Tuesday, 6 November 2001
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been put in place for the people of Gibraltar to participate in elections to the European Parliament.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to the motion passed by the Gibraltar House of Assembly requesting Her Majesty's Government to seek a...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when further talks will be held with the Spanish Government over the future of Gibraltar.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the talks in July under the Brussels process with Spanish officials regarding Gibraltar; what the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of statements from the Spanish Government relating to responsibility for the payment of increases in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has asked the European Commission to initiate legal proceedings against the Government of Spain on the grounds of its...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the European Commission and other relevant European Union institutions to ensure that...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the policy papers which he has produced relating to the objectives of the (a) action in Afghanistan and (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries are working with the UK Government to combat the trade in illegal drugs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Burma regarding the continued imprisonment of Min Ko Naing (also known as...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 484W, on Belize, if High Commission staff arranged calls to the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to attend a Commonwealth Conference; and what issues he expects to be on the agenda.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will answer the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight, dated 8 October 2001, to the Secretary of State for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many individual learning accounts have been taken up by residents of the Isle of Wight in each year since their inception, and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information is collected on the (a) size, (b) capitalisation, (c) corporate status, (d) qualifications of staff and (e) range of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are being taken to guarantee the quality of (a) the learning providers and (b) the courses on offer, through the individual...
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information is collected on the (a) age, (b) gender, (c) employment record, (d) academic/ vocational attainment, (e) social class and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what approaches have been made to her Department by groups wishing to (a) establish new faith schools and (b) bring independent faith...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the performance and size specifications are of (a) the Thales Defence Systems Bowman personal radio and (b) the CDC Systems personal radio system,...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the payments made to British armed forces service men and women who are engaged in theatres of operation; what assessments he...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the maintenance team responsible for servicing RAF Chinook ZD576 at Aldergrove on 1 and 2 June 1994 had completed a full...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arms control measures he proposes to take to tackle the potential threat from ballistic missiles; and if he will make a statement; (2) what...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel are serving overseas, broken down by (a) unit and (b) country in which they are serving.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what Italy's financial contribution was to the A400M consortium; (2) what recent discussions he has had with the Italian Defence Minister about...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with DEFRA and the water companies about the protection of water supplies from chemical and biological attack.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements are being made to overseas accommodation for armed forces personnel and their families.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements are being made to accommodation for armed forces personnel and their families in Gibraltar.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses to determine whether Territorial Army units are fit for role.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what standards Territorial Army service personnel must meet in order to obtain the annual bounty.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations with ex-servicemen's organisations have taken place about the site and form of the memorial to members of the armed forces killed in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on confining military action against terrorism to targets in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in the Government's target to reduce the number of people worldwide living in extreme poverty by 2015.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what action she plans to take in order for the volume of food aid reaching Afghanistan to increase substantially; (2) what...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on international plans to deliver food aid to refugees in Afghanistan this winter.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the working time directive proposals to increase night-time working...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list income and expenditure under the parking places revenue accounts of each local authority in London...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which areas of Scotland will be covered by the Stingray system.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when construction will begin of the Manchester Airport eastern link road (western section).
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on conditions under which the new Railtrack company will be able to draw down the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of (a) the gross assets to be transferred to the new Railtrack company and (b) the debt to be...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will make a statement on the amount of Government money available for (a) Railtrack in administration and (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department held with the Treasury regarding the financial situation at Railtrack and his plans...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which officials were involved in planning the press announcement by his Department of the Railtrack administration.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what criteria he will use to assess proposals put to him by the administrators to resolve the future of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision to place Railtrack into administration for (a) all...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place the procurement documents relating to the Birmingham Northern Relief Road in the Library; and if he...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to encourage and promote road safety for motorcyclists; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what application he has received from the Port of London Authority under section 14 of the Harbours Act 1964...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent work has been undertaken to assess the effects of bull bars on pedestrians in vehicle accidents.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what amendments to GoVia's proposals for the new South Central franchise have been put forward since Railtrack went...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will undertake a review of the regulations on the permitted number of standing passengers on local buses.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to amend the Public Service Vehicle (Carrying Capacity) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 in order...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the legislative basis is of the three for two rule in the carrying of pupils under 14 years on scheduled bus...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of passenger overcrowding on buses transporting pupils to school.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on congestion of the variable speed limit system in operation on the M25...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the total budget for each regional chamber in England by region for (a) the last financial year and (b) this...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of funding for regional chambers in England came from central Government for (a) last year and (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in respect of the unitary development plan process (a) what review he has undertaken of the process since 1989, (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities have applied to be considered for trial schemes for (a) congestion taxes and (b) work parking...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional central Government funding each local authority will receive for taking part in trial schemes for (a)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what responsibility (a) Railtrack and (b) Virgin Rail have for the provision of disabled access at Lockerbie railway...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the completion of Phase II of the upgrade of the west coast main line; and when he expects trains...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will reply to the letters of 10 July and 21 August from the hon. Member for Doncaster, North regarding...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will meet (a) hon. Members for Worcestershire, (b) representatives of the Worcestershire Education Authority...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will revise the regulations governing the council tax benefits limitation scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he gives local authorities on the use of parking restrictions relating to (a) HGVs and (b) lighter...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if his Department's discussions with coach operators over concessionary pensioners' fares are intended to cover...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will extend eligibility for concessionary pensioners fares to inter-authority journeys.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those means of public transport for which he does not collect passenger information.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) fuel tax rebates and (b) other subsidies are available to operators of buses, trains, taxis, passenger...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will lay before Parliament the model code of conduct for members of relevant authorities under the Local...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost of subsidies to the Woolwich ferry was in the last year in which they were paid; and what resources...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he does not collect information on the number of passenger journeys by ferry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many occasions in (a) 2001 (b) 2000 and (c) 1999 services on the east coast main line have been disrupted...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision she plans to make to (a) the Environment Agency and (b) East Riding of Yorkshire Council to protect properties...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to introduce an eco-system approach to the management of the oceans around the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what stocks of (a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by her Department; if she will list such assets sold...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the contribution of hunt staff to the control of foot and mouth disease; and if she will make...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions she intends to impose on the sourcing of animals for restocking farms after foot and mouth has been eliminated.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many confirmed foot and mouth cases occurred in 2001 in each of the borough council areas of Cheshire.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms included in the foot and mouth cull but not recognised as infected premises have had laboratory tests...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to apply for all available agrimonetary compensation in the 2001–02 financial year; and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much EU agrimonetary compensation is available to be applied for on behalf of UK arable farmers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will allow English farmers to access England Rural Development Programme funding on the same basis as Welsh farmers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to accord Environmentally Sensitive Area status to all national parks and areas of outstanding...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the funding for Business Link schemes for three-day consultancy for farmers; and if she will...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage a broader availability of stewardship schemes under the modulation and environmental...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will increase veterinary resources in the south-west to help against the spreading of TB; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase rendering capacity; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will fund the provision of a pontoon bridge at Upton-upon-Severn which can be put in place in the event of flooding.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will compensate British horticulture businesses for subsidies granted by Spain for greenhouse fuels; and what measures...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she received from the Arthur Rank Foundation and industry bodies about the price and availability of (a)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement in respect of the requirement on manufacturing industries to prevent the release of hazardous...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to protect groundwater resources from known sources of contamination.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many on-the- spot fines were levied for litter offences in England in (a) 1997 and (b) the last year for which figures...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will calculate (a) the number of sweet lambs awaiting entry into the national supply chain and (b) the amount of sweet...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the average crop harvested of Bramley apples in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish draft guidance on quality parishes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to stop ebola from entering the United Kingdom.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks will be made on grain imports to prevent terrorists from polluting them with disease-bearing spores.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value, net of withdrawals and reductions, of the (a) penalties and (b) interest charged by HM Customs and Excise in respect of Insurance...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the targets for detection of revenue set for each anti-smuggling team in HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000,...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed, and at what grades, by the National Investigation Service within HM Customs and Excise.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of HM Customs and Excise are the subject of criminal investigations by the police; and how many of these relate to frauds on duty.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the sum of revenue detected by each anti- smuggling team within HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the powers and responsibilities of HM Customs and Excise have been affected by the Terrorism Act 2000.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many notifications of businesses no longer trading were received by HM Customs and Excise following the annual reminder mailshots in (a) 1997, (b) 1998,...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under the application of the multiplier to each area of comparable expenditure under the Barnett formula, which spending areas contributed to a reduction in...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on euro preparations.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the current level of Treasury research into whether the United Kingdom has passed the five economic tests for...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accountability to EU member states of the European Central Bank.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what options he is considering for the (a) reform and (b) abolition of the Landfill Tax Credit scheme; (2) if he will amend the Landfill Tax...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will bring forward taxation measures to provide emergency support to the airline industry following the terrorist attacks of 11 September; (2)...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 204W, on excessive hours, if he will state the methodology by which his answer was reached.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guarantees the Treasury is offering to Railtrack plc in administration to enable it to borrow from the market.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what advice he has received since 7 October concerning additional risk premia that PPP partners might seek; (2) what representations he has received...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of criminal VAT fraud were reported in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date; how many prosecutions were...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of criminal VAT evasion prevented by HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders were dealt with by the VAT large payers unit in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; how many...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total value of VAT repayment returns in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; (2) what the...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of (a) court fines and costs and (b) confiscation and compensation orders following the completion of prosecutions in VAT criminal cases...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of VAT civil evasion prevented by HM Customs and Excise was in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many and what proportion of applications for VAT registration during (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01, and (d)...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT fraud cases were investigated under the civil penalty procedure in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses were sent the annual reminder mailshot with VAT returns in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value, net of withdrawals and reductions, of the (a) default surcharge, (b) penalties and (c) interest charged by HM Customs and Excise in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the draft NHS (Wales) Bill.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated cost to British businesses is of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation 2000/2037.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of the ozone depleting substances Regulation 2000/2037 on the design and manufacture of fridges...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking (a) to ensure effective co-operation and (b) to avoid duplication between the work of the Small Business Service and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated cost to British businesses is of the end-of-life vehicles directive.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of UK registered businesses employ fewer than (a) 100, (b) 50, (c) 20, (d) 10 and (e) five people.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the potential of the environmental industries to generate economic development.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to install anti-aircraft batteries at Sellafield and other nuclear plants; and what discussions she has had with her French...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor), 22 October 2001, Official Report, column 7W, on nuclear...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the personnel who comprise her Department's Office for Civil Nuclear Security, along with the qualifications they have for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on the proposals of the European Commission to allow state aid to the coal industry to continue...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy towards the renewal of the European Coal and Steel Treaty.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the impact of new regulations on British manufacturing in the last 12 months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the factors responsible for the changes in competitiveness of British manufacturing in the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact of the new Electricity Trading Arrangements on the generation of electricity by wind power.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has security of supply concerns about coal production; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what risk assessment she has made about the potential for disruption to coal supply to the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to promote the capping of EU state aid to the UK coal industry at 2001 levels.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to promote amendments to reduce EU state aid to the UK coal industry on a year-by-year basis.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Finland about nuclear power generation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) medical examinations by doctors and (b) screening tests by nurses were carried out at Healthcall's screening centre at Grosvenor...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation claims made by miners suffering from vibration white finger and mining-related lung diseases are still waiting to be...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation payments to sick miners and their dependants for (a) vibration white finger and (b) respiratory diseases have been made...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) claims were received in respect of respiratory disease, (b) interim and expedited awards were made in respect of respiratory...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims her Department has received in respect of respiratory disease; in respect of how many claims spirometry has been completed; in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the Government's policy on the future construction of pylons in this country on the basis of international research...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government policy is on the construction of underground gas storage facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to safeguard the future of the tyre manufacturing industry in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish the findings of the Work and Parents Taskforce.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on OPEC's oil reserves.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of plutonium have been (a) sold and (b) loaned to the European Commission, on behalf of the European Communities, by the...
Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if legislation is required to allow offshore wind farms to be built in British waters more than 12 miles from the coastline;...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will hold a public inquiry into the Cefn Croer wind farm proposals.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what means she will measure the effectiveness of her strategy to address high gas prices; and over what timescale.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the advice given by his Department to British companies involved in oil extraction in Southern Sudan; and if she will make...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the British companies which are involved in oil and gas pipelines between the Caspian and Europe.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the British oil industry companies which operate in (a) Tajikistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Uzbekistan, (d) Kyrgstan and (e)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government are committed to implementing Article 13 of the EC Employment Directive by 2 December 2003; and what plans the Government...
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to recognise chess as a sport.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the money from Sport England for the Wembley stadium project will be repaid.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 816W, on the national stadium, if she will give details of the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the new opportunities fund was devoted to palliative care for children in each of the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Scottish Executive's Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning to discuss the prospects for the Scottish small business sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scotland Office has made a submission to the PIU energy review.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding transferring attendance allowance resources to the Scottish...
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met officials from the boundary commission for Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions as to the consequences for rail travel in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans the Government have to adjust the number of Members of the Scottish Parliament.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister about her visits abroad to promote tourism in Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on employment trends in Scotland since September.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed the future of the Barnett formula with Treasury Ministers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has held with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on the operation of the Barnett formula.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the future of Army installations in Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to issue tender documents for the ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action she has taken to ascertain public opinion on the possible siting of new nuclear reactors in Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next expects to meet representatives of the Scottish Executive to discuss rural employment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action she has taken since 11 September relating to security against terrorist attacks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent action she has taken to support business operations in Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government are taking to improve security at Scottish airports.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his office took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason his review of section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is not yet complete; and when he will announce the...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the review of the working of ethical review processes in establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made for possession of cannabis; and how many prosecutions followed, in each police force in England, in each of the...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been relocated from the Isle of Thanet under the Government's dispersal programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the case for increasing the length of time given to asylum seekers to complete statement of evidence...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) asylum applications and (b) asylum applications rejected on the grounds of non-compliance there have been in each month of...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government began requiring asylum seekers to be fingerprinted.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was from first application to initial decision in asylum cases in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were waiting to be processed by the Appeals Tribunal in each month of the last three years, indicating the (a) monthly and (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to prevent the re-entry into the United Kingdom of those leaving the country to fight against British and...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the new information technology systems at the Passport Agency are fully rolled out; what has been the estimated total cost of the new...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Passport Agency has conducted a feasibility study into a national identity card system; what it cost; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change (a) the fees charged for processing passport applications and (b) the charging structure for passport...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects of (a) Operation Charlie and (b) other anti-legal and illegal drugs education programmes in...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letter to him dated 14 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. M McDonagh.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates of the European Union meetings attended by Ministers in his Department from 1 January onwards, indicating what...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for members of the National Experience Corps to contribute to the delivery of sport in schools.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to review information technology systems, with specific reference to the Asylum and Immigration Directorate.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 615W, on Yarls Wood immigration detention centre (1) how many detainees...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for the (a) offer and (b) taking of bribes have been brought under (i) the Prevention of Corruption Acts and (ii)...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the review of the criteria for the voluntary registration of charities.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional measures have been taken to guard Britain's (a) oil rigs and (b) nuclear power stations from terrorist attack, following the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to introduce (a) a shorter attendance allowance claim form and (b) an attendance allowance freephone claim line; and what...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase take-up of minimum income guarantee among attendance allowance and disability living allowance (a) claimants and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of minimum income guarantee (i) claimants, (ii) eligible non-recipients...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what state benefits foreign nationals are entitled to when given exceptional leave to remain in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimates he has made of the number of carers in work during term time who do not qualify for invalidity care allowance for looking after...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many suspected cases of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit fraud there were in the financial year 2000–01; how many of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been successfully prosecuted for benefit fraud in the last year for which figures are available, broken down into those...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent in the development and maintenance of the "Targeting Fraud" website to date.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to investigate the allegations of benefit fraud committed by a person whose name has been communicated to him; and if...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time is for repeat benefit claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) income support.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of the specific directions issued to Northampton borough council on 21 August 2000 concerning the delivery and accuracy of housing...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average waiting time for clearing new claims was over the last 12 months in each disability benefit centre.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on (a) the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended and (b) the level of compliance...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will publish the findings of his review of the independent living fund.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (1) pursuant to his answer of 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 684W, on incapacity benefit, how many incapacity reviews were undertaken...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total advertising costs for promoting the stakeholder pension scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to improve the knowledge of doctors representing the Benefits Agency regarding the condition known as...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much benefit was recovered from accident victims by way of recoupment from damages awards in each of the last four years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents have claimed income support in each quarter since August 1996, broken down by lone parents with (a) at least one child...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners had a reduction in their state retirement benefit as a result of a stay in hospital; by what amount the state retirement...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with Age Concern about the equalisation of state pensions; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate for each local authority how many residents in (a) nursing homes and under 65-years-old, (b) nursing homes and over...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to amend the industrial injuries disablement benefit qualifications to include those unable to work through conditions caused...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for industrial injuries disablement benefit have been refused each year since 1995 as a result of the applicant's...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department ensured that the report "Removing the Barriers" published by the Local Government Association, was taken into account during...
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the political, diplomatic, financial and commercial commitments that have been given on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the Governments of other...
To ask the Prime Minister what further plans he has to reform the basis of membership of the House of Lords.
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the necessity of a visible demonstration that the conflict is over in Northern Ireland.
To ask the Prime Minister which Muslim leaders in the United Kingdom have expressed support for the coalition's military action against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
To ask the President of the Council what plans he has for wider consultation of the public on modernisation of the House.
To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to make proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to improve the scrutiny of legislation.
To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to improve the legislative function of Grand Committees.
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proposals he has for using IT to improve access to the business of the House to the public.
To ask the President of the Council if he will make proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons on further ways in which information technology might aid the work...
To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on the operation of the new computer contract for hon. Members.
To ask the President of the Council when the House of Lords Appointments Commission is to hold its next roadshows to encourage people to apply for peerages.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will establish a judicial appointments commission.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the work to develop a national strategy for the recruitment of lay magistrates.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many chairmen of lay magistrates are in post; and how many of them are (a) from the ethnic minority communities, (b) under 45...
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes he expects in the role of magistrates in response to the Auld proposals.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the establishment of a new courthouse in Colchester.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research she has planned in respect of the effect of the award of costs on access to tribunals.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received concerning the performance of the Westminster coroner.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the future role of the community legal service fund in employment tribunals.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what part the new community legal service partnerships play in reducing social exclusion.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his response to Ceredigion county council's proposals for magistrates courts in the county.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if jurors have the option of being escorted in and out of court (a) by separate entrances and (b) at different times from the rest...
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is done to prevent threatening behaviour from the families of convicted defendants toward jurors (a) in and (b) outside court.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many district judges (magistrates' courts) are in post, broken down by the ethnic minority communities; and how many of them...
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many executive NDPBs there have been in existence each year from 1978; and what the total expenditure by these bodies was in each year in (a) real and (b)...
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the budget of the regional co-ordination unit (a) last year and (b) this year; and what the projected figure is for next year.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action his Department took in recognition of energy efficiency week.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will refer to the parliamentary ombudsman the cases of those civil servants who took out additional voluntary contribution policies with the Equitable Life...
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many civil servants took out new additional voluntary contributions policies with the Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1999 and 2000 under the civil...
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many publications were issued by his Department in each of the last four years.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what stocks of (a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by his Department; if he will list such assets sold over the last three years together with...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the United Kingdom,...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to reduce the incidence of meningitis B; and what further steps he plans to take in the next 12 months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to deal with changes in the incidence of meningitis in the last four years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the EC directives relating to groundwater protection and indicate in each case how compliance is (a) monitored and (b) enforced.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the infant mortality rate in Worcester was in each year since 1992.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made since April of international research on the health effect of living close to overhead transmission lines; and what review he...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a Government inquiry into the health effects of power frequency electric and magnetic fields.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health risks of a (a) cancer and (b) non-cancer nature and other health consequences of electro-magnetic fields...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the possible links between childhood leukaemia and magnetic field exposures above 0.4 mircotesla.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will reconsider his decision to accept the early resignation of Mr. Harold Musgrove from the chairmanship of the Worcestershire Acute...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision by NHS trusts of recombinant clotting factors to haemophiliac patients.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) the outstanding legal questions relating to the treatment of NHS patients abroad, (b) when he anticipates those legal...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) orthopaedic waiting lists in Leeds and (b) what action will be taken to reduce these in the short term.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of acute beds are blocked in each acute national health service hospital trust.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on providing funding to health authorities to meet the cost of implementing compulsory guidance issued by the National Institute for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were in the Northamptonshire constituencies in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were taking on new patients on 1 September.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the provision of dentistry and the number of dentists in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) Boston and Skegness.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many salaried dentists are employed (a) by the national health service and (b) by the personal dental service.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the gross fee is paid for (a) an MOD amalgam and (b) a root canal filling on the lower first molar to an independent contractor dentist in the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people, and what proportion of the population, had no access to an NHS dentist in May of each year since 1997.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date he expects to be able to provide universal access to an NHS dentist.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will request local authorities to provide statistics on the abuse of disabled children as a subset of the annual figures collected...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities (a) have fulfilled their obligations to provide a register of disabled children and (b) are able to provide information on the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority he gives to multi-barrier approaches to protect drinking water quality; and if he will make a statement in respect of hazard assessment...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines have been given to health authorities for the prescribing of the anti-smoking drug Zyban; and which health authorities allow GPs to...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of general practitioners in the national health service in England and Wales in each of the last four years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the definition of excessive as applied to GP list sizes; what measures he plans to take to ensure that areas which...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the number of general practitioner vacancies in each (a) health authority and (b) primary care trust in the last two years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of general practitioners due to retire in each of the next five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on the waiting list in Buckinghamshire for hospital treatment in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his proposals for NHS Plus with particular reference to (a) income generation, (b) avoiding unfair competition with private...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received that local authority social services provision (a) as a whole and (b) other than those which have been specifically...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimates he has made of variations in the efficiency of health services across different health authorities; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the retention of staff working in the professions allied to medicine.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of nursing vacancies were filled by nurses trained (a) in the UK, (b) in the remainder of the EU and (c) elsewhere in each of the past...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire, dated 11 August, forwarded to him by the Department of Education and Skills on...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heroin addicts are receiving their heroin from the NHS; and what percentage that represents of the estimated total of heroin addicts.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government campaigns in the past 15 years in reducing the consumption of (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of treatment for lymphoedema is available (a) nationally, (b) within the West Midlands and (c) in Walsall.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what stocks of iodine doses are held against the possibility of nuclear accidents.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid to local authorities in 2001–02 under the partnership grant; and how much is allocated for 2002–03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accountants there are in the planned establishment for the inspection function of the National Care Standards Commission; and how many have been...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many claims for clinical negligence against the NHS which went to trial were successful; and of these how many were (a) legal aid cases and (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was to the NHS of clinical negligence cases in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in each year what was...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the annual cost to the NHS of a no-fault compensation scheme for clinical negligence.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many claims for clinical negligence were made against the NHS in each of the last five years, for which figures are available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the suicide rate was among NHS doctors in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of the administrative budget of Avon health authority that will be transferred to (a) primary care trusts, (b) the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which patients will be able to participate in the extended clinical trials of the beta interferon drug.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what disciplinary regimes overseas doctor applicants to the NHS will be subject to while employed in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reassess the list of conditions exempt from prescription charges.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many 24-hour mental health staff beds are in operation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assertive outreach mental health teams are in operation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were being looked after in children's homes in each year since 1997.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sponsors of the NHS national plan consultation leaflet and the public consultation to inform the NHS national plan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of developing the new logo for the Commission for Health Improvement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the gross expenditure of the Prescription Pricing Authority was in relation to the monitoring of prescriptions in the last 12 months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on behalf of independent private sector chiropodists and podiatrists in respect of the draft Health Professions...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to amend the draft Health Professions Council Order to provide for independent private sector chiropodists and podiatrists to be...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the level of expertise of chiropodists and podiatrists trained by the SMAE Institute.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's target is, under the National Cancer Plan, for the number of CT scanners per thousand of the population.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the criteria employed in determining which (a) hospitals and (b) cancer centres will receive help from the Cancer Capital...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were placed for adoption in each year since 1998 broken down by local authority as a percentage of the number (a) in care and (b) of the...
asked Her Majesty's Government: What consideration they gave in drafting the provisions of the Land Registration Bill to provide for sufficient safeguards to protect ordinary citizens' ability to...
asked the Chairman of Committees: How many complete changes of air per hour are effected by the ventilation equipment in the Barry Room.
asked Her Majesty's Government: What arrangements are being made to publicise the United Kingdom's policies on international humanitarian law, with particular reference to the International...
asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will extend their period as insurers of last resort to British airlines from 30 to a maximum of 180 days without additional costs to the airlines.
asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will start to keep a record of the passport numbers of all passengers entering the United Kingdom from overseas and, if not, why not.
asked Her Majesty's Government: When they expect to pursue a programme of action to achieve reconciliation and social interaction between the different cultural and faith communities in those...
asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their decision on the review of the criteria for the voluntary registration of charities.
asked Her Majesty's Government: When will they publish the review of the working of ethical review processes in establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will call on the European Community to activate Article 2 of the Euro/Israel Association Agreement which states that the upholding of human rights is...
asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will list all of the variables held on the incapacity benefit payment system and the dates on which the next personal capability assessment is due for...
asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the statement by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 22 October (Official Report, column 907) that "we are working with universities and their further...
asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the total cost of the business links programme established in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, indicating separately the cost of aid given directly...
asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they propose to review the criteria which regional developments agencies use in operating the Business Recovery Fund.
asked Her Majesty's Government: What plans it has for publishing draft guidance on quality parishes, as promised in the Rural White Paper.
The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.
We let you vote on whether or not the answer given is adequate.