Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 3 November 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 Monday 3 November 2008
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 3 November 2008

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Monday 3 November 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 Monday 3 November of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Monday 3 November see Part 2 of this paper.

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

1
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, when the Ministerial Group on Over Indebtedness last met; when the next meeting will be held; and if he will make a statement.

(233110)

2
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, whether he plans to unite social enterprises into a national organisation; and if he will make a statement.

(233111)

3
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many social enterprises there are in the UK in each sector.

(233112)

4
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many social enterprises there are in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) Leeds Metropolitan District and (c) Leeds West constituency, broken down by sector.

(233113)

5
Lyn Brown (West Ham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge on businesses in (a) East London, (b) South East London and (c) Greater London.

(232928)

6
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232730)

7
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of regulations made under the Fireworks Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(232675)

8
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many mobile telephones his Department and its predecessor bought in each of the last five years.

(232676)

9
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, when he expects the Competition Commission to publish its final report following its consultation on proposals to improve competition in the grocery market.

(232574)

10
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, whether his Department issues guidance to the Stamp Advisory Committee on its work.

(233090)

11
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what oversight role the Shareholder Executive for Royal Mail has in the issue of postage stamps.

(233170)

12
N Justine Greening (Putney): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, by what criteria the (a) franchise fee charged by Post Office Ltd to its franchisees and (b) annual fee charged by Post Office Ltd to locally funded post offices is set; and if he will make a statement.

(232427)

13
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what his policy is on prohibition of the public sale of fireworks.

(233038)

14
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the transfer of his responsibilities for energy to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on his science budget; and if he will make a statement.

(233215)

15
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will take steps to reduce consumer borrowing; and if he will make a statement.

(232754)

16
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what assessment he has made of trends in the rate of closure of public houses; and if he will make a statement.

(232780)

17
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what steps the Government plans to take to address illegal street trading.

(232815)

18
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what progress has been made towards implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(232789)

19
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the cost to British companies of implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

(232790)

20
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent representations he has received on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

(232841)

21
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what steps his Department has taken to raise public awareness of opportunities to recycle equipment which falls within the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

(233055)

22
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how much UK Trade and Investment spent on branded golf balls in the last three years.

(232194)

23
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the budget is for Consumer Focus in each of the next three financial years.

(232695)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

24
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will participate in the European Coalition for Responsible Credit Conference to be held in London on 13th to 14th November; and if he will make a statement.

(233108)

25
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will require lenders to seek financial assistance from the Government or the Bank of England to provide a plan and timescale for how they intend to meet the needs of low income customers; if he will put in place a transparent reporting mechanism to measure progress against such plans; and if he will make a statement.

(233109)

26
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to extend to local authorities the same level of assurances regarding funds deposited with Landsbanki as those offered to individual savers.

(232569)

27
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232722)

28
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HM Revenue and Customs offices there are which (a) accept completed tax returns delivered in person and (b) are able to provide a stamped receipt to persons filing such tax returns.

(232747)

29
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what sampling checks are made with child care providers to check that tax credit claimants are genuinely paying for and using child care services.

(233088)

30
N Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with members of the Scottish Executive on the funding of changes to police pensions.

(232497)

31
N Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many counterfeit banknotes have been seized in the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many purported to be issued by (a) the Bank of England, (b) Scottish banks and (c) banks in Northern Ireland.

(232811)

32
N Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many counterfeit banknotes purporting to be issued by Scottish banks were seized in (a) England and (b) the rest of the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(232812)

33
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which pension schemes were covered by the Government Actuary's Department's estimate of unfunded public service occupational pension scheme liabilities as at 31st March 2006, set out on page 38 of the 2008 Long Term Public Finance Report.

(233136)

34
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate on a GAAP basis the aggregate change in liability in respect of the public sector pension schemes not included in table D1 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses in years for which information is available.

(233152)

35
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the aggregate value of contributions received from members of the public sector pension schemes not included in table D1 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses for each year for which information is available since 2007.

(233153)

36
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will prepare and publish an updated version of his Department's March 2006 paper Total liability of Unfunded Public Service Occupational Pension Schemes as at 31st March 2005.

(233154)

37
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the savings likely to be achieved as a result of the Government's reforms to public sector pensions in each year from April 2006.

(233155)

38
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which bonds of which durations are considered by the Government Actuary when recommending the discount rates to be used in calculating public sector pension liabilities; and at what dates these are measured.

(233156)

39
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions about trends in mortality growth are used to calculate the estimate of public service occupational pension liabilities published in the Long Term Public Finance Report.

(233157)

40
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions about future salary growth are used to calculate the estimate of public service occupational pension liabilities published in the Long Term Public Finance Report.

(233158)

41
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations have been made by his Department in connection with the treatment of state pension liabilities and public service pension liabilities under the revisions to the System of National Accounts 1993 being prepared by the UN Statistics Commission.

(233237)

42
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government Actuary's Department plans to update its January 2007 paper Unfunded Public Service Pension Schemes 2006 Cashflow Projections: Methodology, Assumptions and Data.

(233239)

43
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to maintain London's international competitiveness in financial services.

(232704)

44
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to expedite the administration of cheques on private accounts in the banks recapitalised from public funds.

(232755)

45
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what briefing material his Department has circulated to hon. Members on the situation for British depositors with Icelandic-owned financial institutions; and what advice his Department has made available for hon. Members to pass on to their constituents who are such depositors.

(232462)

46
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's obligations are in respect of guarantees to depositors in off-shore banks in (a) UK dependent territories, (b) UK overseas territories and (c) Crown dependencies; and if he will make a statement.

(232204)

47
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East, of 6th October 2008, Official Report, column 174W, on Dorneywood, on what dates Treasury Ministers used Dorneywood for official engagements in the last 12 months.

(232657)

48
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham, of 7th October 2008, Official Report, column 601W, on the Valuation Office: databases, what the timetable is for the database alignment exercise to be completed.

(232658)

49
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions he has made use of the official Ministerial residence of Dorneywood since he became Chancellor.

(232660)

50
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether an impact assessment has been undertaken on the effects of the landfill tax escalator.

(232687)

51
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 802W, on taxation, what account was taken of the taxation criteria of (a) fairness, (b) proportionality, (c) public interest and (d) protecting of public revenue criteria for taxation in the Valuation Office Agency's decisions on retrospective application of business rates to ports; and if he will make a statement.

(232710)

52
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 800W, on housing: valuation, if he will rank each individual locality in each valuation area of Greater London according to the value significance of its co-efficient.

(232751)

53
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2307-8W, on the Valuation Office: travel, if he will place in the Library copies of the presentations, handouts and speeches made by representatives of the Valuation Office Agency at (a) the Malaysia valuation conference, (b) the Canadian Valuation Symposium and (c) the Polish valuation conference.

(232855)

54
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2307-8W, on the Valuation Office: travel, if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the Dublin meeting on valuation practice.

(232856)

55
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2307W, on the Valuation Office Agency: Rightmove, what work was approved to identify cost-effective approaches to gathering more information.

(232859)

56
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 800W, on housing valuation, if he will place in the Library a copy of the multiple regression formula.

(232860)

57
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2307W, on the Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems, whether the Agency or HM Revenue and Customs plans to publish an invitation to tender document for any of the project for the new system.

(232962)

58
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2307W, on the Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems, what the timetable is for finalising the specification of the geographic information system.

(232965)

59
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what commitments were given to him during the first week of October by the Icelandic finance minister in relation to obligations to British depositors.

(232818)

60
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28th October 2008, Official Report, column 877W, on banking services: small businesses, whether the definition of a small business for the purposes of a claim on the Financial Services Compensation Scheme extends to (a) individual company accounts and (b) consolidated subsidising companies.

(232659)

61
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Chief Operating Officer of HM Revenue and Customs plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan dated (a) 15th April 2008, (b) 9th July 2008 and (c) 19th September 2008 on his constituent Mr J McLaren.

(233091)

62
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 of 18th September 2008 on the economy (PO reference: 1/60847/2008).

(232217)

63
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will increase resources used to provide information to self-assessment taxpayers on the need for them to make timely tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

(232508)

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

64
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) independent and (b) home-school candidates of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's decision to change GCSE coursework arrangements from September 2009.

(229587)

65
N Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the impact of the current downturn in the economy on courses involving any form of work experience.

(232275)

66
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232726)

67
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what advice is provided to prospective A-level modern language students on the acceptability of each modern language A-level qualification to universities as part of their admission requirements; and if he will make a statement.

(232985)

68
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, in which modern languages are (a) A-levels and (b) GCSE qualifications available; and if he will make a statement.

(232986)

69
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the number of pupils at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Bexley and (ii) London who do not speak English as a first language.

(232609)

70
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what guidance his Department has issued to Ofsted in respect of creative learning.

(232779)

71
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many school inspections Ofsted carried out on creative learning programmes in 2008.

(232792)

72
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 17th October 2008, Official Report, column 1585W, on education, if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to each programme listed in Table 1.

(233078)

73
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd October 2008, Official Report, column 577W, on the General Certificate of Secondary Education, if he will give an itemised breakdown of the calculation used to estimate the cost of providing the requested information in full.

(233079)

74
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what percentage of specialist language colleges teach languages on a compulsory basis until the age of 16 years.

(233083)

75
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what percentage of specialist science colleges offer GCSEs in the separate sciences.

(233084)

76
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much funding his Department contributes towards supporting the Learning and Skills Improvement Service.

(233085)

77
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what percentage of newly qualified teachers acquired qualified teacher status through training on the Graduate Teacher Programme in each year since 2005.

(233086)

78
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will list the programmes and corresponding allocations aggregated as Other Miscellaneous Programmes for the year 2008-09 in the Schools section of Table 8.3 of his Department's 2008 annual report.

(233087)

79
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of active members in the teachers' pension scheme joined on or after 1st January 2007; and what projections he has made of changes to this figure over time.

(233130)

80
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the effect on productivity within the Children's Directorate of Ofsted of industrial action by UNISON and Public and Commercial Services Union members; and if he will make a statement.

(232997)

81
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what type of employment tribunal claims against Ofsted have been lodged with an employment tribunal whose tribunal proceedings have not yet concluded.

(233000)

82
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what his policy is on the extent to which the curriculum taught in publicly-funded schools should be determined centrally.

(232706)

83
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils were educated in an independent school in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

(233123)

84
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils were entitled to free school meals in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

(233124)

85
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether he plans to make personal, social and health education a compulsory subject for academies; and if he will make a statement.

(233125)

86
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much his Department and its predecessor paid towards the production of Teachers TV in the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(233160)

87
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, for what activities infant schools may form classes of over 30 pupils; and if he will make a statement.

(233162)

88
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of schools in which (a) 0 to 10 per cent., (b) 11 to 20 per cent. and (c) 21 to 30 per cent. of children were entitled to free school meals did not (i) enter any pupils for and (ii) offer examination entry in (A) GCSE separate sciences and (B) a modern language GCSE in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(233163)

89
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of 16 to 18 year olds have received education maintenance allowance in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(233164)

90
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what data local authorities are required to collect from schools on a regular basis; which of these datasets are reported to central government; and if he will make a statement.

(233271)

91
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many incidents in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools involved (i) knives and (ii) drugs in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(233272)

92
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 704W, on children: databases, if he will place a copy of the original circular sent by his Department's ContactPoint team in the Library; who authorised the sending of original circular; and to whom it was sent.

(232461)

93
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks are proposed for (a) professionals who can access ContactPoint and (b) in-house and contracted IT staff responsible for maintaining the ContactPoint system.

(232463)

94
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which groups of people will be subject to additonal security measures before their details may be accessed on ContactPoint; and what additional security arrangement will be put in place on ContactPoint for the details of children who are subject to the Witness Protection Scheme.

(232464)

95
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what progress has been made with shielding arrangements for ContactPoint; and if he will make a statement.

(232465)

96
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what guidance his Department provides to social workers regarding foster carers and smacking.

(232615)

97
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, for how many children who were (a) white, (b) mixed race, (c) Asian or Asian British, (d) black or black British and (e) of other ethnic groups, it was decided that adoption was in their best interests in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

(232616)

98
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children who were (a) white, (b) mixed race, (c) Asian or Asian British, (d) black or black British and (e) of other ethnic groups, were adopted in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

(232617)

99
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department is taking to encourage volunteers to assist children with reading in schools.

(233278)

100
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) more mathematics graduates to enter the teaching profession and (b) more graduates to become mathematics teachers.

(233279)

101
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many mathematics graduates entered the teaching profession at (a) primary and (b) secondary level in the last period for which figures are available.

(233280)

102
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps the Government is taking to address non-attendance at primary schools.

(233281)

103
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the average payment per person to members of the teachers' pension scheme was in 2008.

(232716)

104
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many individuals belong to the (a) old and (b) new teachers' pension scheme.

(232717)

105
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the pupil-teacher ratio was in each local education authority in the East of England at key stage (a) one, (b) two and (c) three in each year since 1997.

(232620)

106
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the average (a) middle and (b) upper school class size was in each constituency in the East of England in each year since 1997.

(232621)

107
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much funding was allocated to special needs provision in each county in the East of England in each year since 1997.

(232622)

108
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much his Department plans to spend per school pupil in each local education authority in the East of England in 2008-09; and how much was spent in each academic year since 1997-98.

(232625)

109
N Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Chief Executive of the Academies Enterprise Trust, (b) the headteacher at the Greensward School at Hockley, (c) the patron of the Academies Enterprise Trust and (d) the Chairman of Essex County Council on (i) secondary school reorganisation in Colchester and (ii) the establishment of one or more academies in Colchester.

(232422)

110
N Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the children of which groups of people will be excluded from having their details on ContactPoint; and if he will make a statement.

(232241)

Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

111
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate he has made of the average daily number of messages sent between officials or Ministers in all Departments by means of an instant message system; and by what means such messages are saved.

(232479)

112
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232727)

113
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the latest population projections for the UK are for (a) 2031, (b) 2056 and (c) 2081.

(232200)

114
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate has been made of when the population of the UK is expected to reach 70 million.

(232201)

115
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate has been made of the effect on total UK population of zero net migration by (a) 2031, (b) 2056 and (c) 2081.

[R] (232202)

116
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what proportion of projected growth in UK population he expects will be accounted for by (a) immigration and (b) natural growth at the point at which the domestic population reaches 70 million.

[R] (232523)

117
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what proportion of active members in the civil service pension scheme joined on or after 30th July 2007; and what projections he has made of changes to this figure over time.

(233128)

118
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many full-time equivalent total employee jobs there were in English local government in each year since 1996.

(232670)

119
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what steps the Office for National Statistics is taking to develop its website.

(232690)

120
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a table listing the local government ward and the parliamentary constituency that each super output area (a) lower and (b) middle layer falls within.

(232867)

121
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East, of 6th October 2008, Official Report, column 174W, on Dorneywood, on what dates the (a) Commons Chief Whip and (b) Leader of the House of Lords, made use of Dorneywood for official engagements.

(232940)

122
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 7th October 2008, Official Report, column 557W, on departmental television, which channels are subscribed to as part of the Sky Mixes selection.

(232959)

123
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 7th October 2008, Official Report, column 557W, on departmental buildings, which contractors provided goods and services for the expenditure on (a) 10-12 Downing Street, (b) 70 Whitehall, (c) Admiralty Arch and (d) minor furniture and fittings.

(232960)

124
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 7th October 2008, Official Report, column 557W, on departmental buildings, if he will break down by subheading the fixed asset expenditure for the work undertaken on 10-12 Downing Street.

(232963)

125
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will publish the papers from the 2002 seminar on NHS IT held at Downing Street.

(233304)

126
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much funding (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) Capacitybuilders has given to Action for Sustainable Living in the last 24 months.

(233236)

127
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much funding (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) Capacitybuilders has given to the Manchester-based organisations (i) Transport Pool and (ii) the Community Network for Manchester in the last 24 months.

(233238)

128
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much funding (a) his Department and (b) Capacitybuilders has given to (a) the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations, (b) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support and (c) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Learning Consortium in the last 24 months.

(233241)

129
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the average payment per person to members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme was in 2008.

(232828)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

130
N Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the effect of the costs of operating the South West Regional Fire Control Centre is expected to be on Dorset Fire Authority's budget.

(232273)

131
N Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations she has received requesting a delay in the entry into operation of the South West Regional Fire Control Centre; and if she will make a statement.

(232274)

132
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have funds deposited with Landsbanki; and how much is deposited in each case.

(232568)

133
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what dates her Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to her Department or its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years.

(232737)

134
N Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many businesses the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative has assisted in each year of its operation; and what its budget for (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 is.

(232671)

135
N Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what her Department's area based initiatives are; and what budget has been established for each.

(232680)

136
N Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities took part in the first wave of the housing market renewal projects; and which authorities have expressed the intention of taking part in the second wave.

(232681)

137
N Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding her Department has given to the Architects Registration Board in each of the last three years.

(232682)

138
N Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much has been allocated to the second phase housing market renewal project area.

(232683)

139
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of active members in the firefighters' pension scheme joined on or after 6th April 2006; and what projections she has made of how this figure will change over time.

(233132)

140
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which of the functions of the former Local Government Board are exercised by her Department in respect of the determination of disputes between (a) local authorities and (b) owners of land vested in those authorities.

(233001)

141
Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton & Washington East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will review planning policy regulations to ensure that they facilitate the Government's objectives relating to small-scale renewable energy schemes and the protection of Green Belt land in a consistent manner.

(232496)

142
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will suspend the requirement for a home information pack to be procured by those selling property in order to stimulate the housing market; and if she will make a statement.

(232605)

143
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many complaints she has received on the operation of the National House Building Council in the last 12 months.

(233144)

144
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much financial support her Department provided to Shelter for the production of documents concerning eco-towns; and if she will make a statement.

(232764)

145
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support, other than financial, her Department provided to Shelter for the production of documents concerning eco-towns; what information her Department provided to Shelter for the production of the documents; how many members of her Department were involved in the production of the documents; and if she will make a statement.

(232765)

146
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who initiated the project for Shelter to produce a range of documents relating to each proposed eco-town with funding from her Department; when the project was initiated; and if she will make a statement.

(232766)

147
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department took to ensure that (a) hon. Members, (b) local authorities and councillors, (c) local media and (d) members of the public received copies of the documents concerning eco-towns produced by Shelter and funded by her Department; how many hon. Members were sent copies; what further arrangements were made for the distribution of the documents in the relevant areas; and if she will make a statement.

(232767)

148
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department had with Shelter about the arrangements for (i) publicising and (ii) consulting on the eco-town documents produced with a grant from her Department.

(232768)

149
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the (a) locations and (b) sites are of the properties purchased under the National Clearing House Programme; how many (i) dwellings and (ii) units comprised each property; what the average price per unit was of such purchases; what plans she has for the disposal of the property in each case; what advice she received in determining the price of each property; and if she will make a statement.

(232758)

150
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of failed home sales in England and Wales in each of the last eight quarters.

(232759)

151
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many domestic properties have been purchased under her Department's National Clearing House Programme; and in which local authorities.

(232760)

152
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to make the National Clearing House available to individual home owners.

(232761)

153
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average cost of properties for which her Department has provided funding for purchase through the National Clearing House Programme has been since its inception.

(232762)

154
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much stamp duty her Department has paid on properties for which it has provided funding for purchase through the National Clearing House Programme.

(232763)

155
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to implement Recommendation 12 of the Preventing Extremism Together report of 2005 concerning the development of Muslim beacon centres around the UK at the heart of Muslim geographic concentrations.

(232654)

156
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many individuals have been prosecuted for failure to comply with home information pack duties under the Housing Act 2004 and associated secondary legislation.

(232669)

157
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department and its agencies have given to (a) the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations, (b) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support and (c) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Learning Consortium in the last 24 months.

(233232)

158
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of housing repossessions which took place as a percentage of the total mortgage book of the UK's top 10 mortgage providers in the last 12 months.

(232514)

159
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information her Department has gathered for the purposes of benchmarking on (a) the number of local authorities in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland which built council houses in 2007 and (b) the number of houses completed in each authority.

(232769)

160
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average payment per person to members of the local government pension scheme was in 2008.

(232831)

161
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many individuals belong to the (a) old and (b) new local government pension scheme.

(232832)

162
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average payment per person to members of the Fire Service Pension Scheme was in 2008.

(232833)

163
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many individuals belong to the (a) new and (b) old Fire Service Pension Scheme.

(232834)

164
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on how long their planning enforcement cases should take to be (a) investigated and (b) completed; and if she will make a statement.

(232505)

165
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to collect information on the number of planning enforcement officers employed by each local authority.

(232506)

166
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether polytunnels are considered temporary or permanent structures under the planning regime.

(232694)

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

167
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): 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 West Chelmsford constituency since 1997.

(233138)

168
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232738)

169
N Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to respond to the Eighth Report of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, HC 133-I, on tourism.

(232212)

170
N Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money from his Department is being provided to Visit Wales in 2008-09.

(232213)

171
N Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to review the operation of the Licensing Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(232214)

172
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people are employed by the BBC.

(232861)

173
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to protect smaller music bands and record labels from illegal downloading.

(233246)

174
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website in the 2007-08 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2008-09 financial year.

(232791)

175
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) page hits and (b) visitors his Departmental website received in 2007-08.

(232802)

176
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to his Department of provision of office facilities to (a) special advisers and (b) press officers (i) was in the last 12 months and (ii) has been since 1997-98.

(232803)

177
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many external consultants work for his Department.

(232843)

178
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) work and (b) provide assistance for his Department.

(232845)

179
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2007-08; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

(232846)

180
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) that London is a competitive centre for fashion and (b) those working in the industry are encouraged to continue to work in the UK.

(232709)

181
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether free swimming for over 60 year olds under his proposed scheme may only take place in pools owned by local authorities.

(233141)

182
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support his Department provides to libraries to increase their popularity as places to read; what assistance is given to enable libraries to work with the private sector towards this goal; and if he will make a statement.

(233282)

183
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the average level of funding provided to local youth councils by (a) his Department and (b) the Big Lottery Fund in the latest period for which figures are available.

(233285)

184
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library the guidance given to broadcasters on determining the public interest in preparing and broadcasting a programme based on undercover filming; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (233046)

185
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the Big Lottery Fund has given to (a) the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign and (b) Action for Sustainable Living in the last 24 months.

(233245)

186
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding his Department has given Manchester International Arts in the last 24 months.

(233275)

187
Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the viability of regional newspapers and their websites of the BBC Trust's Local Video proposals; and what assessment has been made of the competition position of the BBC's online services in respect of the independent media.

(232490)

188
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received on proposals by the BBC to establish a local network of news video sites; and if he will make a statement.

(232996)

189
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the budget is for Ofcom's regulatory activities in each of the next three financial years.

(232698)

190
Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received on increasing the target for audio-described programming (a) from 10 per cent. and (b) to 20 per cent.

(233219)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

191
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether young people joining the armed forces before their 18th birthday are free to leave as of right; and if he will make a statement.

(233115)

192
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will initiate a feasibility study on the phasing out of recruitment of under 18 year olds into the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

(233116)

193
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what procedures are in place for advice to be give to under 18 year olds on the risks they are likely to face on recruitment into the armed forces.

(233117)

194
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure the risks of joining the armed forces are explained by an independent responsible adult to any potential recruit under the age of 18 years before that person signs any binding agreement to enlist.

(233118)

195
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232739)

196
N Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future strike capability of the Royal Air Force.

(232058)

197
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to tackle the issue of empty service properties.

(232063)

198
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) British and (b) NATO troops he expects to be deployed in Afghanistan in each of the next three years.

(232930)

199
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what pilot studies have been established in England and Wales to offer assistance to former members of the armed forces on discharge.

(232909)

200
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what resources are available to ensure that former members of the armed forces receive post-traumatic stress disorder counselling where necessary.

(232910)

201
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on allowing women to join the Gurkhas.

(233120)

202
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome of the meeting with clothing specialists held in his Department on 23rd October 2008 was; and what progress has been made in finding a substitute for bearskin caps.

(232800)

203
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether AWE plc has complied with the improvement notice served by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive on 3rd April 2008 in respect of criticality documentation shortfalls.

(232842)

204
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on electricity bills (a) for its Whitehall offices and (b) in the UK as a whole in each month of each of the last five years.

(233133)

205
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many energy saving light bulbs his Department has (a) used and (b) bought in each of the last five years.

(233134)

206
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the purpose of the Enhanced Collaborations projects between the UK and the US in support of the nuclear weapons programme is; which projects (a) have been and (b) are being undertaken; and when each project started.

(233147)

207
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department negotiates insurance policy packages for service personnel.

(233149)

208
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of maintaining his Department's website for the 2007-08 financial year; and what the forecast costs for maintaining websites within his responsibility are in the 2008-09 financial year.

(232804)

209
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) hits and (b) visitors his Department's website received in the 2007-08 financial year.

(232969)

210
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2007-08; and how much of that sum was accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staffing and (d) accommodation.

(232970)

211
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many external consultants work for his Department.

(232971)

212
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) work and (b) provide assstance for his Department.

(232972)

213
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to his Department of provision of office facilities to (a) special advisers and (b) press officers (i) was in the last 12 months and (ii) has been since 1997-98.

(232973)

214
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many rounds have been fired by British forces in each Brigade rotation in Afghanistan since Herrick 6, broken down by type of ammunition used.

(232644)

215
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timescale is for review of the guidance note for commanding officers dealing with the care and management of under-18s in HM Armed Services; and if he will place a copy of the most recent edition of the guidance note in the Library.

(232575)

216
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) applicants to and (b) recruits into each of HM Armed Services came from each ethnic origin in 2007; and what targets he has set for recruitment of members of ethnic minority groups in 2008.

(232576)

217
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many recruits to (a) each of the armed forces and (b) each regiment were from each socio-economic background in the latest period for which information is available.

(232577)

218
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the result was of the review of monitoring arrangements of the extent of bullying in the armed forces referred to in paragraph 75 of the Government's response to the Third Report from the Defence Committee of Session 2004-05, on duty of care, Cm. 6620; and what steps he has taken to reduce under-reporting of bullying.

(232578)

219
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mandatory senior officers' equality and diversity seminars at the Joint Equality and Diversity Training Centre, Shrivenham; and if he will commission an independent evaluation of the programme.

(232579)

220
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the conclusions were of the 2005 Army-sponsored study on causal factors of self-harm; whether further studies were commissioned as a result of the study's findings; and if he will place a copy of the completed report in the Library.

(232580)

221
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to (a) identify and (b) make special provision for care leavers entering HM Armed Services.

(232611)

222
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government's response to the Defence Committee's Third Report of Session 2004-05, on duty of care, Cm 6620, what the findings were of the research into the impact of poor basic skills on drop-out rates from Phase 1 and Phase 2 training; and what steps he has taken to enhance remedial education programmes in the Armed Services.

(232612)

223
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the drop-out rate was for recruits undergoing infantry training at Catterick barracks in (a) 2002 and (b) 2007.

(232613)

224
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the 15th March 2005 version of the Army Provost Manual offering guidance on suspected suicides and (b) any subsequent revised guidance.

(232665)

225
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of Joint Service Publication 751 dealing with the return of possessions to the bereaved families of service personnel.

(232666)

226
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the principal conclusions of the Army Duty of Care Audit in 2007 were; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report.

(232667)

227
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance is given to members of the armed forces on (a) completion of a will prior to initial deployment and (b) the review of the will prior to each subsequent deployment; and what provision is made to ensure (i) the personal privacy of the individual making a will and (ii) the availability of an officer qualified to give advice.

(232668)

228
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance is given to members of the armed forces on their choice of notified next-of kin; what opportunities there are to revise and update named individuals according to circumstances; and what provision is made for the designation of other individuals to be notified in the event of death in service.

(232807)

229
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the terms of reference for the oversight of the defence training estate by OFSTED are; and what remit inspectors have to (a) monitor and (b) report on measures to address bullying, harassment and ill-treatment.

(232808)

230
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the study of self-harm at Catterick barracks described in evidence to the Defence Select Committee in its Duty of Care inquiry 2004-05 was completed; what the conclusions and recommendations of the study were; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(232809)

231
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance is available to commanding officers in order to complete their quarterly reports required by Army headquarters; and what data is captured from these reports in order to improve understanding and protection against suicide and self-harm.

(232810)

232
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the establishment of a European army; and if he will make a statement.

(232598)

233
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the proportion of military personnel from the North East returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan which has been able to find alternative employment on leaving the armed forces in each of the last three years.

(232795)

234
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that all those eligible for Veteran's Badges are claiming their entitlement.

(232980)

235
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average length of time spent in decompression was in (a) Cyprus and (b) elsewhere by troops returning from (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan in the most recent period for which figures are available.

[R] (233040)

236
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of regular troops returning from theatre undertook decompression in (a) Cyprus and (b) elsewhere in the most recent period for which figures are available.

[R] (233041)

237
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of reserve forces returning from theatre undertook decompression in (a) Cyprus and (b) elsewhere in the most recent period for which figures are available.

[R] (233042)

238
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evidence he has evaluated on the efficacy of decompression in the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder.

[R] (233043)

239
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what feedback he has gathered from participants in decompression on its merits.

[R] (233044)

240
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to publish or evaluate research on the number of criminal convictions of former members of the armed forces.

[R] (233045)

241
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what limits have been placed on the (a) size, (b) weight and (c) number of parcels sent through the Christmas Parcel Appeal for members of the armed forces serving in theatres abroad; on what criteria these limits were established; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (233047)

242
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force personnel registered to work in each year since 1997.

[R] (233056)

243
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what savings have been made by changes in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme that prevent regular reservists in receipt of a service pension from accruing call-up time for pension purposes.

(233165)

244
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 635W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what issues were covered in the discussions with Jaish-al-Mahdi.

(232850)

245
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 635W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what the outcome was of the discussions between UK forces and Jaish-al-Mahdi.

(232851)

246
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 635W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, with which organisations discussions were held.

(232852)

247
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 635W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, when the discussions between the armed forces and Jaish-al-Mahdi (a) began and (b) were completed; and what the dates were of meetings.

(232853)

248
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average payment per person to members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme was in 2008.

(232827)

249
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many individuals belong to the (a) old and (b) new Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

(232835)

250
N Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether service personnel at Colchester Garrison have been accommodated in hotels in the last month.

(232421)

251
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd October 2008, Official Report, columns 475-6W, on Gulf of Aden: piracy, which departments were involved in the review of the Government's stance on piracy; which geographical regions the review covered; and what its main conclusions were.

(232857)

252
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd October 2008, Official Report, columns 475-6W, on Gulf of Aden: piracy, how many Royal Navy units are in the region engaged in seeking out pirate activity; and how many incidents of contact between Royal Navy vessels and pirates have been recorded.

(232858)

253
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many studies his Department has (a) initiated and (b) completed on the lessons learned for his Department from the war in Afghanistan; and if he will place a copy of each completed study in the Library.

(232934)

254
N Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the (a) status and (b) effectiveness of the Conventional Forces Europe Treaty.

(232601)

255
N Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the viability of NATO's security guarantee towards its newest members; and if he will make a statement.

(232602)

256
N Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart on Germany's fulfilment of its NATO obligations.

(232603)

257
N Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects NATO to produce a new strategic concept.

(232604)

258
Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of performance under the NATO transformation agenda.

(232610)

259
N Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received from the Chinese government on military co-operation.

(232062)

260
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vehicles make up the Talisman project currently subject to an urgent operational requirement; and what the in-service date of the project is.

(232770)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

261
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, on what dates his Department has informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232728)

262
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions he has had with renewable energy developers on the level of private capital investment for renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

(233126)

263
John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he expects the production of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) other fossil fuels to peak globally; what steps he plans to take in response; and if he will make a statement.

(233211)

264
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress has been made towards the Government's target of generating 10 per cent. of electricity supply from renewable energy sources by 2010; and what percentage of electricity supply generated from renewable sources in the latest period for which information is available.

(232477)

265
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons the consultation on the feed-in tariff is not scheduled to begin until the summer of 2009.

(232864)

266
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much he has allocated to his Department's science budget under main headings for each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

(233218)

267
Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when the next (a) parliamentary and (b) regional forums on the River Severn tidal energy project will be held.

(232679)

268
Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what topics are under consideration by the Severn tidal power strategic environmental assessment steering group; and if he will place in the Library the topic papers under consideration by the group.

(232715)

269
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what funding is being provided by his Department for alternative energy technologies in the next three years.

(232705)

270
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much EAGA made from charging installers of energy saving equipment which was purchased using Warm Front vouchers in each of the last five years.

(232978)

271
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether EAGA is permitted to sell Carbon Emissions Reduction Target credits to energy companies in cases where those credits arise from Warm Front grant-aided energy saving installations.

(232979)

272
Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what evidence his Department has received on the economic case for the roll-out of smart meters to domestic properties; and on what basis the Government has made the assessment that the case is questionable.

(232515)

273
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce the cost of solar panels and (b) promote their use.

(233277)

274
N Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 731-4W on energy: metering, if he will publish the economic impact assessment to which reference is made.

(232198)

275
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many pensioner households in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire have received grants or other assistance to improve their home insulation in each year since 1996-97; and how much public funding was spent on such grants in each such year.

(232595)

276
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress has been made on the package of energy measures announced by the Prime Minister on 11th September 2008.

(232854)

277
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to regulate the price cost ratios operated by fuel and energy suppliers.

(232571)

278
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 29th September 2008 to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on renewable energy projects.

(232216)

279
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when a Minister in his Department plans to reply to the letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 23rd September 2008 on the Planning Bill and climate change.

(232218)

280
N Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when a Minister in his Department plans to reply to the letter to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 16th September 2008 on solar water heaters.

(232219)

281
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the budget is for Ofgem's regulatory activities in each of the next three financial years.

(232697)

282
N Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) electricity and (b) gas customers who temporarily disconnected themselves from their supply to credit prepayment meters which had been installed because of arrears in the latest period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

(232193)

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

283
N Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to promote the procurement of fish caught by UK vessels in the (a) public and (b) private sector.

(232757)

284
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16th July 2008, Official Report, column 435W, on manure, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the use of aminopyralid as a herbicide.

(232474)

285
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232729)

286
Mr David Cameron (Witney): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much public funding is being provided to each Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 2008-09; and what account is taken of the size of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in determining the allocation of funding to them.

(232510)

287
N Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which firms of consultants have been engaged by the New Forest National Park Authority to provide research for the authority's (a) Management Plan and (b) Recreation Management Strategy.

(232483)

288
N Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the conclusions were from each of the workshops convened to engage and gain contributions from stakeholders of the New Forest National Park Authority Management Plan and Recreation Management Strategy.

(232484)

289
N Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) date and (b) location of each of the workshops convened to engage and gain contributions from stakeholders on the New Forest National Park Authority Management Plan and Recreation Management Strategy was; and who the (i) invitees to and (ii) attendees at each event were.

(232485)

290
N Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the employment of consultants for work associated with the section of the New Forest National Park Authority (a) Management Plan and (b) Recreation Management Strategy has cost to date; and what estimate has been made of the final cost.

(232486)

291
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tenders were received for consultancy support in the development of the New Forest National Park Authority Management Plan and Recreation Management Strategy; and to which firm the contract was awarded.

(232488)

292
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who the members of the Stakeholder Advisory Group to the New Forest National Park Authority are; and what the relevant qualifications of each are.

(232489)

293
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what facilities the Government has authorised to (a) render and (b) incinerate animal waste and meat and bone meal in the event of a disease outbreak.

(232862)

294
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what practical support his Department provides for small abattoirs.

(232495)

295
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost of provision of Government cars to special advisers in his Department has been in the last 12 months.

(233242)

296
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the television licence fee in his official Ministerial residence is paid for from public funds.

(233243)

297
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost of maintaining his Department's website was in 2007-08; and what the forecast costs for maintaining his Department's websites are in 2008-09.

(233249)

298
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many page hits his Department's website received in 2007-08; and how many visitors it had.

(233250)

299
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to his Department of provision of office facilities to (a) special advisers and (b) press officers (i) was in the last 12 months and (ii) has been since 1997-98.

(233251)

300
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) work and (b) provide assistance for his Department.

(233252)

301
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many external consultants are undertaking work for his Department.

(233254)

302
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2007-08; and how much of that sum is accounted for by expenditure on (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

(233255)

303
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent efforts his Department has made to encourage retailers to reduce waste from packaging; and if he will make a statement.

(232478)

304
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the transfer of his responsibilities on climate change to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on his Department's science budget; and if he will make a statement.

(233216)

305
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase the amount of glass recycled by restaurants and bars; and if he will make a statement.

(233196)

306
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the sum received from farmers by the Environment Agency for (a) disposal of agricultural waste, (b) groundwater authorisation for disposal of sheep dip and pesticides and (c) integrated pollution prevention control for pig and poultry units above the specified thresholds in each of the last three years; what estimate he has made of the proportion of farm income paid in such fees in each year; and if he will make a statement.

(232989)

307
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what processes are in place to encourage recycling of products to be disposed of under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and how these processes are publicised by his Department.

(232993)

308
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the products by (a) amount and (b) weight of waste products under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive which go to (i) recycling and (ii) landfill.

(232994)

309
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations he has received on the proposed new water charges on places of worship and premises operated by voluntary groups; what assessment he has made of the effects of these new changes on such groups; and what discussions he has had with these groups on the effects of the proposed new changes.

(232995)

310
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made towards the review of the operation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and what amendments he proposes to its implementation in the UK.

(232999)

311
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance has been given to local authorities by his Department on the development of joint municipal waste management strategies; and if he will place in the Library copies of such guidance.

(232582)

312
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29th September 2008, Official Report, columns 2424-5W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, what the penalties are for placing domestic waste in a public, municipal bin.

(232583)

313
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Warley of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 760W, on waste charges: religious buildings, whether an impact assessment was undertaken to assess the effect of the new water charges on places of worship and other voluntary group's premises.

(232585)

314
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role the Waste and Resources Action Programme has in relation to proposed charges for the collection of household waste, with particular reference to waste authorities.

(232586)

315
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 713W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, what targets or goals have been set for local authorities in relation to national indicator 191 on residual household waste.

(232587)

316
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, columns 743-5, on the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which of the authorities and partnerships listed in the Answer have been allocated funding to assist with the introduction or implementation of alternate weekly collections.

(232588)

317
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 746W, on Waste and Resources Action Programme, if he will place in the Library a copy of the remit and specification for the public affairs work undertaken by Chelgate Ltd; and what public policy makers and opinion formers, outside established stakeholders, the company has been tasked with reaching.

(232589)

318
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, column 746W, on Waste and Resources Action Programme, who the established stakeholder groups referred to in the Answer are.

(232590)

319
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, columns 747-8W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, how the organisations which attended the launch were selected.

(232591)

320
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9th October 2008, Official Report, columns 751-3W, on waste disposal: offices, what advice or guidance has been provided to firms in relation to removing or reducing the number of residual waste bins in office environments.

(232592)

321
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Warley of 9th October 2008, Official Report, columns 760W, on waste charges: religious buildings, what the average increase to the water bill for churches and other places of worship is.

(232593)

322
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many press, communications and marketing staff are employed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

(232801)

323
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Waste and Resources Action Programme has spent on external (a) public relations and (b) public affairs, in the last 24 months; and for what purpose.

(232806)

324
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent work his Department has undertaken on the role of wetlands in flood defence.

(232686)

325
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average percentage change in domestic water bills has been in each local authority area in the East of England since May 1997.

(232619)

326
N Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in obtaining protected geographical indication status for the Colchester oyster.

(232491)

327
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the budget is for Ofwat's regulatory activities in each of the next three financial years.

(232696)

328
Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21st October 2008, Official Report, column 178W, on oils: waste management, what provision there is for clean fuel oil in the Waste Oils Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(232664)

329
N Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on trends in the level of sales of wood-burning stoves over the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the effect of such trends on levels of emissions targeted through his Department's air quality strategy.

(232519)

330
Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the size of the bluefin tuna fleet in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean; and what proposals on bluefin tuna fleet capacity he plans to put forward at the forthcoming meeting of the contracting parties of the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna in Marrakech.

(233240)

331
Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to attend the meeting of the contracting parties of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna in Marrakech as part of the EU delegation.

(233274)

332
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd November 2006, Official Report, columns 361-2W, when the Minister of State plans to meet representatives of the Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust.

(233121)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

333
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232719)

334
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations have been made to the government of Zimbabwe on the treatment of Morgan Tsvangirai by the section of the Zimbabwean government represented by Robert Mugabe.

(232826)

335
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice and assistance has been offered to aid workers in Afghanistan following the recent murder of Gayle Williams.

(232836)

336
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the continuing presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia on the security situation in the country; and if he will make a statement.

(233058)

337
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made in increasing the number of African Union troops in Somalia over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(233059)

338
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the government of Yemen to assist with or otherwise facilitate international counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden; and if he will make a statement.

(233060)

339
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which EU member states have committed to providing naval vessels and personnel for the EU counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden; and if he will make a statement.

(233061)

340
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made in the Amani programme for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what discussions he has had with the co-ordinator.

(233062)

341
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Rwanda on steps to alleviate the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(233063)

342
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate has been made of the number of British citizens believed to be in critical areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what steps have been made to ensure their safety.

(233064)

343
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions troops of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have reporting coming under direct attack during the current crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what assessment has been made of responsibility for those attacks.

(233065)

344
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the UK has put forward on mediation to secure a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(233066)

345
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contribution the UK (a) provides and (b) plans to provide to the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(233067)

346
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate has been made of the number of rebel troops involved in the advance upon Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(233068)

347
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the involvement of (a) the Rwandan government and (b) Rwandan troops in the current crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(233069)

348
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the French proposal for a European deployment of up to 1,500 troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to put an end to the violence there; and if he will make a statement.

(233070)

349
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what initiatives are being considered.

(233071)

350
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what shortcomings have been identified in the current troop levels and resources of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with particular regard to airlift capacity.

(233072)

351
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what specific reinforcements have been made by the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(233073)

352
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has been made of the length of time needed to identify and deploy additional resources for the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(233074)

353
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are for a Security Council resolution in response to the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(233075)

354
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is UK policy that changes are needed to the mandate of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what changes are under discussion.

(233076)

355
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is UK policy that the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be reinforced; and what changes are being proposed.

(233077)

356
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2007, Official Report, column 502W, on Somalia, what technical and advisory assistance has been provided to the government in Somalia by the UK since that date; and what assessment has been made of the impact of that assistance.

(233080)

357
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the origin and base of operations of those responsible for piracy in the Gulf of Aden region; and if he will make a statement.

(233161)

358
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2007-08; and how much of that sum was accounted for by expenditure on (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

(233189)

359
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many external consultants are undertaking work for his Department.

(233190)

360
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) work and (b) provide assistance for his Department.

(233191)

361
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to his Department of provision of office facilities to (a) special advisers and (b) press officers (i) was in the last 12 months and (ii) has been since 1997-98.

(233192)

362
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost of provision of Government cars to special advisers in his Department has been in the last 12 months.

(233193)

363
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost of maintaining his Department's website was in 2007-08; and what that cost is expected to be in 2008-09.

(233194)

364
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) page hits and (b) visits his Department's website had in 2007-08.

(233195)

365
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the television licence fee in his official Ministerial residence is paid for from public funds.

(233244)

366
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether locally-engaged staff at the British Embassy in Baghdad are subject to UK employment laws.

(233221)

367
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines on the procedures to follow in the case of a formal complaint by a member of the locally-engaged staff at the British Embassy in Baghdad.

(233225)

368
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what rights to (a) appeal and (b) notification of reasons locally-engaged staff contracted to work in the British Embassy in Baghdad have in cases of dismissal.

(233226)

369
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to what codes of practice on employment and terms and conditions locally-engaged staff contracted to work in the British Embassy in Baghdad are subject to.

(233227)

370
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many official complaints have been submitted to London headquarters by (a) departmental and (b) locally-engaged staff working in the British Embassy in Baghdad since 1st January 2004.

(233228)

371
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) illegal immigrants and (b) asylum seekers there are in Montserrat; who pays for their accommodation and support; and how their future status will be determined.

(233159)

372
N Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the US Administration on the possible imposition of sanctions on Mauritania.

(232192)

373
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests have been received from the United States administration for UK officials to contribute to the US review of its strategy and operations in Afghanistan; what approaches the Government has made to the US administration to offer a contribution to the review; which UK officials are involved in the review; and if he will make a statement.

(232210)

374
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the mandate will be for the EU counter-piracy naval operation in the Gulf of Aden; and if he will make a statement.

(232684)

375
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessement his Department has made of the effect of the deployment of an African Union mission in Somalia on peace and security in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(232685)

376
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many studies his Department has (a) initiated and (b) completed on the lessons learned for his Department from the war in Afghanistan; and if he will place copies of each completed study in the Library.

(232933)

377
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1556 on the provision of arms to Sudan; what recent reports he has received on the maintenance of the arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.

(232935)

378
N Hon Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the Government has put forward in recent NATO discussions on managing relationships and arrangements with Russia.

(232600)

379
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of former employees of the Southern Rhodesian government living in the UK and not receiving pensions from the Zimbabwean government; and if he will make a statement.

(232570)

380
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Statement of 21st February 2008, Official Report, columns 457-8, on terrorist suspects (renditions), whether the information received from the US administration on rendition flights through Diego Garcia has been passed to the police.

(232517)

381
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether British officials have (a) met and (b) interviewed persons who in 2007 were rendered to Ethiopia for the purposes of interrogation; and if he will make a statement.

(232518)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

382
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to identify a champion in his Department to take advantage of the experience and skills developed by members of the Health Living Alliance; and if he will make a statement.

(233105)

383
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients are (a) in treatment for drug programmes, (b) receiving abstinence-based residential rehabilitation and (c) receiving abstinence-based rehabilitation on a day care basis.

(232882)

384
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which sites offer treatment incentives for drug users; and how many service users have been offered treatment incentives at each such site since the programme's inception, broken down by incentive offered.

(232883)

385
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in respect of anti-TNFs on clinical practice.

(232565)

386
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will audit the range of provision of contraception offered within in each primary care trust area.

(232566)

387
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will place in the Library its most recent assessment of serious case reviews in respect of abuse of vulnerable adults.

(232567)

388
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232731)

389
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered NHS dentists there are in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) England.

(232319)

390
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who have received robotic radiosurgery treatment for inoperable tumours in NHS hospitals in the last 10 years.

(232849)

391
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received about the provision on the NHS of robotic radiosurgery for inoperable tumours.

(232863)

392
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on abattoir inspections in each of the last 10 years, broken down by abattoir.

(232493)

393
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to introduce the new process for developing the quality and outcomes framework of the General Medicines Services contract.

(233197)

394
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to consult stakeholders over the process for developing the quality and outcomes framework of the General Medicines Services contract.

(233198)

395
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and (b) other stakeholders on redesigning the process for developing the quality and outcomes framework of the General Medicines Service contract.

(233199)

396
Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd October 2008, Official Report, column 375W, on maternity services, how much of the £330 million allocation for improvements to maternity services each primary care trust will receive; and how these allocations have been decided.

(232744)

397
Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd October 2008, Official Report, column 375W, on maternity services, if he will place in the Library copies of guidance his Department has sent to primary care trusts relating to the additional sums made available to them in the current and future financial years to improve maternity care.

(232745)

398
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration his Department has given to continuing assessments of orphan treatments for rarer cancers under the standard health technology assessment process.

(232839)

399
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of trends in mortality rates of (a) common cancers and (b) rarer cancers; and if he will make a statement.

(232840)

400
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of active members in the NHS pension scheme joined on or after 1st April 2008; and what projections he has made of changes to this figure over time.

(233127)

401
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the effect on the amount of liabilities in the NHS pension scheme of the outcome in March 2008 of the judicial review into the calculation of GP's pensions.

(233131)

402
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the performance of GP surgeries in the provision of out-of-hours services.

(232661)

403
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reform the management of primary care.

(232662)

404
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of serum cholesterol above which the application of cholesterol-reducing measures amongst populations at risk of coronary heart disease is cost-effective.

(233171)

405
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he has collected for benchmarking purposes on target serum cholesterol levels in (a) the UK, (b) other EU member states and (c) the USA.

(233172)

406
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of heart attacks that might be avoided by treating serum cholesterol down to (a) current quality and outcomes framework levels and (b) the suggested JBS2 target levels among at-risk populations; and if he will make a statement.

(233173)

407
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis ineligible for treatment with anti-TNF drugs consequent on the recent determination on sequential use made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

(233175)

408
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on television promotion of (a) smoking bans, (b) stop-smoking programmes and (c) other tobacco-related programmes in the last year.

(232608)

409
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of injuries caused by fireworks in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available.

(232746)

410
N Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Healthcare Trust spent on translators in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008 to date.

(232748)

411
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to end the prohibition on the purchase of additional private drugs to complement NHS treatment; and if he will make a statement.

(232939)

412
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that disabled people living (a) with their families and (b) in residential homes are integrated into the wider community.

(232707)

413
N Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his current estimated outturn is for capital expenditure in 2008-09 attributable to the National Health Service including funding available to NHS Foundation Trusts, in terms consistent with the calculation in Figure A3 of his Department's 2008 Departmental Report.

(232691)

414
N Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether strategic health authority or primary care trust revenue resource limits for 2008-09 have been adjusted to take into account (a) surpluses carried forward from financial year 2007-08 and (b) the return to primary care trusts of top-sliced funds held back in 2007-08 by strategic health authorities.

(232702)

415
N Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the top-sliced primary care trust allocations held back by strategic health authorities at 31st March 2008 had been allocated to primary care trusts for 2008-09.

(232703)

416
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescription items have been dispensed by dispensing doctors in (a) Vale of York constituency and (b) England in the last three years.

(232991)

417
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the potential loss of revenue to dispensing doctors of the proposals contained in the Pharmacy White Paper; and what assessment he has made of the effects on rural general practices of the removal of dispensing rights to patients living in rural areas.

(232992)

418
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the projected cost is of each of the four proposed options for dispensing doctors outlined in the Pharmacy White Paper.

(233203)

419
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to amend the basis on which general practitioners in rural areas can dispense medicines and other products.

(233204)

420
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the Pharmacy White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

(233205)

421
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that rural communities are not adversely affected by proposed changes to dispensing arrangements for doctors; and if he will make a statement.

(233206)

422
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of exempt prescription items were dispensed to people aged 60 years or over in (a) Vale of York constituency and (b) England in the last three years.

(233207)

423
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of prescription items were dispensed to patients as repeat prescriptions in (a) Vale of York constituency and (b) England in the last three years.

(233208)

424
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of prescription items were dispensed free to patients in (a) Vale of York constituency and (b) England in the last three years.

(233209)

425
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescription items have been dispensed in the community by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors in (a) Vale of York constituency and (b) England in the last three years.

(233210)

426
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial advice Sector Treasury Services has given to NHS bodies on investing in Icelandic banks.

(232673)

427
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for North Norfolk of 3rd June 2008, Official Report, column 911W, on nurses: schools, if he will give the figures for each (a) region, (b) care home and (c) hospital.

(233284)

428
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been paid in compensation to patients by each trust in each of the last 10 years.

(233286)

429
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent staff work at (a) the NHS Blood and Transplant Authority, (b) NHS Professionals, (c) the Commission for Social Care Inspection, (d) the General Social Care Council, (e) the Healthcare Commission, (f) the Appointments Commission, (g) the Mental Health Act Commission, (h) the Social Care Institute for Excellence, (i) the Hepatitis Advisory Group, (j) the AIDS Expert Advisory Group and (k) the Healthcare Regulatory Council.

(233287)

430
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) capital, (b) revenue and (c) other funding he has provided to (i) the NHS Blood and Transplant Authority, (ii) NHS Professionals, (iii) the Commission for Social Care Inspection, (iv) the General Social Care Council, (v) the Healthcare Commission, (vi) the Appointments Commission, (vii) the Mental Health Act Commission, (viii) the Social Care Institute for Excellence, (ix) the Hepatitis Advisory Group, (x) the AIDS Expert Advisory Group and (xi) the Healthcare Regulatory Council in each of the last 10 years; and what funding he plans to provide to each in future years.

(233288)

431
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people (a) qualified for Healthy Start, (b) took up Healthy Start vouchers and (c) used Healthy Start vouchers to purchase Healthy Start products in each year since Healthy Start began.

(233289)

432
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) hardware and (b) software has been deployed to trusts under the National Programme for IT, broken down by trust; and how much the equipment in each deployment cost.

(233290)

433
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) his Department and (b) the Medical Research Council spent on research in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that money was spent on each (i) broad area of research and (ii) disease or condition.

(233291)

434
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the unitary cost for each (a) small, (b) medium and (c) large trust under the National Programme for IT is; and what payments local service providers have (i) received and (ii) are owed for deployments in respect of each trust, broken down by size of trust.

(233292)

435
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum level of bonus is for staff at each (i) NHS grade and (ii) civil service grade in his Department.

(233293)

436
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what deployment (a) in total and (b) of Cerner BT has made at (i) the Homerton Hospital NHS Trust and (ii) the Newham University Hospital NHS Trust; and what payment BT has received for the deployments.

(233294)

437
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of patients over the age of 65 years admitted to hospital as an emergency case required (a) emergency readmission within 28 days of discharge and (b) a third emergency readmission.

(233295)

438
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much Connecting for Health paid for the deployment of PACS, broken down by trust.

(233296)

439
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of sickness leave per employee was at (a) the NHS Blood and Transplant Authority, (b) NHS Professionals, (c) the Commission for Social Care Inspection, (d) the General Social Care Council, (e) the Healthcare Commission, (f) the Appointments Commission, (g) the Mental Health Act Commission, (h) the Social Care Institute for Excellence, (i) the Hepatitis Advisory Group, (j) the AIDS Expert Advisory Group and (k) the Healthcare Regulatory Council in the most recent period for which information is available.

(233297)

440
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanism (a) Connecting for Health and (b) the London Programme for IT use for (i) price deployments and (ii) transfer payment to the local service provider.

(233298)

441
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the funds for each of Connecting for Health's contracts is allocated to (a) design, development and testing and (b) final deployment.

(233301)

442
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of how his Department has performed against the Government's equality and diversity targets.

(233305)

443
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce the risks to public health from rodent-based arenaviruses originating in Africa.

(232689)

444
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people living in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire have been diagnosed with (i) coronary heart disease, (ii) diabetes and (iii) food-related allergies.

(232597)

445
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nursing homes inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire received a (i) 0 star rating (poor), (ii) 1 star rating (adequate), (iii) 2 star rating (good) and (iv) 3 star rating (excellent) in each year since 2000.

(232692)

446
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in Hertfordshire have a body mass index which indicates obesity.

(232749)

447
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Association of Greater Manchester Primary Care Trusts has given to (a) the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations, (b) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support and (c) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Learning Consortium in the last 24 months.

(233235)

448
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average annual payment per person to members of the NHS pension scheme was in 2008.

(232718)

449
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individuals belong to the (a) old and (b) new NHS pension scheme.

(232721)

450
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses per 100 beds there were in (a) England, (b) the West Suffolk Hospital and (c) Ipswich Hospital in each year since 1997.

(232623)

451
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost of running and administering the East of England Strategic Health Authority was in each year for which figures are available.

(232624)

452
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of dentists in each county in the East of England undertake NHS work.

(232626)

453
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent by Suffolk Primary Care Trust on salaries and wages for (a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff in each year since its creation.

(232627)

454
Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received from commercial organisations on the effect of publishing the 50 most frequently notified products in its quarterly summary report for importation of unlicensed medicines; and what the reasons were for the publication of the list.

(232507)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

455
N Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer Question 224465 tabled by the hon. Member for Billericay on 3rd October 2008 on the categories of public officials who may levy fines and issue fixed penalty notices.

(232509)

456
N James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that multiple cannabis warnings are not issued by the police to the same person.

(232130)

457
N James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received on the effectiveness of the system for recording of cannabis warnings on the Police National Computer.

(232131)

458
N James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has provided to police forces on the appropriateness of issuing (a) warnings, (b) cautions and (c) penalty notices for disorder for the possession and supply of cannabis.

(232132)

459
N James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to change the drug classification of ecstasy.

(232133)

460
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of alleged drug smuggling cases referred to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for investigation in each of the last two years have been investigated by SOCA.

(232887)

461
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors the Serious and Organised Crime Agency takes into account when stating that a drugs seizure is attributable to its activities.

(232890)

462
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people the Serious and Organised Crime Agency employs; and what proportion are engaged in counter-narcotics activities.

(232891)

463
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many trafficked children have been identified following police raids on illegal cannabis factories in each of the last five years.

(232892)

464
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to introduce further powers to seize the assets of drug dealers.

(232893)

465
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value is of assets recovered by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency since its establishment.

(232894)

466
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the performance of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency against its targets.

(232895)

467
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to publish information on the value of assets seized by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in the same format as that previously published by the Assets Recovery Agency.

(232896)

468
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which of the recommendations of the National Audit Office report on the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), HC (2006-07) 253, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency Agency (SOCA) has implemented following the transfer to SOCA of the powers and functions of the ARA.

(232897)

469
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost of implementing drinking banning orders, including funding transfers to other departments.

(232898)

470
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions (a) she and (b) departmental officials have had with Ministerial colleagues and officials in the Ministry of Justice on the (i) introduction and (ii) enforcement of drinking banning orders.

(232899)

471
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the budget for the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in 2008-09 is; and what proportion is committed to central administration.

(232900)

472
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what budgets police authorities have established for the cost of overtime and other expenses in connection with the policing of the 2012 London Olympics.

(232901)

473
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are used to assess the performance of counter-narcotics activities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted airports.

(232902)

474
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the amount of illicit drugs which entered into the UK through London airports in the latest period for which information is available.

(232903)

475
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police forces have expressed an interest in taking part in the pilots of the community safety participatory budgets referred to in the Policing Green Paper.

(232904)

476
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration she has given to publishing information on drugs seizures below the national level.

(232905)

477
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates in each of the last five years her Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to her Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232732)

478
N Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the pass rate was of those taking the Knowledge of Life test (a) applying for citizenship and (b) applying for settlement in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available.

(232781)

479
N Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were granted UK citizenship in (a) each year since 1987 and (b) each quarter of the last four years for which figures are available.

(232782)

480
N Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people of each nationality have been granted UK citizenship since 1987.

(232783)

481
N Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for UK citizenship were refused on the grounds that the applicant was not of good character in each year since 1997.

(232784)

482
N Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people renounced UK citizenship in each year since 1987, broken down by new nationality taken.

(232785)

483
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the effect of the introduction of the points-based system on the number of work permits issued to non UK nationals.

(233089)

484
N Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inspections of institutions teaching English as a second language the UK Border Agency and its predecessors conducted in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

(232215)

485
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) prosecuted for and (b) convicted of road accident fraud in each of the last five years.

(232316)

486
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many road accident frauds were reported to the police in each of the last five years.

(232317)

487
N Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent meetings she has had with her European counterparts on the subject of the People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran in light of the ruling of the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg in Case T-256/07 on 23rd October 2008.

(232318)

488
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for further leave to remain have been received in each of the last 10 years; how many applications were granted; how many applicants came orginally (a) for the purposes of work, (b) to study and (c) for other reasons; and for each category, how many dependants were brought to the UK.

(232203)

489
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration officers are assigned to work in prisons on duties related to the deportation of foreign national prisoners; and in which prisons they work.

(231573)

490
N Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been carried out of the effect on the amount of police paperwork of moving responsibility for charging decisions from police forces to the Crown Prosecution Service under the statutory charging initiative.

(232322)

491
N Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) prosecuted, (b) convicted of knife possession and (c) sentenced to prison for knife possession between (i) June and October 2008 and (ii) June and October 2007.

(232340)

492
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions there were for human trafficking offences in each of the last five years.

(232793)

493
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17th September 2008, Official Report, column 2257W, on departmental marketing, Department branding and marketing, how much was spent by (a) her Department, (b) the UK Border Agency, (c) the Identity and Passport Service and (d) the Criminal Records Bureau and their predecessors in each of the last five years.

(232816)

494
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pilot schemes for new biometric technology have been carried out over the last five years.

(232821)

495
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) computers and (b) hard drives in her Department contain non-encrypted data.

(232847)

496
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions in (a) her Department and (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 months.

(232848)

497
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of human trafficking were identified during police operations in each of the last five years.

(232948)

498
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has considered the establishment of a system of guardianship for child victims of trafficking.

(232949)

499
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made towards introducing a 45-day minimum recovery period for all victims of trafficking, as set out in the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking 2007.

(232951)

500
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for how long victims of human trafficking may remain in the UK.

(232952)

501
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support system is in place for children who are victims of human trafficking.

(232953)

502
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the eligibility requirements are for victims of human trafficking to be granted access to safe accommodation funded by the Government.

(232954)

503
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Government-funded residential places were available at any one time for women who were victims of human trafficking in each of the last five years.

(232955)

504
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions there were for human trafficking for the purpose of (a) forced labour and (b) sexual exploitation in each of the last five years.

(232957)

505
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many documents there were on laptops stolen from her Department in each year since 2001.

(232968)

506
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what costs her Department incurred in internet and website design and hosting in each year since 2001.

(232982)

507
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward proposals for a tariff of mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offences.

(233200)

508
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of members of the police pension scheme joined on or after 6th April 2006; and what projections she has made of changes to this figure over time.

(233129)

509
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Written Statement of 21st July 2008, Official Report, column 74WS, on the National DNA Database, when the Government plans to respond to the recommendations of the first annual report of the ethics group on the operation and practice of the National DNA Database.

(233217)

510
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to reduce the number of drunk and disorderly people being held in police custody; and if she will make a statement.

(232753)

511
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqis have been granted resettlement in the UK under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme since its inception.

(233222)

512
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqis who have successfully submited applications under the (a) Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme for resettlement in the UK and (b) Gateway Refugee Protection programme are awaiting transfer in (i) Jordan, (ii) Iraq and (iii) Syria.

(233223)

513
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications from Iraqis under the (a) Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme for resettlement in the UK and (b) Gateway Refugee Protection programme are awaiting evaluation.

(233224)

514
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what effects local crime mapping has had on householders living in the areas where the scheme is in operation with regard to (a) insurance premiums and (b) other matters.

(232990)

515
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration her Department has given to abolishing unconditional leave to remain.

(232981)

516
N Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests law enforcement agencies made to telephone and internet companies for details of (a) telephone calls and (b) internet use involving a public body authorised to require the disclosure of information under Part 3 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in each year since 2001; which were the 20 public bodies in respect of which the most requests were made; and how many requests were made in respect of each of those 20 bodies.

(232947)

517
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals have been excluded from the UK since 24th August 2005 on grounds of unacceptable behaviour.

(232655)

518
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK nationals have been deported from the UK since 24th August 2005 on grounds of unacceptable behaviour.

(232656)

519
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether local authorities will be given access to the database of communications that will be introduced via the forthcoming Communications Data Bill.

(232674)

520
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours on average were spent on patrol by police officers in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire in the latest period for which figures are available.

(232594)

521
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16th October 2008, Official Report, column 1432W, on the Criminal Records Bureau: standards, how many disputed Criminal Records Bureau disclosures were upheld in each of the last five years.

(232819)

522
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16th October 2008, Official Report, column 1432W, on the Criminal Records Bureau: standards, what procedures are in place to allow an applicant to dispute the information provided in their Criminal Records Bureau disclosure; what steps she is taking to improve the efficiency of this process; and if she will make a statement.

(232820)

523
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines her Department has issued for those undertaking Criminal Records Bureau checks.

(232945)

524
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average payment per person to members of the Police Pension Scheme was in 2008.

(232824)

525
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals belong to the (a) old and (b) new Police Pension Scheme.

(232825)

526
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for displaying a Union Flag or national flag of a UK country on their vehicle number plate in each of the last five years.

(232312)

527
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28th October 2008, Official Report, column 820W, on entry clearances: Middle East, if she will give the names of the Israelis refused entry to the UK in the 12 months to September 2008 on the ground that their exclusion was conducive to the public good.

(232584)

528
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) families and (b) children aged (i) under 18, (ii) under 16 and (iii) under 10 years old are detained at Dungavel Detention Centre; and how many people have been detained there in each of the last five years.

(232796)

529
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of detention period in Dungavel Detention Centre of (a) a family and (b) an individual, aged (i) under 18, (ii) under 16 and (iii) under 10 years old in each of the last three years.

(232797)

530
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of families held at Dungavel Detention Centre will be included in the pilot scheme to relocate those held at Dungavel to housing outside the centre.

(232798)

531
N Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of individuals held at Dungavel detention centre in each of the last five years had criminal records in respect of offences committed (a) in the UK and (b) overseas.

(232799)

532
Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people convicted of offences in England and Wales in the last year tested positive for illegal drug use upon arrest.

(233220)

533
N Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she issues to businesses which sell knives and blades (a) over the internet and (b) through catalogues on compliance with the requirements of (i) section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and (ii) the Offensive Weapons Act 1996.

(232516)

534
N Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will examine the adequacy of controls on the advertising and sale of souvenir knives, blades and axes (a) over the internet and (b) through catalogues; and if she will make a statement.

(232520)

535
Angela Watkinson (Upminster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average length of time taken to investigate disputed Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check results; and how many CRB check result investigations were outstanding in each of the police force areas at 31st December in each of the last three years.

(233036)

536
Angela Watkinson (Upminster): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check results have been challenged as incorrect by the individuals concerned in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what the average length of time taken by her Department to forward disputed CRB checks for investigation by local police forces is.

(233037)

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

537
Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the Commission takes to encourage House of Commons staff to adopt sustainable travel to work options.

(232750)

538
Gwyn Prosser (Dover): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has to encourage House of Commons staff to purchase bicycles under the Cycle to Work scheme.

(232868)

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

539
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 29th October 2008, Official Report, columns 32-33WS, on Education (Student Support) Regulations, when his Department will identify the £1.5 billion of cash-releasing efficiency savings referred to.

(232740)

540
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 29th October 2008, Official Report, columns 32-33WS, on Education (Student Support) Regulations, which parts of the science budget are not ring-fenced.

(232741)

541
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 29th October 2008, Official Report, columns 32-33WS, on Education (Student Support) Regulations, whether the research funding component of the Higher Education Funding Council for England's budget will be considered in his Department's search for cost savings.

(232742)

542
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what information he holds on the (a) value and (b) change in value of university endowments in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) donations, (b) surplus transfers, (c) match funding, (d) realised asset sales and (e) unrealised capital gains.

(232614)

543
N Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what representations he has received on apprenticeships which might be terminated because of job losses and company failures in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement.

(232276)

544
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232733)

545
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what discussions he has had with universities on the account to be taken in university admission arrangements of an A-level in a modern foreign language, if a student applying to a university is (a) from the country where that language is indigenous, (b) from a community in the UK where that language is spoken and (c) is fluent in the language because it is spoken at home; and if he will make a statement.

(232984)

546
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what information his Department holds on which universities do not accept A-levels in (a) modern Hebrew, (b) Gujarati, (c) Hindi and (d) Urdu as a qualification towards their minimum entry requirements; and if he will make a statement.

(232987)

547
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with universities on the relative value of A-levels in each modern language in applications to universities; and if he will make a statement.

(232988)

548
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what the (a) office locations and (b) 2009-10 budgets, of each of the regional councils of the Learning and Skills Council are.

(232805)

549
Mr Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what (a) support and (b) funding the Government has provided for the probe of the Gamburtsev sub-glacial mountains.

(232688)

550
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council has given to (a) the Greater Manchester Council for Voluntary Organisations, (b) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support and (c) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Learning Consortium.

(233230)

551
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much funding (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) his Department's agencies have given to (i) Manchester is my Planet and (ii) Manchester: Knowledge Capital in the last 24 months.

(233231)

552
N Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much has been spent on maintenance grants for undergraduate students in each year since 2004-05; and how much is expected to be spent in 2008-09.

(232269)

553
N Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what the average maintenance grant paid to eligible first-year UK-domiciled undergraduate students was in each year since 2004-05; and how much it is expected to be in 2008-09.

(232270)

554
N Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many first-year UK-domiciled undergraduate students have been entitled to (a) the maximum maintenance grant and (b) a portion of the full maintenance grant in each year since 2004-05; and what the estimated figures are for 2008-09.

(232271)

555
N Mr David Willetts (Havant): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many, and what proportion, of first-year UK-domiciled undergraduate students have been entitled to a maintenance grant in each year since 2004-05; and what the estimated figures are for 2008-09.

(232272)

556
N Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much has been awarded to undergraduates who are the children of parents registered as non-domiciled through the student grants system in each year for which records are available; and if he will make a statement.

(232424)

557
N Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what regulations are in place governing the awarding of undergraduate grants to the children of parents registered as non-domiciled; and if he will make a statement.

(232425)

558
N Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of undergraduates who are the children of parents registered as non-domiciled and have received student grants in each year for which records are available; and if he will make a statement.

(232426)

559
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, if he will bring forward proposals to prevent the use of essay mills by university students.

(233092)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

560
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has to spread best practice of social enterprises in low income countries; and if he will make a statement.

(233114)

561
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232734)

562
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, columns 668-9W, on humanitarian aid, where the humanitarian funding guidelines may be obtained; how much funding has been allocated to the activities described in relation to Bangladesh; and what projects in (a) Sierra Leone and (b) Nigeria his Department is supporting on (i) reducing the risk of disaster, (ii) preventing the re-emergence of conflict and (iii) fostering a greater adherence to aid effectiveness principles.

(232946)

563
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of (a) the numbers displaced by the recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (b) their humanitarian needs and (c) whether aid is reaching those in need.

(233081)

564
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of UK development assistance to Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

(233082)

565
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 29th October 2008, Official Report, column 1166W, on voluntary work, what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of Platform2's use of British Airways flights.

(233135)

566
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to promote healthcare and education in relation to HIV and AIDS to (a) women and (b) men in Swaziland.

(233283)

567
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which other Government departments provided funds to the UN Development Programme as stated in Statistics in International Development 2008, page 124; and how much was so provided in each of the last three years.

(232822)

568
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many applications were made to (a) the Programme Development Fund and (b) the Travel Bursary Fund in each of the last five years; how many successful applications were made to each in each year; and what the (i) value, (ii) destination, (iii) purpose and (iv) outcome was of each award made.

(232823)

569
Mr Greg Pope (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries his Department has representation on the ground.

(232844)

570
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Richmond (Yorkshire) of 18th December 2007, Official Report, column 1353W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what studies the Stabilisation Unit has conducted into lessons learned for his Department from UK stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

(232932)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

571
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what advice his Department has issued to other Government departments on the applicability of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to messages sent by means of an instant message system; and if he will make a statement.

(232475)

572
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will assess the effectiveness of legislation allowing unsecured creditors to obtain a legal charge over a property; and if he will make a statement.

(233106)

573
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to review the eligibility criteria by which indebted individuals can apply for a debt enforcement restriction order; and if he will make a statement.

(233107)

574
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences related to the unlawful import or export of illicit drugs in each of the last 10 years.

(232884)

575
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many drug rehabilitation requirements have included an abstinence requirement in each of the last five years.

(232885)

576
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of re-offending rates after 12 months of those in receipt of (a) a drug treatment and testing order and (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement.

(232886)

577
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of those in receipt of (a) a drug treatment and testing order and (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement tested positive for opiate use 12 months after receipt of their order.

(232888)

578
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what mechanisms are in place to recover the costs of (a) enforcement and (b) other activities borne by his Department following the implementation of new legislation sponsored by other departments.

(232889)

579
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232735)

580
N Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 28th October 2008, Official Report, column 849W, on the Courts Service, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of 5,800 hours of court time at 2008 prices.

(232521)

581
Mr Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to make the operation of family courts more open and transparent.

(232618)

582
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of former armed service personnel (a) in custody and (b) on parole.

(232966)

583
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assumptions his Department has made of the availability of increased funding for his Department in its financial plan for the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(232967)

584
N Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the estimated cost of each Director of Offender Management in the National Offender Management Service for 2009-2010 is.

(232631)

585
N Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost has been of each regional offender manager in the National Offender Management Service since their inception in 2004.

(232632)

586
N Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what efficiency savings will be required from (a) Prison Service workforce replanning, (b) probation productivity via trust programmes, (c) prisons legal advice and (d) other identifiable areas or programmes under his Department's Financial Plan for the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2008 to 2011.

(232633)

587
N Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what efficiency savings are expected to be found by prison productivity, broken down by specified programmes, under his Department's Financial Plan for the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2008 to 2011.

(232634)

588
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of the prisoners to be released by the end of 2009 under the end of custody licence scheme are estimated to be violent offenders.

(233119)

589
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national prisoners recommended for deportation or removal from the United Kingdom by a judge at sentencing were (a) deported or removed from the UK, (b) allowed to remain in the UK and (c) awaiting a Home Office decision on removal or deportation in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available.

(231572)

590
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what percentage of (a) foreign national prisoners and (b) prisoners of unknown nationality there were in each prison in England and Wales on 1st October 2008.

(231574)

591
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national prisoners were being held in prisons awaiting deportation after their due release date on 1st October 2008.

(231575)

592
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of the convictions for human trafficking offences in each of the last five years led to (a) a custodial sentence of more than one year, (b) a custodial sentence of less than one year, (c) a community sentence and (d) a fine.

(232956)

593
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which Islamic tribunals have authority to act under the Arbitration Act 1996.

(232983)

594
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the target times set for coroners' courts in England to complete inquests are; and if he will make a statement.

(232663)

595
N David Howarth (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the likely effect of reductions in the budget of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) on (a) the number of courts, (b) the number of courts staff, (c) the number of consultants, (d) the number of agency staff and (e) the level of service to the public provided by HMCS in each of the years of the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

(232501)

596
N David Howarth (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what reductions in expenditure his Department plans to make by April 2011; and what assessment he has made of their likely effects.

(232502)

597
N David Howarth (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent decisions have been taken on reducing his Department's future expenditure; and if he make a statement.

(232503)

598
N David Howarth (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the presentation given in his Department on 28th September 2008 on the Department's budgetary position and the options for dealing with its budgetary shortfall.

(232504)

599
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his timetable is for further reform of the House of Lords.

(232708)

600
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's policy is on assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill; and if he will make a statement.

(232788)

601
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what cashable efficiency savings HM Prison Service was required to make in the financial year 2007-08.

(232645)

602
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what cashable efficiency savings were made by HM Prison Service in each of the last five years.

(232646)

603
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what cashable efficiency savings HM Prison Service is required to make in each of the next three years.

(232647)

604
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what cashable efficiency savings HM Prison Service made in 2006-07; and from what areas these savings were delivered.

(232648)

605
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases were considered by the Civil Service Appeal Board in regard to staff employed by HM Prison Service in each of the last five years.

(232649)

606
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions the Civil Service Appeal Board has recommended re-instatement or re-engagement of staff employed by HM Prison Service in each of the last five years.

(232650)

607
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions where the Civil Service Appeal Board has recommended reinstatement or re-engagement of staff employed by HM Prison Service the Prison Service decided not to accept the recommendation of the Board in each of the last five years.

(232651)

608
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the additional cost has been to the public purse of a decision by HM Prison Service not to accept the recommendation of the Civil Service Appeal Board to re-instate or re-engage a member of staff in each of the last five years.

(232652)

609
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost has been to the public purse, of applications to the Civil Service Appeal Board by staff employed by HM Prison Service in each of the last five years.

(232653)

610
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) 16 to 18 year olds and (b) 18 to 21 year olds are currently serving custodial sentences; and what is the average length of sentence for each group.

(232195)

611
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what percentage of offenders in young offender institutions are dependent on at least one type of drug.

(232196)

612
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost was of providing a place in a young offenders institution in the latest year for which figures are available.

(232197)

613
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners there are at HMP Whitemoor; and how many list their religion as Muslim.

(232476)

614
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what facilities are provided to facilitate Muslim prisoners at HMP Whitemoor in practising their religion.

(232480)

615
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the arrangements for meeting the (a) cultural and (b) dietary requirements of Muslim prisoners at HMP Whitemoor are.

(232481)

616
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what arrangements are made for the accommodation of Muslim prisoners at HMP Whitemoor.

(232522)

617
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, who the respondents were to his Department's consultation on weekend voting.

(232672)

618
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 19th October 2006, Official Report, columns 1391-2W, on the Land Registry, how many commonhold residential developments there are in (a) England and (b) Wales.

(232866)

619
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average payment per person to members of the Judicial Pension Scheme was in 2008.

(232829)

620
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many individuals belong to the Judicial Pension Scheme.

(232830)

621
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will issue guidelines to the courts to ensure that where a landlord with a buy-to-let mortgage falls into arrears and the lender applies to the courts, the rights and housing needs of any tenant are taken into consideration.

(232573)

622
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Information Commissioner's budget will be in each of the next three financial years.

(232693)

623
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will place in the Library copies of the background papers and minutes from the inter-party discussions on party funding.

(232911)

624
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consideration he gave to including provisions on electoral fraud in the Political Parties and Elections Bill.

(232912)

625
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proposals on triggering were considered during the inter-party discussions on party funding.

(232913)

626
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether campaign expenditure funded by political parties and incurred by hon. Members promoting their role as a Member of Parliament, outside a general election period, will be considered as local campaigning expenditure for the purposes of the new trigger rules.

(232914)

627
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consideration he gave to undertaking a formal consultation on his Department's proposals to introduce new trigger rules for local candidate expenditure.

(232915)

628
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, at what point national campaign expenditure at constituency level will fall within the scope of the proposed new trigger rules.

(232916)

629
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consideration his Department has given to the introduction of guidance on the operation of the proposed new trigger rules in the Political Parties and Elections Bill to supersede the case law applicable to the old trigger rules.

(232917)

630
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 15th September 2008, Official Report, column 2028W, on political parties: finance, what consideration he gave to the Government (a) Codes of Practice on Guidance on Regulations and (b) Guide to Code of Practice on Guidance in formulating his policy on commencement of the new regulations on trigger rules before the issue of guidance on such regulations.

(232918)

631
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to issue guidance on adding new electors to electoral registers under rolling registration rather than re-publishing registers in full.

(232919)

632
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, at what point (a) local association campaigning, (b) third party campaigning and (c) national party campaigning in a locality is proposed to be classified as local candidate spending for the purposes of the proposed new election trigger rules.

(232920)

633
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 21st July 2008, Official Report, columns 711-2W, on elections: fraud, what consideration he has given to introducing individual voter registration in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

(232921)

634
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the proposed guidance from the Electoral Commission on triggering will be statutory.

(232922)

635
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what circumstances local candidate campaigning expenditure incurred before Royal Assent to the Political Parties and Election Bill will be treated as triggering a candidate's elections expenses.

(232923)

636
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether direct mail correspondence to individual voters from (a) trades unions and (b) central political parties which does not mention local candidates will be considered local candidate expenditure for the purposes of the new election trigger rules.

(232924)

637
N Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his comments before the Justice Committee on 7th October 2008, HC 1076-i, Question 67, what plans he has to reassess the appropriateness of commencing the new trigger rules at Royal Assent before the Electoral Commission guidance is published.

(232937)

638
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the impact assessment for the Political Parties and Elections Bill, what the evidential basis was for the estimate of five minutes processing time per donation for the processing of a donation declaration; and what estimate his Department has made of the average time taken to verify the source of a donation.

(232938)

639
N Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether parliamentary candidates who have (a) announced and (b) promoted their candidature prior to Royal Assent to the Political Parties and Election Bill will on Royal Assent be deemed to have automatically announced their candidature for the purposes of the new trigger rules.

(232941)

640
N Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what powers of entry the Electoral Commission has; what powers it has to enter the homes of (a) election agents and (b) candidates in elections; and in what way powers of entry regarding these groups will change if the provisions of the Political Parties and Elections Bill are enacted.

(232942)

641
N Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the impact assessment for the Political Parties and Elections Bill, what the evidential basis was for the calculation that between 2,000 and 3,000 donations each year would be regulated.

(232943)

Questions to the Leader of the House

642
N Mr Robert Goodwill (Scarborough & Whitby): To ask the Leader of the House, for what reasons there is a longer notice period for tabling Questions for oral Answer to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than for Questions to other Ministers.

(232606)

643
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Leader of the House, what the limit on expenditure via the Communications Allowance in 2008-09 is, including transfers from Incidental Expenses Provision and Staffing Allowance to the maximum amount permissible.

(232926)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

644
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department.

(232725)

645
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many police officers there were in Northern Ireland per 1,000 population in (a) 2002 and (b) 2007.

(232837)

646
N Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many incidents have required the use of Taser guns in Northern Ireland since their introduction; and whether there have been any reported instances of injuries requiring hospital treatment as a result of such use.

(232838)

647
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what public relations companies are contracted to the Northern Ireland Parades Commission to provide a media handling service; and how much they were paid in each year since 2004-05.

(232869)

648
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what tendering process is followed by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission in the appointment of public relations companies.

(232870)

649
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was spent by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission on staff (a) salaries and (b) expenses in each year since 2004-05.

(232871)

650
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what public relations companies are retained by his Department.

(232872)

651
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was paid to public relations companies by his Department in each year since 1998-99.

(232873)

652
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was paid to consultants by his Department in each year since 1998-99.

(232874)

653
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many retired or former civil servants were employed as consultants by his Department in each year since 1998-99; and how much they were paid in each year.

(232875)

654
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions the Northern Ireland Parades Commission has had with the organisers of the Belfast Pride Parade since 2nd August 2008.

(232876)

655
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what reports he has received of the behaviour of some participants in the Belfast Pride Parade on 2nd August 2008 towards those who were protesting against the parade.

(232877)

656
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the performance of Access NI against its objectives.

(232878)

657
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) basic, (b) standard and (c) enhanced applications have been processed by Access NI since 1st April 2008; and what percentage of these was completed within the relevant performance target time.

(232879)

658
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applicants have raised a dispute with Access NI since 1st April 2008; and how many of these have been upheld.

(232880)

659
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons have lodged complaints with Access NI about the standard of its service since 1st April 2008.

(232881)

660
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Government's policy is on seeking to extend to Northern Ireland the provisions of the Abortion Act 1968.

(232787)

Questions to the Minister for the Olympics

661
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, on what dates in each of the last five years she has informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to her responsibilities or those of non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible.

(232724)

662
N Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, what the value is of all contracts awarded by the Olympic Delivery Authority to businesses and organisations in Wales.

(232315)

663
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, what assessment she has made of the Field Studies Council's proposals to site residential urban education centre in the Olympic Park after the London 2012 Olympics.

(232211)

664
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 690W, on Olympic Games: finance, how much is to be given to each Home Country Sports Council; and to what types of projects the money will be allocated.

(232277)

Questions to the Prime Minister

665
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer to the hon Member for Welwyn, Hatfield, of 8th October 2008, Official Report, column 618W, on Ministers: official residences, for how many months the official Ministerial residence at South Eaton Place has been empty: at what cost to the public purse; and whether the property has been placed on the market.

(232786)

666
N Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Prime Minister, whether a list of Ministers' relevant interests declared to their Permanent Secretaries will be published in 2008.

(232817)

667
N Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 666W, on the Olympic Games, what the names are of all those who (a) were invited to and (b) attended the reception for Team GB at Lancaster House.

(232278)

668
N Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd October 2008, Official Report, column 666W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what form the continuous review of military and humanitarian efforts takes.

(232931)

669
N Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire): To ask the Prime Minister, when he expects to publish the costs of the recent Cabinet visit to Birmingham.

(232313)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

670
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to the announcement by his Department of 23rd October 2008 on a pilot of an alternative to detention for children at Dungavel, when he expects the pilot to be operational.

(232944)

671
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how long the trial for the pilot of an alternative to detention for children at Dungavel will last.

(232950)

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

672
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many cases involving (a) regulated donees and (b) possible breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 the Electoral Commission has (i) investigated, (ii) considered referring to the police and (iii) referred to the police in (A) 2008 and (B) in each of the last eight years; what offences were involved in each case; and how many investigators were employed on this work in 2008.

(232711)

673
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 6th October 2008, Official Report, column 84W, on the Representation of the People Act 1983, what consideration the Commission has given to issuing its guidance in the form of codes of practice under paragraph 14 of schedule 4A of the 1983 Act.

(232925)

674
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Meriden, of 7th October 2008, Official Report, column 547W, on political parties: finance, what the name of the public sector consultant commissioned to provide public sector auditor advice is; and what the cost of this contract is.

(232936)

675
Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the accuracy of the Electoral Register.

(232974)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

676
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the introduction of electronic motor insurance certificates; and if he will make a statement.

(229586)

677
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there are plans for National Air Traffic Services to undertake additional public consultation before any introduction of (a) mixed-mode and (b) a third runway at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement.

(232320)

678
N Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what procedures would be followed if BAA sought permission to introduce mixed-mode (a) within the 480,000 cap and (b) exceeding the 480,000 cap.

(232321)

679
N Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 to take account of technological developments; and if he will make a statement.

(232756)

680
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22nd October 2008, Official Report, column 423W, on railways: EU law, what recent correspondence he has received from the European Commission on implementation of the First Railway Package; and if he will make a statement.

(232428)

681
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what instructions have been given to (a) the North West Leaders' Forum and (b) the Highways Agency on capping costs on the Mottram-Tintwistle bypass at £270m; and what other road schemes have been similarly capped in the last 12 months.

(232466)

682
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) Ministers and (b) permanent secretaries have chosen not to make use of a Government car.

(232482)

683
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of car occupants killed in road deaths were in the (a) front and (b) rear seats (i) wearing and (ii) not wearing seatbelts in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(232712)

684
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what mechanisms are in place to alert the (a) police and (b) other relevant authorities to novice drivers who lose their licence having accumulated six penalty points and do not pass another driving test, but continue to have vehicles registered in their names.

(232713)

685
N Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4th June 2008 to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton, Official Report, column 946W, on Waterloo station, whether the train operating company operating longer trains will be required to pay proportionately greater track access charges to Network Rail.

(232714)

686
Lyn Brown (West Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge on levels of traffic congestion in East and South East London.

(232927)

687
Lyn Brown (West Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

(232929)

688
N Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to include cats within the provision of section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

(232487)

689
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents there were on the A12 in Essex in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these accidents resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury.

(233137)

690
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the daily average number of vehicles using the A12 in Essex in each of the last 10 years.

(233140)

691
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232723)

692
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles are registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; and how much revenue was generated from the licence fee in the latest period for which figures are available.

(232699)

693
N Mr Robert Goodwill (Scarborough & Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the gender pay gap in (a) his Department and (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

(232607)

694
N Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent on (a) design fees, (b) printing costs, (c) painting of vehicles and (d) consultancy fees with regard to the corporate logo of the Government Car and Despatch Agency in (i) each of the last three years and (ii) 2008 to date.

(232423)

695
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of (a) delegated examiners and (b) driving examiners have been safety checked by Driving Standards Agency quality assurance teams in the last 12 months.

(232998)

696
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if will make it his policy to ensure that British-built cars are purchased to add to the Government fleet.

(233039)

697
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of (a) imports and (b) exports passed through the Port of Hull in the latest period for which figures are available.

(232599)

698
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will delay implementation of the provisions of the Second EC Driving Licence Directive until the proposed network of multi-purpose test centres has been established.

(233142)

699
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will permit the on-road and off-road testing of motorcycle drivers to take place separately until the proposed network of multi-purpose test centres has been established.

(233143)

700
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff of train operating companies have been seconded to work in DfT Rail over the last three years.

(232639)

701
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures have been put into place to ensure that staff seconded from train operating companies to DfT Rail learn no information of possible commercial use for their companies.

(232640)

702
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) contractors, (b) consultants and (c) staff from employment agencies work in (i) his Department and (ii) DfT Human Resources; and what the cost is of employing these staff on a monthly basis.

(232641)

703
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, from which companies the (a) contractors, (b) consultants and (c) staff from employment agencies who work in (i) his Department and (ii) DfT Human Resources have been hired.

(232642)

704
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any (a) contractor, (b) consultant and (c) member of staff from an employment agency, working in (i) his Department and (ii) DfT Human Resources was hired by single tender action.

(232643)

705
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers local authorities have to offer (a) free and (b) subsidised bus services in areas where commercial bus services operate.

(232581)

706
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 29th September 2008, Official Report, House of Lords, column WS174, on the Department for Transport: official receptions, who the members are of the parking working group; what the remit is of the group; and on what dates the group has met over the last 12 months.

(232961)

707
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department and its agencies have given to the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign in the last 24 months.

(233233)

708
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department and its agencies has given to the Manchester-based organisations (a) Transport Pool and (b) the Community Network for Manchester in the last 24 months.

(233234)

709
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road traffic (a) accidents and (b) fatalities there were on the A14 in Suffolk in each year since 1997; and how many involved drivers under the age of 21 years in each case.

(232628)

710
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the most recent traffic flow data for each section of the A14 are.

(232629)

711
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road traffic (a) accidents and (b) fatalities there were on the A14 in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

(232630)

712
N Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to amend the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 to permit the voluntary display of the Union Flag or other national identifiers.

(232311)

713
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has analysed on the number of (a) serious injuries and (b) fatalities resulting from accidents involving people driving who should not have held a driving licence due to their health or eyesight; and if he will make a statement.

(233146)

714
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to suspend the licences of drivers suspected of causing death or serious injury due to health or eyesight problems until the completion of inquiries into or prosecution of such drivers.

(233148)

715
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission research into the accuracy of information provided by drivers in each age group to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in relation to self-certification for fitness to hold a driving licence.

(233150)

716
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the accuracy of information provided by drivers on their (a) health and (b) eyesight when self-certifying their suitability to hold a driving licence; and if he will make a statement.

(233151)

717
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from coroners on the procedures for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to obtain information on driving licence holders who have medical conditions which should disqualify them from driving; and if he will make a statement.

(233166)

718
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it a condition of holding a driving licence that a person consents to his medical records being released to the police in the event of an accident involving the licence-holder resulting in serious injury or fatality; and if he will make a statement.

(233167)

719
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require medical professionals to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency when a person has a medical condition affecting a person's ability to drive.

(233168)

720
N Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on plans by Wightlink for new ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth; what role his Department will have in determining the required permissions for the new ferries to enter service; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the financial interests of each of the Lymington Harbour commissioners.

(232511)

721
N Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has authorised the erection of road signs which indicate metric rather than imperial measurements.

(232445)

722
N Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that drivers may legally display the (a) Union Flag, (b) flag of Saint Andrew and (c) flag of Saint George on car registration plates.

(232494)

723
N Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has met representatives of the Scottish Executive since his appointment to discuss high speed rail.

(232743)

Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

724
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what average salary was paid by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to its (a) male, (b) female, (c) white, (d) black and minority ethnic (e) disabled and (f) non-disabled employees in the last period for which figures are available.

(232794)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

725
N John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage the take-up of (a) carer's allowance, (b) pension credit, (c) housing benefit and (d) council tax benefit.

(232205)

726
N John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to achieve a higher level of overall benefits take-up.

(232206)

727
N John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to achieve a higher level of benefits take-up amongst pensioners.

(232207)

728
N John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's latest estimate is of take-up rates for (a) carer's allowance, (b) pension credit, (c) housing benefit and (d) council tax benefit.

(232208)

729
N John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners his Department estimates are eligible for pension credit, broken down by constituency.

(232209)

730
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) the Chelmsford local authority area have a Post Office card account.

(233139)

731
N Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants were in receipt of mortgage interest payment as part of income support in each Government Office Region in each of the last 10 years.

(232700)

732
N Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to implement forthwith the change to eligibility for income support for mortgage interest payments planned for April 2009.

(232701)

733
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

(232720)

734
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents he expects to seek loans under the lone parent transition loan arrangements as a result of transition from income support to jobseekers allowance/employment support allowance; and what budget has been planned for such arrangements.

(233057)

735
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to answer Question 225138, tabled on 3rd October 2008, on the number of national insurance registrations granted since 2004.

(233174)

736
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people resident in (a) Bolton North East constituency and (b) Bolton have received pension credit since its introduction.

(232677)

737
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received on the future of the Post Office card account.

(232678)

738
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much an eligible single person aged 25 years or over received in (a) unemployment benefit and (b) jobseeker's allowance in each year since 1987, expressed as a proportion of average earnings

(233145)

739
Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been (a) killed and (b) injured by steam rollers in each of the last five years.

(233176)

740
N Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedure is followed when a claimant presents him or herself at a (a) personal capacity assessment and (b) work capability assessment but is not in a fit state to be assessed due to intoxication.

(231889)

741
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to simplify the application form for pensioners wishing to claim pension credit.

(232975)

742
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to work with voluntary organisations such as Age Concern and Help the Aged to promote take-up of pension credit.

(232976)

743
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that elderly people take full advantage of the energy-saving schemes available to them.

(232977)

744
N Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the accurracy of information provided on the telephone by Pensions Service staff about the future of the Post Office card account; and if he will make a statement.

(232314)

745
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal injury claims against his Department from its employees arose out of the floods in June 2007; and which of his Department's districts such claims relate to.

(233169)

746
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of households in Vale of York constituency which will receive the (a) £250 and (b) £400 winter fuel payment in 2008-09.

(233201)

747
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much he expects to pay to pensioner householders in the Vale of York in winter fuel payments in 2008-09.

(233202)

748
N Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what administrative steps he plans to take (a) in reducing the present period for claims for income support for mortgage interest to 13 weeks by April 2009 and (b) in widening access to income support for mortgage interest arrangements to joint income households.

(232865)

749
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2365W, on council tax benefit, what estimate he has made of the number of adults in benefit units in Great Britain who are in receipt of 100 per cent. council tax benefit.

(232958)

750
Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29th September 2008, Official Report, column 2402W, on winter fuel payments, what estimate he has made of the value of the winter fuel payment in 2008-09 for a 60 to 79 year-old, expressed as a percentage of the average annual energy and gas bill.

(232964)

751
N Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of applications for (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance have been refused in each of the last three years.

(232199)

752
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claimed (a) carer's allowance and (b) pension credit for being a carer in each of the last five years.

(233299)

753
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost of buying out the Connecting for Health contracts.

(233300)

754
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) budget for and (b) expenditure on pension credits for carers was in each of the last five years.

(233302)

755
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for pension credit for being a carer in each of the last five years; and how many of them claimed the credit.

(233303)

756
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many residents of Hemel Hempstead receive the mobility component of disability living allowance at the (a) higher and (b) lower rate.

(232596)

757
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people he estimates were (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of council tax benefit in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each year since 1997.

(232752)

758
N Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will reduce the qualification period for income support for mortgage interest to 13 weeks with immediate effect.

(232499)

759
N Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will amend the system of income support for mortgage interest to provide support to two-income households when one borrower loses their source of income.

(232500)

760
N Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which interactions with the tax and benefits systems will alert staff to draw attention to parents with care of the child maintenance to which they are entitled.

(232492)

761
N Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the sources of funding are of the Better Government for Older People initiative.

(232813)

762
N Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effects on vulnerable people of direct payments of housing benefit.

(232814)

763
Ian Stewart (Eccles): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people successfully claimed industrial injuries benefit due to ill health following the administration of an occupational vaccine in each of the last 25 years; which vaccines were involved in each successful claim; what classification was given to the illness of each successful claimant; and how many of the claims were classed as an (a) industrial injury and (b) industrial accident.

(232512)

764
Ian Stewart (Eccles): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have made unsuccessful claims for industrial injuries benefits following the administration of an occupational vaccine to them in each of the last 25 years; how many of those people had their claims refused on the grounds that they were studying or training to be qualified for the relevant occupation in each of those years; and which vaccines were cited in the claims in each case.

(232513)

765
Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the average amount of a lone parent transition loan taken out by lone parents during the transition from claiming income support to claiming other benefits in each phase of the eligibility rules for income support introduced by the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous) Regulations 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(233229)

766
Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents to be moved from income support onto (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) employment support allowance and (c) other benefits in each month of the next three years as a result of the provisions of the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous) Regulations 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(233247)

767
Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents who will require a lone parent transition loan during their transition from claiming income support to claiming other benefits in each phase of the eligibility rules for income support introduced by the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous) Regulations 2008; and if he will make a statement.

(233248)

768
Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of new jobseeker's allowance claimants who will move onto the benefit as a result of (i) losing employment, (ii) moving off income support, (iii) failing a work capability assessment and (iv) other reasons in each of the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(233253)

769
Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time was for decisions to be taken on crisis loan applications in (a) the last two quarters and (b) each month of 2008-09 to date or the most recent period for which figures which are available; and if he will make a statement.

(233273)

770
Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) crisis loan, (b) budgeting loan and (c) community care grant applications have been received in each (i) month of 2008-09 and (ii) in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(233276)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

771
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much her Department plans to spend on (a) Homebuy and (b) Key Worker Living for school teachers in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (233122)

772
N Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that banks take into account the tenancy rights of tenants whose landlord has a buy-to-let mortgage before making application for repossession of the property.

[Transferred] (232572)

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Revised 3 November 2008