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Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 21 October 2004
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 21 October 2004
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 21 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 Thursday 21 October of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 21 October see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office 1
| Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much her Department has spent on the Delivering on the Promise internet content management system; and how much it plans to spend in the financial year 2005-06. | | (193266) | 2
| Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments and agencies have made a commitment to use the Delivering on the Promise internet content management system. | | (193267) | 3
| Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments and agencies have evaluated the Delivering on the Promise internet content management system against alternatives and decided not to use it. | | (193268) | 4
| Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what standards for access by disabled people are incorporated in the Delivering on the Promise internet content management system. | | (193269) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 5
N | Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of raising the upper limit of the inheritance tax nil rate band to (a) £500,000, (b) £526,000 and (c) £1,000,000. | | (192568) | 6
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the economically active population in Tynemouth constituency (a) in May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. | | (193329) | 7
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many children died in accidents at home in the Greater London area in the last five years. | | (193156) | 8
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide further financial support to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme as part of the forthcoming public spending review. | | (193295) | 9
N | Mr Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individuals had not returned their tax credit renewal forms by the 30th September deadline; and what percentage this is of tax credit renewal forms sent out. | | (192800) | 10
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost was of his journey to and from the North East on 12th October. | | (192975) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 11
N | Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what percentage of his time he has spent on his duties as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in each working week since 9th September. | | (193141) | Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 12
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department or its predecessors since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193414) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 13
| Annabelle Ewing (Perth):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of the monetary value of grants awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund since its inception was awarded to projects in Scotland. | | (193375) | 14
| Mr Boris Johnson (Henley):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the funding arrangements for the British Library. | | (193347) | 15
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193415) | 16
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Mr Bernie Ecclestone over the future of the British Grand Prix. | | (192995) | 17
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the consortium headed by Mr Nigel Mansell on the future of the British Grand Prix. | | (192996) | 18
N | Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guarantees were obtained by the Government over the future of the British Grand Prix from the organisers of Formula One when improvements to transport links were made in 2002. | | (192997) | 19
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support the Government has given to the establishment of a classification system for video and computer games. | | (193345) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 20
| Mr George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the percentage of personnel in each of the Scottish regiments are originally from (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) overseas. | | (193162) | 21
| Mr Douglas Hogg (Sleaford & North Hykeham):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions in each month since March 2003 British forces in Iraq (a) opened fire, (b) were fired upon and (c) were the subject of bomb attacks; how many casualties British forces (i) inflicted and (ii) sustained; and how many rounds of ammunition, including ammunition of a heavy calibre, British forces, including air units, expended in each month. | | (193164) | 22
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193416) | 23
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of refitting each of the four submarines sold to Canada to make them fit to put to sea. | | (193236) | 24
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether United States authorities have sought to interview Colonel Terrington. | | (193376) | 25
| Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK (a) service personnel and (b) officials have sought to question Mr Steven Jordan during the last three months. | | (193385) | 26
N | Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has examined the report of the US Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War veterans' illness to establish its relevance to the health problems of British troops who served in the 1991 hostilities; and if he will make a statement. | | (193053) | 27
| Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the possible impact on UK manufacturers of the decision to award the contract for combat clothing to China. | | (193165) | Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister 28
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many applicants are on the waiting list for council properties in each local authority area in Tyne and Wear. | | (193327) | 29
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what advice his Department has given to local authorities pursuing outstanding debts of (a) less than £3,000 and (b) more than £3,000. | | (193328) | 30
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment his Department has made of the demand for affordable housing in (a) North Tyneside and (b) the North East over the next five years. | | (193330) | 31
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many council houses each local authority in Tyne and Wear has; and how many each had in 1997. | | (193331) | 32
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions his Department has had with North Tyneside Council regarding the council housing appraisal process. | | (193336) | 33
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many properties are available for rent from housing associations in each local authority area in Tyne and Wear; and how many were available in 1997. | | (193342) | 34
| Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the average time taken to process planning applications. | | (193238) | 35
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what changes are planned in the size of the fire safety sector in England and Wales; what estimate he has made of the effects on the funding requirement; whether he has undertaken a risk assessment in respect of such plans; and if he will make a statement. | | (193186) | 36
| Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he has received from the Office of National Statistics the 2001 Census data for Worcestershire. | | (193239) | 37
| Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will estimate the financial impact of continued use of the 1991 Census data when calculating grants for Worcestershire County Council. | | (193240) | 38
N | Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 18th October, Official Report, columns 460-1W, on Runwell Hospital, by what date he expects the transer of the site to his Department to be effected. | | (193004) | 39
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total cost was of his journey to and from the North East on 12th October. | | (192974) | 40
| Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what census data he uses to calculate the Standard Spending Assessment Grant to Herefordshire Council; and if he will make a statement. | | (193284) | 41
| Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proportion of planning appeals submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 to date (i) have been and (ii) he expects to be determined within 30 weeks. | | (193348) | 42
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information his Department has received about the EU's Interreg Equi Save Atlantic Area Project; and if he will make a statement. | | (190925) | 43
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with agriculture Ministers in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland on eligibility of breeders of rare equine species for the EU's Interreg Equi Save Project; and if he will make a statement. | | (190927) | 44
N | Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps have been taken to consult breeders of rare equine species in the United Kingdom about the EU's Interreg Equi Save Project; and if he will make a statement. | | (190929) | 45
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what compensation packages are offered to home owners whose homes are to be demolished in each of the nine Pathfinder areas of England; and if he will make a statement. | | (193232) | 46
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many press officers are employed by each of the Housing Renewal Pathfinders in England. | | (193233) | 47
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many houses are earmarked for demolition (a) this and (b) next year in each of the Housing Pathfinder areas in England. | | (193234) | 48
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what documentation he has received from Pendle Council concerning its willingness to participate in the housing renewal strategy for the area; and if he will make a statement. | | (193235) | 49
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people have been convicted for non-payment of council tax in each year since 2000. | | (193316) | 50
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of council tax bands pending the longer term review of local government finance. | | (193317) | 51
| Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 18th October, Official Report, column 745, what form the public consultation exercise relating to part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 will take. | | (193355) | 52
| Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will take steps to ensure best practice and a common approach are adopted in relation to planning procedures relating to mobile phone masts. | | (193356) | 53
| Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what percentage of telecommunication installations completed in the last 12 months have been allowed under the permitted development rights conferred under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. | | (193358) | 54
| Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has made to the Mobile Operators Association on improving consultation with local communities on the development of telecommunication equipment in their area. | | (193359) | 55
N | Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many empty homes there are in each local authority area in the East Midlands. | | (192354) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 56
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans he has to meet the Director General of the Office for Fair Access to Universities. | | (193270) | 57
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, where he expects the Office of Fair Access to be located. | | (193271) | 58
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether the Office of Fair Access will be able to consider complaints of unfairness and discrimination from (a) students and (b) schools. | | (193272) | 59
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what targets he expects the Office of Fair Access to set universities; and what criteria he expects the Office of Fair Access to use in determining whether universities are allowed to charge fees. | | (193273) | 60
| Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what factors led him to supplement the draft letter of statutory guidance to the Director of the Office of Fair Access (OFFA) issued during the passage of the Higher Education Act 2004 with paragraph 9.5 of the new draft letter of statutory guidance to the Director of OFFA issued on 14th July; and whether he expects (a) type of school and (b) socio-economic background to be included in the milestones relating to university admission referred to in paragraph 9.5. | | (193350) | 61
N | Sue Doughty (Guildford):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the future of GCSE Archaeology following the decision taken by AQA not to offer this qualification from 2006. | | (193138) | 62
N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the progress of the early intervention pilots to ensure that children have access to both parents. | | (193052) | 63
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what projected expenditure under the (a) Targeted Capital Fund and (b) locally co-ordinated voluntary aided programme is for (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07; and what spending was in 2003-04. | | (193057) | 64
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the availability of capital funding to local education authorities not in Phase 1 of Building Schools for the Future. | | (193058) | 65
N | Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what representations he has received on the future of the (a) locally co-ordinated voluntary aided programme and (b) Targeted Capital Fund; and if he will make a statement. | | (193059) | 66
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193417) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 67
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the level of household greenhouse gas emissions was in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by region. | | (192998) | 68
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is on carbon sinks; and what provision the UK can make in this area. | | (192999) | 69
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the introduction of the EU Nitrates Directive. | | (193000) | 70
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of organic farming on bio-diversity. | | (193293) | 71
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the recent Food Standards Agency findings on shortcomings in the Meat Hygiene Service in relation to BSE controls. | | (193294) | 72
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps have been taken by her Department and its agencies over the last three years to ensure that eggs imported into the United Kingdom from (a) Spain and (b) other EU countries are free from salmonella. | | (192804) | 73
| Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether, in appointing a new head of the Countryside Agency, shortlisted candidates were asked their views on (a) field sports and (b) hunting. | | (193354) | 74
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions the Department has held with non-governmental organisations in respect of falconry. | | (193150) | 75
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has held with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on falconry. | | (193151) | 76
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on falconry; and what assessment has been made of the effects of falconry on conservation. | | (193152) | 77
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what circumstances birds of prey may be impounded; and what facilities are available for keeping impounded birds. | | (193153) | 78
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department takes to promote the captive breeding of raptors in the UK. | | (193159) | 79
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193418) | 80
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the committee (a) for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress and implementation of the Directives on waste, (b) on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste and (c) for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193396) | 81
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the committee (a) on implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water, (b) for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on water intended for human consumption and (c) for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the directive on methods of measurement and frequencies of sampling and analysis of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the member states met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193397) | 82
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee (a) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitat) and (b) for the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193398) | 83
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Scientific review group for the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193399) | 84
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Management Committee on application of the Directive on the standardisation and rationalisation of reports on the implementation of certain Directives relating to the environment met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193400) | 85
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee (a) for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on conservation of wild birds and (b) on the Community action programme in the field of civil protection met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193401) | 86
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the committee (a) for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress and implementation of the Directive on urban waste-water treatment and (b) protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193402) | 87
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Directive on (a) bathing water and (b) the quality of fresh water needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193403) | 88
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Decision establishing a common procedure for the exchange of information on the quality of surface fresh water in the Community met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by (A) the EU and (B) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. | | (193404) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 89
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to introduce legislation to (a) make it illegal for UK residents to take part in mercenary activities and (b) make UK companies that recruit mercenaries responsible under UK law for any breaches of human rights or actions that those they employ have committed. | | (192726) | 90
| Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will recognise the Saharwi Arab Democratic Republic as the sovereign state in Western Sahara. | | (193297) | 91
| Mr John Grogan (Selby):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much compensation has been paid by the UK Government to former residents of the Chagos Islands; and how many recipients there have been. | | (193283) | 92
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total amount is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193419) | 93
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January; and if he will make a statement. | | (193390) | 94
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the alleged involvement of other African countries in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1998 to 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (193391) | 95
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the International Rescue Committee's mortality study on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, published on 8th April; and if he will make a statement. | | (193392) | 96
| Angus Robertson (Moray):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help resolve the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. | | (193393) | 97
| The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart regarding the extent of freedom of religion for religious minorities in Turkey. | | (193237) | 98
N | Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what directions he gave concerning disciplinary charges laid against Mr Craig Murray; and if he will make a statement. | | (192968) | 99
N | Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he took the decision to recall HM Ambassador to Uzbekistan. | | (192969) | 100
N | Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he was first made aware that disciplinary charges were to be laid against Mr Craig Murray; and if he will make a statement. | | (192970) | 101
N | Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the disciplinary charges laid against Mr Craig Murray in August 2003; which of them were subsequently dropped; for what reason they were dropped; and if he will make a statement. | | (192971) | 102
N | Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what directions he gave concerning Mr Craig Murray's withdrawal as HM Ambassador to Uzbekistan; and if he will make a statement. | | (192972) | 103
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the backlog is in dealing with entry clearance cases from Dhaka. | | (193357) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 104
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms there are in NHS hospitals to (a) oversee and (b) regulate the use of antibiotics in order to limit the development of antimicrobial resistance. | | (193405) | 105
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to commission the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to publish guidelines on using antibiotics in such a way as to limit the development of antimicrobial resistance. | | (193406) | 106
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much donated blood was disposed of by the National Blood Service as the result of false reactions to blood tests in each year since 1997. | | (193407) | 107
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were informed by the National Blood Service in each year since 1997 of a false reaction to a blood test; and if he will make a statement. | | (193408) | 108
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the donation of blood which has given a false reaction to a blood test but has proved safe in subsequent tests is not permitted; and why a further test after an interval of several months is required before the person can donate blood. | | (193409) | 109
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many forms that are included in central returns of information and statistics to (a) his Department and (b) his Department's arms length bodies are required from NHS organisations in each year. | | (193410) | 110
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on antidepressants in real terms in each year since 1997 in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority. | | (193411) | 111
| Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions for antidepressants were given in the NHS in each year since 1997 in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority. | | (193412) | 112
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve mental health services for children and young people. | | (193337) | 113
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve social inclusion for children and young people with complex health needs. | | (193338) | 114
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of maternity services. | | (193339) | 115
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department has made available for maternity services in the last five years. | | (193340) | 116
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase choice for mothers in maternity services. | | (193341) | 117
| Julia Drown (South Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women contracted MRSA after giving birth in an NHS hospital in each of the last five years. | | (193274) | 118
| Julia Drown (South Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women contracted MRSA after giving birth by Caesarean section in an NHS hospital in each of the last five years. | | (193275) | 119
| Julia Drown (South Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many obstetricians have performed an external cephalic version in an NHS hospital in each of the last five years. | | (193276) | 120
| Julia Drown (South Swindon):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Department has to promote wider use of external cephalic version by obstetricians. | | (193277) | 121
N | Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the correct and clear labelling of food products (a) sold by retail outlets and (b) used in processing food in restaurants; and if he will make a statement. | | (192805) | 122
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193420) | 123
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the treatment rates of hepatitis C. | | (193387) | 124
| Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to conduct research on treatment rates for hepatitis C in other EU countries. | | (193388) | 125
N | Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the future of EMIS. | | (192806) | 126
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been undertaken by his Department to monitor progress in setting up (a) foundation hospitals and (b) foundation boards. | | (193332) | 127
| Keith Vaz (Leicester East):To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures have been taken to ensure that the elderly, the young and the ill are given priority in receiving the influenza vacination. | | (193366) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 128
| Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) thefts from vehicles, (b) thefts of vehicles and (c) burglaries were recorded in North Tyneside in each of the last 24 months. | | (193333) | 129
| Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to change the statutory requirements for probation boards in England and Wales in relation to (a) appointing a treasurer and (b) the Audit Commission's external audit of accounts. | | (193185) | 130
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions a prisoner has failed to return when on temporary licence from prison during each of the last three years. | | (193144) | 131
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his proposals to attract skilled foreign workers into the UK; and what funding exists within his Department to pursue this policy. | | (193145) | 132
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is being taken to ensure that young children taken abroad are accounted for when their parents or guardians return to this country; and what checks are made. | | (193146) | 133
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taken to reduce the amount of illegal drugs in prisons in England and Wales. | | (193155) | 134
| Tom Cox (Tooting):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which European countries asylum seekers entering the UK during the last 12 months originated. | | (193160) | 135
N | Tony Cunningham (Workington):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in the Workington constituency. | | (191034) | 136
| Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department gives police forces regarding the use of the law on criminal conspiracy in relation to the activities of animal rights extremists; and if he will make a statement. | | (193280) | 137
N | Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator positions are funded (a) wholly and (b) partially by local authorities. | | (193054) | 138
N | Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator positions, or equivalent, are wholly or part-funded by (a) community safety partnerships, (b) crime reduction partnerships, (c) local authorities and (d) other funding sources. | | (193055) | 139
N | Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to organisations seeking funding for a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator. | | (193056) | 140
| Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) acceptable behaviour contracts, (b) curfew orders, (c) parenting orders, (d) dispersal orders, (e) fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour and (f) anti-social behaviour orders have been issued by (i) South Wales Police, (ii) Bridgend Divison of South Wales Police and (iii) Rhondda Cynon Taff Division of South Wales Police. | | (193349) | 141
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with IT companies on providing services for the identity card project. | | (193386) | 142
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal entrants have been (a) discovered in vehicles at Dover, (b) detained at Eurostar at Waterloo and (c) discovered within the area surrounding Dover in each of the last 12 months. | | (193248) | 143
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have been brought in the last 24 months against employers for employing an illegal immigrant; and what penalties were imposed. | | (193249) | 144
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of bogus colleges have been made to him in the last 24 months; and how many such colleges have been closed. | | (193250) | 145
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been awaiting an initial decision for more than (a) three and (b) six months. | | (193251) | 146
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time is between initial decision in asylum cases and the hearing of an appeal before an adjudicator. | | (193252) | 147
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many failed asylum seekers remain in the UK. | | (193253) | 148
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what access to (a) the benefit system, (b) local authority housing and (c) medical care failed asylum seekers have. | | (193254) | 149
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers he expects to remove in the next 12 months. | | (193255) | 150
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his proposals to decide asylum applications offshore. | | (193257) | 151
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) starting salary for and (b) period of training given to Home Office initial decision makers in asylum applications are. | | (193262) | 152
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of vehicles arriving at Dover are searched with a view to discovering illegal immigrants. | | (193264) | 153
| Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suspected sham marriages have been reported to his Department by registrars in each of the last 24 months; how many prosecutions have been brought; how many convictions have been obtained; and what penalties have been imposed. | | (193265) | 154
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the steps he has taken to strengthen the punishments available to courts when dealing with people who have caused death by bad driving. | | (192977) | 155
N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assistance he is giving to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in locating Paddy Dixon for interview. | | (192978) | 156
| Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton & Shepherd's Bush):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken from point of application to issue of a work permit was in 2003; and if he will make a statement. | | (193346) | 157
| David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received from the Federal Bureau of Investigations concerning the activities of UK-based customers of the US company Rackspace; and if he will make a statement. | | (193230) | Questions to the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 158
N | Norman Baker (Lewes):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what (a) weight and (b) volume of waste has been collected for each year since 1990; and what percentage has been (i) recycled, (ii) landfilled, (iii) incinerated and (iv) otherwise disposed of. | | (193102) | 159
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the new visitor passes are retrieved from visitors when they leave the Parliamentary Estate; and if he will make a statement on their introduction. | | (193351) | 160
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will take steps to ensure that photographs on parliamentary passes are checked at all entry and exit points on the Parliamentary Estate. | | (193352) | 161
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many visitor passes have been issued to date; and how many have been returned. | | (193353) | 162
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the Commission's latest estimate is of the cost of the permanent security screen to be installed in the Commons Chamber. | | (193278) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 163
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list firms liquidated by CDC/Actis Capital by (a) sector, (b) country, (c) original investment amount and (d) liquidation return amount since 1998. | | (193287) | 164
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list (a) current and (b) previous CDC investments in China's agribusiness sector by (i) amount, (ii) location and (iii) date. | | (193288) | 165
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the executive performance bonus scheme for CDC/Actis Capital and its objectives. | | (193289) | 166
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his Department's definition is of agribusiness; and whether it includes agricultural import-export investments. | | (193318) | 167
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much capital CDC/Actis Capital has (a) invested and (b) managed in China in each year since 1999. | | (193319) | 168
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of China Capital Partners Ltd CDC has owned in each year since 1999; and if he will list its other investors by (a) amount and (b) proportion since 1999. | | (193320) | 169
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list China Capital Partner Ltd's investments by (a) sector, (b) location, (c) amount and (d) percentage of ownership. | | (193321) | 170
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many people are employed by China Capital Partners Ltd; and if he will list the locations of its offices. | | (193322) | 171
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will list (a) current and (b) former CDC/Actis Capital import-export investments by (i) country, (ii) investment fund, (iii) amount and (iv) sector since 1997. | | (193323) | 172
| Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his Answer of 14th September, Official Report, column 1518W, on CDC/Actis Capital, whether CDC's investments in China qualify as bilateral aid. | | (193324) | 173
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193421) | Questions to the Leader of the House 174
N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):To ask the Leader of the House, what the total cost was of his journey to and from the North East on 11th October. | | (192973) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 175
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what he expects the earliest possible date for the introduction of household water metering to be; and if he will make a statement. | | (193334) | 176
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the implications of the Tomlinson Report for Northern Ireland. | | (193343) | 177
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the members of the Diabetes Service Framework Implementation Team indicating their positions; how many times the Team has met since its formation; and what progress has been made in the implementation of a diabetes framework as a result. | | (193344) | 178
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what percentage of children in Northern Ireland lived in poverty in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) each year since 2000. | | (193377) | 179
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made with the implementation of the recommendations of the review and consultation exercise on eating disorders published in March 2003. | | (193378) | 180
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what dates the Regional Eating Disorders Working Group has met since its formation in June 2003. | | (193379) | 181
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the (a) size and (b) resources available to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) (NI). | | (193380) | 182
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many outbreaks of communicable disease there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and if he will list the diseases concerned. | | (193381) | 183
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the recommendations of the Review of Cardiology Services in April 2003; and what progress has been made with the implementation of those recommendations. | | (193382) | 184
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many school crossing patrol officers there were in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what steps he is taking to increase the number of officers; and if he will make a statement. | | (193383) | 185
| Lady Hermon (North Down):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom in relation to MOT testing. | | (193384) | 186
| Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. | | (193422) | |
