Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 9 January 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 9 January 2003, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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.

1   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Advocate General, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to her Department in 2002.

(89868)

2   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89900)

3   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89972)

4   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what progress has been made by his Department in implementing each of the recommendations of the Stewart Report into mobile telecommunications masts.

(89786)

5
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local authorities who have made representations to his Department for additional resources to deal with the recycling of refrigerators; and if he will make a statement.

(88820)

6
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information he has collated on Government expenditure in the last 12 months on Islington community groups based in buildings the Borough Council is proposing to sell; and if he will make a statement.

(89382)

7
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what consultation there has been with the Government Office for London by Islington Council on the proposed sale of buildings used by community organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(89385)

8   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how may firefighters have been trained in decontamination techniques to help the general public; how many protective suits are available in each fire authority area; and what expenditure has been incurred.

(89904)

9   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the funds made available in February 2002 for mass decontamination service have been drawn upon.

(89903)

10   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether the formula for funding social services expenditure of local authorities reflects a 20 per cent. higher cost of elderly residential provision in those areas to be subject to the higher differential rate of payments under the Delayed Discharge (Compensation) Bill.

(89607)

11   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received from (a) business organisations, (b) trade unions and (c) community groups in support of his regional government proposals; and if he will place copies in the Library.

(90004)

12   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his latest estimate is of (a) the population and (b) the electorate of each metropolitan district in England and each London borough.

(90012)

13   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his latest estimate is of spending per head from all local government sources for each region in England in the last year for which figures are available.

(90037)

14   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his estimate is for each shire and metropolitan county and for the GLA of spending per head from all local government sources in the last year for which figures are available.

(90009)

15   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his latest estimate is of (a) the population and (b) the electorate of each region in England.

(90011)

16   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his latest estimate is of (a) the population and (b) the electorate of each shire and metropolitan county and the GLA area in England.

(90010)

17   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his definition is of 'urban deprived' for the purpose of distribution of the Post Office Fund for Urban Deprived Areas; and if he will make a statement.

(90043)

18   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much was paid in grant to each local authority in respect of (a) coastal defence and (b) flood protection in each of the last five years; and how much will be paid to each local authority for 2003-04.

(89643)

19   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the impact the introduction of the new local government grant distribution formula will have on local authority budgets for flood defence and coastal protection.

(89642)

20   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much regeneration funding was received by each of the English regions in each year between 1974-75 and 2001-02; and what the estimated figures are for (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05; and (d) 2005-06, (i) in cash terms and (ii) at constant 2001-02 prices.

(89823)

21   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, in relation to the Government's consultation, when consultation on changes to fire safety legislation through a regulatory reform order under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 will be completed; when the final version of the regulatory reform order will be published; and how many responses to the consultation expressed concerns relating to fires in very large single storey buildings.

(89759)

22   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesborough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Register of Interests of the Church Commissioners; for what reason the Register of Interests of the Church Commissioners is not (a) available for inspection by the general public, (b) published and (c) available by photocopy on payment of a reasonable fee; and to what Government commitments to openness and freedom of information the Church of England is bound by reason if its establishment.

(89655)

23   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89895)

24   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many statutory instruments were issued by the National Heritage Department in each year between 1992 and 1997; and how many have been issued by her department since May 1997.

(89849)

25   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much each ministerial office in her Department spent on the printing and posting of Christmas cards in 2002.

(90111)

26   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by her Department.

(89964)

27   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89946)

28   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what fair trade criteria she sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89907)

29   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her Answer, ref 88451, on Green Ministers, how often the Green Ministers Committee has met since the Baroness Blackstone was appointed.

(89766)

30   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to (a) conduct a mapping exercise of local sports facilities, and (b) identify their usage and user profile; and if she will make a statement.

(89995)

31   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to compile a directory of the coaches that will be available to schools and community groups; and if she will make a statement.

(89996)

32   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to improve (a) availability of, (b) access to, and (c) use of community transport for children travelling to sports facilities and events; and if she will make a statement.

(90002)

33   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to introduce career structures for coaching of sport; and if she will make a statement.

(89997)

34   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to develop a local agency approach for (a) gaining access to, and (b) supporting funding for community sports initiatives; and if she will make a statement.

(89999)

35   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to improve access to community sports facilities for volunteer organisations and the local community; and if she will make a statement.

(89998)

36   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to encourage and support partnerships between sports clubs and schools; and if she will make a statement.

(90001)

37   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to enable greater community access to school and local authority sports facilities and equipment; and if she will make a statement.

(89994)

38   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the total of payments made by NESTA, since its creation, to external businesses and individuals involved in creating, upgrading and maintaining its web site.

(90003)

39   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89892)

40   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89850)

41   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects an outcome to the meeting of the sub-committee of the Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals, chaired by General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank on 22nd November, regarding the case for a general service medal for Suez veterans.

(90118)

42   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89965)

43   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what category of NHS staff have been called up as army reservists in the last four weeks.

(89789)

44
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what distribution, and in what languages, has been arranged by his Department of the consultation document Missile Defence; and if he will make a statement.

(89381)

45
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to announce a decision on the US application to site national missile defence facilities in the UK.

(89372)

46   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) men and (b) women have been sentenced to a period of detention by a UK military court martial in each of the last three years.

(89666)

47   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the longest period of detention was to which (a) a man and (b) a woman has been sentenced by a UK military court martial in each of the last three years.

(89667)

48   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many courts martial have taken place in (a) the UK and (b) overseas military bases, in each of the last three years.

(89664)

49   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) men and (b) women have appeared before a UK court martial in each of the last three years; what rank they were; and how many were found (i) guilty and (ii) not guilty.

(89665)

50   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the military detention centres in the UK.

(89663)

51   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what independent organisations oversee the running of UK military detention centres; and if he will make a statement.

(89668)

52   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if an environmental sustainability assessment was made of factors that may result from the relocation of DSTL staff in Farnborough to Portsdown Main, with particular reference to changes in the level of commuter traffic; and if he will make a statement.

(89815)

53   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the loss to DSTL of experienced staff who are unable or unwilling to relocate from Farnborough to Portsdown Main.

(89832)

54   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the account taken of the views of DSTL staff at the Farnborough site in arriving at the decision to relocate Farnborough staff to Porstdown Main.

(89833)

55   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the financial appraisal and independent review by the MoD Senior Economic Advisor of the decision to move DSTL staff from Farnborough to Portsdown Main.

(89831)

56   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the initial capital spend for relocation of DSTL staff from Farnborough to Portsdown Main.

(89814)

57   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost of recruiting and training replacements from DSTL staff in Farnborough who are unwilling or unable to relocate to Portsdown Main.

(89813)

58   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89942)

59   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89911)

60   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what formal complaints he has received since April 2002 concerning the handling of the sailors' evidence on the loss of HMS Sheffield in May 1982; and if he will make a statement.

(90127)

61   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times since 1997 his Department has used confidentiality as a reason for not revealing details in connection with selling sites for development; what they were, and with which companies; and if he will make a statement.

(90129)

62   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times since 1997 his Department has claimed money back from developers under clawback in the sale of sites for development because of the change in the level of development; what the total amount claimed is; and if he will make a statement.

(90133)

63   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the structure, role and programme of the RN Presentation Team.

(89871)

64   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the inoculation against CBW attack, to be given to Royal Naval and Royal Marines personnel in the event of hostilities against Iraq, will be different from that used during the 1990-91 Gulf War.

(89877)

65   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 9th December, Official Report, column 11W, if he will make it his policy to discuss with NATO defence ministers the implications for NATO's naval capabilities of the creation of (a) an EU rapid reaction capability and (b) a France-Germany defence union.

(90100)

66   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) briefing and (b) other assistance personnel from his Department gave to the Sunday Telegraph in respect of its report of 22nd December about preparations for a military campaign against Iraq.

(89883)

67   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the capability of HMS Ark Royal to perform the functions of a Commando carrier.

(89880)

68   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with the United States on measures to fill the Royal Navy's air defence gap between the withdrawal of the Sea Harriers and the advent of the Joint Strikefighter; and what assessment he has made of the risk of aerial attack against Royal Navy ships between 2006 and 2012.

(89886)

69   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for NATO's naval capabilities of the creation of (a) an EU rapid reaction capability and (b) a France-Germany defence union.

(90101)

70   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the progress of the JSF development programme and the likely date of availability of JSF aircraft for the future aircraft carriers.

(89888)

71   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the current capability of the FA2 Sea Harrier for possible combat in the Middle East.

(89882)

72   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he has received requests from the United States for (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines resources for use in a possible military campaign against Iraq.

(89881)

73   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what modifications there have been since 11th September 2001 in training of (a) Royal Naval and (b) Royal Marines personnel to deal with chemical, biological or radiological attack.

(89876)

74   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with Health Ministers about the removal of medical reservists from NHS hospitals for service in (a) RFA Argus and (b) other Royal Fleet Auxiliary or Royal Navy vessels in the next 12 months.

(89879)

75   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that information which it is appropriate for his Department to release about preparations for a military campaign against Iraq is released to the House of Commons prior to release to the media.

(89885)

76   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on changes in (a) training and (b) watch-keeping practices in the Royal Navy since the attack on the USS Cole.

(89874)

77   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on resources allocated to research into protection of warships from suicide attacks since the USS Cole incident.

(89873)

78   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the (a) current and (b) projected future strategic sea lift capability of the armed forces.

(90102)

79   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what facilities exist to protect Royal Naval (a) personnel, (b) ships, by class, and (c) shore bases from contamination by chemical, biological or radioactive attack.

(89875)

80   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on recruitment initiatives for (a) the Royal Navy and (b) the Royal Marines.

(89872)

81   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has adopted improved types of inoculation against CBW attack, developed in the United States since 1991.

(89878)

82   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the development of RN/RAF co-operation in joint deployments on UK aircraft carriers.

(89887)

83   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the comparative effectiveness in their air defence roles of (a) fixed-wing carrier-borne aircraft, (b) modernised Type 42 destroyers and (c) future Type 45 destroyers.

(90103)

84   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidelines he has given to the media about what is not appropriate to report in advance of possible military action against Iraq.

(89884)

85   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what UN Resolutions (a) the no-fly zone over Iraq, (b) British participation in policing it and (c) bombing as a means of enforcement or retaliation are based.

(90128)

86   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the introduction of university top-up fees.

(90018)

87   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89896)

88   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89838)

89   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if it is his intention to use reserve powers under the Education Act 2002 to determine a minimum level of schools' budgets for the coming year.

(90126)

90   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the local eductation authority areas for which the proposed rise in the schools' block of their education formula spending share exceeds total increase in formula grant for the local authority, giving the amount of the excess in each case.

(90140)

91   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89966)

92
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what advice he gives to local education authorities on admission policies to secondary schools from out of area children; and if he will make a statement.

(89373)

93
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what SSA allocation the City of Newcastle received in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04; and what was (i) the LEA spend and (ii) the size of the schools budget in (A) 2001-02 and (B) 2002-03.

(89106)

94   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89916)

95   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89949)

96   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December 2002, Official Report, column 976W, when he received a copy of the report on the United Kingdom by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

(90138)

97
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer from the Right honourable Member for Sedgefield of 18th December, Official Report, column 844, what the requisite standard for admission to university is.

(89318)

98   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many statutory instruments were issued by MAFF in each calendar year from 1979 to 2001; and how many have been issued by her Department since June 2001.

(89837)

99   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89864)

100   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by her Department.

(89967)

101   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what fair trade criteria she sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89908)

102   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89945)

103   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to change planning regulations to strengthen protection for ancient woodland in England.

(89756)

104   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how she intends to implement the proposals to protect England's ancient woodland as set out in (a) the Forest Partnership for action and (b) Working with the Grain of Nature; a biodiversity strategy for England.

(89757)

105   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed horse passports scheme will allow the horse owner to opt not to sell the carcase for human consumption; whether such a declaration would last for the life of the horse; what restrictions are planned with regard to such animals being slaughtered in a normal abattoir; and if she will make a statement about horse passports.

(89758)

106   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 16th December 2002, Official Report, column 576W and the Answer to the honourable Member for Aylesbury, 18th December 2002, Official Report, column 801W, if she will make a statement on the reason underlying the number of copies of the document (a) printed and (b) distributed; and what the cost of its production and distribution was.

(89765)

107   Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government policy in relation to taxation of plastic carrier bags.

(89830)

108   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to give local authorities a power to require riparian owners to take reasonable measures to ensure adequate levels of flood protection.

(89630)

109   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what objectives she has set the Environment Agency to improve its performance in meeting its two hour flood warning target.

(89740)

110   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the European Commission's draft regulations for the tagging of sheep.

(89614)

111   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hazardous waste landfill sites operate in the United Kingdom; how many of these are in-house sites; and if she will make a statement.

(89753)

112   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the lessons for policy in England and Wales of the Scottish arrangement for local authorities to have a statutory duty for flood protection.

(89631)

113   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria is used by the Government to determine whether a property is designated as at risk of flooding.

(89609)

114   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the (a) local authorities and (b) local drainage boards whose information about flood risks has been entered into the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database.

(89638)

115   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk of development in areas at risk of flooding as a result of the Government's proposals for large-scale housing development in the (a) Milton Keynes, (b) Ashford and (c) Thames Gateway areas.

(89752)

116   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to review High Level Target 9 following the Environment Agency's report to her Department.

(89751)

117   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's position on forthcoming EU negotiations on a bio-waste directive.

(89620)

118   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria are used by the Environment Agency
to decide which flood defence assets to inspect in accordance with High Level Target 4.

(89742)

119   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish the national assessment of flood risk.

(89634)

120   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which (a) local authorities and (b) drainage boards have still to produce a publicly available policy statement setting out plans for delivering the Government's policy aims and objectives for flood and coastal defence.

(89641)

121   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reports she has received from the Environment Agency about progress made in developing the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database.

(89747)

122   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the (a) duration of and (b) reasons for the recent suspension of public access to the Environment Agency's web-site.

(89617)

123   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what proportion of (a) England and Wales by area, (b) coastline in England and Wales and (c) properties at risk of flooding information is now available on the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database.

(89635)

124   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which local authorities have no plans to hold flood emergency exercises in accordance with her Department's high level targets.

(89612)

125   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the action required in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04 to protect against the risk of coastal erosion.

(89749)

126   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from the insurance industry during the last six months about the flood defence and flood management policy.

(89627)

127   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which organisations have access to the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database; what plans she has to allow further access; and if she will make a statement.

(89743)

128   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of homes in England and Wales that are uninsurable against the risk of flooding.

(89626)

129   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the Government's conclusions following her Department's consultation on changes to the Animal By-Products Order 1999 to allow the composting of catering waste and its spreading on land.

(89622)

130   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reports she has received from the Environment Agency in pursuance of its duty under High Level Target 5b.

(89746)

131   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to place on local authorities a statutory duty for flood protection.

(89632)

132   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department made in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03 about the risk of coastal erosion.

(89748)

133   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the European Commission's proposal to require the full recovery of meat hygiene inspection charges from abattoirs and to make all abattoirs enforce new measures for the disposal of blood.

(89615)

134   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the costs to British abattoirs of complying with (a) the official feed and food control regulations and (b) the arrangements for blood storage and disposal included in the Animal By-Products Regulations.

(89616)

135   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the most recent meeting was between Ministers in her Department and the Association of British Insurers to discuss flood prevention; and if she will make a statement.

(89633)

136   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the population designated as at risk of flooding will be covered by the Environment Agency's warning service by (a) 1st April 2003, (b) 1st April 2004, (c) 1st April 2005 and (d) 1st April 2006.

(89610)

137   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government has agreed with all operating authorities a common format for information on flood and coastal defence assets.

(89741)

138   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of municipal waste generated in the United Kingdom, using the definition of municipal waste in Article 2(b) of the Landfill Directive (99/31/EC).

(89625)

139   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she has received the Environment Agency's report on flood warning service standards, due in September 2002.

(89611)

140   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the future of local drainage boards.

(89624)

141   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the European Commission about the compatibility with the EU Animal By-Products Regulation of her proposals to allow the composting of catering waste and its spreading on land.

(89621)

142   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which operating authorities have not updated their Shoreline Management Plans in line with High Level Target 8.

(89750)

143   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects the Environment Agency's flood warning service to be available to all people whose homes or businesses have been designated as at risk of flooding.

(89608)

144   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what budget has been allocated to (a) create and (b) maintain the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database; how much has been spent and is planned to be spent in each financial year; and if she will make a statement.

(89636)

145   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) flood defence assets, (b) main rivers and (c) critical ordinary watercourses were inspected by the Environment Agency during (i) 2001-02, and (ii) 2002-03, in accordance with High Level Target 5a.

(89744)

146   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the progress made by the Environment Agency towards developing flood risk categories.

(89640)

147   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her assessment is of the cost per tonne of the environmental externalities associated with (a) landfill and (b) incineration.

(89618)

148   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when final testing for Phase One of the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database was completed; what progress has been made with Phase Two; and if she will make a statement.

(89637)

149   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to review the Government's Best Value indicators for waste management.

(98613)

150   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made by the Environment Agency to identify private flood and coastal defences.

(89745)

151   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she plans to introduce a 0.5 per cent. standard for flood defences; and what estimate she has made of the cost to public funds of adapating a 0.5 per cent. standard for flood protection.

(89629)

152   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions there have been within the last six months between the Environment Agency and the insurance industry on the relationship between flood defence provision and the continuation of insurance cover for property owners against the risk of flooding.

(89628)

153   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list (a) the local drainage boards for England and Wales and (b) the budget of each board for (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02, (iii) 2002-03, (iv) 2003-04 and (v) 2004-05.

(89623)

154   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many landfill sites have submitted applications to deal with hazardous waste after July 2004; how many of these are in-house sites; and if she will make a statement.

(89754)

155   Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice she has given the Environment Agency about ethical and sustainable investment of its Pension Fund.

(90143)

156   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the letter from Mr D Paton of Pinetops Nurseries, Lymington, dated 8th October 2002.

(89639)

157   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures have been taken by her Department since April 2002 to ensure full implementation of Government policy on timber; and if she will make a statement.

(89673)

158   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the ERM consultations on Government timber procurement have been completed; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

(89627)

159   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what difficulties have been encountered by W S Atkins and her Department in identifying the location and the state of repair of private sewers; and what progress has been made.

(89675)

160   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions have taken place in the last six months between departmental officials and the Director General of OFWAT on the issue of the adoption of private sewers, with particular reference to the next price round.

(89671)

161   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the number of people affected by water poverty in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) North Staffordshire.

(89676)

162   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89897)

163   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89840)

164   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89974)

165   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the distribution of employment in finance and insurance was in each Government office region and nation of the United Kingdom in (a) 1996, (b) 2000 and (c) the most recent available period.

(89905)

166   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89835)

167   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89889)

168   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89968)

169
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what UK representation there is at the peace negotiations on the future of Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

(89375)

170
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions have been held with the Government of Algeria on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(89377)

171
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contradiction there has been with NATO member states on national missile defence; and if he will make a statement.

(89380)

172
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance was offered to the group of British Indian Ocean Territories people who arrived in the UK on 16th September travelling on UK passports.

(89384)

173
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to receive proposals from the UN special representative on the future governance of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

(89379)

174
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the planned assistance is to elected representatives of the Ilois people by the British, Indian Ocean Territories administration in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(89383)

175
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what arrangements are in operation for UK diplomatic representation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

(89376)

176   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Bangladeshi government on the reported deaths that have taken place in police custody in recent months in that country.

(89773)

177   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Bangladeshi Government on (a) the development of democracy and human rights, (b) the setting up of Parliamentary committees, and (c) the protection of minorities in that country.

(89774)

178   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had on recent reports concerning custodial deaths in Bangladesh in recent months.

(89775)

179   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Bangladeshi government on their policy known as Operation Clean Heart; and if he will make a statement.

(89772)

180   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the resolution passed in November 2002 by the European Parliament on the present situation in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

(89771)

181   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89941)

182   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89912)

183   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions in the past 12 months the Government has made an approach to the Government of Dubai in relation to specific cases of Britons imprisoned there who may be considered for amnesty.

(90028)

184
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the evidential basis was for the statement contained in a letter by Neil Sharp of his Office's European Union Department to the Democracy Movement that a constitution for Europe would not fundamentally change the relationship between the EU and its citizens, nor alter the position of the nation states as the fundamental basis of the European Union.

(89128)

185   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89844)

186   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89901)

187   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89969)

188   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the information about the progress in achieving NSF for Older People milestones.

(89978)

189   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the prescription-plus-monitoring scheme for disease-modifying drugs for MS.

(89819)

190   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to the General Social Care Council concerning its priorities and method of working.

(89796)

191   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hours of accident and emergency transport were provided by each NHS ambulance trust in each (a) region and (b) health authority in each year since 1997.

(89787)

192
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) health care workers applied to the NHS Pensions Agency for permanent injury benefit for a disorder in the year from April 2001 to March 2002; and how many were successful at (i) their first application and (ii) subsequent appeal.

(89108)

193   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact on registrations by the General Social Care Council of the requirement to undertake Criminal Record Bureau checks.

(89792)

194   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to review the implementation of the No Secrets guidance.

(89816)

195   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hours of accident and emergency transport were provided by St John Ambulance in each (a) region and (b) NHS ambulance trust in each year since 1997.

(89788)

196   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the General Social Care Council will have access to the sex offenders' register when processing applications.

(89793)

197   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 9th December, Official Report, column 152W, on care home inspectors, when information on the number of different types of establishment will be available.

(90119)

198   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate the General Social Care Council has made of the number of people it will be able to register each year.

(89791)

199   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what order the General Social Care Council will register each category of care worker.

(89790)

200   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates he has made of the number of adults suffering from (a) ADD and (b) ADHD.

(89677)

201   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the centres that have been authorised to prescribe beta interferons through his Department's prescription-plus-monitoring scheme.

(89820)

202
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) health care workers applied to the NHS Pensions Agency for permanent injury benefit relating to muscular skeletal disorders in the year from April 2001 to March 2002; and how many were successful at (i) their first application and (ii) subsequent appeal.

(89109)

203   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people he estimates will receive beta interferons under the prescription-plus-monitoring scheme.

(89817)

204   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements have been made to enable the General Social Care Council to check applications against the registers of the GMC, NMC and other relevant bodies.

(89795)

205   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the planned dates were for each of the milestones in the procurement of an IT system for the General Social Care Council; and when each milestone was achieved.

(89794)

206   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how long he estimates it will be before all people who may benefit from beta interferons have been assessed by a neurologist for the prescription-plus-monitoring scheme.

(89818)

207
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) carers and (b) young carers of school age there are in (i) the Twickenham constituency, (ii) the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (iii) London; what support is given to (A) carers and (B) young carers of school age; and if he will make a statement.

(88819)

208   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the Primary Care Trusts which have been classified as being in undoctored areas on the basis of the number of general practitioner principles, or equivalents, per weighted head of the population; what funding is being targeted at these Primary Care Trusts in order to aid general practitioner recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

(89828)

209   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89914)

210   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89920)

211   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy to proceed with the transfer of envisaged functions to the HPA on 1st April.

(90065)

212   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where the National Radiological Protection Board will have its headquarters after 1st April.

(90090)

213   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, why there has been a delay in appointing a chief executive for the Health Protection Agency; and when he expects to make an appointment.

(90078)

214   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions are taking place about the future pension situation for HPA employees after 1st April; and when he expects these to be concluded.

(90052)

215   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he has taken to address Point 4 in the summary of the Report to the Steering Group of the HPA in relation to the potential impact of a deliberate release of biological materials over the next few months.

(90069)

216   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional resources have been provided to the HPA Steering Group in response to the Report to the Steering Group.

(90064)

217   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the ability of the HPA to respond to a biological attack on the UK during the first six months of its operations.

(90070)

218   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many IT Systems within the organisations due to be amalgamated within the HPA will require re-engineering as a result of the changes.

(90087)

219   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the organisational structure of the HPA after 1st April.

(90050)

220   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what work the HPA Steering Group has done to allocate budgets to the different component organisations for 2003-04; and how those budgets differ from the current financial year.

(90072)

221   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk that those public health laboratories transferring to NHS trusts will reduce their commitment to public health work for CCDCs, local authorities and the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

(90092)

222   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff the HPA Steering Group has who are dedicated exclusively to setting up the new organisation.

(90062)

223   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes there have been to resignation rates from the component organisations of the HPA during each of the past 12 months.

(90067)

224   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risks associated with the transfer of (a) the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, (b) the CIRS, (c) the Central Public Health Laboratory, and (d) the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre to the new Health Protection Agency; and how these risks are to be minimised.

(90081)

225   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many state-run microbiology laboratories have not applied for clinical pathology accreditation.

(90136)

226   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there is a register of the outputs and capabilities provided by the component organisations of the HPA.

(90066)

227   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in how many cases discussions about the financial terms of the transfer of a PHLS laboratory to the relevant NHS trust have not begun.

(90060)

228   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of senior management positions in the HPA have been filled.

(90085)

229   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the post of chief executive for the Health Protection Agency will be readvertised.

(90079)

230   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff will be transferred to the HPA after 1st April; and how many staff employed by the component organisations of the HPA will not be transferring to it on 1st April.

(90054)

231   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk that those public health laboratories transferring to NHS trusts will lose the surge capacity necessary to deal with outbreaks; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

(90094)

232   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what contingency funds he is making available to cover unforeseen costs during the establishment of the HPA.

(90058)

233   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the reference to key staff meltdown experienced in PHLS in the report to the Steering Group of the HPA.

(90056)

234   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the 1 per cent. increase in Employers' National Insurance contributions will be fully funded for the HPA and its component organisations.

(90057)

235   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many service level agreements he estimates will be required to maintain the programme co-ordinated by the PHLS on pneumococcal disease.

(90048)

236   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the change in cost to the NHS of procurement for former PHLS laboratories of microbiology equipment and consumables following the end of central procurement on 1st April.

(90076)

237   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action has been taken to minimise the risks from disbanding the PHLS before the Health Protection Agency is fully functional.

(90083)

238   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk that the IT systems supporting the work of those public health laboratories transferring to NHS trusts will collapse; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

(90096)

239   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of acceptable risk as outlined in the statements made in Point 4 in the summary of the Report to the Steering Group of the HPA.

(90071)

240   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to unbundle the IT networks that link the PHLS laboratories that will be transferred to the NHS.

(90074)

241   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what actions he has taken following the submission of the Report to the HPA Steering Group on HPA Business Continuity Risk Assessment.

(90084)

242   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what terms and conditions of employment will apply to staff in the HPA after 1st April; and how these will differ from current terms and conditions.

(90053)

243   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk that those public health laboratories transferring to NHS trusts will lose accommodation currently used for public health purposes; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

(90095)

244   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on plans to introduce an HPA payroll system.

(90135)

245   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the action plan for the creation of the HPA has been updated since 30th November.

(90063)

246   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risks associated with the establishment of regional field services in the new Health Protection Agency; and how these risks are to be minimised.

(90082)

247   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is his policy to privatise the residual PHLS organisation after 1st April.

(90137)

248   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional resources NHS trusts are receiving to finance the running costs of the transferred PHLS laboratories.

(90073)

249   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risks that those public health laboratories transferring to NHS trusts will lose their accreditation with United Kingdom Accreditation Services or with Clinical Pathology Accreditation; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

(90093)

250   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to maintain intelligence of service delivery in health protection after 1st April.

(90051)

251   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the status will be of the PHLS's current liabilities after 1st April; and what proportion of the liabilities will be transferred to the HPA on 1st April.

(90049)

252   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what legal requirements there are for consultation with future HPA staff on changes to terms and conditions; if these consultations will be required; and whether they will be completed by 1st April.

(90055)

253   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk that the achievements of the modernisation and reform programme within the PHLS laboratory network will be affected following their transfer to local NHS trusts; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

(90097)

254   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what proportion of his time Sir William Stewart is working for the Health Protection Agency; when he will decide on the constitution of the supervisory board of the Health Protection Agency; and when he will recruit members of the supervisory board of the Health Protection Agency.

(90091)

255   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the responsibilities will be of the HPA in Wales; and what the relationship will be between the HPA and the Wales Centre for Health.

(90061)

256   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what channels of co-ordination will remain between the PHLS laboratories that will transfer to the NHS.

(90075)

257   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of TUPE transfer undertakings have been drawn up for employees to be transferred to the HPA or from the PHLS to the NHS.

(90086)

258   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to create a replacement for the vaccine development programme conducted by the PHLS.

(90077)

259   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements have been made for liaison between the National Radiological Protection Board and the HPA whilst the latter remains constituted as a Special Health Authority.

(90089)

260   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to reduce the impact on decision-making within the various organisations being amalgamated into the HPA prior to 1 April highlighted in the Report to the Steering Group.

(90122)

261   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will bring forward legislation to create the Health Protection Agency as an executive non-departmental public body.

(90088)

262   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to announce the location of the headquarters of the Health Protection Agency.

(90080)

263   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which individual on the HPA Executive will be responsible for the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research.

(90068)

264   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many agreements have been reached between NHS trusts and the PHLS about the financial details of the transfer of laboratories; and in how many cases such agreements are outstanding.

(90059)

265   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultations his Department undertook before adopting the two-week waiting time standard as set out in The New NHS-Modern Dependable.

(89653)

266   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the NHS of guidance issued to date by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence since the Department announced that guidance would be mandatory.

(89652)

267   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the London Agency Project.

(89654)

268   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list each appraisal and guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and its cost to the NHS.

(89651)

269   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the number of operations cancelled at the last minute and (b) the number of patients not readmitted within 28 days of their operation being cancelled in each of the last four quarters in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region.

(89650)

270   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the audit of cancer waiting times recommended in the report of the working group on cancer waiting times was undertaken; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(89648)

271   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients who have put off visit to a GP in the last 12 months because of inconvenient opening hours (a) for (a) each NHS region and (b) in total for England, in each of the last five years.

(89649)

272   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the present annual cost is to the NHS of recurrent services provided by the private sector; what his estimate is of the likely cost over the next three years; and what proportion of total NHS spending this represents.

(90040)

273   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether provisions under the proposed GATS will affect decisions over the provider of publicly financed health services; and if he will make a statement.

(90041)

274   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what definition his Department uses of undue delay when assessing rights of NHS patients to access treatment in continental European hospitals.

(89932)

275   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of the Community Psychiatric Nurses employed between 1995-2000 were working directly in (a) primary care GP practices or health centres and (b) secondary or tertiary care settings.

(89924)

276   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were subject to delayed discharge in each hospital trust in England as at (a) 31st December 2002 and (b) 31st December 2001.

(89936)

277   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with pharmaceutical companies about drugs provided at cost to African countries being resold on the black market in the UK.

(89938)

278   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he has taken in collaboration with the Secretary of State for International Development to combat the illicit resale of drugs provided by pharmaceutical companies at cost to African countries into European markets.

(89939)

279   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what investigations have been undertaken by his Department into reports of Aids drugs provided at cost to African countries being resold in the UK; what assessment he has made of the level of drugs provided at cost by pharmaceutical companies in Africa being resold illegally in the UK or Europe; and what drugs are involved.

(89937)

280   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospitals in England charge for parking for (a) visitors, (b) medical staff and (c) medical staff at discounted rates.

(89926)

281   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultants in child medicine are employed in the NHS.

(89927)

282   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many wards in hospital trusts were subject to restrictions on visiting due to hospital-acquired infections affecting patients during December 2002.

(89925)

283   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish his NSF for children's services; what his priorities are for improving children's health services; and how much NHS money has been spent on children's health services in each of the last six years.

(89928)

284   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS patients have been treated in continental European hospitals since the ruling by the European court; which continental European hospitals have been used by NHS patients and what operations have been carried out; and if he will list the origin of NHS patients who have received treatment in continental European hospitals by PCT area.

(89930)

285   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his assessment is of the pilot scheme to send NHS patients for treatment in continental Europe; and when he plans to extend the availability of treatment in continental European hospitals of all NHS patients.

(89931)

286   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations were cancelled for NHS patients in each of the last six years.

(89929)

287   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what NHS contracts have been carried out by the King Edward VII Hospital Midhurst since May 1997.

(89934)

288   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what part he plans to play in facilitating a rescue plan to enable the King Edward VII Hospital Midhurst to continue operating.

(89935)

289   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has held with the King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst on the appointment of a provisional liquidator.

(89933)

290
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money has been allocated to each of the Hull & East Riding hospitals for Ward Environment budgets each year since 1st October 2000; how much was spent in each year; and for what other purposes was the money used.

(89316)

291   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons are for the change in the number of hospital doctors in training for psychotherapy since 1997.

(90045)

292   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December 2002, ref 87420, if he will list the dental practices that accept NHS patients in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire.

(90134)

293   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years Hillingdon Hospital has been closed for admissions; and what the length of time involved was in each case.

(89662)

294   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals have been closed for admissions in each of the last 10 years as a result of winter vomiting virus.

(89661)

295   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the statistical incidence of prostate cancer in each of the last ten years for which records exist.

(89679)

296   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to improve the five year survival rates from prostate cancer in England; and if he will make a statement.

(89680)

297   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take to increase the ratio of urologists per capita in Great Britain.

(89678)

298   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the causes of the regional differences in the incidence of prostate cancer in Great Britain.

(89670)

299   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards the achievement of the Government's NHS Prostate Cancer Programme; and if he will make a statement.

(89669)

300   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to implement the prostate cancer public awareness programme proposed as part of the NHS Prostate Cancer Programme launched in September 2002.

(89656)

301   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to encourage men to make more use of (a) traditional prostate cancer tests and (b) PSA tests.

(89657)

302   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to encourage (a) more charitable funding and (b) more Government funding for research into prostate cancer.

(89658)

303   Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he estimates that the prostate cancer five year survival rate in England will reach the current European average.

(89659)

304   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the effect on waiting times at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester of the impending closure of King Edward VII Hospital at Midhurst.

(90142)

305   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what budgeting constraints prevent orthopaedic treatment provided by the NHS in hospitals abroad from being provided in King Edward VII Hospital Midhurst; and what the cost differential is.

(90141)

306   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals he visited in 2002.

(90039)

307   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are suffering from diabetes in each health authority in the UK.

(90038)

308   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the NHS PASA report on timber.

(89674)

309   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89851)

310   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89893)

311   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time for the Home Office immigration department to process a settlement visa application for the spouse of a British citizen was over the last 12 months; and what the expected length of time is, as outlined in the Home Office guidelines, for the Department to process a settlement visa application for the spouse of a British citizen.

(90120)

312   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact upon refugee integration of the reduced entitlement to guidance and language training due to the withdrawal of the work concession for asylum-seekers who do not have an initial decision after six months.[R]

(89782)

313   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the level of awareness of asylum-seekers and those organisations working with them of the learning and volunteering opportunities which are no longer open to them.[R]

(89781)

314   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact upon voluntary organisations in receipt of European Social Fund and other funding sources of the withdrawal of the work concession for asylum-seekers for whom no decision had been made in six months and the consequent loss of grant to voluntary organisations offering services to those groups.[R]

(89779)

315   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of the withdrawal of the work concession for asylum-seekers who will eventually receive permission to remain in the UK upon their ability to develop their English language and other skills.[R]

(89780)

316   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the European Council of Ministers recommendation concerning Minimum Standards for the reception conditions of asylum-seekers.[R]

(89783)

317   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if asylum-seekers who do not have a decision after one year will be allowed access to the labour market, as recommended by the Council of Ministers report on Minimum Standards for the reception of asylum-seekers.[R]

(89784)

318   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential for (a) underspending on this year's European Social Fund allocation to organisations working with asylum-seekers, (b) capacity to meet agreed ESF targets, and (c) implications for future ESF allocations, following the withdrawal of the work concession for asylum-seekers who do not have a decision after six months.[R]

(89785)

319   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation was carried out with voluntary organisations in receipt of funding for the training and education of asylum-seekers before the decision was made to end the concession enabling asylum-seekers to work if no decision had been made on their case after six months.[R]

(89778)

320   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89970)

321   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many persons caring for (a) children and (b) vulnerable adults will not have Criminal Records Bureau checks.

(89989)

322   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) planned and (b) actual time taken was for each stage in commissioning the Criminal Records Bureau.

(89988)

323   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department will publish guidance to registered bodies about the postponement of Criminal Records Bureau checks as set out in the announcement of 1st November 2002.

(89983)

324   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about the Criminal Record Bureau's organisational preparedness to introduce basic disclosure.

(90112)

325   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many (a) children, and (b) vulnerable adults will be cared for by adults who had not received a Criminal Records Bureau check following the announcement of 1st November 2002.

(89933)

326   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) nurses supplied by nurses agencies and (b) staff supplied by domiciliary care agencies he estimates will no longer have to have Criminal Records Bureau checks.

(89979)

327   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recommendations have been presented to him by Patrick Carter in his interim report into Criminal Records Bureau checks; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

(89992)

328   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish the final report by Patrick Carter into the Criminal Records Bureau.

(89981)

329   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the interim report from Patrick Carter regarding the performance of (a) Capita and (b) the Criminal Records Bureau.

(89986)

330   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many care home staff who would have required Criminal Records Bureau checks before 1st April have had checks postponed until (a) 31st March and (b) 2004.

(89985)

331   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the Criminal Records Bureau will be able to cope with the demand associated with implementing the protection of vulnerable adults list.

(90139)

332   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research was undertaken by (a) his Department and (b) Capita to determine the (i) likely level of demand for Criminal Records Bureau checks and (ii) Criminal Records Bureau customers' preferred means of submitting applications for checks.

(89984)

333   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has (a) made and (b) commissioned of the (i) viability and (ii) adaptability of the computer system provided under contract by Capita to support the current and future work of the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will place a copy of the assessment in the Library.

(90117)

334   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Criminal Records Bureau have made of the gaps in coverage by umbrella registered bodies.

(90114)

335   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Criminal Records Bureau is taking to review the disclosure application form (a) to simplify it and (b) to make it easier to read and complete.

(90113)

336   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he would set out for each month since the Criminal Records Bureau commenced operating, how many (a) standard and (b) enhanced disclosures were (i) requested and (ii) supplied.

(90116)

337   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Criminal Records Bureau made of the adequacy of advice about what proofs of identity can be used in disclosure applications.

(90115)

338
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of domestic violence were reported in the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London in each year since 1992; how many people died in these incidents in each area; and if he will make a statement.

(88816)

339
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in each of the past 10 years from Somalia have (a) applied for asylum, (b) been recognised as refugees, (c) been granted exceptional leave to remain, (d) been removed to a third country, (e) made a voluntary departure and (f) returned to Somalia.

(89378)

340
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial support has been given to Somali groups in each of the past five years.

(89374)

341
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) ASBOs, (b) parenting orders and (c) curfew orders have been issued in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne.

(89107)

342   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are subject to the registration under the sex offender list 1997, as amended, solely for (a) offences that were decriminalised by the Sexual Offences Amendment list 2001 and (b) offences that the Government proposes to decriminalise or downgrade in its White Paper on Reform of Sexual Offences.

(89660)

343   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applicants are resident at the Immigration Reception Centre at Oakington.

(89798)

344   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the unit cost is of processing asylum applications at the Immigration Reception Centre, Oakington, Cambridgeshire.

(89799)

345   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the weekly cost of providing the facilities at the Immigration Reception Centre, Oakington.

(89797)

346   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his response to the request by Cambridgeshire Police Authority for central government support for the cost of (a) policing animal rights demonstrations during 2001-02, and (b) Operation Fincham in Soham during the current year.

(90047)

347   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an official of the Immigration Service visited the residence in Northern Ireland of the Estonian Baltic Dancers; whether the dancers overstayed their twelve-week group permit; and what attempt was made to verify their ages and the travel documents they were using.

(90044)

348   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the main differences are between the pay and conditions of employment of the newly recruited door keepers of the House and those employed under the previous system; and if he will make a statement.

(90123)

349   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the number of honourable Members whose constituents could gain access to the line of route, including the House of Commons, on a Wednesday (a) in 2002, and (b) in 2003 having travelled by public transport (i) without and (ii) with the use, where eligible, of railway Network cards.

(89777)

350   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89866)

351   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by her Department.

(89971)

352   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance has been given to Bangladesh by her Department in each of the last three years.

(89770)

353   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the projects the UK is developing with the Bangladeshi government in that country.

(89769)

354   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what fair trade criteria she sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89910)

355   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89948)

356   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the countries that have received help through the HIPC process who now have debt repayments that are sustainable; and if she will make a statement.

(90042)

357   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with NGOs on the food shortage in Swaziland; and if she will make a statement.

(90015)

358   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money her Department gave towards AIDS/HIV programmes in Swaziland in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

(90014)

359   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money her Department is giving towards AIDS/HIV programmes in Swaziland this year; and how the programmes will be delivered.

(90013)

360   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with King Mswati of Swaziland on (a) the provision of antivirus drugs and (b) the food shortage in that country, and if she will make a statement.

(90016)

361   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many statutory instruments have been issued by her Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89845)

362   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89894)

363   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what guidance the Department gives to magistrates about sentences for fly-tipping and other breaches of waste legislation; if he plans to review that guidance; and if he will make a statement.

(89619)

364   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many visits to EU applicant countries he made in 2002.

(90104)

365   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, why £48m allocated to the Department for Regional Development for the financial 2002-03 year had to be handed back to the Northern Ireland central administration in Autumn 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(89822)

366   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what date the Garda Siochana uniform was placed in the display cabinet in the foyer of Garnerville PSNI station; what articles were removed from the display cabinet in the foyer of Garnerville PSNI station to make way for the Garda Siochana uniform; what police uniforms are on display in the display cabinet in the foyer of Garnerville PSNI station; and when the first passing out parade of the PSNI took place.

(90022)

367   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what additional temporary constitutional measures will be introduced in the event that the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly extends beyond March 2003.

(89821)

368   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on Northern Ireland ambulance sub-station emergency call out times.

(90019)

369   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the religious breakdown is of students studying at (a) Queen's University Belfast and (b) the University of Ulster.

(90020)

370   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the five most significant individual projects which contributed to departmental underspends in Northern Ireland during the past five years; and what the value was of each project.

(90021)

371   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89899)

372   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89842)

373   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89917)

374   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89947)

375   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason no minister, or departmental representative attended the launch of the Confederation of European Councillors Year Book at Newry on 7th January, co-hosted by the National Association of Councillors (Northern Ireland) and the Local Authority Members Association of the Repulic.

(90107)

376   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on ministers from his Department attending events in conjunction with ministers from the Republic; and how this policy was applied with reference to the invitation to join Pat Gallaher TD at the launch of the Confederation of European Councillors Year Book at Newry on 7th January.

(90105)

377   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement about security at Belfast City Airport; and when he intends that uniformed armed police will be introduced.

(90132)

378   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Secretary's Department with a view to creating a combined air and seaports police for the whole of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(90131)

379   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions have been held with the Belfast Harbour Police about extending their jurisdiction to include providing an armed police presence at Belfast City Airport.

(90130)

380   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what date his Department received the invitation by the National Association of Councillors (Northern Ireland) for a minister to attend the launch of the Confederation of European Councillors Year Book at Newry on 7th January; on what date follow-up telephone requests were logged; and if he will make a statement of his Department's handling of the invitation.

(90106)

381   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the President of the Council, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89846)

382   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Prime Minister, how many New Deal participants have secured (a) subsidised and (b) unsubsidised employment in his Office; and if he will make a statement on his Office's policy with regard to the employment of New Deal participants.

(89767)

383   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Prime Minister, if it is his policy that the political balance of the House of Lords should be maintained prior to the implementation of legislation completing the second stage of reform.

(89812)

384   Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of the honourable Member for Brent, South of 19th September, Official Report, column 919W, on national insurance, if he will require departments to reject any potential supplier who uses offshore arrangements intended to avoid employers' national insurance liabilities, or has done so in the last three years.

(89811)

385
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 18th December, 87933, what criteria he (a) applied and (b) applies in determining whether referendums are appropriate on (i) devolution and (ii) further European union.

(89317)

386   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Prime Minister, how many times in 2002 10 Downing Street was used by charities for receptions; what the cost of the receptions was; and which charities were involved.

(90110)

387   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of Sweden concerning the Swedish referendum on the Euro scheduled for 14th September.

(90109)

388   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Prime Minister, what steps he has taken to put in place a timetable for a referendum should the five economic tests on entry into the single currency be met.

(90108)

389   Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Prime Minister, when he wrote to the Boundary Committee; and about which boundaries.

(89755)

390   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89867)

391   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many statutory instruments have been issued by her Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89847)

392   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Office.

(89976)

393   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what her estimate is of public spending per head from all sources in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available originating from (a) local councils, (b) the devolved Government and (c) central Government.

(90006)

394   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what her latest estimates are of (a) the population and (b) the electorate in Scotland.

(90005)

395   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Solicitor General, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89863)

396   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89865)

397   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many statutory instruments have been issued by her Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89839)

398   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by her Department.

(89973)

399
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the most recent measure is of the percentage of electricity used in the London Headquaters Estate generated by renewable sources; and if she will make a statement.

(88821)

400
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who the (a) current and (b) past members are of the Office of Science and Technology's People's Panel; and if she will make a statement.

(88822)

401   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the performance indicators that have been put in place to assess the success of the Small Business Service.

(89827)

402   Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the work being carried out by the Small Business Council to lessen the impact of regulations on small businesses; and if she will make a statement.

(89829)

403   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what fair trade criteria she sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89913)

404   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89940)

405   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions in each of the last three years an employment tribunal has used its powers under Rule 14 of the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure (SI 2001/1171) to make an order for costs against a respondent who has acted vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably in conducting the proceedings; and how many of these orders have been for failure to disclose to an Applicant documents as previously directed by the tribunal.

(89810)

406   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on (a) regional selective assistance, (b) regional development grants, (c) regional innovation grants and (d) regional employment premiums for (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales in each year from 1974-75 to 2001-02, and what the estimated figures are for (A) 2002-03, (B) 2003-04, (C) 2004-05, and (D) 2005-06, (1) in cash terms, and (2) at constant 2001-02 prices.

(89824)

407   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89890)

408   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89836)

409   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

(89975)

410
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what was the Local Transport Plan budget for Newcastle City in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04; what the spending was in 2001-02; whether spending is likely to be reached in 2002-03; and what action was taken over underspending.

(89105)

411   Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what plans he has to increase the liability of tankers that cause marine pollution incidents; and if he will make a statement.

(89902)

412   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89909)

413   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89943)

414   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what discussions he has had with Shoreham Port Authority about levying charges on fishing cargoes landed at Shoreham Harbour; what the standard levy rate is for fish cargoes landed at trust ports; and which trust ports levy cargo dues on fish landed at their wharfs in addition to charges levied against the vessels themselves.

(90026)

415   Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham & Morden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 12th December 2002, Official Report, column 407-8W, how many of the DVLA clamping teams operating in London are mobile.

(90027)

416   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the fee for obtaining a replacement driving licence has been in each of the past five years.

(90023)

417   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, how many requests were received in the past 12 months to replace (a) photocard and (b) counterpart driving licences.

(90024)

418   Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will provide a breakdown of the average costs incurred, per application, by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for providing (a) replacement photographic driving licences and (b) replacement counterpart driving licences in 2001-02.

(90025)

419   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

(89843)

420   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89898)

421   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Office.

(89977)

422   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of public spending per head from all sources in Wales in the last year for which figures are available, originating from (a) local councils, (b) devolved Government and (c) central Government.

(90008)

423   Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his latest estimates are of (a) the population and (b) the electorate in Wales.

(90007)

424   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of the real rise in the total of public spending on the Welsh Office between 1999-2000 and 2001-02; and if he will make a statement.

(89959)

425   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many permanent staff have been employed by his Department in each year from 1999-2000 to 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

(89954)

426   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of the annual cost of his Department's bilingual service; and how many people used this service in the latest year for which information is available.

(89953)

427   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many special advisers there are in his Department; what their cost was in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(90099)

428   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the overseas visits of Welsh Office Ministers in each year from 1997-98 to 2002-03, setting out the (a) destination, (b) timing, (c) total cost and (d) reason for visit; and if he will make a statement.

(90098)

429   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the assets of the Welsh Office valued at more than £50,000, identifying in each case (a) the nature of the asset, (b) the latest estimated value of the asset and (c) the rationale for possession of the asset; and if he will make a statement.

(89952)

430   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, who owns the headquarters of his Department at Gwydyr House in Whitehall, London; what his estimate is of (a) the capital value of this building and (b) the annual estimated rental cost; and if he will make a statement.

(89951)

431   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on his Department's performance against each of its Public Service Agreement targets.

(89922)

432   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many press releases were issued by his Department in each year from 1999-2000 to 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

(89955)

433   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many Welsh Office Ministers there have been in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(89962)

434   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is for the latest year for which information is available of the cost to the Welsh Office of (a) its press office, (b) its legal office, (c) its private office, (d) its briefing unit, (e) its social policy unit and (f) its finance and administration unit; and if he will make a statement.

(89956)

435   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of the number of staff employed by the Welsh Office in each year from 1999-2000 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(89961)

436   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which overseas delegations and overseas ambassadors met Welsh Office ministers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(89950)

437   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the cost was to the Welsh Office of ministerial (a) pay, (b) travel, (c) entertainment, (d) conferences, (e) overseas travel and (f) other costs in each year from 1998-99 to 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

(89957)

438   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of total spending by the Welsh Office in each year from 1999-2000 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(89960)

439   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what has been the expenditure of his Department on (a) the North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal and (b) the expenses of the Lord Lieutenant in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(89923)

440   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his estimate is of the costs of repair and renovation work to the buildings of the Welsh Office in each year from 1999-2000 to 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

(89958)

441   Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the fiscal surplus or deficit was in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(89825)

442   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(89891)

443   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many statutory instruments were issued by the Department of Social Security in each calendar year since its formation; and how many have been issued by his Department since June 2001.

(89848)

444   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out for each quarter from September 2000 (a) how many applications for attendance allowance have been received, and of those how many were (i) successful, (ii) unsuccessful, (iii) subject to appeal and (iv) successful at appeal, (b) what the average processing time has been for attendance allowance for (i) first-time claims and (ii) appeals for claims to be reconsidered, (c) how many applications for attendance allowance have (i) been subject to reconsideration and (ii) successful at reconsideration, and what was the average number of days taken to process appeals, and (d) how many (i) claims, (ii) reviews, (iii) reconsiderations and (iv) appeals there were on which a decision had not been reached at the end of each quarter of the last three years.

(89826)

445
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners within the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London will benefit from the introduction of the pension tax credit in October 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(88817)

446
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners within the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London failed to claim the winter fuel allowance for the 2001 period; and if he will make a statement.

(88818)

447
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what differences there are in the treatment of (a) endowment mortgage savings and (b) ISA mortgage savings in assessing savings in each relevant means tested benefit, including council tax benefit with savings thresholds and disregards; and whether this issue is under review.

(89104)

448   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what would be the weekly savings required to provide the retirement incomes shown in Figure 3.1 of the pensions Green Paper (Cm 5677) if the rate of return on savings exceeded earnings growth by 1.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.

(89645)

449   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated retirement income from the state in 2050 is, as a percentage of their earnings, for employees at the income levels shown in Figure 1.7 of the pensions Green Paper (Cm 5677), assuming that the state second pension remains earnings-related and that they are not contracted out; and what would be the corresponding figures if the basic state pension were increased in line with average earnings in 2004 and subsequent years.

(89644)

450   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish in the Official Report the notes accompanying the combined pension forecast on page 45 of the pensions Green paper (Cm 5677).

(89647)

451   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the weekly value of the state second pension in 2050 in the case illustrated in Figure 7.5 of the pensions Green Paper (Cm 5677); what it would have been under SERPS (a) as amended prior to April 2002 and (b) if the 20 best years provision had not been repealed; and what are the assumed earnings of the woman concerned.

(89646)

452   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 11th December, Official Report, column 379W, on workplace health and safety, what the cost was to the Exchequer of work-place accidents and illnesses for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(90017)

453   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

(89921)

454   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

(89915)

455   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on allowing civil servants to retire at the age of 65.

(90029)

456   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many hits the Targeting Fraud website has received, broken down by month; how many cases of suspected fraud have been reported to the website; how many of these suspected cases have been investigated; how many (a) cases of fraud have been established, (b) changes to benefits have been made and (c) successful prosecutions there have been, as a result; and what sentences have been imposed by the courts where prosecutions have been successful.

(89768)

457   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer, ref 88450, on the cost of new PCs installed in his Department, if he will provide a breakdown of the figure of £156.7 million into the cost of the (a) machines, (b) software and (c) network; how many machines were installed; what the average cost of each machine was; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figure of £58.5 million for installation costs, indicating what services were provided in relation to the installation of the machines.

(89919)

458   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December, refs 85985 and 87003, if he will list Government departments and agencies that did not employ New Deal participants during the period covered by his Answer.

(89906)

459   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December 2002, refs 88095, 88096 and 88138, on the New Deal Environment Task Force, if he will list the amount of the underspend in each financial year to 2002-03.

(89862)

460   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December 2002, refs 88095, 88096 and 88138, on the New Deal Environment Task Force, if he will list the other welfare to work initiatives that have been supported by the underspend against the original assumptions for the Environment Task Force; and if he will list the (a) additional amount spent as a result of the underspend on the Environment Task Force, (b) planned total spending and (c) actual expenditure in each financial year to 2002-03 for each such initiative.

(89870)

461   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 9th December 2002, Official Report, column 39-400, how many custodial and non-custodial punishments were imposed in (a) 2001-02, and (b) each of the previous three years, broken down by type of disposal; and in how many cases in each year the offender was ordered to pay compensation.

(89918)

462   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his projections are of (a) the cash level and (b) the level at 2001-02 prices of the winter fuel allowance in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2021-22.

(90125)

463   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the change as a percentage of gross domestic product in spending on pensions necessary to bring the average pension in the United Kingdom in line with that in (a) the Netherlands, (b) the USA, (c) Australia, (d) Japan, (e) Italy, (f) Germany, (g) France, (h) Sweden and (i) the average in the EU.

(90124)

464   Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham & Morden): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact Government policy is having on the income of pensioners in Mitcham and Morden.

(89834)

465   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he last met the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency to discuss progress on county court judgments, committal proceedings and the withdrawal of driving licences for non-payment of maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

(89764)

466   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the role of means-testing in providing provision for pensioners.

(89776)

467   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Cabinet Office, how many statutory instruments have been issued by the Cabinet Office in each calendar year since 1979.

(89841)

468   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Cabinet Office, if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department.

(89963)

469
N   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) teachers and (b) head teachers have encountered violence or abuse from pupils in each year since 1997.

[Question Unstarred] (89212)

470   Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has (a) to increase the number of specialist Sports Colleges and (b) to speed up the process of accreditation; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (90000)

471   Janet Anderson (Rossendale & Darwen): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on his plans for Westminster Hall.

[Transferred] (89869)

472   Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) extent and (b) degree of malnutrition in Zimbabwe and of the (i) distribution and (ii) availability of food supplies in Zimbabwe, broken down by region.

[Transferred] (90046)

473   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to intoduce a right to flexible working hours for employees with families; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (89809)