To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific meeting in Bangkok in...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's priorities are for aid to west Africa in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards cancellation of Ethiopia's foreign debt.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is being done to bring about greater international debt relief for Ethiopia.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to reform the European aid budget so that it focuses on the needs of poor people.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's efforts to relieve poverty in Bangladesh.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential humanitarian consequences of a war in Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent action her Department has taken to promote fair trade products; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department will pledge to the Angolan Government at the forthcoming Donor's Conference in Angola.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government is giving to Angola in the clearance of landmines.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held with the Centre for International Briefing, Farnham; and what plans she has to visit the centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Governments of (a) Chad and (b) Cameroon on World Bank funds for the Chad-Cameroon...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to tackle corruption in (a) Chad and (b) Cameroon.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants have been employed by (a) her Department and (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each year...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to support the establishment of criteria for debt cancellation which are based on the resources needed...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to encourage multi-national companies to co-operate with heavily indebted poor countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the figures...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid was paid to Palestinians in 2002; and which projects were funded.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution her Department has made to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea on the demarcation of the border...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent floods in (a) Malawi and (b) Mozambique.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to assist countries which have passed their completion point under the HIPC initiative with unsustainable debt.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by her Department since May 1997; if she will list other assets; and if...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration is given to the costs associated with (a) the millennium development goals and (b) combating HIV/AIDS in the construction of poverty...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the impact of the failure of the Government of Mozambique to declare a national emergency on...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who the suppliers are of her Department's (a) paper and (b) paper products.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department's study of the linkages between wildlife and poverty will be available (a) to the Department and (b) for wider...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many working days have been lost due to illness in her Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote good governance and respect for human rights in Sudan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met representatives of opposition parties in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met representatives of the Government of South Africa to discuss the political situation in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the World Bank continues to fund government programmes in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants have been employed by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each year from 1994–95 to...

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on UK policy towards the agreement reached between President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder for the Convention on the Future of Europe; and...

To ask the Prime Minister when his e-mail address will be established for members of the public to contact him online.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last discussed United States compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with the President of the United States.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 811W, on referendums if he will make a statement on the Government's criteria for determining on...

To ask the Prime Minister when the United Kingdom first provided UNMOVIC and the International Atomic Energy Agency with intelligence material on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the figures were for 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency measures have been put in place to ensure there are sufficient stocks of blood and plasma available to the armed forces in the event of...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the McKinsey report into the operations of the Defence Logistics Organisation; and what plans he has to...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure of his Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have been suspended pending fraud investigation in his Department in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been found guilty of fraud offences in his Department in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the distribution of his Department's whole-time equivalent staff was, including the staff in agencies and other bodies reporting to him, in each...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which north east companies have had negotiations with the Defence Diversification Agency in each year since its inception.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many field hospitals are deployable; and if he will make a statement; (2) what is the (a) establishment and (b) strength of each (i) regular...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents involving members of the public being attacked by horses used by HM Lifeguards in Whitehall have occurred in each of the last five...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the disposal of HMS Coventry and HMS London; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the programme is for the disposal of HMS Sheffield; and what revenue has been or is expected to be raised by her disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the totals of (a) ships intercepted and (b) seizures made of (i) contraband and (ii) illegal drugs by the Royal Navy in each of the past...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of BA/Rescue team support is required to support the planned deployment of Royal Naval and Royal Air Force personnel to the Persian Gulf; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems of compatibility were experienced between British and US communications equipment during the US Department of Defence's Joint Task Force...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops were involved in the US Department of Defence's Joint Task Force Exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his Department's policy to regard the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 and the Protocol of 1978...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes his Department has made in respect of future (a) numbers of and (b) armament for fast patrol boats as a result of Islamist terrorist...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the feasibility of basing missile interceptors in the UK as part of a ballistic missile defence system; and if he will make a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many firearms have gone missing from the stocks of the (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) RAF in each of the last five years; and what category of weapons...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 516W, and his letter to the hon. Member for New Forest, East of 18 December 2002, how...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status is of (a) 22 Regiment Royal Artillery and (b) 161 (Ambulance) Regiment RLC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Public and Commercial Services Union about their opposition to the four-year pay settlement; and if he will make a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list PSA targets for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 which his Department has not achieved stating the progress made in each case; and if he...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the timing of his placing in the Library his departmental minute on the sell-off of QinetiQ to the Carlyle Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the composition was of the financial payment made to QinetiQ on its post-privatisation; how much was paid in respect of (a) staff pensions, (b)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to postpone to go-ahead with the sale of QinetiQ to the Carlyle Group until Parliament has an opportunity to evaluate and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the flight path of planes flying into and out of RAF Fairford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what limitations upon stored weapons apply to RAF Fairford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are stationed at RAF Fairford; and how many civilian personnel are employed there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future amphibious capability of the Royal Navy in respect of (a) ships and (b) personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was in each of the last five years of his Department's search and rescue capability in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made on whether Suez veterans should receive an honour.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many people are in the delivery unit; and how many are (a) working within the Treasury and (b) transferred to the Treasury; (2) when the...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants have been employed by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies and non departmental bodies in each year from...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of the total expenditure by his Department on ministerial travel (a) in the UK and (b) abroad, in each year from 1995–96 to...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his written statement of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 65WS, on open government, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many statutory instruments have been issued by the Cabinet Office in each calendar year since 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's original target date was for the completion of the National Flood and Coastal Protection Database; what...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what calculation she has made of the costs of the EU directive on disposal of dead stock for (a) the Government and (b)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many deer were shot by the Forestry Commission in Somerset in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who is responsible for calculating the deer figures in the UK; and what they were at the most recent date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which (a) local authorities and (b) drainage boards have still to produce a publicly available policy statement setting out...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities adopted measures to improve the thermal insulation of buildings under their Home Energy Conservation...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review High Level Target 9 following the Environment Agency's report to her Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget for the Environment Agency (a) was in 2001–02 and (b) is in 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that the Environment Agency website can cope with the volume of traffic in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department will be making to the Council of Ministers in discussions regarding the European Water...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources have been made available in the spending review to the Environment Agency to carry out its role as competent...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what planning policy and regional guidance will be issued to local authorities with regard to the implementation of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the impact of the European Water Framework Directive to be upon (a) water management and (b) land use...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the overall costs to the United Kingdom that will be incurred by the implementation of the European...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department and the Environment Agency are putting in place to prepare for the implementation of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to consult non-governmental organisations about the interpretation and implementation of the Water...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much fallen stock by (a) species, (b) region and (c) month was rendered in each year since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the amount of fallen stock in terms of (a) weight and (b) species in the UK in each of...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many British fishery officers have been sent during 2002 to those Baltic States which are due to accede to the European...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress with its flood defence scheme at Hillfarrance, near Taunton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide additional funding for flood defences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Environment Agency's flood warning service to be available to all people whose homes or businesses have...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the population designated as at risk of flooding will be covered by the Environment Agency's warning...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are used by the Government to determine whether a property is designated as at risk of flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she plans to introduce a 0.5 per cent.standard for flood defences; and what estimate she has made of the cost to public...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress made by the Environment Agency towards developing flood risk categories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the Environment Agency to identify private flood and coastal defences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports she has received from the Environment Agency about progress made in developing the National Flood and Coastal...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of those defined as being in fuel poverty in 2001 have carried out DIY insulation measures to improve the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the NFU regarding the 20-day standstill movement restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the 20-day standstill period on British agriculture.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she intends to consult on the UK's 2004 packaging waste recycling targets; (2) what preliminary assessment she...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to receive the results of the rodent survey element of the 2001 English House Condition Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what international discussions are taking place to control the threat of pollution at sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Ministers and officials attended the January Council of Ministers meeting on the EU Draft Regulations on the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working days have been lost due to illness in her Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on what funding was made available in the last financial year for TB research in the areas of...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on what funding is available for consequential loss for TB breakdowns for those farmers who...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on village halls of regulations introduced since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants have been employed by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental bodies in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when (a) he and (b) Ministers and officials in his Department first told the England Cricket Board that in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote democracy in the Arab world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the French Government concerning appropriate celebration of the 100th anniversary of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what fair trade criteria he sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States administration on the guidance given in the publication, "A Human Rights...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United Kingdom representatives at the United Nations regarding human rights surveillance by...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Colombia regarding (a) abuses of human rights and (b) persecution of human...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the United States regarding abuse of human rights in Colombia; (2) what discussions he...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the sites listed in the Government's dossier on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction published on 24 September 2002...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UN weapons inspectors have visited (a) the Castor Oil Production plant at Fallujah in Iraq, (b) the al-Dawrah Foot and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Northern Iraqi Kurdish people on the situation in Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Syria on relations with Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the Middle East have made requests to the United Kingdom Government to take military action against Iraq on...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what relevant warnings from the Israeli Embassy in London were received by his Department in the month before 26 July 1994; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department's Ministers have signed PII certificates in relation to the bombings of the Israeli Embassy and Balfour House...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the UK ambassador to the UN voted in relation to the setting up of a tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders; and if he...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many claims for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975 have been lodged with his...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities on its blasphemy laws; (2) if he will make a statement...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the suppliers are of his Department's (a) paper and (b) paper products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Nigerian authorities on the subject of religious conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the authorities in Gujarat, India on the subject of violence against Christians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the UN Secretary General's proposals on the putative referendum on the future of the Western Sahara;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made concerning the referendum on the future of Western Sahara to (a) the Government of Morocco and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Robert Mugabe and his government are guilty of genocide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tests for erythropoietin and human growth hormones she expects to be conducted by UK Sport in each of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many working days have been lost in her Department and due to illness in each year since 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the departmental budget allocated in this financial year for tackling drug crime will be spent on (a) staff and (b)...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the numbers and percentage of prisoners who will be participating in drug treatment programmes in each of the next 10...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been allocated for the education campaign due to be launched this spring on drug misuse; what assessment will take place of...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on under-age drinking.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Ethnic Minority Business Advisory Forum since its inception; what (a) expenses and (b) salary each received; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment since its inception; what expenses or salary each received;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the impact of insurance costs on the competitiveness of British industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many miners in Newton-le-Willows have received (a) offers and (b) final offer settlements for their white finger and pneumoconiosis claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974; (2) what the scope is of her review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974; (3)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce measures to require credit card providers to include a comparative box in their marketing material setting out the key...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what measures she plans to introduce to ensure good practice among debt management companies; (2) what assessment she has made of the...

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Ofgem about modification P95A, P100, P102, P103 and P114 to the Balancing and Settlement...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of red post boxes in urban areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how she intends to monitor the effect of the new EU block exemption regulations for the sale of motor vehicles that come into force on 1...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation took place with the Department for Work and Pensions before the delay imposed on the issue of personal invitation documents...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what use her Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance her Department is providing to help small businesses in rural areas access broadband services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance she is giving to the textile industry in East Lancashire; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when 16 to 18-year-olds in Somerset will become entitled to Education Maintenance Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards meeting the 2004 target for having free nursery places available to all three year-olds; and for what...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils sat GCSEs in (a) French, (b) German, (c) Spanish and (d) Russian in each year since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on progress in providing teachers in Broxtowe with a laptop computer with internet access.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the administrative cost of the (a) introduction and (b) implementation of the leadership incentive grants;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 976W, when he received a copy of the report on the United Kingdom by...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average number of hours worked per week was for (a) teachers, (b) deputy head teachers, (c) head teachers and (d) all teachers in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the working time of (a) teachers, (b) deputy head teachers, (c) head teachers and (d) all teachers was spent on (i)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the running costs were of the Department in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the number of permanent staff in the Scotland Office in each year from 1999–2000 to 2003–04; if she will give the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full time equivalent staff there were at the Scotland Office in each year since 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to her answer of 19 December 2002, to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait), Official Report, column 915W, what the Scotland Office's (a)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total cost to her Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been lost by her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft in each year since...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by her Department since May 1997; if she will list other assets; and if she will...

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much producing the Lord Chancellor's Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of...

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the (a) roles and ranks, (b) purpose and (c) cost of royal appointments in (i) the UK and (ii) Bedfordshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Office of Law Reform will complete its analysis of the responses to the public consultation on 'Physical Punishment in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of children in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) England achieved A*-C grades at GCSE in all three core subjects in each of the last...

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the plans for the former Killyleagh High School premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance will be given to district councils to assist with the costs of implementing EC Directive 1999/31 on the landfill of waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what penalties will be placed on local authorities and site operators who do not comply with the EC Directive 1999/31 on the landfill of waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications submitted to the Department have not been determined after (a) three, (b) six, (c) nine and (d) 12 months; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many payments have been made yearly from the Adviser Discretion Fund; and how many of these payments have gone to help pay for advance...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure of his Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy), of 13 January, Official Report, column 393, on the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the work of the Jobs Transition Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) Gateshead have been assisted by the New Deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2002, refs 88095, 88096 and 88138, on the New Deal Environment Task Force, if he will list the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people in the City of Chester have been helped into jobs by the New Deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average pension income was in each year since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many statutory instruments were issued by the Department of Social Security in each calendar year since its formation; and how many have...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the extra resources required to support the growth and development of new communities in the Thames Gateway...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his projections are of (a) the cash level and (b) the level at 2001–02 prices of the winter fuel allowance in (i) 2007–08,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 11 December, Official Report, column 379W, on workplace health and safety, what the cost was to the Exchequer of...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the refusal of the New Forest Primary Care Trust to offer brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what items of expenditure he has included in his tracking exercise for earmarked cancer funds; (2) when he will publish the results of his...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent evaluation his Department has made of the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning syndrome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure effective (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) rehabilitation for people suffering chronic effects of...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients suffering cardiac arrests were resuscitated by ambulance staff, in each ambulance trust area in the last 12 months for which...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care practices have chronic heart disease management registers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees there are in the Commission for Health Improvement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the figures were for 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered drug addicts there were in (a) Tunbridge Wells and (b) Kent in each of the past five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug rehabilitation places were available to registered drug addicts in (a) Tunbridge Wells and (b) Kent in each of the past five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect of food colourings on the behaviour of children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether recombinant treatment products will be made available this year to all haemophilia sufferers in (a) England and (b) Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many members of the Commission for Health Improvement attended the scrutiny sessions of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in 2002; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the results of his consultation on the Healthy Start proposals; whether the Healthy Start Scheme will maintain the value of benefit...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on the number of adverse events in relation to (a) herbal medicines and (b) dietary supplements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 181W, what proportion of trusts make no use of leading chef dishes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued on the use of alcoholic hand gels in the prevention of the spread of noroviruses; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers have been given to ward managers to enforce rigorous cleaning standards with particular reference to powers to withhold payment from...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many IT Systems within the organisations due to be amalgamated within the HPA will require re-engineering as a result of the changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that there are no consequences for the level of service provided by Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total pay costs for employees in the latest available financial year were in the Mid-Essex hospital trust area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Healthy Start Scheme will reflect FSA guidance on the age limits for (a) whole milk and (b) semi-skimmed milk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mixed sex mental health wards there are in (a) Somerset and (b) Somerset and Dorset strategic health authority area.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what training is on offer for those with qualifications from the University of Nairobi, who are not refugees, to qualify for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will check that each NHS trust has instituted a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) before community health councils are...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in how many cases discussions about the financial terms of the transfer of a PHLS laboratory to the relevant NHS trust have not begun; (2) how many...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to begin his Department's public awareness campaign on prostate cancer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals that have been on red alert on each day since 1 November 2002 in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the members of the Retained Organs Commission are; and what their (a) profession and (b) attendance records are.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many working days have been lost due to illness in his Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the NHS PASA report on timber.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new cases of Type 2 diabetes have been diagnosed in each of the last five years in (a) males under 30, (b) males 30 and over, (c) females under...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Taunton and Somerset NHS trust area were waiting for in-patient treatment on the latest available date.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the City of London received the ceiling in the recently announced local authority grant settlement; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers he has to ensure that local authority income from the sales of schools and community buildings is invested in the community on specific projects.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid in grant to each local authority in respect of (a) coastal defence and (b) flood protection in each of the last five years; and how much will be...

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of housing stock was (a) owner occupied, (b) public sector rented and (c) private sector rented in (i) England and (ii) local authorities defined...

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has held with the Housing Corporation concerning the funding of new developments through housing co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has held with the Housing Corporation on the provision of adequate funding for the rehabilitation of street properties.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which London local authorities will not have a real terms grant increase this year based on inflation, wage commitments and net nursing care and health transfers...

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the revenue supply grant settlement for South Somerset District Council for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter VAT rates on the restoration of buildings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families received the children's tax credit in 2001–02, broken down into those that received (a) under £100, (b) £101 to £200,...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of tax lost in the last year to the Inland Revenue in connection with the Construction Industry Scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates have been made of the cost to date of developing software to manage the Construction Industry Scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates have been made of the total costs for developing software for the future administration of the Construction Industry Scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Construction Industry Scheme vouchers the Inland Revenue processed in the last financial year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made by the Inland Revenue to develop software to manage the Construction Industry Scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1997 the death rates from sudden infant death syndrome for babies born into families in the manual social classes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if his Department has completed the preliminary technical work relating to the five economic tests of the euro; and if he will make a statement; (2)...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the figure of £850 million saved in Government procurement was not included in the Treasury performance report against public service...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was paid during the last financial year, broken down by (a) gender and (b) 10 year age bands.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the (a) nominal and (b) real percentage increase in spending in the Inland Revenue from 1998–99 to 2002–03; and if he...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the International Accounting Standards Board regarding the development of a new insurance standard.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total expenditure by his Department on ministerial travel (a) in the UK and (b) abroad, in each year from 1995–96 to...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the annual cost of the National Investment and Loan Office in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04 (planned).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to privatise National Savings and Investments; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the reduction in the annual costs of government borrowing as a consequence of the existence of National Savings and Investments (a)...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the outstanding amount of savings and investment with National Savings and Investments, broken down by product; and if he will make...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total administration costs for National Savings and Investments in each year from 1990–91 to 2005–06 (planned); and...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the present (a) maturity structure and (b) average interest cost of outstanding monies borrowed by the UK Government through...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the annual saving in each of the last 10 years from borrowing money through National Savings and Investments rather than through...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of real terms expenditure at the Office for National Statistics in each year from 1996–97 to 2005–06 (planned); and if he...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasons underlie the increase in real spending on the Office for National Statistics, comparing 1998–99 with 2003–04; and if he will make a...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the value of (a) land, (b) buildings and (c) other assets owned by the Office for National Statistics; and if he will make a...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the total value of all the fixed assets of the Office for National Statistics; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the value of the Drummond Gate Offices of the Office for National Statistics; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many motor vehicles are owned by the Office for National Statistics; if he will list these with the current total valuation; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings the Office of Government Commerce has secured in (a) financial years (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02 and (b) from May 2002 to December...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the estimated cost of income tax relief for approved pension schemes as stated in table 7 of the November 2002 'Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs'...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total government revenue is represented by the total public sector pension obligation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 360W, on public services productivity, if he will place in the Library a list of attendees...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he proposes to encourage the use of sustainable fuels in road vehicles.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many self-assessment tax-returns were received by the Inland Revenue, and how many of these that have subsequently been lost (a) in the current...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income tax receipts foregone, since 1 October 2000, as a result of the Government's policy of levying a lower rate of tax...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the VAT rate of 17.5 per cent. on the sale of thermal insulation products for private purchasers; and if he will...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of unpaid tax by each major category of tax for the last year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

asked Her Majesty's Government: How they intend to halt the rise in the prison population, particularly in the numbers of women and young persons.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What measures are being taken to reduce the rising number of incidents of attempted suicide and self-harm in HM Prisons.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 6 March 2001 (WA 26), whether they have made progress in reducing the number of prisoners held over 100...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will now publish the report by Stephen Moore on the fire at Yarl's Wood detention centre on 14 February 2001, together with the reports on the fire by...

asked Her Majesty's Government: If they intend to make any changes to the right to buy scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Under paragraphs 5(4)(a) and (b) of the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, how long a period will be allowed to elapse in each case before the...

asked Her Majesty's Government: What date explanatory booklets and guidance on the Flexible Working Regulations will be available.

asked Her Majesty's Government: When will the United Kingdom space strategy be published.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 7 January (WA 167) concerning the system of appointment of Queen's Counsel, what are the benefits which the...

asked Her Majesty's Government: What are their proposals for the amalgamation of divisions of the General Commissioners of Income Tax in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report Privacy and data-sharing: The way forward for public services (April 2002), they will publish...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they would consider it to be in the public interest for British political parties and parliamentary elections to be funded by business interests; and, if...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have any plans to extend the Atomic Weapons Establishment contract.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they are taking to involve regional directors of public health in the implementation of the recommendations in the report Preventing Accidental...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 December 2002 (WA156), whether any patient living in England or Northern Ireland could be affected...

asked Her Majesty's Government: What research has taken place into allergic reactions to thimerosal/mercury-based vaccines, especially among infant children.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will confirm the National Audit Office's figure of £4.4 billion of outstanding claims against the National Health Service for negligence; and...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they consider that the Provisional IRA is still involved in recruiting, re-arming, training, targeting and punishment beatings; and, if so, in what activities.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What were the dates of the closure of (a) O'Neill Memorial School, Castlereagh and (b) Castle Gardens School, Newtownards; and what proposals there are for the...

asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the present enrolment at Abbey Primary School, Newtownards; how many applicants for enrolment for the academic year beginning September 2002 were refused;...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether Waterways Ireland has any plans to restore and re-open the Ulster Canal as a tourist attraction.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the role of the Armagh Protestant Board of Education at the Royal School, Armagh; when this board came into existence; and what is its statutory basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 January (WA173) concerning Waterways Ireland, what is meant by the wording "equality scheme is set out below".

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 January (WA237) concerning the retirement of the interim chief executive of the Ulster Scots Agency...

asked Her Majesty's Government: What are their targets for the growth of integrated education in Northern Ireland; and what resources have been allocated to them.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Following the recent total relay of the railway track between Belfast and Dublin, how many speed restrictions apply; and why they are appropriate on a relaid track.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What restrictions there are on enrolment at the Royal School, Armagh; how the number of boarders at this school impacts upon total enrolment; and whether an...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 January (WA 233) concerning Weston Park, which parties accepted the proposals of 1 August 2001 and which...

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any new appointees to the Civil Service in any part of the United Kingdom are required to take an oath of allegiance; if so, which parts of the Civil...