Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 10 July 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 Thursday 10 July 2008
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 10 July 2008

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 10 July of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Thursday 10 July of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 10 July see Part 2 of this paper.

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

1
Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what assessment he has made of the availability of (a) electrical engineers and (b) systems engineers for the future nuclear power and decommissioning programmes.

(218231)

2
Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on its submission to the consultation on the future of nuclear power, with particular reference to (a) radioactive waste disposal and (b) security issues.

(218240)

3
Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what matters were (a) discussed and (b) decided at the EU Energy Council meeting on 4th and 5th July; and if he will publish on his Departmental website copies of the documents submitted to the meeting.

(218244)

4
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many (a) highly skilled and (b) other jobs were associated with the UK computer games industry in each of the last three years.

(217931)

5
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many highly skilled jobs were created by the UK computer games industry in each of the last three years.

(217932)

6
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what funding from the public purse was received by UK-based computer games studios in each of the last three years.

(217933)

7
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what revenue UK-made computer games generated globally in each of the last five years.

(217934)

8
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of potential revenues to UK companies of worldwide sales of UK-made computer games in 2008.

(217935)

9
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will investigate the circumstances surrounding the transfer of funds related to EU Objective 1 from KMI Offshore Trust to Cambridge Online Learning Ltd.

(218273)

10
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will investigate the role of the Federal Trust Bank, Guernsey in the transfer of EU Objective 1 funding from Cambridge Online Learning Ltd to KMI Offshore Trust.

(218274)

11
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will investigate the loss of EU Objective 1 funding following the entering into administration in February 2006 of Cambridge Online Learning Ltd.

(218294)

12
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will direct Yorkshire Forward to investigate the sale of assets of Cambridge Online Learning Ltd funded from EU Objective 1 funding.

(218296)

13
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will investigate the circumstances surrounding the payment of EU Objective 1 funding to Cambridge Online Learning Ltd.

(218322)

14
Mrs Siân C. James (Swansea East): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what assessment he has made of progress made by UK energy companies in reducing their carbon dioxide emissions.

(218206)

15
Mrs Siân C. James (Swansea East): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will investigate the delay in payment of compensation to the constituent of the hon. Member for Swansea East, Mr Alan Thorpe, ref. T.J.R. 30599/3/SC.

(218306)

16
Mrs Siân C. James (Swansea East): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will investigate the delay in compensation for respiratory disease for the constituent of the hon. Member for Swansea East, Mr Hywel Jones, in relation to the late David Morris Jones, claim no. 755731.

(218307)

17
Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the number of households in Scotland which were not in fuel poverty on 31st December 2007 but which will be by 31st December 2008.

(218214)

18
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many employees in his Department have been asked to retire on reaching 65 in each year since 2000.

(218308)

19
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what consideration he has made of introducing a public bill with generally applicable provisions analogous to those in the Leeds City Council Bill and other similar private bills.

(218160)

20
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what proportion of his Department's budget and that of its predecessor was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218059)

21
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the surplus remaining unspent in the Marine Renewable Deployment Fund has been in each year since its inception.

(217927)

22
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what spending from the Marine Renewable Deployment Fund has been in each year since its inception on (a) wave and tidal stream energy, (b) environmental research, (c) related research and (d) infrastructure support, broken down by region.

(217928)

23
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many projects the Marine Renewable Deployment Fund has funded in each year since its inception, broken down by region; and how much funding was given in each case.

(217930)

24
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent assessment he has made of developments in carbon capture and storage technology.

(218477)

25
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which would be created by development and implementation of carbon capture and storage technology in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects on coalfield areas of such developments.

(218478)

26
N Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many consumers there are on a social fuel tariff from each of the six top energy suppliers, broken down by constituency.

(217285)

27
N Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd July 2008, Official Report, column 949W, on energy disconnections, if he will provide a breakdown of the disconnections data given by constituency.

(217286)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

28
N Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with mortgage lenders on the effect on the economy of levels of mortgage provision to first-time housebuyers.

(217452)

29
N John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent assessment is of trends in the cost of living.

(217471)

30
Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the effects on public houses of (a) past and (b) future increases in levels of taxes on alcohol.

(218436)

31
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individual declarations of share disposals for capital gains tax purposes were made in each of the last three most recently available tax years; and of what total value in each year.

(217651)

32
N Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) financial service providers and (b) banking institutions have been served with section 20 notices by HM Revenue and Customs since September 2007; and how many individual returns have been received from those institutions to date.

(217778)

33
Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the £200 million funding for the new Financial Capability Action Plan has not been previously announced.

(218247)

34
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will direct HM Revenue and Customs to investigate the (a) VAT treatment and (b) taxation treatment of the acquisition of the assets of Cambridge Online Learning Ltd by KMI Offshore Trust.

(218272)

35
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the minimum wage on (a) child poverty, (b) pensioner poverty and (c) poverty in working age households without children in each year from 1997 to 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(218286)

36
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees of his Department have been asked to retire on reaching 65 in each year since 2000.

(218405)

37
John Penrose (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a full equality impact assessment was carried out on the effects on (a) staff and (b) service users of the proposal to close the HM Revenue and Customs office in Weston-Super-Mare.

(218319)

38
John Penrose (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the business case for the proposal to close the HM Revenue and Customs office in Weston-super-Mare.

(218320)

39
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st May 2008, Official Report, column 305W, on council tax: Wales, how many dwellings in Wales are marked with a property details activity code of (a) 30, (b) 60 and (c) 70 according to the Valuation Office Agency's records.

(218245)

40
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20th May 2008, Official Report, column 211W, on Valuation Office: consultants, which each of the four consultancies are; and in which areas each is providing consultancy advice.

(218246)

41
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what objectives his Department's Property Benchmarking Service IT project was designed to meet.

(218248)

42
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Weybridge of 2nd June 2008, Official Report, columns 715-6W, on Departmental travel, how many journeys on Eurostar were undertaken by Valuation Office Agency staff in 2006-07; at what cost; and what the purpose was of each such journey.

(218249)

43
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Valuation Office Agency has spent on IT projects since January 2002, broken down by project.

(218260)

44
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20th May 2008, Official Report, column 206W, on council tax, how many notification changes have been made to the council tax list with a code of CL26 in (a) each year from 2003 to 2005 and (b) 2006-07.

(218261)

45
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd May 2008, Official Report, column 440W, on Valuation Office: cameras, what makes and models of digital camera were purchased.

(218262)

46
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18th October 2008, Official Report, column 1279W, on Valuation Office: manuals, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the best practice guide for taking and adding photographs and (b) the digital photography IT user manual referred to on page 28 of the Council Tax Referencing Manual.

(218263)

47
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of (a) 17th March 2008, Official Report, column 899W and (b) 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1628W, on the Valuation Office, what the value impact is, in numerical terms, of each of dwelling house codes 01 to 09, as identified during the calibration of the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model.

(218264)

48
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, columns 1628-9W, on the Valuation Office, whether minutes were produced for each meeting of the Council Tax Revaluation Programme Board (England).

(218265)

49
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, columns 1628-9W, on the Valuation Office, on what date in each month between March 2003 and November 2005 the Council Tax Revaluation Programme Board (England) met.

(218266)

50
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1629W, on Valuation Office: Cole Layer Trumble, if he will place in the Library copies of the OASIS training manual and supporting documentation held by the Valuation Office Agency.

(218267)

51
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1629W, on the Valuation Office, how many households in England received a visit from a Valuation Office Agency official in the most recent (a) year and (b) other period for which figures are available.

(218268)

52
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1629W, on Valuation Office: ICT, whether each locality is given a (a) name and (b) unique reference number.

(218269)

53
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1629W, on Valuation Office: ICT, how many localities there are in each billing authority area in London.

(218270)

54
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1630W, on Valuation Office: video recordings, if he will place in the Library a copy of the start of year message video.

(218271)

55
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20th May 2008, Official Report, column 206W, on council tax, what proportion of the changes were made following (a) discovery of an error by the Agency and (b) representations from householders.

(218277)

56
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date the decision was taken to extend the HM Revenue and Customs and Valuation Office Agency contract with Rightmove.co.uk plc; and what the estimated cost is of the extension.

(218295)

57
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement between Cole Layer Trumble/Tyler Technologies and representatives of the Valuation Office Agencys' redacting commercially confidential information.

(218297)

58
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1627W, on taxation, whether (a) the 2005 business rates revaluation and (b) the most recent council tax revaluation in Wales were revenue neutral.

(218299)

59
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, columns 1625-6W, on stamp duties, whether an energy performance certificate can be used to indicate compliance with zero-carbon status for stamp duty purposes.

(218309)

60
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6th May 2008, Official Report, column 818W, on council tax: valuation, what the official name is of the mapping software provided by TENET.

(218310)

61
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6th May 2008, Official Report, column 818W, on council tax: valuation, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's (a) guidance and (b) manual in relation to using the TENET software.

(218311)

62
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6th May 2008, Official Report, column 818W, on council tax: valuation, what the cost of licensing the TENET mapping software is to the Valuation Office Agency each year.

(218312)

63
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1622W, on council tax: Wales, how many households moved (a) up and (b) down bands consequent on the 2005 council tax revaluation in Wales.

(218313)

64
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1622W, on council tax: Wales, what the timetable is for the Valuation Office Agency's updating of its website to show changes to the 2005 council tax lists in Wales since 1st April 2005 as a result of inquiry or appeal.

(218314)

65
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1622W, on council tax: valuation, if he will place in the Library a copy of the business case prepared for the council tax banding support tool.

(218315)

66
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1622W, on council tax: valuation, which external contractors assisted with the development of the council tax banding support tool.

(218316)

67
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1635W, on housing: valuation, if he will outline each substantive change to the coding guide made since January 2005; and on what date each change was made.

(218317)

68
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008, Official Report, column 1635W, on housing: valuation, whether the copy of the coding guide on the Valuation Office Agency website is the most up-to-date available version of the guide incorporating all changes made since January 2005.

(218318)

69
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 guidelines on travelling and subsistence contained in Section 7 of The Guide publication on the Agency's intranet.

(218321)

70
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 18th October 2007, Official Report, column 1279W, on Valuation Office: manuals, if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) rating support application valuation training support materials, (b) district valuer services caseworker support IT training support materials and (c) digital mapping user guide.

(218411)

71
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which projects sponsored by the Valuation Office Agency have been subject to Gateway reviews since 1997.

(218416)

72
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many dwellings have been subject to stamp duty tax relief on zero carbon homes.

(218417)

73
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times the Valuation Office Agency Local Authority Liaison Group has met since April 2006.

(218418)

74
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the status of the contract between Rightmove.co.uk plc and HM Revenue and Customs and the Valuation Office Agency is; and what the termination date of the contract is.

(218421)

75
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funding the Valuebill project has received from the Invest to Save budget.

(218424)

76
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 28th May 2008, PO Ref: 1/57888/2008, on diesel fuel.

(217784)

77
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the rate at which Northern Rock has repaid loans of public money made to it; and if he will make a statement.

(217785)

78
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218072)

79
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding his Department has provided through research and development tax credits for projects relating to (a) energy generation, (b) renewable energy generation, (c) energy transmission and (d) energy efficiency, broken down by region.

(217926)

80
Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount the Exchequer received from the Scottish fruit industry in each of the last five years.

(218429)

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

81
N Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what funding his Department has allocated to the implementation of the new pay arrangements for part-time unqualified and supply teachers before the start of the 2008-09 academic year; and if he will make a statement.

(217450)

82
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what plans he has to impose financial penalties on ETS for the time taken to produce the key stage 2 and key stage 3 results in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(218161)

83
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) key stage 2 and (b) key stage 3 pupils who will not receive their national test results in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science by 18th July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(218222)

84
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools will not receive their national test results by 18th July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(218223)

85
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, when his Department was first informed that the key stage 2 and 3 national test results would not be sent to schools by 8th July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(218224)

86
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what progress has been made in marking key stage 2 and 3 national test papers; and if he will make a statement.

(218225)

87
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, when his Department was first informed that delays were occurring in the marking of key stage national test papers; and if he will make a statement.

(218226)

88
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which organisation has been awarded the contract to mark key stage national test papers in 2009; and if he will make a statement.

(218227)

89
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what effect he expects the introduction of functional skills to have on GCSE results compared with previous years; and if he will make a statement.

(218228)

90
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools received a per pupil funding increase of below the minimum funding guarantee in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(218229)

91
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) secondary schools, (b) special schools and (c) primary schools have put a disability equality scheme in place.

(218132)

92
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department is taking to assist schools to develop a disability equality scheme where such schemes do not already exist; and if he will make a statement.

(218133)

93
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of schools' disability equality schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(218134)

94
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what arrangements his Department has put in place to monitor the extent to which schools achieve compliance with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

(218135)

95
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218216)

96
N Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June 2008, Official Report, column 273W, on children: daycare, what evaluation mechanisms are in place to access the effectiveness of the Sure Start early years and childcare grant in increasing the level of qualifications amongst childminders.

(217565)

97
N Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 30th June 2008, Official Report, column 640W, on primary education: standards, how many and what proportion of children who received free school meals achieved the national standard in each Key Stage 1 examination in each year since 1995.

(217566)

98
N Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 30th June 2008, Official Report, column 640W, on primary education: standards, how many and what proportion of children in (a) the 10 per cent. most deprived local authorities and (b) the 10 per cent. least deprived local authorities achieved the national standard in each Key Stage 1 examination in each year since 1995.

(217567)

99
N Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the evaluation of the Early Learning Partnership Project; what steps he plans to take in respect of the evaluation; and if he will make a statement.

(217649)

100
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will make his policy to involve the Association for Physical Education in the delivery of the National School Sport Strategy.

(217573)

101
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many emails have been received by ETS from (a) exam markers and (b) team leaders in the last 12 months; how many have been answered; and what the (i) average, (ii) longest and (iii) shortest period of time taken to respond was.

(218083)

102
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what targets have been set in relation to the time taken by ETS to answer telephone calls from exam markers and their team leaders; and to what extent those targets have been met.

(218084)

103
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of his Department's budget and that of its predecessor was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218062)

104
N Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what guidance he has issued to local education authorities on the extent to which pupils are required to participate in religious observance when such observance forms part of a religious education lesson; and if he will make a statement.

(217574)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

105
N Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the schedule of charges levied for minor works under the Cabinet Office facilities management contract with Ecovert FM.

(217937)

106
N Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether the Office for National Statistics will classify the Community Infrastructure Levy as a tax.

(217938)

107
N Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the average mean full-time (a) male earnings and (b) female earnings were in each local authority area in Great Britain in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(217939)

108
Mr Greg Pope (Hyndburn): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what percentage of the working-age population in Hyndburn constituency is economically inactive.

(218288)

109
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218060)

Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners

110
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, under what conditions bishops and clergy of the Church of England occupy episcopal and parish property for which the Church Commissioners are responsible; whether bishops and clergy are required to abide by the provisions of Church of England Measures to use such property; and if he will make a statement.

(218199)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

111
N Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to improve housing for families with disabled children; what meetings Ministers and officials in her Department have held with representatives from Every Disabled Child Matters on the subject; and if she will make a statement.

(217133)

112
N Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce measures to require local authorities to increase the provision of allotments in their areas.

(217560)

113
N Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will consider introducing measures requiring local authorities (a) to keep figures on (i) the number of allotment sites in their areas and (ii) the length of waiting lists for an allotment and (b) to provide an annual return to Parliament incorporating such data.

(217561)

114
N Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is her policy to increase the overall acreage of allotments.

(217562)

115
N Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will consider initiating an allotment survey with mandatory participation on the part of local authorities.

(217563)

116
N Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to review the formula which determines the number of allotments which local councils are required to provide for the use of local residents.

(217564)

117
Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effects on her programme to develop brownfield land of the loss in value of land banks acquired by commercial house builders.

(218243)

118
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many allotments there are in each local authority area in Gloucestershire.

(218170)

119
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many employees in her Department and its predecessor have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218403)

120
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of her Department's budget and that of its predecessor was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218061)

121
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what mileage allowance is provided to each category of entitled worker by (a) her Department and (b) local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

(218483)

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

122
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to encourage people from ethnic minorities to visit the countryside.

(218166)

123
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding his Department has provided to (a) amateur sports clubs and (b) sport in schools in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency since 1997.

(218397)

124
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received on the effect of the proposed changes to the rules on product placement contained in the European Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

(218382)

125
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what services Fast Track supplies to his Department; and at what cost.

(218383)

126
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made towards the Government's target of securing £20 million per year of funding for elite sport from private sponsorship.

(218384)

127
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with representatives of Fast Track since February.

(218385)

128
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what local area agreements his Department has entered into in the last 12 months.

(218387)

129
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the disposal of Oceanic House.

(218388)

130
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his Department's accommodation costs were in each year since 1997.

(218389)

131
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects to start consultation on the implementation of the European Audiovisual Media Services Directive; and how long the consultation will last.

(218390)

132
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on promoting (a) St Patrick's Day, (b) St David's Day, (c) Eid, (d) Diwali and (e) Hanukkah in the last year.

(218391)

133
Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to assist households unable to receive satellite and terrestial television signals after the digital switchover has taken place.

(218130)

134
Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number and distribution of households expected to be unable to receive a television signal, either via satellite or via terrestial services, after the digital switchover has taken place.

(218131)

135
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many employees of his Department has been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218406)

136
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218066)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

137
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 3rd September 2007, Official Report, column 1628W, on Ministry of Defence Guarding and Police Agency: USA, when he expects the revised Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency and the US Visiting Forces to be finalised.

(218407)

138
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any Trident warheads have experienced specified abnormal or severely abnormal environments, as defined by JSP 538 in the last 30 years.

(218408)

139
N Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) British forces and (b) ISAF forces in Afghanistan against their objectives; and if he will make a statement.

(217652)

140
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role the Royal Navy has in the defence of (a) trade and (b) shipping in international waters; and if he will make a statement.

(218150)

141
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets have been set for his Department in implementing those parts of the National Security Strategy which are within its areas of responsibility; and how performance against such targets will be measured.

(218152)

142
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what tasks were completed by 7 Regiment in the last six months.

(218392)

143
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans are in place to cover capability gaps left by the withdrawal from service of the Gazelle helicopter in 2012.

(218393)

144
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1st April 2008, Official Report, column 797W, on military aircraft: helicopters, by what means his Department plans to replace the (a) flying capacity and (b) skill base once the Gazelle helicopter has been taken out of service.

(218400)

145
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much BAE received from his Department in each year since 1998.

(218401)

146
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service family accommodation properties in (a) Scotland and (b) Northern Ireland have been identified as awaiting (i) disposal and (ii) demolition in each year since 2002.

(218437)

147
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown by region of the (a) number and (b) cost of properties rented as substitute service family accommodation and substitute single living accommodation in (i) Scotland and (ii) Northern Ireland.

(218438)

148
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide figures of sales and receipts of (a) substitute single living accommodation and (b) substitute service family accommodation housing in (i) Scotland and (ii) Northern Ireland in each year since 1995.

(218439)

149
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many injuries to personnel have been sustained in transit as a result of (a) collisions and (b) other accidents in Snatch Landrovers since 2003.

(218442)

150
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Snatch Landrovers have been blown up in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date of each incident was.

(218443)

151
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Mastiff vehicles have been blown up in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date was of each incident.

(218445)

152
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often armoured vehicles have been penetrated by insurgent ordnance in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

(218446)

153
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on legal fees defending cases in the courts in each financial year since 1997.

(218447)

154
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what operations British forces have been deployed in each year since 1997; and what the scale of each operation was according to the terms set out in the defence planning assumptions.

(218448)

155
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of recruitment to the armed forces against targets by region for the last five years.

(218449)

156
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what quick impact projects have been undertaken by the Royal Engineers and the Army in Afghanistan since 2001.

(218450)

157
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applicants to the armed forces have been rejected due to poor vision or visual impairments in the last 12 months.

(218451)

158
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the annual defence medical budget is allocated to eye care.

(218452)

159
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) opticians, (b) ophthalmists and (c) other eye specialists there are among defence medical personnel.

(218453)

160
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel have been taken off front-line duty due to visual impairments sustained in service.

(218454)

161
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many contact lens infections have been reported in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan amongst armed forces personnel since 2003 in each country.

(218455)

162
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the designs for Carrier Vessel Future have retained the option to install (a) catapults and (b) arrestor gear.

(218470)

163
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered the potential installation of (a) steam-powered or (b) electro-magnetic catapults for the Carrier Vessel Future.

(218471)

164
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what UK involvement there is in the Electro-magnetic Aircraft Launch System project; and what estimate he has made of UK expenditure on the project to completion.

(218472)

165
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the land owned by his Department has been deemed surplus to requirements; and what the estimated value of such land is.

(218473)

166
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made with (a) the upgrade of RAF Northolt and (b) the decommissioning of other sites.

(218474)

167
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated value of his Department's land planned to be decommissioned is.

(218475)

168
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how far the London MoDEL project has progressed since it was commenced; what land has been earmarked to be sold under this project; and if he will make a statement.

(218476)

169
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the user capability statement of the MOD Mastiff is; and what role it is to perform in Afghanistan.

(218484)

170
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of enhancement provided by the British armament package to the operational abilities of the Mastiff in Afghanistan.

(218485)

171
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's plans are for the decommissioning of Type 42 destroyers.

(218486)

172
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to maintain a number of Type 42 destroyers in active service following the commissioning of Type 45s.

(218487)

173
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Hercules flights there have been between Iraq and Afghanistan in each of the last three years.

(218488)

174
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which armoured vehicles procured since 1997 have been paid for out of (a) planned budgetary provision and (b) urgent operational requirements provision.

(218489)

175
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been allocated to urgent operational requirement spending on vehicles since 1997.

(218490)

176
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armoured vehicles have been provided out of the future rapid effect system budget.

(218491)

177
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel there are, broken down by (a) service, (b) branch, (c) regiment and (d) trade.

(218497)

178
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average cost of equipping an individual serviceman or woman is with (a) basic, (b) specialist and (c) personal kit.

(218498)

179
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to publish the revised version of the Defence Industrial Strategy.

(218219)

180
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) date of commissioning of each Type 42 Destroyer was.

(218220)

181
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the unit cost of (a) HMS Astute, (b) HMS Ambush and (c) HMS Artful was.

(218230)

182
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) date of commissioning of each Upholder Class submarine was.

(218232)

183
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) date of commissioning of each Vanguard Class submarine was.

(218233)

184
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) date of commissioning of (i) HMS Albion and (ii) HMS Bulwark was.

(218234)

185
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the unit cost of (a) HMS Daring, (b) HMS Dauntless and (c) HMS Diamond is.

(218235)

186
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) in-service date of the (i) Chieftain, (ii) Challenger I and (iii) Challenger II main battle tanks was.

(218236)

187
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) date of commissioning of each Swiftsure Class submarine was.

(218237)

188
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) in-service date of the (i) Harrier GR3, (ii) Sea Harrier FRS1, (iii) Tornado F3, (iv) Harrier GR5, (v) Jaguar GR1 and (vi) Tornado GR1 was.

(218238)

189
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) unit cost and (b) date of commissioning of each Type 22 frigate was.

(218239)

190
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the through life cost of powering the new aircraft carriers with (a) conventional gas turbine/diesel engines and (b) nuclear reactor plants.

(218241)

191
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has made to ensure the security of fuel supply to all Royal Navy vessels.

(218242)

192
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will break down his Department's main estimate in (a) near cash and (b) non-cash terms on the same basis as in his Answers to the hon. Member for Aldershot on 4th March 2008, Official Report, column 2346W and 5th March 2008, Official Report, column 2284W.

(218334)

193
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers to (a) the hon. Member for Aldershot of 10th September 2007, Official Report, column 1893W and (b) the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre of 26th February 2008, Official Report, column 1359W on departments: public expenditure, if he will clarify his Department's budget in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

(218335)

194
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what studies his Department has undertaken on suitability of nuclear reactor power for the new aircraft carriers.

(218430)

195
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd July 2008, Official Report, column 1035W, on armed forces: manpower, if he will make it his policy to collect such information centrally and place it in the Library.

(218122)

196
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what bonuses were paid to senior civil servants in his Department in 2007-08.

(218510)

197
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of bonus payments to senior civil servants in 2007-08 was paid to officials in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(218511)

198
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many senior civil servants in his Department were eligible for bonus payments in 2007-08; and how much his Department paid in bonus payments in that year.

(218512)

199
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary of (a) a private soldier and (b) the Permanent Under-Secretary of his Department (i) was in each year since 1997 and (ii) will be in 2009-10.

(218513)

200
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218065)

201
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many operational ration packs his Department has purchased in each of the last five years.

(218128)

202
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) content and (b) (i) nutritional and (ii) calorific value is of an operational ration pack.

(218129)

203
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mileage allowance is provided to each category of entitled worker by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(218482)

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

204
N Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of discarded portable household batteries which have been (a) recycled in the UK, (b) sent to landfill and (c) exported for recycling in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(217779)

205
N Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made towards establishing a compliance system for the recycling of household batteries to ensure producer responsibility.

(217780)

206
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many giant pandas have been presented by the government of China to the UK Government since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

(218257)

207
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to encourage the breeding of giant pandas in English zoos; and if he will make a statement.

(218258)

208
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of China on its export of giant pandas; and if he will make a statement.

(218259)

209
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Japan on the illicit trade in whale-meat from Japan's scientific whaling programme.

(218425)

210
N Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what requirements and regulations are in place on recycling of glass, plastic and metal waste products by businesses in the catering and hospitality industries.

(217572)

211
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents the Pesticides Safety Directorate has recorded regarding manure contaminated by aminopyralid in the last 12 months.

(218325)

212
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to (a) encourage other countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) assist poor countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

(217571)

213
N Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department plans to spend on research for a (a) wildlife and (b) cattle vaccine against bovine tuberculosis in 2008-09; and what plans he has for such spending in the next two years.

(217776)

214
N Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people resident in Stroud constituency applied for Warm Front grants in each year since 2000; how many of these were successful; how many were unable to proceed with the works in each year; and how many received a grant to cover partial costs only in each year.

(217777)

215
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will discuss with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government means of altering planning contracts in rural areas to encourage job promotion, and in particular the development of rural business centres.

(218168)

216
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to reduce the amount of scrap metal exported from the UK; what discussions he has had with colleagues from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on this matter; and if he will meet representatives of industry to discuss the issue.

(218169)

217
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in identifying and engaging owners of undermanaged woodland since the publication of the England Woodfuel Strategy.

(218127)

218
N Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Sir Nicholas Stern on the appropriate interest rate to use in calculating the costs of mitigating climate change.

(217330)

219
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218217)

220
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent meetings he has had with officials and Ministers from the French government on blockades at ports and port security.

(218085)

221
N Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of levels of provision of training of flood defence and drainage engineers to ensure sufficient trained engineers in the future.

(217142)

222
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Minister of State plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 13th June 2008, about the dog rental company, FlexPetz.

(217781)

223
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of his Department's budget and that of its predecessor was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218064)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

224
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the government of Japan on the illicit trade in whale meat from Japan's scientific whaling programme.

(218422)

225
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Japan pressing for the immediate release of the two Greenpeace activists who have been held without charge since 20th June 2008.

(218423)

226
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has held with Nigerian officials regarding military attacks on Shell Oil facilities recently; and if he will make a statement.

(218162)

227
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to convene a peace conference to bring together representatives of Kurdistan, Turkey, Armenia and Iraq.

(218126)

228
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to Turkey on the issue of the Armenian massacres.

(218204)

229
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the strengthening of the UN Mission in the Congo to act against the Lord's Resistance Army and its leader Joseph Kony.

(218504)

230
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in respect of which countries he has received reports of riots because of the price of food in 2008.

(218508)

231
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218218)

232
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking against sources of funding for the Lord's Resistance Army, including from the Ugandan diaspora in the UK.

(218298)

233
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what further measures the EU plans to take against any party (a) impeding the joint UN-AU hybrid force for Darfur, (b) obstructing humanitarian access and (c) failing constructively to engage in the Darfur political process, as discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Luxembourg in June.

(218326)

234
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British nationals who have left Zimbabwe since the March 2008 elections.

(218328)

235
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment has been made of the operations of al-Qaeda in Somalia and the influence of Abu al-Libi.

(218329)

236
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of illicit trafficking of small arms and weapons from Somalia into neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa; and what proposals the Government has put forward to reduce the trade.

(218330)

237
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of Tibetan monks held in prisons and detention centres by the Chinese authorities following the protests in March 2008.

(218331)

238
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) of 30th June 2008, Official Report, column 675W, what proposals the UK has put forward to strengthen the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Somalia.

(218427)

239
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218063)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

240
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps the Government has taken to give (a) patients and (b) NHS staff more influence over the provision of health services.

(217137)

241
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made in including monitoring for osteoporosis within the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

(218354)

242
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department makes available to general practitioner practices to support a transition to practice-based commissioning.

(218355)

243
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what general practitioner practices within Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (a) have agreed extended opening hours and (b) declined to extend opening hours.

(218356)

244
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many health visitors there were in Gloucestershire in each of the last five years.

(218357)

245
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's June 2008 consultation on the proposed new arrangements for the provision of stoma and urology services and related services in primary care, whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment in respect of urology patients who use intermittent catheters to ensure that they will maintain the same level and quality of care provision; and if he will make a statement.

(218492)

246
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's June 2008 consultation on the proposed new arrangements for the provision of stoma and urology services and related services in primary care, what is meant by the statement that a supplier of continence care products derives particular advantages from ownership of a dispensing appliance contractor; and if he will make a statement.

(218493)

247
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's June 2008 consultation on the proposed new arrangements for the provision of stoma and urology services and related services in primary care, for what reason the expensive prescription fee is not proposed to be extended to dispensing appliance contractors; and if he will make a statement.

(218494)

248
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's June 2008 consultation on the proposed new arrangements for the provision of stoma and urology services and related services in primary care, whether his Department has made a competition impact assessment on the use of sponsored nurses; and if he will make a statement.

(218495)

249
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with respect to his Department's June 2008 consultation on the proposed new arrangements for the provision of stoma and urology services and related services in primary care, what estimate his Department has made of the remuneration that will be provided in respect of (a) stoma items and services and (b) urology items and services; and if he will make a statement.

(218496)

250
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have ceased smoking in the London Borough of Bexley since the introduction of the smoking ban.

(218221)

251
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of dentists required in (a) the London Borough of Bexley and (b) Greater London to meet demand for NHS dental care.

(218395)

252
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) private, (b) public and (c) voluntary sector homes in (i) the London Borough of Bexley and (ii) Greater London were inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(218398)

253
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children aged (a) less than six, (b) six to 10 and (c) 11 to 16 years old have been prescribed glasses in each of the last five years.

(218074)

254
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many maternity units there were in the NHS in each of the last five years.

(218075)

255
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is provided by his Department to mental health trusts on the provision of emergency psychiatric teams.

(218076)

256
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which mental health trusts have emergency psychiatric teams.

(218077)

257
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many occupational therapists qualified in 2007.

(218078)

258
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the number of NHS dentists required to meet demand in (a) the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire and (b) Southampton.

(218079)

259
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Hampshire residents in each local authority area have accessed NHS dental treatment in each of the last five years.

(218080)

260
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dental practices in (a) the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire and (b) Southampton have stopped accepting new NHS patients in the last 12 months.

(218081)

261
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the evidential basis is for the Minister of State's statement on his interview published with the BBC News website on 3rd July 2008 that GPs are entering into gentlemen's agreements in order to restrict a patient's ability to change practice.

(218304)

262
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the evidential basis is for the Minister of State's statement on his interview published with the BBC News website on 3rd July 2008 that one GP practice in the south of England has only two patients.

(218305)

263
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people who were (a) under 14, (b) 14 to 16 and (c) 17 to 18 years old died from alcohol-related causes in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) strategic health authority and (ii) primary care trust area.

(218379)

264
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people under the age of 18 years old who were alcoholics in each of the last 10 years.

(218380)

265
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue guidance to South West Essex Care Trust on the provision of post-natal health checks on new-born infants up to the age of six weeks; and if he will make a statement.

(217653)

266
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to primary care trusts on the provision of a post-natal check on new-born infants at six weeks after birth; what his policy on the provision of a six-week check is; what the purpose of the six-week check is; what is examined in the course of the check; and if he will make a statement.

(217654)

267
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218303)

268
Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist nurses have been made redundant as a result of reconfiguration of services in each of the last three years.

(218432)

269
Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to raise awareness of (a) levels of chlamydia in young people and (b) chlamydia screening programmes.

(218502)

270
Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to alter the best practice guidance to primary care trusts on the funding of drug treatments in the absence of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

(218503)

271
Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the future of mixed sex accommodation in hospitals.

(218514)

272
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many occasions since 2001 the breach of a contract between NHS organisation and a private sector provider of clinical services has been referred to the courts; and if he will make a statement.

(218200)

273
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists have (a) started to provide NHS services and (b) ceased to provide NHS services since the inception of the new contract.

(218082)

274
Ian Stewart (Eccles): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the NHS blood and transplant budget for 2008-09 is allocated to the NHS Cord Blood Bank for (a) donation, (b) collection, (c) storage and (d) provision of cord blood units for clinical use.

(218140)

275
Ian Stewart (Eccles): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what physical capacity the NHS Cord Blood Bank has to (a) store and (b) process collected units of cord blood.

(218141)

276
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the main predictors of regular smoking amongst young people; and what steps he is taking to tackle them.

(218402)

277
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures are followed to retrieve NHS patient information which is (a) lost and (b) stolen.

(218136)

278
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS patients' records were (a) lost and (b) stolen in (i) Leicester and (ii) England in the last 12 months.

(218137)

279
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who will be responsible for the investigation aimed at finding lost patient NHS records in Leicester.

(218138)

280
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information was contained in the patients' NHS documents recently stolen in Leicester; and what investigation is taking place to retrieve the documents.

(218139)

281
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards are in place to prevent NHS patients' information being (a) lost and (b) stolen.

(218205)

282
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mileage allowance is provided to each category of entitled worker by (a) his Department and (b) the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(218481)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

283
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) other agencies have issued to Essex Police Authority in each of the last 10 years; how her Department monitors compliance with that guidance; and if she will make a statement.

(218333)

284
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that information kept by Essex Police Authority is (a) accurate and up-to-date and (b) kept securely; what recent discussions she has had with Essex Police Authority on this; and if she will make a statement.

(218499)

285
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people employed by Essex Police Authority of each grade have (a) partial and (b) full access to data held by her Department; what guidance her Department issues to persons seeking access to this data; and if she will make a statement.

(218500)

286
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people of each grade employed by her Department have (a) partial and (b) full access to data held by Essex Police Authority; what guidance her Department issues to persons seeking access to this data; and if she will make a statement.

(218501)

287
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 167 women and children recovered under Operation Pentameter II have been removed from the UK; and what arrangements have been made for those who have not been removed.

(218211)

288
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to include the views of the public when deciding national policing priorities.

(217644)

289
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to encourage local communities to get involved in tackling anti-social behaviour.

(217645)

290
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to minimise any harmful effects arising from police questioning of victims of crime.

(218164)

291
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to launch the consultation into the Authority to Carry scheme.

(218410)

292
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department expects to complete the risk assessment for the routes which will capture other passenger information (OPI); and what plans she has to announce which routes will utilise OPI.

(218412)

293
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7th July 2008, Official Report, column 1241W, on borders: personal records, when she expects the first manual phase of the Authority to Carry scheme to be implemented.

(218434)

294
N James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of Zanu-PF members in (a) Southend and (b) the UK.

(217655)

295
N James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of political violence involving Zimbabweans have been recorded in (a) Southend and (b) the UK in the last 24 months.

(217658)

296
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce legislative proposals to prohibit the use of great apes for experimental and other scientific purposes, in the context of the revision of Directive 86/609 ECC; and if she will make a statement.

(218151)

297
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will liaise with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to ensure that data stored by higher education institutions is compliant with, and accessible by, those operating the UK Border Agency database on introduction of Tier 4 of the new immigration system.

(218153)

298
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Metropolitan Police officers trained in firearms handling have been taken off front line duty due to vision problems or impairments in the last three years.

(218440)

299
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police recruit applications have been turned down due to vision problems or impairments in the last three years.

(218441)

300
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there are any exceptions to the rule which provides that a person deported from the UK having been convicted of a criminal offence may not return within 10 years.

(218479)

301
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what studies her Department has undertaken to establish the per capita cost of crimes in the last three years.

(218213)

302
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she holds on the use of mosquito devices by police forces.

(218378)

303
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people under the age of 18 years old in criminal gangs in each of the last 10 years.

(218381)

304
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much skunk cannabis was seized in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

(218419)

305
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research her Department has conducted or evaluated on possible links between skunk cannabis use and employment rates.

(218420)

306
N Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd May 2008, Official Report, columns 477-78W, on surveillance: local authorities, how many cases the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has investigated (a) in total and (b) in relation to complaints against the use of surveillance by local authorities since its establishment.

(217936)

307
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for the review of state powers of entry into private property.

(218210)

308
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20th May 2008, Official Report, column 232W, on official residences, when her Department expects to receive the report from Savills.

(218275)

309
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library a copy of the schedule of charges levied for minor works under the Home Office facilities management contract with Ecovert FM for 2 Marsham Street.

(218276)

310
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment (a) her Department and (b) the Serious Organised Crime Agency has made of the extent of money laundering from social housing sales.

(218278)

311
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for the review of powers of entry to publish its (a) options paper and (b) consultation paper.

(218279)

312
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the review of powers of entry has completed its first phase on determining all existing powers of entry.

(218280)

313
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many separate proposals for new powers of entry have been referred to her Department in the last 36 months following her Department's guidance on powers of entry.

(218281)

314
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the use of surveillance and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

(218282)

315
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what role local authorities will play in the operation of the National Identity Card scheme (a) under current plans and (b) if ID cards are made compulsory.

(218283)

316
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19th May 2008, Official Report, column 104W, on Government House, if she will place in the Library a copy of the disposal report, redacting any commercially sensitive elements.

(218284)

317
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19th May 2008, Official Report, column 104W, on Government House, what the timetable for the sale of the property is.

(218285)

318
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library a copy of the heat map produced by her Department's Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism showing the 30 areas deemed most prone to Islamist extremism.

(218287)

319
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 23rd October 2007, Official Report, column 202W, on the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners: Inspections, which local authorities were inspected.

(218289)

320
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was raised from the police precept in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) each police authority in England and Wales in 1997-98; and how much is expected to be raised in 2008-09.

(218291)

321
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of complaints the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has upheld since it was created.

(218293)

322
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been issued to the police by her Department on the treatment of squatters.

(218300)

323
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who the members are of the review of state powers of entry into private property.

(218301)

324
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations the review of state powers of entry into private property has received from (a) members of the public and outside organisations and (b) public bodies, Government departments or quangos.

(218302)

325
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's responsibilities for preventing violent extremism are.

(218428)

326
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 16th May 2008, about the UK residency requirement on foreign domiciliary aid workers (Reference: M8887/8).

(217783)

327
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of her Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218068)

328
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in England and Wales are expected to reach their 2008 targets for the number of police officers employed that are from an ethnic minority.

(218142)

329
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to encourage people from an ethnic minority background to join the police force.

(218143)

330
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many interview panels for police officer recruits in police forces in England and Wales include a person from an ethnic minority as standard practice.

(218144)

331
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policies are in place to encourage police officers in England and Wales from an ethnic minority background to apply for senior positions.

(218145)

332
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what average percentage of applicants for the role of sergeant in police forces was from ethnic minority candidates in the latest period for which figures are available.

(218146)

333
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that police forces monitor the number of officers from ethnic minority backgrounds in their force.

(218147)

334
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what records are kept by police forces in England and Wales on the (a) number, (b) distribution and (c) specialism of ethnic minority police officers; and what procedures are in place to ensure adequate records are kept.

(218148)

335
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms will be used to monitor the effectiveness of funding allocated to prevent the radicalisation of communities in Leicestershire; who will undertake that monitoring; who will be consulted as part of the monitoring process; what information will be published as a result of that monitoring; and when that information will be published.

(218149)

336
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of police constables in England and Wales are from an ethnic minority.

(218154)

337
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of police officers in England and Wales at a rank above police constable are from an ethnic minority.

(218155)

338
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of (a) special constables and (b) police community support officers in England and Wales are from an ethnic minority.

(218156)

339
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of chief constables in England and Wales are from an ethnic minority.

(218157)

340
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of police commanders in England and Wales are from an ethnic minority.

(218158)

341
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding will be given to community groups and organisations in Leicestershire from the funds allocated by her Department for tackling radicalisation in communities; what the procedure is for deciding (a) which organisations receive such funding and (b) how much they receive; and what public consultation will take place as part of that process.

(218181)

342
N Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to refuse entry to any foreign or Commonwealth citizen seeking to enter the UK who is known to have publicly praised one of the 7th July bombers for their actions in those attacks.

(218010)

343
Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on (a) the Scottish fruit industry and (b) seasonal agricultural workers of changes to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.

(218208)

344
Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has received from the Scotland Office on changes to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.

(218209)

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

345
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what monitoring checks are in place to prevent search results on the parliament.uk website directing users to subscriber-only content.

(217568)

346
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the parliament.uk website has been assessed to ensure that search results do not direct users to subscriber-only content.

(217569)

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

347
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, if he will promote opportunities for students from ethnic minorities living in urban areas to undertake studies in the land-based economy based in rural colleges.

(218167)

348
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what provisions of legislation on race relations govern the activities of student unions; and if he will make a statement.

(218165)

349
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218215)

350
Mr Greg Pope (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population of Hyndburn constituency which has been educated to NVQ level 4 or above.

(218292)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

351
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce the numbers of women dying during childbirth in developing countries.

(217134)

352
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps the Government has taken to improve provision of education for girls in developing countries.

(217135)

353
N Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps the Government has taken to improve provision of family planning services in developing countries.

(217136)

354
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of long-term trends in food prices; and what assessment he has made of their effects on the developing world.

(218505)

355
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what models his Department uses to project the effects of (a) food shortages, (b) fuel price increases, (c) climate change and (d) water distribution issues in developing countries; and what contribution such modelling makes to the process of policy formulation in his Department.

(218506)

356
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what work his Department has commissioned on social protection systems; in which countries his Department has engaged in work on social protection issues; and if he will make a statement.

(218507)

357
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department has a mandatory retirement age; and how many employees were asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218207)

358
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent reports he has received on the situation of British aid workers in Somalia; and whether all British aid workers known to be working in Somalia are accounted for.

(218323)

359
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of refugees who have left Zimbabwe since the March 2008 elections.

(218324)

360
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the security situation in Somalia on humanitarian agencies' ability to access refugee camps; and if he will make a statement.

(218332)

361
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on research in each of the last 10 years.

(218067)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

362
N Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to amend the sentencing guidelines for magistrates courts for offences of possession of an offensive weapon due to commence on 4th August 2008.

(217570)

363
N Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what decision he has reached on the determination of his jurisdiction in the case of Michael Shields; and if he will make a statement.

(217648)

364
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to bring forward proposals to remove the current provisions in common law which prevent a person with mental illness from standing or remaining as an hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.

(218435)

365
N Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for causing death by careless driving in the last 12 months.

(217650)

366
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions since 2003 he has been informed of instances where individuals have claimed falsely to be a justice of the peace; and if he will make a statement.

(218125)

367
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the Minister of State plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 15th May 2008, on prisoners' pay (Reference: 201584).

(217782)

368
Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 18th June 2008, Ref: 204969, on the transcript of an appeal proceedings.

(218159)

369
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of his Department's budget and that of its predecessor was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

(218073)

370
N Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of those injured in the 7/7 bombings are waiting for their compensation claims to be fully settled; and if he will make a statement.

(218008)

Questions to the Leader of the House

371
N Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Leader of the House, whether the Government will (a) provide evidence to and (b) co-operate with any inquiry undertaken by the Committee on Standards in Public Life into hon. Members' allowances.

(218009)

Questions to the Minister for the Olympics

372
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, whether she has approved a draft costed security plan for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(218386)

Questions to the Prime Minister

373
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Prime Minister, whether he raised the issues of (a) malaria, (b) tuberculosis and (c) HIV/AIDS eradication with his international counterparts at the recent G8 summit in Japan; and what progress has been made through the G8 towards disease control, with particular reference to Africa.

(218212)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

374
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the most commonly used model of aircraft for domestic flight routes in the UK is.

(218509)

375
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effect of rising petrol prices on the usage of cars in England and Wales.

(218414)

376
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of taxes on fuel in decreasing car usage.

(218415)

377
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd July 2008, Official Report, column 1024W, on official cars, for which Minister outside the Cabinet a car manufactured in the UK was purchased.

(218123)

378
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2nd July 2008, Official Report, column 923W, on official cars, if she will require the Government Car and Despatch Agency to undertake an assessment of the effect of its purchasing patterns on the UK car manufacturing sector.

(218124)

379
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fatalities of (a) drivers, (b) passengers, (c) other vehicle occupants and (d) other road users there were in crashes in which one of the drivers was aged between 17 and 24 years in each year since 1995.

(218409)

380
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings (a) she and (b) Ministerial colleagues have had with (i) the Olympic Delivery Authority, (ii) Transport for London, (iii) the London Development Agency, (iv) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (v) train operating companies and (vi) the Minister for the Olympics to discuss transport plans for the 2012 Olympics in each of the last three years.

(218426)

381
Tom Levitt (High Peak): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will establish a mechanism whereby members of the public can request independent investigation of car park operating companies in respect of (a) alleged breaches of the relevant code of practice and (b) appeals against the issuing of parking fines.

(218336)

382
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has a standard retirement age.

(218404)

383
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of her Department's budget and that of its predecessor was spent on research in each of the last 10 years.

(218071)

384
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who the main service provider of the Leicester to London high speed train will be.

(218182)

385
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the railway track improvements between Leicester and London will be completed.

(218183)

386
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what effect the construction of the high speed train link will have on travel times between Leicester and London until the link has been completed; and what plans she has to reduce adverse effects on travel times during this period.

(218184)

387
David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to review provisions for signage to tourist attractions on major highways.

(218196)

388
David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider introducing special highway signage to indicate UK World Heritage Sites.

(218198)

Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

389
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what estimate she has made of the number of people who will be required to monitor compliance of the provisions of the Equality Bill, if enacted.

(218413)

390
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what proportion of the Government Equalities Office's budget has been spent on research since its inception.

(218070)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

391
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of persons residing in (a) Southend and (b) Essex who will receive (i) an increase, (ii) a decrease and (iii) no change in benefit paid following the introduction of local housing allowance; what steps he has (A) taken and (B) plans to take to assist those who receive a decrease; what recent representations he has received on this issue; what reply he gave in each case; and if he will make a statement.

(218374)

392
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Southend and (b) Essex in the deregulated private rented sector who will be in receipt of local housing allowance in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

(218375)

393
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Southend and (b) Essex who will be in receipt of the local housing allowance where the rent is paid directly to the claimant in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

(218376)

394
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of each type of state benefit paid to residents in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency was paid into Post Office card accounts in each of the last five years.

(218396)

395
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was paid in incapacity benefit to (a) current and (b) former armed services personnel in 2007-08.

(218431)

396
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of (a) the proportion of teenage mothers who receive benefits and (b) the proportion of benefits payments that are paid to teenage mothers.

(218377)

397
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of employees asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

(218394)

398
Mr Greg Pope (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of the working population of Hyndburn constituency received incapacity benefit in the latest period for which figures are available.

(218290)

399
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job centres have closed in each region in each of the last four years.

(218086)

400
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of his Department's budget and that of its predecessor Department was spent on research in each of the last 10 years.

(218069)

401
N Hywel Williams (Caernarfon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what pilot schemes on the use of voice recognition technology are (a) being undertaken and (b) planned by his Department in Wales.

(217646)

402
N Hywel Williams (Caernarfon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what work is being undertaken through pilot schemes on voice recognition technology to make provision for those who contact his Department in the Welsh language.

(217647)

403
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mileage allowance is provided to each category of entitled worker by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(218480)

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

404
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the number of children living with an alcoholic parent in each of the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (218433)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

405
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the maximum period is that a house made inhabitable by flooding may be exempt from council tax.

[Transferred] (218399)

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

406
David Wright (Telford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will review the management plan for World Heritage Sites in the UK with regard to their effects on climate change.

[Transferred] (218197)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

407
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent of illicit trafficking of opium across Burma's borders into neighbouring countries; and what proposals the Government has put forward to reduce the trade.

[Transferred] (218327)

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

408
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much funding his Department has provided through grants for research and development for projects relating to (a) energy generation, (b) renewable energy generation, (c) energy transmission and (d) energy efficiency in each of the last five years, broken down by region.

[Transferred] (217929)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

409
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps the Government has taken to work with the third sector when supporting victims of crime.

[Transferred] (218163)

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Revised 10 July 2008