last five years.

(32117)

21
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Romford of 14th November, Official Report, column 879W, on economic and monetary union, what the pay grades of the civil servants concerned are; and what estimate he has made of the man hours per week each spends on the work in question.

(32045)

22
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the size is of the national debt; and what the cost of servicing it was in the last period for which figures are available.

(32191)

23
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how often financial transfers were made from the UK Treasury to contribute to the Government's share of the EU budget in each of the last three years; what mechanisms are used; and what the last sum transferred was.

(32194)

24
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the income tax rate equivalent is of the UK's EU budget rebate.

(32199)

25
Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes (a) have been made and (b) are due to be made in the taxation of biofuels.

(32342)

26
Dr John Pugh (Southport):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes (a) have been made and (b) are due to be made in the taxation of red diesel.

(32343)

27
N Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department received from gross betting duty from off-course bookmakers in Northern Ireland in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(31489)

28
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will establish a system of tax credits similar to that used in the United States to encourage employers to help their staff to improve their level of skills; and if he will make a statement.

(31846)

29
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the national performance targets were for HM Revenue and Customs centres in 2004-05; and what the performance of the branches in (a) Torquay, (b) Paignton and (c) Brixham were against those targets in 2004-05.

(32064)

30
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total estimated cost of dealing with tax credit overpayments made to people in Northern Ireland has been; and what the average cost was of a tax credit overpayment in Northern Ireland in 2005.

(32126)

31
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency's computer assisted mass appraisal system will be used for (a) inheritance tax purposes and (b) property-based taxes other than council tax or business rates.

(31728)

32
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Valuation Office Agency has made a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

(31729)

33
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency uses (a) dwelling house codes and (b) value significant codes to assess the value of domestic properties for (i) inheritance tax purposes (ii) capital gains tax and (iii) property-based taxes other than council tax or business rates.

(31801)

34
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what responsibility the Valuation Office Agency has for the levying of (a) inheritance tax, (b) stamp duty and (c) capital gains tax; and if he will make a statement.

(31802)

35
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency used (a) computer assisted mass appraisal and (b) the Automated Valuation model for the recent business rates revaluation in England.

(31803)

36
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20th October, Official Report, column 1137W, on home information packs, when the Government expects to take a decision on whether to levy VAT on home information packs.

(31832)

37
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received about the threshold below which goods supplied from Jersey are VAT-free; and if he will make a statement.

(32110)

38
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the value of goods which are supplied in a year by retailers based on Jersey to UK residents free of VAT.

(32111)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

39
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer of 14th November, Official Report, column 963W, on departmental assets, what the (a) five items of art and antique furniture and (b) freehold properties are; and what the (i) value and (ii) annual cost of insurance is for each item or property.

(32051)

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs

40
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many staff in her Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31755)

41
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans she has to relocate staff in her Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31756)

42
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31757)

43
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether the judgments have been published in each case decided by the National Security Appeals Panel under (a) section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and (b) section 60 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each calendar year since its inception; and if she will make a statement.

(31830)

44
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will make a statement on the duty of care that childcare lawyers have to the children of their clients.

(32077)

45
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the legal aid costs were of (a) representation in criminal cases in England and Wales and (b) representation and advice to detained asylum seekers in each year since 1997.

(32216)

46
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the average cost of a court case was where prosecution was abandoned in the last year for which figures are available.

(32202)

47
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the national performance targets are for Crown courts; and what the performance of each Crown court in Devon and Cornwall has been against those targets.

(32060)

48
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the national performance targets are for magistrates' courts; and what the performance of Torquay Magistrates' Court has been against those targets.

(32061)

49
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the national performance targets are for county courts; and what the performance of the (a) Torquay and (b) Newton county courts has been against those targets.

(32062)

50
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when she will reply to the letter of 23rd May from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, (acknowledgement reference 184337-1) regarding Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

(32275)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

51
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under plans for relocation.

(31770)

52
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff in her Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31771)

53
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to relocate staff in her Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31772)

54
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many redundancies are planned for the British Library.

(32215)

55
N David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Arts Council funding has been provided to organisations in the city of Cambridge in the last five years.

(31581)

56
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her most recent estimate is of the date by which households across Tamworth constituency will be able to receive digital terrestrial broadcasts.

(32027)

57
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which her Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(32249)

58
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for St Albans dated 25th October.

(32362)

59
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what review has been carried out of the effectiveness of the National Endowment for Science, Technololgy and the Arts.

(32288)

60
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to change the emphasis placed on (a) science, (b) technology and (c) the arts by the National Endowment for Science, Technololgy and the Arts.

(32289)

61
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to amend the aims of the National Endowment for Science, Technololgy and the Arts; and if she will make a statement.

(32290)

62
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the return on investment generated by the National Endowment for Science, Technololgy and the Arts has been in each year since its inception.

(32293)

63
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her latest estimate is of the number of non-digital television sets in the UK; what the average is per household; what the estimated cost to the Government is of (a) digital switchover and (b) support to viewers on low incomes to facilitate changeover; and if she will make a statement.

(32204)

64
Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding Sport England has committed to projects for 2005-06; and how much funding has been allocated by her Department for those projects in that year.

(32209)

65
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who will be permitted to use the Olympic Route Network at the London 2012 Olympics.

(31416)

66
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what percentage of tickets at the London 2012 Olympics will be reserved for (a) UK residents, (b) corporate sponsors and (c) corporate entertainment.

(31417)

67
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what percentage of tickets for the London 2012 Olympics will be (a) available for public sale and (b) reserved; and for whom tickets will be reserved.

(31418)

68
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) Ofcom and (b) the BBC about the screening of (a) sex, (b) violence and (c) bad language on television.

(32366)

69
N Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the statements of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary on Sir Christopher Meyer's diaries and his Chairmanship of the Press Complaints Commission represent her policy.

(31538)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

70
N Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many medical staff serving with British armed forces in Iraq have been (a) injured and (b) killed since March 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(31415)

71
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31747)

72
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31781)

73
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31782)

74
Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from non-qualifying claimants for the ex-gratia payment scheme for Far East prisoners of war in response to his offer of compensation for distress caused by his Department's failure to set out the eligibility criteria clearly.

(32335)

75
Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he held with representatives of Far East prisoners of war before his decision to offer compensation for distress caused by his Department's failure to set out the eligibility criteria clearly to non-qualifying claimants for the ex-gratia payment scheme for Far East prisoners of war.

(32339)

76
Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria were used in arriving at the figure of £500 compensation awarded to non-qualifying claimants for the ex-gratia payment scheme for Far East prisoners of war for distress caused by his Department's failure to set out the eligibility criteria clearly.

(32340)

77
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment the security forces have made of who carried out the recent bombings in Kabul; and if he will make a statement.

(32212)

78
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will pay those seconded to NATO, including those in the Territorial Army and reservists, the full rate according to current agreements.

(32213)

79
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many provisional reconstruction teams the UK is leading in Afghanistan; where they are based; and what other help the UK is extending through its military commitments to provisional reconstruction teams.

(32214)

80
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) existing and (b) former Ministry of Defence (i) Ministers and (ii) officials have taken up offers of employment with companies involved in the arms trade in the last (A) 10, (B) five and (C) two years.

(32355)

81
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what restrictions there were on his Department's officials seeking employment with companies in the defence sector whilst they remain employed by the Ministry.

(32356)

82
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people working in his Department are on secondment from arms (a) manufacturers and (b) traders.

(32357)

83
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17th November, Official Report, column 1409W, on HMS Sheffield, what his timetable is for (a) the completion of the departmental review and (b) the publication of the findings; and if he will make a statement.

(32367)

84
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total value is of the computer systems for the four Alternative Landing Ships Logistic which are under construction.

(32043)

85
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the contract value of the Alternative Landing Ships Logistic being built by Swan Hunters has been placed with companies in the North East; and if he will list the (a) United Kingdom and (b) overseas subcontractors that have received orders of £500,000 and above.

(32044)

86
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which country the computer systems for the four Alternative Landing Ships Logistic which are under construction were procured.

(32052)

87
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of fabrication work on the vessels (a) Largs Bay and (b) Lyme Bay has been carried out overseas.

(32069)

88
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a comprehensive security and defence review; and if he will discuss with the Foreign Secretary linking such a review with a review of foreign policy.

(32348)

89
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the Government wants to retain nuclear weapons.

(32349)

90
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the US Administration on the replacement of Trident.

(32350)

91
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his plans to facilitate a national debate on the replacement for Trident.

(32351)

92
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimates he has made of the likely cost of replacing Trident, broken down by cost of new (a) platforms, (b) delivery systems and (c) warheads.

(32352)

93
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his plans to modify Vanguard class submarines.

(32353)

94
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) changed operational practices of the Vanguard type submarines and (b) changed strategic circumstances in which they are deployed.

(32354)

95
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32240)

96
N Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much unexploded ordnance has been cleared in British areas of responsibility in Iraq since March 2003, broken down by type.

(31533)

97
N Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of unexploded ordnance on civilians in British areas of responsibility in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(31534)

98
N Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the (a) quantity and (b) types of unexploded ordnance which remain in British areas of responsibility in Iraq.

(31535)

99
N Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the failure rate of each type of unexploded ordnance which remains in British areas of responsibility in Iraq.

(31536)

100
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which procurements have been cancelled by his Department since 1997; and what (a) losses were incurred and (b) the reasons were for cancellation in each case.

(32192)

101
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the naval application of the Apache AH-64; and whether funds have been set aside for maritimisation.

(32196)

102
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list defence procurements that have seen capability reductions against the initial Memorandum of Understanding; and what (a) capability modifications and (b) cost savings resulted in each case.

(32201)

103
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers, (b) other ranks, (c) support personnel and (d) administrative staff were employed by his Department in each year since 1997; and what proportion of his Department's budget was attributed to the employment of each group.

(32205)

104
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information has been requested from him by the Irish authorities in relation to the Dundalk bombing of 1975.

(32264)

105
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the results of the Skyguard survey in the Cwmifor area.

(32266)

106
N Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what units are planned to be deployed to Afghanistan in 2006; and on what date.

(31421)

107
N Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the implementation of the Future Army Structure.

(31422)

108
N Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many anthrax vaccinations are held by his Department; how much those anthrax vaccinations cost; what the stated shelf-life is of such vaccinations; what assessment has been made by his Department of whether the vaccinations remain viable throughout their stated shelf-life; which company provides these vaccinations; and if he will make a statement.

(31423)

109
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what resources he has made available to the Oxfordshire coroner to ensure that he is able to proceed with inquests into the deaths of UK personnel in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(32360)

Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister

110
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he treats the provisions relating to the correction of errors in decisions set out in part five of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as applying to decisions made as a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and whether he treats the 2000 Act as a planning act for the purposes of part five of the 2004 Act.

(31845)

111
N Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what would be the length of the period of consultation in regard to changes to the structure of local government in England.

(31589)

112
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31752)

113
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31753)

114
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31754)

115
Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library the Tyne and Wear City Region Development Programme under the Northern Way; what the implementation and management arrangements are for the programme; and how honourable Members from the Tyne and Wear City Region and their constituents will be consulted on the programme.

(32269)

116
N David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much housing revenue account subsidy was provided to each local authority in England in 2004-05.

(31582)

117
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) title and (b) value of consultancy contracts commissioned (i) by and (ii) in respect of Tamworth Borough Council in each of the last five years, broken down by consultancy.

(32026)

118
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people are on the housing list waiting to be re-housed in Tamworth.

(32030)

119
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many compulsory purchase orders have been made on empty properties by (a) Tamworth Borough Council and (b) the local authority recorded as the best performing in each of the last three years.

(32031)

120
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many vacant dwellings there were in (a) Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last five years (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of all dwellings.

(32032)

121
Mr Sadiq Khan (Tooting):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his most recent estimate is of the number of children living in overcrowded housing conditions in (a) London and (b) England.

(32053)

122
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32245)

123
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, what plans his Department has to make available to local authorities information regarding infrastructure costs in designated growth areas.

(31847)

124
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of private funding that will be used within (a) the Milton Keynes growth area and (b) each other designated growth area towards infrastructure costs; and if he will make a statement.

(31848)

125
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, how much additional grant funding will be made available by his Department for designated growth areas within England.

(31849)

126
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local delivery partners in (a) the Milton Keynes growth area and (b) each other designated growth area.

(31850)

127
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, what evidential factors will be used to determine mainstream funding in each designated growth area in England.

(31851)

128
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of existing infrastructure in designated growth areas and (b) whether the infrastructure is sufficient to support planned growth; and if he will make a statement.

(31852)

129
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, what (a) assessment will be made of infrastructure requirements and (b) infrastructure will be put in place in designated growth areas before planned development begins.

(31853)

130
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, columns 1688-9W, on designated growth areas, what assessment (a) has been made and (b) is planned to be made of (i) the age profile of those expected to move into designated growth areas and (ii) the effect of that profile on the (A) infrastructure and (B) housing needs of those areas.

(31854)

131
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much additional funding will be allocated in 2005-06 to each council to cover costs of (a) licensing, (b) asylum-seekers, (c) pensions and (d) disposal of electrical equipment; and what formula is used to calculate these figures.

(32067)

132
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with Sefton Council on its proposal to ballot its tenants on the large-scale voluntary transfer of council housing; and what investigations he has conducted into the conduct of the last ballot.

(31914)

133
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, in what circumstances, and after how long an interval local authorities are allowed to re-ballot tenants who have previously voted against a large-scale voluntary transfer of council housing.

(32341)

134
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of the street crime wardens funding stream from the Government Office for London was made available to the London Borough of Croydon in 2004-05.

(32279)

135
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total cost to his Department was of hiring consultants in the last year for which figures are available; how many consultants were hired; and from which firms.

(32197)

136
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total cost was of the North East Regional Assembly referendum; and if he will make a statement.

(32206)

137
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the organisations that have seconded staff to the Lyons Inquiry into local government finance.

(31783)

138
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many written representations the Lyons Inquiry into local government finance has received.

(31784)

139
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will itemise the costs which comprise the sum spent to date on the council tax revaluation in England; and which of these costs cannot be recouped.

(31785)

140
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether his Department has made a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

(31786)

141
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for unitary local government; and whether the Government intends to propose (a) unitary districts and (b) unitary counties.

(31787)

142
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much the Government has spent in the last five years on the fire control centre for London.

(31788)

143
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the Government's plans for regional fire control centres will require London to have a new fire control centre.

(31789)

144
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what changes have been made since May 1997 to (a) dwelling house codes and (b) value significant codes used by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax liability purposes.

(31804)

145
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the likely costs to local authorities in England of council tax revaluation.

(31827)

146
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many households in London are in each council tax band.

(31829)

147
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the (a) Government and (b) Valuation Office Agency conducted research or analysis on the (i) possible distribution and (ii) number of gainers and losers from the council tax revaluation in England prior to the public announcement of its postponement.

(31833)

148
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list items of expenditure that the Valuation Tribunal Service has incurred on council tax revaluation in (a) England and (b) Wales.

(31836)

149
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what research he has evaluated on whether regional (a) economic and (b) social differences have changed since 1997.

(31855)

150
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) transitional and (b) set-up costs of introducing unitary local government.

(31894)

151
N Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether his recent letter to Sir Christopher Meyer was sent in his official capacity; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(31539)

152
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the cost to each local authority of regional fire control rooms over the first three years of operation; and how these costs will be met.

(31710)

153
N Angela Watkinson (Upminster):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when defibrillators will be available (a) an all fire appliances and (b) in all fire stations; and when all personnel will be trained to use them.

(31621)

154
N Angela Watkinson (Upminster):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the daily cost of (a) the West Midlands firefighters strike and (b) using Army personnel to provide services.

(31622)

155
N Angela Watkinson (Upminster):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when funding will be made available to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to cover the additional costs of resilience following the bombings in London on 7th July.

(31623)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

156
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 1310W, on dental schools, how many of the temporary allocation places are the subject of bids to make them permanent; and at which schools the places are.

(32158)

157
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under plans for relocation.

(31773)

158
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many staff in her Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31774)

159
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to relocate staff in her Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31775)

160
Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Bognor Regis of 17th November, Official Report, column 1456W, on national skills academies, if she will set out the individuals, companies and other bodies who will be preparing the business plans for the first four sectors of the National Skills Academy programme.

(32365)

161
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how her Department plans to hold trust school governing bodies to financial account under her Education White Paper proposals.

(31096)

162
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many non-religious state (a) primary and (b) secondary schools gained faith school status in each year since 1997.

(31931)

163
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the progress of the uniTEST trial; and whether the national launch is planned for 2007.

(31932)

164
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate she has made of the number of teachers who have a second source of income from work other than teaching.

(31933)

165
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) schools and (b) local education authorities have submitted representations on planning, preparation and assessment time since the beginning of the Autumn term.

(32114)

166
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers of (a) physics and (b) mathematics do not hold a degree level qualification in a relevant subject; what estimate she has made of the percentage of teachers with a physics, mathematics or engineering degree who are likely to retire in the next 10 years; and what the availability is of supply teachers with appropriate subject qualifications.

(31893)

167
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many cases of bullying were recorded in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Cumbria in each year since 1997; and what the average figures were for English county councils.

(32119)

168
Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd November, Official Report, column 1197W, on school sport, how many secondary schools have disposed of a sports pitch in the last five years.

(32363)

169
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are in place to ensure that head teachers thoroughly investigate and act upon incidents of bullying; and if she will make a statement.

(32076)

170
N Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the merits of (a) informal and (b) formal pre-school education.

(31414)

171
N Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on trends in (a) emotional and social development and (b) linguistic skills in pre-school children.

(31419)

172
N Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research she has commissioned into the long-term effects of pre-school education for (a) emotional and social development and (b) attainment at Key Stage 1.

(31420)

173
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on progress with the review of the National Literacy Strategy.

(32046)

174
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of students from (a) Tamworth, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England beginning university in the 2005-06 academic year are in receipt of a grant from their local education authority.

(31793)

175
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Tamworth which will have a budget surplus in the 2005-06 financial year.

(32011)

176
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 7th November to the honourable Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Official Report, column 118W, on gifted and talented youth, how many members of the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth there are in each school in Staffordshire.

(32015)

177
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the effects on industry of vocational training in (a) Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire.

(32029)

178
N Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps she intends to take to prevent a trust school which has been set up as a charity from changing its charitable objects once it is established.

(31479)

179
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of (a) capital and (b) revenue investment in schools which have received private sector investment in the last five years is accounted for by private sector investment of each type.

(32113)

180
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the extent is of the funding gap between schools and colleges; and what plans the Government has to close this gap.

(32359)

181
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which her Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(32243)

182
Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people under the age of 18 years have been killed in accidents during school trips in each of the last five years; and how many of these were killed while undertaking adventurous activities.

(32115)

183
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of the Transforming Youth Work (Development Funding) funding stream from the Government Office for London was made available to the London Borough of Croydon in 2004-05.

(32280)

184
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 13th October, Official Report, column 576W, on adult education, what assessment she has made of the affordability of courses for adults wishing to study for a non-basic skills qualification at a lower level than level 2 in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

(31818)

185
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of the money saved by changes to the structure of the Learning and Skills Council will (a) remain in the further education budget and (b) be allocated to further education colleges; and if she will make a statement.

(31819)

186
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research she has conducted into the (a) ability and (b) willingness of (i) employers and (ii) individuals to pay an increased proportion of the costs of adult education courses.

(31820)

187
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will reform career development loans to make them more accessible to further education students; and if she will make a statement.

(31821)

188
Paul Rowen (Rochdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate she has made of school transport costs associated with the proposals contained in the Education White Paper.

(31815)

189
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the national performance targets are for Sure Start centres; and what the performance of Sure Start centres in Torbay has been against those targets.

(32055)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

190
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many agreements under the Countryside Stewardship scheme are live; how many hectares are covered by such agreements; how many agreements provided access for the public within two miles of (a) an urban area and (b) the coast; and how many hectares are covered in those areas.

(31838)

191
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to continue the Access Management Grant Scheme beyond 2007.

(31840)

192
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the regulations covering the review of maps of open country and registered commons land produced under section 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

(31841)

193
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the access authorities which have taken part in the Access Management Grant Scheme; and what total level of funding has been granted to each such authority since the scheme's inception.

(31842)

194
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance she has issued on whether a common registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965 which has consequently been mapped as access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 but which has an Order of Limitation placed on it by way of provisions under section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925 has full access rights by ways of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

(31844)

195
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31764)

196
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in her Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31765)

197
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to relocate staff in her Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31766)

198
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the quality of the water supply in Coventry.

(31095)

199
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to be in a position to publish the Veterinary Surgeons Bill.

(32211)

200
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to house imports of meat from Brazil following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease there.

(32302)

201
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with supermarkets and other retailers regarding sourcing organic food from home suppliers.

(32303)

202
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many full-time equivalents are employed by each agricultural levy board.

(32304)

203
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the use of scents for (a) drag and (b) trail hunting on Forestry Commission land; and if she will make a statement.

(31791)

204
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the red squirrel population in Staffordshire.

(32028)

205
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her most recent assessment is of the most endangered species of (a) flora and (b) fauna in Staffordshire; and what steps are being taken to reverse their decline.

(32034)

206
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many households in Tamworth constituency have received assistance under the Warm Front scheme in each year since its introduction.

(32035)

207
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what circumstances those who have released (a) poultry and (b) gamebirds into the wild will be required to register on the National Register of Poultry Businesses.

(32004)

208
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which her Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(32246)

209
Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many significant consents to discharge trade effluent to watercourses were held by industry in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004; what percentage of these consents were monitored for compliance purposes and inspections made by the Environement Agency; what the level of compliance with these consents was; what enforcement actions were taken against sites that breached their consents; what percentage of these consents were reviewed; how many reviews led to a tightening of the discharge consent; and what percentage of consents included Red List substances.

(31923)

210
Mr Bill Olner (Nuneaton):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will provide the Crematorium Authority Mercury Abatement Organisation with powers enabling it to co-ordinate implementation measures with regards to the installation of mercury-abatement equipment and emissions burden-sharing in crematoria.

(31843)

211
N Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the sentinel birds at the quarantine centre in Essex were treated for avian influenza virus after the death of other birds was reported.

(31472)

212
N Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what conclusions she has drawn from the information that the sentinel birds at the quarantine centre in Essex did not become infected with avian influenza.

(31473)

213
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) significance, and (b) implications of the inconsistency in recorded numbers of the mesia birds batch in which avian influenza was identified, for the effectiveness of the import and quarantine system.

(32080)

214
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what basis any single batch of birds may be declared clear of avian influenza virus H5N; what expert advice she has received on this matter; and what guidance she has promulgated.

(32125)

215
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15th November, Official Report, columns 1068-9W, on the Regional Advisory Council for North Western Waters, what the (a) mandate, (b) budget and (c) powers are of the Regional Advisory Council for North Western Waters; how many members the Council has; how many UK representatives are on the Council; what posts on the Council are held by UK nationals; and if she will make a statement.

(32042)

216
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15th November, Official Report, column 1061W, on home information packs, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's submission.

(31834)

217
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will estimate the number of urban gulls in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each sub-regional area; and if she will provide corresponding estimates for any earlier period for which estimates are available.

(32020)

218
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the problems caused by urban gulls; and if she will commission research into the breeding patterns of such gulls.

(32021)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

219
N Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the objectives are of (a) the EU Growth Adjustment Fund and (b) the EU Global Adjustment Fund; from which part of the EU budget each fund is financed; how much of the financing of each fund will be made by the UK; what proportion of each fund will be spent in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(31570)

220
N 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 common EU energy policy proposed by the Prime Minister at the Hampton Court informal summit.

(31571)

221
N Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the proposal for a growth adjustment fund proposed in COM(2004) 101; on what occasions the proposal came before (a) the Committee of Permanent Representatives, (b) the Council of the European Union and (c) the European Council; whether the Government (i) supported and (ii) opposed the proposal at each occasion it came before these institutions; and if he will make a statement.

(31572)

222
Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Minister of State for Europe last met representatives of the Cypriot community in the UK.

(32016)

223
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31745)

224
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31777)

225
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31778)

226
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Pakistan for (a) a fair trial for Younas Maish in the court of Lahore and (b) protection to be given to the advocate of the defendant and court officials.

(32291)

227
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is with regard to West Papua; if he will make representations regarding alleged human rights abuses there; what steps he is taking to ensure that this part of Indonesia is subject to international scrutiny; and what discussions his Department has had with those organisations that wish to secede from Indonesia.

(32292)

228
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) US military personnel and (b) civilian contractors reside in Diego Garcia (i) in total and (ii) broken down by nationality.

(32179)

229
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what permission is required from (a) his Department and (b) the UK diplomatic representative of the British Indian Ocean Territory for (i) US military missions and (ii) landing of US military or civilian aircraft on the island of Diego Garcia.

(32180)

230
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Ethiopia.

(32078)

231
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Ethiopian government on the imprisonment of opposition polititions.

(32079)

232
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what research he has commissioned on the effect of the UK's nuclear weapons status on nuclear proliferation.

(32345)

233
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken by the Government to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the last five years.

(32346)

234
Mr Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool, Walton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking (a) bilaterally and (b) multilaterally to ensure that progress is made on international agreement on non-proliferation.

(32347)

235
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32241)

236
David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Iran regarding (a) the provisions of the 1991 Memorandum of the Supreme Revolutionary Council of Iran regarding expulsion of Baha'is from university and (b) access to education for Baha'is in Iran.

(32081)

237
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17th November to Question 26869, what contact Hank Dittmar and Katherine Horley of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment had with his Department's staff during their Royal Highnesses' recent official visit to the United States; which events organised by the Government they attended; whether they accompanied their Royal Highnesses on the journey between Washington DC and New York; and if he will make a statement.

(31661)

238
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17th November to Question 26865, what presents whose costs were taken from public funds, other than those given to President and Mrs Bush, were presented by their Royal Highnesses during their recent visit to the United States; to whom they were given; and who purchased them.

(31663)

239
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November to Question 26865, what the present purchased for President Bush from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was; who purchased it; where the present was purchased; and whether the cost was charged to (a) the Royal Household and (b) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

(31664)

240
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17th November to Question 26865, who purchased the present for Mrs Bush given by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall; where the present was purchased; from whom it was purchased; and whether its cost was charged to (a) the Royal Household and (b) his Department.

(31665)

241
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many security personnel (a) are employed overseas by his Department and (b) were so employed in the 2004-05 financial year; and how many are (i) in-house and (ii) contract staff in each case.

(32336)

242
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16th November, Official Report, column 1266W, on European Union (opt-outs), in which areas where the UK had an option not to participate the Government has joined in specific policy developments since 1997.

(32002)

243
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for South Holland and the Deepings of 17th November, Official Report, column 1480W, on damages, if he will make a statement on the three cases to which reference is made.

(32047)

244
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Rules of Procedure governing the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament.

(32195)

245
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Iran following its threat not to continue with the construction of the Iran to India gas pipeline as a result of India's recent vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

(32267)

246
N Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his call for Sir Christopher Meyer to resign as head of the Press Complaints Commission (a) was made in his ministerial capacity and (b) represents Government policy.

(31620)

247
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the UK has taken at EU level to ensure full respect for European human rights law in the event of the detention by a non-EU state of a person suspected of a terrorist act or intent within any state of the EU.

(31961)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

248
Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role (a) the NHS and (b) primary care trusts play in providing medical and healthcare services in detention centres for asylum seekers; and how the standard of health services provided in detention centres is monitored.

(31737)

249
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will take steps to safeguard the employment of specialist rheumatology nurses and practitioners during the reorganisation of primary care trusts.

(32283)

250
Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support is given to drug rehabilitation projects which pursue an abstinence approach to drug treatment; and if she will list the projects which have received public funding in 2005-06.

(32017)

251
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full time equivalent medical staff there were within neurological specialty practising in the NHS in each year since 2001; and how many were (a) consultants, (b) registrars and (c) senior house officers.

(31927)

252
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) remit and (b) membership of the Joint Planning Group is; and how often the Group meets.

(31928)

253
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) remit and (b) membership of the Advisory Committee on Topic Selection is; and how often the Committee meets.

(31929)

254
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the length of time taken was to select each drug that has been referred for each of the stages of her Department's topic selection process for drugs and treatments referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

(31930)

255
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31767)

256
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff in her Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31768)

257
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to relocate staff in her Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31769)

258
Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the cost per patient treated at (a) foundation hospitals and (b) non-foundation hospitals in the last year for which figures are available.

(32124)

259
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what division in her Department is responsible for health aspects of pesticide use; what research programmes have been undertaken in the last five years; and which personnel have been involved.

(32285)

260
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Department will make a statement on (a) the evidence given by and (b) recommendations made by representatives of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

(32286)

261
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Department has to advance medical toxicology in the UK, with specific regard to the employment of immunotoxicologists.

(32287)

262
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will conduct a population biomonitoring programme which includes pesticides.

(32297)

263
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the working group within her Department has made in producing a module of toxicology for use by general practitioners in relation to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution report, with particular reference to the impact on the health of residents and bystanders of crop spraying of pesticides.

(32298)

264
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when (a) the Health Protection Agency and (b) her Department will establish a public health toxicology service to deal with chemical issues; and whether it will include pesticides.

(32299)

265
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the survey that the Health Protection Agency carried out on laboratories, referred to in its oral evidence given to the Royal Commission on Environmental Protection; and whether the survey will be published.

(32300)

266
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28th June, Official Report, column 1521W, on NHS Direct, whether she has (a) undertaken an assessment of, (b) (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated research into and (c) considered the impact of the operation of NHS Direct on staff recruitment in NHS accident and emergency departments.

(31816)

267
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the MCM5 test being trialled at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle; and when it will be brought into regular use in the NHS.

(32272)

268
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is proposing to take to ensure that primary care trusts (PCTs) provide a minimum level of dental provision in three years' time when changes to PCTs' control over their budgets are introduced.

(31790)

269
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions she has had with relevant NHS organisations on the future configuration of hospital services in the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust.

(31886)

270
N David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dental practices in each local authority in England accepted NHS patients in each year since 1997.

(31580)

271
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list each primary care trust with a budget deficit, in order of the size of deficit, indicating in each case the (a) unweighted budget allocation per person to the Trust and (b) primary parliamentary constituency served by the Trust.

(32358)

272
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the Choose and Book programme not being fully operational on the predicted date on primary care trusts' ability to meet their targets.

(32112)

273
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Choose and Book programme will become fully operational.

(32123)

274
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what capital allocations she expects to be made available to the Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority over the next three years; and for what purpose each allocation will be made.

(32009)

275
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the population in the area served by Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust was registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1997.

(32036)

276
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) dental nurses, (b) dental hygienists and (c) dental therapists there are in Tamworth.

(32037)

277
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what administrative savings have been made by the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust since its inception; and what the forecast figures were for such savings.

(32040)

278
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she expects to be in a position to publish the Mental Health Bill.

(32014)

279
N Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost of running the Cheshire and Merseyside Health Authority has been in each year since it was set up.

(31477)

280
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of stay is for patients in (a) acute trusts and (b) Leicestershire Acute Hospital Trust; and what the upper quartile length of stay is for all trusts.

(31711)

281
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the acute trust hospitals with major accident and emergency departments that do not also have paediatric services on the same site.

(31888)

282
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what risk assessment she has undertaken of major accident and emergency departments functioning without the back-up of a paediatrics department on same site.

(31889)

283
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the acute hospital trusts which achieved upper quartile performance on patient stays across (a) all specialties, (b) all sites and (c) all specialties and all sites in 2004-05.

(31890)

284
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16th November, Official Report, column 1294W, on Health Outside Hospitals, whether she had received expressions of interest to run the consultation from companies with whom the Central Office of Information did not hold framework agreements prior to the contract being awarded; when Opinion Leader Research agreed a framework agreement with the Central Office of Information; when this framework agreement was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union; and what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of restricting the number of companies to which the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say contract could be offered to those with which the Central Office of Information holds a framework agreement.

(31891)

285
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15th November, Official Report, column 1178W, on primary care trusts, for what reasons her Department had not collected this information by 24th October as requested in the letter by her Department's Director of Access dated 13th October.

(31892)

286
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5th October, Official Report, column 2843W, on waiting times, whether the Department has agreed local delivery plans with every strategic health authority; where the Department is piloting data collections to support the 18-week waiting time target; where these pilots are taking place; whether she has taken a decision on whether data drawn from the pilots will be published; and when she intends to begin monitoring waiting times across England for the purpose of measuring the 18-week waiting time target.

(31895)

287
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12th July, Official Report, column 991W, on public engagement contracts, which other companies were asked to tender for the contract to run the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say consultation.

(31896)

288
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many interventional radiologists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 1997; and what plans she has to expand this number.

(31897)

289
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the optimum number of interventional radiologists needed by the NHS, with specific reference to the numbers needed to fully utilise minimally invasive technologies of proven clinical and cost-effectiveness.

(31898)

290
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to prevent pressure ulcers in NHS hospitals.

(31899)

291
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether she plans to monitor adherence to the clinical guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on pressure ulcer management, published in September; and what plans she has to monitor the uptake of vacuum assisted closure technologies as recommended by the guidance.

(31900)

292
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of vacuum assisted closure machines in treating open wounds.

(31901)

293
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rates of (a) overweight and (b) obesity have been amongst (i) children under 11 years, (ii) children aged between 11 and 18 years and (iii) adults in each year since 1997.

(31902)

294
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether she will abolish the 48 hour general practitioner access target.

(31903)

295
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will publish the month six forecast 2005-06 year-end financial position of each strategic health authority area.

(31905)

296
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to improve the care offered to those with cerebral palsy.

(31906)

297
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the net NHS funding contribution for (a) general dentist services and (b) personal dentist service dentistry has been in each year since 1997-98.

(31907)

298
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what her estimate is of the number of general and personal dental service dentists per head of population in (a) each strategic health authority area and (b) England.

(31909)

299
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost per patient episode is at (a) a dental access centre and (b) a dental surgery operating under the General Dental Services contract.

(31910)

300
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date she ordered an additional 200,000 doses of winter influenza vaccine to act as a contingency reserve.

(31911)

301
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what her estimate is of the take-up of winter influenza vaccine in (a) at-risk groups and (b) all other groups since September.

(31912)

302
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the number of people suffering from cerebral palsy in each year since 1997.

(31913)

303
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dental access centres there are in England; and where they are situated.

(32070)

304
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter sent to the honourable Member for South Cambridgeshire by the Minister of State, the Right honourable Member for Liverpool, Wavertree, on the Rapid Review Panel, dated 25th October, of the 118 products which have been reviewed by the Rapid Review Panel, if she will list the products which are in widespread use; and what estimate she has made of the time saved in introducing these products into widespread NHS use by the Rapid Review Panel's proceedings.

(32071)

305
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS in the last five years of complications relating to a poor diet, with particular reference to (a) food poisoning, (b) heart disease, (c) stroke, (d) diabetes, (e) cancer and (f) tooth decay.

(32072)

306
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of (a) those aged 65 and over and (b) those aged over six months suffering from (i) chronic respiratory disease, (ii) chronic heart disease, (iii) chronic renal disease, (iv) chronic liver disease, (v) diabetes and (vi) who are immunosuppressed she estimates have been immunised against winter influenza in 2005.

(32073)

307
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the number of individuals staying in the UK illegally in each year since 1997-98 who were eligible for continuing care for HIV because they had stayed in the UK for longer than 12 months until the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations were amended.

(32075)

308
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether she plans to increase the number of dental access centres in England.

(32330)

309
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to amend the time at which the out-of-hours period (a) begins and (b) ends in the General Medical Services contract.

(32331)

310
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which her Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(32244)

311
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the Government introduced primary care trusts; and what the cost of setting them up was.

(31718)

312
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons she is seeking to restructure primary care trusts; and what estimate she has made of the costs of restructuring.

(31719)

313
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what definition she uses of (a) contestability and (b) the internal market in the commissioning of national health services.

(31720)

314
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were employed by North Yorkshire Area Health Authority in 1997; and how many are employed in (a) York and Selby Primary Care Trust, (b) Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust and (c) Harrogate and Craven Primary Care Trust.

(31721)

315
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will place in the Library a copy of (a) the Better Regulation Task Force's (BRTF) response to the proposed regulations and exemptions relating to the smoking ban set out in the Health Bill and (b) other written comments made by the BRTF on the Bill.

(32160)

316
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of those (a) individuals and (b) organisations that took part in the consultation on the Health Bill favoured (i) the exemptions on the smoking ban as on the face of the Health Bill and (ii) a ban which excluded (A) private clubs and (B) pubs where food was not sold.

(32174)

317
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nursing vacancies there are, broken down by grade.

(32068)

318
N Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance has been issued to primary care trusts about commissioning care from children's hospices.

(31474)

319
N Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the funding of children's hospices.

(31475)

320
N Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the sums paid to children's hospices by each primary care trust in the last year for which figures are available.

(31478)

321
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to Question 26251, if she will list her official engagements for each day over the next six weeks.

(31817)

322
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost was of (a) sex change, (b) bunion and (c) cosmetic surgery operations for the last year for which figures are available; how many of each category of operation took place; and if she will make a statement.

(32187)

323
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals are planning ward or capacity closures.

(32188)

324
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals are planning staff cuts; and what sectors of jobs are being cut in each case.

(32189)

325
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses, (b) general practitioners, (c) surgeons, (d) ward support staff and (e) administrative staff were employed in the NHS in each year since 1997; what the total share of the budget attributed to each was in each year; and what the projected figures are for 2006.

(32190)

326
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost to her Department of consultancy fees in relation to (a) restructuring and (b) private finance initiatives has been since 1997.

(32200)

327
Mr Andy Reed (Loughborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has held with professional rugby clubs about developing community rugby programmes to tackle obesity and increase participation in physical activity; and if she will make a statement.

(32208)

328
Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12th September, Official Report, column 2743W, on obesity, what indicators her Department has proposed for the new quality and outcomes framework; and whether they include obesity treatment.

(32305)

329
Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12th September, Official Report, columns 2742-3W, on obesity, when the obesity programme board was set up; who the members of the board are; on what dates the board has met; what was discussed during those meetings; and if she will make a statement.

(32306)

330
Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12th September, Official Report, columns 2742-3W, on obesity, what progress has been made in setting up the national partnership of obesity; and if she will make a statement.

(32307)

331
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the closure of 10 beds in Ward 3 for children under 12 years with severe mental health problems at the Birmingham Children's Hospital is planned.

(31476)

332
Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the process will be for submitting claims to the Community Register under the proposed EU nutrition and health claims made on foods proposal; when her Department will begin the consultation process on the proposal; and if she will make a statement.

(31947)

333
Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions her Department has had with other EU member states about the process for submitting claims to the Community Register under the proposed EU regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods; what the outcome of these discussions was; and if she will make a statement.

(31948)

334
David Tredinnick (Bosworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to address the concerns of small and medium-sized manufacturers about the cost of registering products under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

(32273)

335
Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she will reply to Questions (a) 26127 and (b) 26193 tabled on 3rd November by the honourable Member for Broxbourne.

(31837)

336
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of five-year-olds had no decayed, filled or missing teeth, according to the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry Survey of the dental caries experience of five-year-old children in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

(32012)

337
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals in England are in debt; by how much in each case; and if she will make a statement.

(32018)

338
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed by the (a) Dental Practice Board, (b) NHS Logistics Authority, (c) NHS Pensions Agency, (d) Prescription Pricing Authority and (e) NHS Counter Fraud and Security management service; and where each of their main centres of employment is.

(32022)

339
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average body mass index was in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in the latest year for which figures are available.

(32023)

340
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to hospital on Christmas Day in each year since 1997 in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority, broken down by reason for admittance.

(32024)

341
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people stayed in hospital overnight on Christmas day in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

(32025)

342
Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the salary is of the chief executive of each Cheshire primary care trust; and what estimate she has made of the likely cost of their redundancy packages.

(32054)

343
N Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on her plans to reduce the number of ophthalmic practices that deliver NHS eye examinations.

(31481)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

344
Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions have taken place and (b) orders have been made under section 14 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

(31839)

345
N Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in Bexhill-on-Sea.

(31540)

346
N Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued to citizens living in Bexhill-on-Sea.

(31541)

347
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 1252W, on domestic violence, when the (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 results on victimisation will be made available.

(32186)

348
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under plans for relocation.

(31742)

349
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31743)

350
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31744)

351
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how his Department plans to prevent the production of forged identity cards; and if he will make a statement.

(31097)

352
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special advisers have been employed by the Home Office in each year since 1997; and what the average salary has been for specialist advisers in each year.

(31738)

353
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost was of relocating the Home Office.

(31796)

354
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the status of the old Home Office building at 50 Queen Anne's Gate.

(31797)

355
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on the maintenance of the Home Office's Marsham Street office (a) gardens and (b) water features since relocation.

(31798)

356
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on (a) advertising, (b) refreshments, (c) travel for Ministers and (d) stationery by the Home Office in each year since 1997.

(31799)

357
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been employed in the Home Secretary's private office in each year since 1997.

(31800)

358
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have left prison in each of the last eight years; and how many left prison without accommodation.

(31822)

359
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the number of prisoners leaving prison without accommodation.

(31823)

360
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to strengthen data collection on prisoners' accommodation status on leaving prison; and if he will make a statement.

(31824)

361
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been released early from prison under the home detention curfew since the introduction of the scheme, broken down by offence for which originally imprisoned.

(31825)

362
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the individual and local identity of local policing of merging predominantly rural police authorities with authorities that are predominantly urban.

(31529)

363
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will extend the consultation period on the proposed merger of police authorities in England beyond 23rd December.

(31530)

364
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure that Cumbria retains a minimum number of police officers not less than its current staffing level in the event of Cumbria Police Authority merging with one or more other authorities.

(31531)

365
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the likely impact on Cumbria Police Authority's excellent rating for citizen-focused policing of a merger of the Authority with other more urban police authorities.

(31532)

366
N Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of letters the Immigration and Nationality Directorate received in 2004-05 from the legal representatives of applicants for leave to remain received (a) an acknowledgement and (b) a response; what the average time for response was; and if he will make a statement.

(31408)

367
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Hornsey and Wood Green of 5th July, 19th July and 5th October regarding a constituent, Mr Rastgouy; what the average response time to honourable Members' enquiries to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is; and if he will make a statement.

(32003)

368
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the cost of telephone calls from within HMP Wormwood Scrubs differs from the cost charged to those who do not reside there, but use the same telecom provider.

(32159)

369
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time was for a disclosure application to be processed by the Metropolitan Police in the last year for which figures are available; and how many disclosure applications are waiting to be processed by the Metropolitan Police.

(31792)

370
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many recorded incidents of domestic violence there were in Staffordshire in each of the last five years.

(32008)

371
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many domestic violence prosecutions were underaken in Staffordshire in each of the last five years.

(32038)

372
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Staffordshire Police Force concerning the proposed merger of police forces in the area.

(32039)

373
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what studies his Department has conducted on the lifespan of radio frequency identification tags in documents that may be subjected to intense use in the identity card scheme.

(32082)

374
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has conducted (a) research studies and (b) tests in accordance with national standards on Basic Access Control on the durability of contactless chips and cards when they are subjected to regular swiping in order to disclose information kept on the card in relation to the identity card scheme.

(32083)

375
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has conducted (a) research studies and (b) tests on the prevention of data leakage of contactless technology via skimming and eavesdropping in relation to the identity card scheme.

(32084)

376
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the UK requests all related evidence from the relevant country as a matter of policy when an extradition request is received.

(32155)

377
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of individuals with HIV who have stayed illegally in the UK for longer than 12 months.

(32074)

378
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32248)

379
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to propose changes to the law relating to penalties for those responsible for motor vehicle related (a) accidents and (b) deaths.

(32296)

380
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of his Department's Directors' Allocation Fund funding stream from the Government Office for London was made available to the London Borough of Croydon in 2004-05.

(32278)

381
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the national performance targets are for youth offending teams; and what the performance of Torbay Youth Offending Team has been against those targets.

(32059)

382
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 6th July from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, (acknowledged on 25th July ref B15446/5) on Home Office case reference K1025532 regarding Mr Karenzada.

(32274)

383
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter dated 6th April from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, (acknowledgement ref B8243/5 dated 1st June) on behalf of Dr Zade Limondein, Home Office reference H1080798.

(32276)

384
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister for Immigration will reply to the letter of 9th August from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, (acknowledged 11th August 2005, reference B18797/5), Home Office Reference E1010147.

(32337)

385
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister for Immigration will reply to the letter of 20th September from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, Home Office reference H1047147, regarding Mr Tasooji.

(32338)

386
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the savings accrued from the restructuring of police forces in England and Wales will be retained by the new forces created by the restructuring.

(32175)

387
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the financial impact on UK police forces of the new police pension scheme for future entrants.

(32176)

388
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated cost to each police force is of the new pension arrangements for the police.

(32177)

389
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any savings from police force restructuring will be in addition to planned expenditure on the police in England and Wales by his Department as set out in the Spending Review.

(32178)

390
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of whether savings could be accrued through the centralising of police procurement.

(32263)

391
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he is taking to tackle the sale of counterfeit goods at car boot sales; and if he will make a statement.

(32333)

392
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Kent County Council Act 2001 and the Medway Council Act 2001 to the whole of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(32334)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

393
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31758)

394
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31759)

395
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31760)

396
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans his Department has to provide development aid to the Chagossian community in (a) Mauritius and (b) the Seychelles; and what representations he has made to the EU to provide assistance.

(32182)

397
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether funding for the child treatment fund is included in the 10 per cent. of his Department's spending on HIV/AIDS to be spent on orphans and vulnerable children.

(32207)

398
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action he has taken in respect of the United Kingdom's aid to Ethiopia in light of recent events in the country; what plans he has for such aid; and if he will make a statement.

(32161)

399
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32242)

400
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for South Holland and the Deepings of 15th November, Official Report, column 1077-8W, on damages, why (a) compensation was paid to pensioners for arrears of payment, (b) interest and a penalty payment was made to the Inland Revenue and (c) compensation was paid to a member of staff for personal effects; and if he will make a statement.

(32000)

401
Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the International Donor Conference on the earthquake in Kashmir.

(32270)

402
Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the projected direct budgetary support from his Department for each country is for the next three years.

(32271)

403
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate his Department has made of the number of deaths from exposure that will occur this winter following the earthquake in Kashmir.

(32019)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

404
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31731)

405
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31732)

406
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31733)

407
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many passenger train journeys in Northern Ireland arrived on time in (a) 1999 and (b) 2004.

(31482)

408
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the change in bus passenger numbers on the Belfast- Londonderry route has been between 2000 and 2005.

(31483)

409
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the change in the numbers of those in full-time employment in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland has been between 2001 and 2005.

(31484)

410
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress is being made by Invest Northern Ireland in increasing the percentage of the workforce in Northern Ireland that is in the private sector.

(31485)

411
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the change has been in (a) salary, (b) expenses and (c) pension contributions of the top five earning employees of Invest Northern Ireland in the past three years.

(31490)

412
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether Translink takes into account pupils not using bus services as a result of their participation in extra-curricular activities when determining the number of bus journeys undertaken by children qualifying for the free school transport system in an academic year for the purposes of calculating the amount to be charged to the education and library boards in Northern Ireland for the service.

(32217)

413
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the change in the total value of (a) current and (b) past tenant arrears of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has been since 1995.

(32218)

414
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average levels of reservoir water supplies in Northern Ireland during October were in each of the last five years.

(32219)

415
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what average time adults have waited from application to completion of adoption proceedings of a child in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(32220)

416
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the estimated completion date is for the sewerage treatment works that will service the village of Drumahoe, Londonderry.

(32221)

417
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32239)

418
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason the Police Service of Northern Ireland has refused to publish files relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings following a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

(32265)

419
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 21st November, Official Report, column 1630W, on the Barron inquiry, to what the further information provided to Mr MacEntee relates.

(32329)

420
N Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the implications for the Ulster Orchestra of the Inland Revenue's policy that freelance musicians and singers engaged since 1998 are liable for Class 1 National Insurance contributions.

(30340)

421
N Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to ensure that the policy of the Inland Revenue on liability for National Insurance contributions does not lead to the loss of full-time jobs in the Ulster Orchestra.

(30342)

422
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total hospitality budget is for his Department's ministers for 2005-06, including alcohol, food, staff in attendance and other related costs.

(32088)

423
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many beds were available in the Province in care homes on the last date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(32089)

424
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many dental (a) nurses, (b) hygienists and (c) therapists there were in Northern Ireland on the last date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(32090)

425
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in Northern Ireland have (a) contracted and (b) died of necrotising fasciitis in each of the last five years.

(32091)

426
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost has been in each prison in Northern Ireland in the last five years of providing (a) educational facilities, (b) dental services, (c) medical services, including costs involved in transporting inmates to and from hospital, (d) clothing and (e) food; and if he will make a statement.

(32092)

427
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what allowance is provided to each member of the Parades Commision; and what additional expenses each is eligible for.

(32093)

428
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what allowance is provided to each member of the Equality Commision; and what additional expenses each is eligible for.

(32094)

429
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what allowance is provided to each member of the Human Rights Commission; and what additional expenses each is eligible for.

(32095)

430
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many houses in the public sector in Northern Ireland are deemed inadequate by district housing offices due to poor heating and insulation.

(32096)

431
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many injuries associated with fireworks and bonfires there were over the recent Hallowe'en period; and what the figures were in each year since 2001 broken down by health board area.

(32097)

432
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many delayed discharges for elderly patients due to non-availability of community-care packages there were in each health board area in 2004-05; and if he will make a statement.

(32098)

433
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many instances of school bullying in (a) primary and (b) post-primary schools have been recorded in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(32099)

434
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to educate (a) primary and (b) post-primary school children about the need to treat people from different ethnic backgrounds with respect; what budget has been allocated for such work; and if he will make a statement.

(32100)

435
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many social housing schemes are planned in each council area in the Province, over the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

(32101)

436
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many children have been (a) injured and (b) fatally injured while crossing roads outside schools in the past five years.

(32102)

437
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce 20 miles per hour speed limits near schools in the Province; and if he will make a statement.

(32103)

438
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average level of consumer debt in Northern Ireland was in the last period for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the differential with other parts of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(32104)

439
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which railway stations in Northern Ireland fall below the standards required by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(32105)

440
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money has been ring fenced for research into treatment for prostate cancer over the last five years in Northern Ireland.

(32106)

441
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in Northern Ireland, broken down by health board area in each year since 2001.

(32107)

442
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding has been provided for information leaflets advising men to seek medical help should they experience symptoms of prostate cancer in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32108)

443
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the survival rates have been of men diagnosed with prostate cancer since 2001 in each health board area of Northern Ireland.

(32109)

444
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are employed by each district command unit to collate and produce Police Service of Northern Ireland statistical information.

(31936)

445
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding was received from the European Parliament for the Streetwise Project of the Roads Service in Northern Ireland.

(31937)

446
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many paramilitary-style attacks there were in each of the last 10 years; and in how many cases people were (a) apprehended and (b) convicted.

(31938)

447
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) female and (b) male Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were recruited in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) Protestants, (ii) Catholics and (iii) others.

(31940)

448
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the clear-up rate was for (a) burglary, (b) car theft and (c) possession of illegal drugs in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(31941)

449
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many houses have been built in (a) Belfast East, (b) Belfast North, (c) Belfast South and (d) Belfast West in each year since 1980.

(31942)

450
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many centenarians live in Northern Ireland.

(31943)

451
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people he has authorised to have stun guns.

(31944)

452
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were (a) cautioned and (b) convicted in relation to a drugs offence in each district command unit in Northern Ireland, broken down by age group, in each of the last five years.

(31945)

453
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the members on each Neighbourhood Partnership in the four Belfast constituencies; what the position of each on the Neighbourhood Partnership is and who they represent.

(31946)

454
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were per head of population in Northern Ireland, broken down by health board, in each year since 1998.

(31949)

455
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many children aged under 16 years in each health board area in Northern Ireland were discharged from hospital after removal of tonsils or adenoids in each of the last 12 months.

(31950)

456
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people were proceeded against for the offence of failing to stop after an accident in each Police Service of Northern Ireland district in each of the last five years.

(31951)

457
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many unpaid parking tickets there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

(31952)

458
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance his Department has given the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the (a) purchase and (b) hire of police road vehicles.

(31953)

459
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many registered pre-schools there were in each of the education boards in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(31954)

460
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police officers use bicycles while patrolling in each Police Service Northern Ireland district.

(31955)

461
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money was spent by each health board on medical instruments for use in each year since 1998; and what the projected spend in Northern Ireland is in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.

(31956)

462
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many new business start-ups there were in each of the last five years in (a) East Belfast, (b) North Belfast, (c) South Belfast and (d) West Belfast.

(31957)

463
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed in each year since 1998, broken down by health board.

(31958)

464
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has allocated for social housing in each constituency of Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years.

(31959)

465
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people (a) are of pensionable age and (b) receive a state pension in Northern Ireland.

(31960)

466
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many attacks on fire crews have taken place in each district of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(31969)

467
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cardiac-related emergency cases have been treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland in each year since 1995.

(31970)

468
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care there were in each hospital in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(31971)

469
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many recycling points there are in each local authority in Northern Ireland; and how many there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(31972)

470
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many drivers have been convicted of driving without (a) road tax licence and (b) valid car insurance in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(31973)

471
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many special schools in Northern Ireland have closed since 1998.

(31974)

472
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many arson attacks there were on schools in each education board in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(31975)

473
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many teachers who specialise in drug awareness and prevention are employed in schools in each education board in Northern Ireland.

(31976)

474
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to promote (a) knowledge of and (b) interest in parliamentary government in schools in Northern Ireland.

(31977)

475
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cyclists were (a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(31978)

476
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) males and (b) females were convicted of motoring offences in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by offence.

(31979)

477
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many fire-related deaths in dwellings there were in each district command unit area in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990.

(31980)

478
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what methods are used in Northern Ireland for tracking prisoners on parole; and if he will make a statement.

(31982)

479
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria are applied in Northern Ireland when considering whether a prisoner is eligible for parole; and if he will make a statement.

(31983)

480
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on unauthorised Traveller encampments in Northern Ireland.

(31984)

481
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been murdered in each year since 1997 in (a) East Belfast, (b) North Belfast, (c) South Belfast and (d) West Belfast.

(31985)

482
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police officers have taken early retirement in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(31986)

483
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been employed in the Probation Service in (a) East Belfast, (b) South Belfast, (c) West Belfast and (d) North Belfast in each year since 1990.

(31987)

484
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) sexual offences and (b) robberies have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

(31988)

485
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) fraud and (b) forgery offences have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

(31989)

486
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many computers have been confiscated in relation to offences reported to (a) East Belfast District Command Unit and (b) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

(31990)

487
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many tonnes of chlorofluorocarbons have been converted into inert substances in Northern Ireland in each year from 2003.

(31991)

488
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) burglaries, (b) vehicle thefts, (c) assaults, (d) violence against the person offences and (e) violent crimes have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

(31992)

489
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many fugitives from justice meet the criteria for release under the Government's plans.

(31993)

490
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police mobile support units are in use in Northern Ireland.

(31994)

491
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prosecutions there have been against people found putting graffiti on property in each of the last five years in (a) East Belfast and (b) Castlereagh.

(31995)

492
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of those eligible for parole (a) were granted parole and (b) broke the conditions of parole in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998.

(31996)

493
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the quality of the GCSE exam in Northern Ireland.

(31997)

494
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have registered with general practitioners in East Belfast in each year since 1998.

(31998)

495
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his assessment is of the effect on foreign direct investment of corporation tax differentials between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

(32120)

496
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of what steps should be taken to attract foreign direct investment to Northern Ireland.

(32121)

497
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers in Northern Ireland will have reached retirement age in each of the next five years.

(32127)

498
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers in Northern Ireland have taken early retirement in each of the last five years.

(32128)

499
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) controlled and (b) maintained primary schools in Northern Ireland have closed in each of the last five years.

(32129)

500
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) controlled and (b) maintained secondary schools in Northern Ireland have closed in each of the last five years.

(32130)

501
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) controlled and (b) maintained primary schools in Northern Ireland are scheduled to close in each of the next three years.

(32131)

502
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) controlled and (b) maintained secondary schools in Northern Ireland are scheduled to close in each of the next three years.

(32132)

503
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what criteria decisions are taken to (a) suspend and (b) expel a pupil in a (i) controlled and (ii) maintained school in Northern Ireland.

(32133)

504
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people (a) have been disciplined and (b) are passing through a disciplinary process as a result of the recent criticisms of the Jobskills initiative in Northern Ireland.

(32134)

505
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to increase the amount of household waste that is recycled annually in Northern Ireland.

(32135)

506
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many terrorist related murders remain unsolved in Northern Ireland.

(32136)

507
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people released under licence as part of the Belfast Agreement have (a) subsequently been re-arrested under the terms of their licence and (b) been re-released early.

(32137)

508
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are estimated by the security forces to have been exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary organisations in each of the last 10 years.

(32138)

509
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many punishment attacks have been attributed by security forces in Northern Ireland to (a) the UDA, (b) the UVF, (c) the LVF, (d) the Provisional IRA, (e) the Continuity IRA and (f) the Real IRA for each of the last 15 months.

(32139)

510
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times he has met representatives of (a) the DUP, (b) the UUP, (c) the SDLP, (d) the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, (e) the UKUP, (f) the PUP and (g) Sinn Fein/IRA; and what the dates were of those meetings.

(32140)

511
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police officers in Northern Ireland have reported sick with a stress related illness in each of the last five years.

(32141)

512
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many nurses in Northern Ireland have reported sick with a stress related illness in each of the last five years.

(32222)

513
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many ambulance officers in Northern Ireland have reported sick with a stress related illness in each of the last five years.

(32223)

514
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many fire officers in Northern Ireland have reported sick with a stress related illness in each of the last five years.

(32224)

515
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cancelled operations there have been for each hospital with a theatre in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(32225)

516
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in Northern Ireland over the age of 65 years died as a result of winter cold weather in each of the last five years.

(32226)

517
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the truancy levels were for each education and library board in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

(32227)

518
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted for operating an illegal taxi service in each of the last 10 years.

(32228)

519
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many illegal drinking dens have been closed down in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(32229)

520
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been prosecuted for operating illegal drinking dens in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(32230)

521
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many petrol filling stations have closed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(32231)

522
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many bankruptcies there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(32232)

523
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total estimated workforce was in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(32233)

524
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of women in senior board positions in businesses in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

(32234)

525
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to attract more air routes into Northern Ireland airports.

(32235)

526
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what he has done to promote the long-term economy of Northern Ireland.

(32236)

Questions to the Prime Minister

527
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) emoluments, (b) expenses and (c) facilities are available to the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee; and if he will make a statement.

(31407)

528
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list those consultants which have been in receipt of government funds that have donated funds to the Labour Party; and what the sums involved were in each case.

(32368)

529
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Prime Minister, which honourable Members are currently resident in publicly-owned grace and favour properties for which the Government is responsible; and at what cost to the public purse.

(32369)

530
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will consider recommending the granting of a state funeral to the last person to die who served in the First World War; and if he will make a statement.

(32294)

531
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 16th November, Official Report, column 96S, and the Secretary of State for Defence's statement of 17th November, Official Report, columns 113-4, what account he took of the Attorney General's letter to Lord Astor of 9th July in making his statement.

(31709)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

532
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many payments for maladministration have been made in each of the last five years by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(32157)

Questions to the Solicitor General

533
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Solicitor General, what proportion of cases handled by the Crown Prosecution Service in Northamptonshire were abandoned (a) for evidential reasons, (b) for public interest reasons, (c) because the prosecution was unable to proceed and (d) for other reasons in the last year for which figures are available.

(32048)

534
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Solicitor General, whether, in coming to the decision not to prosecute Babar Ahmad, the Crown Prosecution Service asked the United States authorities to provide the evidence upon which they were basing the request for extradition.

(32118)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

535
Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made following the National Grid winter outlook report of what reduction in electricity demand would be required over what period of days to keep electricity supplies in balance.

(31727)

536
Tony Baldry (Banbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action his Department is taking to ensure security of electricity supply this winter.

(31739)

537
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 10th October, Official Report, column 38W, on telephone numbers, when he expects Ofcom to reply to the honourable Member for Gordon.

(31730)

538
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31740)

539
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31741)

540
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31748)

541
N Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his initial findings were in the June review of the work of (a) the Union of Democratic Miners, (b) claims handling firms and (c) other solicitors in relation to fraudulent handling of health compensation claims for ex-coal miners; and if he will make a statement.

(31537)

542
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what grants will be available for those producers who wish to build new plant to supply the British bio-fuels industry.

(32284)

543
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress his Department has made towards fulfilment of each aspect of Public Service Agreement Target 4 in the last six months; whether his Department is on track to meet each aspect of the target; and if he will make a statement.

(31577)

544
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ensure that Parliament is the first to be informed, in an oral statement, of the terms of reference of the forthcoming Energy Review.

(31578)

545
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the average beach gas availability from the UK Continental Shelf for winter (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08.

(32364)

546
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 9th November, Official Report, columns 527-8W, on carbon management programme, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Carbon Trust's survey report.

(31831)

547
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32247)

548
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evidence he is taking into account when reviewing the future role of nuclear energy in the United Kingdom.

(31713)

549
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much nuclear energy he expects to be produced in the United Kingdom by 2020.

(31714)

550
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's renewables policy from the decision to reassess the role of nuclear energy.

(31715)

551
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he made of the merits of making provision for nuclear power when introducing into Parliament the Bill for the Energy Act 2004.

(31716)

552
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received advocating renewed provision of nuclear power.

(31717)

553
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to implement the exclusion of bank holidays from minimum statutory holiday entitlements for employees.

(31486)

554
N John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many hearing loss claims have been registered by Vendside Ltd with his Department since 1997; and how many cases have been (a) partially and (b) fully paid out.

(31409)

555
N John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether legal advice was (a) sought and (b) received by his Department before the decision was taken to allow hearing loss claims in the mining industry to be represented solely by a claims handler.

(31410)

556
N John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many common law industrial injury claims relating to the coal industry have been paid out through (a) all claims handlers and (b) Vendside Ltd in the last eight years.

(31411)

557
N John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by whom the decision to allow claims handlers to represent claimants in common law hearing loss claims was made.

(31412)

558
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment his Department has made of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum's long-term influence on global gas prices.

(32268)

559
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what decisions have been made regarding the cooling off period for contracts between housholders and (a) unsolicited visits by those offering services or goods and (b) solicited visits by those offering services or goods; and if he will make a statement.

(31999)

560
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to announce his proposals following the consultation on doorstep selling and cold calling which closed in November 2004; and if he will make a statement.

(32050)

561
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the national performance targets are for Business Link; and what the performance has been against those targets of each Business Link office in Devon and Cornwall.

(32065)

562
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will reply to the letter of 18th May from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, on behalf of constituent Mike Josypenko regarding planned changes to UK trade and investment support for exporters.

(32282)

563
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether his Department has made a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

(31807)

564
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much each regional development agency in England has budgeted for in 2005-06 (a) in total, (b) for administration and (c) for staffing.

(31826)

565
N Angela Watkinson (Upminster):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ask the Competition Commissioner to review the news and magazine market.

(31624)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

566
N Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to reduce the accident rate for vehicles on the A21 in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

(31542)

567
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31746)

568
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31779)

569
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31780)

570
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Article 14 directions under the 1995 General Development Order have been served in each region of England in each year since 1999; and if he will list all such directions and their location in respect of the North East Region since 1st April 1999.

(31573)

571
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Tyne and Wear authorities will be required to implement (a) road charging and (b) pricing schemes as part of their proposals to reduce congestion.

(31574)

572
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether road charging is being considered for any part of the A1 Western Bypass in Newcastle and Gateshead.

(31575)

573
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department required section 106 provision to be made to widen the A1 Western Bypass as part of the approval of Newcastle Great Park; for what stretch of the A1 such widening was required; and when he expects the widening to take place.

(31576)

574
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) petrol stations and (b) other outlets sell (i) diesel and (ii) petrol that has a renewable content in each region.

(32301)

575
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the construction of Olympic transport projects and Crossrail will affect each other.

(31722)

576
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what precautions will be taken to ensure that dust and pollution from Crossrail construction will not adversely affect air quality at the time of the 2012 Olympics.

(31723)

577
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the measures taken to explain to the public the relationship between the availability of funding for transport for the 2012 Olympics and the availability of funding for regional transport schemes and projects.

(31724)

578
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total estimated cost is for the construction of Crossrail.

(31725)

579
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the construction costs for Crossrail will be funded.

(31726)

580
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements will be made for passengers with disabilities to be able to move between Stratford Regional Station and Stratford International Station.

(31794)

581
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether the capacity on the Docklands Light Railway will be sufficient to meet planning needs for the 2012 Olympics.

(31795)

582
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total amount is to be spent on transport schemes connected to the 2012 Olympics.

(31808)

583
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether adequate planning has been made to ensure that transport for the 2012 Olympics will be fully sustainable.

(31809)

584
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what park and ride schemes have been planned in connection with the 2012 Olympics.

(31810)

585
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether the transport arrangement for the 2012 Olympic Games will be efficient without the completion of the Thameslink box development.

(31811)

586
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Thameslink box was a scheme included in the bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

(31812)

587
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on passengers using transport services at the 2012 Olympic Games of the non-completion of the Thameslink box.

(31813)

588
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the need for (a) a travelator and (b) another mechanised link between Stratford Regional Station and Stratford International Station for the 2012 Olympics.

(31814)

589
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the average number of passengers per mile travelled by London buses in 1999-2000.

(31712)

590
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the total number of private cars in London registered with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2004-05.

(31882)

591
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the average speed travelled by private cars in London in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2004-05.

(31883)

592
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many traffic lights there were in London in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2004-05.

(31884)

593
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what were the total vehicle miles driven in London by private motor cars in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2004-05.

(31885)

594
N David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which transport schemes in England have been promoted to EU co-financing since 2000.

(31583)

595
N David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has provided for transport projects in each constituency in England in each year since 2000.

(31584)

596
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists, (c) motorcyclists, (d) car drivers and (e) car passengers have been (i) injured and (ii) killed in Staffordshire in road traffic accidents in each of the past six years for which figures are available.

(32010)

597
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32238)

598
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the successful bidder for the new Greater Western Franchise will be announced.

(32087)

599
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for reducing deaths from motor vehicle accidents on private land.

(32281)

600
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total legal and administrative costs since 1997 have been of changes to the status of London Underground.

(32193)

601
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the national performance targets are for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) offices and test centres; and what the performance of DVLA offices and test centres in Devon and Cornwall has been against those targets.

(32058)

602
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Guildford of 15th November, Official Report, column 1151W, on violence against passengers, how many victims of violence were recorded by British Transport Police in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1998-99.

(31835)

603
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many pedestrian deaths in road accidents there were where the pedestrian had over 100 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of blood in each year since 1997; and what percentage of all pedestrian road accident deaths in (a) England and (b) each region this represents in each case.

(32007)

604
Steve Webb (Northavon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8th November, Official Report, column 284W, on concessionary travel (South Gloucestershire), what he estimates to be the current cost to each local authority of the existing half-fare scheme.

(32013)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales

605
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Cabinet and the Welsh Assembly regarding excess winter deaths of those aged over 65 years in Wales.

(32086)

606
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31734)

607
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31735)

608
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31736)

609
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what expenditure was incurred by the Wales Office on entertaining in each year since 2002-03.

(31921)

610
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what expenditure was incurred by the Wales Office for (a) air and (b) rail travel in each year since 2003-04.

(32361)

611
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many payments for maladministration have been made in each of the last five years by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(32156)

612
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate the Government has made of the cost to local councils in Wales of the implementation of section 77 of the Local Government Act 2003.

(31805)

613
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department has made a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

(31806)

614
N Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had in Cabinet regarding budget deficits of Welsh (a) NHS trusts and (b) health boards.

(31487)

615
N Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had in Cabinet concerning complaints made by patients about the NHS in Wales.

(31488)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

616
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to extend winter fuel payments to people under 60 years who qualify for (a) middle and (b) higher rate of disability living allowance care component and (c) the higher rate of the mobility component; and if he will make a statement.

(31090)

617
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients there are of (a) the higher rate of the mobility component, (b) the medium rate of the care component and (c) the higher rate of the care component of disability living allowance, broken down by region.

(31091)

618
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who qualify for but do not receive (a) the higher rate of the mobility component, (b) the medium rate of the care component and (c) the higher rate of the care component of disability living allowance, broken down by region.

(31092)

619
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many telephone calls to the Child Support Agency from people in Scotland (a) were received, (b) received an engaged tone and (c) were disconnected during the interactive voice response process for the period April 2002 to September 2005 for (i) all calls and (ii) calls relating to cases being progressed on the new computer system.

(31093)

620
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls to the Child Support Agency from people in Scotland were abandoned by (a) Agency staff and (b) clients in each month since 2003.

(31094)

621
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the performance of the Child Support Agency.

(32085)

622
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions (a) his Department and (b) Jobcentre Plus have held with representatives of learning providers concerning (i) prime contractor status and (ii) other means of improving the cost-effectiveness of education and training in job placement.

(31939)

623
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(31761)

624
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

(31762)

625
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which buildings and sites used by his Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

(31763)

626
N Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration he has given to outsourcing the functions of the Child Support Agency.

(31413)

627
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were paid compensation payments by the Child Support Agency in each year since 2001.

(31585)

628
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending local housing allowances to the whole of the UK; how much he estimates the administration cost will be; and what the cost of administering housing benefit under the previous arrangements are estimated to be in the next three years.

(31586)

629
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact the introduction of local housing allowances has had on fraud in the pathfinder areas.

(31587)

630
N Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of claimants in the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinder areas are in arrears; and what the average percentage of arrears is in non-pathfinder areas.

(31588)

631
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been found guilty of fraudulently claiming incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) North East and (d) the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

(31706)

632
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been receiving incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

(31707)

633
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have claimed the long-term rate of incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

(31708)

634
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the merits of making participation in a rehabilitation scheme compulsory for incapacity benefit claimants who are drug addicts.

(32049)

635
N Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in respect of how many children are payments being made through the Child Support Agency's (a) new scheme and (b) old scheme.

(31021)

636
N Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects to answer Questions references (a) 18634, (b) 18784, (c) 18786 to 18789, (d) 19631, (e) 19954, (f) 20162, (g) 21432 to 21434, (h) 21436 to 21450, (i) 21452, (j) 21454, (k) 21581 to 21586, (l) 21590, (m) 21853 to 21857, (n) 21957 and (o) 21960 to 21962 tabled by the honourable Member for Yeovil.

(31022)

637
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(32250)

638
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the national performance targets are for Jobcentre Plus; and what the performance of Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Torquay, (b) Paignton and (c) Brixham has been against those targets.

(32063)

639
N Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Parliamentary Ombudsmen on the timing of her report on pensions.

(31471)

640
N Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when Tina Smith, a constituent of the honourable Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, will receive the sum agreed to be owed to her by the Child Support Agency.

(31480)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

641
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total operating expense of the UK Civil Service was in the last period for which figures are available; how many civil servants are employed in the UK; and what the rates were in each year since 1997.

[Transferred] (32203)

642
David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that Northern Ireland presents a more attractive fiscal regime.

[Transferred] (32122)

643
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government expects to publish further details of its plans for a (a) planning gain supplement and (b) land development tax.

[Transferred] (31828)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

644
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, for what reasons the Central Office of Information holds framework agreements with companies allowing contracts to be awarded without prior notification in the Official Journal of the European Union; and what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of this approach.

[Transferred] (31904)

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs

645
Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many judges have been appointed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990.

[Transferred] (31981)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

646
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what financial support is to be provided to assist the UK Scout Association in hosting the centenary programme in 2007.

[Transferred] (32295)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

647
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the nurses who qualified in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004 found nursing employment in the NHS.

[Transferred] (32066)

648
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Leader of the House's statement of 17th November, Official Report, column 1118, on health services, (a) what the cost is of the 168 more NHS consultants and (b) what proportion of the staff to which she refers work part-time.

[Transferred] (32001)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

649
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent attacks were committed under the influence of alcohol and in connection with licensed premises in each of the last three years in (a) Croydon, (b) Sutton and (c) Bromley boroughs.

[Transferred] (32277)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

650
Andrew George (St Ives):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the (a) costs and (b) total investment that will be forthcoming from (i) the Department for International Development, (ii) other UK Government departments, (iii) the EU, (iv) private companies and (v) other sources for the proposed redevelopment of the island of St Helena.

[Transferred] (32181)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

651
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether there is a difference between the levels of compulsory strategic oil stocks required to be held by companies refining in the UK and those that import; and what discussions have taken place regarding the retaining of a differential under plans to simplify UK compulsory strategic oil stockholding arrangements.

[Transferred] (31776)

652
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate his Department has made of the number of television sets that will be dumped following digital switchover; what legislation governs locations for recycling; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (32198)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

653
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have died of an asbestos-related illness in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) the West Midlands in each year since 1997.

[Transferred] (32041)

© Parliamentary copyright 2005
Revised 24 November 2005