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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 9 January 2008
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 9 January 2008
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 9 January of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 9 January of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 9 January see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 1
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what it would cost the Government to remediate all land which has been radioactively contaminated to date. | | (177703) | 2
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the total cost to Government of the identification and remediation of radioactively contaminated land in the UK up to 2020. | | (177704) | 3
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what proportion of the costs of remediation of land radioactively contaminated by the nuclear energy industry falls to those whose activities contaminated the land; and who is liable for any remaining remediation costs arising from radioactive contamination by the current generation of nuclear power stations. | | (177705) | 4
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the cost to his Department is of underwriting the liabilities of land contamination against radioactive pollution from the British nuclear industry. | | (177709) | 5
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many acres of land are known to be sufficiently contaminated by radioactivity to warrant remediation to limit danger to workers or the general public; and what estimate he has made of the acreage likely to be so contaminated after the decommissioning of all the UK's nuclear power plants. | | (177710) | 6
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177425) | 7
| Mr John Greenway (Ryedale): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what timetable he envisages for the (a) publication, (b) consultation on and (c) implementation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive Regulations. | | [R] (177372) | 8
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will require suppliers of energy to install smart meters in (a) new properties and (b) existing properties when the meter is (i) faulty and (ii) at the end of its working life; and if he will make a statement. | | (177366) | 9
N | Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the staffing establishment was at the main post office in Church Street, Peterborough, on 31st December (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006. | | (177149) | 10
N | Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many people used the main post office at Church Street, Peterborough, on average per day in each year since 2001. | | (177150) | 11
N | Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many branch post offices there were operating within (a) two, (b) three and (c) four miles of the main post office at Church Street, Peterborough as at 30th November 2007. | | (177158) | 12
| John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many public telephone boxes there (a) are and (b) were 12 months ago. | | (177738) | 13
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will make it his policy to seek the amending of EU legislation on fire safety of furnishings in line with UK regulations. | | (177624) | 14
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 1073W, on the political levy, according to records held by (a) his Department and (b) the Certification Officer, which unions (i) provide a reduced subscription fee for members who opt-out of the political fund and (ii) collect the political levy as a separate charge from the main union membership subscription. | | (177693) | 15
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 1073W, on the political levy, what guidance has been produced or offered by (a) his Department and (b) the Certification Officer, on the (i) legality and (ii) appropriateness of the practice of trade unions charging the same overall subscription fee for members who opt-out and re-diverting the political levy revenue into their general fund. | | (177694) | 16
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 1073W, on the political levy, according to records held by the Certification Officer, how many union members each union has who do not contribute to the general fund. | | (177695) | 17
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, whether a Regulatory Impact Assessment was produced to accompany the Deregulation (Deduction from Pay of Union Subscriptions) Order 1998. | | (177696) | 18
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many packages were sent to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan over the Christmas period. | | (177578) | 19
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many packages were sent to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in each two week period in 2007. | | (177579) | 20
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the cost was of sending packages during the free post period to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in (a) 2007 and (b) each of the last three years. | | (177580) | 21
| Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending free post throughout the year to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. | | (177581) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 22
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the International Passenger Survey estimate of (a) inward migration, (b) outward migration and (c) the net migration balance was in each year since 1978. | | (177390) | 23
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the population density is of each region of England. | | (177451) | 24
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the percentage change in (a) UK population growth and (b) population growth in England was in each of the last three years for which figures are available. | | (177452) | 25
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many emigrants from the UK counted for the purpose of calculating emigration were (a) UK nationals, (b) UK nationals of working age and (c) skilled workers who were UK nationals of working age in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total emigration figure in each year each of these figures represent. | | (177453) | 26
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many estimates of long-term population growth attributable to migration have been made by the Government since 1997; what those estimates have been, including the most recent longest term estimate of population growth attributable to migration and total future population size; what assessment he has made of the environmental and housing implications of these estimates; and what the Government's population policy is. | | (177459) | 27
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what population increase has been attributable to migration in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of the England since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the likely future increase in population attributable to migration in each case in the light of the Government Actuary Department's principal population projections. | | (177460) | 28
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of population growth attributable to migration in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland in each year since 1987. | | (177463) | 29
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many estimates of population density in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Northern Ireland and (f) the regions of England have been made since 1987; and what each estimate was. | | (177464) | 30
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the likely effects of (a) migration on population density in England and (b) the increase in population density implied by Office for National Statistics population projections. | | (177465) | 31
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent estimates are of the likely population densities of (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland in 2056. | | (177466) | 32
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the population densities are expected to be of each of the regions of England on the basis of the change in population forecast by the Government Actuary Department and the Office for National Statistics in (a) 2031 and (b) 2056. | | (177467) | 33
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK citizens in (a) unskilled and (b) semi-skilled employment in the UK in each year since 1997. | | (177468) | 34
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the working age employment rate of (a) UK nationals and (b) the UK population who were (i) unskilled, (ii) semi-skilled and (iii) skilled workers was in each year since 2001; and what research he has (A) commissioned and (B) evaluated on changes in these employment rates. | | (177469) | 35
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the average duration of employment of EU A8 nationals working in the UK since 2004. | | (177481) | 36
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give a break down of the number of people in employment in (a) each region and (b) each local authority area who were (i) UK citizens, (ii) citizens of other EU states and (iii) citizens of non-EU states in (A) spring 2004 and (B) Quarter 2 2007. | | (177482) | 37
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177490) | 38
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data he collects in relation to GDP per capita on a (a) constituency and (b) local authority area level. | | (177381) | 39
| Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funding reserves are required to back up the issue of currency by Northern Irish banks. | | (177291) | 40
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much public expenditure he estimates there will be as a result of private finance initiative programmes (a) in place and (b) planned in each year from 2008 to 2060. | | (176994) | 41
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Barnett consequentials have been for Wales of improved funding for stroke services in England in 2007-08. | | (177623) | 42
N | Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the proposed new charge for the collection of household rubbish will be classed as a tax, for statistical purposes by (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Office for National Statistics. | | (177151) | 43
| Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to bring subsidiaries of Swiss banks operating in the UK under equivalent banking regulatory arrangements as apply to those of EU member states. | | (177373) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 44
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps he is taking to promote sport in Hendon schools; what funding is being provided to school sport partnerships for schools in Hendon for 2008-09; what percentage of students in Hendon are participating in sport for two hours or more per week; how many hours of sport each week for pupils he expects to achieve in Hendon schools; and if he will make a statement. | | (177491) | 45
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps he is taking to improve discipline in the classroom. | | (177492) | 46
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the average (a) level of school attendance and (b) number of exclusions per pupil was in Hendon schools in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (177493) | 47
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what (a) percentage and (b) number of students in Barnet have special educational needs but are without statements; where this ranks Barnet Local Education Authority (LEA) in relation to other LEAs in (i) London and (ii) England; and if he will make a statement. | | (177494) | 48
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children there were on average in infant classes in Hendon in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (177495) | 49
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many appeals were lodged by parents against non-admission of their children to schools in Barnet in the last year for which figures are available; what percentage of appeals were successful; where Barnet ranks in each case in relation to other local education authorities in (a) London and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. | | (177496) | 50
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools in Barnet have specialist status; what their specialisms are in each case; what funding was made available to each in the latest period for which figures are available; what outstanding applications for specialist status there are; and if he will make a statement. | | (177527) | 51
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what percentage of students at the London Academy (a) are entitled to free school meals, (b) are in receipt of education maintenance allowance, (c) have a special educational need and (d) have a mother tongue other than English. | | (177679) | 52
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, where the London Academy is ranked amongst schools for results at each key stage; and what the Academy's value-added measures were in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (177680) | 53
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of student attainment at the London Academy; and if he will make a statement. | | (177681) | 54
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children in (a) Hendon and (b) Barnet aged (i) three and (ii) four are benefiting from the free early years programme; what plans he has to expand this provision in (A) Hendon and (B) Barnet; how much has been awarded to Barnet as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant to support the costs in increasing early years education for (1) 2007-08 and (2) 2008-09; and how many registered childcare places for under eights there (x) are and (y) were in 1997 in (X) Hendon and (Y) Barnet; and if he will make a statement. | | (177691) | 55
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools in Hendon were inspected by Ofsted in the last 12 months; what the outcome was of each inspection; and if he will make a statement. | | (177692) | 56
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools in Hendon are offering extended hours; what additional services they are providing in the extended hours; what funding has been made available for those extended hours; and if he will make a statement. | | (177701) | 57
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps he is taking to ensure schools' uniform policies are fair, reasonable and inclusive. | | (177702) | 58
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools in Hendon will offer the new diplomas from September 2008; what financial assitance they will receive from his Department to do so; and if he will make a statement. | | (177728) | 59
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools in Hendon have received capital funding from the Government since 1997; how much each school received; how much of that funding was for (a) new school buildings and (b) major repairs; and if he will make a statement. | | (177729) | 60
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what percentage of school pupils in Hendon achieved (a) level 4 or above at key stage 2 and (b) level 5 or above at key stage 3 in (i) English, (ii) mathematics, (iii) science and (iv) English, mathematics and science in 2007. | | (177731) | 61
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many full-time equivalent (a) teaching assistants, (b) support staff and (c) teachers were employed in schools in Hendon in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (177732) | 62
N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will estimate how many and what proportion of 15-year-olds, whose parents were claiming tax credits, attained five GCSE passes at A*-C, including English and mathematics in 2007. | | (177155) | 63
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many parenting contracts have been issued in each year since 2004. | | (177299) | 64
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many pupils were entered for a GCE A-level in (a) accounting, (b) art and design, (c) biology, (d) business studies, (e) chemistry, (f) communication studies, (g) dance, (h) design and technology, (i) engineering, (j) English literature, (k) drama and theatre studies, (l) French, (m) geography, (n) German, (o) health and social care, (p) history, (q) home economics, (r) information and communication technology, (s) leisure studies, (t) mathematics, (u) further mathematics, (v) media studies, (w) performance studies, (x) performing arts, (y) physical education, (z) physics and (aa) travel and tourism in (i) mainstream schools in the maintained sector, (ii) city technology colleges, colleges for the technology of the arts and academies and (iii) schools in the independent sector in each year since 1997. | | (177300) | 65
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which universities require a GCSE at grade C or above in a modern language as part of their general entry requirements. | | (177301) | 66
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will make a statement on the future of (a) St Joseph's College in Stoke-on-Trent and (b) St George's School in Salford. | | (177302) | 67
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the merits of proposals to create project-based rather than discipline-based schools in Wolverhampton. | | (177303) | 68
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will meet representatives of the area which may be served by the Heartsease Academy in Norwich before the Academy's approval date. | | (177330) | 69
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of headteachers in (a) Southampton, (b) Romsey and (c) Hampshire are within (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years, (iv) five years and (v) 10 years of standard pension age. | | (177421) | 70
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177431) | 71
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of pupils achieved five A* to C GCSEs (a) including mathematics and English and (b) excluding mathematics and English in (i) the 10 per cent. most deprived neighbourhoods and (ii) the 10 per cent. least deprived neighbourhoods in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. | | (177627) | 72
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of secondary schools had 50 per cent. or more pupils failing to secure five A* to C grades in GCSEs (a) including English and mathematics and (b) excluding English and mathematics in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. | | (177628) | 73
N | Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will make it his policy to impose a moratorium on secondary school closures until he has assessed the likely increased demand on secondary school places resulting from the extension of full-time education to 18 years; and if he will make a statement. | | (175779) | 74
N | Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will commission research on the likely effect of his policy of extending compulsory education to 18 years on the demand for capacity in (a) secondary schools, (b) stand alone vocational training establishments and (c) further education colleges. | | (175780) | 75
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the tender process will be for the design and build of the federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey; and what steps he has taken to ensure an open and transparent process at each stage. | | (177156) | 76
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the number of potential bidders for the design and build contract for the federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey; and how many international companies have expressed interest. | | (177157) | 77
N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what recent discussions he has had with Kent County Council (KCC) on its ring-fenced funding for Sure Start; whether his Department and KCC have agreed that funding; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that KCC spends that funding in accordance with criteria set down by his Department. | | (177243) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 78
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what files are held by the Cabinet Office on (a) the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Sessions (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1987-88 and (iii) 1989-90, (b) the Unborn Children (Protection ) Bills of sessions (A) 1984-85, (B) 1985-86 and (C) 1987-88 and (c) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill of session 1989-90; and if he will make a statement. | | (177570) | 79
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177432) | 80
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what Government policy is on (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants making bets on political events (i) with and (ii) via a commercial organisation. | | (177380) | 81
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what personal data on individual citizens (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) 10 Downing Street has passed to the Office of Tony Blair. | | (177382) | 82
N | Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer of 12th December 2007, Official Report, column 561W, on voluntary sector funding, what his estimate is of the amount of work carried out by the voluntary sector in delivering public services for which no payment was made in the last year; and if he will make a statement. | | (175783) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 83
| Mr Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the provisions of the Housing Green Paper relating to house building targets are intended to be applied by planning authorities in determining planning applications currently under consideration or taken into account for planning applications currently subject to appeal before legislation is enacted. | | (177445) | 84
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the expenditure from the public purse has been in the Stroud district on (a) social housing and (b) affordable housing in each year since 2002. | | (177676) | 85
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177430) | 86
N | Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what target for Gershon savings the Government has set for (a) each stand alone fire authority and (b) each fire authority which is part of a local authority (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of expenditure. | | (177244) | 87
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will list the constituencies visited by the Minister for (a) the North East, (b) the North West, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) London, (e) the South East, (f) the South West, (g) the East Midlands, (h) the West Midlands and (i) the East of England in their capacity as regional ministers. | | (177442) | 88
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the costs of support services as a percentage of total costs were for each fire authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (177437) | 89
| Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much has been spent on bringing homes up to the decent homes standard in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. | | (177730) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 90
N | James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent on administering applications for black and white television licences in the last period for which figures are available; and how many staff hours were required for this purpose. | | (176262) | 91
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177433) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 92
| Mr Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Department's grounds for objection to recent wind farm planning applications in Northumberland apply to other proposed wind farm sites in the parts of Northumberland identified in the regional planning strategy as areas of least constraint for wind farm applications; and whether he is proposing any modification of the strategy to meet defence operational requirements. | | (177446) | 93
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what funding is available under the Heroes Return Scheme to (a) veterans and (b) war widows to visit war graves in 2007-08; and how many (i) veterans and (ii) war widows from (A) Hendon and (B) the UK have received funding since the scheme's inception. | | (177504) | 94
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Veteran Badges have been issued to residents of Hendon. | | (177505) | 95
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security measures are taken to ensure the security of Royal Navy ships when in port in the United Kingdom. | | (177522) | 96
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total budget was for Service Children's Education schools in each of the last five years. | | (177529) | 97
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total outflow and (b) voluntary exit rate was of (i) officers, (ii) other ranks and (iii) all personnel in the Royal Navy in each month since January 2006. | | (177530) | 98
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total outflow and (b) voluntary exit rate was of (i) officers, (ii) other ranks and (iii) all personnel in the Army in each month since January 2006. | | (177531) | 99
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel who have served in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan are recorded as having a mental health problem, broken down by condition. | | (177532) | 100
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of listed departmental buildings are in a (a) good, (b) fair, (c) poor and (d) unknown condition. | | (177533) | 101
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total number of void (a) single living accommodation and (b) service family accommodation is in (i) the UK and (ii) overseas. | | (177534) | 102
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total outflow and (b) voluntary exit rate was of (i) officers, (ii) other ranks and (iii) all personnel in the RAF in each month since January 2006. | | (177535) | 103
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what percentage of each helicopter type in the (a) Army Air Corps, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF are (i) in service and (ii) fit for purpose. | | (177536) | 104
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships are in each readiness category, broken down by ship type. | | (177537) | 105
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Department's budget is for the longer separation allowance. | | (177539) | 106
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints were made to Modern Housing Solutions in each of the last 12 months. | | (177540) | 107
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what NATO's total common founding budget was in each of the last 10 years. | | (177541) | 108
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which (a) reports, (b) surveys and (c) studies his Department has (i) commissioned, (ii) conducted and (iii) completed in the last six months; and what the purpose was of each. | | (177542) | 109
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many training airborne jumps have been conducted by British service personnel in each year since 2001; and how many of these jumps were made from a (a) C-17 Globemaster, (b) C-130K Hercules, (c) C-130J Hercules, (d) other aeroplanes, (e) Chinook helicopters and (f) other helicopters in each year. | | (177544) | 110
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to change the number of Ministry of Defence police officers. | | (177585) | 111
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence police officers there were in each year since 1997. | | (177586) | 112
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) SA-80 assault rifles and (b) 9mm Browning pistols were reported (i) lost or missing and later recovered and (ii) lost or missing and not recovered by British armed forces in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997. | | (177587) | 113
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what locations Ministry of Defence police officers have been replaced with (a) civilian police forces and (b) private security forces since 2003. | | (177588) | 114
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what roles Ministry of Defence police officers have in supporting the British armed forces. | | (177589) | 115
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many medical civic action programmes British forces have conducted in (a) Kabul, (b) Helmand and (c) Kandahar provinces since 2005. | | (177590) | 116
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the recruiting targets for Ministry of Defence police officers were in each year since 1997. | | (177591) | 117
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence police officers were recruited for service in each year since 1997. | | (177592) | 118
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many medical civic action programmes British forces have conducted without assistance from the United States military in Afghanistan since 2005. | | (177593) | 119
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the mobility rate was for each service children's education (a) primary and (b) secondary school in the last academic year. | | (177594) | 120
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected budget is for service children's education schools in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. | | (177595) | 121
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18th December 2007, Official Report, column 1449W, on armed forces pay, what the change was of the lowest increase in armed forces salaries against the retail price index; and which rank this was in relation to. | | (177635) | 122
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd December 2007, Official Report, column 842W, on the Netherlands: international co-operation, which units form the existing UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force; how many joint training exercises between the UK and the Netherlands were conducted in support of the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force in each year since its creation; and what percentage of funding for the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force was paid by (a) the UK and (b) the Netherlands in each year since its creation. | | (177733) | 123
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister on 12th December 2007, Official Report, column 305W, on Afghanistan, whether the 5,000 former fighters who have laid down their arms were part of the Program-Tachim-e Sol' scheme. | | (177734) | 124
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177486) | 125
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18th December 2007, Official Report, column 1458W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what plans he has to instruct commercial barristers in respect of the Hercules inquest. | | (177332) | 126
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 1035W, on AWE Burghfield, how many safety shortfalls (a) were identified by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) during the risk assessment, (b) were resolved by the delayed 27th September 2007 target date, (c) will shortly be resolved and (d) will remain unresolved under the current single operation licensing regime imposed by the NII for each warhead handling operation; and if he will make a statement. | | (177368) | 127
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much it costs to train a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot on (a) fixed and (b) rotary wing aircrafts; what commitment to further service in the RAF is required by applicants for training; what the criteria and application procedures are; how many applicants there were for such training in each of the last three years; and how many were successful. | | (177376) | 128
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what application procedures were followed in respect of Prince William's training to be a pilot; which of the armed forces he will be attached to after training; to which unit; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of training Prince William as a pilot; and if he will make a statement. | | (177377) | 129
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the UK is purchasing the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system from the US; what effect this purchase will have on the acquisition and introduction into service of the Watchkeeper UAV system; and if he will make a statement. | | (177281) | 130
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is designed to allow full alignment and transparency with manned aircraft for all flight rules, including ability to assess in-flight conditions. | | (177282) | 131
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle will comply with visual flight rules and instrument flight rules as they affect manned aircraft flying as operational air traffic. | | (177283) | 132
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot-in-command will have the ability to assess in-flight conditions for visual flight rules flight. | | (177284) | 133
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) will be pre-programmed with an appropriate contingency plan in circumstances where the pilot-in-command is no longer in control of the TUAV. | | (177285) | 134
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot-in-command will be provided with an independent means of communication with air traffic control. | | (177286) | 135
N | Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which bodies his Department has consulted on the future of RAF Machrihanish; and if he will make a statement on the future of the base. | | (176996) | 136
| Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average cost was to vet a UK citizen to the level of (a) developed vetting, (b) security check, (c) counter terrorism check and (d) baseline personal security standard in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (177548) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 137
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what legislation includes provisions relating to the tethering of horses; what amendments have been made to this legislation since it was passed; and if he will make a statement. | | (177572) | 138
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on development of (a) cattle and (b) badger vaccines for bovine tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement. | | (177374) | 139
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects to make a decision on policy on badger culling; and if he will make a statement. | | (177375) | 140
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of research on the effects on cattle health of culling badgers as a response to bovine TB; and if he will make a statement. | | (177564) | 141
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pensioner households in Hendon have received grants under the Warm Front scheme; what the cost of those grants has been; what the average grant was; what grants are available under the scheme; and if he will make a statement. | | (177499) | 142
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, why the decision was taken to source and supply the anti-bluetongue virus vaccine from one supplier. | | (177713) | 143
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177483) | 144
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, columns 991-2W, on biodiversity, what the form of the socioeconomic studies is; who is undertaking them; what contribution the UK is making to them; and if he will make a statement. | | (177331) | 145
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ban the use of non-domesticated animals in travelling circuses; and if he will make a statement. | | (177345) | 146
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is for improving greyhound welfare; and if he will make a statement. | | (177346) | 147
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 1000W, on game birds, what steps he takes to assess the reliability of data from reports by other organisations referred to by him in Answers to Parliamentary Questions. | | (177424) | 148
| John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the White Young Green assessment of Warm Front will be made available to hon. Members and the general public. | | (177671) | 149
| John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many radiators have been installed through Warm Front; and in how many homes. | | (177690) | 150
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on its ability to meet its target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010. | | (177552) | 151
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on Natural England's work on (a) local biodiversity partnerships, (b) national trails, (c) bridleways, (d) areas of outstanding beauty and (e) national nature reserves. | | (177553) | 152
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on (a) the agri-environment schemes funded under the Rural Development Programme for England and (b) marine monitoring. | | (177554) | 153
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in his Department's budget following the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review on (a) staff morale, (b) staff numbers, (c) spending programmes and (d) grants to non-governmental organisations, including (i) Butterfly Conservations, (ii) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (iii) the Wildlife Trusts, (iv) Plantlife and (v) the Bat Conservation Trust. | | (177555) | 154
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the budget for 2008 and onwards for Natural England will be (a) decided and (b) announced. | | (177556) | 155
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential to transfer some of Natural England's scheme payment functions and staff to the Rural Payments Agency. | | (177625) | 156
| Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times and in what circumstances his Department used its powers to appoint an independent valuer in cases of bovine tuberculosis; and what the outcome was regarding compensation paid on each occasion. | | (177631) | 157
| Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what removals of contaminated soil from the Pirbright site have taken place; whether required waste shipment licences were obtained upon each occasion; what steps his Department took to ensure that each removal complied with the relevant waste management regulations; and if he will make a statement. | | (177563) | 158
| Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates Ministers in his Department reviewed the decision of May 2001 not to compensate swill feeders following the ban of swill feeding. | | (177565) | 159
N | Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the starting date for the pilots for the proposed household rubbish collection tax is. | | (177152) | 160
N | Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the maximum charge that can be levied per year by waste collection authorities under the new proposed household rubbish collection tax is planned to be. | | (177153) | 161
N | Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which waste collection authorities have expressed an interest in taking part in the pilots for the new proposed household rubbish collection tax. | | (177154) | 162
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has held on the reintroduction of wild wolves into the UK; and if he will make a statement. | | (177641) | 163
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how his Department plans to encourage domestic carbon offsetting and the reduction of emissions in 2008. | | (177642) | 164
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what initiatives have been introduced since the Bali Climate Change Conference to help small businesses reduce their carbon emissions. | | (177643) | 165
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions have been brought against fly tippers in Romford in the last four years. | | (177644) | 166
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to encourage private water boards to improve their pipe networks to prevent leaks and wastage. | | (177645) | 167
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage China and Russia to improve welfare standards for bears. | | (177647) | 168
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to preserve endangered fish stocks in UK waters. | | (177649) | 169
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to seek a reduction in the food miles of produce in national supermarkets. | | (177650) | 170
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what provisions are being included in the 2014 Animal Health and Welfare Strategy's vision for the protection and humane treatment of race dogs. | | (177651) | 171
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assistance and measures are in place for farmers who fall outside the immediate surveillance zone in detecting and preventing the spread of the bluetongue disease. | | (177653) | 172
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the Government plans to use the data held on the GB Poultry Register to prevent the spread of avian influenza. | | (177654) | 173
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to secure a complete ban on whaling by the Japanese government. | | (177712) | 174
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in the development of the National Equine Database; and what the projected completion date is for this project. | | (177723) | 175
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that sufficient vaccines are available in the UK should there be a widespread outbreak of avian influenza; and how many vaccines are necessary. | | (177725) | 176
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on the Government estate in 2008. | | (177726) | 177
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many birds of prey there were in the UK in each year since 2001. | | (177727) | 178
| Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to include carbon emissions from transport under the evaluative criteria for food labels which indicate the environmental friendliness and sustainability of products; and if he will take steps to encourage the use of water-borne freight as a means of cutting these emissions. | | (177423) | 179
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy not to introduce the draft Marine Bill before the Planning and the Energy Bills receive Royal Assent; and if he will make a statement. | | (177440) | 180
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with regulations and rules for which he is responsible within the seafood and fishing industry in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. | | (177441) | 181
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of bat ecologists. | | (177546) | 182
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department issues on the qualifications required of a bat ecologist; and if he will make a statement. | | (177547) | 183
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which governments he plans to make representations to to support the international moratorium on whaling prior to the IWC60 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177611) | 184
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) Cabinet colleagues in relation to whaling since the IWC59 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177612) | 185
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he last wrote to his Cabinet colleagues about whaling; and if he will make a statement. | | (177613) | 186
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to ask non-International Whaling Commission countries to join the IWC prior to the IWC60 meeting to support the international moratorium on whaling; and if he will make a statement. | | (177614) | 187
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the distribution of 2008 fishing quota to (a) producer organisations, (b) the 10 metre and under fleet and (c) the non-sector; what the estimated value is of this quota; and if he will make a statement. | | (177617) | 188
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to allow the 10 metre and under fleet to lease quota in 2008; and if he will make a statement. | | (177618) | 189
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has identified possible quota swaps to benefit the 10 metre and under fleet; and if he will make a statement. | | (177619) | 190
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects to introduce measures to improve bass conservation and bass stocks; and if he will make a statement. | | (177620) | 191
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has reached an agreed approach on (a) brown crab and (b) lobster conservation with the devolved administrations; and if he will make a statement. | | (177621) | 192
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5th December 2007, Official Report, column 1267W, on crabs: conservation, whether he plans to discuss (a) brown crab and (b) lobster conservation with the European Commission and his European counterparts in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (177622) | 193
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department provided local authorities in relation to stray animals in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | (177656) | 194
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the reasons were for the decision to transfer responsibility for stray dogs from the police to local authorities. | | (177657) | 195
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of foreign governments in relation to whaling since the IWC59 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177658) | 196
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a recreational sea angling licence; what estimate he has made of the revenue that a recreational sea angling licence would raise; and if he will make a statement. | | (177660) | 197
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Marine Bill White Paper and associated Regulatory Impact Assessment, what estimate he has made of the cost of administering and enforcing a recreational sea angling licence; and if he will make a statement. | | (177661) | 198
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Marine Bill White Paper and associated Regulatory Impact Assessment, to what use the revenue raised from a recreational sea angling licence would be put; and if he will make a statement. | | (177662) | 199
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Marine Bill White Paper and associated Regulatory Impact Assessment, what consultation responses have been received by his Department on the proposed recreational sea angling licence; and what response he has made. | | (177663) | 200
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to increase the representation of recreational sea anglers on Sea Fisheries Committees; and if he will make a statement. | | (177664) | 201
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the draft Recreational Sea Angling Strategy, what the timetable is to implement the proposals; and if he will make a statement. | | (177665) | 202
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to designate any fish stocks specifically for recreational use; and if he will make a statement. | | (177666) | 203
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many recreational sea angling representatives were on each Sea Fisheries Committee in each year since 1997. | | (177667) | 204
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12th December 2007, Official Report, column 712W, on seas and oceans: biodiversity, what legal protection is currently offered to (a) Braemar Pockmarks, (b) Darwin Mounds, (c) Haig Fras, (d) North Northfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef, (e) Scanner pockmark, (f) Stanton banks and (g) Wyville Thomson Ridge; for what reasons each site is not classified as European Offshore marine sites; and if he will make a statement. | | (177672) | 205
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12th December 2007, Official Report, column 712W, on seas and oceans: biodiversity, under what legislation protection may be given to the (a) Braemar Pockmarks, (b) Darwin Mounds, (c) Haig Fras, (d) North Northfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef, (e) Scanner pockmark, (f) Stanton banks and (g) Wyville Thomson Ridge sites; and if he will make a statement. | | (177673) | 206
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on oil and gas exploration at the Moray Firth; and if he will make a statement. | | (177674) | 207
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect bottlenose dolphins at the Moray Firth; and if he will make a statement. | | (177675) | 208
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 19th February 2007, Official Report, column 195W, on whaling, whether he has received a response to the letters sent to his Cabinet colleagues; and if he will make a statement. | | (177682) | 209
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 19th February 2007, Official Report, column 195W, on whaling, when Cabinet colleagues have drawn to the attention of their foreign counterparts the subject of (a) whaling, (b) whale conservation and (c) the whale watching industry; and if he will make a statement. | | (177683) | 210
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which countries have submitted their European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement. | | (177684) | 211
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which countries have had their European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme approved by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement. | | (177685) | 212
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the possible penalties the UK could face for not submitting its European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme to the European Commission by 31st December 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (177686) | 213
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5th December 2007, Official Report, column 1269W, on the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), whether he has made a formal request to the Commission to allow the UK to carry over the 2007 EFF budget allocated to the UK; and if he will make a statement. | | (177687) | 214
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5th December 2007, Official Report, column 1270W, on the European Fisheries Fund, whether he submitted the UK National Strategic Plan to the European Commission by 31st December 2007; and if he will make a statement. | | (177688) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 215
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the migration consequences for the UK of Turkish membership of the EU; what assessment he has made of these migration consequences; what account he has taken of migration in formulating UK policy on Turkish membership; and if he will make a statement. | | (177462) | 216
| James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many meetings have taken place in (a) Helmand Province and (b) Afghanistan in the last 12 months between British representatives and (i) current, (ii) former and (iii) suspected Taliban insurgents. | | (177293) | 217
N | Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent changes have been introduced to the types of UK visas available to Russian citizens. | | (177148) | 218
N | Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens have been killed as a consequence of terrorist acts overseas in each of the last 10 years. | | (177161) | 219
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177489) | 220
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Iran on (a) the medical condition and (b) the need for specialist treatment of the imprisoned trade union leader, Mahmoud Salehi. | | (177367) | 221
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter dated 28th November, from the right hon. Member for Manchester Gorton, regarding Mrs H. Malik. | | (177545) | 222
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter, dated 21st November, from the right hon. Member for Manchester Gorton, regarding Mr I. Rigby. | | (177549) | 223
| Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what geographical claims the UK intends to submit to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on areas off (a) the North West Coast of Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) other UK territories. | | (177297) | 224
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of foreign governments on whaling since the IWC59 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177576) | 225
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to discuss whaling and the international moratorium on whaling with other governments before the IWC60 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177609) | 226
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on whale conservation; and if he will make a statement. | | (177610) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 227
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what records his Department holds of the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Session 1979-80; and if he will make a statement. | | (177736) | 228
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to answer written questions (a) 172430, tabled on 4th December 2007, (b) 169534, tabled on 26th November 2007 and (c) 169605, tabled on 26th November 2007; what the reason for the delay is in each case; and if he will make a statement. | | (177737) | 229
| Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the patient experience survey for breast cancer will seek information on the experience of patients with metastatic breast cancer. | | (177322) | 230
| Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to improve the care and experience of patients with metastatic breast cancer. | | (177323) | 231
N | Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department collects and publishes information on (a) activities of the Assura Group throughout the NHS and (b) the expenditure of the Assura Group via polyclinics. | | (177160) | 232
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of (a) doctors and (b) nurses employed by the NHS were (i) non-UK citizens and (ii) non-EU citizens in each year since 1997. | | (177407) | 233
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were recruited by the NHS from (i) non-EU countries and (ii) African countries in each year since 1999. | | (177408) | 234
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pensioners in Hendon aged over 60 years had free eye tests in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177501) | 235
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has commissioned or funded on home-based care for patients with (a) MRSA and (b) clostridium difficile. | | (177633) | 236
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of lactose-free medication; and what his Department's policy is on lactose-free prescribable pharmaceuticals. | | (177634) | 237
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department will provide to Carers UK in 2007-08. | | (177163) | 238
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the process of liquid based cytology has now been implemented by all 142 laboratories that process cervical screening. | | (177415) | 239
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made by the Department of Health Vascular Programme Board in reviewing recommendations from the National Screening Committee on vascular risk assessment; and when the results of the review will be published. | | (177416) | 240
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS community contraception clinics there are in (a) Hampshire, (b) Southampton and (c) Southern Test Valley. | | (177417) | 241
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether modelling of the economic consequences of different approaches to risk factor assessment and management has been undertaken and the options and the implications for NHS implementation considered as recommended by Sir Muir Gray and the National Screening Committee. | | (177418) | 242
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in the Department's consideration of a more integrated approach to vascular risk assessment and management since the publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's draft guidance on lipid modification. | | (177419) | 243
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information is provided for (a) boys and (b) girls aged between 13 and 15 on the services provided by NHS community contraception clinics. | | (177422) | 244
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 26th November 2007, Official Report, column 261W, on thrombosis: medical treatment, what plans he has for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to assess rivaroxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery of the lower limbs. | | (177439) | 245
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that national guidance on cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management, with particular reference to the Joint British Societies guidelines (JBS2) on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice, is implemented at a primary care level. | | (177506) | 246
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177484) | 247
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what dates, in each of the last five years, the NHS hospital and community health services non-medical workforce census was published; and on what date this year's publication is expected to be published. | | (177370) | 248
N | Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5th December 2007, Official Report, column 1318W, on mental health and employment: meeting the challenge, what the average cost is of treating an individual for depression and anxiety disorders. | | (177241) | 249
N | Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the minimum competency level is for an approved or accredited retailer's staff, as mentioned in the outline model for the Community Equipment Programme. | | (177245) | 250
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on adverse reactions to the anti-smoking prescription drug Champix. | | (177304) | 251
| Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what circumstances trusts may grant GPs the status of closed practice lists; and if he will make a statement. | | (177298) | 252
| Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding was provided for drug treatment and rehabilitation in Wakefield district in each of the last five years. | | (177296) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 253
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list by English police authority (a) the population covered by that authority, (b) the authorised police establishment for that authority, (c) the actual police establishment for that authority, (d) the total arrests made in that authority, (e) the number of arrests made per actual police officer, (f) the total number of reported crimes, (g) the number of crimes per officer, (h) the total number of crimes per 1,000 population and (i) the total number of reported crimes unsolved per 1,000 population for the last 10 years for which figures are available. | | (177566) | 254
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what legislation the awarding of compensation to complainants whose complaints have been upheld by the Independent Police Complaints Commission is regulated; what recent representations she has received about the operation of this legislation; and if she will make a statement. | | (177567) | 255
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she (a) has issued and (b) plans to issue to police forces in England and Wales about the awarding of compensation to complainants whose complaints have been upheld by the Independent Police Complaints Commission; what recent representations she has received about the issue; and if she will make a statement. | | (177568) | 256
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what legislation regulates the Independent Police Complaints Commission; what amendments have been made to, and what recent representations she has received about the operation of this legislation; what (a) statutory instruments, (b) departmental circulars and (c) other documents she (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provisions of this legislation; and if she will make a statement. | | (177569) | 257
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to use the photographs taken by surveillance cameras to (a) detect and (b) prosecute those seen committing an offence under (i) section 14 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and (ii) the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2003; what recent representations she has received on the issue; and if she will make a statement. | | (177577) | 258
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the letter of 17th December 2007, from Lin Homer, Chief Executive of the Border and Immigration Agency to the Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, what criteria have been set to prioritise the immigration cases of individuals who are deemed to pose a potential threat to the public; how many such cases have been identified; and how many of the individuals concerned have been deported or otherwise removed from the UK. | | (177324) | 259
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with local authorities on the legacy exercise dealing with the former Immigration and Nationality Directorate's caseload; and what representations she has made to local authorities on the accommodation of those dealt with under the exercise and the costs thereof. | | (177325) | 260
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the cases resolved through the grant of leave to remain in the UK under the legacy exercise concerned individuals occupying accommodation provided under arrangements for asylum support; and how many of these have subsequently moved to social housing. | | (177335) | 261
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of removal following the legacy exercise fell into each category of removal including (a) enforced removals, (b) persons leaving voluntarily after enforcement action against them and (c) persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes. | | (177336) | 262
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will give a breakdown by (a) sex and (b) age group of asylum applicants granted leave to remain in the UK via (i) asylum status, (ii) exceptional leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain or humanitarian protection, (iii) the 1998 backlog exercise and (iv) the 2000 family ILR exercise in each year since 1997. | | (177337) | 263
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) dependants of asylum seekers have been given leave to remain in the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by type of leave granted. | | (177338) | 264
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-EU citizens serving prison sentences in respect of (a) sexual and (b) violent offences have been released from custody on completion of their sentence since 1st January 2007; and how many such prisoners have been deported or otherwise removed from the UK. | | (177343) | 265
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-EU citizens have received custodial sentences for (a) sexual and (b) violent offences of (i) less and (ii) more than 12 months in each year since 1997; and how many such offenders (A) are in custody serving their sentence or otherwise and (B) have been deported or otherwise removed from the UK. | | (177347) | 266
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the impact on demand for social housing arising from the grants of leave to remain under the legacy exercise; and if she will make a statement. | | (177351) | 267
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost of the legacy exercise for resolving old immigration cases. | | (177352) | 268
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the caseworkers for the immigration legacy exercise were recruited and on what basis; and if she will make a statement. | | (177353) | 269
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will give a break down by (a) sex and (b) age group of the cases in which grant of leave to remain in the UK was granted under the immigration legacy exercise. | | (177354) | 270
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dependants have entered the UK with foreign nationals obtaining a grant of an after-entry application to (a) vary leave, (b) vary leave for permit-free employment and (c) vary leave for business in each year since 1997. | | (177387) | 271
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many estimates her Department has made of the illegal migrant population since 1997; what methodology was employed to produce each such estimate; what those estimates were; what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evalulated into the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK since 1997; and if she will make a statement. | | (177393) | 272
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK in (a) 1997 and (b) at the most recent date for which an estimate is available; what estimate she has made of the number of Commonwealth citizens registered to vote in the UK; which Commonwealth countries have reciprocal rights for voting with the UK; and what checks are carried out on the immigration status of applicants for electoral registration. | | (177394) | 273
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those deported or otherwise removed from the UK as illegal migrants in each year since 2001 had entered the UK on a student visa; and what estimate she has made of the number of student visa holders in the UK who have overstayed. | | (177395) | 274
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many holders of student visas of each nationality have been granted an extension of their entry visa on (a) two occasions and (b) three or more occasions in each year since 2001. | | (177396) | 275
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) student entry visas and (b) extensions to student visas were granted to non-EU students of each nationality in each year since 2001; and what proportion of applications for extensions to such visas were granted in respect of students of each nationality. | | (177397) | 276
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes she has (a) made and (b) plans to make in respect of the granting of extensions to student visas; in what circumstances such extensions are refused; and if she will make a statement. | | (177398) | 277
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what instructions have been given to immigration officers on the deportation of students who overstay their visas; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of enforcement measures in respect of student overstayers; and if she will make a statement. | | (177399) | 278
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 4,000 prisoners deported in 2007 were non-EU nationals; how many were (a) recommended for deportation by a judge at the time of sentencing and (b) deported following consideration of their case; how many non-EU national prisoners were liable to be considered for deportation in 2007 but not deported; and how many non-EU national prisoners serving sentences of more than 12 months were liable to be considered for deportation in 2007 but not deported. | | (177400) | 279
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-EU foreign prisoners serving sentences of (a) 12 months or more and (b) less than 12 months have been (i) considered for deportation and deported, (ii) considered for deportation and not deported, (iii) deported following a recommendation from a judge for deportation and (iv) allowed to remain in the UK on the completion of the custodial part of their sentence even though made the subject of a rcommendation by a judge for deportation in each year since 1997. | | (177401) | 280
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 4,000 prisoners deported in 2007 were serving sentences of (a) two years or less, (b) 12 months or less and (c) 12 months or less for offences of a violent or sexual nature. | | (177402) | 281
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EU prisoners have been (a) considered for deportation and deported, (b) considered for deportation and not deported, (c) deported following a recommendation from a judge for deportation and (d) allowed to remain in the UK on the completion of the custodial part of their sentence even though made the subject of a recommendation by a judge for deportation in each year since 1997. | | (177403) | 282
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which 20 countries the most immigrants to the UK came in each of the last 10 years; and how many of each nationality immigrated in each year. | | (177406) | 283
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claimants from (a) Ghana, (b) Nigeria and (c) Poland have received indefinite leave to remain in the UK through (i) the 1998 backlog exercise, (ii) the 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise, (iii) the legacy exercise, (iv) exceptional leave to remain, (v) discretionary leave to remain, (vi) humanitarian protection and (vii) the grant of refugee status in each year since 1997. | | (177409) | 284
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum claimants and (b) dependants of asylum claimants were granted leave to remain in the October 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise; which 40 nationalities received the most grants of indefinite leave to remain; and when the final grants were made to conclude the exercise. | | (177410) | 285
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) UK nationals and (b) non-UK nationals emigrated from the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex. | | (177411) | 286
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will break down by sub-category the Other category in Table 5.6, Grant of Settlement by main category and geographic region of nationality 1996-2006 of the Control of Immigration Statistics 2006; and what assessment she has made of the factors underlying the increase in this category since 1997. | | (177412) | 287
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of criminal justice enforcement efforts against those responsible for the facilitating of illegal migration and the employment of illegal migrants; and if she will make a statement. | | (177413) | 288
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects of reducing the coverage of the resident labour market test. | | (177450) | 289
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the average cost of returning a non-UK prisoner to serve his or her sentence in their home country. | | (177454) | 290
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) inward migration and (b) employment-related inward migration which would have been covered by the points-based system in the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (177461) | 291
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the proportion of jobs covered by the requirements of the resident labour market list. | | (177470) | 292
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost was of providing (a) asylum support and (b) accommodation in asylum support in each year since 2000; how many units of accommodation were provided in each of those years; and what the cost of the National Asylum Support Service was in each year since its inception. | | (177471) | 293
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases enforcement action to remove was successfully carried out in respect of non-UK citizens who were (a) illegal entrants and (b) overstayers in each year since 1997. | | (177472) | 294
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many removals through enforcement action in (a) asylum cases and (b) non-asylum cases took place in each quarter since 1st January 2005. | | (177473) | 295
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many grants of settlement on the basis of family formation and reunion were made in (a) 1987, (b) 1997 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and which 10 nationalities obtained the most such grants in each of those years. | | (177474) | 296
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals granted an after entry application (a) to vary leave, (b) to vary leave for permit-free employment and (c) to vary leave for business had obtained (i) a previous extension of leave and (ii) two or more previous extensions of leave in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177475) | 297
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) applications and (b) refusals there were of applications for after entry variation of leave for (i) permit-free employment and (ii) business in each year since 1997. | | (177476) | 298
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many grants of after entry applications to vary leave for business were made in (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each quarter since 1st January 2004; what the percentage change in grants made was between each such period; and how many foreign nationals of each nationality obtained such a grant in each year since January 2004. | | (177477) | 299
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many grants of after entry applications to vary leave for permit-free employment were made in (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each quarter since 1st January 2004; what the percentage change in grants made was between each such period; and how many such grants were made (i) in each category and (ii) for foreign nationals of each nationality in each of the last three years for which such figures are available. | | (177478) | 300
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 951W, on deportation, how many of the 72,550 asylum applicants removed from the UK between April 2003 and September 2007 were (a) enforced removals, (b) persons refused entry at port within the UK and subsequently removed, (c) persons refused entry outside the UK at juxtaposed controls, (d) persons leaving voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, (e) persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and (f) persons otherwise voluntarily leaving the UK. | | (177479) | 301
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pensioners in (a) Hendon and (b) the UK have received free passports. | | (177503) | 302
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people arrested but not subsequently convicted had their details (a) entered onto and (b) subsequently removed from the National DNA Database in each year since its creation. | | (177436) | 303
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177487) | 304
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted foreign offenders were given a payment in return for voluntarily leaving the UK in each year since the inception of such payments; what the total value of such payments was in each year; and how many such offenders had been sentenced to (a) a custodial sentence of more than 12 months, (b) a custodial sentence of less than 12 months, (c) a community sentence and (d) a fine. | | (177340) | 305
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations have been made to prison authorities by the Border and Immigration Agency on the deportation of foreign criminals serving custodial sentences of less than 12 months; and if she will make a statement. | | (177341) | 306
| Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many driving licences submitted to fixed penalty offices have been lost before return to the holder. | | (177295) | 307
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance police provide to kennels on measures to be taken to protect kennels against the risk of attacks from the public and organisations wishing to prevent injured strays being put down. | | (177383) | 308
N | John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pedestrians have been hit by police vehicles in each of the last five years; how many of these incidents have been investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and what the conclusions were of each investigation. | | (176995) | 309
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of applicants for British citizenship from Kosovo were (a) refused and (b) found not to be of Kosovan origin in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (177557) | 310
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of applications for Britizen citizenship from Kosovans made since 2000 were processed within (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) one year; and if she will make a statement. | | (177558) | 311
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued on the prevention by police of photographers taking pictures in public places; and if she will make a statement. | | (177626) | 312
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Government funding has been made available to police services to help them meet obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004; and if she will make a statement. | | (177447) | 313
| Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will instruct the Border and Immigration Agency to issue a decision on the application for indefinite leave to remain made by Mr Wael Hussein (Home Office reference: H1086470). | | (177615) | 314
| Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines are issued to case decision-makers in the Borders and Immigration Agency on the economic and social consequences for applicants for indefinite leave to remain of the time taken to make decisions on individual applications. | | (177616) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 315
| Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect that withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower qualifications will have on opportunities for lifelong learning. | | (177551) | 316
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what powers he has to take steps against those offering bogus degrees; whether any investigations are curently on-going; how many institutions have been closed as a result of such investigations in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. | | (177632) | 317
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177435) | 318
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, further to his letter of 7th September 2007 to the Chairman of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, whether a UK resident or citizen with a qualification from an overseas institution deemed to be equivalent to or lower than a qualification which they wish to study will qualify for public funding for higher education courses in English institutions where they have not previously accessed public funding for higher education within the UK. | | (177292) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 319
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the timescale is for upgrading interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to full EPAs. | | (177582) | 320
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what safeguard clauses exist to protect African, Caribbean and Pacific producers from import surges in those countries who have concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement. | | (177583) | 321
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what monitoring and review mechanisms exist as part of the economic partnership agreements to enable countries to make their own assessment of the impact of the agreements. | | (177584) | 322
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the EU will ensure that agricultural exports are duty and tariff free in accordance with the terms of the interim economic partnership agreements. | | (177646) | 323
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures his Department has put in place to assess the effect on those countries which did not conclude an economic partnership agreement by the 31st December 2007 deadline. | | (177655) | 324
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures his Department has put in place to make an impact assessment for those countries that have signed (a) a full economic partnership agreement and (b) an interim arrangement. | | (177659) | 325
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many of the countries which have signed an interim economic partnership agreement have expressed an interest in including the Singapore terms in any future agreement. | | (177668) | 326
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the expected gains are for the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries from the duty and quota free offer from the EU following the EU's change in rules of origin; and whether any further modifications are anticipated. | | (177669) | 327
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total expenditure on promoting alternative livelihoods to the drugs trade in Afghanistan was in each year since 2001. | | (177538) | 328
| Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total expenditure on reconstruction and aid for Afghanistan was in each year since 2001. | | (177543) | 329
| Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer of 5th March 2007, Official Report, column 1624W, on Sudan, what proportion of the grant aid given by his Department to UNHCR was spent upon that organisation's priority areas of vaccination and veterinary care in co-operation with the Chadian government's livestock delegation and promoting the breeding of smaller animals (sheep and poultry) better suited to vulnerable refugees living in camps. | | (177438) | 330
| Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will hold discussions with the Disasters Emergency Committee on widening its membership to include representatives of those working with livestock and animal welfare in emergencies in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. | | (177444) | 331
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177426) | 332
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions he has had with representatives of other governments on whaling since the IWC59 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177573) | 333
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether he plans to discuss whaling and the international moratorium on whaling with other governments before the IWC60 meeting; and if he will make a statement. | | (177574) | 334
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on the subject of whale conservation; and if he will make a statement. | | (177575) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice 335
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many non-UK prisoners of each sex who were returned to serve their sentences in their home countries were serving custodial sentences of (a) 12 months or more, (b) two years or more and (c) four years or more in the last year for which figures are available; and what these figures are as a proportion of (i) foreign prisoners and (ii) foreign prisoners returned to their home countries. | | (177455) | 336
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which 20 nationalities had the highest number of (a) prisoners and (b) prisoners without leave to remain in the UK in custody in the UK in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available. | | (177456) | 337
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) non-UK citizens and (b) non-UK citizens without leave to remain in the UK were sentenced to custodial sentences in each year since 1997; what proportion of the prison population serving sentences fell into each of those categories in the same period; and what estimate he has made of the cost of detaining prisoners in each category in each of those years. | | (177457) | 338
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177488) | 339
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date the current pay agreement at HM Land Registry ended; what the reasons are for the time taken to reach a settlement for 2007; what the timetable for negotiations is for 2008; and if he will make a statement. | | (177369) | 340
| Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he will reply to the letter, dated 19th November, from the right hon. Member for Manchester Gorton, regarding Mr Kurm Shezad Butt. | | (177550) | 341
N | Susan Kramer (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13th November 2007, Official Report, column 145W, on custodial treatment: children, how many children of age (a) 10, (b) 11, (c) 12 and (d) 13 years were held in custody in the same establishment as children aged 14 years or over in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006. | | (175781) | 342
N | Susan Kramer (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13th November 2007, Official Report, column 145W, on custodial treatment: children, how many children of age (a) 10, (b) 11, (c) 12 and (d) 13 years were held in custody following incidents of assault in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006. | | (175782) | 343
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions were brought against illegal importers of animals into the UK in 2007; and what the conviction rates were in these cases. | | (177724) | 344
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has for a public consultation on reform of political party funding prior to introducing legislation. | | (177697) | 345
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Southend West of 12th December 2007, Official Report, columns 594-96W, on the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, what the penalty given to each individual found guilty of an offence under the Act was in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006. | | (177698) | 346
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Southend West of 12th December 2007, Official Report, columns 594-96W, on the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, what sentencing guidelines have been produced in relation to offences under the Act. | | (177699) | 347
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 since 1997, broken down by offence; and if he will make a statement. | | (177714) | Questions to the Leader of the House 348
| Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Leader of the House, what files are held by the her Office on (a) the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Sessions (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1987-88 and (iii) 1989-90, (b) the Unborn Children (Protection ) Bills of sessions (A) 1984-85, (B) 1985-86 and (C) 1987-88 and (c) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill of session 1989-90; and if she will make a statement. | | (177571) | 349
| Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Leader of the House, what (a) external and (b) internal appointments she had in each week of December 2007 in her capacity as (i) Leader of the House of Commons, (ii) Minister for Women and (iii) Lord Privy Seal. | | (177443) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 350
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177434) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland 351
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177485) | Questions to the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 352
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what research the Electoral Commission has conducted into local spending in constituencies by party organisations with incomes of below £25,000 a year. | | (177636) | 353
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18th December 2007, Official Report, column 1235W, on political parties: finance, whether the sponsorship or subsidy of a regulated donee's website is a donation or a donation-in-kind; and what records the Commission holds of the regulated donors which have declared such sponsorship. | | (177637) | 354
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18th December 2007, Official Report, column 1235W, on political parties: finance, what research the Electoral Commission initiated on the operation of the political levy and political funds by trade unions. | | (177700) | 355
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 922W, on political parties: finance, on what date the document, Donations and loans: guidance for political parties in Great Britain was sent to the Registered Treasurer of each registered political party; and whether the document was emailed or posted. | | (177706) | 356
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what meetings the Electoral Commission has had with the Northern Ireland Certification Officer since the establishment of the Commission. | | (177707) | 357
| Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 11th December 2007, Official Report, column 351W, on political parties: donors, on what date the most recent version of the donation and loans guidance was sent to each political party. | | (177708) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 358
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions have taken place between the Civil Aviation Authority and her Department on mobile telephone use in aeroplanes. | | (177287) | 359
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the policy of (a) her Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority is on the use of mobile telephones in aeroplanes. | | (177288) | 360
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent research (a) her Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken on the effect of mobile telephone use on planes on flight systems. | | (177289) | 361
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research (a) her Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken on the effect of the introduction of mobile telephone use on aeroplanes on the incidence of air rage. | | (177290) | 362
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Hendon pensioners over 70 years received free driving licence renewals in each of the last three years. | | (177502) | 363
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timescale is for a decision to be taken on the re-doubling of the Swindon-Kemble line. | | (177629) | 364
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cyclists have died in road accidents in each of the last five years. | | (177630) | 365
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ensure that people who have to travel regularly to hospital are exempted from road user charging under the provisions of the Local Transport Bill. | | (177670) | 366
N | Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available from (a) central and (b) local government for road improvements to the A303 at Stonehenge in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09. | | (177162) | 367
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold an investigation into disruptions to the service on the Norwich to London railway line (a) at Christmas 2007 and (b) throughout 2007. | | (177327) | 368
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of train delays on the Norwich to London railway line were due to problems with overhead cables in 2007. | | (177328) | 369
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what percentage of delays to trains on the Norwich to London railway line there were between the hours of (a) 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., (b) 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and (c) 4 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. in each direction in 2007. | | (177329) | 370
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (177429) | 371
N | Justine Greening (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many households have been sent the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Summary consultation document, broken down by (a) non-London borough local authority and (b) ward; and if she will make a statement. | | (177159) | 372
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries resulting from accidents on motorways in Hampshire there were in each of the last two years, broken down on a junction-to-junction basis. | | (177326) | 373
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will request Passenger Focus to conduct a study into passenger comfort on Desiro Class 450 trains; and if she will make a statement. | | (177333) | 374
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will estimate the costs of running a Sunday rail service (a) overall and (b) for each train operating company (i) on Christmas Day and (ii) on Boxing Day. | | (177334) | 375
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what basis the allocation of £212 million for the National Concessionary Fares Scheme extension from 2008-09 was calculated; what the funding allocation for all transport authorities in the South East except London is for that year; and if she will make a statement. | | (177339) | 376
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will initiate an official inquiry into the performance of contractors employed by Network Rail on projects at (a) Liverpool Street station and (b) Rugby; and if she will make a statement. | | (177342) | 377
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she had with Network Rail on rail network engineering projects over the Christmas period; what action she took following those discussions; and if she will make a statement. | | (177344) | 378
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her policy is on the electrification of the railway network; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the electrification on carbon dioxide emissions. | | (177348) | 379
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) cost and (b) benefits of the electrification of those non-electrified parts of the rail network between (i) Southampton and Salisbury, (ii) Wokingham and Aldershot South Junction and (iii) Basingstoke and Salisbury; and if she will make a statement. | | (177349) | 380
| Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what performance levels were achieved by First Great Western for the Portsmouth to Cardiff rail service in each year from 1997; what plans she has to review the operation of this franchise; and if she will make a statement. | | (177350) | 381
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the total cost of the proposed West London Line train station at Imperial Wharf. | | (177378) | 382
| Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate was made of the cost of constructing a bridleway to connect Down's Road and Hog Lane on the A2 road in Gravesham. | | (177294) | 383
N | Martin Horwood (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29th November 2007, Official Report, column 600W, on railways: safety measures, if she will place in the Library the full research data from which the review referred to was compiled, with particular reference to the test data reviewed in section 9.4 of the report. | | (177242) | 384
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will revise Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1808 (M) to allow a suitable Royal Yachting Association qualification to be an alternative to the qualifying service time; and if she will apply that provision to smaller vessels carrying up to 100 passengers on inland and tidal category C waters. | | (176997) | 385
N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will categorise Salcombe Harbour as category C waters. | | (176998) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales 386
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177428) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 387
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of national insurance number registrations were held by (a) EU and (b) non-EU nationals in each year since 1987. | | (177388) | 388
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, further to the Answer of 17th December 2007, Official Report, column 936W, on national insurance: foreign workers, how many and what proportion of all national insurance numbers issued were issued to (a) UK citizens, (b) non-EU nationals and (c) EU citizens in each year since 1987; what the percentage change in each category was in each period; and how many numbers were issued to people in each region of the UK in each category in each period. | | (177480) | 389
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 11th December 2007, Official Report, column 467W, on New Deal schemes, what employment-related schemes his Department provides for non-EU citizens. | | (177735) | 390
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in (a) Hendon and (b) the UK received (i) pension credit and (ii) pension guarantee credit in the latest period for which figures are available; and in each case, what the average amount received each week was. | | (177497) | 391
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Hendon were (a) entitled to receive and (b) have received winter fuel payments in 2007; how many received the over 80s rate of £300; what additional cold weather payments are available to those on pension credit; how many pensioners in Hendon received such additional payments in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (177498) | 392
| Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will put in place measures to support parents of children with cancer at work, through paid leave and related policies. | | (177420) | 393
| Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available. | | (177427) | 394
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment of health and safety standards in private kennels will be undertaken prior to the provisions of section 68 of Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 commencing on 6th April 2008; and if he will initiate an inquiry into the health and safety standards at the kennels at which a dog attacked a lady handler in December 2007. | | (177384) | 395
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive recommends to protect kennels staff against attacks by animals. | | (177385) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 396
N | Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the likely level of greenhouse gas emissions from the 10 new opencast coal mines in each year that they are expected to operate. | | [Transferred] (176993) | 397
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the Government's policy is on the development of a North Sea wind farm. | | [Transferred] (177648) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 398
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) inward and (b) outward migrants to and from the UK there were in each 10-year age cohort in each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (177389) | 399
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many visitor switchers were taken into account for the purpose of calculating the balance of total international migration to and from the UK in each year since 1991. | | [Transferred] (177391) | 400
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many asylum seekers were taken into account for the purpose of calculating the balance of total international migration to and from the UK in the years 1997 to 2006 inclusive; and what proportion of net migration these figures represented in each of those years. | | [Transferred] (177392) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 401
| Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what Government funding has been made available to (a) local authorities and (b) fire authorities to meet obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177448) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 402
| Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many families remain unable to return to their homes following the 2007 summer flood damage. | | [Transferred] (177711) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 403
| Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioners over 75 years in Hendon have free television licences. | | [Transferred] (177500) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 404
| Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding will be made available to local authorities for the 24-hour service for stray dogs in advance of the coming into force of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005; and whether this money will be ringfenced for this purpose. | | [Transferred] (177386) | 405
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of illegal dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177715) | 406
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of illegal dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 that entered the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177716) | 407
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the trade in dangerous dogs over the internet; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177717) | 408
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Japanese tosas and (b) cross-bred Japanese tosas in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177718) | 409
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pit bull terriers and (b) cross-bred pit bull terriers in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177719) | 410
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Dogo Argentinos and (b) cross-bred Dogo Argentinos in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177720) | 411
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Fila Brasileiros and (b) cross-bred Fila Brasileiros in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177721) | 412
| Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration he has given to changing the breeds and types banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and if he will make a statement. | | [Transferred] (177722) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 413
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for employing a person aged 16 years and above subject to immigration control contrary to sections (8) and (6) of the Asylum and Immigration Control in each quarter since 1st January 2002. | | [Transferred] (177371) | 414
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for (i) knowingly facilitating the entry of an illegal entrant contrary to section 25(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 and (ii) assisting unlawful immigration contrary to section 25 of the Immigration Act in each quarter since 1st January 2002; and how many of those convicted received custodial sentences. | | [Transferred] (177414) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice 415
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) foreign nationals and (b) non-EU foreign nationals convicted of an offence in the UK had (i) a previous conviction in the UK, (ii) a previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence, (iii) more than one previous conviction in the UK and (iv) more than one previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence in each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (177404) | 416
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) foreign nationals and (b) non-EU foreign nationals convicted of an offence or offences in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence had (i) a previous conviction in the UK, (ii) a previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence, (iii) more than one previous conviction in the UK and (iv) more than one previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence in each year since 1997. | | [Transferred] (177405) | 417
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many non-UK prisoners were returned to serve their sentence in (a) EU and (b) non-EU home countries in each year since 1997; which 10 non-EU countries received the most prisoners in that period; and how many of those returned to non-EU countries did not have leave to remain in the UK. | | [Transferred] (177458) | Questions to the Prime Minister 418
| Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Prime Minister, whether email addresses from the Number 10 e-bulletin mailing list have been passed to the Office of Tony Blair. | | [Transferred] (177379) |
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