Question Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Question Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 7 March 2003

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.

FRIDAY 7th MARCH

1   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Advocate General, how many working days were lost owing to industrial action by staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(101957)

2   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Advocate General, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101844)

3   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Advocate General, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101852)

4   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Advocate General, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101858)

5   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102058)

6   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(102025)

7   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional funding has been given to the Department for International Development to help it prepare for and respond to the humanitarian consequences of war in Iraq.

(102044)

8
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the Government's revenue receipts on a monthly basis since January 2002 arising from (a) sales of petrol, (b) sales of the petroleum products and (c) North Sea oil production.

(101807)

9   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102063)

10
N   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise officers are dedicated to tackling cigarette smuggling; and how many are based at each port of entry.

(100825)

11   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned to gauge the take-up of ISAs amongst new investors.

(102123)

12   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to provide business with a rebate from insurance premium tax revenues.

(102117)

13   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the future of saving products in the UK.

(102110)

14   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the total amount of tax evaded in each year since 1997.

(102003)

15   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost to British financial institutions in the last two years from (a) stolen corporate identities and (b) hoax e-mails.

(102001)

16   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions for tax fraud the Inland Revenue's special compliance office has pursued in each year since 1997; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in convictions.

(102005)

17   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned into a recalculation of National Insurance contributions.

(102000)

18   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the barriers to entry to the savings market for lower income households; and what steps the Government has taken to eradicate these barriers.

(102121)

19   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rate of prosecution for tax evasion.

(102012)

20   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 24th February, Official Report, column 220W, on secondments, from which private accounting firms the three people are seconded; how long the secondment is of each; and what their responsibilities are.

(102046)

21   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 24th February, Official Report, column 217W, on Lisbon and Stockholm objectives, if he will (a) make a statement and (b) publish a document listing progress towards each objective listed in Appendix A of the European Economic Reform White Paper 2002.

(102048)

22   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of lower than forecast manufacturing growth on total tax revenues.

(102118)

23   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investors have opened ISA accounts who did not previously hold a PEP or TESSA; and how much money has been invested in ISA accounts by investors who previously did not hold a PEP or TESSA.

(102122)

24   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's (a) short, (b) medium and (c) long-term aims are for saving in the United Kingdom, what targets he has set for his savings policy; and if he will make a statement.

(102120)

25   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the strength of the growth of tax revenues.

(102107)

26   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of other developed countries regarding the provision of additional relief for heavily indebted poor countries at the completion point of their relief initiatives.

(102008)

27   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to boost savings by individuals who do not hold a bank acount; and if he will make a statement.

(102113)

28   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the average amount of tax evaded and (b) the total amount of tax evaded was in cases pursued by the Inland Revenue's special compliance office which have resulted in convictions, in each year since 1997.

(102004)

29   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to (a) organise, (b) host and (c) campaign for a major debate on debt relief involving representatives of countries from the developed and developing countries, the IMF and the World Bank.

(102006)

30   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of (a) other developed countries, (b) the World Bank, (c) the IMF and (d) the Ethiopian Government regarding (i) restructuring and (ii) suspending Ethiopia's debt repayments.

(102007)

31   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the Government's future plans for the voluntary sector.

(102011)

32   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the heavily indebted poor countries which have had full debt relief from the UK.

(102009)

33   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total personal sector wealth was owned by the wealthiest half of the adult population in each year since 1997.

(102112)

34   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 24th February 2003, Official Report, column 222W, on tax revenue forecasts, what estimate he has made of the effect on public sector net borrowing (a) this year and (b) next year if GDP growth were one per cent. lower than assumed over the coming year.

(102047)

35   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Engineering Employers' Federation on (a) insurance cover against remote risks, (b) the level of manufacturing investment and (c) manfacturing growth rates.

(102111)

36   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Treasury has made of the future expansion in membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and if he will make a statement.

(102002)

37   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the IMF's assessment of the medium-term widening of the fiscal deficit, as set out in the 2002 Article IV Consultation Report.

(102119)

38   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of the International Monetary Fund concerning (a) Britain's fiscal policies and (b) the sustainability of Britain's fiscal stance in (i) the short-term, (ii) the medium-term and (iii) the long-term.

(102106)

39   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what funding he is making available to encourage gap year voluntary service by young people.

(102010)

40   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of the introduction of VAT exemptions for welfare services provided by state-regulated private welfare agencies on (a) the costs, (b) the revenue and (c) the profitability of such agencies.

(102126)

41   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have taken out an ISA in each year since 1998.

(102114)

42   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 28th February, Official Report, column 769W, on national insurance, what assessment his Department has made in recent economic forecasts of the effect that the increase in national insurance in April will have on (a) disposable income, (b) consumer spending as a percentage of GDP, (c) personal borrowing levels and (d) the savings ratio.

(101911)

43   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he has set regarding the uptake of ISAs in the UK.

(102116)

44   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with (a) the Governor of the Bank of England, (b) members of the Monetary Policy Committee and (c) representatives of the Bank of England concerning their assessment of the strength of the growth of tax revenues; and what the outcome was of these discussions.

(102108)

45   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the White Paper, Meeting the Challenge: Economic Reform in Europe with the second economic test for entry to the euro.

(101865)

46   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from (i) the Bank of England, (ii) representatives of business and (iii) employees representatives on the assessment of the five tests for euro entry.

(101863)

47   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 25th February to the honourable Member for Romford, Official Report, column 383W, on Gibraltar, whether the Treasury's five economic tests take account of the effects of membership of the Eurozone on the UK's crown dependencies.

(101928)

48   Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent proposals he has made to the European Union on increasing the rate of its economic reform.

(101864)

49   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of providing public documents issued by his Department in languages other than English.

(101986)

50   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are being taken to improve and protect the world market share of exports of merchandise of the United Kingdom, with particular reference to exports to the Eurozone.

(101971)

51   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been (a) set aside for military activities in respect of Iraq and (b) spent to support (i) peacemaking, (ii) peacekeeping, (iii) non proliferation and (iv) disarmament inspections carried out by the United Nations in 2002-03.

(102071)

52
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's forecast is of the average economic growth rate in the EU from 2000 to 2010.

(101606)

53   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101855)

54   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101846)

55   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101854)

56   Mr Roger Berry (Kingswood): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy that adoption of a code of practice on ethical trading on the lines of that developed for the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games should be a necessary pre-condition for Government endorsements of any bid to stage a major sporting event; and if she will make a statement.

(101918)

57
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what she estimates to be the cost to public funds of the process for identifying a candidate city to be European Capital of Culture in 2008.

(101806)

58
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the recommendations of the independent advisory panel on which city should go forward as the UK nomination for European Capital of Culture in 2008 will be published.

(101805)

59   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by English Heritage in each year since 1999.

(101826)

60   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102057)

61   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the security implications of English Heritage's placing of photographs of private buildings on the internet under its Images of England project.

(102146)

62   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of whether English Heritage's Images of England project impinges on the human rights of the owners of listed buildings; and if she will make a statement.

(102092)

63   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to consult with the voluntary sector concerning the proposed merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund; whether the consultation period on the merger will be 12 weeks in accordance with the compact; and if she will make a statement.

(101949)

64   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

(102026)

65   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Jaguar combat aircraft (a) have been produced under licence in India and (b) are contracted to be produced under licence in India.

(102045)

66   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many extra body bags his Department has ordered as part of contingency planning for any war against Iraq; how many his Department holds in stock; and if he will make a statement.

(101920)

67   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 12th February, Official Report, column 737W, on the Al Yamamah deal, when he estimates that the Al Yamamah programme will cease to have a significant impact on British jobs and exports.

(101924)

68   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102056)

69   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 55W, on Gibraltar, whether the Government of Gibraltar has requested a meeting to discuss commemoration of 300 years of British sovereignty.

(101815)

70   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list, by company, the outstanding value of offset obligations imposed and accepted in respect of defence equipment supplied from overseas to the UK.

(102077)

71   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps were taken to (a) address and (b) redress complaints of Masai women following the meeting on 19th October 1983 between representatives of the women with the officer commanding troops involved in reconstruction of the Dol Dol primary school in Kenya; how many incidents are alleged to have been committed by members of Her Majesty's armed forces; how many admissions of responsibility or apology have been sent; how many disciplinary actions have been taken against serving soldiers; and how many have been dismissed from the Army.

(101819)

72   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British armed forces personnel are deployed to the Gulf region.

(101964)

73   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about giving the alliance a greater role in Afghanistan.

(101963)

74   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are for the European Union to undertake the NATO operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

(101965)

75   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with European defence ministers about measures to improve EU military capabilities.

(101962)

76   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last discussed progress on the ESDP with the (a) French, (b) German and (c) Belgian defence ministers.

(101961)

77   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart regarding the European Union plans for undertaking the NATO operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

(101959)

78   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent meetings he has had with defence ministers from (a) Poland, (b) the Czech Republic, (c) Hungary, (d) Bulgaria, (e) Romania and (f) the Slovak Republic.

(101960)

79   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what communications he has had with his United States counterparts since 5th February in respect of the United Kingdom opposition to (a) incapacitants and (b) irritant chemical agents in warfare.

(102074)

80   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what benefits to United Kingdom national defence will accrue from the granting of permission to the United States of landing rights for United States Air Force B-52 bombers.

(101993)

81   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the new long-term partnering agreement concluded with QinetiQ announced on 3rd March, Official Report, columns 77-78WS.

(101992)

82
N   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his Department's treatment of Mr David Johnson, a constituent, relating to his compulsory retirement.

(101769)

83   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(102027)

84   Patsy Calton (Cheadle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how small local schemes will be funded following the creation of the single housing pot, with particular reference to schemes outside the areas earmarked for housing expansion or housing market renewals.

(101831)

85   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list Cabinet Committee meetings he has chaired in the last 12 months.

(101818)

86   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102050)

87   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what further measures he proposes to take to encourage mast sharing by telecommunication operators.

(102095)

88   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to replace telecommunication operators' voluntary code of conduct with statutory regulation; and if he will make a statement.

(102098)

89   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of telecommunication operators' implementation of their Ten Best Practice Commitments; and if he will make a statement.

(102093)

90   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has (a) made to and (b) received from local planning authorities in respect of telecommunication operators' commitment to participate in obligatory pre-rollout and pre-allocation consultation.

(102094)

91   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information his Department has gathered regarding the extent to which telecommunication operators have met their commitment to provide staff resources to respond to complaints and enquiries about radio base stations within 10 working days.

(102097)

92   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what financial support the Government's independent scientific research programme on mobile communications health issues has received from telecommunication operators.

(102096)

93   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the difference in guidance between England and Wales issued in connection with the Parish Council Code of Conduct.

(102125)

94   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 806, on parish councillors, what the evidential basis was of the information given in his reply.

(102137)

95   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the results of his regional government soundings exercise broken down by English region.

(101906)

96   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what resources for housing investment have been allocated to Stoke-on-Trent in each year since 1990-91.

(101908)

97   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what measures he is taking to maintain greenbelt land in Kent Thames-side.

(101955)

98   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he expects to publish his Department's consultation paper on the proposed criteria for earned autonomy.

(102140)

99   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102078)

100   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd March, ref 99605, how many students sat the (a) GCSE and (b) A Level exam in (i) French, (ii) German and (iii) Spanish in each year since 1995.

(102156)

101   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd March, ref 99626, how many (a) French, (b) German and (c) Spanish teachers qualified in each year since 1995.

(102154)

102   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 4th March, ref 100049, what the purpose is of publishing exam results for federations of schools.

(102155)

103   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many closed circuit cameras have been installed in school classrooms; and if he will make a statement.

(101882)

104   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what his assessment is of the impact of the proposed move towards an English baccalaureate on an optional foundation year of study after GCSE.

(101883)

105
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he will publish the Overarching Strategy for Children and Young People.

(101419)

106   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much funding is being provided by the Government to schools to carry out sex education programmes in 2002-03.

(101966)

107   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what experts in the area of child and teenage health his Department has consulted on the policies of sexual education taught in schools.

(101967)

108   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, who is responsible for setting policy on sexual education curriculum and standards in schools (a) in England and (b) in each region.

(101968)

109   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what options are available to parents of children attending schools which teach forms of sexual education that they deem inappropriate for their children to be exposed to on moral or religious grounds.

(101969)

110   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 24th February, Official Report, columns 164-5W, on pupil funding, for what reasons Havering receives lower funding than other London Boroughs for pupils aged (a) five to 10 and (b) 11 to 15; and what plans he has to increase funding for schools in Havering.

(102049)

111   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what studies he has commissioned into the effect on (a) rates of teenage pregnancy, (b) abortion rates and (c) the rate of sexually transmitted diseases, with particular reference to HIV, of abstinence-only forms of sexual education.

(101970)

112   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the findings of the Audit Commission Report on Improving School Buildings.

(101837)

113   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what figures he collates on an annual basis of the number of schools that have received substantial repairs to buildings.

(101838)

114   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how the Department will verify it has satisfied its investment strategy targets of (a) replacing or refurbishing 650 schools by 2004 and (b) addressing the most urgent repairs in 7,000 schools by 2004.

(101880)

115
N   Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what she estimates the cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the UK between 1990 and 2010 will be, relative to the target of 12.5 per cent.

(101731)

116   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101860)

117   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101841)

118   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 (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101849)

119   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by (a) the Environment Agency, (b) the Countryside Agency, (c) English Nature and (d) the Broads Authority in each year since 1999.

(101829)

120   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by the British Waterways Board in each year since 1999.

(101817)

121
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to license GM crops in Scotland for commercial use.

(101770)

122   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102055)

123   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) research she has collated and (b) guidance she has given on the susceptibility of red deer to bovine tuberculosis; and what assessment she has made of the likely impact of bovine tuberculosis on the red deer herd on Exmoor.

(102147)

124   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sniffer dogs are being used to detect illegal meat imports at UK airports and ports; and where they are used.

(102157)

125   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much illegally imported meat has been seized at UK ports and airports in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) type and (b) location.

(102158)

126   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what resources she is committing (a) to prevent and (b) detect illegally imported meat entering the UK.

(102160)

127   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements there are with (a) Customs and Excise and (b) the Food Standards Agency (i) to prevent and (ii) to detect illegally imported meat entering the UK.

(102159)

128
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to support farmers with the cost of collection of non-bovine animal carcasses from 1st April.

(101768)

129   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received regarding the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

(101975)

130   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane from disused coal mines; and what estimate she has made of the cost of tackling such pollution.

(102069)

131   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 551W, on radioactive waste, for what reasons an estimate of future radioactive waste arising from reprocessing is not available; and if she will take steps to obtain the data from BNFL.

(102086)

132   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

(102032)

133   Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 456W, on fishermen, whether she intends to grant socio-economic aid to fishermen under the terms agreed in the December Council allowing fishermen to diversify into businesses outside the marine industry whilst continuing to fish on a part-time basis provided such diversification means a reduction in fishing effort.

(101923)

134   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102054)

135   Joyce Quin (Gateshead East & Washington West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU code of conduct on arms sales, with reference to sales to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

(101954)

136   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy that the UK's opt-out from the euro should be included in the draft European constitution.

(102148)

137   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with each Commonwealth country regarding Commonwealth Day 2003.

(101980)

138   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to celebrate Commonwealth Day 2003; and what total budget his Department has made available for the celebration of Commonwealth Day 2003.

(101979)

139   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the threat posed to the United Kingdom by North Korea's nuclear programmes.

(101823)

140   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department have had with the Governments of (a) The Republic of Korea, (b) China and (c) Japan regarding the security situation in North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

(101821)

141   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the US Administration, (b) the EU, (c) the UN and (d) Arab countries regarding the proposals put forward by the Israeli Prime Minister for a resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict; and if he will make a statement.

(101825)

142   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the members of the Commonwealth troika on Zimbabwe; what assessment he has made of Zimbabwe's position in the Commonwealth following these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

(101820)

143   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Palestinian reform conference in London on 14th January; what his latest assessment is of the Bush peace plan; what assessment he has made of the proposals put forward by the Israeli Prime Minister for a resolution of the conflict; and if he will make a statement.

(101824)

144   Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the nuclear programmes in (a) Iran and (b) North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

(101822)

145   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what independent legal advice is available to the Secretariat of the United Nations Security Council.

(102073)

146   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of Iraq's known weapons of mass destruction were destroyed or otherwise disabled by UNSCOM inspectors up to December 1998.

(101989)

147   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the United States Administration in respect of deployment of (a) CS gas and (b) pepper spray to armed forces in the Gulf.

(102075)

148   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government means by the term serious consequences used in the draft resolution on Iraq presented by it, the United States and Spain to the United Nations Security Council on 24th February.

(102076)

149   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his definition is of the phrase material breach as used in United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

(101991)

150
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a further statement on the Franco-German contribution to the debate on Europe's future.

(101604)

151
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of enlargement's effect on the Lisbon strategic goal of making the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

(101607)

152
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the status accession countries due to join the EU in 2004 should have at the Inter Government Conference convened to agree any draft emerging from the Convention on the Future of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

(101608)

153   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(102031)

154   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the Awareness Courses run by the NHS since May 1997; and how much each course has cost.

(102087)

155   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the launch of NHS initiatives since May 1997 and the cost of each launch.

(102088)

156   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for East Worthing and Shoreham of 26th February, Official Report, column 629W, on hospital hygiene, whether the handwashing provision in existing hospital buildings will be measured against the recommendations from NHS Estates for new buildings.

(101950)

157   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102053)

158   Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will review guidelines surrounding the charging for certificates signed by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

(101912)

159   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will approve a non direct entry proposal for the proposed third part of the NMC Register only as an interim measure until the children's workforce planning group has reported its findings.

(102104)

160   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to combine the skills of health visitors and social workers.

(102109)

161   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new requirements for entry to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register have been agreed for implementation by 2005 by health visitor members of the NMC since April 2002.

(102102)

162   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what account the Children's National Services Framework is taking of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency working.

(102103)

163   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Nursing and Midwifery Council supports the proposals to expand the third part of the NMC register to include nurses and midwives who work as specialists in community and public health.

(102101)

164   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the proposed third part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register will allow direct entry for community public healthcare professionals.

(102100)

165   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will amend the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to allow a three part register that is equitable across the three groups regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

(102105)

166   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of respondents to the public consultation on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register supported direct entry to the proposed third part of the Register.

(102099)

167   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a further statement on the performance rating system in the mental healthcare sector.

(102178)

168   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to allow primary care trusts to become foundation institutions.

(102177)

169   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the legal status of foundation trusts.

(102176)

170   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the role is of the proposed regulator for foundation hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

(102180)

171   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many managers recruited from the private sector since 1998 have left the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(101885)

172   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to expand the provision of foundation status beyond the acute healthcare sector.

(102174)

173   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how non-executive directors will be appointed to foundation hospital boards.

(102181)

174   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many private sector managers have been recruited since 1998 (a) to run central NHS facilities and (b) to work in primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement.

(101884)

175   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what will happen to a foundation hospital if it fails to meet its liabilities.

(102179)

176   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the annual performance rating system for NHS trusts (a) is independent from the Government and (b) takes into account hospital specialisation; and if he will make a statement.

(102175)

177   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce legislation to ban smoking in restaurants.

(101914)

178   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will answer the Question, ref 95866, tabled by the honourable Member for Oxford West and Abingdon.

(101952)

179   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 19th December 2002, Official Report, column 1040W, on agency nurses, for what reason the costs of agency nursing in 2001-02 have not been published.

(101951)

180   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what budget provision has been made for the employment of agency (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) other staff at Chorley Hospital for the next financial year.

(101816)

181   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS national database covers patients in Scotland.

(102139)

182
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he will take to ensure provision of NHS dentistry in Sherbourne.

(101618)

183   Martin Linton (Battersea): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what treatments are available to patients in Battersea under Patients Choice at hospitals other than those to which they were originally referred; and if he will make a statement.

(101832)

184   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide guidance to primary care trusts on the use of drug eluting stents in patients who are at high risk of having restenosis.

(102145)

185   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements he has with the Home Office, Customs and Excise and DEFRA (a) to prevent and (b) to detect illegally imported meat entering the UK.

(102163)

186   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources he is committing through the Food Standards Agency to (a) prevent and (b) detect illegally imported meat entering the UK.

(102162)

187   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of how many diabetics with heart disease would benefit from the use of drug eluting stents in percutaneous coronary intervention.

(102144)

188   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what restenosis rate was associated with the use of bare stents in diabetics in the last year for which figures are available.

(102143)

189   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diabetic patients with heart disease were given stents in percutaneous coronary intervention in the last five years.

(102142)

190
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the access of patients to (a) Cox-2, (b) Anti TNFs and (c) metal on metal hip resurfacing; and if he will make a statement.

(101659)

191
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the consistency of access to (a) rheumatology services, (b) hydrotherapy services and (c) orthopaedic services in the NHS in different parts of England.

(101656)

192
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the number of consultant rheumatologists; and if he will make a statement.

(101658)

193
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for orthopaedic surgery is (a) in England and (b) in Gloucestershire; what steps he is taking to reduce these times; and if he will make a statement.

(101657)

194   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the management of Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering; and what plans he has to visit the hospital.

(101983)

195   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding has been made available in 2002-03 for care homes in (a) the London Borough of Havering, (b) each of the other London boroughs and (c) each administrative area for health care in the United Kingdom.

(101976)

196   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering has been inspected by the Commission for Health Improvement.

(101985)

197   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on care home funding in the London Borough of Havering.

(101978)

198   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from the London Borough of Havering regarding funding for care homes; and what his response has been.

(101977)

199   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on accident and emergency services at Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering.

(101984)

200   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints have been received about Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering in each of the last 10 years.

(101981)

201   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made on meeting targets for Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering.

(101982)

202   Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the money held by NHS trusts for patient advice and liaison services is ring-fenced; and how many paid employees are working for the patient advice and liaison service in each trust.

(102150)

203   Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the costs to the Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust are of providing the off-site storage for patient records on the Hampton Lovett Industrial Estate; how many tenders were received for providing this service; and at what level the decision was made to accept the successful tender.

(102149)

204   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(102030)

205   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bombs in (a) Guildford on 5th October 1974 and (b) Birmingham on 21st November 1974.

(102127)

206   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 78W, on the Inmate Information System, which prisons are (a) linked and (b) not linked on the Inmate Information System; how many prisoners' records are (i) linked and (ii) not linked on the Inmate Information System; and if he will make a statement.

(101929)

207   Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will break down the expenditure for modernising the IT systems used by the criminal justice service outlined in the Justice for All White Paper by (a) item, (b) criminal justice system agency and (c) partner; what timetable governs the expenditure; and whether his Department is meeting that timetable.

(101930)

208
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will implement the recommendations of the Carter report into the Criminal Records Bureau in Liverpool.

(101431)

209   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by his Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102052)

210   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to letters from the honourable Member for Vauxhall dated 25th March 2002, 19th June 2002, 21st October 2002 and 16th December 2002 about a constituent, reference number M61644.

(101833)

211   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to a letter from the honourable Member for Vauxhall dated 21st November 2002 about a constituent, reference number D1066307.

(101834)

212   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24th February, Official Report, column 2, on police pensions, what he estimates the cost to public funds would be of establishing a pay-as-you-go police pension scheme applying to new recruits only.

(101926)

213
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Health about the availability to the general public of smallpox vaccinations.

(101617)

214
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress he has made towards the creation of a 311 number for the reporting of public order and vandalism-related incidents other than emergencies.

(101615)

215   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the most recent review of the security at Government buildings in London was undertaken; and what steps have been taken as a result of these reviews.

(102115)

216   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were in the London Borough of Havering in each month since September 2002.

(101956)

217   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the case of Lili Lin.

(101987)

218   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evaluation has been made of the impact of the detonation of a dirty radiological bomb in a city centre; what assessment has been made of the ways in which decontamination needed can be carried out; and what calculation has been made of the likely consequential costs of such a dirty bomb being used.

(101994)

219
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will answer the letter dated 13th December 2002, from the honourable Member for Totnes, concerning the status of Mr Fahrettin Yalcin of Brixham, Devon, which was transferred to his Department from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for reply; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in replying.

(101771)

220   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many volunteers the Experience Corps has recruited since its formation; how many of these are from ethnic minority communities; and on what basis each total is calculated.

(101869)

221   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what targets the Government set for the Experience Corps; and what progress has been made towards those targets.

(101868)

222   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Home Office has provided to the Experience Corps.

(101867)

223   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the purpose of the Experience Corps to recruit volunteers new to significant involvement with voluntary organisations; and what monitoring procedures are in place to assess whether recruits represent an additional resource for the voluntary sector.

(101866)

224   Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the Prison Service staff referred to on page 195 of the 2001-02 Home Office annual report are based in prisons.

(101910)

225
N   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances work permits can be issued to asylum seekers who do not have jobs.

(101429)

226
N   Mr John Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work permits he has authorised since 1st September 2002.

(101428)

227   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(102029)

228   Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the Department's contingency reserve for this financial year has not been spent.

(101999)

229   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101850)

230   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101842)

231   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101859)

232   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by her Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102051)

233   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to maintain food security in Iraq during any military action taken by the UK and allies.

(101919)

234   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will allocate financial resources to limit the effect on Iraqi civilians of the use by Iraq of (a) chemical and (b) biological weapons in the event of war.

(101913)

235   Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

(102028)

236   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101856)

237   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101843)

238   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what her estimate is of the cost (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101853)

239   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many working days were lost owing to industrial action by staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(101958)

240   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, in how many cases during the last five years a criminal has succeeded in obtaining damages in court against his victim.

(101830)

241   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, in what circumstances defendants are entitled to legal aid before being charged; and what plans he has to amend the legal aid regulations in the light of Section 23 and Schedule 2 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

(102070)

242   Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether any members of the Board of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland are on the Steering Group for the Council's research project on The Arts of Irish and Ulster-Scots.

(101917)

243   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102059)

244   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will instigate a review of appointments to District Policing Boards to ensure that appointments are made on personal merit; and if he will make a statement.

(102131)

245   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether it is his policy that past terrorist atrocities which have not resulted in charges or convictions should not be investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(102091)

246   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what changes are proposed to the Tissue Act 1961; and whether the Act is planned to be repealed.

(102019)

247   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what action has been taken against the pathologist at Altnagelvin Hospital who retained 59 organs without permission; and what investigation he has conducted into whether pecuniary gain was made from this organ retention.

(102014)

248   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will undertake to provide funding of PEAGS places for the Playgroup at Londonderry Primary School in Newtownards.

(102021)

249   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) coroners there were and (b) hospital post mortems took place at the Royal Victoria Hospital in each of the last three decades.

(102017)

250   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether a new library for Newtownards will be provided as part of the recently announced investment in local infrastructure.

(102020)

251   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding has been allocated to (a) each education board, (b) the statutory nursery school sector of each education board and (c) the private or voluntary playschool sector of each education board to provide PEAGS places in each of the past five years.

(102023)

252   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason the places per ward criterion used to calculate the funding for PEAGS places has not been used for calculating places for 2003-04.

(101927)

253   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many PEAGS places have been allocated to each nursery and playschool in the South Eastern Education and Library Board in each of the past five years.

(102022)

254   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what research the State Pathology Department undertakes in Northern Ireland.

(102016)

255   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Royal Victoria Hospital Mortuary Log Book came into existence.

(102013)

256
N   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the Northern Ireland charitable organisations that have benefited from a performance from the PSNI Band.

(101609)

257   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason hospital pathologists in the Royal and the City hospitals are empowered to undertake coroners post mortems.

(102018)

258   Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which hospitals in Northern Ireland continue the practice of hospital post mortems.

(102015)

259
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many, and what proportion, of Police Service of Northern Ireland band members have been returned to normal policing duties.

(101610)

260   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the President of the Council, how much public funding the Conservative Party has received since 1997.

(101953)

261   Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Prime Minister, when he first decided that the possible use of military action to disarm or overthrow Saddam Hussein should become British defence policy.

(101922)

262   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, what his policy is in respect of providing compensation to families of civilian victims of military action against Iraq.

(101995)

263   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 25th February, Official Report, column 123, on Iraq, what the evidential basis was for his statement that Saddam Hussein has used much of the money from the oil-for-food programme for his own and his family's personal use.

(102072)

264   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101851)

265   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101857)

266   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101845)

267   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102060)

268   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions since Quarter 2 of 1997 the percentage growth of GDP in Scotland has exceeded that of the UK as a whole.

(101972)

269   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Solicitor General, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101847)

270   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Solicitor General, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101839)

271   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Solicitor General, how many working days were lost owing to industrial action by staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

(102024)

272   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Solicitor General, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101862)

273   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Solicitor General, what plans she has to propose amendments to the law on provocation; and if she will make a statement.

(102043)

274   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

(101848)

275   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

(101861)

276   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

(101840)

277
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the International Atomic Energy Agency since 1st January over strategic oil stocks; and when she next plans to hold discussions with them on this matter.

(101808)

278   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by (a) the UK Atomic Energy Authority and (b) the Coal Authority in each year since 1999.

(101828)

279   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102061)

280   Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Inverness West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the quality of a broadband connection established using a satellite deteriorates during adverse weather conditions; and if she will make a statement.

(101988)

281
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to ensure that FSA rules prevent credit card companies from (a) setting minimum payments below the interest charge, (b) failing to show the APR clearly on statements and (c) implying that an interest-bearing period is interest-free.

(101614)

282   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the (a) safety and (b) operational performance of British Energy, following the report of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

(102164)

283   Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether public funding to British Energy is being used to provide financial support in the cost of installing flue gas de-sulphurisation at British Energy's coal-fired Eggborough Power Station.

(101921)

284   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many coal mine methane capture and generation plants she expects private companies to develop in the next three years.

(102067)

285   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons coal mine methane capture and electricity generation from disused coalmines receives no form of incentive through Government programmes.

(102068)

286   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent research has been conducted by her Department into the technology for coal mine methane capture; and what representations she has received on it.

(102066)

287   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will place in the Library a copy of the British Energy restructuring plan at the same time as it is submitted to the European Commission under state aid rules.

(101996)

288   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what resources have been committed in support of her Department's Liabilities Management Unit; what developments have taken place towards the creation of a nuclear liabilities management authority; and if she will make a statement.

(101998)

289   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to create a skills council for the nuclear industry.

(101997)

290   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the liability of licensed small coal mines to contribute to coal health compensation claims.

(101836)

291
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations her Department has received on the recognised spectrum access scheme proposed in the Communications Bill; and how many of them were (a) in support of and (b) in opposition to the scheme.

(101611)

292
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether Ministers from her Department have met representatives of the UK satellite industry to discuss the impact of recognised spectrum access on the satellite industry.

(101612)

293   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Strategic Rail Authority, (b) South West Trains and (c) Connex South Eastern on their Mark I replacement programme; and when the last Mark I stock will be replaced for each of the operators.

(102167)

294   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the safety risks associated with the delay in the replacement of Mark I carriages.

(102166)

295   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what Strategic Rail Authority resources are available for station improvements, including safety improvements, in each of the next five years.

(102169)

296   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on (a) the delay to the replacement of Mark I carriages, (b) the safety implications of the delay and (c) compensation claims for the inoperability of new rolling stock.

(102165)

297   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on their (a) objectives, (b) accountability, (c) pay awards and (d) performance bonuses.

(102170)

298   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many stations have achieved safer station status; and how many will achieve safer station status in each of the next three years.

(102168)

299   Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) track, (b) signalling and (c) rolling stock failures which have occurred on each of the London Underground lines in each of the last six years.

(102171)

300
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 11th February, Official Report, columns 625-6W, on low-cost airlines, if he will establish rules to provide for compensation for consequential loss to air passengers whose flights are cancelled more than two weeks before departure.

(101804)

301   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, ref 100703, why there was no reference included in the notes to the Accounts.

(102090)

302
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from suppliers of (a) invalid carriages, (b) electric scooters and (c) power chairs regarding the road safety implications of their use; and if he will make a statement.

(101803)

303   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by the Civil Aviation Authority in each year since 1999.

(101827)

304
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he was consulted on the Strategic Rail Authority's latest announcement on cuts to rail services to Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

(101430)

305   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102062)

306   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the status of the Central Railway project.

(101870)

307   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what work he has asked the Highways Agency to do to develop a policy for road user charging for inter-urban motorway and trunk roads since 1st July 2002.

(101925)

308   Mr Peter Pike (Burnley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes he plans in the organisation of the Vehicle Inspectorate; what representations he has received; and if he will make a statement.

(102089)

309   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the objectives of road-user charging.

(101973)

310   Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the level of investment in the national railway infrastructure.

(101974)

311   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to amend regulations extending the issue of the Blue Badge to include children under the age of two where medical needs are paramount.

(101835)

312
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon & East Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects service to be restored on the Central Line of London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

(101613)

313   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102064)

314   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many parish councillors have stood aside following the introduction of the Parish Council Code of Conduct.

(102138)

315   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which benefits are available to eligible disabled students pursuing their studies (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) within the European Economic Area and (c) elsewhere on the basis that (i) the course of study is centred on a UK institution and (ii) the period abroad is either a requirement of the course or a recommendation of course tutors.

(101916)

316   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much invalid care allowance would be if it had been indexed to earnings since its introduction.

(101909)

317   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

(102065)

318
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money was spent last year on winter fuel payments.

(101616)

319   Sandra Osborne (Ayr): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what incentive system there is for the independent medical examiners contracted by Schlumberger Sema in respect of the personal capability assessment for incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

(102124)

320
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many citizens of the European Union were out of work on average last year.

[Transferred] (101605)

321   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the London congestion charge on economic activity in London; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (101907)

322   Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what resources she has made available to the (a) Office of Civil Nuclear Security, (b) International Atomic Energy Agency and (c) Euratom Safeguards Directorate in respect of combating nuclear proliferation in the last year for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (101990)

323   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to be represented at the official opening of the European Centre for Deported Resistants scheduled for April 2005 in Natzweiler-Struhof, France.

[Transferred] (102141)

324   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research he has commissioned on the prevalence of motor neurone disease among Gulf War veterans.

[Transferred] (101915)

325   Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what resources she is committing (a) to prevent and (b) to detect illegally imported meat entering the UK.

[Transferred] (102161)

326   Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will amend employment legislation to provide statutory protections in respect of (a) redundancy and (b) unfair dismissal for employees over 65 years of age.

[Transferred] (101881)