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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 21 June 2007
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 21 June 2007
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 21 June of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Thursday 21 June of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 21 June see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 1
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy not to appoint individuals who hold non-domicile tax status as economic advisers or give them access to official papers on economic policy. | | (145030) | 2
| Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his working group has taken on the super output areas identified by the Treasury Committee as not having access to free cash machines in Newcastle East and Wallsend. | | (145071) | 3
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged 24 years of age or under were considered to be economically inactive in West Lancashire in each of the last 10 years. | | (144967) | 4
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in West Lancashire were recorded as being in full-time employment in the financial year ending (a) March 1997 and (b) March 2007; and how many were women in each case. | | (144973) | 5
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the recent enforcement actions taken by the US Inland Revenue Services against two large accountancy partnerships located both in the US and the UK have been discussed at joint meetings of the UK and US tax authorities. | | (144694) | 6
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what projections were made of non-North Sea corporation tax receipts in (a) the preceding Budget and (b) the Pre Budget report in each financial year from 2000-01 to 2006-07; and what the outturn receipts were in each year. | | (145038) | 7
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the evaluation strategy for research and development tax credits includes assessments of whether the final beneficial owner of the entity claiming the tax credits is based offshore. | | (145039) | 8
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenue was received from the available accommodation rule in the last full year before its abolition; and what estimate he has made of revenue which would have been received if the rule had applied in 2006-07. | | (145040) | 9
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will update the information contained in paragraphs 2.14 and 2.15 of the April 2003 background paper on reviewing residence and domicile rules in individual taxation for the most recent date for which the information is available. | | (145041) | 10
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5th June 2007, Official Report, column 465W, on Departments: Ministerial policy advisers, what procedures govern the use of Government resources by his special advisers as part of his leadership campaign. | | (144962) | 11
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5th June 2007, Official Report, column 465W, on Departments: Ministerial policy advisers, and the Cabinet Secretary's letter of May 2007, whether any costs of his leadership campaign have been (a) incurred and (b) reimbursed by his Department. | | (144977) | 12
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Michael Ellam has been a civil servant from 1st January 2007 to date. | | (144981) | 13
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact on the net present value of unfunded public sector pension schemes of changing the discount rate by 0.1 per cent; and if he will make a statement. | | (144693) | 14
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy to categorise tax credit overpayments due to failure to declare a partner as fraud or as error; and if he will make a statement. | | (144695) | 15
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his estimate is of the cost to date of tax credit overpayments due to failure to declare a partner. | | (144696) | 16
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit forms TC846 were issued in each month from April 2003 to June 2007. | | (144697) | 17
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the average cost of handling each tax credit overpayment appeal; and if he will make a statement. | | (144698) | 18
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit overpayment demands were overturned by (a) the Ombudsman and (b) the Adjudicator in each reporting period from 2003-04 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. | | (144699) | 19
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the guidelines given to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff for recovering overpaid tax credits; what powers HMRC staff have to make calls at the claimant's home address; and if he will make a statement. | | (144700) | 20
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls there were to the hon. Members' tax credit helpline in each month from April 2003 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144701) | 21
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls to the tax credits helpline were dealt with by private sector companies in each month from January 2003 to June 2007; how many of these were not recorded; and what steps are taken to notify claimants of this fact, where relevant, when they appeal against overpaid tax credits. | | (144702) | 22
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recovery procedure checks are in place in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which must be implemented before HMRC can take to court tax credit claimants with overpayments; and if he will make a statement. | | (144703) | 23
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit (a) maladministration and (b) consolatory payments were made in each month from April 2003 to June 2006. | | (144704) | 24
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many errors HM Revenue and Customs staff are allowed to make in dealing with a tax credit case before an overpayment is written off; and if he will make a statement. | | (144705) | 25
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what targets have been set by HM Revenue and Customs for its staff involved in dealing with tax credit overpayment appeals; and if he will make a statement. | | (144706) | 26
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a tax credit overpayment is deemed recoverable if, due to official error, a tax credit award notice records both zero income and the claimant's place of work and hours of work; and if he will make a statement. | | (144707) | 27
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the introduction of reduced rates of recovery from tax credit overpayments. | | (144708) | 28
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what backlogs there are in HM Revenue and Customs offices of unprocessed (a) tax credit claim forms and (b) declaration forms; and if he will make a statement. | | (144709) | 29
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations for reform of the tax credit system were fully implemented as at 31st May; and if he will make a statement. | | (144710) | 30
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the budgeted provision is for administering the tax credits system in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09; and if he will make a statement. | | (144711) | 31
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many interim payments of tax credits there were in each month since October 2005. | | (144738) | 32
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many additional tax credit payments were made in each month from April 2003 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144739) | 33
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to bring to the attention of tax credit claimants their potential entitlement to additional payments due to in-year restrictions on recovery. | | (144740) | 34
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action has been taken to implement a period of notice before recovery of a tax credit overpayment; what period of notice is to be given; and if he will make a statement. | | (144741) | 35
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action had been taken as at 31st May 2007 to ensure that all claimants who are asked to repay overpaid tax credits are automatically made aware of the reasons for any overpayment; and if he will make a statement. | | (144742) | 36
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, why the Government has not implemented the Parliamentary Ombudsman's third recommendation on tax credits in relation to displaying appeal rights on overpayments on the award notice; and if he will make a statement. | | (144743) | 37
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action his Department takes to notify tax credit claimants of the circumstances in which they can have recovery of overpaid tax credits waived; and if he will make a statement. | | (144744) | 38
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in using a pilot to test the possibility of the adjudicator working with HM Revenue and Customs to provide a fast track independent review for disputed tax credit overpayments; and if he will make a statement. | | (144745) | 39
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit cases were dealt with by the Group 33 tax credits team in each month from April 2003 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144746) | 40
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action is being taken as part of the Department's Transformation Programme to review the long-term operation of the tax credits system; and if he will make a statement. | | (144747) | 41
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are planned further to simplify tax credit award notices. | | (144748) | 42
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of official error in the tax credits system; and if he will make a statement. | | (144749) | 43
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the debate of 15th March 2007, Official Report, column 181WH, on tax credits, what the evidential basis was for the statement by the Paymaster General that the vast majority of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations on tax credits had been implemented; and if he will make a statement. | | (144750) | 44
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the morale of (a) tax credits staff and (b) all HM Revenue and Customs staff in (i) November 2006, (ii) May 2006, (iii) November 2005 and (iv) May 2005; what assessment he has made of trends in morale; and if he will make a statement. | | (144865) | 45
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the number of (a) disputed overpayments of tax credits and (b) disputed overpayments of tax credits written-off in each month since February 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144866) | 46
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the number of disputed tax credit payments which were written-off declined between 2005 and 2006; and if he will make a statement. | | (144867) | 47
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many letters were written by HM Revenue and Customs demanding the recovery of overpaid tax credits in each month since January 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144868) | 48
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to publish the HM Revenue and Customs 2006-07 accounts; and if he will make a statement. | | (144869) | 49
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of trends in tax credit fraud and error between (a) 2003-04 and 2004-05 and (b) 2004-05 and 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. | | (144870) | 50
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the level of software error in the tax credits system; and if he will make a statement. | | (144871) | 51
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the amount lost to tax credit fraud recovered in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (144872) | 52
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were prosecuted for tax credit fraud in each quarter since April 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (144873) | 53
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on current levels of fraud and error in tax credits. | | (144874) | 54
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many organised tax credit fraud cases the Organised Fraud Strategy Board investigated in each quarter since April 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (144875) | 55
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the percentage of tax credits paid out for 2003-04 which is accounted for by fraud, error and overpayment; and if he will make a statement. | | (144876) | 56
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his estimate is of the cost of the £2,500 tax credit income disregard for 2004-05; and if he will make a statement. | | (144877) | 57
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claims were disallowed after (a) pre-payment and (b) post-payment verification checks in each quarter from April 2003 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144878) | 58
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claims were examined by the Compliance Unit in each month since April 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (144879) | 59
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many potential organised tax credit fraud cases were identified by HM Revenue and Customs pre-payment checks in each month since May 2005; and if he will make a statement. | | (144880) | 60
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated yield was in 2006-07 from HM Revenue and Customs tax credit pre-payment checks; and if he will make a statement. | | (144881) | 61
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many suspect tax credit applications by organised fraudsters were stopped by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. | | (144882) | 62
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what change in the discount rate for public sector pension schemes was made on 31st March 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144895) | 63
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government's policy is on the choice of a discount rate for public sector pension scheme liabilities; and if he will make a statement. | | (144896) | 64
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what sample site was used for 2004-05 tax credit awards to check the level of tax credit fraud and error; and if he will make a statement. | | (144897) | 65
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department's estimates of overpaid tax credits in 2003-04 and 2004-05 include amounts paid out due to fraud and error; and if he will make a statement. | | (144898) | 66
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of tax credit overpayments which involved some element of official error in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (144901) | 67
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many computer software errors there were in the tax credits system which have potentially caused errors in payments in each reporting period from April 2003 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144902) | 68
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for which years since 1996 the Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his opinion of the Trust Statements of (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the Inland Revenue; for what reason in each case; and if he will make a statement. | | (144903) | 69
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans the tax credits e-portal to be opened again by 31st December 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (144904) | 70
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his latest estimate is of the numbers of staff working at the expense of the public purse on tax credit work in each reporting period since April 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (144906) | 71
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many post reductions there were in HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last three financial years, broken down by grade. | | (144712) | 72
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent on bonus payments made to senior civil servants in HM Revenue and Customs in 2006-07. | | (144713) | 73
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average bonus payment made to HM Revenue and Customs staff in senior grades was in the last year for which figures are available. | | (144714) | 74
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) meetings and (b) discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the lengthening of the allowable period between MOT tests. | | (145125) | 75
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144937) | 76
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144938) | 77
| Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many VAT registration applications were received in each of the last five years; what the average time taken to process such applications was in each year; what the target time is to process such applications; and how many and what proportion of applications were processed within that target time in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (144728) | 78
| Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on businesses of the time taken to approve VAT applications; what steps he intends to take to reduce this timescale; and if he will make a statement. | | (144729) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 79
| Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the total cost was of producing and publishing the policy review document Building on progress: Energy and environment. | | (144830) | 80
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment she has made of the performance of the Service Transformation Board have been. | | (145032) | 81
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what shared service initiatives have been completed within Government; and what assessment she has made of their effectiveness. | | (145068) | 82
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by her Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144933) | 83
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144934) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 84
| Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd May 2007, Official Report, column 1693W, if she will commission an independent assessment of Westminster City Council's ability to procure short-term leased temporary accommodation for homeless households within its area before making any further reductions in housing benefit subsidy in 2008-09. | | (145165) | 85
| Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will seek a report from Westminster City Council on the number of statutorily homeless households currently being placed in temporary accommodation outside its area. | | (145181) | 86
| Lorely Burt (Solihull):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what percentage of (a) parkland and (b) greenfield land has been developed on in Solihull in the last 10 years. | | (145029) | 87
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many recorded cases there were of women being housed in refuges and safe houses in West Lancashire constituency in 2006. | | (144822) | 88
N | Mr David Curry (Skipton & Ripon):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether she intends to require a single enforcing authority for fire safety in residential accommodation under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. | | (144450) | 89
N | Mr David Curry (Skipton & Ripon):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many licence applications have been received by local authorities in England under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 for mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation; and what percentage this represents of the properties subject to mandatory licensing under the Act. | | (144451) | 90
N | Mr David Curry (Skipton & Ripon):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will review the effect of paragraph 2(2), Schedule 3 of the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Housing Miscellaneous Provisions (England) Regulations 2006. | | (144452) | 91
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications from the London Borough of Bexley were (a) allowed and (b) dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last two years. | | (144817) | 92
| Mr Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account she takes of public opinion in determining suitable precautionary measures on power frequency electric and magnetic fields (EMFs); what mechanism she plans to put in place to assess public opinion on the issues raised by the recently published Stakeholder Advisory Group on Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields report on precautionary approaches to power frequency EMFs; and if she will make a statement. | | (144689) | 93
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have produced gypsy and traveller accommodation assessments deemed inadequate by her Department on grounds of (a) unreliable figures and (b) inadequate research; and if she will make a statement. | | (145019) | 94
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of housing in each London local authority was (a) units of social rented housing, (b) private rented housing and (c) owner occupier housing in (i) 1986, (ii) 1996 and (iii) 2006. | | (144924) | 95
| Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the likely population of the Cheltenham urban area referred to in the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West 2006 to 2026 (a) with and (b) without implementation of the RSS, broken down by age bands, for each year from 2006 to 2026. | | (144985) | 96
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to take into account the result of expressions of public opinion on local government reform in Somerset; and if she will make a statement. | | (144737) | 97
N | Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which EU directive requires UK homes to have an energy performance certificate; and what its implementation date is. | | (144183) | 98
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much the Planning Inspectorate spent on consultants (excluding the cost of consultant inspectors) in each of the last four years; and what such consultants were tasked to work on. | | (144717) | 99
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what problems have occurred with the Planning Inspectorate IT system Planning Casework Service since its inception. | | (144718) | 100
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether a value for money evaluation has been carried out on the IT system Planning Casework Service; and if she will make a statement. | | (144719) | 101
| John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures the Planning Inspectorate has in place to achieve value for money in the procurement of external consultants undertaken by the agency's Procurement Unit. | | (144720) | 102
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) local authority and (b) registered social landlord properties sublet to private renters. | | (145034) | 103
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken by her Department to reply to hon. Members' correspondence was in each of the last three years. | | (145064) | 104
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Work and Pensions on the Hills report; and if she will make a statement. | | (145066) | 105
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local councils have brought into use empty private sector properties under the Housing Act 2004. | | (145067) | 106
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to regularise the definition of empty homes for the purposes of comparative council performance in respect of the Housing Act 2004. | | (145069) | 107
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6th February 2007, Official Report, column 780W, on departmental travel, how many foreign trips have been taken by officials from her Department since 1st April 2007; and to which locations and for what purpose in each case. | | (145116) | 108
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for introducing the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant; and what the criteria are for determining the level of funding to individual local authorities. | | (145129) | 109
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many homes with four or more bedrooms were sold in England in the last 12 months. | | (145131) | 110
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of domestic dwellings in England have four or more bedrooms. | | (145134) | 111
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding the Government has provided to the Association of Home Information Providers. | | (145136) | 112
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for the (a) approval, (b) amendment and (c) ratification of each of the regional spatial strategies. | | (145137) | 113
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what her timetable is for the (a) consulation and (b) legislation on reform of the planning system, following the publication of the Planning White Paper. | | (145138) | 114
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effect on the take-up rate of the Social Homebuy scheme of tenants purchasing an equity stake assuming financial responsibility for all maintenance costs. | | (145139) | 115
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what liability a tenant has for freehold-related maintenance costs if they purchase an equity stake in a leasehold property under the Social Homebuy scheme. | | (145149) | 116
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether she will have the power to remove planning commissioners on the proposed Infrastructure Planning Commission from their post before the end of their term of office for reasons other than misconduct. | | (145151) | 117
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed Infrastructure Planning Commission will have the remit to consider planning applications for (a) large-scale housing developments, (b) incinerators, (c) sewage plants, (d) wind farm sites and (e) landfill sites. | | (145153) | 118
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) was published after PPS3 came into effect. | | (145155) | 119
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which organisations have a function of inspecting local authorities. | | (145158) | 120
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the take-up rate was for small business rate relief in each year since its introduction. | | (145159) | 121
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will reconsider the inclusion of Clause 39 in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill following the combined 2007 Scottish Parliamentary and Scottish local elections; and if she will make a statement. | | (145160) | 122
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will make a statement on (a) the timetable and (b) progress achieved on reducing the number of central Government targets for local authorities to 200. | | (145161) | 123
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what (a) financial and (b) other incentives (i) Open Market Homebuy agents, (ii) New Build Homebuy agents and (iii) Social Homebuy agents received from selling an equity stake; and whether the level of the incentives varies according to the size of the equity stake purchased by the householder. | | (145162) | 124
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if her Department will hold a consultation on its plans to revise the home information pack regulations. | | (145163) | 125
| Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the level of home ownership was in England in each year since 1996-97. | | (145169) | 126
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by her Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144939) | 127
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144940) | 128
N | Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of implications for Government policy of the High Court judgment on the application of Shrewsbury and Atcham District Council for judicial review in relation to local government re-organisation; and if she will make a statement. | | (144599) | 129
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will take into account local polls of public opinion on local government reorganisation when selecting the unitary bids she will be taking forward; and if she will make a statement. | | (145101) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 130
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations her Department has received about continued funding for UK Deaf Sport; and if she will make a statement. | | (144974) | 131
| Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department (a) has given to UK Deaf Sport for the year 2007-08 and (b) gave for each of the last three years. | | (144975) | 132
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the cost of delivering the Transport Strategy of the Olympic Delivery Authority; in what years it will be incurred; and what estimate she has made of the expenditure in each (a) region and (b) county. | | (145037) | 133
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many energy saving light bulbs were purchased by her Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144943) | 134
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144944) | 135
| Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on live entertainment in public houses, with particular reference to the removal of the two in a bar exemption. | | (144691) | 136
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost was of the Budd Report on gambling. | | (144722) | 137
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what total costs were associated with the White Paper, A Safe Bet for Success - Modernising Britain's Gambling Laws. | | (144723) | 138
| Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total expenditure was of the Casino Advisory Panel. | | (144724) | 139
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria she uses to decide which Olympic governing bodies of sport receive funding from her Department. | | (144596) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 140
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 18th June 2007, Official Report, columns 1068-9, on Iraq, on what date it was decided that troops in theatre in Iraq would not face a threat from weapons of mass destruction other than from pre-1991 stocks, chlorine bombs or similar items held by insurgents. | | (144355) | 141
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what methods have been used to decontaminate or dispose of protective clothing used by British military personnel who investigated the remains of Iraqi tanks or other military vehicles disabled by depleted uranium weapons used in the invasion of Iraq. | | (144357) | 142
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what use is made of radio frequency identifiers by the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. | | (145060) | 143
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he has received on recent conflict in the Myanishen district of Kandahar province; whether the Taleban is in control of this district; and if he will make a statement. | | (145100) | 144
| Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) logistical and (b) other support his Department provides to BAE Systems for its involvement with US industrial partners in the development of missile defence technology. | | (145026) | 145
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what transport mechanisms he expects employees to travel to and from his Department's sites in Corsham; what account he has taken of the environmental impacts of that travel; and if he will make a statement. | | (144734) | 146
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144935) | 147
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144936) | 148
N | Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the new in-service date set for the Joint Strike Fighter has had any effect on the plan B for the aircraft to be provided for the new aircraft carriers. | | (144383) | 149
| Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was received from the sale of North Site in Malvern, Worcestershire. | | (144996) | 150
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress of the Panther programme. | | (144730) | 151
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned expenditure is on the Panther programme. | | (144731) | 152
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timescale is for the A400M programme. | | (144732) | 153
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is tasked with maritime counter-terrorist duties. | | (145055) | 154
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the establishment of the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is. | | (145056) | 155
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether all units of Royal Marines serving on Royal Navy frigates belong to the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines. | | (145057) | 156
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what specialist training Royal Marines serving with the Fleet Protection Group receive in (a) boarding, (b) counter-insurgency operations and (c) site protection. | | (145058) | 157
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the chain of command is for personnel of a boarding party deployed from a Royal Navy ship. | | (145059) | 158
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) development and (b) procurement programmes are being funded by his Department for the securing of effective armour for UK armed forces land vehicles. | | (145070) | 159
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average total operating cost per hour is of the Tornado aircraft. | | (145102) | 160
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the resilience of the Mastiff vehicle for service in Afghanistan. | | (145103) | 161
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the rate by which (a) vehicles, (b) helicopters and (c) fixed-wing aircraft in service in Iraq and Afghanistan are not lasting for their expected life-span. | | (145104) | 162
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the future utility vehicles forming part of the Future Rapid Effect System are (a) expected to be air-transportable in one future A400M Aircraft and (b) within the whole airlift capability for a single operation. | | (145105) | 163
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the role and function of the future utility vehicle will be as part of the Future Rapid Effect System. | | (145106) | 164
| Ann Winterton (Congleton):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the University Officer Training Corps have on leaving university signed up as (a) regulars and (b) territorials and have then served on a tour of operation in each of the last four years for which figures are available. | | (145107) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 165
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he expects to receive a ministerial severance payment when he leaves office. | | (145012) | 166
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the cost to the public purse was of his recent trip to the West Indies. | | (145099) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 167
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the numbers of (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools who have installed Wi-Fi technology; what his policy is on the use of such equipment; and what research he has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on the potential effects on the health of school children arising from the installation of this technology. | | (145062) | 168
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils were entered for each (a) GCSE and (b) GNVQ subject in each academy in each of the last two years; and what grades were achieved in each category. | | (141946) | 169
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average education funding was per pupil in West Lancashire in each year since 1997, broken down by age group. | | (144818) | 170
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the level of funding was per pupil in West Lancashire constituency in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144819) | 171
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many students from West Lancashire were allocated a university place in each year since 1997. | | (144820) | 172
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many 16 to 18 year olds in West Lancashire (a) started an apprenticeship, (b) completed an apprenticeship and (c) found employment in the field of their apprenticeship in each of the last three years. | | (144821) | 173
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many nursery school places were available in West Lancashire in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2006-07. | | (144825) | 174
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many part-time students registered for higher education courses at (a) Newcastle College, (b) Northumbria University and (c) Newcastle University in each year from 1997 to 2005. | | (145036) | 175
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many workers in Coventry have received additional training under the Engineering Workforce Development scheme. | | (144026) | 176
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 5th June 2007, Official Report, column 365W, on the Every Child Counts initiative, what contents and methods will be used in the (a) Making Good Progress pilot and (b) more intensive initiative. | | (144958) | 177
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 5th June 2007, Official Report, column 365W, on the Every Child Counts initiative, how his Department will determine whether a child has fallen behind in English and mathematics and is therefore eligible for one-to-one tuition. | | (144959) | 178
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 4th June 2007, Official Report, column 117W, on Departments: Delivery Unit, what the findings were of the joint review of Building Schools for the Future. | | (144978) | 179
N | Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will discuss future allocations of funding in respect of the English as an Additional Language Excellence Programme with Peterborough City Council; and if he will make a statement. | | (144347) | 180
| Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of (a) women and (b) men received (i) first class, (ii) upper second class and (iii) lower second class degrees from (A) all UK universities, (B) Russell Group universities and (C) Oxbridge in each of the last five years, broken down by number of UCAS points on university entry. | | (144891) | 181
| Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many and what percentage of (a) women and (b) men did not complete their degree in each of the last five years, broken down by the number of UCAS points on university entry. | | (144907) | 182
N | Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what mechanisms his Department has in place to ensure that (a) local authorities and (b) children's trusts ensure that calls to report child protection concerns are referred on to the appropriate agency with the appropriate level of urgency. | | (144384) | 183
N | Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what statutory time limits are in place within which an (a) local authority and (b) children's trust must respond to a call reporting child protection concerns from (i) a member of the public, (ii) schools, (iii) the police and (iv) other local authority child protection agencies. | | (144385) | 184
N | Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what measures are in place to ensure that local authorities record the number of calls to children's services to report child protection concerns. | | (144387) | 185
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received on implementing the Code of Practice for Nursery Education in pilot areas; and if he will make a statement. | | (144893) | 186
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects the Code of Practice for Nursery Education to be fully applied (a) in pilot areas and (b) across England. | | (144894) | 187
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 5th March 2007, Official Report, column 1702, on curriculum: expenditure, whether the £3 billion allocated to the delivery of free nursery education for three and four year olds is additional to the £3 billion allocated to local authorities through the General Sure Start Grant; and what the timetable is for the allocation of such funding. | | (144991) | 188
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd February 2007, Official Report, column 983, on nursery services, whether the further £3 billion per year allocated by his Department to children's centres has been transferred to local authorities; on what basis it is distributed to individual authorities; what mechanisms are in place to analyse the spending of this funding; and for what period this annual spending has been committed. | | (144992) | 189
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144929) | 190
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144930) | 191
| Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many secondary schools in England teach non-European modern languages to (a) GCSE and (b) A-level standard. | | (144692) | 192
N | Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many companies have signed a skills pledge; how many employees these companies employ; how many employees these companies expect to participate in the Skills Pledge's aim of obtaining a first Level 2 qualification; and what proportion of these companies and employees are in the (a) public and (b) voluntary sector. | | (144597) | 193
N | Mr David Willetts (Havant):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of private sector companies which have signed the Skills Pledge work with Government agencies in a contractual relationship; and how many employees these companies have. | | (144598) | 194
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will take action to assist nurseries and childcare organisations which no longer receive funding from the National Nursery Initiative and are ineligible to become children's centres; and if he will make a statement. | | (145018) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 195
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the wider use of Wi-Fi technology on bee populations. | | (145061) | 196
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he next plans to meet representatives of the Independent Scientific Group on bovine tuberculosis to discuss its recent report. | | (144888) | 197
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to ask Professor Godfray to carry out an evaluation of the recent Independent Scientific Group report on bovine tuberculosis. | | (144889) | 198
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the rules on pet bird imports have been relaxed, with particular reference to (a) the removal of the need for individual licences and (b) compulsory quarantine periods. | | (144890) | 199
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what marine protected areas are in place; what percentage of the UK coastal and offshore waters they cover; what plans he has for the designation of further such areas; and if he will make a statement. | | (144852) | 200
N | Anne Moffat (East Lothian):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of securing a majority in the International Whaling Commission for a complete ban on commercial whaling. | | (144140) | 201
N | Anne Moffat (East Lothian):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures to protect whales were agreed at the recent International Whaling Commission meeting. | | (144141) | 202
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many energy saving light bulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144945) | 203
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights were. | | (144946) | 204
N | John Robertson (Glasgow North West):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State of Trade and Industry on the development in the UK of technology for carbon capture and storage. | | (144188) | 205
N | Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measurements were taken of the amount of packaging waste produced by each of the signatories to the Courtauld Commitment when the Commitment was signed in July 2005. | | (144353) | 206
N | Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measurements will be used to assess reductions in packaging waste in relation to the Courtauld Commitment. | | (144354) | 207
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farms went out of business in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these farms were located in Cheshire. | | (145110) | 208
| Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will meet industry representatives to discuss smart metering and the Energy White Paper. | | (144751) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 209
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports she has received on the implications for the Tibetan people of the opening of the railway to Lhasa. | | (145033) | 210
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps she is taking to press for journalists' free access to Tibet during the 2008 Olympic Games. | | (145047) | 211
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports she has received (a) on the likelihood of Fiji holding elections by March 2009 and (b) the restoration of democracy in Fiji. | | (145094) | 212
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions she has had with President Umaru Yar'Adua on the taking of hostages in the Niger Delta; and what recent advice her Department has issued for Britons working in the oil industry in the Niger Delta. | | (145096) | 213
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when she expects International Atomic Energy Agency monitors (a) to arrive in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and (b) to begin inspection of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor; and what recent discussions she has held with (i) the United States, (ii) South Korea, (iii) China, (iv) Russia and (v) Japan on methods of applying pressure to the DPRK regime to ensure the Yongbyon nuclear reactor is closed. | | (145097) | 214
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports she has received on meetings held in South Africa between Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change. | | (145121) | 215
| Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) financial, (b) diplomatic, (c) military and (d) humanitarian support the Government gave the elected Palestinian Hamas-led government in the last six months; and if she will make a statement. | | (145013) | 216
| Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) financial, (b) diplomatic, (c) military and (d) humanitarian support the Government is providing to the Palestinian Fatah movement; and if she will make a statement. | | (145016) | 217
| Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the (a) United Nations, (b) European Union and (c) Arab League on the current situation in the Palestinian occupied territories; and if she will make a statement. | | (145017) | 218
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Egypt. | | (144024) | 219
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports she has received on recent progress of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. | | (144025) | 220
| Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contingency plans she has to evacuate British nationals from Uganda should the situation in the country deteriorate (a) before and (b) during the Commonwealth meeting; and if she will make a statement. | | (145168) | 221
| Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the (a) terms of reference and (b) expected timescale are for the British High Commission's investigation in India into possible abuses of the work permit system; and what plans she has to make the investigation report available to hon. Members. | | (145031) | 222
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when she expects to write to the hon. Member for Thurrock about the visit to the UK by children from Palestine hosted by the charity Bethlehem Link; and if she will make a statement. | | (144643) | 223
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultation she conducted with foreign language (a) teaching and (b) using staff in (i) her and (ii) other departments on the decision to outsource her Department's language-teaching operation. | | (140408) | 224
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what account was taken of potential cost-savings within the existing system for foreign language-teaching before the decision was made to out-source the operation. | | (140409) | 225
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what account was taken of the proportion of existing language teaching services that is outsourced in the decision to outsource the whole of the language-teaching function. | | (140498) | 226
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what account was taken of the cost-saving changes and recommendations implemented following the language training review in the decision to outsource her Department's language teaching operation. | | (140624) | 227
N | Rob Marris (Wolverhampton South West):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what cost-benefit analysis was undertaken of in-house specialised high-level language teaching in relation to (a) her Department and (b) other Government departments before the decision was made to out-source the operation. | | (140625) | 228
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15th June 2007, Official Report, column 1377W, on Project Al Yamamah, whether she has discussed the issue with her US counterpart; and if she will make a statement. | | (145111) | 229
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the activities of the Russian authorities towards the work of the British Council in Russia; and if she will make a statement. | | (145112) | 230
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether she has raised the treatment of the British Council in Russia with her Russian counterpart; and if she will make a statement. | | (145113) | 231
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the progress towards the conclusion of a new Cultural Centres Agreement with Russia; and if she will make a statement. | | (145114) | 232
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions she has had with her European Union counterparts on the (a) treatment of the British Council in Russia and (b) progress towards the conclusion of a new Cultural Centres Agreement; what the outcome was of those discussions; and if she will make a statement. | | (145115) | 233
| Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports she has received on why the Ledra Street checkpoint in Nicosia has not yet been opened. | | (144805) | 234
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the main achievements of the UK diplomatic presence in North Korea over the last 12 months. | | (144997) | 235
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by her Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144927) | 236
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144928) | 237
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the dissolution of the Palestinian unity government and the formation of a new government on plans for Palestinian security sector transformation; and if she will make a statement. | | (144358) | 238
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports she has received on the operations of the (a) EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories and (b) EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah crossing point in light of recent events in Gaza; and if she will make a statement. | | (144359) | 239
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the UK Government has made of the (a) size and (b) military capability of the (i) Hamas Executive Force and (ii) Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza; and if she will make a statement. | | (144362) | 240
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will list the invitees to the forthcoming conference at Wilton Park entitled Human Trafficking: how best to stem the flow; and what the cost of the conference is to each attendee. | | (144053) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 241
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will instigate an official inquiry into the potential effects on health of the roll-out of Wi-Fi technology. | | (145063) | 242
| James Brokenshire (Hornchurch):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to continue the carers' grant after April 2008. | | (145095) | 243
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many knife wound injuries were treated in hospitals in West Lancashire in each year since 1997. | | (144824) | 244
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners per head of population there were in West Lancashire in each year since 1997. | | (144969) | 245
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) financial and (b) other support her Department provides to charities involved in stroke research; and if she will make a statement. | | (145042) | 246
| Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she expects the National Stroke Strategy to be published. | | (145043) | 247
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what controls she plans to put in place to ensure that patient records entered on the electronic care record database are not misused by researchers using the secondary users service. | | (144982) | 248
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations she has received from GPs on plans to create an electronic care record for patients; and what assessment she has made of the implications for patient confidentiality of such a scheme. | | (144983) | 249
| Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Assembly Government Health Minister on (a) plans to create an electronic care record for patients, (b) confidentiality matters arising from the proposed system and (c) the cost of implementation of the Choose and Book electronic referral system for GPs. | | (144984) | 250
| David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Afghan nationals have been given treatment in Selly Oak Hospital for (a) gunshot wounds and (b) wounds caused by grenade fragments in each of the last five years. | | (145046) | 251
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which companies are engaged by the Meat Hygiene Service to provide contract (a) veterinary and (b) meat inspection services. | | (144860) | 252
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what hourly charges the Meat Hygiene Service pays to each contract agency in respect of (a) contract veterinarians and (b) contract meat inspectors. | | (144861) | 253
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) contract veterinarians and (b) contract meat inspectors are employed by the Meat Hygiene Service. | | (144862) | 254
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what checks the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) carries out to determine the technical competence of contract veterinarians and contract meat inspectors; and what actions have been taken by the MHS in circumstances where such contractors have not met that level of technical competence. | | (144863) | 255
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was to the Meat Hygiene Service of hiring contract veterinarians and contract meat inspectors in each of the last three years. | | (144864) | 256
| Mr Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice the Government has sought from the Health Protection Agency in relation to the Stakeholder Advisory Group on Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) report; and how the Government's decision-making process on precautionary measures to prevent public exposure to EMFs will take account of this report. | | (144690) | 257
| Mr Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will place in the Library a copy of the recent report from the Stakeholder Advisory Group on Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields. | | (144721) | 258
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 4th June 2007, Official Report, column 284W, on Departments: Delivery Unit, what the findings were of the review of the overall NHS reform programme. | | (144961) | 259
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what administrative mechanisms her Department used to plan the Medical Training Application Service. | | (144979) | 260
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what her Department's practice is on consulting other Government departments before deciding on the closure of (a) accident and emergency departments and (b) maternity units; and which other departments are consulted in each case. | | (144980) | 261
| Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans she has to establish a confidential inquiry into mortality of people with learning difficulties. | | (144811) | 262
| Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis comparisons can be made between the number of NHS patients registered at a dental practice and units of dental activity to assess levels of dental provision before and after the introduction of the new General Dental Services contract. | | (144844) | 263
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make a statement on the formation of the new Human Tissue Authority. | | (144716) | 264
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will require the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to discuss the identification of products made from organic ingredients with representatives of the manufacturers of herbal remedies marketed under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and if she will make a statement. | | (144790) | 265
| Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to Question 138605, whether National Health Service organisations using 09 or 087 numbers established before April 2005 are still able to use them. | | (144976) | 266
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she will answer Question 134104, tabled by the hon. Member for Yeovil on 24th April 2007, on the Medical Training Application Service. | | (144923) | 267
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many energy saving light bulbs were purchased by her Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144806) | 268
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights were. | | (144807) | 269
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis the allocations of funding for children's orthodontic services for Hartlepool for 2006-07 and 2007-08 were made; if she will take action to improve children's orthodontic services in Hartlepool; and if she will make a statement. | | (145044) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 270
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on the regulation of the use of radio frequency identifiers; and to what use information derived from these is put. | | (145015) | 271
N | Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drink driving tests were carried out by each police force in 2005. | | (144386) | 272
N | Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & Penistone):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will initiate an inquiry into the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the 24 building workers in 1972, known as the Shrewsbury 24, and the subsequent treatment they have received whilst serving their jail sentences; and if he will place copies of the documents held by his Department relating to the case in the Library. | | (143701) | 273
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of (a) identity and (b) online fraud were recorded in West Lancashire in each of the last five years. | | (144812) | 274
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of domestic violence were recorded in West Lancashire in each of the last five years. | | (144813) | 275
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) injured and (b) killed as a result of knife crime offences in West Lancashire in each year since 1997. | | (144823) | 276
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crime scene investigators are in post in each police force in West Lancashire; and what percentage of those are civilian. | | (144957) | 277
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drink-driving tests were carried out in West Lancashire in 2004. | | (144970) | 278
N | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to tackle illegal rave activity. | | (144023) | 279
| David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Afghan asylum seekers cited membership of the Taliban as grounds for (a) claiming asylum and (b) it being unsafe for them to return to Afghanistan in each of the last five years. | | (145053) | 280
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) driver and (b) vehicle information held on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Automated Number Plate Recognition database that is inaccurate. | | (144796) | 281
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of crimes involving number plate fraud in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (144797) | 282
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the level of number plate theft in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (144798) | 283
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of drivers falsely accused of motoring offences because of the fraudulent cloning of number plates in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (144799) | 284
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of drivers falsely accused of motoring offences due to inaccuracies in the automated number plate recognition database in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (144800) | 285
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of motoring offences that the police have been unable to pursue due to inaccuracies in the automated number plate recognition database. | | (144801) | 286
| Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances correspondence between hon. and right hon. Members and detainees is opened by staff in immigration removal centres before it reaches recipients; and if he will make a statement. | | (144733) | 287
| Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what resources were drawn from the Criminal Casework Team in the former Immigration and Nationality Directorate to improve the speed of responses to Ministers' letters from hon. Members as stated on page 2 of A Review of the Failure of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to consider some Foreign National Prisoners for Deportation. | | (144735) | 288
| Damian Green (Ashford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national prisoners were removed from the United Kingdom by administrative removal in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (144736) | 289
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons women in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre may be denied (a) access to their mobile telephones and (b) access to satellite news broadcasts. | | (144839) | 290
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons women detainees at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre may be (a) handcuffed and (b) given medication when being taken to UK airports. | | (144840) | 291
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what basis the (a) prices and (b) level of profit at the shops at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre are arrived at. | | (144841) | 292
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what access to medical care is available to detainees at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre. | | (144842) | 293
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints about (a) the food served and (b) those serving it were made at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre in each of the last three years; and what action has been taken as a result. | | (144843) | 294
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the daily allowance is to detainees of Yarl's Wood Detention Centre; and on what basis it may be denied. | | (144845) | 295
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how money which has been sent to detainees at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre is (a) secured and (b) accounted for; and how many complaints were made about missing amounts in each of the last three years. | | (144846) | 296
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employees at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre were disciplined in each of the last three years; for what offences; what action resulted in each case; and if he will make a statement. | | (144847) | 297
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what privacy is accorded to women detainees in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, with particular reference to male guards (a) entering rooms without warning and (b) searching rooms. | | (144848) | 298
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of (a) sexual and (b) racial intimidation have been registered by inmates of Yarl's Wood Detention Centre in the last 12 months; and what the result has been of investigations into such complaints. | | (144849) | 299
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) women and (b) children have been detained in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre for (i) up to six months, (ii) between six and 12 months, (iii) between 12 to 18 months and (iv) longer than 18 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (144850) | 300
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours in each day women in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre are confined to their rooms; and in what circumstances this figure may be varied. | | (144851) | 301
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of detainees at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre in terms of (a) access to medical records, (b) curtailment of effective visiting time, (c) quality of food and service of food, (d) choice in the provision of sanitary products, (e) treatment of visitors, (f) availability of telephone and fax services, (g) access to advice and information and (h) availability of stationery and postage stamps; and if he will make a statement. | | (145164) | 302
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date he became aware that individuals subject to control orders cannot have their fingerprints and DNA taken by the police. | | (144963) | 303
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been recovered by the (a) Assets Recovery Agency and (b) Proceeds of Crime Department of the Serious Organised Crime Agency relating to crime in the South Wales Police Authority area in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. | | (144884) | 304
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he plans to take to prevent registered sex offenders using social networking sites to access or groom children. | | (145035) | 305
| Margaret Moran (Luton South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of cautions in domestic violence cases usually defined by prosecutors as common assault. | | (145065) | 306
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of (a) 11th June 2007, Official Report, column 503 and (b) 6th June 2007, Official Report, column 618W, on the police: road traffic control, how many dedicated traffic police officers there are in England and Wales. | | (145098) | 307
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many energy saving light bulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144941) | 308
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights were. | | (144942) | Questions to the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 309
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many car parking spaces there are on the Commons part of the Parliamentary Estate (a) in the underground car park and (b) elsewhere. | | (144356) | 310
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the House of Commons Commission will adopt a policy of carbon neutrality; and if he will make a statement. | | (145048) | 311
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the Works of Art Committee acquisition budget is for 2007-08. | | (145049) | 312
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the total (a) volume and (b) value of flowers purchased by the House was in each year since 2001. | | (145050) | 313
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what (a) type and (b) country of origin of the flowers purchased by the House for use in (i) banqueting facilities and (ii) other areas of the Commons Parliamentary Estate was in the last calendar year for which figures are available. | | (145051) | 314
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, on what date the Commission last discussed implementation of the forthcoming ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces on the Parliamentary Estate; and if he will make a statement. | | (145052) | 315
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much it has cost to commission the Russell Partnership to conduct a survey into catering services in the House. | | (144925) | 316
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans are being made to repair the lifts in 1 Parliament Street; and how often all of these lifts have been working simultaneously over the last two years. | | (144995) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 317
N | John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his Department has provided to health systems in each of the last five years in (a) Mozambique and (b) China; and what the (i) objectives, (ii) timescales and (iii) funding were of such programmes. | | (144348) | 318
N | John Barrett (Edinburgh West):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will take steps to facilitate the provision of healthcare free at the point of access in (a) Mozambique and (b) China. | | (144349) | 319
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many energy saving light bulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144947) | 320
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost was of such flights. | | (144948) | 321
| Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the creation of one UN teams in the developing world. | | (144725) | 322
| Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the supply of fake or ineffective drugs in the developing world. | | (144726) | 323
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what changes are planned to the operation of the Temporary International Mechanism for the delivery of aid to the Palestinian people following recent events in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. | | (144360) | 324
N | Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the restored EU funding to the Palestinian Authority will be directed to (a) the West Bank and (b) Gaza; and if he will make a statement. | | (144361) | Questions to the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice 325
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many convictions there were in each police authority in West Lancashire for the offence of drink driving in each year since 2001; and how many resulted in (a) a prison sentence, (b) mandatory disqualification from driving and (c) the maximum fine. | | (144814) | 326
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many children's panel solicitors are registered in West Lancashire; and how many were so registered in each of the last five years. | | (144815) | 327
N | Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, what discussions her Department has had with the Prison Service on the possibility of easing prison overcrowding by transferring prisoners serving sentences in closed prisons to (a) open prisons and (b) Ford Open Prison. | | (144590) | 328
N | Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, what plans there are to relieve overcrowding in closed prisons by transferring prisoners to (a) open prisons and (b) Ford Open Prison. | | (144591) | 329
N | Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many cells at police stations in Sussex are being used as part of Operation Safeguard. | | (144592) | 330
N | Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, what the cost has been of the use of cells at police stations in Sussex of Operation Safeguard. | | (144593) | 331
N | Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many prisoners have been held in police stations in Sussex since the latest launch of Operation Safeguard. | | (144594) | 332
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by her Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144955) | 333
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144956) | 334
| Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, what the range is of the nightly cost of police cells used by her Department and the Prison Service; and which such cells are the most expensive. | | (144968) | Questions to the Leader of the House 335
| Martin Horwood (Cheltenham):To ask the Leader of the House, if he will take steps to enable hon. Members to register with the Government's cycle to work scheme; and if he will make a statement. | | (144810) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 336
| Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his Department's budget is in 2007-08; and what estimate he has made of the budget for 2008-09. | | (144791) | 337
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many energy saving light bulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144949) | 338
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost was of such flights. | | (144950) | Questions to the Prime Minister 339
| Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the contribution of Lord Birt in his role as special adviser. | | (145045) | 340
| Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 18th June 2007, Official Report, column 1428W, on the IBM Corporation, what the cost was to the public purse of the meeting; whether he received any gifts from Mr. Gerstner; and what meetings he has had since that date with representatives of the IBM Corporation. | | (144998) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 341
N | Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 12th June 2007, Official Report, columns 921-22W, on elections: ballot papers, who chaired the Electronic Counting Project Board that negotiated the contract to deliver an electronic counting service. | | (144350) | 342
N | Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 12th June 2007, Official Report, columns 921-22W, on elections: ballot papers, if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract negotiated with DRS for delivery of an electronic counting service, redacted as necessary. | | (144351) | 343
N | Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 12th June 2007, Official Report, columns 921-22W, on elections: ballot papers, which individuals were members of the Electronic Counting Project Board that negotiated the contract to deliver an electronic counting service. | | (144352) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 344
N | Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what volume of (a) whitewood and (b) redwood was imported into the UK in each quarter of each year since 2004. | | (144479) | 345
N | Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what volume of (a) whitewood and (b) redwood was harvested in the UK in each quarter of each year since 2004. | | (144487) | 346
N | Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what tonnage of shale was imported into the UK in each quarter of each year since 2004. | | (144595) | 347
| Roger Berry (Kingswood):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications for Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) cover were received in the periods (a) 1st July 2005 to 30th June 2006 and (b) 1st July 2006 to date, stating in each case how many applications were made on (i) the standard ECGD forms downloaded from its website and (ii) bespoke forms. | | (144886) | 348
N | Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to make a regulatory impact assessment of the implementation of administered incentive pricing on spectrum for the maritime and aeronautical sectors. | | (141513) | 349
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many new businesses established in West Lancashire received Government (a) funding and (b) assistance in each of the last five years. | | (144816) | 350
| Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to publish the fifth annual report on the UK fuel poverty strategy. | | (144829) | 351
| Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to make an announcement on the proposed strategic siting assessment for new nuclear power stations. | | (144831) | 352
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) meetings and (b) seminars were held by the Smith Institute as part of the Government's Review of Maternity Pay and Leave and Parental Leave; and which (i) individuals attended and (ii) companies were represented at each. | | (144964) | 353
| Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans the Government has to sign partnerships with British industries to promote jobs for British citizens. | | (144965) | 354
| Robert Key (Salisbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the organisations and authorities whose views (a) in favour of and (b) opposing the proposal for a tidal barrage across the River Severn have been communicated to him. | | (144715) | 355
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144931) | 356
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144932) | 357
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 12th June 2007, Official Report, column 903W, on employment: North West region, if he will break down by employer the number of jobs safeguarded or created under the urban, rural and economic inclusion heading. | | (145072) | 358
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Northwest Development Agency's budget was in each year since 1997. | | (145073) | 359
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what further action he plans to take to encourage an increase in the value and volume of trade between the UK and Brazil. | | (145020) | 360
| Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will take steps to improve the relationship between biofuels producers in (a) the UK and the North East of England and (b) Brazil (i) to stimulate trade, (ii) to encourage innovation in the industry and (iii) to enhance competitive advantage for the two countries. | | (145021) | 361
| Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on safety issues surrounding the instalment and the wearing of wires of real time displays. | | (144754) | 362
| Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consideration the Government has given to introducing smart meters with displays in May 2008 in time to meet the Energy Services Directive. | | (144755) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 363
| David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is permissible for an individual to drive a car whilst being prescribed methadone. | | (145074) | 364
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles are owned by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, broken down by vehicle excise duty band. | | (144802) | 365
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of vehicles in use by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency fall into each vehicle excise duty band. | | (144803) | 366
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of passengers travelling to and from (a) Stansted, (b) Bristol and (c) Manchester Airport by (i) private motor vehicles, (ii) taxis, (iii) rail and (iv) coach or bus in each of the last five years. | | (144804) | 367
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many airports (a) which have runway development plans approved in the Future of Air Transport White Paper and (b) where land is safeguarded for future development have implemented voluntary plans to tackle generalised blight. | | (144826) | 368
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) the Welsh Assembly Government and (c) other interested and relevant parties to discuss the mutual cross-border recognition of concessionary bus passes. | | (144827) | 369
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of passengers travelling to and from (a) Newcastle, (b) Bristol, (c) Gatwick, (d) Luton, (e) Birmingham, (f) Cardiff and (g) Leeds/Bradford airport by (i) private motor vehicle, (ii) taxi, (iii) rail and (iv) coach and bus in each of the last five years. | | (144828) | 370
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age is of the bus fleet in each (a) county and (b) district in the North East. | | (144832) | 371
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Sprinter trains are in use on the Northern Rail franchise; and what the average age is of the Sprinter fleet. | | (144833) | 372
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which of the airports (a) which have runway development plans approved in the Future of Air Transport White Paper and (b) where land is safeguarded for future development have implemented voluntary schemes to address general blight. | | (144834) | 373
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many UK airports have safeguarded land for future development. | | (144835) | 374
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many UK airports with over 50,000 movements per year have produced strategic noise maps. | | (144836) | 375
| Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which UK airports had runway development approved in the Future of Air Transport White Paper. | | (144837) | 376
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment was made of the merits of requiring traffic light cameras to be brightly painted when the decision was taken to make that a requirement for fixed speed cameras; and if he will make a statement. | | (144138) | 377
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the carriageways of the M1 motorway between junctions 26 and 27 are next scheduled to be resurfaced. | | (144139) | 378
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what response he has made to representatives from the British Airlines Pilots Association on the comparative emissions from different forms of transport. | | [R] (144960) | 379
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) oral and (b) written representations he has received from (i) European Union and (ii) other European authorities on the harmonisation of a statutory blood alcohol level limit for drivers. | | (144838) | 380
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many deaths and serious injuries were attributed to the actions of drivers recorded with (a) 140 or more, (b) more than 120 but less than 141, (c) more than 100 but less than 121, (d) 80 or more, (e) less than 80 but 50 or more and (f) less than 50 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millimetres of their blood in each year from 1997 to 2006. | | (144853) | 381
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many deaths and serious injuries were attributed to the actions of drivers recorded with (a) 80 or more, (b) less than 80 but 50 or more and (c) less than 50 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millimetres of their blood who had previous convictions for drink-driving offences in each year from 1997 to 2006. | | (144854) | 382
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many deaths and serious injuries were attributed to the actions of drivers suspected of drinking but where no alcohol in blood levels was officially recorded in each year from 1997 to 2006. | | (144855) | 383
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers who were killed in each year from 1997 to 2006 were known or suspected to have consumed alcohol in sufficient quantity for their blood levels to be excess of 50 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood but less than the current statutory limit. | | (144908) | 384
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers who were killed in each year from 1997 to 2006 were known or suspected to have consumed alcohol in sufficient quantity for their blood levels to be in excess of the current statutory limit. | | (144909) | 385
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the number of drivers per year convicted for drink-driving of the introduction of a statutory blood alcohol limit of 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood. | | (144912) | 386
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ask the European Commission for a clear ruling on whether member states may make retro-reflective markings mandatory on newly registered heavy goods vehicles in the UK before the date of 10th October 2009 stipulated in the 03 series of amendments to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 48. | | (144913) | 387
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the (a) European Commission and (b) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on making retro-reflective markings mandatory on newly registered heavy goods vehicles in the UK before the date of 10th October 2009 stipulated in the 03 series of amendments to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 48. | | (144914) | 388
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what agreements have been made with European Union members on the statutory blood alcohol level limit for drivers. | | (145003) | 389
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the timetable for implementation of a statutory blood alcohol level for drivers reduced from the current maximum to 50 milligrammes. | | (145022) | 390
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of implementing a statutory blood alcohol level for drivers of 50 milligrammes. | | (145023) | 391
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government has taken to introduce a 50 milligramme blood alcohol level following the EU Transport Council in November 2006. | | (145024) | 392
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to make retro-reflective markings mandatory on all newly registered heavy goods vehicles before 10th October 2009 if the European Commission rules that member states are free to do so. | | (145108) | 393
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of reducing the permitted blood alcohol level from the current statutory level to 50 milligrammes. | | (145109) | 394
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many representations he has received asking for the MOT testing regime to be extended to every other year; and if he will place in the Library copies of such representations. | | (145117) | 395
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicle defect notices were issued for each year since 1997 in respect of (a) British registered vehicles and (b) vehicles registered in other EU member states, broken down by country. | | (145118) | 396
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to make it Government policy to extend the MOT testing regime to every other year after cars' fourth year as recommended by the Davidson review; and if he will make a statement. | | (145119) | 397
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on vehicle emissions as a result of extending the MOT testing regime to every other year after cars' fourth year as recommended by the Davidson review. | | (145120) | 398
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the environmental impact of extending the allowed period beteen MOT tests to every other year after cars' fourth year as recommended by the Davidson review. | | (145122) | 399
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles failed MOTs on grounds of emissions standards in each year since 1997, broken down by vehicle type. | | (145123) | 400
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average journey of (a) three and a half and (b) 12 tonne trucks on (i) motorways and (ii) A roads in England was in the last period for which figures are available. | | (145124) | 401
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the impact that lengthening the time between MOT tests will have on (a) road safety and (b) driver behaviour as referred to on page 5, paragraph 13 of the Davidson Report. | | (145126) | 402
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the frequency of MOT equivalent tests in other EU member states. | | (145127) | 403
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the comparable rates of accidents in which vehicle defects are a contributable factor in other EU member states with an MOT equivalent regime of testing every other year. | | (145128) | 404
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) the motor insurance industry, (b) MOT garages, (c) the police and (d) the motor car manufacturing industry on lengthening the time between MOT tests. | | (145130) | 405
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many MOT tests were carried out on (a) private and (b) commercial vehicles in each year since 1997. | | (145132) | 406
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many approved MOT garages there are. | | (145133) | 407
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the average investment on equipment made by an MOT garage to carry out MOT tests on (a) private and (b) commercial vehicles. | | (145135) | 408
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much a garage is required to pay in fees in order to gain approval as a registered MoT provider; and to which agency such fees are payable. | | (145150) | 409
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) road traffic accidents (RTAs) and (b) RTAs involving serious injury or fatalities were recorded in each year since 1997 in which mechanical failure or defects, including tyres, have been identified as the cause or a contributory factor. | | (145152) | 410
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimates he has (a) made and (b) evaluated of the potential increase in (i) deaths and (ii) serious injuries from a change from annual to biannual MoT tests. | | (145154) | 411
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the financial implications for (a) MOT garages, (b) motorists and (c) manufacturers and retailers of cars and components arising from a change from annual to biannual MOT tests; and if he will make a statement. | | (145156) | 412
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what types of defects detectable during the MOT test have led to serious and fatal accidents in each year since 1997. | | (145157) | 413
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144951) | 414
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144952) | 415
| Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, from which local authority areas the largest number of responses came to his Department's recent consultation on changes to charges at the Dartford Crossing. | | (145025) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 416
N | Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets have been set for replies to letters from his Department's offices; what targets have been set in Kent; and which of these targets have been met in each of the last 24 months. | | (141421) | 417
N | Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the reasons were for the decision to move his Department's post opening and distribution services in Kent from Haden Building Management to the Royal Mail. | | (141430) | 418
| Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects his Department to complete the evaluation of the Working Futures scheme. | | (145166) | 419
| Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to change the level of non-Housing Revenue Account housing benefit subsidy to local authorities for homeless households placed in temporary accommodation in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. | | (145167) | 420
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents made repeat claims for income support in West Lancashire in each month since 2005. | | (144926) | 421
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which electoral wards in West Lancashire have the highest numbers of Child Support Agency claimants. | | (144966) | 422
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in West Lancashire were registered for (a) incapacity benefit and (b) jobseeker's allowance in the financial year ending (i) March 1997 and (ii) March 2007. | | (144971) | 423
| Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job vacancies were available through job centres in West Lancashire in the financial year ending (a) March 1997 and (b) March 2007. | | (144972) | 424
| David T. C. Davies (Monmouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has granted any applications for Social Fund money for the purchase of a motor vehicle in the last 12 months. | | (145054) | 425
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of (a) full compliance, (b) partial compliance and (c) non-compliance by the partner without care were recorded by the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years. | | (144885) | 426
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people retiring in the past 12 months and gaining a full retirement pension had (a) one to five, (b) six to 10 and (c) 11 to 15 years national insurance credits as a result of claiming incapacity benefit. | | (144727) | 427
| Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length taken for an incapacity benefit claimant losing benefit to have his or her appeal heard was in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to shorten the period between loss of benefit and an appeal hearing taking place. | | (144892) | 428
| Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how benefits for disabled people are adjusted to take into account increases in the cost of living; and whether such adjustments reflect increases in the cost of fuel and its impact upon heating costs. | | (144999) | 429
| Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria his Department uses to determine severe disablement; and what definition of severe disablement is used. | | (145000) | 430
| Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are in receipt of severe disability allowances; and what expenses such allowances are intended to cover. | | (145001) | 431
| Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration his Department has given to the extension of the winter fuel allowance to disabled people. | | (145002) | 432
| Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what restrictions are placed on the ability to claim jobseeker's allowance of an individual undertaking voluntary work. | | (144808) | 433
| Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to encourage individuals on jobseeker's allowance to undertake voluntary work which benefits their local community. | | (144809) | 434
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the ability of the new personal capability assessment contained within the Welform Reform Bill (a) to assess accurately patients with long-term, fluctuating conditions and (b) to ensure that such patients receive the support necessary to get back into employment; and if he will make a statement. | | (145170) | 435
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish his Department's rules for deciding whether overpaid benefits should be recovered from claimants where the overpayment has resulted from departmental error, including staff error; and if he will make a statement. | | (144883) | 436
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the latest available rates of combined fraud and error were for each of his Department's administered benefits for the latest year for which information is available. | | (144905) | 437
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will answer Question (a) 138125, tabled on 15th May 2007, on Pension Credit, (b) 121447, tabled on 8th February 2007, on the Financial Assistance Scheme, (c) 102309, tabled on 20th November 2006, on council tax and (d) 102211, tabled on 17th November 2006, on Incapacity Benefit, by the hon. Member for Yeovil. | | (144922) | 438
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the value of the pension pot secured by a median carer in a defined benefit opted-out scheme from the opted-out rebates paid from age 25 to 65 years; and if he will make a statement. | | (144993) | 439
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assumptions the Government has made in its costings of a Universal Enhanced State Pension, with offsetting of accrued rights to the State Earnings Related Pension and the State Second Pension, in respect of the relationship between the level of pensions paid to single pensioners and couples; and if he will make a statement. | | (144994) | 440
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many energy saving lightbulbs were purchased by his Department for use on the departmental estate in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. | | (144953) | 441
| Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. | | (144954) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 442
N | Lyn Brown (West Ham):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures he is taking to ensure that water companies reduce leakages from water pipes. | | [Question Unstarred] (144201) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 443
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on the enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004. | | [Transferred] (145171) | 444
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent meetings he has held with (a) Chief Police Officers, (b) the Secretary of State for Justice, (c) the Crown Prosecution Service and (d) others on the enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004. | | [Transferred] (145172) | Questions to the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice 445
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many drivers were convicted for drink-driving offences (a) directly related to an incident in which death or serious injury was occasioned and where the alcohol-related incapacity of the driver was judged to be the primary cause of the incident and (b) unrelated to any incident in which death or serious injury was occasioned, in each year from 1997 to 2006. | | [Transferred] (144857) | 446
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many of the drivers convicted for drink-driving offences in each year from 1997 to 2006 had previously been banned from driving for drink-driving offences while a ban was still current. | | [Transferred] (144858) | 447
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many drivers were convicted of drink-driving offences in each year from 1997 to 2006; how many were repeat offenders; and how many of those repeat offenders had been convicted (a) twice, (b) three times, (c) four times and (d) more than four times. | | [Transferred] (144859) | 448
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many drivers who had not previously held a full driving licence were convicted of drink-driving offences in each year between 1997 and 2006. | | [Transferred] (144910) | 449
| Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, how many drivers were breathalysed in each year between 1997 and 2006; how many tests were positive; and how many were subsequently confirmed as positive by blood testing. | | [Transferred] (144911) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 450
| Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the safety issues surrounding the instalment and the wearing of wires of real time displays. | | [Transferred] (144752) | 451
| Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consideration the Government has given to introducing smart meters with displays in May 2008 in time to meet the Energy Services Directive. | | [Transferred] (144753) |
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