Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 9 May 2008

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Friday 9 May 2008
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 9 May 2008

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Friday 9 May 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 Friday 9 May of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Friday 9 May see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

1
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to increase trade between the United Kingdom and the Seychelles; how much his Department and its predecessor spent on the promotion of trade between the United Kingdom and the Seychelles in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

(205073)

2
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many officials in his Department work on the promotion of trade between the United Kingdom and the Seychelles, broken down by grade; and what the equivalent numbers were for the Department of Trade and Industry in (a) 1983, (b) 1987 and (c) each year between 1998 and 2005.

(205074)

3
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many officials in his Department and its predecessor visited the Seychelles on official business in 2007, broken down by grade; and what the equivalent number was in (a) 1983, (b) 1987 and (c) each year between 1998 and 2005.

(205075)

4
Mr Brian Binley (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many of the schemes referred to in the 2006 Audit Commission report on simplifying business support have been assessed for their effectiveness.

(205086)

5
Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent discussions he has had with the insurance industry on provision of (a) insurance and (b) travel insurance to older people; whether he provides guidance to the industry on the subject; and what recent representations he has received on the subject.

(204908)

6
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which local authorities in Gloucestershire made submissions to the recent restructuring review for post offices.

(204954)

7
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people receiving the national minimum wage, broken down by level of total annual earnings.

(204535)

8
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205189)

9
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

(204772)

10
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the (a) purpose and (b) value was of each (i) contract and (ii) transaction between his Department and Stichling Hahn Hilbrich in each of the last five years; and on what date each such (A) contract was signed and (B) transaction took place.

(204926)

11
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205052)

12
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205143)

13
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what steps he is taking to ensure fair competition in the provision of postal services.

(204757)

14
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of (a) the average household fuel bill and (b) the average household fuel bill as a proportion of household income in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by region.

(204554)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

15
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people with a BT postcode living in Northern Ireland missed the 31st January deadline for filing their tax returns.

(204663)

16
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what factors were taken into account in making the decision to remove the exemption from higher rates of vehicle excise duty from vehicles first registered after March 2001; what consultation he undertook before removing the exemption; and if he will make a statement.

(205019)

17
N Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to issue an invitation to tender for the role of independent valuer in relation to Northern Rock; when he expects to appoint an independent valuer; and when the independent valuer will be required to report to him.

(204552)

18
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205173)

19
N Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the board of Northern Rock bank on the future of the bank's Republic of Ireland operations.

(204628)

20
N Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the headcount of Northern Rock bank was on (a) 21st February and (b) 30th April 2008.

(204629)

21
N Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the budgeted financial balance of Northern Rock Bank (Ireland) is for the financial year 2008-09.

(204630)

22
N Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the final report of the Poynter Review will be published.

(204468)

23
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204774)

24
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead of 25th March 2008, Official Report, column 42W, on tax credits, what the highest possible income is which a family which (a) claims and (b) does not claim the disability element for any children or adults with (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) more than four children while being eligible for the child care element of the working tax credit.

(204920)

25
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints HM Revenue and Customs received in respect of late payment interest charges on tax payments which were not late in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available.

(204924)

26
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205050)

27
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has for the use of revenues received by the UK from the auctioning of emission allowances in future phases of the European Emissions Trading Scheme.

(204967)

28
N Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when HM Revenue and Customs will reply to the letter of 12th July 2007 from the hon. Member for Aylesbury on the case of Mrs H; and if he will make a statement.

(204611)

29
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205146)

30
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1688W, on Valuation Office: ICT, how many localities there are in each individual billing authority area in England.

(204866)

31
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1688W, on Valuation Office: ICT, what correspondence there is between the boundaries of localities and other (a) local government or (b) statistical geographical divisions.

(204867)

32
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 25th June 2007, Official Report, column 399W, on the Valuation Office Agency, if he will place in the Library copies of the Agency's staff magazine produced since June 2007.

(204868)

33
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17th March 2008, Official Report, column 899W, on the Valuation Office: Wales, when the automated valuation model capabilities will come into operation in Wales; what the budgeted cost is; and what work is being undertaken by Cole Layer Trumble/Tyler Technologies on the project.

(204869)

34
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8th January 2008, Official Report, columns 509-510W, on valuation: licensed premises, if he will place in the Library the latest edition of the full Rating Manual.

(204870)

35
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8th January 2008, Official Report, columns 509-510W, on valuation: licensed premises, whether the section of the Rating Manual has been rewritten.

(204871)

36
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17th October 2007, Official Report, column 1144W, on the Valuation Office, on what dates other than 22nd November 2005 the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation Programme Board (England) has met.

(204872)

37
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's technical definition of a revenue-neutral tax change is.

(204873)

38
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, columns 1689-90W, on the Valuation Office: measuring instruments, what the reasons were for the differences in expenditure in 2007-08 and 2006-07.

(204874)

39
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, columns 1689-90W, on the Valuation Office: measuring instruments, if he will place in the Library the invoices for the purchases in 2007-08.

(204875)

40
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, columns 1689-90W, on the Valuation Office: measuring instruments, who the designated supplier is.

(204876)

41
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1690W, on the Valuation Office: video recordings, what the (a) title and (b) purpose was of the video produced since January.

(204877)

42
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1688W, on the Valuation Office, how many households in England received a visit from a Valuation Office Agency official in each year since 2003 for which figures are available.

(204878)

43
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1688W, on the Valuation Office, how many households in Wales received a visit from a Valuation Office Agency representative as part of the 2005 council tax revaluation.

(204879)

44
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, columns 1685-6W, on stamp duty land tax: shared ownership schemes, whether (a) Social Homebuy and (b) New Build Homebuy are shared ownership or shared equity schemes for the purposes of the stamp duty land tax rule.

(204880)

45
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, columns 1684-5W, on stamp duties, whether an impact assessment was produced in relation to introducing charging by an energy assessor to assess whether a dwelling meets the standard.

(204881)

46
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, columns 1685-6W, on stamp duty land tax: shared ownership schemes, whether the homebuyer, when purchasing the final 20 per cent. of the equity, having previously purchased up to 80 per cent., will be required to pay stamp duty on 100 per cent. of the property's total capital value or only the final 20 per cent.

(204882)

47
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1669W, on council tax: valuation, what (a) property attributes and (b) data sets the banding support tool uses to identify comparable properties.

(204883)

48
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1668W, on capital allowances: enterprise zones, what the estimated cost is of the enterprise zone allowances to the Exchequer in 2008-09; and what estimate his Department has made of the increase in tax receipts in the first full year that the allowances are withdrawn.

(204884)

49
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many consequential amendments have been made to council tax banding, in terms of number of households, since the 2005 council tax revaluation in Wales in each local authority area in Wales according to Valuation Office Agency records.

(204886)

50
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency uses Cole Layer Trumble's (a) OASIS, (b) ORION and (c) iAnalyze products.

(204888)

51
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs has made of the number of full-time students who receive an income from working part-time.

(204889)

52
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have conducted into land value taxation.

(204890)

53
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's document Valuation of Public Houses: Approved Guide in use for the 2010 non-domestic rates revaluation.

(204891)

54
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency's Automated Valuation Model is used for the valuation of houses for (a) right-to-buy sales and (b) inheritance tax.

(204892)

55
N David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the UK will sign the EU anti-smuggling agreement with Japan Tobacco International; and if he will make a statement.

(204472)

56
N David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the effect that the Memorandum of Understanding Gallaher signed with Customs and Excise on 23rd April 2002 had on the subsequent proportion of Customs and Excise's seizures of smuggled tobacco products in 2003-04 that were genuine Gallaher brands; and if he will make a statement.

(204536)

57
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if, following the recent High Court judgement relating to Gallaher and TEL, he will review the evidence presented during the case to assess whether enforcement action for which his Department is responsible should be taken against Gallaher.

(205110)

58
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if, following the recent High Court judgement relating to Gallaher and TEL, he will review the four declarations made by Gallaher between 2004 and 2007 under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, relating to trading in Iraq, to assess whether enforcement action for which his Department is responsible should be taken.

(205111)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

59
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what legislation regulates the education of children with special educational needs; what changes have been made since its enactment; and if he will make a statement.

(205076)

60
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children were (a) classified as having special educational needs, (b) given a statement of special educational needs and (c) classified as having emotional and behavioural difficulties in each year since 1990, broken down by (i) sex and (ii) local authority.

(205077)

61
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils who were permanently excluded had special educational needs in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sex and (ii) age.

(205078)

62
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children were on the roll (a) in each secondary school and (b) at special schools in Southend in each of the last five years for which information is available; and how many children in Southend with special educational needs attended special schools outside Southend in each year.

(205079)

63
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many support staff his Department employs specifically to help the children of service personnel.

(205134)

64
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205188)

65
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children have been removed from the school register for home schooling in England since 2004; and what research has been carried out by his Department on the reasons why parents choose to home school their children.

(204942)

66
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the pupil-teacher ratio was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wirral West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

(205069)

67
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

(204775)

68
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205049)

69
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the average A-level points score per pupil was for secondary schools with sixth forms containing (a) 50 or fewer, (b) 51 to 100, (c) 101 to 150, (d) 151 to 200, (e) 201 to 250 and (f) more than 250 pupils in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(205109)

70
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what provision will be made for young people in custody to new diploma -courses; and if he will make a statement.

(205010)

71
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, by what date he expects (a) Key Stage 2 and (b) Key Stage 3 pupils to receive the results of their 2008 national tests; and if he will make a statement.

(205022)

72
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what discussions his Department has had with ETS on the training of markers of Key Stage 2 and 3 national tests; and if he will make a statement.

(205023)

73
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many complaints his Department has received about the administering of national tests by ETS; and if he will make a statement.

(205024)

74
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what procedures his Department has in place to ensure that all markers of national tests are qualified; and if he will make a statement.

(205025)

75
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received an interest-free, advance of salary loan to purchase a bicycle in each year for which records are available.

(205029)

76
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of childcare staff in (a) maintained nurseries and (b) children's centres had been in post for less than six months at the latest date for which figures are available.

(205030)

77
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of childcare staff in (a) maintained nurseries and (b) children's centres were recruited through a temporary recruitment agency in the latest period for which figures are available.

(205031)

78
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will bring academies into the purview of local schools committees.

(204970)

79
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205144)

80
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, on how many occasions he has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

(204972)

81
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will consider reforming the eligibility criteria for the education maintenance allowance (EMA) to allow children under the age of 16 years who have been advanced one school year or more and are studying at a post-16 educational level to receive the EMA.

(205136)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

82
N Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether civil servants in his Department have lodged complaints against a member of the Council of Economic Advisers since 1997.

(204135)

83
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205170)

84
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the average age of a first-time mother was in (a) the North West and (b) England in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(204978)

85
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what information the Office for National Statistics holds on the numbers of people resident in Wirral West constituency, broken down by age group.

(205065)

86
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Cabinet Office Ministers since 1997.

(204777)

87
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the percentage increases in (a) pension contributions, (b) salaries and (c) expense allowances of (i) Cabinet Ministers, (ii) Ministers of State and (iii) Parliamentary Under-Secretaries were in each of the last five years.

(205020)

88
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the percentage increases in pension payments to former (a) Cabinet Ministers, (b) Ministers of State and (c) Parliamentary Under-Secretaries were in each of the last 10 years.

(205021)

89
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205047)

90
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons met the Civil Service diversity targets by April 2008, as set out in the Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007, page 51.

(205113)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

91
Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the role and purpose of the Eco-Towns Challenge Panel is; whether it will provide advice on which eco-towns proposed should be submitted for planning approval; and if she will make a statement.

(205009)

92
Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how the members of the Eco-Towns Challenge panel were selected; what the basis was of the establishment of the panel; how much it is estimated to cost each year; and what remuneration is paid to its members.

(205112)

93
N Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6th May 2008, Official Report, column 740W, on housing: derelict land, what proportion of new dwellings built in 2006 were built on previously residential land, broken down by (a) county and (b) local authority area, presenting the data in a manner consistent with that of her Answer of 24th May 2007, Official Report, column 1524W, on brownfield development.

(204749)

94
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many firefighters were injured in the course of operational incidents in fire and rescue services in England in each of the last 10 years.

(204837)

95
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions fire and rescue services were required to evacuate residents from their homes in each year since 1994.

(204838)

96
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the average stamp duty paid by a first-time buyer in (a) Bexley, (b) England and (c) the United Kingdom in 2007-08.

(204750)

97
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were built in the London Borough of Bexley in each year since 1997.

(204912)

98
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when her Department began the research into return path usage amongst the elderly referred to in the minutes of the Emerging Technologies Group meeting on 27th February in relation to the digital switchover assistance scheme.

(204919)

99
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much was spent by her Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205187)

100
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will issue planning guidance requiring 2km separation zones around wind turbines.

(204945)

101
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effects of Planning Advice Note 45 on the siting of wind turbines.

(204946)

102
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many public playgrounds have been closed due to vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the last four years; and what steps her Department is taking to address this matter.

(204943)

103
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in her Department and its predecessors since 1997.

(204776)

104
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measure of inflation her Department uses in calculations affecting shared equity home ownership schemes sponsored by her Department and its agencies.

(204925)

105
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many smoking shelters were built at each of her Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205048)

106
Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the application of the de minimis principle, in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy, will be in terms of number of buildings or value of buildings; and if she will make a statement.

(204949)

107
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effects of the difference between the amount expected and the amount received from the European Solidarity Fund for flood recovery; what consequential adjustments she plans to make to spending priorities; and if she will make a statement.

(204751)

108
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many council houses there are in each local authority area; and what estimate she has made of (a) the cost of transferring these houses to registered social landlords and (b) the cost of gap funding for such transfers.

(204839)

109
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many times her Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205008)

110
N Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to respond to the Sixth Report of the Communities and Local Government Committee, HC 195, on Refuse Collection: Waste Reduction Pilots, published on 21st February 2008.

(204470)

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

111
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the March 2008 Emerging Technologies Group.

(204917)

112
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he was first informed of the research into return path usage amongst the elderly commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government, referred to in the minutes of the Emerging Technologies Group meeting on 27th February in relation to the digital switchover assistance scheme.

(204918)

113
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205186)

114
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204770)

115
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205045)

116
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205007)

117
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions he has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

(204977)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

118
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Territorial Army personnel are based in Northern Ireland.

(204665)

119
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7th May 2008, Official Report, column 831W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, whether armed forces personnel and Departmental staff are inspected for unauthorised items before departing from theatre.

(205122)

120
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7th May 2008, Official Report, column 831W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that unauthorised items are not posted by service personnel from the theatre of operations to the United Kingdom.

(205123)

121
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7th May 2008, Official Report, column 834W, on armed forces: uniforms, how much one complete set of Combat Soldier 95 uniform cost in each year since 2004.

(205124)

122
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7th May 2008, Official Report, column 834W, on armed forces: uniforms, how much has been paid to Cooneen Watts and Stone Ltd. for the production of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform since 2004.

(205125)

123
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6th May 2008, Official Report, column 834W, on armed forces: uniforms, what steps his Department takes to ensure no child labour is involved in the manufacturing of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform.

(205126)

124
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK personnel are deployed on operations, broken down by location.

(205127)

125
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the separation rate was for married personnel in each service in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) officers, (b) other ranks and (c) all ranks.

(205128)

126
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints were made to Modern Housing Solutions about service accommodation in each month since January 2008.

(205129)

127
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what specific savings are being made in order to implement the Armed Forces Pay Review body recommendations for 2008.

(205130)

128
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what savings targets were set for Defence Estates for regional prime contracts in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

(205131)

129
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library the results and findings of the Trauma Risk Management pilot.

(205132)

130
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many compensation claims were rejected where the standard of proof was a consideration in the decision in each year since 2005.

(205133)

131
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many compensation claims were rejected where the time limit was part of the consideration in making the decision in each year since 2005.

(205135)

132
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205185)

133
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will re-evaluate the Future Rapid Effect System project with particular reference to (a) the delivery schedule, (b) cost projections, (c) vehicle reliability, (d) the successful completion of all tests, (e) excessive weight, (f) excessive noise, (g) limited visibility and (h) reliability of the weapons system; and if he will make a statement.

(204780)

134
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6th May 2008, Official Report, column 835W, on AWE Burghfield, on whose authority live nuclear work was suspended at AWE Burghfield, as described in the Health and Safety Executive Quarterly Report for 1st October to 31st December 2007; on what date work was suspended; what work needs to take place before live nuclear work resumes; on what date work is expected to resume; on whose authority this will take place; and whether he was informed of this suspension.

(205054)

135
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30th April 2008, Official Report, column 484W, on radioactive materials: transport, what plans he has to ensure that the refurbished truck cargo heavy duty trailers and newly purchased tractor heads are compliant with regulations on radiation hazard, with particular reference to the carrying of radiation hazard warning signs when loaded with special nuclear materials; and if he will make a statement.

(205190)

136
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204769)

137
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28th February 2008, Official Report, columns 1807-8W on departmental manpower, how many of the employees under 18 years of age are receiving at least one day's training per week.

(204933)

138
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205044)

139
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department has imposed a 65-tonne weight limit on commercial loads which can be handled on the Falklands Jetty at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre; when this limit was determined; whether its impact on the planning consent given for the construction plans for the new Marchwood Power Station was considered before the limit was laid down; and if he will make a statement.

(204537)

140
N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the weight limit is for military loads which can be handled on the Falklands Jetty at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre.

(204538)

141
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to introduce a Regular Forces Service Medal to recognise long service in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (204909)

142
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to invite the Committee on Honours, Decorations and Medals to consider the introduction of a medal for international service for United Kingdom armed forces to replace those issued by international organisations; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (204910)

143
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205141)

144
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will introduce a cap on the number of personnel recruited to the armed forces from Commonwealth countries.

(204756)

145
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received in relation to the capacity, funding and equipment of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

(204623)

146
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many servicemen and women normally resident in East Dunbartonshire were serving in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such service personnel have served in each country in the last five years.

(204553)

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

147
N Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on flood defence schemes announced for construction in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.

(204669)

148
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent research he has commissioned into the relationship between tuberculosis in animals and human strains of the disease.

(204955)

149
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence he has considered on the relationship between the size of herds and the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle.

(204956)

150
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent research he has commissioned on the (a) effectiveness, (b) efficacy and (c) ethics of using electric shock collars on dogs.

(204957)

151
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the role of co-operative enterprises in recycling and waste minimisation.

(205013)

152
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of likely trends in the numbers of waste collection authorities operating commingled collections.

(205014)

153
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many food waste trials he has (a) commissioned and (b) approved; and when the results of the trials are expected.

(205015)

154
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many local authorities have received private finance initiative finance from his Department for waste schemes; how much has been paid over the last three years; and for what purposes.

(205016)

155
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205184)

156
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

(204768)

157
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) purpose and (b) value was of each (i) contract and (ii) transaction between his Department and Stichling Hahn Hilbrich in each of the last five years; and on what date each such (A) contract was signed and (B) transaction took place.

(204927)

158
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205043)

159
Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the contribution of land management to reducing flooding.

(204966)

160
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) UK and (b) other EU member states' fishing vessels are permitted to engage in pair-trawling in the six to 12 mile band of UK waters; and if he will make a statement.

(204824)

161
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of pair-trawling in UK waters on (a) bass and (b) dolphins; and what steps he plans to take to reduce adverse effects.

(204825)

162
Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether, in his role as Director of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development at the Intergovernmental Plenary, the Chief Scientific Adviser is required to act independently of the UK Government.

(205006)

163
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many wardens as defined by section 18 of the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 have been appointed in (a) each region and (b) each local authority area since 2001.

(204893)

164
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Acts for which his Department has policy responsibility received Royal Assent between 1st May 1997 and April 2008; and which provisions within those Acts have not been brought into force.

(204894)

165
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of visits made to the countryside in (a) the 12 months prior to and (b) each year since the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 gained Royal Assent; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the provisions of the Act on the numbers of people visiting the countryside.

(204895)

166
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact that an extension of coastal access will have on (a) rural business owners and (b) landowners.

(204896)

167
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205142)

168
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information he holds on the levels of fuel subsidy provided to fishing fleets in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

(204625)

169
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the effects of fuel prices on competitiveness in the industry.

(204626)

170
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission research on the effects of fuel prices on competitiveness in the fishing industries.

(204627)

171
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on the effect of additional development on Canvey Island on the ability to evacuate the island in the event of flood risk; and if he will make a statement.

(205071)

172
N Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what shadow price per hectare of salt marsh he has used for the purpose of implementation of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

(204622)

173
Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist UK fishermen to meet rising fuel costs; what other measures to assist fishermen with fuel costs would be permissible under EU rules; and what benchmarking his Department has undertaken of UK assistance on fuel prices to fishermen against measures taken by other EU member states.

(204779)

174
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the animal welfare standards for live horses and ponies being exported from the UK.

(205137)

175
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many live (a) cattle, (b) horses, (c) sheep and (d) ponies were exported from the UK in each of the last three years.

(205138)

176
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many horse and pony export licences were issued in each of the last three years.

(205139)

177
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the introduction of cost and responsibility sharing for animal health; and what annual savings he expects this to generate for his Department.

(205140)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

178
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of the Maldives on establishing effective parliamentary process for the completion of the new constitution.

(204958)

179
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department will send (a) independent observers and (b) observers as part of an EU delegation to the Maldives, in advance of the elections expected in 2008.

(204959)

180
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Maldives government on the distribution of media resources between political parties in advance of expected elections in 2008.

(204960)

181
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of the Maldives on establishing an independent election commission in advance of the expected elections in 2008.

(204961)

182
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of the Maldives on charges against members of opposition parties in advance of expected elections in 2008.

(204962)

183
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens (a) visited and (b) emigrated to the Seychelles in each year since 2000.

(205059)

184
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had with the President of the Palestinian Authority about the reported blocking of fuel supplies to hospitals and clinics in the Gaza Strip by Hamas; and if he will make a statement.

(205060)

185
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had with Arab governments about the reported blocking of fuel supplies to hospitals and clinics in the Gaza Strip by Hamas; and if he will make a statement.

(205061)

186
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the outcome of the NATO Bucharest Summit on UK policy on Afghanistan.

(205053)

187
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what legal advice he has (a) commissioned and (b) received on the death of civilian workers on projects funded by the UK in Somalia resulting from interaction between the governments of Somalia and Ethiopia and UK-supported activities.

(204947)

188
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what political, diplomatic and military support (a) the UK and (b) the EU has provided to (i) Ethiopia in support of its role in Somalia, (ii) Ethiopia and (iii) Somalia in the last two years.

(204948)

189
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what training on (a) human rights and (b) other issues the Government has provided to the High Mountain Battalion in Colombia in the last five years.

(205028)

190
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he received of attacks on humanitarian aid workers along the Chadian border with Sudan in each of the last three months.

(204836)

191
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received from the Polisario Front.

(204951)

192
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the status is of negotiations in Manhasset on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(204952)

193
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) France and (b) Spain on the future of the Western Sahara.

(204953)

194
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made in executing International Criminal Court warrants for the arrest of the leadership of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

(205017)

195
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the re-population of Acholiland in northern Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

(205018)

196
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reservations have been sought by the Government on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and if he will make a statement.

(204963)

197
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his most recent assessment is of the UK's compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and if he will make a statement.

(204964)

198
Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which people have been nominated by the Government for the UN Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

(204965)

199
N Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with European counterparts on the scope of responsibility of the (a) posts and (b) institutions to be established by the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

(204729)

200
N Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with EU institutions on the process of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, including in member states where the ratification process is by referendum; and if he will make a statement.

(204730)

201
N Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Irish government on the process of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

(204731)

202
Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent (a) representations he has made to and (b) discussions he has had with (i) other EU member states and (ii) EU institutions on potential candidates for the proposed post of President of the European Council; and if he will make a statement.

(204841)

203
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205183)

204
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether there are plans to publish the refreshed 6th June 2006 E3+3 proposals on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

(204820)

205
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the (a) responsibilities are and (b) grade is of his Department's new head of digital engagement.

(204821)

206
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of the budget for his Department's new website will be spent on the design of embassy and high commission websites.

(204822)

207
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the budget for his Department's new departmental website.

(204823)

208
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether a review was undertaken before the decision to approve funding for his Department's new website.

(204899)

209
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to meet representatives of the Polisario Front to discuss the status of Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(205099)

210
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the US Government requesting the disqualification of evidence extracted by torture in the trial of 9/11 suspects.

(205055)

211
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204767)

212
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29th February 2008, Official Report, column 2022W, on departmental manpower, how many of the employees under 18 years of age are receiving at least one day's training per week.

(204935)

213
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205042)

214
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the African Union force in Somalia to protect civilians caught up in the conflict; and if he will make a statement.

(204827)

215
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of extrajudicial executions allegedly committed in Somalia by Transitional Federal Government forces, Ethiopian forces and other armed groups; and if he will make a statement.

(204828)

216
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Ethiopia and the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia on their obligations to ensure that their armed forces comply with international humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

(204829)

217
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to monitor the human rights situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

(204830)

218
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of (a) the political situation in Kenya and (b) progress in implementing the National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008 in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(204831)

219
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of responsibility for the recent attacks on villages, markets and populated areas in Umm Sidir, Ein Bassar and Shegeg Karo in North Darfur; and what representations he has made to the Sudanese government about the attacks.

(204832)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

220
N Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in each local authority area had their long-term care needs assessed as (a) low, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) critical in each year since the Fair Access to Care Services criteria were introduced.

(204612)

221
N Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average residential care home fee in each local authority area for (a) local authority-funded residents and (b) privately-funded residents was in each year since 1996.

(204613)

222
N Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people receiving domiciliary care were (a) funded by the local authority, (b) privately funded and (c) paying an additional amount to meet the full cost of their fees in each year since 1996.

(204614)

223
N Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people receiving residential care were (a) funded by the local authority, (b) privately funded and (c) relied on a relative or other third party to pay an additional amount to meet the full cost of their fees in each year since 1996.

(204615)

224
N Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many older people received (a) residential and (b) domiciliary care in each year since 1996.

(204616)

225
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 30th April 2008, Official Report, column 442W, on abortion, what estimate he has made of the cost of providing a copy of his Department's file CPO 2/29 David Amess's Abortion (Amendment) Bill; how many parts the file consists of; and if he will make a statement.

(205000)

226
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with primary care trusts on funding for hospices; and if he will make a statement.

(205001)

227
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has provided to primary care trusts on funding for hospices; and if he will make a statement.

(205002)

228
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department plans to allocate to primary care trusts for (a) palliative care, (b) disabled services and (c) hospice funding under the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2008-09; what guidance (i) he has issued and (ii) plans to issue on the allocation of such funding; what recent representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement.

(205003)

229
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many finished episodes of care there were for patients resident in Southend with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, broken down by (i) age group and (ii) sex in each year since 1997.

(205056)

230
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to collect information on the number of newly diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis; what recent representations he has received on the number of persons with rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement.

(205057)

231
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 10 to 16, (ii) 17 to 24, (iii) 25 to 30, (iv) 31 to 35, (v) 36 to 40 and (vi) over 40 years died from rheumatoid arthritis in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority.

(205058)

232
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Ministers from his Department have (a) authorised parliamentary counsel to assist in preparing amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill on behalf of private Members and (b) authorised officials to instruct parliamentary counsel to prepare amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which were subsequently passed to private Members in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(205072)

233
Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many successful clinical negligence claims in relation to venous thromboembolism were made against NHS bodies in each year between 1996 and 2006.

(205080)

234
Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much compensation was awarded for venous thromboembolism clinical negligence claims against NHS bodies between 1996 and 2006; and what the average amount of compensation awarded was.

(205081)

235
Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the legal costs for NHS bodies were related to venous thromboembolism clinical negligence claims in each year between 1996 and 2006.

(205082)

236
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the requirement for a junior doctor to reside in accommodation supplied by the hospital approved for training was ended in April 2007; and what discussions he has had with the NHS Confederation and individual trusts on putting alternative arrangements in place.

(205012)

237
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the public expenditure per capita on (a) primary care, (b) emergency care and (c) NHS dental provision in each trust in London was in each year since 1997.

(204913)

238
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to allow hospitals to invoice GPs in respect of their patients who receive primary care advice from the hospital trust.

(204667)

239
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to issue national guidance on the obligations on primary care trusts in relation to the process of allowing applications from patients and clinicians for treatments that are not routinely funded by a primary care trust.

(204833)

240
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that patients have timely access to all information that they need to make informed decisions about their treatment.

(204834)

241
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on whether all primary care trusts (PCTs) should use the same criteria to determine whether funding should be granted for treatments that a PCT does not usually fund.

(204835)

242
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the size of alcohol units in relation to standard measures served; and whether his Department has undertaken research to discover levels of public awareness of appropriate levels of alcohol consumption.

(204901)

243
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what hospital inspections have taken place in Merseyside to ensure compliance with the Hygiene Code since 2006; on what dates such inspections were conducted; and if he will make a statement.

(204937)

244
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints were reviewed by the Healthcare Commission relating to health care services in Wirral during 2007.

(204938)

245
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time was for endocrinology services in hospital trusts in the North West in the latest period for which figures are available.

(205066)

246
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204766)

247
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many smoking shelters were built at his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years; and where these shelters are located.

(205041)

248
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has given in grants to the Doubt Kills campaign by the British Heart Foundation.

(204941)

249
Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many reported cases of toxocariasis in humans there were in the last three years.

(204904)

250
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in (a) negotiating the retention of the European Working Time Directive individual opt-out and (b) addressing the other issues raised by the SiMAP/Jaeger judgments.

(204539)

251
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive on (a) medical training and (b) training for surgeons; and what research his Department has considered as part of its policy formulation in this area.

(204540)

252
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will meet representatives of the Red Lion Abattoir, Nantwich, to discuss the effect on them of the changes in the Meat Hygiene Service referred to in the Answer of 21st April 2008, Official Report, column 1801W, on the Meat Hygiene Service.

(204541)

253
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether negotiations are under way on an extension of the timetable for the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as it relates to NHS doctors beyond 2012.

(204542)

254
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 26th March 2008, Official Report, column 206W, on medical records: databases, which NHS suppliers will have access to the secondary users service; and what terms and conditions will govern such access.

(204543)

255
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205005)

256
Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) second, (b) third, (c) fourth and (d) fifth abortions were carried out in England and Wales in 2007.

(205101)

257
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on the viability of independent pharmacies; and if he will make a statement.

(204624)

258
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many occasions he has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

(204973)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

259
Mr Brian Binley (Northampton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what options she has considered to reduce the waiting time for a Security Industry Authority licence renewal; and what steps she has taken to protect those security industry employees whose jobs are jeopardised by the length of time taken for licence renewal.

(205033)

260
N Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) males and (b) females in the Chelmsford local authority area were arrested for alcohol-related offences in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(204253)

261
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences of (a) drug and (b) drink driving were recorded in the London Borough of Bexley in each year since 1997.

(204914)

262
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) males and (b) females in the London Borough of Bexley were arrested for alcohol-related offences in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(204915)

263
N Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to Answer Question (a) 202221, (b) 202222, (c) 202224 and (d) 202223 on immigration procedures and Mrs Hina Sajid, tabled on 23rd April 2008; and if she will make a statement.

(204619)

264
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent by her Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205182)

265
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her most recent estimate is of the number of British citizens who do not have a valid UK passport.

(204900)

266
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people between the ages of 16 and 27 years were reported as missing in 2007 in Wirral West constituency.

(205070)

267
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in her Department since 1997.

(204773)

268
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance was given to (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in her Department on public communications during the local election purdah period.

(204921)

269
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which newspapers carried her Department's advertisements relating to neighbourhood policing teams on 31st March 2008; and what the cost to her Department of such advertisements was.

(204922)

270
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which advertising agency her Department contracted to design the advertising campaign for neighbourhood policing teams; and what the value of that contract was.

(204923)

271
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to encourage volunteering among its employees in the last three years.

(204930)

272
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) stab-proof and (b) gun-proof vests are available per (i) police officer and (ii) full-time equivalent police officer in each police force area.

(204931)

273
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the decision was taken to commission and run her Department's advertisements relating to neighbourhood policing teams; and who made the decision.

(204932)

274
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many smoking shelters were built at each of her Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205051)

275
N Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers added information to the Business Interests Register in each year since 2002, broken down by (a) police force, (b) rank and (c) business type.

(204473)

276
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of records held by the Criminal Records Bureau she estimates contain incorrect information, broken down by police force area.

(205115)

277
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of staff employed by her Department and its agencies had record checks processed by the Criminal Records Bureau before being made an offer of employment in each year since 2002.

(205116)

278
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of record checks processed by the Criminal Records Bureau in each year since 2002 had comments from chief police officers on otherwise clean reports, broken down by police force area.

(205117)

279
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) how many and (b) what percentage of record checks processed by the Criminal Records Bureau were completed within (i) 10, (ii) 14, (iii) 25, (iv) 60 and (v) over 60 days in each year since 2002, broken down by police force area.

(205118)

280
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) standard and (b) enhanced record checks were processed by the Criminal Records Bureau in each year since 2002, broken down by police force area.

(205119)

281
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) incidents of and (b) convictions in relation to theft of architectural features there were in England in each year since 1997.

(205084)

282
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the theft of architectural features from historic buildings in England.

(205085)

283
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times her Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205004)

284
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17th March 2008, Official Report, column 806W, on official residences, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Savills report, redacting the commercially confidential elements.

(204863)

285
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17th March 2008, Official Report, column 807W, on official residences, if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) leasehold and (b) freehold documents relating to the Government House in Pimlico.

(204864)

286
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17th March 2008, Official Report, column 807W, on official residences, what the valuation of the Government House in Pimlico at its previous valuation was prior to the most recent valuation; and on what date that previous valuation was made.

(204865)

287
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many waste collection authorities are authorised under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to undertake surveillance in relation to waste offences.

(204885)

288
Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times drivers failed to stop for the police in each of the last five years; and how many of these incidents resulted in (a) accidents involving other vehicles, (b) accidents involving police vehicles and (c) fatal accidents in each of those years.

(204905)

289
Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with the police and the Association of Chief Police Officers on proposals for a new offence of aggravated failure to stop for the police.

(204906)

290
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd February 2008, Official Report, column 1084W, on missing persons, what progress has been made by the Government via the National Policing Improvement Agency's Missing Persons Bureau in identifying best practice in capturing, recording and sharing data relating to missing persons; how much has been allocated to this initiative for 2008-09; and what the timetable is for completion of a national system for storage and retrieval of data on persons reported missing.

(205096)

291
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29th April 2008, Official Report, column 344W, on missing persons: databases, what information, relating to reports of missing persons, police officers are required to enter onto the Police National Computer within 48 hours of such reports being made under the national guidance on the management, recording and investigation of missing persons.

(205097)

292
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29th April 2008, Official Report, column 344W, on missing persons: databases, which of the police force databases for the management and recording of missing persons data referred to in the Answer (a) can and (b) cannot share information electronically in real time with (i) the National Policing Improvement Agency's Missing Persons Bureau and (ii) the Police National Computer.

(205098)

293
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29th April 2008, Official Report, column 344W, on missing persons: databases, which of the police force databases for the management and recording of missing persons data referred to in the Answer can share information electronically in real time with each other such database listed in the Answer.

(205172)

294
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions she has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

(204974)

295
N Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police forces on the procedures and protocols to be followed by police officers in the use of incapacitant spray; and what codes of practice are in force.

(204631)

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

296
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the reasons were for the decision not to extend the video conferencing trials on the parliamentary estate; and if the Commission will reconsider this decision.

(205102)

297
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the merits of video conferencing on the parliamentary estate as a means of reducing the need of staff and hon. Members to travel to meetings.

(205103)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

298
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 25th April 2008 to the hon. Member for Edmonton, Official Report, columns 2289-92W, on apprentices, how those apprenticeships in Wirral Local Authority area referred to breakdown by (a) sex of apprentice and (b) type of occupation in which the apprenticeship was offered; if he will publish the further information he has regarding Wirral; and if he will make a statement.

(204666)

299
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205181)

300
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since its establishment.

(204765)

301
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205040)

302
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many and what proportion of those universities which offer a degree in teaching provide special educational needs teacher training at (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate level.

(205032)

303
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205149)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

304
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of malaria in Africa; and what steps (a) the UK and (b) international organisations plan to take to combat the disease.

(204661)

305
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205180)

306
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions he has had with his ASEAN counterparts on the humanitarian response to the situation in Burma.

(204758)

307
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions he has had with the Chinese government on securing access for international humanitarian aid to Burma.

(204759)

308
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of rising food prices on the humanitarian situation in Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

(204826)

309
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment his Department has made of children's healthcare services in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(205067)

310
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many 14 to 16 year old students undertook a period of work experience in his Department in each of the last four years; and whether a programme exists to encourage the participation of young people from a variety of areas and social backgrounds.

(205068)

311
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204764)

312
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205039)

313
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support the Government plans to give to the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance.

(204968)

314
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205150)

315
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Burma following the recent cyclone; and what UK assistance has been offered to Burma.

(204620)

316
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to seek to ensure that humanitarian agencies are permitted access to cyclone-affected parts of Burma; and if he will make a statement.

(204621)

317
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what UK bilateral aid programmes are under way in (a) Gambia, (b) Cameroon, (c) Guinea and (d) the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what the likely (i) cost and (ii) duration is of each.

(204971)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

318
N Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many residential accommodation places are being provided by ClearSprings for (a) persons on bail and (b) offenders released early from jail in 2008-09; and how many such places they will provide in each of the next three years.

(204732)

319
N Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps ClearSprings is required to take to consult local authorities before providing housing for (a) persons on bail and (b) offenders released early from jail; and how many complaints against ClearSprings for not consulting he has received.

(204733)

320
N Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that correct procedures are followed by ClearSprings to (a) inform and (b) consult local authorities before sourcing residential accommodation for housing (i) persons on bail and (ii) offenders released early from jail.

(204734)

321
N Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans (a) to introduce a Titan prison and (b) to instruct ClearSprings to acquire residential property in Basildon district (i) in 2008 and (ii) in the following three years.

(204735)

322
N Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11th March 2008, Official Report, column 144, on what evidence he stated that Basildon Council did not veto proposals by ClearSprings to purchase properties in Basildon to provide accommodation for offenders released early from prison.

(204736)

323
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30th January 2008, Official Report, column 485W, on life imprisonment: prisoners release, and with reference to the Answer of 12th June 2006, Official Report, column 1035W, on life sentences, for what reasons it was not possible to provide the information requested.

(205100)

324
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers are proficient in speaking (a) Urdu, (b) Farsi, (c) Arabic, (d) Gujarati, (e) Punjabi, (f) Bangla, (g) Tamil, (h) Hindi, (i) Russian, (j) Turkish, (k) Cantonese, (l) Mandarin, (m) Somali, (n) Vietnamese, (o) Polish, (p) Albanian and (q) other languages spoken by non-English speakers serving custodial sentences in England and Wales.

(205120)

325
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners serving determinate sentences were released early in each of the last five years.

(205121)

326
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205179)

327
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases are awaiting investigation by the Information Commissioner.

(204897)

328
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time between acceptance of a case for investigation by the Information Commissioner and the commencement of the investigation was in the last period for which figures are available.

(204898)

329
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people aged (a) under 25 years and (b) 25 years and over with a full UK driving licence in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK were convicted of driving without insurance in each year since 1997.

(204911)

330
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

(204771)

331
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 28th February 2008, Official Report, columns 1921-2W, on departmental manpower, how many of the employees under 18 years of age are receiving at least one day's training per week.

(204934)

332
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205046)

333
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners are former members of the armed services.

(205114)

334
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205148)

335
N Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, under what circumstances a judge may suspend a curfew placed on a violent offender; what procedures exist to challenge such a ruling; and if he will make a statement.

(204618)

336
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of trends in the levels of remuneration of counsel at the private Bar defending prosecutions brought by the Crown Prosecution Service; and what plans he has to set levels of remuneration for those prosecuting cases at the private Bar in line with remuneration paid to defence counsel.

(204737)

337
Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate the Government has made of the number of people who are not eligible for jury service for reasons related to their mental health.

(205026)

Questions to the Leader of the House

338
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Leader of the House, how many smoking shelters were built at each of her Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205038)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

339
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for (a) a further amnesty and (b) other measures to seek to reduce the level of knife crime in Northern Ireland.

(204662)

340
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many violent crimes where a child under five years was a victim resulted in a conviction in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(204664)

341
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205178)

342
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205035)

Questions to the Minister for the Olympics

343
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, what contracts have been awarded to businesses based in the London Borough of Bexley through the Olympic Delivery Authority.

(204916)

344
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, on how many occasions she has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

(204976)

Questions to the Prime Minister

345
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Prime Minister, on what occasions (a) he and (b) his special advisers have attended (i) conferences and (ii) meetings where (A) abortion and (B) euthanasia were discussed in each of the last six months; on what dates such conferences and meetings took place; where each took place; and if he will make a statement.

(205011)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

346
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205177)

347
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204761)

Questions to the Solicitor General

348
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Solicitor General, how much was spent by her Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205169)

349
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Solicitor General, when she will answer Question (a) 178825 tabled on 25th January 2008 on overseas corruption and (b) 198341 tabled on 28th March 2008, on Question 178825; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

(205062)

350
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Solicitor General, when she will answer Question 192837 tabled on 5th March 2008, on the Serious Fraud Office.

(205064)

Questions to the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

351
N Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance has been issued to returning officers on (a) access to polling stations for those with disabilities and (b) steps to be taken in the event of non-delivery of polling cards.

(204642)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

352
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4th March 2008, Official Report, columns 2263-4W, on oil: prices, whether she plans to revise her projections for the future price of oil in (a) 2010, (b) 2015 and (c) 2020.

(204668)

353
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Highways Agency road building contracts have been awarded to a construction company under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.

(205104)

354
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any Highways Agency road building contracts are the subject of investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.

(205105)

355
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) personal injury accidents and (b) personal injury accidents involving at least one heavy goods vehicle there were on each motorway in each year since 1997.

(205106)

356
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers aged (a) 17 to 20, (b) 21 to 29, (c) 30 to 39, (d) 40 to 49, (e) 50 to 59, (f) 60 to 69 and (g) over 70 years of age had (i) at least one accident and (ii) a driving licence in each year since 1997.

(205107)

357
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many accidents involving a driver in his or her first year of driving following the acquisition of a full licence there were in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by the age of the driver.

(205108)

358
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will assess the merits of amending the national conditions of carriage for train operating companies to ban the drinking from, and carrying of, open containers of alcohol by passengers.

(204944)

359
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent by her Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205176)

360
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in her Department and its predecessors since 1997.

(204763)

361
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 2nd April 2008, Official Report, column 1020W, on Ministers: official cars, which former Ministers have been provided with cars by the Government Car and Despatch Agency since 1st January 2005.

(204778)

362
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd March 2008, Official Report, column 2041W, on departmental manpower, how many of the employees under 18 years of age are receiving at least one day's training per week.

(204936)

363
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many smoking shelters were built at each of her Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205037)

364
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government's policy is on the proposal from Norway and Denmark for a charge and fund scheme for international shipping.

(204969)

365
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times her Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205147)

366
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions she has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

(204975)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales

367
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205175)

368
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

(204760)

Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

369
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what estimate she has made of the number of women working as sex workers in the UK whose countries of origin are (a) other EU member states and (b) overseas states; and if she will give a breakdown of the principal countries of origin in each case.

(204939)

370
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, how much was spent by her Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205171)

371
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, how many smoking shelters were built at each of the Government Equalities Office's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205034)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

372
N Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1st May 2008, Official Report, columns 589-90W, on Pension Disability and Carers Service: public appointments, if he will break down the £2,350 spent on recruiting the chief executive.

(204471)

373
Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of JobCentre Plus's out-of-hours telephone service.

(204907)

374
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what types of personal information required to support claims for (a) pension credit, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit will not be required in the future; and what assessment he has made of the effects of a reduction in the volume of information required on the time taken to (i) process such claims and (ii) clear the backlog in claims processing.

(204950)

375
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effects of changes in the price of food on benefit claimants; what consideration he has given to increasing benefit levels outside the annual uprating; and if he will make a statement.

(205027)

376
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

(205174)

377
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many statutory instruments have been (a) made and (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

(204762)

378
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6th March 2008, Official Report, column 2807W, on departmental manpower, how many of his Department's staff under 18 years old were receiving at least one day's training per week in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(204840)

379
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to encourage volunteering among its employees in the last three years.

(204929)

380
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

(205036)

381
Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people made unwell by their work conditions in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(204902)

382
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

(205145)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

383
N Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) gross and (b) net amounts he expects the UK to receive from the EU Solidarity Fund to compensate for flood damage; what the reasons for the difference between the two figures are; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (204617)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

384
Mr Greg Hands (Hammersmith & Fulham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what statistics the UK Statistics Authority will be required to collate relating to Northern Rock.

[Transferred] (204940)

385
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many households will be surveyed by the Integrated Household Survey in each year once the survey is fully implemented.

[Transferred] (204887)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

386
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 191937, tabled on 3rd March 2008, on the Treaty of Lisbon.

[Transferred] (205063)

387
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of the Prime Minister's joint press conference with the President of France held at the Emirates stadium on 27th March.

[Transferred] (204928)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

388
Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission on the future of Eurojust; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (204782)

389
Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with other EU member states on the future of Eurojust; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (204783)

390
Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has made to (a) other EU member state governments and (b) EU institutions on the future of Eurojust; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (204784)

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Revised 9 May 2008