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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 25 October 2006
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 25 October 2006
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 25 October of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 25 October of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 25 October see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
| Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reduce levels of taxation. | | (97309) | 2
N | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what resources have been set aside to assist with the reconstruction of Iraq in each year for which figures are available. | | (96478) | 3
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with other EU countries about extending VAT relief to church buildings which are not listed. | | (97110) | 4
| Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of extending VAT relief to church buildings which are not listed. | | (97111) | 5
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the percentage change has been in (a) the value of the dollar against the pound and (b) the value of UK investments in US stocks in each of the last three years. | | (97396) | 6
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of (a) UK investments in the US and (b) UK lending to the US Federal government in 2005-06; and what percentage of such UK investments is represented by UK lending. | | (97397) | 7
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in Hendon have taken up child trust funds; and if he will make a statement. | | (97178) | 8
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the provision of tax credit services in the Cumbria area. | | (97013) | 9
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the usefulness of public value as a factor in undertaking cost-benefit analyses; and if he will make a statement. | | (97096) | 10
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the contribution to Exchequer revenue of public service broadcasting licences was in each year since 2000; what estimate his Department has made of such revenue in each year up to 2015; and if he will make a statement. | | (97112) | 11
| Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what arrangements exist for correspondence in Braille with blind or partially-sighted claimants for tax credit. | | (97209) | 12
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of children lived in lone parent households in each year since 1979-80. | | (97240) | 13
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the latest trends are in infant mortality. | | (97244) | 14
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many callers to the tax credits helpline received an engaged tone and were not placed in a queue for each month since June; and if he will make a statement. | | (97271) | 15
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) women, (b) men and (c) men who are the only wage earners in their households are exempt from paying tax on child care. | | (97274) | 16
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax exemption on child care has cost in terms of revenue foregone in each year for which records are available. | | (97275) | 17
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many technical difficulties within the tax credits system are affecting tax credit awards for 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. | | (97276) | 18
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people claimed (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in Portsmouth North in 2005-06. | | (97294) | 19
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many overpayments of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in Portsmouth North were found to be a result of HM Revenue and Customs error in 2005-06. | | (97308) | 20
| Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised by the aggregates levy in each year since its introduction. | | (97265) | 21
| Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the aggregates levy on (a) the development of alternative materials and (b) the consumption of virgin aggregates. | | (97266) | 22
| Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many quarries in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the United Kingdom are registered as qualifying to pay the aggregates levy. | | (97267) | 23
| Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the aggregates levy on the competitiveness of British industry and business. | | (97268) | 24
| Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the report of his Department's Asset Freezing Working Group will be published. | | (97195) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 25
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate she has made of the number of women employed in the Civil Service who wear a veil for religious reasons. | | (97180) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 26
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October 2006, Official Report, column 1416W, on housing (migration), what account is taken of migrants from the 2004 EU accession states in the 2003 household projections. | | (97179) | 27
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representation she plans for the (a) Hindu and (b) Sikh community on the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. | | (97204) | 28
| Mr George Galloway (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the costs were of the housing consultation exercise related to the recent stock transfer ballot on the Ocean Estate in London E1/E14 in each year since 2001; and by which organisations the costs will be met. | | (97405) | 29
| Mr George Galloway (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total cost to public funds has been of the redevelopment of the Old Gasworks site at the corner of Harford Street and Ben Jonson Road, London E1; and what contributions have come from each source of public funds in each relevant year. | | (97406) | 30
| Mr George Galloway (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, why the Ocean New Deal for Communities programme in London E1/E14 has been put into special measures; and what factors underlay the decision to suspend resident board member Shirin Choudhury. | | (97407) | 31
| Mr George Galloway (Bethnal Green & Bow):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that investment is forthcoming from Ocean New Deal for Communities and other bodies to carry out necessary repairs and improvements at the Ocean Estate in London E1/E14. | | (97408) | 32
| Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will place in the Library copies of the minutes of the meeting she had with local authorities on 16th October on community cohesion; and if she will make a statement. | | (97359) | 33
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the value for money of the spending of her Department's grant for the refurbishment of the Ecton Lane Park travellers site. | | (97329) | 34
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many families have been in temporary accommodation in each year since 1979-80. | | (97261) | 35
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what definition of overcrowding her Department uses in assessing housing shortages; and if she will make a statement. | | (97264) | 36
| Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to encourage the planting of more trees by local authorities. | | (97093) | 37
| Helen Southworth (Warrington South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many shared equity homes have been (a) built and (b) made available on the market in (i) Warrington and (ii) Cheshire in each of the last three years. | | (97227) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 38
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what refrigerant is to be used in the large air conditioning system recently installed in her Department's proposed new office at 50 Queen Anne's Gate; and if she will make a statement. | | (95776) | 39
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many court days were allocated to youth cases in each criminal justice area in each of the last five years. | | (97098) | 40
| Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many non-able-bodied judges have been appointed in England and Wales since 1997. | | (97302) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 41
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which industry representatives were consulted as part of her Department's digital dividend review consultation. | | (97393) | 42
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October 2006, Official Report, column 1369W, on ministerial visits, when she next plans to visit Northern Ireland. | | (97084) | 43
| Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings (a) her Department and (b) its related agencies have held with Sarah Brown since 1997. | | (97319) | 44
| Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what contracts (a) her Department and (b) its related agencies have placed with (i) Hobsbawm Macauley Public Relations, (ii) HMC Public Relations, (iii) Brunswick Arts and (iv) Sarah Brown since 1997. | | (97320) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 45
N | Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what help his Department offers to ex-military personnel to find suitable housing after retirement from the armed forces. | | (97009) | 46
N | Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will consider allowing ex-military personnel to occupy empty homes on military bases in the UK. | | (97011) | 47
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to publish the white paper on options for the replacement of Trident. | | (97403) | 48
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4th September 2006, Official Report, column 1718W, on surplus military equipment, what the locations are of the (a) six Buccaneers, (b) 44 Harriers, (c) 13 Hunters, (d) 35 Tornados and (e) 16 Phantoms sold since 1999. | | (97219) | 49
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he maintains a register of non-governmental buyers of surplus military equipment to ensure that no such equipment is exported. | | (97249) | 50
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he requires buyers of surplus military equipment to provide end user certificates; and if he will make a statement. | | (97251) | 51
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4th September 2006, Official Report, column 1718W, on surplus military equipment, what action was taken to de-militarise the Hunters sold at public auction. | | (97314) | 52
| Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 4th September 2006, Official Report, column 1718W, on surplus military equipment, whether the drop tanks fitted to the Hunters which were sold at auction in 2000 were disposed of through specialist contractors. | | (97315) | 53
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many chaplains of each denomination are serving in each of the Armed Forces; and how many there were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002. | | (97317) | 54
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to change the number of chaplains in each of the Armed Forces. | | (97318) | 55
| Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to answer Questions (a) 91724, (b) 91725 and (c) 91726, on exertion heat illness, tabled by the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Fleetwood on 6th October. | | (97206) | 56
| Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors prevent him from naming the soldier killed in a road accident in Bassano, Canada on 15th September; what regiment was involved in the crash; how many soldiers were injured in the crash; what arrangements were made for the body of the deceased to be returned to the UK; what authorities were involved in investigating the accident; what reports have been completed to date; and when and where he expects an inquest to be held. | | (97216) | 57
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the strategic objectives are of the UK forces in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. | | (97254) | 58
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel were in Afghanistan in each month between June 2003 and October 2006; and if he will make a statement. | | (97255) | 59
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost has been to the UK of all military operations in Iraq since April 2005; and if he will make a statement. | | (97333) | 60
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost has been to the UK of all military operations in Afghanistan since 2001; and if he will make a statement. | | (97334) | 61
| Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what additional winter clothing is being supplied to the soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. | | (97129) | 62
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent he draws on the experience and views of retired field marshals when considering defence policy. | | (97183) | 63
| Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much public funding was given to combat stress in 2005-06. | | (97095) | 64
N | Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) handguns, rifles and other firearms, (b) ammunition and munitions, (c) radios, (d) vehicles and spare parts, (e) computer equipment, (f) protective equipment, (g) office equipment and (h) mess silver, artworks and furnishings have been reported (i) missing and (ii) stolen from military establishments since 2001. | | (96834) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 65
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what overseas visits he has made on official business in each of the last 12 months; if he will place in the Library copies of reports made following those visits; and what the cost was of the visits. | | (97355) | 66
| Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library a copy of a report of his recent visit to Japan; and what plans he has for overseas visits in each of the next 12 months. | | (97356) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 67
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the outcome was of the bid to his Department by Church Mead Junior School, Leyton (a) to become a fresh start school and (b) for capital spending. | | (97394) | 68
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children were on the child protection register in each year between 1979-80 and 2005-06, broken down by county; what the estimated numbers are for 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. | | (97262) | 69
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of children left school with no GCSE qualifications in each year since the introduction of the examination. | | (97263) | 70
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many applications for the establishment of voluntary aided Muslim faith schools are being considered. | | (97181) | 71
| Anne Snelgrove (South Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to promote higher environmental building standards in new schools. | | (97270) | 72
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many local education authorities have strategic partnerships in place with local health authorities for the provision of speech and language provision in (a) early years and (b) preschool settings. | | (97168) | 73
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what provision is made for children with speech and language difficulties in early years and pre-school settings; and if he will make a statement. | | (97279) | 74
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what guidance is issued by his Department on early intervention for children with speech and language difficulties in pre-school settings. | | (97280) | 75
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of early intervention for children with speech and language difficulties. | | (97281) | 76
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of pupils in England obtained (a) five, (b) six, (c) seven and (d) eight A* to C GCSEs excluding equivalents in each year since 1997. | | (97106) | 77
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils gained A* to C GCSEs in (a) French and (b) German in each year since 1997. | | (97107) | 78
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in how many secondary schools no pupils took a GCSE in a modern language in the 2005-06 academic year. | | (97108) | 79
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury of 12th October 2006, Official Report, column 428, on science degrees, how many science-related degrees were taken in each year between 1997 and 2006, broken down by subject. | | (97133) | 80
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which public bodies for which he is responsible are involved in the (a) regulation, (b) funding and (c) administration of higher education institutions; and what the (i) annual budget and (ii) total staff numbers are of each. | | (97323) | 81
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students participated in (a) apprenticeships, (b) advanced apprenticeships, (c) other NVQ learning, (d) entry-to-employment, (e) train-to-gain, (f) foundation degrees and (g) workstep programmes in each year since 1997. | | (97325) | 82
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of students dropped out of (a) apprenticeships, (b) advanced apprenticeships, (c) other NVQ learning, (d) entry-to-employment, (e) train-to-gain, (f) foundation degrees and (g) workstep programmes in each year since 1997. | | (97342) | 83
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of students moved into (a) employment, (b) further training and (c) unemployment upon completion of (i) apprenticeships, (ii) advanced apprenticeships, (iii) other NVQ learning, (iv) entry-to-employment, (v) train-to-gain, (vi) foundation degrees and (vii) workstep programmes in each year since 1997. | | (97351) | 84
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the total public spending was per student participating in (a) apprenticeships, (b) advanced apprenticeships, (c) other NVQ learning, (d) entry-to-employment, (e) train-to-gain, (f) foundation degrees and (g) workstep programmes in each year since 1997. | | (97352) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 85
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will reform the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme to widen its scope to include thermal mass and night time ventilation. | | (96714) | 86
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects the review of the National Air Quality Strategy to be completed; and if he will make a statement. | | (96899) | 87
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what events in support of Energy Efficiency Week his Department has (a) sponsored and (b) participated in. | | (97220) | 88
| Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for encouraging the planting of more trees by farmers. | | (97094) | 89
| Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the proposed charges for the pollution prevention and control regulations have been calculated with regard to poultry farms; and if he will make a statement. | | (97307) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 90
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of progress on the reform process in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if she will make a statement. | | (97360) | 91
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are for the closure of the UN Office of the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if she will make a statement. | | (97361) | 92
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are for the role of the EU in Bosnia-Herzegovina after the closure of the UN Office of the High Representative; and if she will make a statement. | | (97362) | 93
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the progress made in police restructuring in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if she will make a statement. | | (97363) | 94
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are to change the number of EU-led peacekeeping forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if she will make a statement. | | (97364) | 95
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the representatives of the Entity of Republika Srpska; and if she will make a statement. | | (97365) | 96
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the negotiations on final status talks on Kosovo; when she expects the talks to conclude; and if she will make a statement. | | (97366) | 97
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are for the renewal of the mandate of the European peacekeeping force in Bosnia beyond November 2006; and if she will make a statement. | | (97367) | 98
| Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with President Tadic on the final status talks on Kosovo; and if she will make a statement. | | (97368) | 99
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations she has made to the Chinese authorities about the killings at Nangpa La, near the Tibet Nepal border, of Tibetan escapees by the Chinese army patrols; and if she will make a statement. | | (97347) | 100
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations she has received on the recent killings of Tibetan refugees by Chinese soldiers; and what representations she has made to the UN High Commisison for Refugees on this matter. | | (96872) | 101
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether she has made any representations on the recent deaths of Immanuel Andegergesh and Kibrom Firemichael in Asmara, Eritrea; and if she will make a statement. | | (97210) | 102
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism discussed the activities of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency during his recent visit to Colombia. | | (97170) | 103
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism discussed UK counter narcotics training with members of the Colombian (a) government and (b) armed forces on his recent visit. | | (97172) | 104
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which military personnel the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism met during his recent visit to Colombia. | | (97173) | 105
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which non-governmental civil society groups the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism met on his recent visit to Colombia. | | (97174) | 106
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) general human rights concerns and (b) specific human rights cases the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism raised with Colombian officials on his recent visit. | | (97175) | 107
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism raised the issue of extra-judicial executions by the Colombian armed forces with Colombian officials on his recent visit to Colombia. | | (97176) | 108
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will make available the minutes of meetings held by the Minister of State with responsibility for counter narcotics and counter terrorism during his recent visit to Colombia. | | (97177) | 109
| Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans she has to visit the Philippines in 2007. | | (97126) | 110
N | Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Bradford North dated 4th September on serious malpractice at Islamabad. | | (96627) | 111
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20th October 2006, Official Report, column 1517W, on ministerial visits, how much was recovered following investigation of the non-compliant claim; and what disciplinary action was taken. | | (97087) | 112
| Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Reading East of 11th January 2006, Official Report, column 671W, on Ethiopia, what steps the UK Government has taken to secure the release of opposition political leaders, members of Parliament and journalists who were arrested after the November 2005 riots in Addis Ababa; and if she will make a statement. | | (97167) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 113
| Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will take steps to ensure that rosiglitazone is freely available on the NHS to those who suffer from impaired glucose tolerance. | | (97303) | 114
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the new primary care trust offices in Dereham, Norfolk, will be purchased via a private finance initiative. | | (97191) | 115
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many calls the milk token helpline has received about delays in the delivery of milk tokens in each month since January 2003; and what proportion of total calls each figure represents. | | (97340) | 116
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the maximum number of weeks is for which a claim for milk tokens has been backdated since 2003. | | (97341) | 117
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time taken was for the Token Distribution Unit to issue milk tokens to a claimant once information of a claimant's eligibility was received from HM Revenue and Customs in the last period for which figures are available. | | (97343) | 118
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether she has issued guidance to NHS trusts about their potential liability relating to decisions not to provide continuous positive airways pressure equipment to those patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea; and if she will make a statement. | | (97388) | 119
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were treated for tuberculosis (a) in each health authority area and (b) in total in each year since 1996. | | (97357) | 120
| Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are being treated for wet age-related macular degeneration in each health authority area in England. | | (97370) | 121
| Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on neurotin gabapentin in the latest year for which figures are available; what assessment has been made of the drug's value for money compared with other treatments; and if she will make a statement. | | (97304) | 122
N | Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff are employed under the auspices of partnerships for health and at what cost to the public purse; and if she will make a statement. | | (96884) | 123
N | Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on private sector consultants working under contract to Partnerships UK in each fiscal year since 2001; and if she will make a statement. | | (96885) | 124
| Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources have been made available for bereavement counselling in 2006-07 in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust area; and if she will make a statement. | | (97358) | 125
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the provision of pharmacy services in prisons. | | (96610) | 126
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the processes for the appointment of medical practitioners within the prison service; what guidance is provided concerning the appointment and use of locums; what assessment she has made of the use of locums in the provision of prison healthcare services; and what funding is available to provide temporary cover for medical services in prisons. | | (96611) | 127
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made in reducing infant mortality differences between income cohorts. | | (97242) | 128
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate she has made of the proportion of children aged between two and 10 years who are obese; and what the estimates were for each year since 1990-91. | | (97243) | 129
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the annual cost to the NHS of removing tattoos; and if she will make a statement. | | (97272) | 130
| Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will take steps to prevent the imposition of quotas by pharmaceutical manufacturers on the supply of medicines supplied to pharmaceutical wholesalers and retailers. | | (97339) | 131
| Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of differences in income between people in (a) residential care and (b) supported living tenancies; and if she will make a statement. | | (97256) | 132
| Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the process by which discretionary awards of personal expenses allowances are made to people in residential care by local authorities; and if she will make a statement. | | (97260) | 133
| Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost reclaimed by each acute trust in England in respect of her Department's choice survey was in each month since April 2006. | | (97125) | 134
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the most recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence proposals on Alzheimer's drugs. | | (97247) | 135
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps she is taking to ensure that clinicians continue to be able to exercise flexibility in prescribing drugs for people with Alzheimer's disease following the guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. | | (97248) | 136
| Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will widen the remit and scope of investigations by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to include an assessment of the wider benefits of treatments to the carers and families of patients. | | (97277) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 137
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines he issues to Prison Service governors and staff on (a) accepting and (b) declaring hospitality; and if he will make a statement. | | (97395) | 138
| Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Ministers (a) have reviewed and (b) plan to review the report of the investigation into the recent attempted escape at HM Young Offenders Institute Feltham; and if he will make a statement. | | (97398) | 139
| Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people employed (a) directly and (b) indirectly by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have been (i) dismissed and (ii) disciplined for (A) breaches of conduct, (B) improper behaviour and (C) corruption since 1st May. | | (97337) | 140
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with (a) Compound Security Ltd, (b) police forces and (c) crime and disorder reduction partnerships on the `Mosquito' system; and if he will make a statement. | | (97088) | 141
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the `Mosquito' system manufactured by Compound Security Ltd in terms of its (a) efficacy in reducing anti-social behaviour and (b) compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998. | | (97089) | 142
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish his Department's proposed identity management strategy; and how much he expects will have been spent on the identity cards project prior to publication. | | (97105) | 143
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19th July 2006, Official Report, column 553W, on identity cards, how much has been spent since May 2006. | | (97128) | 144
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the merits of providing that those who breach their control orders automatically lose their right to anonymity. | | (97130) | 145
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for which traffic offences fixed penalty notices can be issued. | | (97299) | 146
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received on the non-enforcement by police of 20 mph zones. | | (97300) | 147
| Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Metropolitan Police's property strategy is; how it applies in areas where there are significant property deficiencies for operations; and if he will make a statement. | | (97346) | 148
| Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what monitoring his Department is undertaking of the extent to which section 5 of the Public Order Act is being applied consistently to religious communities by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service . | | (97099) | 149
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost will be of setting up the new Identity and Passport Service office in Kendal. | | (97010) | 150
| Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter of 28th June 2006, from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green, regarding a constituent, Mrs Filiz Kart, (Home Office reference S1041072). | | (97235) | 151
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many first time juvenile offenders received custodial sentences in each of the last three years. | | (97348) | 152
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the lowest category of offence is for which a juvenile first time offender can be sentenced to a custodial sentence under the sentencing guidelines. | | (97349) | 153
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the sentencing guidelines on first time juvenile offenders convicted of (a) affray and (b) actual bodily harm provide sufficient discretion for judges. | | (97350) | 154
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners in prisons in England and Wales (a) have a history of mental illness, (b) receive treatment for mental illnesses, (c) were previously children in care at any time during their lives and (d) received a custodial sentence when they were juveniles. | | (97353) | 155
| Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of community support officers each police force in England and Wales will employ by (a) April 2007 and (b) March 2008 assuming that the national targets of 16,000 by April 2007 and 24,000 by March 2008 are met. | | (97369) | 156
| Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18th October 2006, Official Report, column 1301W, on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, what considerations are taken into account in determining whether to grant compensation to applicants for the loss of their documents. | | (97197) | 157
| Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many indeterminate sentences have been imposed pursuant to Section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 since the Act was implemented. | | (97252) | 158
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October 2006, Official Report, column 1349W, on prisons, when the contributions of the external agencies consulted during the development of PSO 6300 were received; whether any of those contributions commented on the maximum allowable time for release on temporary licence; and which prison establishments provided feedback during the development of PSO 6300. | | (97389) | 159
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what management changes are planned at (a) HM Prison Pentonville, (b) HM Young Offender Institution Feltham and (c) London Area Management of the Prison Service; for what reasons these changes are to be implemented; and if he will make a statement. | | (96608) | 160
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff employed by the prison service (a) directly and (b) indirectly have (i) resigned and (ii) been sacked for failure to meet professional standards in each of the last 24 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (96609) | 161
| Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) quantity and (b) types of illegal drugs were seized at East Midlands Airport in the last 28 days; how many arrests have been made in connection therewith; and if he will make a statement. | | (97335) | 162
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to minors in the last 12 months. | | (97305) | 163
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many burglaries there were in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06 to date in (i) North Yorkshire, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber Region and (iii) England and Wales in (A) domestic and (B) commercial properties. | | (97310) | 164
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received on the level of burglaries of (a) domestic and (b) commercial properties; and if he will make a statement. | | (97311) | 165
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have faced disciplinary procedures for negligence or oversight in investigating a crime and following up leads with diligence in each year since 2000. | | (97184) | 166
| Sarah Teather (Brent East):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of anti-social behaviour orders issued were breached in each of the last three years in each London borough. | | (97083) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 167
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contribution the UK has made to the Temporary International Mechanism. | | (95946) | 168
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what events were organised by his Department to mark World Poverty Day on 17th October. | | (97237) | 169
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of children in countries designated (a) conflict-affected fragile states and (b) low-income countries go to school. | | (97121) | 170
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which countries his Department categorises as (a) conflict-affected fragile states and (b) low-income countries; and what funding his Department has allocated to those countries in each category in each of the last five years. | | (97122) | 171
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding his Department has made available to assist vulnerable groups in Moldova; and if he will take steps to ensure that recipients of the funding are involved in meetings to discuss funding with officials in his Department. | | (95631) | 172
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will instruct his officials to attend technical co-ordination meetings of the OSCE in Moldova on anti-trafficking measures; and if he will make a statement. | | (95632) | Questions to the Leader of the House 173
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Leader of the House, what his estimate is of the total costs of the House of Lords for each year since 1990-91, broken down by main budget headings; and if he will make a statement. | | (97316) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 174
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Government has considered allowing the Social Security Agency and benefit recipients to retain Post Office Card Accounts as a regional facility. | | (97091) | 175
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of plastic bags produced for the local retail sector in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of plastic bags; what initiatives his Department is supporting to reduce the number of plastic bags (a) produced and (b) handed out; and whether he has plans to introduce a plastic bag levy. | | (97092) | 176
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Post Office Card Accounts there are in Northern Ireland, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) council district. | | (97100) | 177
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many payments of each social security benefit are paid by the Social Security Agency into (a) Post Office Card Accounts and (b) bank accounts. | | (97101) | 178
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the quantity and quality of the Central Services Agency's legal work. | | (97102) | 179
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether there are plans for a review of the effectiveness of the provision of contracts by legal services for health service organisations. | | (97103) | 180
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many British soldiers were serving in Northern Ireland in each month since January 1981. | | (97117) | 181
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to enable independent living among people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement. | | (97118) | 182
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has given consideration to working with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Ireland government to establish an all-Ireland body to help develop the greyhound industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement. | | (97119) | 183
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the merits of children learning first aid skills; what first aid training schoolchildren in Northern Ireland receive; and what plans he has to increase the first aid training available in schools in Northern Ireland. | | (97120) | 184
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the recent proposals from the University of Ulster and the National University of Ireland in Galway on a joint medical school will be considered by the cross-border action group established to consider needs and opportunities in the North West. | | (97123) | 185
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many complaints against the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been investigated by the Police Ombudsman since the establishment of the office; in how many of those cases (a) the complaint has been upheld, (b) reasons for (i) upholding and (ii) rejecting the complaint have been given, (c) PSNI officers have been the subject of a criminal investigation by the Police Ombudsman, (d) a case has been taken up by the Director of Public Prosecutions, (e) a criminal conviction has been secured, (f) PSNI officers have as a consequence been the subject of disciplinary investigation by the Police Ombudsman, (g) disciplinary hearings have taken place and (h) disciplinary penalties have been imposed; and where complaints led to disciplinary penalties what these were in each case. | | (97207) | 186
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of new build public housing on the waiting times for public housing in (a) Belfast and (b) Northern Ireland of members of each community background. | | (97402) | 187
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many complaints against the Security Service have been heard by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal since its establishment; in how many of those cases the complaint was upheld; and in how many such cases reasons for (a) upholding and (b) rejecting the complaint were given. | | (97404) | 188
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how financial surpluses arising from the planned Government owned company to deliver water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland will be distributed; where the channels and beneficiaries of such surpluses will be defined; and if he will make a statement. | | (97114) | 189
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what efficiency targets on (a) operating costs and (b) capital costs the planned Government-owned water and sewerage company in Northern Ireland will be required to meet. | | (97115) | 190
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures are in place to prevent financial disbenefits falling on customers should the planned Government-owned water and sewerage company not meet efficiency targets. | | (97116) | 191
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent each year by the Water Service on performance-related pay (PRP) awards since 2001; what proportion, on average, PRP represented of total salary for those in receipt of it in 2005-06; and what estimate he has made of the cost of PRP in each year up to 2010. | | (97222) | 192
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how the resources arising from any asset disposal by the planned government-owned water and sewerage company in Northern Ireland will be allocated; and under what authority this will be accomplished. | | (97223) | 193
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations he has received on pegging the Northern Ireland water charge to the English and Welsh average; and when pegging will be removed. | | (97224) | 194
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent on the recruitment process for the (a) Chief Executive, (b) Chair and (c) non-executive board members of (i) Northern Ireland Water Ltd and (ii) Ofreg; and how much has been allocated to the remuneration and incentive package for each post in each organisation. | | (97225) | 195
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the bed occupancy was of St. Johns Home, Downpatrick in its various incarnations over the past five years. | | (97226) | 196
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent by the Department for Regional Development on consultants' fees in connection with the reform of water and sewerage services since 2001; what forecast he has made of spending on such fees in each year until 2010; how many of the related contracts have been extended beyond the original agreement on (a) costs and (b) services required; and what such changes have been. | | (97257) | 197
| Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his statement of 16th October 2006, Official Report, column 595, on Northern Ireland, whether he plans to postpone the implementation of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 until after 26th March 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (97109) | 198
N | David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been recouped in fines for benefit fraud in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years; and what the total cost was of bringing prosecutions for that offence. | | (97012) | 199
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police officers worked on the Robert McCartney investigation in each month since his murder. | | (97085) | 200
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in Northern Ireland have entered into civil partnership arrangements in each month since they were introduced. | | (97086) | 201
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 9th October 2006, Official Report, column 329W, on Parliamentary Questions, for what purpose Northern Ireland Civil Service officials in the North/South Ministerial Council Joint secretariat receive a daily list of all Parliamentary questions tabled to Northern Ireland departments. | | (97090) | 202
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have accessed the http://www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk/ website since its launch; and what estimate he has made of (a) the number of additional tourists who have visited Northern Ireland as a result of visiting the website and (b) the additional money spent in Northern Ireland by (i) tourists and (ii) local anglers as a result of visiting the site. | | (97127) | 203
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what meetings his Department has held with children since 10th August 2005; what mechanisms have been put in place in Government to study and act on the views of children as a result of the Government's pledge to do so; what suggestions have been received from children by his Department; and what steps have been taken to implement suggestions made by children. | | (97131) | 204
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps have been taken to develop Northern Ireland as a production base for the arts (a) nationally and (b) internationally since 28th July 2005; how much additional revenue has been raised as a result; and how many new jobs have been created. | | (97132) | 205
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assurances he has (a) sought and (b) received from the authorities in the Republic of Ireland on the future safety of UK citizens when in Dublin following the victims march in Dublin. | | (97234) | 206
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his assessment is of the impact of the pledge made by the Arts Minister in a press release on 3rd August 2005 to ensure that arts and creativity are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community on (a) community relations in Northern Ireland, (b) revenue raised, (c) job creation and (d) Northern Ireland's education system. | | (97282) | 207
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps have been taken to implement the Arts Minister's pledges made in his press release on 3rd August 2005 (a) to encourage the commitment of people involved in arts in Northern Ireland, (b) to put arts and creativity among his key priorities and (c) to ensure that arts and creativity are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community. | | (97285) | Questions to the Prime Minister 208
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, what the (a) remit and (b) membership is of the new energy and environment review team set up under the Pathways to the Future project. | | (97211) | 209
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the prospects for introduction of EU-wide taxes on kerosene air fuel. | | (97218) | 210
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Prime Minister, when he last met General Richard Dannatt; and what matters were discussed. | | (97221) | 211
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to request (a) Cabinet Ministers and (b) all other Ministers to disclose publicly whether they are keeping a diary with a view to publication. | | (97182) | 212
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Prime Minister, how many manuscripts of memoirs were submitted to the Cabinet Secretary in each year since 1997; and how many of them were cleared without any amendment of the text being requested in each year. | | (97336) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 213
N | Mr Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many compensation claims under the Claims Handling Agreement in which diagnosis occurred after the original medical assessment process report are still outstanding; and when he expects the backlog to be cleared. | | (94243) | 214
N | Mr Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of research into the appropriate acoustic separation distance for larger wind turbines from residential properties; what distances are recommended in the Department's planning guidelines; and when those distances were last reviewed. | | (94244) | 215
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what participation his Department had in the Symposium on International Nuclear Safeguards held at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna 16th to 20th October; and whether the Government provided resources in support of the Symposium. | | (97208) | 216
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he plans to make of which designs of generation III reactors are suitable for pre-licensing assessment. | | (97215) | 217
| Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the annual balance of payments surplus or deficit is for (a) each of the English regions, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. | | (97202) | 218
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Department's review of the default retirement age, on what basis decisions were made to allow working beyond aged 65. | | (97390) | 219
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will increase the size of the sample used to assess the effectiveness of the default retirement age over the next five years. | | (97391) | 220
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evidence he examined from other countries on developing his Department's policy on a compulsory retirement age. | | (97392) | 221
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the collapse of Farepak; whether the company continued to collect payments from families after being declared bankrupt; and what steps he is taking to assess what lessons can be learnt for the future. | | (96832) | 222
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what response he has had from the British Retail Consortium to his inquiry about support for those affected by the collapse of Farepak. | | (96833) | 223
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps his Department is taking to increase the Low Carbon Buildings Programme budget for household renewable energy systems. | | (97080) | 224
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many households have been allocated grants under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. | | (97081) | 225
| Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of his Department's Low Carbon Buildings Programme budget was allocated to individual household installations in each year of the programme. | | (97082) | 226
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to visit Northern Ireland. | | (97258) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 227
| Janet Anderson (Rossendale & Darwen):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultations local education authorities are required to conduct before withdrawing a school bus service; how those consultations are conducted; and with whom they are conducted. | | (97124) | 228
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the future of services to London Victoria from Brighton station. | | (95775) | 229
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving licences were reported (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last five years. | | (97297) | 230
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he has issued on the enforcement of 20 mph zones. | | (97298) | 231
| Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with officials of GNER since 1st October. | | (97344) | 232
N | Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Office of Rail Regulator plans to introduce an environmental levy on goods transported by freight trains. | | (95483) | 233
| Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many accidents involving buses striking low bridges occurred in the last three years for which figures are available. | | (97079) | 234
| Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 17th October 2006, Official Report, column 1136W, on motorways, when he expects to extend active traffic management and hard shoulder running to other motorways and trunk roads. | | (97217) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 235
| Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether national insurance numbers will be issued to (a) non-working and (b) self employed migrants to the UK from (i) Bulgaria and (ii) Romania after their accession to the EU. | | (97296) | 236
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents with care are owed Child Support Agency maintenance arrears; what the average arrears are per case; and if he will make a statement. | | (97192) | 237
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what compensation he plans to pay to people awaiting the payment of Child Support Agency arrears; and if he will make a statement. | | (97193) | 238
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what total payments of Child Support Agency arrears have been made by absent parents in each (a) month, (b) quarter and (c) year since 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. | | (97194) | 239
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what instructions Ministers in his Department gave to staff at the Child Support Agency during 2005-06 in relation to investigating the writing off of Child Support Agency arrears; and if he will make a statement. | | (97199) | 240
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what definitions his Department uses for unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance that is (a) probably uncollectable and (b) possibly uncollectable; and if he will make a statement. | | (97200) | 241
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20th October 2006, Official Report, column 1465W, on lone parents, what the estimated cost is of the work-related activity premium for lone parents in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 (i) net of savings and (ii) without assumed savings from employment effects; and if he will make a statement. | | (97236) | 242
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of children lived in workless households in each year since 1979-80. | | (97241) | 243
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people have been contributing to a non-state pension in each year since 1979-80; and if he will make a statement. | | (97246) | 244
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on external consultants in each year since 1996-97, broken down by project; what the purpose of each such project was; and if he will make a statement. | | (97273) | 245
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of those aged (a) 40, (b) 45 and (c) 50 years with incomes of under £20,000 per annum he expects to receive effective real returns on savings in personal pension accounts of (i) more than £2 for every £1 saved, (ii) between £2 and £1.50 per £1 saved, (iii) between £1.50 and £1 per £1 saved and (iv) less than £1 per £1 saved, assuming no saving prior to the stated age and a zero real investment return on savings; and if he will make a statement. | | (97284) | 246
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total is of uncollectable Child Support Agency arrears, broken down by uncollectable due to (a) death, (b) move abroad, (c) unknown addresses, (d) incorrect maintenance assessment and (e) other causes; and if he will make a statement. | | (97306) | 247
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the legislation governing the Child Support Agency contains provisions covering the enforcement by a parent with care of unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance arrears; and if he will make a statement. | | (97324) | 248
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving carers' benefit were affected by the provisions in regulation four of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2006. | | (97338) | 249
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department issues guidance to Remploy factories on indirect discrimination against disabled employees; and what steps he takes to ensure that Remploy offers assistance to disabled employees to seek and obtain promotion. | | (97313) | 250
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce a technology component to the disability living allowance to contribute towards the cost of buying special equipment relating to specific disabilities. | | (96965) | 251
| Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the means testing of carer's allowance affects single parents and couples equally; and if he will make a statement. | | (97171) | 252
| Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost has been of developing his Department's web-based retirement planner. | | (97214) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 253
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the employment rate was of the cohort of the least qualified UK adults for each year since 1996-97. | | [Transferred] (97322) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 254
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what criteria were used to (a) include carbon emitting technology and (b) exclude thermal mass and night-time cooling from the new L2 building regulations iSBEM model; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (96712) | 255
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to include passive heating techniques in the Code for Sustainable Homes. | | [Transferred] (96713) | 256
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the performance of the software model iSBEM that has been launched in support of the new building regulations L2; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (96715) | 257
N | Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with stakeholders on the use of low energy technology to achieve compliance with planning regulations. | | [Transferred] (96716) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 258
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many coroners' cases in Northern Ireland are open but not complete; and in how many such cases the deceased is from Foyle constituency. | | [Transferred] (97400) | 259
| Mark Durkan (Foyle):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether the Coroners' Service in Northern Ireland has a coroner available on a 24-hour basis. | | [Transferred] (97401) | 260
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what regulations govern the activities of bailiffs. | | [Transferred] (97345) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 261
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the contribution of the BBC to (a) the UK balance of payments and (b) the creative economy; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (97097) | 262
| Mr Don Foster (Bath):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of digital switchover on the economy; what assessment she has made of the consequences for the economy of changes to the planned timetable; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (97113) | 263
| David Simpson (Upper Bann):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people in Northern Ireland have been (a) fined and (b) prosecuted for non-payment of television licence fees in each of the last 10 years. | | [Transferred] (97104) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 264
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to simplify the legislation to enable commoning of common land to take place more easily; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (97399) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 265
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has commissioned into the findings of the recent Lancet report on deaths in Iraq; and if she will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (97295) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 266
| Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will ask the Food Standards Agency to review its decision to classify cheese as a food with a high fat, sugar or salt content. | | [Transferred] (97331) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 267
| Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many doormen have (a) applied for and (b) been issued with a security industry authority licence since the Licensing Act 2003 came into force; what the backlog is for licence applications; what the average cost to the individual is of acquiring a licence; and who is responsible for paying for a licence. | | [Transferred] (97354) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 268
| Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff have been employed by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship for each year since its inception; and what its total budget has been in each year. | | [Transferred] (97321) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 269
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passes providing free bus travel for pensioners have been issued by each local authority in Hampshire including Southampton and Portsmouth since the scheme's inception. | | [Transferred] (97330) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 270
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children in the UK have been in absolute low income poverty in each year since 1979-80; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (97245) | 271
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there are measures in place to prevent Remploy factories employing able-bodied people when there are unemployed disabled people who have the necessary skills. | | [Transferred] (97312) |
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