Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 5 March 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 5 March 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.

WEDNESDAY 5th MARCH

1   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

(101277)

2   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent research he has commissioned into the level of consumer confidence in the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

(101274)

3   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 5th February, Official Report, column 302W, on the private finance initiative, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Accountancy Standards Board.

(101191)

4   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 11th February, Official Report, column 653W, on computer misuse, how many Inland Revenue staff have been (a) dismissed and (b) prosecuted as a result of misuse of its computer systems.

(101141)

5
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the National Audit Office on the Auditor General's policy on the approval of the national accounts in relation to the treatment of Network Rail debt; and if he will make a statement.

(100958)

6   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the sensitivity of the economy of (a) the UK, (b) other members of the European Union and (c) other G7 nations to interest rate changes.

(101282)

7   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the increase in spending on the National Health Service announced in the Budget statement 2002 in relation to (a) productivity, (b) efficiency and (c) savings due to economies of scale.

(101278)

8   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 5th February, Official Report, column 302W, what plans he has for his Department to issue accounting standards in relation to (a) special purpose vehicles, (b) PFI contracts and (c) other issues.

(101194)

9   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 5th February, Official Report, column 302W, on the private finance initiative, whether officials from his Department have met representatives of the Accounting Standards Board to discuss accounting standards relating to special purpose vehicles.

(101192)

10   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 11th February, Official Report, column 653W, on computer misuse, what assessment he has made of the level of computer misuse within the Inland Revenue.

(101140)

11   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the inflation rate was for (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector in each of the last 12 months.

(101280)

12   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been allocated, by continent, by HM Treasury for the global war on terror since 11th September 2001.

(101279)

13
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake not to conclude loan contracts for Network Rail until the Comptroller and Auditor General has approved the accounting treatment for new debt in the Government accounts.

(100959)

14   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 5th February, Official Report, column 302W, on the private finance initiative, what assessment he has made of the debt held by PFI stakeholders in special purpose vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

(101193)

15   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's contingent liabilities.

(101276)

16   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) guidance issued to the review of the implications for UK statistics of joining the euro.

(101275)

17   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if lone parents will be able to claim the new childcare tax credit for a period of time before returning to work.

(101049)

18   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to the European Commission on its inquiry into whether UK pensions tax rules meet EC requirements.

(101362)

19   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 30W, whether the FSA will continue the advertisement complaints procedure to its conclusion in cases in which the offending advert has been removed.

(101396)

20   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in Government financial support for children since 1997.

(101364)

21   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will create a CAT standard annuity.

(101332)

22   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to the recommendation from the Financial Services Consumer Panel that the Government should consider establishing an independent charitable trust charged with offering consumers free advice on the purchase of annuities.

(101333)

23
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 3rd December 2002 from the honourable Member for Manchester Central on insurance, ref 3/12838/02.

(100287)

24   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a statement setting out the (a) costs and (b) benefits of entry into the eurozone, if his Department concludes that Britain meets the five economic tests for entry to the euro.

(101059)

25   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the output per head of population in the UK economy was in each year since 1975.

(101056)

26   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the output per head of population in the economy of each of the G7 countries was in each year since 1997.

(101057)

27   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Treasury has made regarding reform of the landfill tax credit scheme; what research he has commissioned into the effectiveness of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(101054)

28   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an assessment of what the effect would be on British business if his Department's assessment of the five economic tests for euro entry is (a) that Britain should enter the euro and (b) that Britain should not enter the euro.

(101153)

29   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the level of household debt as a percentage of disposable income in the UK.

(101053)

30   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in corporation tax revenue resulting from the introduction of the congestion charge.

(101076)

31   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to increase output per head of population in the UK economy.

(101055)

32   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate a rolling programme of reassessment, should his Department conclude that Britain does not meet the five economic tests for entry to the euro.

(101058)

33   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accidental deaths there were in Wales in each of the last 20 years.

(101239)

34   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 16 to 21 there were in low rates of pay in Wales for each of the last 20 years.

(101241)

35   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were to girls conceiving under the age of 16 in Wales for each of the last 20 years.

(101240)

36   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides of those aged 15 to 24 there were in Wales in each of the last 20 years.

(101244)

37   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 16 to 21 were unemployed in Wales in each of the last 20 years.

(101243)

38   Mr Martin Caton (Gower): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the International Paralympic Committee's decision to ban events for athletes with an intellectual disability at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

(101190)

39   Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people aged 75 or above receive free television licences in the Tooting constituency.

(101052)

40   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to extend National Audit Office scrutiny to the BBC.

(101212)

41   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational, technical and political benefits are to the UK of acquiring the planned unmanned aerial vehicle system; and if he will make a statement on the system's inter-operability with that of the Israeli Army.

(101213)

42   Frank Cook (Stockton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that contracts for overseas work awarded by the US to (a) British private military companies and (b) UK-based subsidiaries of US companies do not include the handling, storage and maintenance of anti-personnel mine stockpiles.

(101296)

43   Frank Cook (Stockton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from what sources mines retained for training purposes as permitted under the Ottawa Treaty have been procured; and to what purposes they have been put.

(101297)

44   Frank Cook (Stockton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British service personnel are involved in landmine clearance; and in which countries they are working.

(101295)

45   Frank Cook (Stockton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on new technologies for detecting and removing landmines; if he will list such new technologies that have been tested in the field; under what conditions such technologies have been tested; and in which mine-affected countries they are now operational.

(101294)

46   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been of British operations in Afghanistan in each month since operations began.

(101281)

47
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the criteria for the Hardship Fund for Reserve Forces take into consideration the financial needs of dependent (a) married and (b) non-married partners; and if he will make a statement.

(100824)

48
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Reserve Forces served with a call up notice have applied to the Hardship Fund; what percentage of Reserve Forces served with a call up notice this represents; how many applications to the fund have been approved; how many have been denied; and if he will make a statement.

(100823)

49   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rules govern (a) the display of political memorabilia and emblems and (b) the wearing of sectarian emblems and apparel inside army barracks in Northern Ireland; at what level responsibility rests for removing inappropriate displays; and how many personnel have been disciplined for offences arising from such displays since April 1998.

(101154)

50   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rules govern the return of personal property, items and effects to the families of military personnel who die while on service at home or overseas; what items must be retained in order to send elsewhere; in what circumstances and at what rank discretion may be exercised over the return of property; what rules govern disclosure of information concerning withheld items; what remedy is available to families denied property; and what steps he takes to ensure that bereaved families are made aware of their rights.

(101066)

51   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance has been given to British troops regarding the (a) handling and (b) use of uranium-tipped rounds.

(101159)

52   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to change the restrictions on prospective soldiers who have served time in prison from joining the armed forces.

(101164)

53   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the backlog was of refresher training for constables and sergeants in the Ministry of Defence Police in each of the last five years.

(101152)

54   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British personnel are attached to the United Nations staff in South Korea.

(101163)

55   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British warships have made a visit to South Korea in each of the past five years.

(101162)

56   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether British forces destined for the Gulf have been equipped with uranium-tipped rounds.

(101160)

57   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Territorial Army reservists have (a) died and (b) been injured while on service in each of the last 10 years.

(101155)

58   Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much of the money to be made available for key worker housing will be available for housing further education lecturers.

(101050)

59   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 865W, on the firefighters dispute, how many (a) man hours and (b) working days were lost to industrial action by firefighters in each of the last 14 months.

(101178)

60   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 865W, on the firefighters dispute, what the total cost was to firefighter employers in (a) lost working days and (b) lost man hours of industrial action taken by firefighters in each of the last 14 months.

(101179)

61   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 865W, on the firefighters dispute, how many firefighters went on strike on (a) each of the 10 days of industrial action in November 2002 and (b) the day of industrial action in January 2003.

(101180)

62   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on England of having different council tax bands in Scotland, England and Wales.

(101367)

63   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will bring forward legislation to make provision for differential regional council tax bands between London and the rest of the country.

(101368)

64   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it a requirement that when local authorities draw up section 106 agreements with developers (a) consideration is given to any increased flooding risks caused by the developments and (b) developers should be obliged to meet the financial burdens caused by this flooding risk.

(101341)

65   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the annual budget is of the Standards Board for England.

(101221)

66   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many parish councillors have declined to sign the model code of conduct since November 2001.

(101218)

67   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what right of appeal parish councillors have if suspended from their duties by an adjudication panel.

(101219)

68   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to introduce a referrals unit for complaints to the Standards Board for England.

(101220)

69
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the current debt is in each English authority's housing revenue account; and if he will estimate the cost of debt redemption charges if the debt was cancelled.

(100330)

70
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the English authorities who have yet to submit an option appraisal for housing to his Department.

(100332)

71
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the authorities who have not (a) transferred their housing stock and (b) set up an Arms Length Management Organisation.

(100333)

72
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what action he and his predecessors have taken to encourage the housing industry to comply with the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and the originating European directive.

(100334)

73
N   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what impact he estimates the abolition of Local Authority Social Housing Grant will have on Torbay UA; and if he will make a statement.

(100250)

74   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the proposals for new faith schools that have been published since September 2001 and approved by School Organisation Committees, broken down by (a) the faith, (b) the status of the proposed school, (c) the amount of public funds committed to the project by central government, (d) the amount of public funds committed to the project by local government and (e) the proposed opening date.

(101061)

75   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Government will publish official statistics for the number of (a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) out of school clubs in England on 31st March 2002.

(101158)

76   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) out of school clubs there were in England on (i) 31st March 2002 and (ii) 31st March 2001.

(101156)

77   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend childcare centres to cover 30 per cent. of the most disadvantaged communities.

(101157)

78   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research his Department has conducted to assess the impact of increased pupil mobility on discipline in schools.

(101366)

79   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 26th February, Official Report, columns 588-9W, whether modern languages are defined as a (a) generic and (b) specialist learning skill in an English-style baccalaureate; and which continental baccalaureate systems do not include modern languages as a generic skill.

(101273)

80   James Purnell (Stalybridge & Hyde): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many children will be entitled to free school meals under the Government's new child tax credits from April.

(101142)

81   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much was spent by each local education authority per (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil in descending order in the latest year for which figures are available.

(101247)

82
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when boiler repairs and replacements were incorporated into measures funded by Warm Front for non-pensioner households; what amendments to the scheme regulations were needed to authorise these measures; what provision there is for service and maintenance of the boilers; and if central heating systems can be funded or part funded through the Warm Front scheme for non-pensioner households.

(100162)

83
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if (a) ministers and (b) officials in her Department have discussed with TXU Warm Front the use of promotional literature for the Warm Front scheme as a means of selling other goods and services.

(100163)

84   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will raise the management of (a) forest products and (b) bushmeat at the forthcoming Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Conference in April.

(101324)

85   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis her Department has made of the work of the CBD bushmeat working group.

(101329)

86   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of bushmeat seizures at UK ports over the past 12 months have resulted in a prosecution.

(101351)

87   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which members of her Department will be attending the forthcoming CITES Bushmeat Working Group in Cameroon.

(101328)

88   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the UK position on the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Conference in April.

(101325)

89   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis her Department has made of the progress of the CITES Bushmeat Working Group in tackling the unsustainable bushmeat crisis.

(101354)

90   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a disease risk analysis of the potential risk to public health posed by the illegal importation of bushmeat has been undertaken by the Food Standards Agency.

(101352)

91   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support her Department intends to provide to the CITES Bushmeat Working Group in future years.

(101330)

92   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the President and Secretariat of the CITES Bushmeat Working Group to support its future work.

(101327)

93   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which members of her Department participate in the Inter-Departmental Consultative Group on Conservation; and when they last attended a meeting of this group.

(101355)

94   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which ministers and civil servants will attend the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Conference in April.

(101326)

95   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library a copy of the flood-risk data released by the Environment Agency to the Association of British Insurers on 29th January.

(101357)

96   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list pesticides whose use in the EU has been rescinded in each of the last ten years; and what their current status is in the UK.

(101272)

97   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many contracts which her Department and its agencies signed with companies to incinerate animal carcasses under the over thirty months scheme have been cancelled since 1996; and if she will list the reasons for those cancellations.

(101265)

98   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pesticides are (a) approved for use in the UK, (b) approved for use in the UK but not for use in the European Union and (c) manufactured in the UK and approved for use in third countries but not in the UK or the EU; and when each was approved for use in (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) third countries.

(101270)

99   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list pesticides whose use in the UK has been rescinded in each of the last 10 years.

(101271)

100   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list animal species protected by domestic legislation which her Department plans to lift; and for what reasons such legislation is being reviewed.

(101259)

101   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she is taking to ensure the Scottish Executive is involved in the (a) public debate and (b) approval process for GM crops.

(101258)

102   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many ducks other than ruddy ducks, broken down by species, have been culled as a result of the ruddy duck control scheme.

(101260)

103   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations and discussions she has had regarding the (a) rendering and (b) animal carcass and animal products incineration industry with (i) individuals, (ii) lobby groups, (iii) companies and (iv) other bodies.

(101261)

104
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) 0.1mg and (b) 10mg limit on (i) active pesticide breakdown products and (ii) metabolites in groundwater.

(100567)

105
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent (a) representations she has received and (b) discussions she has had regarding the limit of (a) pesticide breakdown products and (b) metabolites in groundwater; and if she will make a statement.

(100568)

106
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those metabolites considered (a) relevant and (b) non-relevant with regard to the 0.1mg limit on (i) pesticide breakdown products and (ii) metabolites in groundwater.

(100569)

107   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received and discussions she has had regarding publicity material for international travellers through the Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For campaign to prevent illegal meat imports entering the UK.

(101267)

108   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list those companies with which her Department and its agencies have signed contracts to incinerate animal carcasses under the over thirty months scheme in each year since 1996.

(191266)

109   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list dairy products which if brought into the UK by international travellers are considered to be a health risk by the Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For campaign; and what risks are associated with each.

(101268)

110   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what health risks are associated with fish and fish products brought into the UK by international travellers through the Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For campaign.

(101269)

111   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much compensation from the European Union her Department has received for the incineration of tallow produced under the over thirty months scheme since its inception.

(101263)

112   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the animal carcass (a) rendering and (b) incineration industries and the market share of companies involved within them.

(101262)

113   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much (a) her Department and (b) the European Union has spent on (i) rendering and (ii) incineration of BSE-suspected animal carcasses in each year since the over thirty months scheme began.

(101264)

114   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications she has received for the authorisation of GM crops since December 2002; and if she will make a statement on the process.

(101257)

115   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase plantation of trees to boost the supply of wood available as fuel in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

(101291)

116   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the environmental impact of (a) burning wood as a fuel and (b) increasing the use of wood as fuel.

(101292)

117   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many assaults on veterinary surgeons by farmers have occurred on farms in each year since 1997.

(101146)

118   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has made to the European Union on the Wildlife and Habitats Directive in relation to cetacean by-catch; and if she will make a statement.

(101285)

119   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of plastics recycling; what plans she has to encourage plastics recycling; and if she will make a statement.

(101343)

120   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has held with the (a) US and (b) Turkish governments on the presence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(101410)

121   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether British Government representatives were invited to the recent meeting in northern Iraq between the US special envoy and Kurdish and Iraqi opposition groups.

(101411)

122   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the extant resolutions of the United Nations, indicating the measures taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure compliance with each one.

(101407)

123
N   Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is towards Somaliland.

(99459)

124   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is his policy that the arms embargo upon Iraq should continue in the event of a post-Saddam Hussein administration; and if he will make a statement.

(101216)

125   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Bangladeshi Government about the new law in Bangladesh which provides immunity to members of the armed forces in cases where civilians have been killed; and if he will make a statement.

(101347)

126   Frank Cook (Stockton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the outcomes of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons Meeting of States Parties in December 2002, with particular reference to the issue of explosive remnants of war.

(101293)

127   David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of the British plane spotters charged with espionage and associated charges have not received their bail money since they were acquitted in November 2002; what action the Foreign Office has taken to assist them in the return of this money; and what further action the Foreign Office plans to take.

(101199)

128
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to monitor (a) abductions, (b) rape and (c) recruitment of children during the recent fighting around Sudan's oil fields.

(100707)

129
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what lessons have been learned from the performance of the Civilian Protection Monitoring Team in order to ensure that the new Verification and Monitoring Team can respond (a) rapidly and (b) effectively to reports of fighting within southern Sudan.

(100704)

130
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether rebel groups have seized the town of Gulu in Darfur; and what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with other Departments to investigate the conflict in Darfur, western Sudan.

(100705)

131
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken to ensure that the Verification and Monitoring Team (a) publish and (b) disseminate reports of their investigations into attacks on civilians in Sudan without delay.

(100706)

132   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Lord Avebury's recent visit to Bahrain, with particular reference to (a) his plea to King Hamed bin Isa Al Khalifa to pardon Richard Mechan, a British citizen and (b) the evidence of judicial irregularities presented to the King.

(101203)

133   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Israeli authorities and (b) the United Nations regarding the construction of the concrete separation wall in the West Bank.

(101202)

134   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) the Israeli authorities and (b) the United Nations on the concrete separation wall deviating from the 1967 green line border.

(101201)

135   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence regarding commemoration of 300 years of British sovereignty in Gibraltar in 2004.

(101414)

136   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Gibraltar regarding commemoration of 300 years of British sovereignty in Gibraltar in 2004.

(101415)

137
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Afghan police officers have been trained as part of the international community's commitment to rebuild Afghanistan.

(100989)

138
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Afghans are under training to form an Afghan National Army.

(100987)

139
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans exist for the (a) decommissioning of weapons and (b) demobilisation of men in the private armies of Afghan warlords.

(100988)

140   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what checks GPs have to carry out on their patients during registration with the GP practice, in order to discover whether they qualify for free NHS treatment.

(101245)

141   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for an out-patient appointment (a) in Greater London and (b) in England was in (i) the latest period for which figures are available and (ii) May 1997.

(101313)

142   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP vacancies there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

(101307)

143   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of (a) adults and (b) children living in the Greater London area (i) are and (ii) were in May 1997 registered with an NHS dentist.

(101308)

144   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to increase the number of emergency medical personnel (a) on motorbikes, (b) in ambulances and (c) in cars.

(101314)

145   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the calculations that have been made of the cost to the NHS in (a) London and (b) England of treating patients who are not eligible for NHS services.

(101301)

146   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many asylum seekers have used the NHS in Greater London in the last 12 months; and what the equivalent figures were in May 1997.

(101300)

147   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) NHS consultants and (b) NHS consultant vacancies there are in Greater London; and how many of each there were in May 1997.

(101319)

148   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest average waiting time for in-patient treatment is (a) in Greater London and (b) in England; and what the figures were in May 1997.

(101312)

149   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many asylum seekers have, in the last 12 months, seen an NHS consultant; and how many had in May 1997.

(101302)

150   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many elderly residents of each London Borough have been placed in care homes outside London in the last 12 months; and how many people from outside London have been placed in care homes inside London in the last 12 months, broken down by social services department.

(101309)

151   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Greater London have been waiting more than 13 weeks to see a consultant.

(101310)

152   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS dentist vacancies there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

(101303)

153   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancelled operations in Greater London were carried out within (a) 4 weeks, (b) 8 weeks, (c) 12 weeks, (d) 16 weeks and (e) over 16 weeks of their original cancellation.

(101304)

154   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) practising dentists and (b) dentist practices there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

(101306)

155   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices in Greater London have closed their books to new registrations; and what percentage of GP practices in Greater London these represent.

(101317)

156   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds in Greater London were occupied by delayed discharge patients (a) at the latest available date and (b) in each of the last four quarters.

(101316)

157   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Greater London have been waiting (a) up to six months, (b) 6-12 months, (c) 12-15 months and (d) 15 or more months for hospital treatment in each of the last 12 months.

(101311)

158   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ambulances serve Greater London; and how many paramedics there are (a) in cars, (b) on motorbikes and (c) in ambulances.

(101315)

159   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many operations in Greater London were (a) cancelled and (b) cancelled less than two days before the due date in each of the last 12 months.

(101318)

160   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money, in each of the last five years, has been paid to the NHS by people using the NHS who did not qualify for free NHS treatment and services.

(101305)

161
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the last three (a) full and (b) interim collections of brokerage figures for each NHS trust in respect of cash brokerage requirement and projected outturn against budget were, broken down by NHS Region and Strategic Health Authority.

(100709)

162
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS bodies have received direct funding from the Regional Office; and how much was paid to each NHS body, broken down by Directorate of Health and Social Care, in each of the last three years.

(100711)

163   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 6th February, Official Report, column 443W, on the Health Protection Agency, when the board of the agency will be appointed; and how long it will take for staff to be identified as at risk of redundancy.

(101138)

164
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis his Department requires each NHS trust to submit a year-end cash balance that equates to the opening balance when the trust was established.

(100708)

165
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to disestablish NHS Directorates of Health and Social Care; and where each of their functions will be transferred.

(100710)

166
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each (a) NHS region, (b) health authority and (c) NHS trust for each quarter for (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 the (A) monetary value of approvals to use (1) capital and (2) revenue for capital purposes, (B) number of approvals and (iii) total capital allocation.

(100712)

167   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what protocols are in place in Accident and Emergency departments to adopt a fast track system for referrals from (a) sexual assault referral centres and (b) police stations for victims of sexual assault and rape.

(101336)

168   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 5th February, Official Report, column 314W, on local government grant formulae, what response he has made to the concerns raised by the Association of London Government in its report The 2003-04 Local Government Finance Settlement about the children's formula used in the local government grant formula.

(101290)

169   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will require Accident and Emergency departments and primary care trusts to ask patients attending for emergency contraception whether the intercourse was consensual.

(101335)

170   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what compulsory training school nurses undertake in (a) sexually transmitted infections and (b) sexual assault; and what training they undergo designed to ensure that a comprehensive advice and referral service is available to pupils.

(101334)

171   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what dietary action he has recommended to reduce the occurrence of cancer in deprived communities.

(101387)

172   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Government is taking to encourage people to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption.

(101388)

173   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research the Government is carrying out on the link between acrylamide and (a) bowel, (b) bladder and (c) kidney cancer.

(101385)

174   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of overall funding to improve the nation's eating habits is allocated to improving children's diets.

(101386)

175   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Government is taking to increase awareness about the health benefits of fruit and vegetables in preventing cancer.

(101389)

176   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many agency staff have been employed at Chorley Hospital (a) as doctors, (b) as nurses and (c) in other capacities in each of the last three years.

(101413)

177   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) chief executives and (b) other non-medical staff of NHS trusts are paid in excess of £100,000.

(101077)

178   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether the NHS response to the mental health needs of ex-servicemen is in accordance with (a) international best practice and (b) the international evidence.

(101073)

179   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent international studies his Department has conducted into the effects of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths on countries' economies.

(101068)

180   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many investigations took place last year into patient deaths in Mental Health Trust centres.

(101069)

181   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking against mental health trusts which do not accurately report how many (a) suicides and (b) killings took place in their care.

(101072)

182   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the cost to the British economy of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths.

(101067)

183   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance has been issued to PCTs about prescribing drug eluting stents for the management of coronary heart disease; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of drug eluting stents for the management of coronary heart disease.

(101075)

184   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Mental Health Trust centres staff are suspended regarding patient deaths.

(101070)

185   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Mental Health Trust chief executives and (b) the Commission for Health Improvement regarding patient deaths in Mental Health Trust centres.

(101071)

186   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training is available to NHS staff responding to the mental health needs of (a) current and (b) former servicemen and women.

(101074)

187   Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter to him from Mr Ken Mack of Wrexham dated 14th September 2002.

(101143)

188   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting time is for an MRI scan at (a) Airedale NHS Trust and (b) Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust.

(101207)

189   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has issued guidelines on the use of MRI scanners on animals; and if he will make a statement.

(101208)

190   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of MRI scanners that are used for fewer than (a) five and (b) two days a week.

(101206)

191   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mobile MRI scanners there are (a) in the NHS and (b) in the private sector.

(101209)

192
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answers of 27th February, refs 95076 and 98813, for what reasons the delay in replying to the letters of (a) 21st November and (b) 8th October 2002 occurred.

(100941)

193
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the Criminal Records Bureau to clear the backlog of criminal records checks for residential and nursing home care staff; and if he will make a statement.

(100944)

194
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, according to the most recent figures available, what the average length of time has been for prospective residential and nursing home care staff to have their criminal records checked by the CRB.

(100943)

195   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 27th February, Official Report, columns 32-36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what steps his Department is taking to moderate public expectations of the role of the Criminal Records Bureau.

(101390)

196   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether disciplinary action has been taken against officials (a) in his Department and (b) in the Passport Service UK as a result of the Carter Inquiry.

(101391)

197   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new action the Metropolitan Police will take in respect of cloned number plates on vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

(101214)

198   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the proposed deportation of Lili Lin, Home Office reference number L1053356.

(101322)

199   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of including property portfolios within the annual budget formula for probation services.

(101173)

200   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made on the introduction of OASIS by probation services.

(101174)

201   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on crime trends within Gloucestershire.

(101177)

202   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he intends to take to speed up the provision of pre-sentence reports by the probation service.

(101175)

203   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the total operational capacity of prisons in England and Wales by 2006, based on current trends.

(101211)

204   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the trend in recidivism over the last decade.

(101222)

205   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what extra capacity the new prisons at Ashford and Peterborough will provide the Prison Service by 2006; and if he will make a statement.

(101210)

206   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Prison Service's Operation Container initiative.

(101217)

207   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcome was of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 27th to 28th February; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

(101359)

208   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Bolton, South East of 12th September 2002, 29th October 2002, 4th December 2002 and 8th January 2003 regarding the case of Mr Mohammed Iqbal (HO Ref J243444).

(101342)

209   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has undertaken since August 2002 of changes in the rate of refusals of family visit visa applications from (a) New Delhi, (b) Islamabad, (c) South Asia, (d) Amman, (e) Tehran and (f) the Middle East; and if he will make a statmement.

(101403)

210   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many in-country work permits were approved in 2002; and what proportion were granted to those previously holding a work permit.

(101078)

211   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department expects to pay to Capita for work carried out for his Department (a) in 2003 and (b) 2002.

(101137)

212   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his estimate is of the charge made by Capita for Criminal Records Bureau checks calculated as the charge per disclosure processed when all 1,284,891 applications made so far have been processed, shown as (a) actual charge and (b) theoretical charge before penalty clause terms invoked.

(101136)

213   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 7th February, Official Report, column 475W, on the Criminal Records Bureau, whether the payment of £15,737,771.87 to Capita for Criminal Records Bureau checks represents full and final payment for the disclosures processed so far; and what the full payment made to Capita for work on Criminal Records Bureau checks would have been if penalty clauses had not been invoked.

(101135)

214   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children in prison are being held on the basic regime under the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme.

(101065)

215   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the vulnerability of public and government buildings to attack from a helicopter; and if he will make a statement.

(101147)

216   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to agree a target figure for the removal of asylum seekers whose claims are judged to be unfounded.

(101148)

217   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost was of policing (a) the Iraq demonstration on 15th February and (b) the last Countryside Rally in London.

(101145)

218   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of police funding was spent on police pensions in each of the last 20 years; and what amounts these figures represent.

(101246)

219   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the report by the Youth Justice Board on the detention of teenage girls in women's prisons.

(101344)

220   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to (a) the Israeli authorities and (b) the United Nations regarding (i) the potential separation of Jayyous from its water supply and (ii) alternative water supply options.

(101204)

221   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received from NGOs regarding access to water supply in Jayyous.

(101200)

222   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has given to charitable work and projects in the Occupied Territories that have been, or may be, demolished by the Israeli authorities to make way for the concrete separation wall.

(101205)

223   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about the conference on small arms proliferation attended by representatives of her Department on 14th to 15th February.

(101365)

224   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about her Department's Wildlife and Poverty Study.

(101363)

225   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she intends to hold the next meeting of the Inter-Departmental Consultative Group on Conservation.

(101323)

226
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which countries within the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group will continue to have preferential access to the EU sugar market when the Everything But Arms countries have completed transition to free access.

(100627)

227
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of production of sugar by Brazil on the economies of the African, Caribbean and Pacific and Everything But Arms countries if a global free market in sugar were to be established.

(100629)

228
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much sugar entered the EU from the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries under the Cotonou agreement in the last 12 months.

(100628)

229
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the total sugar production of the Everything But Arms countries (a) at present and (b) at the end of the transition period to free access to the EU.

(100631)

230
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which major construction projects are under way in Afghanistan with the support of the international community; and when they will be completed.

(100986)

231
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the funds delivered to Afghanistan in 2002 for aid and reconstruction by the (a) USA, (b) EU, (c) UK and (d) Japan, and the total funds promised to that country in the Tokyo agreements.

(100985)

232   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress is being made with the installation of the LIBRA system; and what recent discussions he has had with Fujitsu.

(101167)

233   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress is being made with those magistrates courts which are working with computer network technologies.

(101168)

234   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Lord Chancellor intends to reply to the letter to him dated 31st January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to unadopted roads.

(101062)

235   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what percentage of each category of (a) officers and (b) staff left the police service in each of the past three years, broken down by (a) perceived community origin and (b) sex.

(101064)

236   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the additional costs of direct rule following the suspension of the Assembly.

(101139)

237   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, whether Lord Levy has represented him in discussions with overseas governments on policy towards Iraq.

(101412)

238   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, what steps the Goverment has taken to implement UN Resolution 57/232 to provide for human rights monitors in Iraq.

(101405)

239   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has made to the Saudi government on behalf of the British citizens imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for alleged terrorist offences; whether he has sought the support of the United States government on this matter; and what response he has received from the Saudi government.

(101406)

240   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, when he last discussed with President Bush the impact of the US administration's policies on (a) trade, (b) agriculture and (c) drug prices, on Third World countries; and what response he received.

(101409)

241   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, if, in the event of conflict with Iraq, he will issue a statement of the war aims of the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the postwar government of Iraq.

(101408)

242   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Prime Minister, further to his Written Ministerial Statement of 28th February, Official Report, column 58WS, on the Security and Intelligence Agencies' Vote, what the reasons are for (a) the change in resources, (b) the change in capital, (c) the change in administrative costs limits, (d) the change in the security and intelligence agencies DEL, (e) the take up of end of year flexibility, (f) the PES transfer from the MoD, (g) the PES transfer from the Home Office, (h) the transfer from capital to revenue, (i) the take up of end of year flexibility and (j) the PES transfer from the Cabinet Office; what his policy is on increasing resources to public service organisations (i) as a general rule and (ii) in relation to the security and intelligence agencies, when they have received adverse audit reports on how they have handled existing allocated resoures; and if he will make a statement.

(101346)

243
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much the Government provided to support the production of television programmes in the Gaelic language in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

(100993)

244
N   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Solicitor General, when she will reply to the Question of 12th February, ref 97596, from the honourable Member for the Isle of Wight, concerning correspondence.

(100822)

245   Mr John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the licensed money credit agencies in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

(101284)

246   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the operation of the renewables obligation certificate trading system; and if she will calculate the effect of every certificate holder being able to realise the full value by having the right to cash out.

(101286)

247
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress she has made on implementing the EU Equal Treatment Directive.

(100649)

248   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultation took place when considering the design of the PIN pads installed in post offices to enable people to withdraw benefits and other payments in cash; over what period of time the consultation took place; how many meetings were held; and what the costs were of (a) the PIN pads, (b) installation, (c) training and (d) making the PIN pads available for use in post offices.

(101360)

249   Frank Cook (Stockton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what conditions were attached to the recent licence for the export of HMX to Iran; and if she will make a statement.

(101298)

250   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will extend the health and safety checks offered as part of the Quality Mark scheme to other sectors of industry.

(101350)

251   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will establish a registration system for all UK passport holders and UK residents involved in the brokering of deals for the sale of military and security equipment.

(101339)

252   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will extend the provisions in the Export Control Act 2002 to include the licensing of all brokered activities, including the provision of financial services to those involved in the arms trade.

(101340)

253   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if her Department will undertake an assessment of banks' carbon risk management strategies.

(101353)

254   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimates she has made of the number of builders that will receive reduced insurance premiums as a result of the new health and safety assessments made as part of the Quality Mark scheme.

(101348)

255   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make it a requirement for the Internet sites of companies registered in the United Kingdom to carry the registered address of their company.

(101337)

256   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a response to the recent findings in Carbon Finance and the Global Equity Markets published by the Carbon Disclosure Project.

(101299)

257   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if when drafting the secondary legislation for the Export Control Act 2002, if she will extend the licensing regime for extraterritorial controls on brokered arms deals to cover all types of military and security equipment brokered by UK nationals to any destination, wherever they conduct their activities.

(101338)

258   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council held in Brussels on 3rd March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

(101358)

259
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 will affect tenancy agreements for local authority and housing association tenancies.

(100331)

260   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) the current level and (b) the official required level of the national oil reserves is.

(101161)

261
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the level of public subsidy involved in the expansion of the Brazilian sugar industry.

(100630)

262   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many responses to the DTI public consultation on GATS were received; how many of these responses expressed concern about the (a) transparency and (b) democracy of the GATS process; how many of these responses expressed other concerns about the GATS process; and how many of the responses received called for a halt to the GATS process.

(101397)

263   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) accidents and (b) fatalities were recorded on the A259 between (i) Hastings and Bexhill and (ii) Bexhill and Pevensey, with particular reference to King Offa Way, Bexhill, in each year since 1997.

(101392)

264   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list road improvement schemes managed by the Highways Agency in (a) the Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex area and (b) England in each year since 1997, together with the cost of each scheme; and which schemes are awaiting action.

(101395)

265   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he gives to the Highways Agency on assessing road improvement schemes associated with accident black spots.

(103393)

266   Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding was allocated to the Highways Agency for road improvement schemes in (a) the Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex area and (b) England in each year since 1997.

(101394)

267   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the matter of cloned number plates on vehicles; what action in relation to it is planned; and if he will make a statement.

(101215)

268   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the main problems are which the shadow running of the London Underground PPP has highlighted; and if he will make a statement.

(101320)

269   Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what reports he has received that the Automatic Train Operation System was a contributory factor in the recent Chancery Lane accident on the London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

(101321)

270   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars in the UK run on biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the benefits of the use of biofuels for the environment.

(101063)

271   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list railway vehicles ordered for the railway network and their date for delivery.

(101195)

272   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what timescale the Strategic Rail Authority estimates for the power upgrade of the South Central line to accommodate the Bombardier Electrostar trains.

(101197)

273   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what date of completion he estimates for the power upgrade for the South Central line.

(101182)

274   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the funding of the special purpose vehicle projects being pursued by the Strategic Rail Authority; and if he will list the companies with which the Strategic Rail Authority is negotiating regarding SPV projects.

(101183)

275   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Bombardier will deliver their Electrostar trains to South Central.

(101198)

276   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the orders Bombardier has with British train operating companies.

(101181)

277   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the credit rating is of Network Rail.

(101196)

278   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research he has commissioned as part of the Government's work for the Aviation White Paper.

(101283)

279
N   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from rail user groups regarding the proposed reduction in train services on commuter routes in the South East.

(100656)

280   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement about the relationship between (a) the Warsaw Convention and (b) EC Regulation 2027/97 (Air carrier liability in the event of accidents) in (i) its present form and (ii) as it will be amended by EC Regulation 889/2002.

[R](101149)

281   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the different methods of securing compliance with the amended notice provisions of EC Regulation 2027/97 (Air carrier liability in the event of accidents) which will apply after the Montreal Convention has come into force.

[R](101150)

282   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the United Kingdom will ratify the Montreal Convention.

[R](101151)

283   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under what statutory authority security companies operate at British airports; and what guidance he issues on the criteria to be used in recruiting security firms at British airports.

(101165)

284
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much money the Government gave to support the Welsh language in (a) education and (b) cultural organisations in the last year for which figures are available.

(100991)

285
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Minister for Women, what discussions she has had with the Home Office regarding the central collection of domestic violence statistics; and if she will make a statement.

(100964)

286   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 28th February, refs 99706, 99707 and 99708 if he will place in the Library copies of information sent from his Department to benefit recipients.

(101289)

287   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which local authorities have yet to implement an agreement with the Post Office not to redirect housing benefit payments.

(101384)

288   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of lone parents (a) are unable to work due to childcare commitments and (b) have had to give up work because of a lack of available childcare in the last six months.

(101048)

289   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department's review of employers' liability insurance will assess whether the health and safety assessments carried out as part of the Department of Trade and Industry's Quality Mark scheme could be extended to other sectors.

(101349)

290   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research he has done to assess the likely impact of the end of the Inland Revenue qualifying regime on the ability of those on low incomes to save for their retirement.

(101356)

291   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to use the terms pension income instead of annuity and pension savings for funds paid into a pension plan.

(101331)

292   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what action his Department has taken to increase consumer awareness that many insurance companies deduct commission from their pension savings as a fee for financial advice.

(101361)

293   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 13th February, Official Report, column 969W, on top-up fees, whether his Department will be undertaking studies to assess the impact of the proposed introduction of university top-up fees on the pension contributions of those under 40 years of age.

(101288)

294   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 13th February, Official Report, column 969W, on top-up fees, whether the projected repayment of student loans will be made on a calculation of net gross income.

(101287)

295   Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to make available information on pension entitlements to British citizens working in other EU countries.

(101079)

296   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications of recent developments in paediatric medicine requiring intensive nursing support by parents for the start date of disability living allowance payments for children being discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(101345)

297
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost per kilogram saved of (a) carbon dioxide emissions and (b) other harmful gases arising from (i) the lower duty on LPG, (ii) the lower duty on biodiesel and (iii) the proposed 20p reduction for bioethanol.

[Transferred] (100626)

298
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prospective staff awaiting employment in residential and nursing homes have yet to have their criminal records checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.

[Transferred] (100945)

299
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to (a) protect and (b) promote the Welsh language, with particular reference to broadcasting; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100990)

300
N   Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Government provided to support the production of television programmes in the Welsh language in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

[Transferred] (100992)

301   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of increases in the cost of insurance cover for businesses upon the competitiveness of British business; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (101060)

302   Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many people aged 15 to 24 had problem drug use in Wales in each of the last 20 years.

[Transferred] (101242)

303   Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid has been provided by the Government to Turkey to assist in dealing with Kurdish refugees from Iraq in the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (101144)

304   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what requirements the Department of Health places on (a) public and (b) private bodies to designate a proportion of parking spaces they provide for disabled only use; and what requirements are placed on such providers to enforce disabled only parking.

[Transferred] (101051)

305   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with insurance companies on the provision of car insurance for young drivers with an aim to reduce driving without insurance.

[Transferred] (101176)

306   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to speed up the provision of pre-sentence reports; and what the average time has been in the last 12 months for the provision of pre-sentence reports, broken down by magistrate court.

[Transferred] (101166)

307   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to issue guidelines on consistency relating to speeding penalties.

[Transferred] (101169)

308   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the report of the interdepartmental review of family visit appeals.

[Transferred] (101404)