Written answers

Tuesday, 20 April 2004

  • Health

    • Substance Abuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died as a result of abuse of (a) butane gas refills and (b) other volatile substances in each year since 1997.

    • Mobile Phone Masts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the mobile telecommunications and health research programme to report on the public health implications of mobile phone masts.

      Breast Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Birkenhead with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last five years.

      Smoking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes he has in place to encourage smoking cessation among the over-60s.

      Edward Jenner Institute

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of the Edward Jenner Institute at Compton; and what funding he as allocated to the institute for future years.

      Tuberculosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the containment of tuberculosis, with particular reference to containment of strains which may not respond to treatment by...

      Working Time Directive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the costs of implementing the European Working Time Directive in (a) money terms, (b) extra doctors required and (c) other...

      NHS Foundation Trusts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to lay before Parliament the code for determining the limit on the total amount of borrowing of any NHS Foundation Trust required by...

      Primary Care Trusts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each primary care trust indicating its variation from (a) average per-capita resources in England and (b) their Resource Allocation...

      Hospital Discharges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly people have been subject to eviction as a result of rent arrears after a stay in hospital in each year since 1997.

      Hospital Discharges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to improve communication between health and social services to support vulnerable people who risk losing their homes as a result...

      Hospital Discharges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to prevent elderly people returning home from hospital being subject to eviction orders as a result of rent arrears.

      Hospital-acquired Infections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Nosocomial Infection National Surveillance Scheme, including its current remit and responsibilities.

      Hospital-acquired Infections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the systematic review of how infection control guidelines are implemented in the NHS carried out by Thames Valley University.

      Hospital-acquired Infections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to neonatal intensive care units on the use of (a) broad spectrum antibiotics to prevent infections and (b) more...

      Hospital-acquired Infections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Care Standards Commission records incidences of MRSA in care homes.

      Health Services (Hull and East Yorkshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of MRSA have been identified in hospitals within Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust in each of the past five years; (2)...

      Health Services (Hull and East Yorkshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there are in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

      Health Services (Hull and East Yorkshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses work in hospitals in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

      Health Services (Hull and East Yorkshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of tuberculosis there were in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the past five years.

      Bacterial Resistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into anti-adhesive therapy to combat bacterial resistance in hospitals.

      Bacterial Resistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to encourage pharmaceutical companies to research new antibiotics to combat the threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

      Fertilisation and Embryology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of new processes to produce stem cell-like cells from the blood.

      Fertilisation and Embryology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of online human egg matching services.

      Thalassaemia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to fund research into combating beta thalassaemia major.

      Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2004, Official Report, column 467W, what reasons underlay the decision to authorise the payment towards the cost of...

      Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy.

      Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been present on the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the...

      Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote the delivery of sustainable development within Government.

      Recycled Paper

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports; and if he will state (i)...

      NHS Dentistry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists have been recruited to the NHS in each year since 1997 in the Cumbria and Lancashire Health Authority.

      Contraception

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collated on the percentage of girls who take the contraceptive pill who suffer from (a) weight gain, (b) acne or other skin...

      Statins

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people being prescribed statins in each year to 2010.

      Hypertension

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department are taking to encourage self monitoring of hypertension.

      Genetically Modified Food

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions are in place to prevent the impact of genetically modified meat and fish and what discussions he has had with retailers on their policy...

      Public Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2004, Official Report, column 396W, which posts are filled by (a) acting staff, (b) temporary staff and (c) staff who...

      Food Advertising

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the evidence received by his Department on the impact of the advertising of food to children.

      Health Services (Crosby)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to NHS waiting list time in the last seven years for residents of Crosby.

      Health Services (Crosby)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in Crosby awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital for quicker treatment in the last 12 months.

      Day Cases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the inpatient pre-booking performance against target was in Crosby for (a) elective inpatients, (b) day cases and (c) outpatients in each year since 1997.

      Egg Consumption

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) median, (b) highest and (c) lowest consumption of eggs per person in the UK was amongst (i) infants, (ii) children, (iii) young adults and...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to inform and reassure people who have received blood transfusions since 1980, and will now not be allowed to...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being (a) undertaken and (b) funded by his Department on (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment of vCJD, and the risks of infection through...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether recipients of blood transfusions after 5 April will be prevented from donating blood.

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received (a) transfusions of whole blood components and (b) transfusions of other blood products since 1980.

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the ban on blood donations from those who have received a blood transfusion since 1980 (a) to organ donation recipients and...

      Accident and Emergency Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consultants there were on average in an accident and emergency department in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each...

      Community Hospitals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff are working in the community hospitals of (a) Townlands, (b) Wallingford, (c) Abingdon, (d) Wantage, (e) Watlington and (f) Didcot; and...

      Expert Patients' Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the expert patient programme; and what plans his Department has to extend the programme.

      Skin Diseases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted into quality indicators for the treatment and management of inflammatory skin diseases.

      Care Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many outbreaks of infectious disease there were in care homes in each year since 1997.

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Farm Incomes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on farm income levels for farmers in the Ribble Valley and Fulwood in the past five years.

    • Advisory Committee on Pesticides

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the membership for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides; and which organisations are allowed to attend.

      Home Energy Efficiency

      Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Birkenhead have benefited from Warm Front.

      Horses and Ponies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of regulations which affect horses and ponies as (a) food producing, (b) agricultural and...

      Greyhounds

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many greyhounds have been collected by local authority dog wardens in each year since 2000.

      Rights of Way

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what obligations Plymouth City Council has to consult the public over variations to public rights of way; and whether her...

  • Deputy Prime Minister

    • Possession Orders

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many possession orders have been issued in each year since 1997 to (a) elderly and (b) vulnerable people.

    • Communications Masts

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he and his officials had with (a) Airwave and (b) O2 prior to the setting of the UK's safety limit on Tetra radiation.

  • Home Department

    • Serious Organised Crime Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers currently seconded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service will be transferred to the Serious Organised Crime...

    • Serious Organised Crime Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what role the Serious Organised Crime Agency will have in (a) drugs enforcement and (b) drugs policy; (2) what former HM Customs and...

      Race Hate Websites

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he will take to (a) close down race hate websites and (b) protect named journalists who are being targeted by these sites.

      Probation Hostels

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average percentage change in costs was for each probation hostel following the decision to award the contract for hostel facilities...

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • "Choosing Health?"

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department will make a formal response to the recommendations of the Treasury's recent report on Securing Good Health for...

    • Digital Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of accessibility to digital television in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

      Green Minister

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what work her Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in that capacity; and what meetings her Department's...

      Green Minister

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria she used for making the selection of 20 sports eligible for main Lottery funding; if she will list the 20 sports selected...

      Civil Servants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list for each civil service grade within her (a) Department and (b) Department's executive agencies, the total number of...

  • Defence

    • Electronic Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made to manage the changeover from the Bank Automated Clearing System to the new BACSTEL-IP system for electronic payments.

    • Electronic Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what alternative methods of payment he is proposing for people who currently receive a war pension by order book, girocheque or payable order but...

      Departmental Personnel (Vale of York)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) departmental civilian personnel are based in the Vale of York.

      Civilian Personnel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the salary bill was for civilians employed within the (a) Ministry of Defence and (b) armed forces in the latest year for which figures are available.

      Army Resettlement Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) soldiers and (b) ex-soldiers were (i) investigated and (ii) prosecuted in regard to fraudulent claims for payment associated with...

      Army Resettlement Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers received payments as part of their resettlement on leaving the Army in 2003; and what the average amount was.

      Cap Badges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the regiments which have the name of a county included in the cap badge.

      Wind Turbines, Guestwick

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to object, for operational flying reasons, to the erection of six wind turbines at Guestwick in Norfolk.

      Computer Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to update computer (a) hardware and (b) software standard packages used in his Department.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Disclosure of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in what circumstances is disclosure of Government policy to a third party considered a disciplinary offence.

    • Regulatory Reform

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to improve the regulatory reform process.

      Regulatory Impact Assessments

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to improve the monitoring of regulatory impact assessments.

  • Treasury

    • Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have received overpayments of tax credits in the last 12 months.

    • Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what problems there have been with the tax credit computer system.

      Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants of child tax credit there are; and what the total funding was for 2003–04 for each (a) constituency and (b) region in the United...

      Illegal Imports

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many successful prosecutions have been brought against illegal (a) meat and (b) produce importers in the past five years, broken down by port of entry.

      National Minimum Wage

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions are being made to ensure that (a) post-GCSE students taking summer jobs and (b) sixth formers with Saturday jobs are covered by the new...

  • Wales

    • Inward Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which business sectors in Wales attracted the highest (a) number of investors and (b) amount of investment in each year since 1999.

    • Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been lost in (a) manufacturing and (b) agriculture in Wales in each year since 1997.

  • Northern Ireland

    • Murder Defendants (Bail)

      To ask the Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office how many times defendants charged with murder in Northern Ireland have been released on bail in each year since 2000.

  • Scotland

    • Focus Groups and Opinion Polls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his estimate is of total expenditure by his Department on (a) focus groups and (b) opinion polls in each year from 1995–96 and 2003–04;...

    • Press Officers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if...

      Computers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department in each of the last seven years, broken down by category of misuse; and how many of those...

      Civil Servants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the requirements are on officials in his Office to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for his officials.

      Accountancy Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche,...

      Staff Transferrals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff from his Office have transferred to other Government departments since 1 June 2003; and to which departments they have transferred.

      Staff Transferrals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff from other Government departments have transferred to his Office since 1 June 2003; and from which departments they have transferred.

      Higher Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take in response to the findings and recommendations of the Scottish Executive's Phase 3 Higher Education Review.

  • Work and Pensions

    • Pensions and Benefits (Direct Payments)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Portsmouth South constituency drew their (a) benefits including war pensions and (b) retirement pensions at (i) post...

    • Pensions and Benefits (Direct Payments)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take up of direct payment has been.

      Pensions and Benefits (Direct Payments)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) to how many benefit claimants the Department has sent personal invitation letters to open a Post Office Card Account; and how many of...

      Pensions and Benefits (Direct Payments)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff are employed by his Department to call members of the public who have yet to sign up for electronic payment of their benefits...

      New Deal for Lone Parents

      Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many women in Birkenhead have benefited from the (a) New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) New Deal for Partners since 1997;...

      New Deal for Lone Parents

      Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Wirral South have gained work through the New Deal programme.

      New Deal for Lone Parents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will break down by geographical area the information given in the latest Office of National Statistics' Statistics on the New Deal...

      Pensioner Incomes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate for (a) 1979, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 2002–03 the number of individual pensioners living in households with income...

      Chemical Leak (Rhodia)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the Health and Safety Executive to report on the chemical leak of 3 November 2003 at the Rhodia Group Chesterfield site; and if...

      Pensioner Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the assumptions on uprating of benefit, referred to in Note 5 to the Answer of 3 November 2003, Official Report, columns 470-2W, on...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he was first informed that the former deputy legal adviser in his Department, Ms Elizabeth Wilmhurst, did not agree...

    • Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has now submitted all relevant papers to the Immigration Appellate Authority in the case of Mr. M. A.,...

      St. Helena

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about the development of an airport on St. Helena; and if he will make a statement.

      Guinea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the formation of the new government in Guinea in March.

      Human Rights (Africa)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the importance of human rights in relation to economic growth and development in African countries.

      Illegal Drugs Tade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the UK spent on reducing the illegal drugs trade in (a) South Africa, (b) Eastern Europe and (c) Central Asia in each...

      Indonesia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government about religious freedom; and if he will make a statement.

      Burma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government has in the near future to call for a European Union demarche to the Burmese regime regarding the...

      Burma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government classifies systematic atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan peoples by the Burmese...

      Burma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will take steps to strengthen the European Union common position on Burma, in response to the continuing...

      Burma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Burmese regime regarding recent Burmese military offensives in Northern...

      Burma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will raise the issue of the Burmese military's systematic atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan...

      East Timor

      Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made in identifying those responsible for the deaths of Malcolm Rennie...

      Computer Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to update computer (a) hardware and (b) software standard packages used in his Department.

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the (a) Arab League, (b) Government of Chad an (c) Sudanese Government on the situation in...

      Nepal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions there are on the leaders of the Maoist terrorist movement of Nepal visiting the United Kingdom.

  • Transport

    • Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of progress by National Air Traffic Services in securing investment to expand air traffic control capacity, with particular...

    • London Rail Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the changes in rail services in Greater London recently proposed by the Strategic Rail Authority.

      Biofuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the consultation document on introducing the EU Biofuels Directive.

      Biofuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to improve rail commuter services in the Elmet constituency.

      A303

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the safety improvements to the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester to be completed.

      Regional Airports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on improving road and rail transport links to smaller regional airports in the South East of England.

      Crossrail

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the options for financing Crossrail.

      Transport Infrastructure (London)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the additional funding required for transport infrastructure in London to meet the projected increase in population over...

      Transport Infrastructure (London)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of extra funding needed for transport infrastructure in London.

      Road Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to discuss the issue of noisy roads.

      Road Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the use of ripple print pads on road services to reduce (a) accidents and (b) noise.

      Road Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sound-absorbing concrete in reducing traffic noise.

      Road Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on roadside noise barriers in each of the last 10 years.

      Stockport Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the new platform 1 at Stockport Station to be in use; who paid for it; and whether its introduction to use is dependent on a new signalling.

      Rail Tracks (Speed Limits)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of railway track are subject to speed limits imposed primarily or solely to prolong the life of the track; if he will list the locations...

      Coastguard Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of savings that could be made by reducing the number of coastguard stations around the Scottish coast.

      Coastguard Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on coastguard services in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in each of the last five years.

      Coastguard Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of coastguard stations around the Scottish coast.

      Coastguard Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of planned future expediture on coastguard services in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.

      East Coast Main Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects the East Coast Mailine Franchise to be awarded; (2) for what reason the announcement on the new East Coast Mainline Franchise...

      Road Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the projects in the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements with their (a) estimated cost, (b) start date of construction...

      Road Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which major local road schemes in England have been given (a) provisional and (b) full Government approval in each of the last four years; what their...

      Finningley Airport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans are being considered for freight to be handled at and transported from Finningley Airport; and if he will make a statement.

  • Constitutional Affairs

    • Prisoners (Voting Rights)

      To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to allow serving prisoners to vote in (a) local and (b) general elections; and if he...

    • Freedom of Information (Terrorism)

      To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment has been made of the current exemptions to the release of information contained in...

      Legal Services Commission

      To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, (1) how many new solicitors firms have undertaken contracts with the Legal Services Commission since...

  • Trade and Industry

    • Sellafield

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will itemise the contents of the B30 ponds at Sellafield; what the origin was of the contents; what the radioactivity level of the...

    • Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the financial value of the 10 largest contracts by US dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq already awarded by the Coalition Provisional...

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts have been awarded to British companies for the reconstruction of Iraq; what their total value is; and which companies have...

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will require British companies working in Iraq to recruit individuals of Iraqi nationality to work in the management of their operations.

      Business Activity (Crosby)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses are registered in Crosby; and what the percentage change has been since 1997.

      Business Activity (Crosby)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total Entrepreneurial Activity index for (a) Crosby and (b) England is; and if she will make a statement.

      Employment Rights (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Birkenhead qualify for paid leave entitlement.

      Employment Rights (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Birkenhead have benefited from a reduction of the working week to 48 hours.

      Employment Rights (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of women in Birkenhead have taken 26 weeks' maternity leave since 1997.

      Employment Rights (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the benefits of the EU Social Chapter for the residents of Birkenhead.

      Estate Agents Act

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will seek to amend the Estate Agents Act 1979 to include reference to buying and selling houses on the internet.

      Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate she has made of broadband accessibility rates for (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland, broken down by...

      Fire Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures are in place to assess the impact of furniture fire-safety regulations that came into effect in 1997; and what the findings...

      National Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the impact of the introduction of the national minimum wage for 16- to 17-year-olds on combating the...

      Focus Groups and Opinion Polls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of total expenditure by her Department on (a) focus groups and (b) opinion polls in each year from 1995–96 to...

      Working Time Directive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of (a) implementation of the Working Time Directive in other EU member states and (b) costs to business in other...

      Working Time Directive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the implications for the competitiveness of UK industry of complying with the Working Time Directive.

      British American Tobacco

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) resource budget, (b) administration costs and (c) staff numbers are dedicated to the Companies Act investigation into British...

      Civil Servants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the number of jobs in her Department that are to be (a) cut and (b) relocated are the same as the numbers given her Department's...

      Trade (Far East)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps her Department is taking to promote trade with Far Eastern countries.

      Invoices (Late Payment)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to re-examine legislation relating to the late payment of invoices; and if she will make a statement.

  • Education and Skills

    • Secondments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what secondments (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG have made to his Department since...

    • School Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures in the draft School Transport Bill will ensure that pupils attending denominational schools of their particular faith are not...

      Postgraduate Study

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many graduates have chosen to continue in higher education for a masters' year in each of the past ten years.

      Postgraduate Study

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many research graduates have been recruited by universities in (a) science, (b) engineering, (c) technology and (d) mathematics in each...

      Postgraduate Study

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportions of state-supported PhD students beginning their courses in each of the last 10 years have studied scientific subjects.

      School Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria are applied when making decisions on closing (a) rural schools and (b) urban schools.

      Education Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants were awarded to local authorities in Dorset by his Department in financial year 2003–04 that fall outside the revenue...

      Computers Within Reach

      Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) families in Birkenhead have benefited from the Computers within Reach programme.

      Computer Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to update computer (a) hardware and (b) software standard packages used in his Department.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the effects on schools of changes since 1997 in the level of investment in school sports in Birkenhead.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on higher education in Birkenhead in each of the last seven years.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Birkenhead deemed to be failing since 1997 have since reached satisfactory standards.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 11 year old pupils in Birkenhead have reached level four in (a) mathematics and (b) English in each of the...

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 15 and 16 year-olds in Birkenhead achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A*–C or GNVQ equivalent in each of the...

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils in Birkenhead reached the (a) mathematics and (b) English standard in each of the last seven years.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding each school in Birkenhead has received from New Deal for Schools.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on repairing schools in Birkenhead in each year since 1997.

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Birkenhead (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which...

      Education (Birkenhead)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Birkenhead on the latest date for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to...

      Sex Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made since 16 July 2003 on establishing a set of guidelines on sex education for boys.

      Student Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much interest accrued to the Student Loan Company on student loans in financial years (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and how...

      Teachers (North Somerset)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teaching assistants, (b) teachers and (c) teaching vacancies there were in schools in the North Somerset Education Authority in...

      Teaching Assistants (Wirral)

      Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Wirral South in (a) each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest...

      Excellence in Cities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Birkenhead have benefited from the Excellence in Cities programme; and what the per pupil spending was in each year...

      Supply Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will take measures to ensure that only local education authority-approved teachers can be employed by schools as supply teachers.

      Schools (Wirral, South)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils in Wirral South reached the (a) mathematics and (b) English standard in each of the last seven years.

      Schools (Wirral, South)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Wirral South on the latest date for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to...

      Temporary Classrooms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many temporary or demountable classrooms in the Colchester Parliamentary constituency have been replaced with permanent accommodation...

      Pupil Referral Units

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average length of attendance at pupil referral units was in each of the last three years.

      School Refurbishment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding his Department (a) has spent in 2003–04 and (b) is planning to spend in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06 on...

      Devon Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places there were in Devon Local Education Authority (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) grammar schools in each of the last seven years.

      Public Bodies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) resource budget, (b) administration costs and (c) staff numbers were for 2003 of the (i) School Teachers' Review Body and (ii)...

  • House of Lords

    • Overseas Students

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which 10 countries send the largest number of students to study in the United Kingdom in schools, colleges and universities.

    • Students from China

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What courses in schools, colleges and universities in England are the most popular among students from China.

      Successor Identification Friend or Foe Equipment

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the current and future deployment of Successor Identification Friend or Foe equipment.

      Defence Procurement Agency: Project Fact Files on Website

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many project fact files on the Defence Procurement Agency's website have not been updated for six months or more.

      NATO Submarine Rescue System

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When the design and manufacture contract will be awarded for the NATO Submarine Rescue System.

      Aircraft Carriers: Assessment

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the "assessment phase" which they are currently carrying out for the new carrier programme will result in any delay in the proposed construction operation.

      Scammell EKA Recovery Vehicle

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When the Scammell EKA recovery vehicle first entered service.

      Recovery Vehicles

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether there is any shortage of wheeled vehicle recovery vehicles in the Armed Forces; whether the support vehicle will help mitigate this; and, if so, to what extent.

      Recovery Vehicles

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether there are any safety concerns regarding the long-term use of Foden Recovery Vehicles in the Armed Forces; and whether they will be kept in service after...

      Reservists

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What were the levels of the reservist standard award for the mobilised members of the Army Reserve and the Territorial Army over each of the past 10 years for the...

      A27

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What would be the cost of upgrading the A27 Southerham to Beddingham from single carriageway to dual carriageway.

      A27

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many respondents to the consultation process on the upgrading of the A27 considered that a dual carriageway should be provided; and how many favoured a single...

      Channel Tunnel: Proposed Freight Rail Link and Legislation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Following their decision not to support the proposal for a Bill for a dedicated freight line that would link the Channel Tunnel with the north-west of England,...

      Channel Tunnel: Proposed Freight Rail Link and Legislation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Following their decision not to support the proposal for a Bill for a dedicated freight line that would link the Channel Tunnel with the north west of England,...

      M6 Toll Road

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How the permission to build the Birmingham Northern Relief Road was obtained; who was the promoter; and when the current concessionaires assumed responsibility for...

      Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What authority the London Development Agency would need to provide the additional £250 million to meet the shortfall in the £2.375 billion required to...

      Civil Partnership Bill: Tax Consequences

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will deal with the tax consequences of the Civil Partnership Bill in the Finance Bill 2004.

      Heritage Lottery Funding: North-east Metropolitan Borough Councils

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How much Heritage Lottery funding has been given to (a) South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council; (b) North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council; (c) Newcastle...

      vCJD Compensation Scheme: Support for Patients' Families

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will provide the 139 families who have intimated claims under the vCJD Compensation Scheme with easy access to specialist professional psychological...

      Autism

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their response to reports that many children with a diagnosis of autism are being refused diagnosis or treatment for painful bowel conditions by National...

      Blood Supplies and Safety

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Secretary of State for Health's press release of 16 March on blood donations and vCJD, what specific steps the National Blood Authority will take to...

      Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: From what budgets the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products will be funded; and From what...

      Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Why widows of haemophilia patients who have died of hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products are to be excluded from help...

      Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What limits the Department of Health has imposed on its consultation with the Haemophilia Society on implementation of the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis...

      Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the total sum paid by the Macfarlane Trust to the widows and other dependants of haemophilia patients who have died from HIV infection caused by...

      Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will require people to be included in the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products...

      Alcohol Treatment Centres

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many of the 457 alcohol treatment centres in England are based in the north-east region; and in which area health authorities in that region they are based.

      Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in the light of their clarification that myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is a neurological disease and not a psychiatric disorder, they...

      Obesity: Provision of Pedometers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What consideration they have given to providing pedometers free of charge on the National Health Service for the clinically obese as a means of encouraging them to...

      Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, and if so where, it was stated during the passage of the National Health Service Reform and Healthcare Professions Act 2002 that the Council for the...

      Animal Health Acts 1981 and 2002

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many regulation-making powers in the Animal Health Act 1981 have been superseded by replacement powers embodied in the Animal Health Act 2002; and How many...

What is this?

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.

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