Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 7 June 2006

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 Wednesday 7 June 2006
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 7 June 2006

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 7 June of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 7 June of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 7 June see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

1
Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the House of Lords judgement in the case of Barker v Corus UK Ltd on future plans for public expenditure in respect of compensation payments for those suffering from mesothelioma.

(75767)

2
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of missing trader fraud for each quarter since 1997 (a) in cash terms and (b) cost adjusted for inflation.

(75931)

3
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76067)

4
N Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many letters have been received by the Tax Credits Office in each month since October 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(75002)

5
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many disputed tax credit overpayment requests have been received in each quarter since April 2004; how many requests have been upheld; and if he will make a statement.

(75746)

6
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many overpayments of tax credits have been written off due to acceptance by his Department of official error since April 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(75747)

7
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are employed in HM Revenue and Customs to handle (a) tax credit complaints and (b) telephone calls about tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

(75748)

8
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 25th April 2006, Official Report, column 1050W on tax credits, what information is available on the level of tax credit manual payments in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(75751)

9
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claimants were receiving regular manual payments as at (a) 31st March and (b) 31st May; and if he will make a statement.

(75752)

10
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claimants have (a) returned form TC 846 and (b) otherwise been recorded as requesting the write-off of their overpayments on grounds of official error for each month since April 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(75754)

11
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the proportion of tax credit overpayments due to official error in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

(75755)

12
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent action his Department has taken to reduce the level of tax credit fraud.

(75756)

13
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the cost of tax credit fraud for each quarter from April 2003 to April 2006; and if he will make a statement.

(75757)

14
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing six monthly fixed awards for tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

(75758)

15
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the number of people who experienced identity fraud as a result of tax credits fraud in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 to date; and if he will make a statement.

(75768)

16
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many compensation payments have been made by the tax credits section of his Department in each reporting period since April 2003; what the value of each payment was; and if he will make a statement.

(75769)

17
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls to the tax credits helpline were (a) received, (b) handled, (c) engaged and (d) abandoned in each month from December 2005 to May 2006; and if he will make a statement.

(75770)

18
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the accuracy level of tax credits processing was in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

(75772)

19
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of new tax credit claims, renewals and change of circumstances were decided within five working days of receipt in each year from 2003-04.

(75773)

20
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have appealed against tax credits overpayments recovery in each month since April 2003; how many appeals have been successful; and if he will make a statement.

(75775)

21
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of tax credits overpayments have been written off for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.

(75776)

22
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the cost of administering the tax credits system in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

(75779)

23
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the cost of the £2,500 tax credits income disregard in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(75780)

24
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many bonus payments were made to staff at the Tax Credits office in each year from 2003-04; what the value was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

(75782)

25
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit award notices have been issued in each month since July 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(75783)

26
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the level of (a) fraud and (b) error in respect of tax credit payments in (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05; and if he will make a statement.

(75784)

27
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the tax credit take-up rates for each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

(75785)

28
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many compensation payments for maladministration and poor service have been made by the tax credits section of his Department for each month from April 2003 to May 2006; and if he will make a statement.

(75789)

29
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the amount of tax credit overpayments in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05 which will be recovered.

(75790)

30
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the average time taken to answer calls to the tax credits helpline in each month since November 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(75791)

31
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many letters about tax credits from hon. Members have been received by (a) the tax credits office and (b) his Department's Ministers in each month since April 2004.

(75792)

32
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the tax credit overpayments in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05 has been recovered to date; and if he will make a statement.

(75816)

33
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) automated and (b) manual tax credit payments have been made in each month since April 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(75817)

34
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish the final assessment of tax credit fraud for 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

(75818)

35
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the number of people entitled to but not receiving all forms of tax credits.

(75825)

36
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many direct recovery tax credit overpayment cases were outstanding as at 31st May; and if he will make a statement.

(75842)

37
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the percentage of disposable income spent on housing by each income decile for each year from 1995 to 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(75913)

38
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were in receipt of tax credits in each year since 1997.

(75914)

39
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list Government-owned land and buildings (a) unused and (b) about to become unused in the next five years, broken down by county.

(75925)

40
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of outstanding student loans that will be written off over the next 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

(75865)

41
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will undertake a public consultation on further regulation of the sale of general insurance.

(75793)

42
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what regulations apply to the selling of complex financial products on a non-advised basis.

(75795)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

43
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much was spent on foreign travel by her Department in each of the last eight years.

(76053)

44
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if she will list her engagements for 25th May 2006.

(75827)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

45
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent representations her Department has received on the carrying out of Best Value surveys.

(75907)

46
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the different types of methodology available to carry out Best Value surveys.

(75908)

47
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to councils on the carrying out of Best Value surveys; and if she will make a statement.

(75909)

48
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether (a) vendors and (b) purchasers will be able to take legal action against inspectors responsible for the production of inaccurate home condition reports.

(76030)

49
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the likely annual cost to vendors of home information packs; and what estimate she has made of the total annual value to purchasers of the packs.

(76033)

50
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to provide a right of appeal to owners of properties subject to final empty dwelling management orders.

(76051)

51
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd May 2006 to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, Official Report, column 1656W, on home information packs, what estimate she has made of the number of properties which will remain on the market for more than six months.

(76052)

52
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the annual number of derogations the Government will grant as a result of information for home information packs not being available at the time of sale.

(76068)

53
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the likely impact of home condition reports contained in home information packs on the market value of low value properties.

(76086)

54
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which organisations are entitled to produce home information packs; what guidelines are in place on what should be included; and what avenues exist for a leaseholder to refuse to pay for a pack that is inferior or defective in information required.

(75980)

55
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people are (a) qualified, (b) in training and (c) registered to take courses for the delivery of home condition reports; and what the average cost is of this training.

(75981)

56
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in which areas home information pack will be piloted; and what opportunities there will be to bring forward their introduction if buyer and vendor agree to this.

(75982)

57
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many complaints she has received about the operation of Part P of the Building Regulations since it was reformed; which organisations have written to her opposing those changes; and if she will make a statement.

(75983)

58
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made towards meeting job creation targets in the Thames Gateway area; and if she will make a statement.

(75820)

59
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what grants were made in 2005 as part of the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Grant scheme.

(75738)

60
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people were classified as (a) homeless and (b) unsuitably housed in each year since 1990-91; and if she will make a statement.

(75828)

61
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people were in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement

(75916)

62
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce a bill to harmonise tenancy rights along the lines recommended by the Law Commission.

(75920)

63
N Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average waiting time was for a council property with disabled access in (a) Leeds and (b) the West Yorkshire region in the latest period for which figures are available.

(75490)

64
N Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to (a) build and (b) supply council housing for those with serious disabilities in (i) Leeds and (ii) the West Yorkshire region.

(75491)

65
N Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to improve the provision of council housing for those with serious disabilities in (a) Leeds and (b) the West Yorkshire region.

(75492)

66
N Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people with serious disabilities are on the waiting list for council housing in (a) Leeds and (b) the West Yorkshire region.

(75496)

67
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much was allocated per head of population by the Housing Corporation to (a) the North East and (b) London and the South East in each of the last three years.

(75884)

68
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what criteria the Housing Corporation used to determine bids for funds under the National Affordable Housing Programme; and if she will make a statement.

(75886)

69
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will amend the planning regulations to make it mandatory for all (a) new build housing and (b) conversions to incorporate photo-voltaics and wind turbine technology wherever practicable.

(75855)

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs

70
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the cost was of the casework management system installed in the Information Commissioner's Office in 2004 to monitor breaches of telephone preference service regulations.

(75906)

71
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how much was spent on foreign travel by her Department in each of the last eight years.

(76054)

72
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if she will introduce new clauses and amendments to the Compensation Bill [Lords] to exempt (a) accidents occuring during the course of employment from Clause 1 of the Bill and (b) Trades Union legal schemes from Part 2 of the Bill; and if she will make a statement.

[R] (76000)

73
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on the amount recoverable from accident victims and insurers as a consequence of the enacting of Clause 1 of the Compensation Bill [Lords] for the purposes of benefit recoupment and the recovery of NHS outlays; and if she will make a statement.

[R] (76001)

74
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what recent representations she has received (a) in favour and (b) against Clause 1 of the Compensation Bill [Lords]; and if she will make a statement.

[R] (76002)

75
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the legal profession on Clause 1 of the Compensation Bill; and if she will make a statement.

[R] (76003)

76
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what discussions she has had with the judiciary on Clause 1 of the Compensation Bill [Lords]; and if she will make a statement.

[R] (76004)

77
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the disclosure of personal information from the 1911 Census have been received by the National Archives since 29th January 2006; and what the outcome was in cases where the applicants provided documentary evidence that all the 1911 residents of a specific property were no longer alive.

(76084)

78
N Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what her Department's target time is for providing a substantive reply to letters from hon. Members; and why her noble and learned Friend's reply to the letter dated 6th April from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight was not dispatched until 22nd May.

(75706)

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

79
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent on foreign travel by her Department in each of the last eight years.

(76055)

80
Bob Russell (Colchester):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on promoting the sport of croquet; and if she will make a statement.

(75753)

81
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what costs were incurred by her Department in relation to the 2012 Olympic bid.

(75829)

82
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps will be taken to improve hotel and tourist facilities outside London in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

(75830)

83
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits to non-London tourist centres of the 2012 Olympics.

(75831)

84
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the percentage of hotel rooms planned to be available in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics which will be of an inspected standard.

(76027)

85
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with English Heritage on the future of the Commonwealth Institute Building.

(75822)

86
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the possible implications for other listed buildings of delisting the Commonwealth Institute Building.

(75823)

87
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the future of the Commonwealth Institute Building.

(75824)

88
Mr Edward Vaizey (Wantage):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with HM Revenue and Customs on its decision to tax cafe and shop discounts for the Friends of the Victoria and Albert Museum as a benefit in kind; and if she will make a statement.

(75896)

89
N Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what account she takes of wage inflation in the BBC when negotiating the level of the licence fee.

(75508)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

90
Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the House of Lords judgement in the case of Barker v Corus UK Ltd on future spending plans of his Department in respect of expenditure on compensation payments for those suffering from mesothelioma.

(75766)

91
Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the working group set up to examine the new criteria for the Far East Internees Ex Gratia Scheme will report.

(75891)

92
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76057)

93
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much compensation for discriminatory pension provision has been paid to Gurkha servicemen who retired prior to 1st July 1997; and how much he expects to be paid in total.

(75840)

94
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many working armoured Land Rovers the Army has in (a) total, (b) Iraq and (c) Afghanistan.

(75847)

95
Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the mission of the (a) UK troops and (b) other coalition troops in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

(75910)

96
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the Hercules C130J and C130K fleet have been fitted with explosive suppressant foam; and when the rest of the fleet are expected to be fitted with it.

(75860)

97
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the rate of employee contribution is to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(75761)

98
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress with the review of UK military airfields; and when he expects to report the outcome.

(75933)

99
Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will (a) increase the value and (b) extend the time of phone cards issued to armed forces personnel stationed overseas.

(75905)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

100
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76058)

101
David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many under 16 years olds with autistic spectrum disorders were not in full-time education in each Parliamentary constituency in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(75852)

102
David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of children with autistic spectrum disorders attending mainstream schools receive full-time support in each Parliamentary constituency in England.

(75853)

103
David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children with autistic spectrum disorders attend (a) special and (b) mainstream secondary schools in each Parliamentary constituency in England.

(75854)

104
N Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils are being taught at the temporary school at Oakgrove; how long the temporary school will remain in place; and what estimate he has made of the number of pupils who will be taught there in (a) September 2006, (b) July 2007 and (c) September 2007.

(75494)

105
N Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of pupils who will be taught in (a) Bradwell Village, (b) Caroline Haslett, (c) Green Park, (d) Olney Infants, (e) Lord Grey, (f) The Walnuts, (g) White Spire and (h) Sir Frank Markham schools in (i) September 2006, (ii) July 2007 and (iii) September 2007.

(75495)

106
N Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what (a) guidance and (b) training his Department and its agencies provide to teachers on dealing with the impact on school children of parental separation and divorce.

(75486)

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

107
Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is regarding the hunting of wild boar; and if he will make a statement.

(75912)

108
Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Article 10 certificates for ivory have been granted under Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 since 2004; and what the nature was of the items under each certificate.

(76085)

109
Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is towards the encouragement of biofuels as an alternative energy source.

(75892)

110
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76056)

111
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria the Environment Agency uses to assess the environmental consequences of hydroschemes; what conclusion they came to on the Littlecombe site, Dursley; and on what basis.

(76042)

112
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to increase the level of recycling; and what additional resources will be granted to (a) local authorities and (b) the Waste Resources Action Plan to achieve this.

(76043)

113
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many recipients of single farm payments have yet to receive any payment, broken down by county area.

(76044)

114
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make a statement on the closure of the agricultural waste collection facility near Wrexham.

(76045)

115
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, with particular reference to evaluating the advantages of nationalising resources.

(76046)

116
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to allow the re-introduction of cypermethrin as a sheep dip.

(76069)

117
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the policy of the European Commission is on co-existence of GM and non-GM crops.

(76070)

118
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Department is making available to allow farmers to launch initiatives to supply school canteens direct.

(76071)

119
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assistance he is making available to encourage co-operation in the milk industry.

(76072)

120
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make a statement on proposals to recover microchips from deceased horses.

(76073)

121
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make a statement on his recent conclusions relating to the setting up of fewer, larger sustainable transport resources and waste facilities.

(76074)

122
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many abattoirs in Dorset (a) there are and (b) there were in 1997.

(75846)

123
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of London's flood defences in protecting South East London.

(75821)

124
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers in England are awaiting payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.

(76031)

125
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures he is taking (a) to ensure that outstanding applications under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are processed as a matter of urgency and (b) to improve efficiency in handling payments under the scheme.

(76032)

126
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average Single Farm Payment is for England; and if he will make a statement.

(76026)

127
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a national water grid.

(75856)

128
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evaluation his Department has carried out of the potential energy generation from the River Severn from (a) incorporating hydro-electric generating equipment at the five existing weirs between Stourport and Gloucester and (b) building five variable height weirs with hydro-electric generating equipment between Bridgnorth and Stourport.

(75493)

129
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the evidential basis was for the recent alterations to the published flood risk maps for Willington, Derbyshire; what representations the Environment Agency received from (a) owners of the former Willington power station site and (b) their representatives prior to the changes being made; what account was taken of (i) the Trent Fluvial Strategy studies and (ii) planning proposals for the area when the changes were being prepared; and whether the changes have been reflected in the system for the communication to village residents of risk to their properties.

(75970)

130
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department will provide guidance on new welfare guidelines as they will apply to permitted flooring systems for the egg industry.

(75971)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

131
Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of diplomatic links with Madagascar.

(75890)

132
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent on foreign travel by her Department in each of the last eight years.

(76059)

133
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations she has made to the United Arab Emirates on discrimination on grounds of colour against UK citizens visiting the United Arab Emirates; and if she will make a statement.

[R] (76005)

134
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Indian government on the enactment of the Rajasthan Dharma Swatantrata Act in Rajasthan which prohibits religious conversion.

(76037)

135
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what countries Commonwealth Youth Sunday is observed.

(76038)

136
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what evidence there is of continuing direct help from the government of Sudan to the Janjaweed.

(76039)

137
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of Chinese policies in Africa including aid strategies.

(76040)

138
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions she has had with the government of Sudan regarding its attitude towards peace measures and human rights in Sudan.

(76041)

139
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information she has received about the terrorist Hambali, who is in US custody and is charged with masterminding the Bali bombing in 2002.

(75744)

140
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the welfare of the Bushmen of the Kalahari since their rehousing by the government of Botswana; what representations the Government has made to the government of Botswana on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

(75487)

141
Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the reports relating to the proposed trial for treason of Dr Besigye, the Leader of the Opposition in Uganda; and if she will make a statement

(76024)

142
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to Question 73626, how many complaints have been received relating to UK embassy visa sections in (a) Romania, (b) India, (c) Pakistan, (d) Federation of Russia, (e) Bulgaria, (f) Saudi Arabia and (g) Kenya.

(75934)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

143
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the establishment of a compensation scheme for those infected with hepatitis C by NHS blood or blood products.

(76010)

144
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much NHS funding is available for non-conventional medicine in 2006-07.

(74433)

145
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent by the NHS on cosmetic surgery in each of the last eight years.

(75894)

146
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent by the NHS on tattoo removal in each of the last eight years.

(75932)

147
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on foreign travel by her Department in each of the last eight years.

(76061)

148
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been recovered for the NHS in respect of recoupment of treatment costs from (a) accident victims and (b) insurance companies in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(75993)

149
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what circumstances medical treatment costs can be recovered from (a) insurers and (b) accident victims, in respect of treatment under the NHS for injuries; what the maximum sums are that can be recovered in each case; and if she will make a statement.

(75995)

150
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on current waiting times for mental health outpatient treatment in Barnet.

(75998)

151
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on funding for mental health services in Barnet.

(75999)

152
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the likely impact on the number of home births if Stroud Maternity Unit closes.

(75989)

153
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether payment by results applies to midwife-led maternity units.

(75990)

154
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent studies she has carried out into independent midwife-led birth units, with particular reference to care for mothers with learning disabilities.

(75991)

155
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the process for overview and scrutiny committee reports to the Department of Health; what action she takes in the light of such a report; and what powers she has to order an independent inquiry into the proposals that (a) a strategic health authority, (b) a primary care and (c) an NHS trust including foundation trusts produce.

(75992)

156
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for further guidance identified in the letter sent to strategic health authorities of 16th February entitled Moving care closer to home; what impact this will have on proposals to reduce provision of community hospitals in Gloucestershire; and how the she will ensure that proposals have been fully consulted upon with the people affected by service changes.

(76034)

157
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the mechanism is by which (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS trusts report deficits to their strategic health authorities; how these deficits are monitored; and what the trigger is for bringing in a turnaround team.

(76035)

158
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers overview and scrutiny committees have to co-opt outside expertise.

(76036)

159
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research she has evaluated on the effects of a normal birth with minimal interventions on the incidence of post-natal depression; and what recent assessment she has made of the comparative rates of normal births in different settings.

(76075)

160
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what opportunities there are to increase choice in maternity provision, with particular reference to midwife-led units in acute hospital settings.

(76076)

161
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times the midwife-led birth unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital has been closed in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006.

(76077)

162
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent studies she has carried out into the impact on (a) ante-natal and (b) post natal care of closing independent midwife units.

(76078)

163
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will carry out an evaluation into the closure of Stroud Maternity Unit, including evidence from service users.

(76079)

164
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support the National Service Framework offers midwife-led maternity units.

(76080)

165
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what opportunities there are for children to obtain necessary immunisation against tuberculosis; and whether a charge is made.

(76081)

166
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research the Department (a) is undertaking and (b) has commissioned into (a) the effects of maternity provision being placed in the community and (b) the merits of midwife-led units outside district general hospitals.

(76082)

167
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what grounds it has been decided to propose Stroud Maternity Unit for closure; and what account she has taken of the new payments by results system in making that decision.

(76083)

168
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the number of deaths resulting from the incorrect self-administration of insulin by diabetes patients in each of the last three years.

(75838)

169
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will take steps to improve education for diabetes patients on the self-administration of insulin.

(75839)

170
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related diseases in Greater London in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04 and (c) 2004-05.

(75750)

171
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on dissemination of the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin to NHS doctors.

(75898)

172
Paul Flynn (Newport West):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to change the status of drugs derived from cannabinoids to allow their wider legal use for pain and spasm control.

(75927)

173
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what Government policy is on the availability of Avastin for the treatment of bowel cancer.

(75848)

174
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she had with primary care trusts about the level of expenditure on management consultancy.

(75862)

175
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much (a) Kennett and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust and (b) West Wiltshire Primary CareTrust spent on management consultancy in each of the last five years.

(75863)

176
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines she lays down on expenditure on management consultancy by primary care trusts.

(75864)

177
N Justine Greening (Putney):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd May 2006, Official Report, column 1585W, on pre-registration nursing courses, what assessment has been made by her Department of the employment prospects of those enrolled on pre-registration nursing courses; and if she will make a statement.

(75504)

178
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to introduce a target to reduce waiting times for digital hearing aids.

(75895)

179
N Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16th May 2006, Official Report, column 829W, on spinal cord injuries, what patient activity data of spinal cord injured patients is collected at (a) NHS spinal cord injury centres and (b) general and district facilities; and how such information is shared between these facilities.

(75499)

180
N Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her Answer of 16th May 2006, Official Report, column 829W, on spinal cord injuries, what plans she has to commission research into the long-term treatment and care of spinal cord injured people.

(75500)

181
N Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her Answer of 16th May 2006, Official Report, column 829W, on spinal cord injuries, if she will request the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to assess the requirement for guidance on the treatment and care of spinal cord injured people.

(75501)

182
N Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the planned changes are in her Department's funding for (a) the National Drug Treatment Agency and (b) other forms of drug rehabilitation in each year from 2005-06 to 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

(75266)

183
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, why her Department has ended its contract for the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin.

(75796)

184
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which are the (a) best and (b) worst performing councils in England in terms of their provision of assistance with aids and adaptations to people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the performance of Luton Borough Council in this area.

(75924)

185
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) maximum and (b) average time a person with a disability has had to wait for assessment and assistance with occupational aids and adaptations in the last 12 months.

(75926)

186
N Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support her Department gives to chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers.

(75027)

187
Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason section 28 of the National Services Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 has not been implemented.

(75904)

188
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in testing medicinal products containing cannabis for pain relief; and if she will make a statement.

(75745)

189
N Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the cost to a hospital trust of reimbursing the travel costs of patients eligible under the Hospital Travel Costs scheme is (a) included in the reference cost or national tariff payment to the hospital trust and (b) forms an additional cost which may be invoiced to the patient's primary care trust; and if she will make a statement.

(75502)

190
N Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, why funding for the purchase copies of the Drug and Therapeutic Bulletin for NHS clinicians has ceased.

(75505)

191
N Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to provide clinicians in NHS trusts and other facilities with access to objective analysis and advice on new drugs.

(75506)

192
N Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the annual cost to the NHS has been of purchasing copies of the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin in each of the last five years.

(75507)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

193
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children were identified as victims of child trafficking in the UK in each year between 2001 and 2005; from which countries they came; what percentage of those children had been sexually abused; and through which agencies most of those victims of child trafficking were found.

(75972)

194
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many safe-houses there are in the UK for trafficked children who have escaped or are found; and in which cities they are located.

(75973)

195
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taking to deter child trafficking into the UK.

(75974)

196
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what programmes are in place to ensure that recovered children are not re-trafficked.

(75975)

197
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many child trafficking victims were deported after being taken into custody by the authorities in the last period for which figures are available.

(75976)

198
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what studies his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the future of child trafficking victims after they have been returned to their home countries.

(75977)

199
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many traffickers of children have been (a) charged, (b) convicted and (c) deported in each of the last five years.

(75978)

200
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people operating child prostitutes have been (a) charged, (b) convicted and (c) deported in each of the last five years.

(75979)

201
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK passports were reported (a) lost and (b) stolen in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

(75004)

202
N Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the occasions on which Dyfed Powis Police were inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary between 1992 and 2005; and if he will place copies of the reports in the Library.

(75705)

203
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria he used in making the decision to transfer the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality to another post in his Department.

(74432)

204
Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8th February 2006, Official Report, column 1280W, on the Worker Registration Scheme, how many workers from EU accession countries are legally working in the UK, without being registered under the Worker Registration Scheme.

(75813)

205
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76062)

206
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people aged 15 to 18 years are in each young offender institution because of breach of an anti-social behaviour order.

(76021)

207
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many instances of financial fraud have taken place in each of the last five years involving credit card cheques; and what the total value was in each year.

(75899)

208
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours of safety training was provided per police officer in each of the last five years.

(75900)

209
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government has provided for police community support officers in each police force in each of the last five years.

(75901)

210
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) police community support officers were employed by each police force in each of the last five years.

(75902)

211
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many probation officers were employed by the Probation Service in each of the last five years.

(75903)

212
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much it cost to keep (a) a child and (b) a family of two adults and two children in Yarl's Wood detention centre for one week in the last 12 months.

(75893)

213
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when Lin Homer was appointed Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; where the application for the job vacancy was advertised; how many applications were received for the position; and who made the final decision on the successful candidate.

(75849)

214
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers who were required to report to (a) police stations and (b) Home Office reporting centres have failed to attend at least one reporting session since 1st January 2006.

(75771)

215
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers were required to report to (a) police stations and (b) Home Office reporting centres on 30th April.

(75774)

216
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigrants had been issued with a biometric card under the REPARC system on 30th April.

(75777)

217
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken was to process biometric cards given to immigrants using the REPARC system; and if he will make a statement.

(75778)

218
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what date he expects all immigrants reporting to centres using the REPARC system to be issued with a biometric card.

(75781)

219
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost has been of the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme scheme since January.

(75786)

220
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers who have spent time in detention have been granted temporary release in each of the last five calendar years.

(75787)

221
Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers who have been detained and subsequently granted temporary release have absconded in each of the last five years.

(75788)

222
Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign prisoners were released from Scottish prisons in each year from 1999-2000 to 2004-05.

(75861)

223
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there are in Lancashire; and how many there were in 1997.

(76011)

224
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many community support officers there are in Lancashire.

(76012)

225
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed merger between Lancashire and Cheshire police authorities on policing in Lancashire.

(76013)

226
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines his Department provides to chief constables on the purchasing of police vehicles.

(76014)

227
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate has been made of the number of asylum seekers who have been (a) refused asylum and (b) removed from the United Kingdom in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement

(75919)

228
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to his predecessor dated 10th April from the Right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about Mr Hamed Siddiqi.

(75880)

229
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter to his predecessor dated 10th April from the Right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about Mr H. Kadir.

(75881)

230
N Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) staff and (b) governors at each open prison received bonuses in each year since 1999 to 2000; what the cost of such bonuses was at each prison in each year; and if he will make a statement.

(74874)

231
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of police retirements were ill health retirements in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(75760)

232
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British Muslim citizenship toolkits have been issued to (a) mosques, (b) parents and (c) young people in Luton since their introduction.

(75922)

233
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which are the (a) best and (b) worst performing councils in England in terms of their ability to take effective action against anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the performance of Luton Borough Council in this area.

(75923)

234
N Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those foreign nationals eligible for deportation following the end of their prison sentence who have remained in the country have been in receipt of state benefits in the period following their release; and if he will make a statement.

(75497)

235
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers have been returned to Iran in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(75885)

236
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals applying for a national insurance number and referred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate due to (a) suspicion about their eligibility to work in the UK, (b) the use of false documents and (c) other reasons were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted in each of the last five years.

(75857)

237
Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish his Department's strategy for co-ordinating police forces' response for safeguarding children who run away or go missing from home or care.

(75882)

238
Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will consider deportation proceedings against Abdullah Baybasin.

(75841)

239
Bob Spink (Castle Point):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to allow pharmaceutical manufacturers of opiate-based analgesic medicines to import their raw materials from overseas manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

(75749)

240
Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16th May 2006 to Question number 71551, how many posts the Serious Organised Crime Agency is seeking to fill.

(75883)

Questions to the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission

241
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how often and for what length of time (a) police officers and (b) security officers are required to serve at the Steel Barrier in Abingdon Street; whether there are plans to increase these duties; what representations the Commission has received from (i) the Police Federation and (ii) others representing police officers and security officers on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

(75935)

242
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many (a) police officers and (b) security officers were on (i) short-term and (ii) long-term sick leave after a period of service at the Steel Barrier in Abingdon Street in each week since October 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(75936)

243
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will estimate the unit cost of the (a) organisation of a tour of the House and (b) cost of the tour itself; and if he will make a statement.

(75997)

244
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many tours requested by hon. Members the House provided in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(76006)

245
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what percentage of the House's senior staff are of minority ethnic origin; and if he will make a statement.

(76007)

246
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time it has taken over the last 12 months to obtain security clearance for a House of Commons pass for hon. Members' staff working at Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

(76008)

247
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many tours of the Palace each hon. Member has requested in the last 12 months.

(76009)

248
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what environmental and social sustainability criteria are applied when purchasing food for the House dining room.

(76016)

249
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance has been issued to hon. Members on the use of House dining room facilities for party political fundraising.

(75843)

250
John Mann (Bassetlaw):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, on how many occasions in the last 10 years a booking for dining room (a) A, (b) B, (c) C and (d) D has been refused due to the intention of the sponsor to use the booking for party political fundraising.

(75844)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

251
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76063)

252
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what help he has made available to support relief groups in Thailand assisting those people displaced from their homes in Burma.

(76022)

253
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the World Food Programme support to Sudan; how much of that aid is funded; and which regions of the country (a) are and (b) will be receiving World Food Programme supplies.

(76023)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

254
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that the Limavady Learning Partnership receives the required resources and guidance from the Department of Education to enable it to implement its strategic plan on widening pupil choice and tackling social disadvantage.

(75005)

255
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he intends to bring the mileage allowance paid to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly into line with that paid to hon. Members of this House.

(75006)

256
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in which wing in Maghaberry Prison the person convicted in 2005 of the manslaughter of James McGinley is serving his sentence; what his likely release date is; and which terrorist organisation has most members in the same wing.

(75503)

257
N Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has received a request from the Gaelic Athletic Association to meet to discuss the Draft PPS14.

(75498)

258
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost was of (a) publication and (b) distribution of the Northern Ireland Roads Service magazine, The Link: Investing in the Road Network of 30th May; and how many copies were printed.

(75509)

Questions to the Prime Minister

259
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Prime Minister, what matters he expects to discuss at his forthcoming meeting in Washington DC with President George Bush.

(74434)

260
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, when he expects to be in a position to bring forward a Civil Service Bill; and if he will make a statement.

(75866)

Questions to the Solicitor General

261
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Solicitor General, how much was spent on foreign travel by the Law Officers' Departments in each of the last eight years.

(76066)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

262
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent progress has been made with the energy review.

(76028)

263
Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the House of Lords judgement in the case of Barker v Corus UK Ltd on future spending plans of his Department in respect of expenditure on compensation payments for those suffering from mesothelioma.

(75765)

264
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76060)

265
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on what grounds the South West Regional Development Authority and its developer have withdrawn the hydroscheme from the Littlecombe/Dursley site.

(75984)

266
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will reform current arrangements for the development of vertical cooperatives in the milk industry.

(75985)

267
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to re-organise the system of training initiatives for young people; and what the rationale was behind launching Great Expectations.

(76015)

268
David Howarth (Cambridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment he has made of the security of future uranium supplies.

(75897)

269
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many actions have been initiated by trading standards officers against companies which have unfairly retained deposits paid on student accommodation.

(75887)

270
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the amount of money unlawfully retained by companies from deposits on student accommodation in the last 12 months.

(75888)

271
Helen Jones (Warrington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to encourage action against companies which unlawfully retain deposits paid by students who have rented student accommodation.

(75889)

272
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans there are to require inclusion of information on social and environmental impact in reports for directors of public companies.

(75794)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

273
Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is towards developing Redhill Aerodrome as a commercial passenger airport; and if he will make a statement.

(75911)

274
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact on road casualties of adopting a policy of allowing vehicles likely to make a left turn at red traffic signals.

(75928)

275
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the carbon dioxide impact of each road scheme which he has approved since 2000 through the local transport plans.

(75929)

276
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of road schemes approved through the targeted programme of improvements and local transport plans on reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

(75930)

277
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76064)

278
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what bonuses have been paid as a result of the publication of Network Rail's preliminary results for the year to 31st March; and to whom.

(76020)

279
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what animal studies have been carried out on whether exposure to pyrolised synthetic jet engine oils (a) dermally and (b) via inhalation produces (i) chronic neurotoxicity and (ii) brain cell death.

(75739)

280
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what studies from overseas he has examined on the effects of contaminated air problems on the British Aerospace BAE 146 aircraft.

(75740)

281
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of exposure to pyrolised synthetic jet engine oils (a) dermally and (b) via inhalation on commercial aircraft on (i) adults, (ii) children and (iii) pregnant passengers.

(75741)

282
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria were used in determining Government policy on the funding of the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement.

(75742)

283
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether beryllium is used (a) in the manufacture and (b) as parts in the Honeywell ALF- (i) 502 and (ii) 507 engine used on the British Aerospace BAE 146 aircraft.

(75743)

284
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost was of adding an extra lane to an existing motorway in each of the last 10 years.

(75815)

285
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints by the general public concerning the Highways Agency have been received in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement

(75918)

286
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what investigations his Department has made into the air worthiness of the easyJet aircraft scheduled to fly from Belfast International to London at 9.25pm on Saturday 27th May.

(75510)

287
Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which London railway lines are used for the transportation of nuclear waste.

(75851)

Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

288
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what steps the Government is taking to assist women who have been trafficked into the UK to work forcibly in the sex industry; and if she will make a statement.

(76029)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

289
Philip Davies (Shipley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

(76065)

290
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many cases recoupment of benefits for accident victims has taken place in the last three years; how much was recouped (a) in total, (b) for road accident cases, (c) for accidents at work cases, (d) for clinical negligence cases and (e) in other cases; and if he will make a statement.

(75994)

291
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been recovered from accident victims' compensation by way of recoupment of benefits in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(75996)

292
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd May 2006, Official Report, column 1606W, on post office card accounts, whether (a) agents and (b) outsourced workers of the Pensions Service are telephoning pensioners to persuade them to cease using their Post Office card accounts.

(75814)

293
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many national insurance numbers there were in each year since 1997.

(75845)

294
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures he is taking to ensure that all pensioner households receive their full entitlement of benefits.

(76017)

295
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners living in Chorley constituency are in receipt of pension credit.

(76018)

296
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) improving protection for employees' pension schemes and (b) increasing the amount held in the Pension Protection Fund.

(76019)

297
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many immigrants were claiming benefits within six months of being allocated a national insurance number for each reporting period from April 1997 to April 2006; and if he will make a statement.

(75759)

298
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of Sir David Henshaw's review of the Child Support Agency, broken down by (a) travel costs, (b) salary costs for Sir David Henshaw, (c) other staff costs, (d) telephone costs and (e) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

(75762)

299
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whom Sir David Henshaw has interviewed to date for his review of the future of the Child Support Agency.

(75763)

300
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what date he plans to make a statement on the future of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

(75764)

301
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it has been the policy of his Department since 1997 to issue national insurance numbers to immigrants who have overstayed their permitted period in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(75819)

302
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his latest estimate is of the number of people who are entiteld to, but not receiving (a) pension credit, (b) income support, (c) housing benefit, (d) council tax benefit and (e) other benefits; and if he will make a statement.

(75826)

303
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of each of his Department's means-tested benefits in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement

(75915)

304
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he was informed that national insurance numbers were being issued to (a) illegal immigrants, (b) immigrants with false papers and (c) immigrants whose visas had expired; when the review into this matter was begun; and if he will make a statement

(75917)

305
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the current backlog is of child support cases waiting to be assessed.

(75806)

306
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost was of administering child support payments under (a) the old system and (b) the current system in the last period for which figures are available.

(75807)

307
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants under the old Child Support Agency system have applied to be transferred to the new system.

(75808)

308
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost would be of transferring all applicants under the old child support system to the new system; and if he will make a statement.

(75809)

309
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the cases agreed under the old Child Support Agency system have been varied; and at what cost.

(75810)

310
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-compliant absent parents for child support purposes are (a) employed, (b) self-employed and (c) work abroad; and what percentage those employed are of the total number of non-compliant absent parents.

(75811)

311
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents assessed under the old system of child support are still making payments to their children.

(75812)

312
N Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to review the rules which prevent payment of carer's allowance and bereavement allowance at the same time.

(75488)

313
N Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the potential cost of ceasing to offset carer's allowance against bereavement allowance.

(75489)

314
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations relating to the issue of national insurance numbers contained in Lord Grabiner's 2000 Report on the informal economy; and what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office in relation to implementing those recommendations.

(75858)

315
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the total value of welfare benefit claims made by individuals issued with a national insurance number who were referred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate due to (a) suspicion about their eligibility to work in the UK, (b) the use of false documents and (c) other reasons in each of the last five years.

(75859)

316
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 30th January 2006, Official Report, column 287W, on national insurance numbers, how many national insurance numbers in issue are allocated to (a) deceased people, (b) those in receipt of benefit outside the UK and (c) others who are abroad.

(76025)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

317
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria underlay the decision to class the widowed parent's allowance as a second income; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (75850)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

318
Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to include the Digital Challenge Competition in the Transformational Government work programme.

[Transferred] (75921)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

319
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will discuss problems experienced by young people accessing the workplace (a) as apprentices, (b) as young workers under 18 and (c) on work experience from school and college with representatives of the insurance industry in relation to (i) obtaining insurance and (ii) the level of premiums required, with particular reference to small businesses and sole traders.

[Transferred] (75986)

320
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the impact of child protection policies on the work experience of young people and young apprentices employed by small businesses.

[Transferred] (75987)

321
Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what Government help is available to train young workers to NVQ level 2.

[Transferred] (75988)

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Revised 7 June 2006