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House of Commons
Session 2002 - 03
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 29 October 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.
 


 

Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Wednesday 29 October 2003
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 29 October 2003


This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 29 October 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 Wednesday 29 October of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 29 October see Part 2 of this paper.


Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
1
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list, by subject, the statistics that have been collected for the first time at constituency level under the Knowledge Network project, stating in each case the date on which the first in the series was completed; if he will place a copy of the most recent of each set of statistics listed in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
(135301)
2
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which information held on the Knowledge Network computer system will not be available to (a) the public and (b) honourable Members; and if he will make a statement.
(135305)
3
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost has been to date of the new Knowledge Network system; and if he will make a statement.
(135306)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
4
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the extent of compliance with the golden rule until 1st June 2006 on the basis of his annual forecasts.
(135347)
5
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether existing tax credit claimants will be expected to make contact with the Inland Revenue to request a form or give information regarding their earnings for the last tax year in preparation for a reconciliation of their tax credit status in April 2004.
(135413)
6
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he is taking to ensure that the Inland Revenue applies lessons learned from the first year of operation of the (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit to the administration of those credits in time for financial year 2004-05.
(135414)
7
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether existing tax credit claimants will automatically be sent forms to complete regarding their earnings for the last tax year in preparation for a reconciliation of their tax credit status in April 2004.
(135415)
8
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects existing tax credit claimants to provide information about their earnings over the last tax year in order to achieve a smooth reconciliation of individuals' entitlements in time for April 2004.
(135416)
9
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the administration costs budget of the Treasury in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
(135302)
10
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees of the Treasury there were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
(135303)
11
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, to which organisations members of the Treasury are seconded; and if he will make a statement.
(135304)
12
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of his Department's staff are employed outside London; and if he will make a statement.
(135307)
13
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects The London Club to deliver on its agreement to 65 per cent. debt reduction for Serbia and Montenegro; what has been the reason for the delay in doing so to date; what negotiations are still going on regarding this matter; what assessment he has made of whether this commitment will be fulfilled; what would be the implication of non-fulfilment of The London Club's commitment for debt relief upon that agreed by The Paris Club; and if he will make a statement.
(135442)
14
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged 65 years or over died of influenza in (a) the East Riding of Yorkshire, (b) Hull and (c) the UK in each year since 1997.
(135280)
15
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the revenue cost of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales so as to charge marginal rates of (a) 0 per cent. on property sales of £100,000 or less, (b) 2 per cent. on sales revenue of between £100,000 and £199,999, (c) 3 per cent. on sales revenue of between £200,000 and £299,999, (d) 4 per cent. on sales revenue of £300,000 to £399,999, (e) 5 per cent. on sales revenue of £400,000 to £499,999, (f) 6 per cent. on sales revenue of £500,000 to £749,999 and (g) 7 per cent. on sales revenue of £750,000 and above.
(135308)
16
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he has received since 1st May on the 30 hour earnings rule applied to working tax credit; and if he will make a statement.
(135374)
17
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what receipts his Department received in respect of VAT on new (a) buildings and (b) schools during the last three years.
(135275)
18
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of income tax contributions lost to evasion.
(135382)
19
Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton & Shepherd's Bush): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the removal of value added tax on audio books used by the visually impaired; and if he will make a statement.
(135456)
20
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the cancellation of continuing debt incurred by the UK (a) during and (b) in the aftermath of the Second World War.
(135255)
21
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many self-assessment forms have been issued in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on groups of people to whom the issue of forms has been extended since 1st January 1998.
(135360)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
22
N
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that digital terrestrial television access is available in all areas of Northern Ireland before analogue services are switched off.
(134157)
23
N
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the contracts for (a) consultancy and (b) other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997, stating in each case (i) the nature of the work, (ii) the value of the contract and (iii) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement.
(134731)
24
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was paid in television licence fees by residents of Dumfries and Galloway in the last year for which figures are available.
(135254)
25
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of television licence fee holders in (a) Dumfries and Galloway, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK are able to receive (i) all five terrestrial television channels and (ii) Freeview.
(135260)
26
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to change her policy on the self-help scheme to provide assistance for rural residents outside the reach of analogue television signals.
(135268)
27
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her plans are for those rural areas that will be unable to receive analogue television signals in 2010.
(135269)
28
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Freeview is paid for by the television licence fee.
(135270)
29
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list the Lottery awards made by each funding body in Somerset in each year since 2000.
(135420)
30
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money raised from the National Lottery has been spent in (a) East Yorkshire, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Greater London, in each of the past four years for which figures are available.
(135335)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
31
N
Tony Cunningham (Workington): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in introducing broadband for RAF bases.
(134388)
32
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to purchase Henry J Kaiser class replenishment tankers from the US Navy.
(135339)
33
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the United Kingdom's commitments to the newly formed NATO response force.
(135389)
34
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational availability is of the (a) Warrior and (b) Challenger, broken down by unit; and what the overall availability targets are for these vehicles.
(135392)
35
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what delays there have been to the Type 45 programme; and what the in-service date is for the first of the class.
(135393)
36
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the future size of the British Army garrison in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has to reduce the number of army personnel in Northern Ireland.
(135394)
37
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost is of munitions used by the armed forces in Iraq over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
(135379)
38
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the deaths of military policemen at Al Majar Al Kabir in June; and if he will make a statement.
(135381)
39
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints he has received of low flying by RAF fast jets in each year since 2000.
(135410)
40
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions in each of the last five years (a) the Prime Minister and (b) other ministers of the Crown have flown from RAF Northolt.
(135298)
41
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new vessels for the Royal Navy have been approved but not yet launched; how many have been allocated names; and what names have been selected.
(135411)
42
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Suez Canal Zone medals will have been issued in time for this year's Remembrance Day services; how many applications have been made for the medal; when he expects that all will have been issued; and if he will make a statement.
(135412)
43
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to announce the findings of the inquiry into the deaths on 24th June of members of the Royal Military Police in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
(135448)
44
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his role is in the naming of Her Majesty's ships; and what his policy is in exercising that role.
(135449)
45
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to send (a) additional and (b) replacement troops to Iraq; which units are to be sent and when; and if he will make a statement.
(135450)
46
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the European Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement.
(135457)
47
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the procedures to be followed by veterans in order to claim the Suez medal.
(135465)
48
Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action the Royal Welch Fusiliers have taken in respect of soldiers suffering from stress-related mental conditions in the past five years.
(135362)
49
Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidelines he has issued in respect of support and treatment of army personnel suffering from stress-related mental conditions.
(135363)
50
Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what facilities the Royal Welch Fusiliers have for support and treatment of soldiers suffering from stress-related mental conditions.
(135364)
Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister
51
Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many local authorities employ an access officer; how many do not; and if he will make a statement.
(135387)
52
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many full-time equivalent employees were employed by the South West Regional Assembly (a) when it was first established and (b) on 1st October.
(135425)
53
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many research projects the South West Regional Assembly (a) planned to commission and (b) commissioned in 2002-03; and what the purpose of each project was.
(135426)
54
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many publications have been issued by the South West Regional Assembly in each year since its establishment; and what the cost was of (a) preparation and (b) publication in each case.
(135427)
55
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of those eligible for council tax benefit took up the benefit in 2002-03.
(135357)
56
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the gross income threshold is above which individuals are not eligible for council tax benefit.
(135359)
57
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of pensioners received council tax benefit in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest financial year for which figures are available.
(135366)
58
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what restrictions his Department has placed on the use of the Thames Gateway funds for Canvey Island.
(135463)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
59
Peter Bradley (Wrekin, The): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what advantages in charging top-up fees will accrue to universities with (a) high levels and (b) low levels of students from low income backgrounds.
(135472)
60
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of (a) GCSE and (b) sixth form students have continued to higher education in (i) Somerset, (ii) the South West of England and (iii) England in each year since 1990.
(135421)
61
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will publish the correspondence between his Department and the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the closure of Condover Hall School.
(135287)
62
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the average gross income of students was in the last 12 months, broken down by income quintile.
(135358)
63
N
Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many fatalities there have been amongst trainees on work placement since the learning and skills councils took over responsibilities, broken down by learning and skills council in the North West.
(134278)
64
N
Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what reports he has received on health and safety related to trainees on placement; and how experience is disseminated amongst learning and skills councils.
(134279)
65
N
Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how cross-departmental policy implementation on issues relating to children and domestic violence will be organised.
(135007)
66
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many teachers were in training specialising in physics in each of the last five years for which information is available.
(135459)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
67
N
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the contracts for (a) consultancy and (b) work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997, stating in each case (i) the nature of the work, (ii) the value of the contract and (iii) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement.
(134732)
68
Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the outcome was of the Environment Council on 27th October; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.
(135372)
69
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish her Department's assessment of the impact on farm business sectors of different options for decoupling.
(135351)
70
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consultations she has had with (a) deer, (b) bison and (c) other unsupported livestock producers about the impact of Common Agricultural Policy reform on their businesses.
(135354)
71
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the relative impact on unsupported livestock farmers of decoupling using (a) regional average and (b) historic methodology.
(135355)
72
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received in the last six months about the eradication of genome groups under the scrapie plan; and if she will make a statement.
(135378)
73
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of sheep annual premium payments were paid more than two months late in England in the last 24 months.
(135380)
74
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the legal processes relating to the EU directive on the GM contamination threshold for conventional seeds.
(135273)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
75
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the occupying powers are taking to ensure access to safe, legal pregnancy termination services in Iraq; what policy, and direct funding to achieve it, the UK is adopting on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
(135435)
76
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action has been taken to pursue those responsible for the murder in the summer of two Serbian boys by snipers in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.
(135437)
77
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the progress of the European Union's Stability Pact for the Balkans; what projects have been completed; what projects are under way; at what stage they are at; when they are estimated to be completed; what projects have been agreed to but have not yet commenced; what projects have been submitted for consideration and are awaiting decision; and which of these relate to Serbia and Montenegro.
(135440)
78
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the remarks by Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock on identifying terrorism.
(135464)
79
Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of opening Basra International Airport to non-governmental commercial and passenger flights for (a) trade with and (b) the reconstruction of Iraq.
(135361)
80
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the evidential basis is for the statements made on page 34 and 35 of the Iraq dossier of 24th September on inspections by UNSCOM of the presidential sites.
(135348)
81
Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the non-institutional matters which he submitted to the Italian Presidency by 20th October for raising at the Intergovernmental Conference.
(135377)
82
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his plans for (a) the consular section of the British High Commission in Harare and (b) the processing of applications for entry clearance from Zimbabwean nationals.
(135428)
83
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he has taken to trail assets moved by spouses and children of senior ZANU PF officials; and if he will make a statement.
(135259)
84
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what response he has made to the threat by Mr Robert Mugabe to use British citizens as hostages in the event of British action.
(135310)
85
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his response to the Eighth Report of Session 2002-03 from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Zimbabwe, if he will now revisit his decision not to take steps to strip Mr Robert Mugabe of his honorary knighthood.
(135342)
86
N
Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress on human rights in Nepal.
(135193)
87
N
Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether Nepal is a safe country for the return of refugees.
(135194)
88
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the evidential basis used to support the statements in A Constitutional Treaty for the EU: The British Approach to the European Union Inter-governmental Conference, Cm 5934, that (a) outside the EU the UK would have less, not more, control of its economy, (b) the proposed constitution is no more than a tidying-up exercise, (c) the proposed constitution is arguably the most significant development since the foundation of the EEC and (d) the national governments of member states remain in control.
(135455)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
89
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to encourage more hospitals in England to seek baby-friendly accreditation from UNICEF by promoting increased uptake of breastfeeding.
(135034)
90
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on advertisements for infant formula milk (a) on television and (b) in parents' magazines.
(135035)
91
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to ensure that the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995 are being observed.
(135036)
92
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on stopping the promotion of breastmilk substitutes for feeding to infants.
(135042)
93
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to ensure that student (a) midwives and (b) health visitors receive adequate education on breastfeeding as part of their pre-registration training.
(135043)
94
Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many one-stop primary care centres there are in England; where they are located; how many are proposed; where they will be located; and if he will make a statement.
(135388)
95
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact which moving responsibilities for dentistry from health authorities to primary care trusts has had on registration numbers.
(135281)
96
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to promote dental health amongst children.
(135282)
97
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many National Health Service dentists there were in each year between 1997 and 2003.
(135370)
98
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) children and adolescents, (b) adults and (c) pensioners were treated by the Somerset Partnership Mental Health Trust in each year since 1997.
(135422)
99
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) residential care home and (b) nursing home places were available in Somerset in each year since 1997, broken down into places available at (i) local authority-run homes, (ii) independent private homes and (iii) homes run by independent charities and other not-for-profit organisations.
(135424)
100
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14th October, Official Report, column 217W, on Epsom and St Helier hospitals, which minister has responsibility for the South West London Strategic Health Authority.
(135278)
101
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made with identifying possible candidates for refund of care costs, following the publication of the Second Report, Session 2002-03, of the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long-term care of older and disabled people; and what steps he envisages that patients or their families would need to take to pursue their claims.
(135371)
102
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time in accident and emergency departments has been in each of the past 12 months, broken down by strategic health authority.
(135417)
103
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of patients have been treated within the four-hour accident and emergency waiting time target in each of the past 12 months (a) in England and (b) broken down by strategic health authority.
(135418)
104
Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what dates since 1st October 2002 changes were made to the criteria used by the NHS in collecting data about the four-hour accident and emergency waiting time target.
(135419)
105
N
Mr John Horam (Orpington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will standardise the procedure for closing NHS care homes.
(134069)
106
N
Mr John Horam (Orpington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nursing and (b) residential care places for the (i) elderly, (ii) chronically ill and (iii) physically disabled there were in London for each of the last five years, broken down by London borough.
(134070)
107
N
Mr John Horam (Orpington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about financing for care places in London in the next financial year.
(134071)
108
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to (a) primary care trusts, (b) NHS trusts and (c) agencies of his Department on S.I., 2002, No. 2905, The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002 and the involvement of honourable Members with cases; and if he will make a statement.
(135261)
109
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to raise with the relevant European Commissioner the interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make a statement.
(135263)
110
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting between the Food Standards Agency and the European Food Safety Authority to discuss difficulties anticipated by industry in preparing dossiers of information to support the inclusion of substances on the lists of nutrients and nutrient sources appended to the Food Supplements Directive; and what plans the Food Standards Agency has to continue that dialogue.
(135264)
111
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to liaise at a political level with other European Member State Governments as part of his strategy for achieving the best possible maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive.
(135265)
112
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what health care support services are given to children attending Condover Hall School, Shropshire.
(135256)
113
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost of upgrading the building of Condover Hall School to meet national care standards.
(135286)
114
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment has been undertaken of the effect on the mental health of children at Condover Hall School of its closure.
(135290)
115
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total health care cost to public funds was of children attending Condover Hall School in 2002-03.
(135295)
116
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the compliance of Condover Hall School with the National Care Standards.
(135297)
117
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those hospices that have received funds from the money which was earmarked for palliative care in the NHS Cancer Plan in 2003-04; and how much of the money has been retained by NHS trusts.
(135385)
118
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the grounds on which funds from the NHS Cancer Plan for palliative care are allocated to hospices.
(135386)
119
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the results of the Orthotics Pathfinder project were; and what the cost of the project was.
(135276)
120
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy that the model of the Orthotics Pathfinder project will be introduced across the NHS.
(135277)
121
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of Standard Three of the National Standards Framework for Diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
[R] (135375)
122
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department assists primary care trusts to meet Standard Three of the National Standard Framework for Diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
[R] (135376)
123
N
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the extent of inequality of (a) health, (b) access to health and (c) accessibility of health services; and if he will make a statement on the extent to which these inequalities have changed since 1997.
(134874)
124
N
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average journey time is for patients to the nearest (a) general practitioner surgery, (b) dentist and (c) accident and emergency unit in each county south of the River Thames.
(134875)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
125
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his response is to the Report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons on Dungavel Removal Centre; and if he will make a statement.
(135438)
126
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, why Fatima Muse was fined by staff at Dungavel Removal Centre on 27th August after hiding food in her room; under what power this was done; and if he will make a statement.
(135439)
127
David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of the adoption of the National Crime Recording Standard on the capacity to compare crime statistics with previous years' performance.
(135279)
128
Julia Drown (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to establish an independent country documentation centre in relation to asylum applications.
(135337)
129
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated costs are of cases dealt with by the Administrative Court relating to section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and how many cases these costs cover.
(135451)
130
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been refused support by the National Asylum Support Service under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and what reports he has received about the length of time these people had been in the United Kingdom before claiming support.
(135452)
131
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to increase the financial support to local authorities responsible for the care of asylum seeker children as a result of the judgment of the Administrative Court in the case of Behre and Others v Hillingdon London Borough Council.
(135453)
132
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases are waiting to be dealt with by the Administrative Court which relate to section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
(135454)
133
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether all the companies exhibiting equipment covered by the Firearms Acts at the Defence Systems Equipment International Exhibition in September obtained the necessary licences; and if he will make a statement.
(135338)
134
Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons he has not yet replied to the letter to him of 18th August from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Syed Ahtesham Qaisar.
(135300)
135
Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason he has not replied to the letter to him of 8th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Yacob Yonis.
(135309)
136
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Charity Commission has made of the role of Breacan Fundraising as owner of the website operated for Breast Cancer Relief.
(135352)
137
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Charity Commission has made of the volume of donations made to Breast Cancer Relief via its website since the charity was placed in the control of a receiver manager.
(135353)
138
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action the Charity Commission took, and when, to alert WorldPay to the appointment of a receiver manager for Breast Cancer Relief.
(135356)
139
Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Charity Commission has taken to ensure that internet donations to Breast Cancer Relief are not misapplied.
(135432)
140
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the experiment in local policing at New Earswick; and if he will make a statement.
(135336)
141
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of asylum applications within the last 12 months for which figures are available were given initial decisions (a) within two weeks, (b) within two months, (c) within six months and (d) after a period of more than six months.
(135429)
142
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in relation to sections (a) 96, (b) 97 and (c) 98 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, how many cases have been certified by the Secretary of State in accordance with that section; how many cases so certified have been challenged (i) by judicial review and (ii) otherwise; how many challenges were successful; and what the grounds were in each case of challenge.
(135430)
143
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases certified as clearly unfounded under Section 94(3) of the Nationality and Immigration Asylum Act 2002 have been (a) challenged successfully and (b) challenged unsuccessfully by judicial review; and, in each case where the challenge was successful, what the grounds of the challenge were.
(135431)
144
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases considered under section 94(3) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 he decided that the claim was not clearly unfounded, broken down by country of origin of claimants.
(135433)
145
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum and (b) human rights claims were certified by the Secretary of State as clearly unfounded under Section 94(3) of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, broken down by country of origin of claimant.
(135434)
146
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which service providers are supplying housing for asylum seekers in Essex; and in which towns those homes are provided.
(135458)
147
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many service providers are providing accommodation for asylum seekers.
(135460)
148
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with (a) local authorities and (b) service providers about the provision of housing for asylum seekers when the current contracts expire; and if he will make a statement.
(135461)
149
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the current service provider contracts for housing asylum seekers; and when they will expire.
(135462)
150
N
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes were committed per head of population in the (a) Avon and Somerset, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Leicestershire, (d) Nottinghamshire and (e) South Yorkshire police force areas in the last five years for which figures are available.
(135044)
151
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he intends to take in relation to racial discrimination in the police force.
(135384)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
152
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what resources are being diverted from his Department's budgets to Iraq; which other countries are affected; and if he will make a statement.
(135262)
153
Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list his Department's total funding to (a) UNFPA, (b) WHO sexual and reproductive health programme, (c) UNICEF sexual and reproductive health programme, (d) UNAIDS, (e) International Planned Parenthood Federation, (f) Marie Stopes International, (g) Interact Worldwide (population concern) and (h) International Family Health in each financial year since 1996 for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
(135266)
154
Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list bilateral aid for (a) reproductive health care, (b) family planning and (c) sexually transmitted disease control including HIV/AIDS, broken down by (i) project or sector aid, (ii) programme aid, (iii) technical co-operation, (iv) grants and other aid in kind, (v) humanitarian assistance, (vi) his Department's programme and (vii) CDC investments for each financial year since 1996; and if he will make a statement.
(135267)
155
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the population of Zimbabwe has access to a plentiful supply of safe drinking water.
(135257)
156
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the population of (a) Zambia, (b) Ethiopia, (c) Iraq and (d) Malawi he estimates has access to a plentiful supply of safe drinking water.
(135296)
157
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funds the Government is committed to allocating towards the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria; and what funds have been allocated to date.
(135274)
158
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes will be ended prematurely owing to the redirection of funds away from middle income countries to the reconstruction of Iraq.
(135252)
159
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what poverty impact assessments have been undertaken on the impact of redirection of funds from middle income countries to the reconstruction of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
(135253)
160
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action he has taken to encourage the Zimbabwean Government to end the ban on importation of grain by private entrepreneurs and other organisations.
(135340)
161
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will increase the number of local NGOs with which his Department works in Zimbabwe.
(135341)
162
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures are being taken to ensure that (a) aid distributors in Zimbabwe and (b) those responsible for registration are appropriately trained to ensure they (i) understand and (ii) comply with the apolitical nature of aid programmes.
(135344)
163
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures (a) his Department and (b) non-governmental organisations have taken to assess the (i) nutritional and (ii) food security status of all populations in Zimbabwe.
(135345)
164
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will ask the UN Relief and Recovery Unit to publish reports confirmed of confirmed incidents of (a) politicisation and (b) the corrupt use of (i) international food aid and (ii) GMB grain in Zimbabwe.
(135346)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
165
N
Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the future of grammar schools.
(134092)
Questions to the Prime Minister
166
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement about the Madrid Initiative in response to Pakistan's capacity to export nuclear weapons.
(135390)
167
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with his Madrid Initiative counterparts regarding Pakistan's capacity to export nuclear weapons.
(135391)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
168
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many Civil Service jobs there were in Scotland in each year from 1974 to 1999, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b) department and (c) agency.
(135271)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
169
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made on European power networks for the Balkans; what remains to be done; when it is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement.
(135441)
170
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the value of contracts awarded for the reconstruction of Iraq to date is; what outstanding contracts remain to be awarded; and to which countries contracts have been awarded, broken down by (a) value and (b) type of contract.
(135343)
171
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Software Patent Directive.
(135283)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
172
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of rail traffic congestion at and around Birmingham New Street station on the performance of the national rail network.
(135373)
173
Mr Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is mandatory for a transport manager to be in the employment of the licence holder under EU Directive 96/26.
(135272)
174
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) current and (b) projected roadworks on the M5 motorway between Bristol and Tiverton; and how long each section of work is expected to take.
(135423)
175
N
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what amounts of (a) low level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) high-level nuclear waste have been transported by train in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
(135172)
176
N
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what reports his Department has received about plans to increase the transport by train of nuclear waste through London; and if he will make a statement.
(135173)
177
N
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains went through London with (a) low-level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) high-level nuclear waste in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
(135174)
178
N
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to increase the Transport for London budget for each financial year from 2005-06.
(135175)
179
Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received in support of a review of the speed limits on roads; and what plans he has to undertake such a review.
(135299)
180
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects work will start on the widening of the M1 motorway; and if he will make a statement.
(135334)
181
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the report of the Inspector of the Terminal 5 Inquiry at Heathrow is included as part of the consultation into Future Development of Air Transport in the UK.
(135291)
182
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will uphold the recommendations of the Inspector for the Heathrow Terminal 5 inquiry in the forthcoming Aviation White Paper.
(135292)
183
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether nitrogen dioxide is assessed as a relevant pollutant in section 7.29 of the Government's consultation paper The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom.
(135293)
184
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department will take to instigate levels of nitrogen dioxide consistently within EU limits by 2010 at Heathrow Airport.
(135294)
185
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what action the Government is taking to increase the (a) security and (b) safety of public transport in London.
(135383)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
186
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list those medical conditions which allow free prescriptions to be claimed.
(135258)
187
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) free and (b) charged for prescriptions were issued in each year since 1997.
(135288)
188
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury & Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many free prescriptions to the chronically ill were issued in each year since 1997.
(135289)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
189
N
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the tenure status of pensioners who are entitled to council tax benefit but do not receive it.
(135222)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
190
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the increase in the level of income tax which would be required if council tax were abolished and the same revenue were raised through an increase in the basic rate of income tax.
[Transferred] (135365)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
191
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether steps have been taken to require that troops of the occupying power in Iraq do not have sexual intercourse with Iraqi women; and if he will make a statement.
[Transferred] (135436)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
192
Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his assessment is of the current terrorist threat level in Northern Ireland.
[Transferred] (135395)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
193
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what subsidy has been awarded to Remploy in each of the last four years.
[Transferred] (135284)
194
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled people were employed by Remploy in each of the last four years.
[Transferred] (135285)

 
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Revised 29 October 2003