Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Monday 17 March 2003

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 17 March 2003, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Monday 17 March 2003, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Tuesday 18 March 2003 see Part 2 of this Paper.

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.

MONDAY 17th MARCH

1   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his estimate is of total Government spending on advertising and publicity for each of the last five years; what value for money assessments of such spending have been carried out; if he will publish these; and if he will make a statement.

(103700)

2   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by the Cabinet Office in each year since 1997.

(103710)

3   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April; and whether officers in Government departments are permitted to collate briefings for ministers for election campaign debates.

(103668)

4   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason it is not normal practice to define the territorial extent of the effect of Parliamentary Ministerial statements.

(103665)

5   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103623)

6   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103622)

7   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with insurance companies about the effect on the (a) quarrying and (b) construction industries of increases in insurance premiums; and if he will make a statement.

(103480)

8   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he plans to introduce to mitigate the effects of high insurance premiums on (a) companies and (b) self-employed people.

(103481)

9   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that all companies involved in the sale of travel insurance are regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

(103750)

10   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the benefits to consumers of a different system of regulation for the sale of travel insurance by tour operators and travel agents to that which applies to insurance companies.

(103753)

11   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will respond to the report from the Financial Services Authority on the regulation of the sale of travel insurance by tour operators and travel agents.

(103748)

12   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding regulation of the sale of travel insurance.

(103749)

13   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will require companies selling travel insurance to itemise charges made to the customer and the cover purchased at the time of purchase.

(103751)

14   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of complaints about travel insurance were from customers whose policies were sold to them by (a) tour operators, (b) travel agents and (c) insurance companies.

(103752)

15   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce VAT recovery relief for charities.

(103554)

16
N   Annabelle Ewing (Perth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision he has made for the cost of war with Iraq.

(103450)

17   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when stamp duty on share transactions was reduced from (a) 2 per cent. and (b) 1 per cent.

(103626)

18   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when the financial secretary to the Treasury will reply to the letter of the honourable Member for Taunton which referred to her comments on reduction of stamp duty on share transactions, Official Report, 23rd January, column 425.

(103627)

19   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103581)

20
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public sector pension schemes which are funded; when was the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme.

(103346)

21   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt parents from the tax implications of paying off the higher education debts of their children.

(103681)

22   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove the VAT on the purchase and fitting of water sprinklers in domestic properties.

(103673)

23   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103726)

24   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, how much transitional funding is available in the year commencing 1st April 2003 through the landfill tax credit scheme for eligible projects falling into Objects C and/or CC in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland and (e) Northern Ireland.

(103633)

25   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the take-up rate of the new (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit.

(103527)

26   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were received by the working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit public telephone line in each year since its creation; and what the cost of the line has been in each year.

(103520)

27   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department is spending on advertising the new (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit, with particular reference to (i) television advertising, (ii) radio advertising, (iii) leaflets, (iv) factsheets, (v) claim packs and (vi) A3 posters.

(103526)

28   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned into the effect tax incentives may have on the level of UK private investment in less developed countries.

(103521)

29   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the value of a multi-national agreement on foreign private investment in developing countries.

(103524)

30   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, to what extent the transitional funding is adequate to cover all eligible claims for transitional funding in England; and who will decide, and how, which of competing eligible claims receives funding.

(103506)

31   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were received by the working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit dedicated telephone line for honourable Members and members of the devolved administrations in each year since its creation; and what the cost of the line has been in each year.

(103519)

32   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps has he taken to increase the level of UK private investment in less developed countries.

(103522)

33   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what special tests relating to matching assets and liabilities were made in the case of Equitable Life in the last 10 years.

(103479)

34   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, how the Government is ensuring that the transitional funding is applied across the UK on a basis fully compliant with European Union laws, with particular reference to laws governing state aids.

(103632)

35   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from (a) business groups and (b) development organisations regarding private investment in developing countries.

(103523)

36   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103625)

37   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps will be taken to ensure that official support for the Budget statement will be in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK departments.

(103666)

38   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103624)

39   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans ministers in the department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April.

(103651)

40   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list internal flights made by Ministers in her Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103593)

41   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 4th February from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Anne Tucker.

(103743)

42   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to her Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by her Department in each year since 1997.

(103712)

43   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103621)

44   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times she has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103620)

45   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans ministers of the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103655)

46
N   David Burnside (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the availability of (a) boots and (b) protection goggles to members of the armed forces who are stationed in the Gulf.

(103134)

47
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the reasons for the reduction in the permitted weight of parcels being sent to BFPO 660; and if he will make a statement.

(103171)

48
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of Gulf War veterans who are (a) receiving treatment for Gulf War syndrome, (b) have outstanding compensation claims to his Department for Gulf War syndrome and (c) have been compensated by his Department for Gulf War syndrome.

(103452)

49   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103589)

50   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether, in the event of military action in Iraq (a) UK and (b) US forces will use tank shells containing depleted uranium.

(103670)

51
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sets of sand goggles have been sent to troops serving in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

(103018)

52
N   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the respirators on NBC suits issued to UK servicemen in the Gulf have been checked for effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

(103017)

53   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103713)

54   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 277W, on Middle East (Health Advice), on what records he will rely if personnel returning from the Gulf consider that a failure by his Department to provide appropriate health briefings was a contributory factor to an illness from which they are suffering.

(103575)

55   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent in each of the last 24 months on (a) television, (b) radio and (c) newspaper advertising for each of the armed forces.

(103525)

56   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answers of 22nd January, Official Report, Column 328W, on marine pollution, and 6th March, Official Report, column 1170W, on naval hulls, why a compliance date of 2010 has been adopted by his Department; what planning has been carried out to meet that deadline; when he intends to invite tenders for new vessels; and how many vessels he intends to procure.

(103699)

57   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103619)

58   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103618)

59   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans ministers of the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103653)

60
N   Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what has been (a) the average Council tax increase and (b) the level of local government settlement in each of the last 10 years in (i) inner London councils, (ii) outer London councils, (iii) shire counties, (iv) shire districts, (v) metropolitan councils and (vi) new unitary authorities.

(103363)

61
N   Mr Stephen Byers (North Tyneside): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, in which years no elections have been held in (a) London councils, (b) shire counties, (c) shire districts, (d) metropolitan councils and (e) new unitary authorities in the last decade.

(103362)

62
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list the local authority public sector pension schemes which are funded; when was the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme.

(103347)

63   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many deaths have occurred as a result of house fires in each of the past five years in houses (a) fitted and (b) not fitted with water sprinklers.

(103672)

64   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what tests have been carried out, monitored by his Department, in the effectiveness of water sprinklers in reducing the spread of fires.

(103675)

65   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what guidance he has given to local authorities about requiring new houses to be equipped with water sprinklers.

(103676)

66   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what Government funds have been allocated for fire prevention awareness in each of the past five years.

(103671)

67
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he expects to publish the research commissioned by his Department in 1999 into youth homelessness as part of the Homeless Action Partnership (a) to provide a reliable estimate of the number of young people affected by various types of homelessness and (b) to provide a tool kit for local authorities to produce accurate figures locally; and how much has been spent on each of these pieces of research.

(103133)

68   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what was (a) the total amount and (b) the proportion of aggregate external finance that central government provided to local government for which local authorities were required to bid in each year since 1997.

(103729)

69   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

(103711)

70   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which central government schemes and initiatives since 1997 have required the formation of partnerships with local government to implement them.

(103730)

71
N   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the discussions which he has had with fire service (a) employers and (b) unions on contingency plans in the event of a conflict in Iraq and the suspension of (i) action under the current dispute and (ii) proposed changes in working practices.

(103470)

72   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103594)

73   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what rights a parent has to know (a) whether their child is being advised by a mentor from the Connexions service, (b) the name of that mentor, (c) the occasions when meetings have taken place and (d) the subjects that were discussed.

(103648)

74   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what contact mentors who have not been security checked by the Criminal Records Bureau are allowed to have with young people.

(103647)

75   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what targets he has set the Connexions service for the level of grants it should be making to voluntary organisations working with young people.

(103679)

76   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many mentors are retained in each region by Connexions partnerships; and what his estimate is of how many there will be at the end of 2003.

(103649)

77   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of mentors working with Connexions (a) have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau and (b) are waiting for their checks to be completed.

(103683)

78   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what funds he has allocated (a) for fire prevention measures and (b) for the installation of water sprinkers in (i) schools and (ii) PE colleges in 2003-04.

(103674)

79   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what qualifications mentors working with Connexions are required to have.

(103646)

80   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much has been spent by Connexions, in each region, on (a) purchasing property, (b) renting property and (c) construction and refurbishment work in each year it has been operational.

(103680)

81   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what grants have been made by the Connexions service to voluntary organisations working with young people for each region in which it operates.

(103678)

82
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when the Learning and Skills Council will provide Essex County Council with the information to enable Essex County Council to provide schools with their budgets for 2003-04; and if she will make a statement.

(103326)

83
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many schools in Warrington North have, since 1997, had (a) new classrooms, (b) new dining rooms, (c) new toilet blocks and (d) other new buildings.

(103186)

84   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what proportion of children living in poverty will be covered by a Sure Start Scheme in (a) 2000, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004 and (e) 2005; and if he will make a statement.

(103704)

85   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103715)

86   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103610)

87   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103611)

88   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103657)

89   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an interim statement on progress towards the development of (a) public expenditure programmes and (b) institutional arrangements needed to implement the recommendations of the Strategy Unit Report, Waste Not, Want Not.

(103697)

90   Sue Doughty (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the public expenditure programmes and institutional arrangements needed to implement the recommendations of the Strategy Unit Report, Waste Not, Want Not.

(103698)

91   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to meet all parties involved in the disposal of fallen stock before the ban on farm burial comes into force.

(103516)

92   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the level of fallen stock which will need to be collected annually after the introduction of the Animal By-Products Regulation.

(103518)

93   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what risk assessment has been undertaken on the disposal of fallen stock after the Animal By-Products Regulation comes into effect.

(103517)

94   Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to impose penalties on airlines and ferry companies whose passengers are found to have brought illegal meat imports and animal products into the United Kingdom.

(103757)

95   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list internal flights made by Ministers in her Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103585)

96
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 Animal By-Products Regulation with regard to the burial of (a) domestic animals in pet cemeteries and (b) livestock in domestic locations.

(102651)

97
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 sale of Safeways; and if she will make a statement.

(102652)

98
N   Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to prepare draft legislation on (a) health, (b) environmental and (c) economic liability arising from the release of GMOs.

(103052)

99   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fishing vessels in each EU country have been deemed by the European Commission to be economically viable; and what assessment has been made of the costs of paying off vessels and crews from these countries.

(103696)

100   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the assessed volume of illegal use of benzone within the fishing industry; and what cooperation she has undertaken with the Secretary of State for Health in this matter.

(103693)

101   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on proposed changes to total allowable catches within the 200 mile limit to incorporate vessels from EU accession countries.

(103694)

102   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the recorded (a) proportion and (b) tonnage was of fisheries discards in UK waters in each of the last five years.

(103692)

103   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures have been introduced to ensure the Warm Front Programme helps the people most vulnerable to cold-related ill heath.

(103564)

104   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what other measures are being taken besides the Warm Front Programme to tackle fuel poverty.

(103562)

105   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further measures are planned to raise public awareness of the Warm Front Programme.

(103563)

106   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance is issued by her Department regarding the import of chicken that has previously been frozen; what percentage of chicken products imported into this country she estimates have been previously frozen on slaughter; and what the health and safety risks of consuming previously frozen chicken are.

(103508)

107   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which members of the Strategic Water Partnership are considering emergency discharges into the Hampshire Avon Catchment; and if he will make a statement on the progress of their work.

(103531)

108
N   Norman Lamb (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to provide guidance to farmers on the disposal of dead livestock after 3rd April.

(103454)

109   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the penalties that should be applied to egg producers in breach of the EU's planned rules on compulsory marking.

(103761)

110   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which agency will have responsibility for enforcing the EU's proposed rules on the compulsory marking of hen eggs; what resources the Government plans to make available for the enforcement duties; and if she will make a statement.

(103760)

111   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how often the Stakeholder Forum on illegal imports has met since 31st March 2002.

(103775)

112   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many notices under Regulation 24, for the seizure of products of animal origin that have been illegally introduced, were issued in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, and (c) 2002-03.

(103758)

113   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with North Norfolk District Council about coastal erosion and coastal defence.

(103777)

114   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis has been made of products seized under Regulation 24 in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03, broken down by country of origin of the products seized; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

(103756)

115   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many copies of her Department's leaflet for travellers, Don't Bring Back More than You Bargained for, have been (a) published and (b) distributed; by what means the leaflets were distributed to travellers; and when the most recent distribution was.

(103755)

116   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the biosecurity risks associated with a national carcase collection service.

(103762)

117   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 455W, on egg marking, what assessment she has made of the impact of the new rules for marking on the eggs sold at Women's Institute markets.

(103741)

118   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 455W, on egg marking, what assessment she has made of the costs to small egg producers of complying with the new rules on marking.

(103740)

119   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 11th February, Official Report, column 642W, on farm incinerators, whether she has received clarification from the European Commission about the incineration of specified risk material in incinerators operating at less than 50kg per hour; and if she will make a statement.

(103739)

120   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's Don't Bring Back More than You Bargained for campaign.

(103754)

121   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her policy to introduce the compulsory marking of eggs from birds other than hens.

(103759)

122   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when officials from her Department last visited Happisburgh, Norfolk to assess the risks of coastal erosion.

(103776)

123   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the extent to which other EU member states have exempted parts of their countries from the ban on the on-farm burial of fallen stock.

(103763)

124   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk to the Norfolk Broads as a result of coastal erosion in the Happisburgh area.

(103778)

125   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to her Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by her Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

(103714)

126   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidelines her Department has issued to the Association of British Insurers with regard to indicative minimum standards of flood defence; when it was issued; if she will make a statement on the relationship of these guidelines with the Department's Priority Score Scheme for flood defence; and if she will place a copy of the guidelines in the Library.

(103687)

127   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the statement made by the honourable Member for Wentworth on 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, how much her Department is paying Entrust to administer the transitional funding application process in England; and whether this activity of Entrust for the public sector is being subsidised by private sector payments to Entrust.

(103504)

128   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the honourable Member for Wentworth of 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, what projects have received approval for transitional funding; and, in each case, how much funding has been approved.

(103631)

129   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the statement by the honourable Member for Wentworth on 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, what the terms of engagement are between DEFRA and Entrust regarding Entrust's administration of the transitional funding application process in England.

(103505)

130   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the statement made by the honourable Member for Wentworth on 3rd February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, who appointed, and when, the independent panel of assessors to review the operation of the transitional funding process in England; who these assessors are; what their remit is; what action was taken to ensure that the appointment of the assessors complied with the Nolan Principles; at what rate and by whom the assessors are remunerated; and whether the assessors include (a) representatives of the waste management industry and (b) persons who are employed by bodies which make decisions relating to spending on (i) Object C and (ii) CC projects under the landfill tax credit scheme.

(103503)

131   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103617)

132   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times she has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103616)

133
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the number of tourists visiting Antarctica in each of the past five years by (a) cruise ship and (b) air, and their environmental impact; and if he will make a statement.

(103448)

134
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions have been held with the governments of (a) Chile, (b) Argentina, (c) South Africa, (d) Australia and (e) New Zealand concerning the funding of the Antarctic Environmental Protocol Secretariat; and if he will make a statement.

(103451)

135
N   Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total UK expenditure on the Antarctic Environmental Protocol Secretariat is for 2002-03; and how much is projected for 2003-04.

(103449)

136   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103583)

137   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the International Criminal Court could intervene to prosecute UK citizens, in cases where the British judicial system was unwilling or unable to do so.

(103780)

138   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason he has not replied to the letter to him dated 28th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs J Meah.

(103744)

139   Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will call on Israel to disarm its weapons of mass destruction in accordance with United Nations Resolution 687.

(103669)

140   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103716)

141
N   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of the US government regarding (a) compensation and (b) other assistance for the Afghan woman, Orfa, whose house in Bibi Mahru was accidentally bombed by a US F16; on what date he raised the matter with the US; and what response he has received.

(102904)

142   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton & Shepherd's Bush): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make the UNMOVIC Working Document of 6th March on Iraq's unresolved disarmament issues available (a) to honourable Members and (b) through major retail outlets in the UK.

(103288)

143   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103608)

144   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103609)

145   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103658)

146
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) financial and (b) other support is available to overseas nurses in finding suitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

(103074)

147
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has a list of countries from which it regards it as acceptable actively to recruit healthcare professionals.

(103086)

148
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to introduce legislation to prevent NHS organisations from entering into a contract with a recruitment agency that has not signed up to his Department's code of practice on the international recruitment of healthcare professionals.

(103073)

149   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will meet MENCAP to discuss progress in implementation of the White Paper, Valuing People, through Local Learning Disability Partnership Boards.

(103474)

150   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 11th March, Official Report, column 232, on care homes, how many letters he has sent to care homes regarding the failure to pass on the free nursing care contribution.

(103513)

151   Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment has been made of the effects of mobile phone masts on human health; what current research he has commissioned on the effects of mobile phone masts on human health; what comparison he has made of the level of emissions from mobile phone masts in the UK with those in other European countries; and what plans he has to regulate the level of emissions from mobile phone masts.

(103706)

152   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research (a) has been conducted and (b) he intends to commission into (i) the causes and (ii) potential treatments for reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

(103568)

153   Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the United Kingdom.

(103569)

154   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to set up different registers for nurses, midwives and health visitors.

(103514)

155   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to allow direct entry into health visiting rather than through nursing or midwifery.

(103515)

156   Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of health visitors.

(103551)

157   Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pregnancies in girls under the age of 16 there have been in each year since 1995 in (a) Doncaster and (b) the UK.

(103509)

158   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103587)

159   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 1209W, on haemophilia, when the strategy will be put in place to roll out access to recombinant clotting factors.

(103528)

160
N   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 1214W, on the National Programmes, whether he plans to make copies of the presentation available to honourable Members in advance of its presentation to the Healthcare Computing Conference.

(103364)

161
N   Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the number of NHS pharmacies required to provide NHS services to local communities; how many pharmacies dispense on behalf of the NHS; and what assessment he has made of the optimum location of these pharmacies in future.

(103455)

162
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd March, Official Report, column 887W, on the in-patient survey, whether a national report will be published on the results of the in-patient survey.

(102894)

163
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd March, Official Report, column 885W, on the GP Patient Survey, whether a national report will be published on the results of the survey.

(102893)

164
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to provide instructions to strategic health authorities and local cancer networks to take account of the possible whole service impact of their interpretation of implementation of the NICE guidance on improving outcomes in urological cancers; and if he will make a statement.

(102796)

165
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many responses he has received to the OFT report on the UK market for retail pharmacy services.

(103183)

166
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to safeguard access to pharmacy services for (a) elderly people, (b) people with disabilities and (c) those reliant on public transport.

(103185)

167
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with pensioners' representatives on retail pharmacy services.

(103184)

168   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 13th February from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Dr M. Gibbs and Dr S. Hudson.

(103747)

169   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 10th February from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs Sally Burns.

(103742)

170   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many clinicians from Salisbury District Hospital, by speciality, have been called up for military service since January; and if he will make a statement on the implications for healthcare in Salisbury.

(103475)

171   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of the total gross administration costs of his Department in each year from 2002-03 to 2005-06 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

(103701)

172   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of his Department's expenditure on publicity and advertising in relation to tobacco issues, in each year from 1990-91 to 2003-04 (planned); what value for money assessment of it has been carried out; and if he will make a statement.

(103702)

173   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he will list the financial size of each centrally administered health care fund into which health authorities and primary care trusts can bid; and if he will make a statement.

(103703)

174   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his estimate is of the (a) cost and (b) number of employees working in (i) research analysis and information, (ii) human resources, (iii) finance and investment, (iv) corporate affairs, (v) policy and planning, (vi) the Strategy Unit and (vii) the Communications Unit of his Department for each year from 1991-92 to 2003-04 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

(103705)

175   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how often since 31st March 2002 the Food Standards Agency has inspected the work of (a) local and (b) post health authorities in relation to the illegal import of animal and plant products at each relevant port.

(103773)

176   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting time is for (a) primary and (b) secondary orthodontic treatment in Buckinghamshire.

(103771)

177   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many acute beds there are per 1,000 residents in (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Berkshire and (c) Oxfordshire.

(103768)

178   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many three month vacancies there are for nursing posts in each NHS trust in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area; and what the three month vacancy rate is in each case.

(103769)

179   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average figure is for the number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth for children aged 12 in Buckinghamshire.

(103772)

180   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the allocations per head of population to each primary care trust in England are for (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.

(103766)

181   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budgeted expenditure per head of population on health was in each strategic health authority area for (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.

(103765)

182   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average figure is for the number of decayed, missing or filled teeth for five year olds in Buckinghamshire; and what percentage of five year olds in Buckinghamshire have no dental decay.

(103774)

183   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) 2002-2003 prescribing budget as notified to the Prescriptions Pricing Authority, (b) most recent forecast out-turn of prescribing expenditure for 2002-03, (c) projected (i) overspend and (ii) underspend, and (d) projected (i) overspend and (ii) underspend as a percentage of the prescribing budget were.

(103767)

184   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library the most recent estimates collated by the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority for the forecast overspend or underspend by each NHS trust and primary care organisation in its area for 2002-03.

(103764)

185   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) adults and (b) children in Buckinghamshire are waiting to go on to the list of an NHS dentist.

(103770)

186   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103717)

187   Ms Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he receives from the NHS litigation authority on clinicians against whom complaints have been made.

(103566)

188   Ms Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to whom the NHS litigation authority makes information available on the litigation history of individual clinicians.

(103567)

189   Ms Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of procedures put in place by the NHS litigation authority to identify clinicians against whom there have been several complaints.

(103565)

190
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive Department of Health on the Office of Fair Trading report on the regulation of pharmacies.

(103286)

191   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103659)

192   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103607)

193   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103606)

194
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications Work Permits UK received from overseas nurses wishing to work in the UK in each of the last five years, broken down by nationality.

(103076)

195
N   Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of visa granted by Work Permits UK to overseas nurses seeking employment in the UK was in each of the last three years for which figures are available; whether it is possible for such a visa to be extended at the request of the applicant; and how many overseas nurses, having successfully been granted a working visa for the UK, have sought to extend this visa in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(103075)

196
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for West Chelmsford, ref 3218/3.

(102934)

197
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for West Chelmsford of 11th November 2002, ref 23338/2.

(102933)

198
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the regulatory impact assessment on the issue of corporate manslaughter which commenced in September 2002 was completed by the end of 2002; when he expects to put proposals before the House for an offence of corporate manslaughter; and if he will make a statement.

(103287)

199
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 975W, on manslaughter, when he expects to publish the digest of responses to the consultation paper; and if he will make a statement.

(103453)

200
N   Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) guidelines and (b) rules the National Asylum Advisory Service gives to contracted companies as to where each asylum seeker can be housed in a cluster.

(103182)

201   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103584)

202   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken to process a Criminal Records Bureau check on an employee or consultant of the Connexions service has been.

(103682)

203   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 3rd January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr B Padya.

(103746)

204   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 28th January from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Nariman Rauf Salih.

(103745)

205   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103718)

206   Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from the Indian community were recruited into each police force in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(103507)

207   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103604)

208   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103605)

209   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103660)

210   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost of the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was, including staff, in each Session since 1996-97.

(103502)

211   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list internal flights made by Ministers in her Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103586)

212   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to her Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by her Department in each year since 1997.

(103719)

213   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights in respect of patents.

(103634)

214
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of people in Iraq she estimates had access to clean water in (a) 1980, (b) 1990, (c) 1996, (d) 1998 and (e) 2000.

(101733)

215
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial resources her Department has allocated to the International Organisation for Migration in each year since 1997.

(101734)

216
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial resources her Department has allocated to the UN agencies and NGOs that are providing assistance to third country nationals, refugees and returnees in West Africa.

(102265)

217   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans ministers of the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103654)

218   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103615)

219   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many times she has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103614)

220   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will list internal flights made by Ministers in the Lord Chancellor's Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103582)

221   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to the Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by the Department in each year since 1997.

(103720)

222
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps the Government is taking to encourage states who have acceded to the Hague conventions also to become members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

(102502)

223   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103588)

224   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the advice issued by the Department of Education on the teaching of sex education in Northern Ireland.

(103628)

225   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on levels of student debt in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

(103630)

226   Lady Hermon (North Down): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the number of 18 year olds from Northern Ireland going on to higher education (a) in Northern Ireland and (b) in Great Britain since 1st April 1998.

(103629)

227   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money has been allocated to ladies' hockey in Northern Ireland from (a) Lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02, (iii) 2002-03 and (iv) 2003-04; and how much money in total has been allocated to the women in receipt of funding for help in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games.

(103707)

228   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money has been allocated to swimming in Northern Ireland from (a) Lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding, in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02, (iii) 2002-03 and (iv) 2003-04; and for which country the two swimmers allocated funding to prepare for the 2004 Olympic Games will be competing.

(103708)

229   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103721)

230
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many hare courses took place at the Dungannon Coursing Club meet on 2nd November 2002.

(102906)

231
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the recent research of the Northern Irish Hare Survey; and what actions he proposes to implement its recommendations on the hare's status as a quarry species.

(102905)

232
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to boost public confidence in safety from crime in South Belfast.

(103341)

233
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people claiming links to (a) the UUP, (b) the SDLP, (c) the DUP, (d) Sinn Fein, (e) the Alliance Party, (f) the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, (g) the PUP, (h) the UKUP and (i) other political groupings or independent political candidates (i) applied to sit on a District Police Partnership (DPP), (ii) were judged appointable to a DPP and (iii) were appointed to a DPP.

(103343)

234
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many alcohol-related incidents the Police Service of Northern Ireland dealt with in South Belfast in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and what impact the Get Home Safe" Campaign has had.

(103342)

235
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding increasing resources to tackle crime in South Belfast.

(103340)

236
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce new measures to deal with anti-social behaviour in Northern Ireland.

(103344)

237   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103661)

238   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103603)

239   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103602)

240   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the President of the Council, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

(103722)

241   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list gifts received by Ministers in the last 12 months.

(103556)

242
N   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Prime Minister, what the Government's policy is on the publication of advice provided to the Government by (a) government law officers and (b) members of the private bar.

(103471)

243   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list internal flights made by Ministers in her Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103591)

244   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to her Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by her Department in each year since 1997.

(103723)

245   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Solicitor General, how many successful prosecutions there have been of offenders apprehended by the British Transport Police in each of the last four years.

(103477)

246   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the role that non-barrage tidal power electricity generation could play in achieving renewable enery targets.

(103529)

247   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list internal flights made by Ministers in her Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103592)

248   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what help is given to disabled people collecting benefits from post offices.

(103558)

249   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to her Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by her Department in each year since 1997.

(103724)

250   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, from what date the Department of Trade and Industry ensured that life offices that offered Guaranteed Annual Returns for self-employed pensions were matching assets against guarantees given.

(103478)

251
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many responses to the DTI consultation on licence boundaries were received regarding Wales; and how many expressed support for licence boundaries to include areas totally within the boundaries of the devolved administration.

(103456)

252
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations the Secretary of State has received from (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) others in Wales on the proposed licence boundaries for the forthcoming auction of 3.4GHz wireless broadband licence.

(103457)

253
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations her Department received from the National Assembly for Wales on allocating regions for the forthcoming auction of 3.4GHz wireless broadband licences; and if she will make a statement.

(103459)

254
N   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria were used by the Government to decide the allocation of regions for the auction of 3.4GHz wireless broadband licences; and if she will make a statement about the proposal to disregard the geographical Welsh border.

(103458)

255
N   Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid since 31st December 2002 in respect of (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger to former miners; how much has been paid to (i) solicitors and (ii) handling agents; and how much has been paid for medical assessments.

(102850)

256
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with representatives of the pharmacy profession in Scotland on the Office of Fair Trading report on the regulation of pharmacies.

(103285)

257
N   Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive Department for Health on the report from the Office of Fair Trading on the regulation of pharmacies.

(103237)

258   Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many nationalised businesses are run by her Department.

(103555)

259   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103656)

260   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times she has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103612)

261   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103613)

262
N   Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Strategic Rail Authority plans to take regarding Virgin Trains' recent announcement on changes to the timetable in services in Gloucester; and whether this is in breach of the Passenger Service Requirements.

(103345)

263   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures the Safety Regulation Group takes to ensure that (a) flight crew and (b) air traffic controllers are not subject to harassment after submitting safety related reports (i) within and (ii) outside the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme.

(103571)

264   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures the Safety Regulation Group has taken to ensure that (a) flight crew and (b) air traffic controllers are able to comply with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

(103574)

265   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether all the senior managers at the Safety Regulation Group have attained relevant qualifications required for their civil role and responsibilities.

(103685)

266   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many senior managers have been employed by the Safety Regulation Group over the last 30 months who had (a) a solely civil aviation background and (b) a solely military aviation background.

(103686)

267   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Safety Regulation Group has revoked an air traffic controller's licence having received (a) an Overload Report and (b) a mandatory occurrence report.

(103573)

268   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Safety Regulation Group takes to verify the (a) accuracy and (b) objectivity of the air traffic controller (i) Overload Report and (ii) mandatory occurrence reports.

(103570)

269   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many unannounced inspections the Safety Regulation Group has carried out on civil air traffic control units within the last 30 months.

(103572)

270   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe & Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many senior managers are employed by the Safety Regulation Group; and how many of these senior managers have (a) a civil aviation background and (b) a military aviation background.

(103684)

271   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103580)

272   Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on restrictions on the use of flashing amber beacons on motor vehicles on the public highway; what plans he has to change the regulations; and if he will make a statement.

(103476)

273   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

(103725)

274   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

(103552)

275   Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fixed penalty notices have been issued under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

(103553)

276   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) financial and (b) other forms of support his Department is providing to the work being carried out by the Scottish Executive in respect of rail links to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

(103650)

277   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103601)

278   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103662)

279   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103600)

280   Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what appraisal he has made of plans to use tidal lagoons to generate electricity in (a) the Severn Estuary and (b) off the north Wales coast; and if he will make a statement.

(103530)

281   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103595)

282   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997.

(103727)

283   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103598)

284   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103663)

285   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103599)

286   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Minister for Women, if she will make a statement on the proportion of her ministerial time she spends on women's portfolio duties.

(103779)

287   Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

(103590)

288   Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to change his Department's policy whereby a young person taking part in a residential training scheme loses his or her benefit entitlement for that period.

(103677)

289   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many instances of work-related violence there were in (a) Jarrow Constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) North East and (d) UK in each year since 1997.

(103561)

290   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures have been introduced to reduce violence at work.

(103560)

291   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claimants in (a) each region and (b) each local authority have opted to collect their benefit payments using (i) post office card accounts, (ii) basic bank accounts and (c) current bank accounts.

(103512)

292   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements are in place to cater for benefit or pension recipients who do not specify their preferred payment method at the end of the changeover to the new payment system.

(103511)

293   Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to inform benefit claimants to be affected by the change in payment method about the steps needed to register for a post office card account.

(103510)

294
N   Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to end age discrimination against older people in the workplace; and if he will make a statement.

(102944)

295   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

(103728)

296   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of (a) single men, (b) single women and (c) couples are expected to be entitled to pension credit in October 2003; and how many of these will be entitled to (i) guarantee credit alone, (ii) savings credit alone and (iii) both guarantee and savings credit.

(103636)

297   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated expenditure will be on pension credit in 2003-04; and what he estimates this would be if it were claimed by all those entitled to the benefit.

(103635)

298   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, of those people estimated to be entitled to pension credit, how many and what proportion are expected to have made a claim and be in receipt of their entitlement by October 2004.

(103637)

299   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April.

(103664)

300   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections.

(103597)

301   Pete Wishart (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

(103596)

302   Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in UK waters in each year since 1997 involving fisheries vessels, where vessel size to power ratio was identified as a contributory factor.

[Transferred] (103695)

303   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many households in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK were in fuel poverty on (i) 1st February 1997 and (ii) 1st February 2003.

[Transferred] (103557)

304   Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people collect benefits from post offices in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK.

[Transferred] (103559)

305   Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what documents were signed by married women remaining on the married women's stamp in 1977 to 1979; how many such documents were issued; and if he will place a copy of the documents in the Library.

[Transferred] (103709)