Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 20 February 2007

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 Tuesday 20 February 2007
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 20 February 2007

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 20 February 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 Tuesday 20 February of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 20 February see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

1
John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects the Tax Credit Office to reply to the fax from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West of 7th November 2006 with regard to his constituent Ms Katrina Anderson.

(122102)

2
John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects the Tax Credit Office to respond to the faxes from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West of (a) 9th August 2006 and (b) 19th September 2006, with regard to his constituents Mr Willie McDonald and Mrs Freda McDonald.

(122103)

3
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects to make an announcement on the introduction of a technological innovation in tackling the smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products in the United Kingdom in the 2007 Budget.

(121821)

4
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects a technological innovation in tackling smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products in the United Kingdom to be based on a voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry or introduced by legislation.

(121822)

5
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much duty and other taxes he estimates have been lost due to the smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(121823)

6
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average life expectancy was in (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Coventry in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006.

(121489)

7
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121972)

8
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17th January 2007, Official Report, column 1141W, on VAT, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the letter of formal notice sent from the European Commission to the UK Government on 18th October 2006 and (b) the UK Government's response of 14th December 2006, referring to a complaint about a change in the law on 3rd December 2004 on VAT on the supply of services to non-EU customers.

(121752)

9
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much public money was spent on (a) military operations and (b) other projects in Iraq in each of the last five years.

(121879)

10
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much public money was spent on (a) military operations and (b) other projects in Afghanistan in each of the last six years.

(121880)

11
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse of the wars in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan has been to date.

(121881)

12
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of a register of VAT registration numbers which is open to the public.

(122033)

13
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, under what circumstances HM Revenue and Customs may make available to trading standards officers the names and addresses of the holders of VAT registration numbers.

(122099)

14
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 to date.

(121677)

15
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by the Department and executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 to date.

(121678)

16
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in the Department and executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 to date.

(121679)

17
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the annual cost of increasing child benefit for each disabled child by £5 per week; what estimate he has made of the number of children who would be removed from relative poverty under such a policy; and if he will make a statement.

(121744)

18
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received each tax credit administered by his Department for each year since 1997-98; and what estimate he has made of the number of such people in 2007-08.

(121842)

19
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of raising child benefit for all children to the rate of the youngest child; and what estimate he has made of the number of children this would lift out of poverty.

(121844)

20
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the 10 (a) local authorities and (b) local authority wards with the (i) highest and (ii) lowest life expectancies in the United Kingdom for (A) the latest year for which information is available and (B) 1996-97.

(121846)

21
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on tax credit payments of the release of the most recent IT updates.

(121863)

22
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many manual payments of tax credits were made in each of the last 12 months.

(121864)

23
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of abolishing the tax credit system £25,000 disregard for income increases; and if he will make a statement.

(121896)

24
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of uprating tax credit awards for six months with no income disregard; and if he will make a statement.

(121897)

25
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees from his Department were asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121739)

26
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the extent to which companies based in other European countries have received (a) financial and (b) other assistance from their respective governments to mount bids for the takeover of UK-based companies.

(121826)

27
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals for a regulatory code governing the activities of private equity companies.

(121827)

28
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the transparency of the financial reporting procedures of private equity groups.

(121828)

29
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121718)

30
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost of administering the working tax credit and child tax credit systems was in 2005-06; and what proportion of this sum related directly to the updating of claims.

(121858)

31
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve the take up of tax credits.

(121859)

32
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to HM Revenue and Customs was of dealing with inquiries relating to overpayment of tax credits in 2005-06.

(121860)

33
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to make correspondence and award notices simpler and clearer for tax credit claimants.

(121861)

34
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the tax credits system has met its objectives; and what assessment he has made of the effect of problems experienced by claimants on the meeting of objectives.

(121862)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

35
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many employees from her Department were asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121740)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

36
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when she expects to publish the findings of the discrimination law review; and if she will make a statement.

(121898)

37
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will consult on proposals to introduce a ban on age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

(121899)

38
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will consult on proposals to introduce a positive duty on public authorities to promote age equality.

(121900)

39
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when she expects to publish proposals for a Single Equalities Bill; and if she will make a statement.

(121901)

40
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research her Department (a) has carried out and (b) intends to carry out on the implications of population mobility on public service costs to local authorities.

(122084)

41
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether local authorities record the (a) ethnicity, (b) criminal record and (c) educational attainment of each person subject to an anti-social behaviour order in their area.

(121757)

42
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from her Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121986)

43
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact on social integration of the Government's proposed change in the funding of the teaching of English as a second language; and if she will make a statement.

(121746)

44
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what basis she recently set the discretionary rural rate relief threshold at £14,000; what the evidential basis was for the increase; and what the average increase in non-domestic rateable values was between the time at which the threshold was previously set and the latest determination.

(121817)

45
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121704)

46
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121705)

47
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121706)

48
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure there is sufficient (a) land and (b) premises available for the use of small and medium-sized enterprises.

(121833)

49
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much previously designated industrial land was transferred to residential use in each of the last 10 years.

(121834)

50
Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people are on housing waiting lists in England.

(121965)

51
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121720)

52
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how the (a) impact, (b) quality and (c) delivery of works undertaken to meet the decent homes target will be (i) monitored and (ii) evaluated.

(121797)

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs

53
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from her Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121985)

54
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, on how many occasions the Public Guardianship Office had to intervene to suspend an individual's power of attorney over another in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(122003)

55
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121683)

56
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121684)

57
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121685)

58
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the average time taken was (a) to assess and (b) to secure the first payment in child maintenance cases in the courts (i) prior to the establishment of the Child Support Agency and (ii) in the last year for which figures are available.

(121866)

59
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the average child maintenance liability of non-resident parents established by the courts was (a) prior to the establishment of the Child Support Agency and (b) in the last year for which figures are available.

(121867)

60
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many employees from her Department were asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121737)

61
N Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what support is provided for young witnesses in the criminal justice system; and if she will make a statement.

(120680)

62
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121722)

63
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to government departments involved in the one week monitoring exercise in January 2006 of the time needed to respond to Freedom of Information requests.

(121762)

64
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when she expects to bring forward new fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

(121763)

65
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, when she expects to publish the results of the current consultation on fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

(121764)

66
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many inquests are awaiting hearing in coroner's courts; and what the average time taken from death to the conclusion of an inquest is, broken down by type of coroner's verdict.

(121795)

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

67
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from her Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121984)

68
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121686)

69
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121687)

70
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121688)

71
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many employees from her Department were asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121734)

72
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) applications and (b) outline proposals were made to the Reaching Communities programme in each of the last five years.

(121804)

73
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the length of time taken to produce an acceptable (a) outline proposal and (b) application for an award from the Reaching Communities programme.

(121805)

74
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the scoring system used by the Reaching Communities programme for assessing applications for funding.

(121806)

75
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was paid out from the Reaching Communities programme in each of the last five years; and what the average award was in each year.

(121807)

76
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was sought via applications and outline proposals to the Reaching Communities programme in each of the last five years.

(121808)

77
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121727)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

78
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121983)

79
N Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British troops are (a) based in and (b) conducting operations in the Iraqi province of (i) Dhi Qar and (ii) Al Muthanna.

(121143)

80
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of servicemen (a) killed and (b) injured in Iraq by weapons of Iranian origin since the occupation of Iraq began.

(122085)

81
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of British servicemen (a) killed and (b) injured in Iraq by weapons of Iranian origin since the occupation of Iraq began.

(122086)

82
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of the defence planned programme budget (excluding funds from the Unallocated Special Reserve) was used to finance operations in (a) Iraq, (b) Afghanistan, (c) the Balkans and (d) other operations in each of the last six years.

(121873)

83
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of the availability of Snatch land rovers on driver training.

(121874)

84
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) annual and (b) in-year changes were made to the budget for army training in each of the last five years.

(121875)

85
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned programme budget was for his Department in each of the last 10 years (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product.

(121876)

86
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision has been made to replace assets lost as a result of (a) damage and destruction during operations and (b) reduced service life due to increased use.

(121877)

87
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department's policy to distribute annual individual electoral roll registration forms to service personnel.

(121878)

88
Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what services are offered by his Department for the bereaved families of Armed Forces personnel.

(121890)

89
Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people his Department employs for liaison with the families of Armed Forces personnel; and what aspects of service life and issues these staff are responsible for dealing with.

(121891)

90
Nick Harvey (North Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on family liaison in 2006-07.

(121892)

91
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent by the Department on appealing a decision by the Information Commissioner (decision notice FS50073980) to release a copy of the March 2004 edition of the Defence Export Services Organisation staff directory under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; which outside counsel were hired to mount the appeal; and what fees have been paid to such counsel in this case.

(121766)

92
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which companies were given access to the March 2004 edition of the Defence Export Services Organisation staff directory; on what basis such access was granted; and what restrictions were placed on the further circulation of this staff directory to other parties.

(121767)

93
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the security classification is of the March 2004 edition of the Defence Export Services Organisation staff directory.

(121768)

94
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121701)

95
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121702)

96
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121703)

97
Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many horses are stabled at the expense of the Royal Air Force but not owned by them; and at what annual cost.

(121902)

98
Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many horses the Royal Air Force owns; and what the total annual cost of keeping them was in 2005-06.

(121903)

99
Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many horses are stabled at the Army's expense but not owned by them; and what the total annual cost of keeping them is.

(121904)

100
Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many horses the Army owns; and what the total estimated cost is of keeping them.

(121905)

101
Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many horses the Royal Navy owns; and what the total estimated cost is of keeping them.

(121906)

102
Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many horses are stabled at the Royal Navy's expense but not owned by them; and what the total annual cost was in 2005-06.

(121907)

103
Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5th February 2007, Official Report, column 688W, on meat supplies, which countries provided the poultry, gammon and bacon products which were imported.

(121963)

104
Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the policy to treat military patients in the NHS began.

(122101)

105
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121726)

Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister

106
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121982)

107
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many complaints have been received by his Department since its establishment.

(121707)

108
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what independent body exists to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department.

(121708)

109
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff work in dedicated complaints units in his Department.

(121709)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

110
N Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to paragraph 3.1 of the consultation letter from his Department on changes to the definition of full-time education in independent schools, what difficulties the Department has experienced in relation to changing patterns of schooling which necessitated the review; and if he will make a statement.

(121273)

111
N Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, under what statutory powers a major provider of a child's education may be treated as if it is providing a full-time education and required to register as an independent school; and if he will make a statement.

(121274)

112
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students are expected to graduate in physiotherapy in England in 2007.

(122002)

113
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many places on (a) recognised access, (b) undergraduate and (c) postgraduate physiotherapy courses are expected to be offered in England in autumn (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009.

(122076)

114
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121981)

115
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria the Schools Adjudicator will use when taking decisions under the Education (New Secondary School Proposals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007.

(121920)

116
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, on what criteria the Schools Adjudicator was appointed; and what qualifications are required of the post-holder.

(121921)

117
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Schools Adjudicator will publish all materials relevant to his decision-making process once he has made a decision under the Education (New Secondary School Proposals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007; and if he will make a statement.

(121922)

118
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether his Department has produced guidelines for the Schools Adjudicator relating to the Education (New Secondary School Proposals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007.

(121988)

119
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to pilot the new National Curriculum programmes of study being proposed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority secondary curriculum review.

(122036)

120
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his assessment is of the importance of the study of Shakespeare in the Key Stage 3 English curriculum.

(122037)

121
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 19th January 2007, Official Report, columns 1379-81W, on GCSEs, which of the schools listed offer the International GCSE.

(122061)

122
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of 15 year olds attending (a) independent schools and (b) maintained schools achieved five or more GCSEs at A*-C including English and mathematics in each year since 1997.

(122062)

123
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures the Ridings School in Calderdale is taking to raise its standards; and if he will make a statement.

(122063)

124
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will provide an executive summary of the proposals outlined in the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority secondary curriculum review.

(122064)

125
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the levels of achievement were at Bishops Park College at (a) Key Stage 3 and (b) GCSE in the last year for which figures are available.

(122066)

126
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has made of the effectiveness of the approach to the curriculum at Bishops Park College.

(122067)

127
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, on what factors the decision of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to select Bishop's Park College as the case study for approaches to organising the curriculum on the secondary curriculum review website were based.

(122068)

128
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his Department's policy is on teaching children to write in (a) standard and (b) non-standard English at key stages (i) 3 and (ii) 4.

(122069)

129
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has made of the effectiveness of (i) constructivist, (ii) Piagetian developmentally appropriate, (iii) whole language and (iv) direct instruction approaches to learning.

(122070)

130
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects to answer Questions (a) 108839, on GCSEs, tabled on 7th December 2006, (b) (i) 112807 and (ii) 112766, on the study of foreign languages, tabled on 18th December 2006 and (c) 118399, on GCSEs, tabled on 30th January 2007, by the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.

(122124)

131
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects to answer Questions (a) 115508 on GCSEs tabled on 10th January 2007, (b) 116080 on GCSEs tabled on 11th January 2007, (c) 115509 on GCSEs tabled on 10th January 2007, (d) 117405 on GCSEs tabled on 17th January 2007, (e) 110498 on history and geography tabled on 17th January 2007, (f) 110756 on data security in schools tabled on 18th January 2007, (g) 110754 on the e-Learning credits tabled on 18th January 2007, (h) 110753 on e-Learning credits tabled on 18th January 2007, (i) 112155 on the 14 to 19 implementation plans tabled on 24th January 2007, (j) 117653 on GCSE results tabled on 25th January 2007, (k) 117650 on GCSEs tabled on 25th Janaury 2007, (l) 117655 on GCSEs tabled on 25th January 2007 and (m) 117654 on GCSEs tabled on 25th January 2007, by the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.

(122125)

132
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of young people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK received education maintanence allowance in each year since the scheme's inception.

(122059)

133
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK received (i) £30, (ii) £20 and (iii) £10 a week in education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme's inception.

(122060)

134
N Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he plans to have with local education authorities in sustainable communities plan areas on the future provision of school places in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

(120328)

135
N Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of funding for the establishment of regional centres of expertise for low incidence special educational needs and children with sensory impairments has been allocated to Peterborough Local Education Authority in 2006-07; and what proportion he expects to allocate in 2007-08.

(120329)

136
N Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average marginal cost was of (a) part-time and (b) full-time students of higher education programmes for (i) HEFCE and (ii) the LSC in each academic year between 1996-97 and 2006-07.

(121604)

137
N Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many primary schools in each constituency have a teacher with a formal music qualification.

(121605)

138
N Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) HNDs and (b) foundation degrees were awarded in England in each year between 1998 and 2006.

(121606)

139
N Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time students entered higher education in each academic year between 1996-97 and 2006-07, broken down by socio economic group; and what the drop-out rates were for each of those groups in each year.

(121613)

140
N Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many higher education students of (a) biological sciences and (b) physical sciences there were in each year between 1996-97 and 2004-05, broken down by name of degree.

(121614)

141
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to combat bullying of children who are gay, lesbian or transgendered in schools.

(122081)

142
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121680)

143
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there were in 2006-07 to date.

(121681)

144
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121682)

145
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funding was per primary school pupil for each year from 1995-96 to 2006-07 in (a) England and (b) each English local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

(121812)

146
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what proportion of pupils of primary school age in England are in classes in maintained schools of (a) fewer than 20, (b) 20 to 24, (c) 25 to 28, (d) 29 to 30, (e) 31 to 35, (f) 36 to 40 and (g) greater than 40; and if he will make a statement.

(121813)

147
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much his Department spent on (a) Sure Start, (b) children's centres, (c) nursery provision and (d) childminder networks in each year between 2001 and 2004.

(122087)

148
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to meet Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health to discuss a schools-based national human papilloma virus immunisation programme.

(122093)

149
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what surveys have been conducted by the Learning and Skills Council into further education provision for adults with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

(122129)

150
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121724)

151
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the impact of the proposed changes to the funding of English for the speakers of other languages courses on the numbers of (a) teaching and (b) lecturing jobs in this field.

(121772)

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

152
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121980)

153
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what checks his Department has made on imports of (a) food, (b) animals and (c) foodstuffs into Wales from Hungary over the past six months.

(122100)

154
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of poultry products were moved from the poultry farm in Suffolk infected with avian influenza after the disease was identified; and to which location they were removed.

(122096)

155
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Hungarian plants were involved in the slaughter and processing of poultry products imported into the UK prior to the outbreak of avian influenza at the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk; and at what distance they were located from the Hungarian farm at which there was an outbreak of avian influenza in January.

(122098)

156
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of kerbside collection of recyclables on the rate of recycling in England; and if he will make a statement.

(122000)

157
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of households were served by some form of kerbside collection of material to be recycled in (a) the North West, (b) the North East, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) the East Midlands, (e) the West Midlands, (f) the East, (g) London, (h) the South East, (i) the South West and (j) the whole of England in each year since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

(122001)

158
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which of the collection and recycling strategies outlined in the Battery Waste Management Life Cycle Assessment report his Department will adopt to meet the UK's obligations under the EU Directive on Batteries and Accumulators; and if he will make a statement.

(122041)

159
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support his Department (a) is offering and (b) plans to offer to increase the capacity for the recyling of batteries to the level required to meet obligations under the EC Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators.

(122042)

160
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made in fulfilling its commitment to map the potential use of biomass across the main procuring departments of the Government estate; and if he will make a statement.

(122043)

161
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will consider basing the charging regime for the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations on the number of livestock in each farm; and if he will make a statement.

(122028)

162
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the effect on the output of (a) British agriculture and (b) the soft fruit sector of the ending of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme.

(122029)

163
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4th December 2006, Official Report, columns 28-30W, on civil servants, if he will break down the data on staff recruited to and leaving his Department by Civil Service grade; and if he will make a statement.

(122030)

164
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what change there was in (a) value and (b) percentage in the capital budgets of each of his Department's executive agencies following his Department's budget review in 2006, as referred to in the Answer of 24th October 2006, Official Report, columns 1723-4W, on Executive Agencies.

(122031)

165
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what correspondence his Department has received on the budget reallocation for each of its executive agencies referred to in the Answer of 24th October 2006, Official Report, columns 1723-4W, on executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(122092)

166
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121692)

167
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121693)

168
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121694)

169
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy on (a) food prices and (b) annual household food bills since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

(121811)

170
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which programmes his Department funds to support local and regional environmental initiatives.

(121836)

171
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what programmes his Department funds which aim to promote the sustainability of rural communities.

(121838)

172
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what programmes his Department supports within the education sector which seek to enhance understanding of the environment.

(121839)

173
Bill Wiggin (Leominster):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects to lift the ban on bird gatherings and auctions assuming no further outbreaks of avian influenza are discovered.

(122130)

174
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121725)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

175
Ms Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Republic of South Africa on nuclear weapons proliferation.

(122071)

176
Ms Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what her Department's interpretation is of the phrase `at an early date' in Article 6 of the Treaty on the non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

(122072)

177
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from her Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121979)

178
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations her Department has made to the government of the People's Republic of China on human rights in Tibet.

(122032)

179
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121689)

180
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121690)

181
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121691)

182
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with other EU member states on the right of Sikhs to wear a turban when travelling through European airports and passing through security checks.

(121962)

183
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions her Department had with other EU member states on allowing Sikh constituents wearing the kirpan access to the European Parliament.

(122035)

184
Kitty Ussher (Burnley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the average length of time taken to obtain a UK visa from the British embassy in Islamabad was in the latest period for which figures are available.

(121958)

185
Kitty Ussher (Burnley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and what proportion of UK visas refused at the British Embassy in Islamabad were later granted on appeal in the latest period for which figures are available.

(121959)

186
Kitty Ussher (Burnley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the average length of time taken was for UK visas issued through the British embassy in Islamabad to be issued once the decision was taken that the application was valid in the latest period for which figures are available.

(121960)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

187
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are in place to record how many new cancer treatments developed through basic research (a) go forward to clinical trials and (b) become treatments for patients.

(121934)

188
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many breast cancer treatments have been recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence since its creation.

(121935)

189
Mr Douglas Carswell (Harwich):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding from the public purse for treatment in the private mental health sector for patients referred via the National Health Service was provided in each of the last five years.

(121957)

190
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from her Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121978)

191
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the original cost was of the fixed price contract for redevelopment of Russells Hall Hospital; and what the final cost was following completion of the contract.

(122080)

192
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what target outcomes her Department has set for each primary care trust to achieve for its dental budget; and how many each primary care trust has achieved in the 2006-07 financial year.

(122088)

193
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the number of dental practices that will fulfil their annual contract before the end of the 2006-07 financial year, broken down by primary care trust.

(122089)

194
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the final cost of the contract for redevelopment of Russells Hall Hospital was funded.

(122090)

195
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care trusts (a) have introduced referral management schemes over the past 12 months and (b) plan to introduce referral management schemes over the next 12 months.

(121923)

196
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many primary care trusts carried out public and patient consultation in accordance with Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act prior to introducing referral management schemes.

(121924)

197
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the impact of the introduction of referral management schemes by primary care trusts on patient choice; and if she will make a statement.

(121925)

198
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diagnoses of tuberculosis there were in each London borough in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006.

(121926)

199
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Northavon of 15th January 2007, Official Report, column 930W, on the turnaround programme, which organisations were identified as being a category 1 priority requiring urgent intervention.

(121856)

200
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Northavon of 15th January 2007, Official Report, column 930W, on the turnaround programme, how many strategic health authority turnaround directors have been appointed since February 2006.

(121857)

201
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121674)

202
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121675)

203
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121676)

204
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the amount the NHS will pay to private healthcare providers in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2012-13.

(121782)

205
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many accident and emergency departments, there were in England in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by type; what forecasts she has made of the number and type of accident and emergency departments that will be required in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(121783)

206
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) consultant-led and (b) midwife-led maternity units there were in England in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) the latest period for which figures are available; what forecast she has made of the number and type of maternity units that will be required for (A) 2008 and (B) 2010; and if she will make a statement.

(121784)

207
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire of 15th January 2007, Official Report, column 910W, on accident and emergency departments, at which 12 trusts there are no plans to consult on changes to services.

(121785)

208
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the multi-professional education and training budget she estimates has been used by strategic health authorities to offset deficits elsewhere in the NHS economy in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07; what assessment she has made of the effect this has had on training across the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

(121786)

209
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many strategic health authority agreed recovery plans have been breached in the last two years.

(121787)

210
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which primary care trusts have turnaround teams in place.

(121788)

211
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of healthcare she estimates takes place outside hospital; and if she will make a statement.

(121789)

212
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what contingencies the NHS Contingency Fund has been used in 2006-07.

(121790)

213
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of NHS acute trusts achieved monthly run rate balance in the last period for which figures are available.

(121791)

214
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS Bank (a) received, (b) loaned and (c) recovered in each year since it was established; and if she will make a statement on its operation.

(121792)

215
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will place in the Library a copy of the report on mixed sex wards she has received from the heads of strategic health authorities.

(121793)

216
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether she intends to improve the target on mixed sex wards to take account of more factors.

(121814)

217
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the 2006-07 Centrally Funded Initiatives And Services And Special Allocations has increased from previous plans; and if she will make a statement.

(121815)

218
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has mde of the accident rates for children in each socio-economic group.

(121816)

219
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment she has made of changes in health inequality between people in each income decile since 1996-97; what targets she has set in relation to reducing health outcome inequalities; and if she will make a statement.

(121847)

220
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Minister for Delivery and Reform in her Department next plans to visit St Albans in an official capacity.

(121753)

221
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many employees from her Department were asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121738)

222
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make available the draft national framework for NHS continuing care.

(121956)

223
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which patient and public interest groups responded to the Good Doctors, Safer Patients public consultation.

(122123)

224
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which patient and public interest groups responded to her Department's review of the regulation of non-medical healthcare professions.

(122126)

225
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will commission research into public participation in healthcare regulation, including (a) selection and recruitment processes, (b) the framework for training, mentoring and supporting members, (c) organisation structures and processes designed to facilitate dialogue with the public and (d) closer working across and between regulatary bodies.

(122127)

226
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent changes have been made to the provision of urinary and faecal (a) appliances and (b) services on the NHS; for what purpose in each case; what assessment she has made of the potential impact on users; and if she will make a statement.

(121755)

227
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are waiting for hearing tests in (a) England, (b) West Yorkshire, (c) Hemsworth constituency and (d) Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust; what steps are being taken to decrease these waiting lists; and if she will make a statement.

(121824)

228
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been waiting (a) more than six months, (b) more than 12 months and (c) more than 24 months for a hearing aid to be issued after an initial hearing test and diagnosis in (i) England, (ii) West Yorkshire, (iii) Hemsworth constituency and (iv) Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust; and what steps are being taken to decrease these waiting times.

(121825)

229
Lynda Waltho (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average hospital waiting times for patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis were in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

(122073)

230
Lynda Waltho (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of (a) consultants and (b) nurses qualified to diagnose and treat myasthenia gravis.

(122074)

231
Lynda Waltho (Stourbridge):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness about myasthenia gravis amongst (a) the medical profession, (b) the general public, (c) employers and (d) benefit offices.

(122075)

232
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121765)

233
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average annual income of a dentist is from the work done for the National Health Service.

(121798)

234
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the number of National Blood Service processing and testing centres are being reduced from 11 to three; and why Red Cell Reference laboratories is to be removed from sites of major blood supply.

(121799)

235
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate she has made of the effect on costs of blood transporation of moving to three blood processing and testing centres.

(121800)

236
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the effect on staff of the way in which changes to the National Blood Service estate were communicated to them.

(121801)

237
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has for the NHS taking on responsibility for medical services in prisons.

(121802)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

238
John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Parliamentary Business Unit of the Immigration and Nationality Department will respond to the fax of 27th November 2006 from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West regarding his constituent Mr Twana Zahir Raeof.

(122104)

239
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of individuals convicted of robbery in 2006 were reported as having a drug problem.

(121747)

240
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has taken to encourage local authorities to consider the implications of each of their activities for crime and disorder as per section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

(121758)

241
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to implement section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; and what role those provisions have in relation to his Department's Respect Plan.

(121759)

242
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what definition of frontline duties he uses in reference to police work.

(121760)

243
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30th January 2007, Official Report, column 203W, what assessment he has made of the impact that targeted patrol of crime hotspots has had on (a) crime rates, (b) calls for police services and (c) anti-social behaviour.

(121761)

244
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many safer neighbourhood teams are fully operational in (a) England and Wales and (b) Avon and Somerset.

(121776)

245
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30th January 2007, Official Report, column 194W, on police patrols, what definition he uses of doorstep contact in relation to community confidence.

(121777)

246
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average age of police recruits was in each of the last five years.

(121778)

247
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department has given to chief constables on the deployment of safer neighbourhood teams between midnight and six a.m.

(121779)

248
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms he uses to monitor and evaluate the performance of safer neighbourhood teams in England and Wales.

(121780)

249
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 1st February 2007, Official Report, column 515W, on community policing, to whom the term others refers in relation to neighbourhood policing teams.

(121781)

250
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of (a) racism, (b) gender discrimination and (c) discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation were made by (i) police officers, (ii) police community support officers and (iii) special constables against the police in each of the last five years.

(121849)

251
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people classified as being from an ethnic minority were recruited for the post of (a) police officer, (b) police community support officer and (c) special constable by police in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the police workforce this represented in each case.

(121850)

252
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average retirement age was for (a) female and (b) male police officers in each of the last five years.

(121851)

253
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) females and (b) males were recruited for the post of (i) police officer, (ii) police community support officer and (iii) special constable in each of the last five years.

(121852)

254
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers, (b) police community support officers and (c) special constables were recruited in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the police workforce such new recruits represented in each of those years.

(121853)

255
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of individuals made subject to an anti-social behaviour order have since been convicted of a criminal offence.

(121854)

256
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of victims of crime were (a) eligible for and (b) provided with the enhanced service as set out in the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in the last year for which figures are available.

(121855)

257
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much overtime was paid to (a) police officers, (b) police community support officers and (c) civilian police staff in the last year for which figures are available.

(121908)

258
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of police officers were subject to criminal investigation in the last year for which figures are available.

(121909)

259
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers (a) work part-time and (b) have secondary employment outside the police.

(121910)

260
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were in England and Wales in (a) 1979, (b) 1997 and (c) 2006.

(121911)

261
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers were (a) suspended from duty and (b) fired in the last year for which figures are available.

(121912)

262
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from chief constables on the Police Grant Report 2007-08.

(121913)

263
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an individual support order a compulsory component of each anti-social behaviour order served on an individual over the age of 17.

(121914)

264
Mr Jeremy Browne (Taunton):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of victims of crime were referred to Victim Support by police in each of the last five years.

(121915)

265
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passport applications were rejected by the Identity and Passport Service in each of the last five years because the pictures submitted did not reach the required standard.

(121953)

266
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what biometric information will be required for an EEA national to acquire a registration certificate under the plans for a national identity register.

(122004)

267
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information can be accessed by an employee of the Identity and Passport Service in the course of conducting a Passport Validation Service check; what training they receive; and what penalties are in place for misuse of the information.

(122005)

268
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what databases are accessed in the process of a personal identity project biographical footprint search.

(122006)

269
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes were made at Pentonville Prison to increase the certified normal accommodation capacity by 116 places.

(122012)

270
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of (a) contracts entered into with consultants and (b) fees paid to consultants by the Identity and Passport Service in the last two years were on the basis of (i) fixed fee, (ii) fixed fee plus bonus and (iii) daily rates.

(122013)

271
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police forces conduct exit interviews for police officers leaving the force (a) at retirement and (b) before retirement.

(122014)

272
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any form of staff satisfaction survey is carried out for serving police officers.

(122015)

273
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Identity and Passport Service's marketing plan for the Passport Validation Service.

(122016)

274
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) met its target to roll out the facial recognition system to all IPS regional fraud intelligence units by the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement.

(122017)

275
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Personal Identity Process (PIP) biographic footprint checks are carried out by all passport application offices; and when the PIP was first used at each office.

(122018)

276
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the first interviews to be held under the Identity and Passport Service's proposed Authentication by Interview scheme.

(122019)

277
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a copy of the service level agreements of the Identity and Passport Service's Passport Validation Service.

(122020)

278
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations are (a) accredited to use the Passport Validation Service and (b) in the process of becoming accredited.

(122021)

279
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his plans to offset the costs of the National Identity Register with fee revenue include (a) fees for biometric immigration documents, (b) fees for applications for an identity card, (c) accreditation fees paid by organisations wishing to verify identities via the National Identity Register and (d) fees paid by accredited organisations to verify individual identities.

(122022)

280
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) setup and (b) running costs of the National Identity Register will not be offset by fee revenue.

(122023)

281
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an initial estimate of the charges that will be made to organisations accredited for the National Identity Register for (a) accreditation and (b) individual identity checks.

(122024)

282
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the likely annual number of identity checks that will be carried out for accredited organisations (a) once the National Identity Register is operational and (b) once entry onto the National Identity Register is compulsory.

(122025)

283
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether staff satisfaction surveys are carried out at the (a) core Home Office, (b) Immigration and Nationality Directorate and (c) National Offender Management Service.

(122026)

284
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what questions are asked in the annual Prison Service Staff Survey.

(122027)

285
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Identity and Passport Service produces fictional passports for use by the creative industries.

(122052)

286
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests were made to his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each month of the last two years; what percentage of requests were responded to within 20 working days of their receipt; how many requests were successful; how many were rejected; and how many are the subject of (a) an appeal and (b) a complaint.

(122053)

287
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents involving (a) unlocked doors and (b) stolen keys were reported at each prison in each of the last 10 years.

(122055)

288
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people subject to immigration control died in custody in each of the last 10 years.

(122056)

289
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at what age foreign nationals will be required to register for a biometric immigration document.

(122057)

290
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether information held for the purposes of a biometric immigration document will be destroyed if the individual (a) leaves the UK and (b) is granted British citizenship.

(122058)

291
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121977)

292
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times in the last 10 years he has written to members of the judiciary to remind them of sentencing guidelines.

(121882)

293
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the proportion of cases where members of the judiciary did not follow sentencing guidelines in 2006-07 to date.

(121883)

294
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in grant for Norfolk Constabulary on community policing in Norfolk.

(121884)

295
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he expects to increase the number of police community support officers to 24,000.

(121885)

296
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the grant change for Norfolk Constabulary is for financial year 2007-08.

(121886)

297
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of annual efficiency savings Norfolk constabulary is required to make.

(121887)

298
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to ensure that funding from the Victims' Fund is made available to develop restorative justice services for those victims who want to meet the offender.

(121939)

299
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of available evidence on (a) victims' willingness to participate in restorative justice processes and (b) the benefits victims feel they receive from the processes; and if he will make a statement.

(121940)

300
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have been held in accommodation provided by each police authority in England and Wales under Operation Safeguard since June 2006; how many such nights' accommodation was provided by each police authority; and what the average cost of providing accommodation was per prisoner per night in each police authority.

(121941)

301
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to widen the availability and practice of restorative justice in the adult criminal justice system.

(121987)

302
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional (a) funding and (b) other resources have been provided to the Probation Service following the recent increase of non-custodial sentences imposed by the courts.

(121775)

303
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of crime were reported to the police without a crime number being issued in (a) Gravesham and (b) Kent in each of the last three years.

(121952)

304
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers per capita population there were in Gloucestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(121989)

305
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) under 12 year olds, (b) 13 year olds, (c) 14 year olds, (d) 15 year olds, (e) 16 year olds and (f) 17 year olds who were normally resident in Gloucestershire were in young offender institutions or prisons for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(121990)

306
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) under 12 year olds, (b) 13 year olds, (c) 14 year olds, (d) 15 year olds, (e) 16 year olds and (f) 17 year olds had criminal records in Gloucestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(121991)

307
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what different types of specific grants that his Department has allocated to police authorities in Gloucestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(122039)

308
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was awarded in real terms to Gloucestershire Police Authority in specific grants for each fiscal year from 2002, broken down by type of grant; and if he will make a statement.

(122040)

309
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people entered the UK under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin; and if he will estimate the number of those workers who failed to return to their country of origin in each year.

(122078)

310
Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) Commonwealth and (b) other foreign national servicemen in the British armed forces may apply for British citizenship during their service.

(122048)

311
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121665)

312
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121666)

313
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121667)

314
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the 20 (a) local authorities and (b) basic command units with the (i) biggest and (ii) smallest (A) reductions and (B) increases in (1) burglary, (2) theft of a motor vehicle, (3) theft from a motor vehicle and (4) criminal damage since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

(121843)

315
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of crime rates in (a) high and (b) low income communities in (i) the most recent period for which figures are available and (ii) 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

(121845)

316
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences were committed by young people in each of the last 10 years.

(121865)

317
Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work permits were issued for citizens of (a) Africa, (b) Latin America, (c) South Asia and (d) East Asia in each year since 1997.

(122038)

318
Ian Lucas (Wrexham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those sentenced in criminal courts in England and Wales received immediate custodial sentences in each of the last five years for which records are available.

(122077)

319
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employees from his Department have been asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121741)

320
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Irish nationals convicted of a custodial sentence in England and Wales have (a) applied for, (b) been granted and (c) successfully completed relocation to Ireland as a result of arrangements under (i) the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Convention, (ii) the early release scheme, (iii) the facilitated removal scheme and (iv) other arrangements in the last 10 months.

(121868)

321
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Irish nationals have been transferred at the completion of a custodial sentence from a prison to an immigration removal facility in the last 10 months.

(121869)

322
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) target and (b) average time taken was in the past 12 months for consideration of an application for revocation of a Deportation Order under Immigation and Nationality Department Rule 390.

(121870)

323
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Irish nationals have (a) applied for and (b) been granted revocation of a Deportation Order under Immigration and Nationality Department Rule 390 in each of the last five years; and how many (i) applications and (ii) revocations were made in total under this order in each year.

(121871)

324
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been (a) arrested, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted of offences relating to the breach of a deportation order in each of the last 12 months, broken down by country of origin.

(121936)

325
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been (a) arrested, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted of offences relating to the breach of an exclusion order issued as a consequence of the facilitated release scheme for foreign national prisoners in each of the last 12 months, broken down by country of origin.

(121937)

326
Stephen Pound (Ealing North):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what sanctions are available upon conviction for breach of (a) a deportation order and (b) an exclusion order.

(121938)

327
Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methodology is used to estimate the number of residents from accession states who are in the UK.

(121964)

328
Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding was provided by his Department to Migrant Helpline in the last year.

(121966)

329
Mr John Spellar (Warley):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5th February 2007, Official Report, column 695W, on asylum seekers, how many asylum seekers will be dispersed and to which boroughs.

(121967)

330
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121717)

331
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) prisons, (b) young offenders' institutions and (c) other custodial units in the UK are run by private companies; how much was paid from public funds to each such company in each year since they took on the management of these institutions; what the staff turnover rate was in each such institution in each of the last five years; and what proportion of staff in such institutions had more than five years continuous service at the same facility as of 1st January 2007.

(121769)

332
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many assaults there were against (a) staff and (b) other inmates by prisoners in each privately-run custodial institution.

(121770)

333
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of staff in privately-run custodial institutions are from ethnic minority backgrounds, broken down by grade.

(121771)

334
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what skills are required of prison officers to deal with medical emergencies.

(121794)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

335
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121976)

336
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the International Convention for the Protection of All People from Enforced Disappearance.

(121927)

337
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the International Convention for the Protection of All People from Enforced Disappearance.

(121928)

338
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much private investment capital (a) Actis and (b) Aureos have attracted for private sector business in developing countries in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006 as a result of their own activities in those developing countries.

(121929)

339
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) salaries and (b) bonuses were of each member of the Board of Directors of the CDC Group plc in each of the last seven years; and what the (i) salaries and (ii) bonuses of each of the managing partners of Actis was in each year since 2004.

(121930)

340
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether there are requirements for the CDC Group companies (a) to give preference to investments in renewable energy supplies and (b) to consider the carbon footprint of any investment.

(121931)

341
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any investments have been made by Globeleq in renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

(121932)

342
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 30th January 2007, Official Report, columns 164-6W, on Development Aid; if he will break down by main budget heading the figure of -£11,884,000 listed for the CDC Group in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(121933)

343
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121698)

344
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121699)

345
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121700)

346
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many employees from his Department have been asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121735)

347
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121729)

Questions to the Leader of the House

348
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Leader of the House, how many employees from (a) his Office and (b) the Privy Council Office have been asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121742)

349
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Leader of the House, what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) his Office and (b) the Privy Council Office of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121730)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

350
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what provision is made by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for (a) counselling for and (b) treatment of post-abortion trauma; and if he will make a statement.

(122044)

351
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whom the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety consulted on the physical and psychological sequelae of abortion before drawing up the guidelines on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland; what research was evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

(122045)

352
Mr David Amess (Southend West):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he expects the guidelines on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland to be adopted; and if he will make a statement.

(122046)

353
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121975)

354
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 5th February 2007, on on the runs, what measures the Government is considering to deal with on the runs other than further legislation or an amnesty.

(121773)

355
Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Assets Recovery Agency on its merger with the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

(121774)

356
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many complaints were received by the Department, executive agencies and departments in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 to date.

(121695)

357
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121696)

358
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department, its executive agencies and departments in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121697)

359
Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria were used to locate the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service in the North Eastern Education and Library Board.

(122091)

360
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121731)

Questions to the Prime Minister

361
Mr Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Prime Minister, whether the 2005 annual reports of (a) the Interception of Communications Commissioner and (b) the Intelligence Service Commissioners have been submitted to him; and on what date he received them.

(122054)

362
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Prime Minister, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Office's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121974)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

363
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121973)

364
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many complaints were received by his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many were received in 2006-07 to date.

(121713)

365
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121714)

366
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in in 2006-07 to date.

(121715)

367
Anne Main (St Albans):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the use of carbon capture and storage technology in Scotland.

(121756)

368
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121733)

Questions to the Solicitor General

369
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Solicitor General, which cases were considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions in each of the last three years.

(122079)

370
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Solicitor General, how he interprets his superintendency role in relation to the Director of the Serious Fraud Office; and whether relevant written protocols are in place.

(121818)

371
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance he has given to the Serious Fraud Office (a) orally and (b) writing on the conduct of bribery investigations.

(121819)

372
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Solicitor General, what account the Serious Fraud Office takes of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery in conducting relevant investigations.

(121820)

373
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Solicitor General, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121728)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

374
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 26th January 2007, Official Report, column 2067W, on post offices, how many stakeholder groups have been sent copies of the Post Office network consultation documents; and how many consultation responses his Department has received from each region.

(121954)

375
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when his Department will (a) complete its analysis of responses to the Post Office network consultation and (b) publish its response to the consultation.

(121955)

376
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) feasibility and (b) merits of maintaining British building codes after European codes have been integrated into Building Regulations in 2008.

(121893)

377
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by what Parliamentary mechanism European Union codes for steel specifications will be introduced in the UK.

(121894)

378
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121971)

379
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what areas of the South West Norfolk constituency are considered to be (a) urban, (b) rural and (c) remote under the access criteria for the post office network.

(121888)

380
Mr Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 1st February 2007, Official Report, columns 473-4W, on post offices, what definition his Department uses of the term settlement.

(121889)

381
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of compliance with the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment regulations for small to medium-sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

(121992)

382
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultations have taken place on the implementation of the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment regulations; what the (a) dates, (b) purpose and (c) cost was of each of these consultations; and if he will make a statement.

(121993)

383
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps have been taken to ensure that consumers are aware of how to dispose of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) under the provisions of the WEEE regulations.

(121994)

384
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the ways in which the consumer will be able to dispose of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) under the WEEE regulations coming into force this year; and if he will make a statement.

(121995)

385
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the proportion of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) collected under the WEEE directive which will be disposed of by (a) in-store take-back, (b) collection on delivery of new equipment, (c) at a local civil amenity site adapted to separate the WEEE waste stream and (d) other methods.

(121996)

386
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his estimate is of the proportion of (a) retailers and (b) manufacturers of waste electronic and electrical equipment which are aware of the provisions of the Waste Electronic and Electrical regulations that are coming into force this year, broken down by (i) small and medium-sized enterprises and (ii) large companies; and if he will make a statement.

(121997)

387
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his latest estimate is of the number of local authorities in England who are prepared to adapt their local civil amenity sites to dispose of waste electronic and electrical equipment in accordance with the requirements of the Waste Electronic and Electrical regulations by 1st July 2007.

(121998)

388
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether he expects a system for collecting and disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment which meets the targets contained within the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive to be in operation by 1st July 2007; and if he will make a statement.

(122034)

389
N Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what analysis he has undertaken of the potential impact of outsourcing of business functions abroad on (a) employment trends in the UK and (b) economic growth in the period to 2011; and if he will make a statement.

(120868)

390
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment he has made of additional government services that could be made available at post offices.

(122082)

391
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the current access standard is for post offices in (a) urban areas and (b) deprived urban areas; what proposals he has made to change these standards; for what reasons changes have been proposed; and if he will make a statement.

(122083)

392
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121671)

393
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121672)

394
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121673)

395
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the extent to which energy suppliers in the UK have passed on reductions in wholesale energy prices to their customers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(121745)

396
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has (a) to abolish utility standing charges and (b) to improve utility pricing for those on low incomes; and if he will make a statement.

(121810)

397
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures his Department has in place to allow working parents to take paid leave in order to look after their children when they are ill.

(121961)

398
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many employees from his Department have been asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121743)

399
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact of recent takeover activities of private equity organisations on trade, industry and business.

(121829)

400
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to monitor the activities of private equity companies and to assess their impact on the economy.

(121830)

401
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the merits of using concentrated solar power as an alternative energy source for the future; and if he will make a statement.

(121754)

402
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121723)

403
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to what extent energy companies use estimated readings in generating customers' bills; and if he will make a statement.

(121803)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

404
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of miles travelled by cars in the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years.

(122049)

405
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars were purchased by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each year since 1997; what the total cost was of these purchases in each year; and if he will make a statement.

(122050)

406
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many pensioners in Coventry are eligible for the free local bus travel scheme.

(121487)

407
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121970)

408
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much investment in rail infrastructure is planned by South West Trains over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years.

(122007)

409
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had on the future of the Nine Elms and Stewarts Lane viaducts near London Waterloo; and if he will make a statement.

(122008)

410
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected increase in rail passenger numbers is in (a) London, (b) South West London and (c) Richmond Park constituency over the next (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 15 years.

(122009)

411
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the building works for the Thameslink 2000 project are expected to finish.

(122010)

412
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with South West Trains on the future use of the former Eurostar platforms at London Waterloo; and if he will make a statement.

(122011)

413
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many employees from his Department were asked to retire upon reaching 65 years of age as a result of the Department's mandatory retirement policy in each year since 1997.

(121736)

414
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to encourage the early designation of railways and bus stations as non-smoking areas.

(121835)

415
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121721)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales

416
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121969)

417
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many complaints were received by his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121710)

418
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121711)

419
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

(121712)

420
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121719)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

421
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often the Joint Committee on Child Poverty involving the Government and the devolved administrations has met over the last two years; on what dates it has met; and if he will make a statement.

(120890)

422
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

(121968)

423
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the figures for people who are classed as not in employment, education or training include those who are participating in New Deal for Young People.

(122051)

424
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received housing benefit and the disability premium in each quarter since 2001.

(122065)

425
N Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners with an income of less than £115 per week; what proportion of these are (a) women, (b) age over 75, (c) age over 80 and (d) age over 85; and if he will make a statement.

(121488)

426
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

(121668)

427
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121669)

428
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how there have been in 2006-07 to date.

(121670)

429
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the costs of uprating the basic state pension on the basis of average earnings in each year from 2008-09 to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.

(121809)

430
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of each means-tested benefit administered by his Department in each year since 1990-91.

(121840)

431
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in each year since 1990-91.

(121841)

432
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what legal advice he has taken on whether the proposed changes to basic pension contributory rules from April 2010 are compatible with European Union law; and if he will make a statement.

(121848)

433
Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings Ministers have held with Child Support Agency (CSA) staff to discuss CSA redesign; and if he will place in the Library the minutes from such meetings.

(121872)

434
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people between the age of 16 and 18 years old are (a) unemployed and (b) undergoing training or work experience on a scheme sponsored by his Department.

(121837)

435
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the Child Support Agency determines child maintenance amounts for payments between parents who are subject to a Joint Residency Order with regard to the care of their child.

(122128)

436
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

(121716)

437
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disability living allowance claimants have had (a) their claims refused and (b) their entitlements reduced as a result of medical reports from (i) their GPs and (ii) other medical professionals involved in their care; and how many of these have had such decisions overturned on appeal.

(121796)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

438
Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Office of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

[Transferred] (121732)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

439
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much land was designated for industrial users in (a) 1985, (b) 1995, (c) 2005 and (d) the latest period for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (121831)

440
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to encourage a sufficient supply of industrial land for use by small and medium-sized enterprises.

[Transferred] (121832)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

441
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many tonnes of (a) raw and (b) processed meat passed into the food chain from the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk after the announcement of the outbreak of avian influenza there.

[Transferred] (122094)

442
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the origin was of the (a) raw and (b) processed meat which passed into the food chain after the announcement of the outbreak of avian influenza at the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk.

[Transferred] (122095)

443
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether any of the staff employed in the processing of meat at the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk had contact with live birds during their duties.

[Transferred] (122097)

Questions to the Solicitor General

444
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Solicitor General, what rules are in place on the use of officially-provided chauffeur-driven vehicles by senior officials of the Crown Prosecution Service.

[Transferred] (121919)

445
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance his Department provides on the use of vehicles at public expense by senior Crown Prosecution Service officials.

[Transferred] (122047)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

446
Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) televisions and (b) computer screens are estimated to be thrown away every year in the UK; and how many of these are collected at local civil amenity sites.

[Transferred] (121999)

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Revised 20 February 2007