Written answers

Monday, 6 June 2005

  • Cabinet Office

    • Civil Servants

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Government's commitment to remove the disqualification of Irish nationals from senior...

  • Trade and Industry

    • Bribery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on theobservations and recommendations in the OECD Phase 2 report on the United Kingdom's Application of the...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the counter-narcotics programme in Afghanistan.

    • Belarus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Belarus concerning the proceedings by the state authorities against the...

      EU Constitution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been held between departmental staff from the (a) EU Constitution team and (b) EU Presidency team within his...

      EU Constitution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has made to (a) the European Commission, (b) the European Parliament and (c) other EU institutions regarding...

      EU Constitution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what mechanisms information from EU institutions on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe will be assessed...

      North Cyprus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will change the advice on the Foreign Office website to advise UK nationals against purchasing properties in occupied...

      Nuclear Power Conference

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who represented the UK at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power for the 21st Century, in Paris on 21 and 22...

      Public Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the events that have been organised by the public relations company Geronimo as part of its contract with his...

      Public Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list events that the public relations company Trimedia Communications has organised as part of its contract with his...

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will ensure that human rights and democracy issues are a central focus of EU-Russian relations when the UK...

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Russian Government on international fair trial standards in the trial of...

      Saharawi Human Rights Activists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Saharawi human rights activists concerning protection of their rights within MINURSO.

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan, regarding the forced relocations of internally displaced persons in...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of civil society from Southern Sudan concerning the peace process in the country.

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Sudan, and (b) the Sudan People's Liberation Army and Sudan People's...

      Uzbekistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations on behalf of the Uzbek Baptist Minister Farkhod Khamedov.

      Western Sahara

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of decisions to review reconnaissance contracts for oil and gas in the Western...

  • Home Department

    • Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the process by which those who fail to be granted refugee status have their status in the UK determined thereafter.

    • Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether applicants for refugee status whose status is determined at the proposed accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester and...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of migrants who apply for refugee status and for which it is determined that they do not qualify have appealed in the last 12...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the enabling regulations to bring into force section 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 will be laid; and if he will make a statement.

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that interviews of asylum claimants are always tape recorded.

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restrict the right of appeal against refusal of visitors' visas.

      Deportation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used for deportation of individuals following imprisonment; and what criteria apply to those holding dual nationalities.

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact of identity cards on the operation of human rights legislation.

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the bodies that will be entitled to access files of individuals stored on the identity card database.

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the existing (a) biometric databases and (b) non-biometric databases on which he will model his identity card database.

      Migrant Workers (EU Accession States)

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of workers from EU accession states on labour market stability; if he will publish the...

      Sexual Offences Act

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to assess the effectiveness of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

  • Defence

    • Detainees (Treatment)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 80 of the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report, The Handling of Detainees by UK intelligence personnel in Afghanistan,...

    • Detainees (Treatment)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) detainees, (b) security internees and (c) enemy prisoners of war transferred by British forces to the United States military have been...

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel are listed among the hostile military deaths in Iraq; and how many died following incidents involving (a) Land Rovers, (b) other...

      MARS Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the support vessels that form part of the MARS programme will (a) be regarded as warships and (b) be built in the UK.

      NATO Alliance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department takes to promote the further understanding of the NATO Alliance among (a) the general public, (b) school age students and...

      Unmanned Air Vehicle Projects

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK-based aerospace companies are undertaking unmanned air vehicle projects funded in whole or in part by his Department.

  • International Development

    • Asian Tsunami

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of total Government funds that will have been disbursed following the South East Asian tsunami; and what estimate...

    • Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many consultants were employed by his Department in each of the last three years; and what their names were.

      Indonesia

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assurances he has received from the Indonesian Government that debt relief will not be used to support arms sales to the UK; and...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how he expects the £300 million of British aid to southern Sudan to be spent.

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action his Department has taken to ensure that humanitarian access in Darfur is improved in preparation for the rainy season.

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of civilians without access to humanitarian assistance in Darfur.

      Uzbekistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department gave to Uzbekistan between 2001 and 2005.

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Bees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what evidence she has collated on the incidence of European foulbrood disease in bees; (2) what decisions she has made...

    • Bees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings she has had with the British Beekeepers' Association since May 2004.

      Bees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on plans to deregulate European foulbrood disease; and on what evidence those plans are...

      British Waterways Board

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will change the policy of the British Waterways Board regarding achieving a return from surplus non-operational land.

      Climate Change

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy that the post-Kyoto strategy to tackle climate change should be target-based on a...

      Common Agricultural Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) net contribution by the UK to and (b) net income received by the UK from the common agricultural policy has been...

      Dangerous Wild Animals Act

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the review of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, with particular reference to the review of...

      Departmental Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to realise the value of under-performing assets held by (a) her Department and (b) its associated public...

      Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff from employment agencies were employed by (a) her Department and (b) each agency of the Department (i)at the...

      EU Committees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many timesduring the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidencies of the EU the (i) Committee on certificates of...

      Single Payment Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about the effects and desirability of ear tags on cattle and cattle passports following...

      Single Payment Scheme

      Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of farmers who will receive (a) more and (b) less funding through...

      Farming

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many activefarmers there have been in each year from 1980 to date.

      Farming

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been given in total by the Government, excluding funding from EU sources, in direct aid to the farming industry...

      Forestry Commission Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what procedures the new director of the Forestry Commission Wales will be appointed.

      Genetically Modified Maize

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government had had sight of the EU study into the effects of rats being fed Monsanto's MON 863 maize when it...

      Horse Passports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horse passports have been issued since the introduction of the scheme.

      Milk Price

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average price paid to farmers for a litre of milk has been in each year since 1980.

      National Fruit Collection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the custody of the National Fruit Collection.

      Public Bodies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are taken by her Department to (a) control and (b) reduce the cost of its associated public bodies.

      Shared/lateral Drains

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to make an announcement about the possible transfer of shared and lateral drains to local water companies;...

      Xenotransplantation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent World Health Organisation report on xenotransplantation; and what plans she has...

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Amateur Sports Clubs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in reviewing the licence fee costs for amateur sports clubs; and if she will make a statement.

    • Amateur Sports Clubs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to engage community amateur sports clubs in helping schools meet the Government's...

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many consultants were employed by her Department in each of the last three years; and what their names were.

      Departmental Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money her Department used to fund the celebration of the last (a) St. George's Day, (b) St. Patrick's Day and (c)...

      Football Association Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department expects the Football Association's review of its structure and governance to be published; and if she will make a...

      Gambling Act

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to bring in secondary legislation specifying the dates for the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005; and if she will...

      Heritage Lottery Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Heritage Lottery Fund spent in 2004–05 on acquiring works of art and other artefacts for public museums; and what...

      Licensing Changes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect on small bars within larger premises of the recent change to licensing fees; and if she will...

      South Bank Centre

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has been informed that (a) the South Bank Centre's vice chairman is employed by solicitors Herbert Smith and (b) that...

      South Bank Centre

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria her Department used to appoint Lord Hollick to be chairman of the South Bank Centre.

      Lottery Funding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the 10 parliamentary constituencies which received least in awards from Lottery sources in each year since 2000.

      Premier League Football (TV Rights)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department (a) plans to have and (b) has had with the (i) European Commission, (ii) other Government Departments...

      Royal Parks Constabulary

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether officers serving in the Royal Parks Constabulary over the age of 55 years will be required to take part in an eligibility...

      Sexual Violence Counselling (Funding)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) rape crisis organisations and (b) other organisations helping female survivors of sexual violence received funding from...

      Sexual Violence Counselling (Funding)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money was granted from Lottery sources to (a) individual rape crisis organisations and (b) other organisations helping female...

      Sports Instructors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of schools in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England have access to specialist sports instructors to assist in the delivery...

      Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department's Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme extends to Northern Ireland.

      Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what access Northern Ireland sports people have to the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme programme; (2) how many athletes from...

      Tourism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) the budget for the promotion of British tourism and (b) total public spending on promoting British tourism was in each year...

      Volunteers (Sport)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to encourage volunteers in sport.

  • Prime Minister

    • Cabinet Memorandum

      To ask the Prime Minister what representations the Government has received from members of the United States Congress in connection with the authenticity of a document purported to be a Cabinet...

    • Cabinet Memorandum

      To ask the Prime Minister whether the Government have instituted an inquiry into the leaking of a document purported to be a Cabinet memorandum dated 23 July 2002.

      Drugs (Colombia)

      To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Colombian government on drugs and related armed violence.

      Foreign Affairs Policy

      To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on mechanisms for co-ordinating policy on foreign affairs between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International...

      G8 Summit

      To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet representatives from churches and non-government organisations at their forthcoming lobby to Make Poverty History in advance of the Gleneagles...

      Iraq

      To ask the Prime Minister whether he was given copies of internal Foreign Office briefing material on the legality of the war in Iraq before the commencement of hostilities.

      Iraq

      To ask the Prime Minister whether John Scarlett had discussions with the Iraq Survey Group on the drafting of the reports of their findings.

      Ministerial Duties

      To ask the Prime Minister how many hours he spent performing his official duties in the week commencing 9 May.

      VE Day Celebrations (Moscow)

      To ask the Prime Minister what factors he took into account in reaching his decision not to attend the VE Day celebrations in Moscow.

  • Minister for Women

    • Living Standards

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of changes in living standards for women since 1997.

    • Poverty

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what plans the Government have to curb poverty among women.

  • Transport

    • Babergh District Council

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the transport consequences of Babergh district council's development plan.

    • British Summer Time

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the likely effects of continuing British summer time throughout the year on the number of road accidents in England and Wales.

      Congestion Charge

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London regarding the proposed extension of the congestion charging zone in London.

      Congestion Charge

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has undertaken with businesses and business groups regarding the effect of the proposed westward extension of the...

      Container Traffic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his estimate is of the volume of container traffic which will enter the UK through east coast ports over the next three years; (2) what his...

      Container Traffic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of container traffic entering the UK through (a) Harwich, (b) Felixstowe and (c) London which had its final...

      Container Traffic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made for the average time taken for a fully laden container ship arriving at the coast at (a) Harwich, (b) Felixstowe, (c) London...

      Container Traffic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of container traffic which entered the UK through (a) Harwich, (b) Felixstowe and (c) London which had...

      EU Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what EU legislation was implemented by (a) the Vehicle Excise Duty (Reduced Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 2000, (b) the Public Service Vehicles...

      Freight Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in achieving a shift in freight transportation from road to rail since 1997.

      Freight Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government financial support is available to support a shift in freight transportation from road to rail.

      Rail Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to upgrade rail freight between the east coast ports and the Midlands of England.

      Future Heathrow

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) direct and (b) indirect financial backing his Department has provided to Future Heathrow.

      Future Heathrow

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he attended the launch of Future Heathrow.

      Future Heathrow

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the nature of the relationship between his Department and Future Heathrow.

      Future of Transport White Paper

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a Sustainable Development Appraisal was undertaken prior to publication of The Future of Transport White Paper.

      M1 Speed Limit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a 50 mph speed limit has been imposed for the first few yards of the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway.

      New Cars

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average weight of a new car has been in each year since 1985.

      One Train-operating Company

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints his Department has received about the One train-operating company.

      One Train-operating Company

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport against what criteria the performance of the One train operating company will be assessed when deciding whether or not to renew its franchise.

      Pelican and Puffin Crossings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has commissioned on the effectiveness of (a) pelican and (b) puffin crossings.

      Ports Strategy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring forward a national ports strategy.

      Railway Punctuality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the change in punctuality levels on the railways between 1998 and 2004; and if he will make a statement.

      Road Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he collects on the relative likelihood of being involved in a road accident in (a) a saloon car and (b) a 44 vehicle.

      Solar-powered Devices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use (a) is being made and (b) is planned for solar-powered devices on, over or under the road network; whether trials of such equipment are...

      Terrorism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what exercises the (a) armed forces and (b) emergency services have carried out with (i) airlines and (ii) the commercial aviation sector in relation...

      Train Evacuation (Burton-upon-Trent)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a mass evacuation of a train took place on 16 May near Burton-upon-Trent; what investigations are being carried out into this incident;...

      Train-related Deaths

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have died on train lines in each year since 1990; and how many of them were suicides.

      UK Merchant Marine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what exercises the (a) armed forces and (b) emergency services have carried out with (i) ships and (ii) staff of the merchant marine to prepare for...

      Vision Zero

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transportif he will make a statement on the Vision Zero project.

  • Defence

    • Scottish Infantry Regiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet representatives of veterans' organisations to discuss changes in the Scottish infantry.

    • Scottish Infantry Regiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) complement and (b) strength is of each of the six Scottish infantry regiments; and what it has been in each year since 2001.

      Defence Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reviews have been undertaken of project management arrangements with his Department's procurement processes.

      Defence Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in procurement of two new aircraft carriers.

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British forces stationed in Iraq.

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists are deployed in Iraq.

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

      Defence Aviation Repair Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has completed his review of the future of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; and if he will make a statement.

      Royal Marine Corps

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Royal Marine Corps over the next five years.

      Asian Tsunami (Relief Operations)

      To ask the Secretary of State forDefence what role UK armed forces are playing in relief operations for the people affected by the Asian tsunami.

      Army Manning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on manning levels in the Army.

      Royal Anglian Regiment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where he expects the 1st and 2nd battalions of the Royal Anglian Regiment to be permanently based under his proposals to re-structure the infantry.

      Royal Welsh Regiment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the headquarters of the newly established Royal Welsh Regiment will be in Wales.

      Argentine Air Force

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many encounters RAF combat air patrols have had with the Argentine Air Force since January.

      Fres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Future Rapid Effect System will enter service with the Army.

      Kellogg, Brown and Root

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role and responsibilities of Kellogg, Brown and Root in the design and build of the two aircraft carriers commissioned...

      Ulster Defence Regiment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards the establishment of a fund to assist the widows and dependants of Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers in Northern...

  • Treasury

    • Art Acquisition (Goodison Report)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish a response to the report he commissioned in 2003 from Sir Nicholas Goodison on the acquisition of works of art.

    • Child Benefits (UK Citizens Abroad)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many UK citizens living abroad are in receipt of (a) child benefit and (b) child tax credit.

      Child Trust Funds

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of Child Trust Fund vouchers sent out to date; how many vouchers he estimates have not been claimed; how many vouchers...

      Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter dated 8 March from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituents Mr. and Mrs. K. Milne of Peterhead.

      Council Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria the Valuation Office Agency will use to value a residence during the council tax revaluation in England.

      Council Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum raised from council tax in Wales in each year since 1997 was reported to HM Treasury for the purpose of assessing the block grant for Wales under...

      Customs and Excise

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on ongoing criminal investigations into cases of fraud by staff working for Customs and Excise in which charges have not yet...

      Customs and Excise

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on investigations into cases of (a) fraud and (b) fraud by members of staff in Customs and Excise since 1990 in which all...

      Data Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has given to Inland Revenue offices on the application of the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected...

      Departmental Expenditure Limit (Wales)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the departmental expenditure limit for the (a) former Welsh Office and (b) National Assembly for Wales was in each year since 1997.

      EU Aid Provision

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the increased aid pledged by EU member states will be delivered (a) bilaterally, (b) via the EU, (c) via the World Bank, (d) via the UN AIDS...

      EU Budget Rebate

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK's gross contribution to the EU will be for the years 2004 to 2008 (a) including and (b) excluding the UK abatement.

      EU Budget Rebate

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the net UK contribution to the EU budget in each of the next 10 financial years if the UK rebate (a) remains in its...

      EU Committees

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i)Committee on mutual assistance in customs and agricultural...

      EU Legislation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU legislation was implemented by (a) the measure IR35 (National Insurance: Service Provision through Intermediaries) in October 1999, (b) the Tax...

      Fraud

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of identity fraud associated with the new tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

      Fuel Duty

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of fuel duty and their impact on the competitiveness of UK road hauliers.

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he expects the civil registration service to play in the issuing of identity cards.

      Indebted Poor Countries

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the UK will pay debt service to the International Monetary Fund on behalf of the world's poorest countries; and if he will make a statement;...

      Inheritance Tax Relief

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relationship between the granting of inheritance tax relief on land and public access to that land.

      Inland Revenue

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) industrial, (b) commercial and (c) regional headings under which the Inland Revenue analyses and lists tax receipts.

      Inland Revenue

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been made (a) directly and (b) through hon. Members in the last 12 months on how the Inland Revenue office in Preston deals with...

      Life Expectancy

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of (a) male and (b) female life expectancy for people aged 65 years in (i) 2010, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2030, (iv) 2040, (v) 2050 and...

      Lorry User Charging Levy

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the Lorry User Charging Levy is not introduced into Northern Ireland in 2008.

      National Debt

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the national debt is.

      National Insurance Database

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many live entries there are on the national insurance database; and what proportion of the entries he estimates are false.

      Oil Prices

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forward projections he has made of the price of a barrel of oil in the next 12 months.

      Electoral Statistics

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the electorate was in each parliamentary constituency in the UK in (a) May 1997, (b) June 2001 and (c) May 2005 (i) in total and (ii) broken down for...

      Population (North-east Lincolnshire)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many primary school age children there are expected to be in north east Lincolnshire in each of the next five academic years.

      Population (North-east Lincolnshire)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many live births there have been in north-east Lincolnshire in each of the past 10 years.

      Rateable Values

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in England had a rateable value for non-domestic rate purposes of (a) less than £3,000, (b) £3,000 to £3,999, (c)...

      Red Diesel (Narrowboats)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether changes are planned to the access for narrowboat owners to red diesel; and if he will make a statement.

      Self-financed Expenditure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were reported to Her Majesty's Treasury for self-financed expenditure generated by (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales in each year since 1997.

      Stamp Duty

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average stamp duty paid for a residential property purchase in (a) England and (b) the UK has been in each year since 1997.

      Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the backlog of work in the tax credit overpayment team is; how many staff are part of that team; and how many additional members have been added to the...

      Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the value of remitted tax credit overpayments was for financial year (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; (2) what estimate has been made of...

      Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each month since April 2003 the (a) number of tax credit awards made, (b) number of claims issued, broken down by parliamentary...

      Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library all internal Inland Revenue audit recommendations relating to tax credits for the last four years.

      Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the efficiency of processing of tax credits claims in the past two months.

      Tax Determinations

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax returns were threatened with determination by the Inland Revenue in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

      UK Economic Forecasts

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from economic forecasting organisations concerning prospects for the UK economy over the next five years.

      UK Households

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of UK households were headed by (a) couples and (b) married couples, in each year from 1979–80 to 2004–05; what the estimated...

      UK Presidency (EU)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what communication activities are planned in relation to the policy areas covered by his Department during the UK Presidency of the EU; and what budget has...

  • Electoral Commission Committee

    • Regional Government Referendums

      To ask the hon. Member representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (1) whether the Commission has reported to the Government on the conduct of the referendum on the...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Downing Street (Refurbishment)

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans there are to refurbish Numbers (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing street; and if he will make a statement.

    • EU Legislation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list EU directives and regulations that the British Government is seeking (a) to repeal and (b) to amend in the pursuit of its policy of...

  • Trade and Industry

    • Animal Testing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department is giving to research bodies to encourage them to use scientific research techniques which do not involve...

    • Bankruptcies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) personal and (b) company bankruptcies in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough there were in each of the last three...

      British Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions between 1 July 2004 and 31 March 2005 on which (a) Ministers and (b) officials met representatives from British...

      Climate Change

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work the Department is undertaking in relation to climate change objectives in preparation for UK presidency of the G8 and EU.

      Departmental Name

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps were taken to put into effect the renaming of the Department as the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry; and what the...

      Departmental Name

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of the recent departmental name change reversal.

      Draft European Computer Implemented Inventions Directive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from (a) representatives of industry and (b) others following the recent European Parliament report...

      Energy Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much and what percentage of public expenditure on energy research and development for the financial year 2004–05 was planned to be...

      EU Committees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Advisory Committee for the transparency of...

      EU Committees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Standing Committee for the approximation of the...

      EU Committees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee on the Directives on names and labelling...

      EU Committees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Standing Committee on the approximation of the...

      Exeter Airport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek an urgent investigation by the Competition Commission of the proposed sale of Exeter airport by Devon county council.

      Export Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place the minutes of the Export Control Advisory Committee meetings since 13 May 2004 in the Library.

      Freedom of Information Act

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests for information regarding the 1984–85 miners' strike under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been refused by...

      MacNaughton Paper

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has established who leaked the paper arguing the case for nuclear energy, drafted by Joan MacNaughton and which appeared in the...

      MG Rover

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Ministers in his Department first informed the press that they were offering MG Rover (Phoenix Venture Holdings) a bridging loan of...

      Packaging Regulations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage change in the amount of packaging used for food and drink products has followed the implementation of the packaging (essential...

      Packaging Regulations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been instigated under the packaging (essential requirements) regulations 2003; and what the results have been.

      Power Stations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the power stations operating in the UK and (b) the power stations that have been decommissioned since 2001.

      Premium Rate Lines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the number of people affected by malpractices in the premium rate telephone information services industry.

      Premium Rate Lines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role of the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services in...

      Premium Rate Lines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what penalties are imposed on operators of premium rate lines who advertise the number without disclosing the cost per minute.

      Premium Rate Lines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services has taken against the operators of...

      Premium Rate Lines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on procedures for investigation of malpractice in the premium rate telephone information services industry.

      Supermarkets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will establish an independent inspector within the Office of Fair Trading to regulate the relationship between supermarkets and...

      WEEE Directive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) complexities and (b) public accountability implications are that make the National Clearing House model for the implementation of...

  • Home Department

    • Antisocial Behaviour Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is on the use of antisocial behaviour orders against individuals taking part in political demonstrations.

    • Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have provided housing for people who have been granted refugee status since 1 May 2004; and how many such people were...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on issuing food vouchers to asylum seekers.

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that asylum claimants who are unrepresented at interviews are informed of their right to request that the...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances asylum seekers have been given permission to work since 2000; and whether those with medical or nursing skills have...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the date of application is of the earliest application for Indefinite Leave to Remain of a failed asylum seeker who was granted...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) immigration officers and (b) senior immigration officers (i) are in post and (ii) represent a full complement at (A) each...

      Asylum and Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has conducted on how many economic migrants will be required over each of the next five years to meet demand for workers in...

      BB Guns

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent assessment he has made of the dangers posed by BB guns; (2) what action he has taken to curb the threat posed by BB guns;...

      Community Support Officers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) conditions of service and (b) average salary of community support officers are.

      Community Support Officers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers of arrest community support officers have.

      Crime and Policing (Hammersmith and Fulham)

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on levelsof (a) violent crime, (b) car crime, (c) robbery and (d) burglary in Hammersmith and Fulham constituency.

      Crime and Policing (Hammersmith and Fulham)

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers are operational in Hammersmith and Fulham constituency.

      Crime and Policing (Hammersmith and Fulham)

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersal orders have been issued in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham during the past 12 months.

      Drugs Classification

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

      Graffiti

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the legislation relating to graffiti in public places.

      Hertfordshire Police

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to assist Hertfordshire Constabulary in retaining experienced police officers with more than three years' service;...

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the research on the costs and benefits of the Identity Cards scheme, referred to in his oral answer...

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what administrative fee an individual will be charged in order to receive an identity card under proposals to introduce a national identity...

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the amount individuals will be charged to acquire an identity card.

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the cost of the identity card database.

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what his latest estimate is of the annual running costs of the identity card scheme; (2) what his latest estimate is of the cost of...

      Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of the additional central IT infrastructure for providing online verification of identity for user...

      Illegal Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to increase (a) police and (b) council powers to confiscate off-road bicycles and quad bikes that are ridden illegally on...

      Illegal Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to strengthen the law relating to preventing off-road bicycles and quad bikes ridden illegally on private land, common land...

      Adventure Capital Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much of the Intervention Capital Fund was allocated to social enterprises in each year for which figures are available; and if he...

      Police Force

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables have been recruited in each of the last three years.

      Police Force

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the criteria for (a) entry to the police force and (b) training police officers.

      Taser Guns

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to equip frontline officers with Taser stun guns.

      Police Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the (a) Kent police force and (b) England hold (i) advanced police driving licences and (ii) patrol car licences.

      Police/Crime Statistics

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce crime in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

      Police/Crime Statistics

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidences of violent crime there have been in Wales in each year since 2002.

      Police/Crime Statistics

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidences of drug-related crime there have been in Wales in each year since 2002.

      Telecommunications Masts

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long the Tetra telecommunications mast in Haverfordwest will remain in its temporary location on top of Haverfordwest police station.

      Telecommunications Masts

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued concerning the siting of Tetra communications masts in the vicinity of (a) special schools and (b) schools.

      Ticket Touts

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has played a role in drawing up arrangements to prevent ticket touts re-selling match tickets at inflated values (a)...

      Traffic Wardens

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure that adequate numbers of traffic wardens are recruited in Leicestershire.

      Watch Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) Neighbourhood Watch, (b) Shop Watch, (c) Pub Watch, (d) Farm Watch and (e) Rural...

  • Education and Skills

    • Alcohol Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are taken in schools to educate children about alcohol.

    • A-level Grades

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students obtaining three or more A grades at A-level were from (a) grammar schools, (b) state schools and (c) independent...

      Anti-Litter Campaigns

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to promote anti-litter campaigns in schools.

      Anti-Semitism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will conduct an assessment of levels of anti-semitism in English universities.

      Building Schools for the Future

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the progress of each successful bid in the Building Schools for the Future initiative.

      City Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of lessons in city academy schools are setted.

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which consultants were employed by her Department in each of the last three years.

      Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will respond to the letter of 15 April from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire.

      Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications for places in Hammersmith and Fulham schools were turned down in 2004–05.

      Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to increase secondary school provision in Hertfordshire to take account of the increasing population.

      Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take measures to provideall children in Hertfordshire with fully funded access to music classes at primary and secondary school...

      Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take measures to ensure that all primary and secondary schools in Hertfordshire have music teachers; and if she will make a...

      Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take measures to ensure that Hertfordshire's secondary schools retain sixth forms; and if she will make a statement.

      Education Maintenance Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the cost of the education maintenance allowance in each year from 2004–05 to 2008–09; and if she will...

      EU Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what EU legislation was implemented by the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2000.

      Family Planning Funding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money her Department has given in each of the last five years to (a) Brook, (b) Family Planning Association, (c) Marie Stopes...

      Foster Placements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of foster placements ended in adoption in each year since 1997.

      Freedom of Speech

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is on freedom of speech in universities.

      GCSEs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Educationand Skills how many pupils sat GCSE examinations in (a) science, (b) biology, (c) chemistry, (d) physics, (e) French and (f) history in each year since 1995.

      Gershon Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes in expenditure her Department expects to arise from the plans outlined in her Department's technical note produced for the...

      Education Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the Government grant per pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary education in Torbay was for the most recent year for which...

      Homework

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines her Department has issued on homework in secondary schools for year (a) seven, (b) eight, (c) nine, (d) 10 and (e) 11.

      Individual Learning Accounts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will bring forward proposals to replace individual learning accounts in England; and if she will discuss such proposals with the...

      Key Stage 2

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the primary schools in England where 50 per cent. of pupils achieved Level 5 in reading at the end of Key Stage 2 in...

      Leading Edge Schools Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of the Leading Edge Schools programme.

      Looked-after Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many looked-after children there are, broken down by local authority; and how many and what proportion of looked-after children...

      Popular Schools Expansion Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools have applied for funding under the Popular Schools Expansion Programme, indicating in each case (a) whether this application...

      School Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for link advisers to schools.

      School Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will give (a) the name, (b) the reason for closure and (c) the local education authority for every school closed in each year since 1997.

      School Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school closures due to falling rolls there were in each of the last five years, broken down by education authority.

      School Funding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many responses she has received to her consultation on new school funding arrangements from 2006–07; and if she will place a...

      School Funding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much central Government funding will be allocated to each local education authority in England per (a) primary pupil and (b) secondary...

      School Improvement Partners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements she has made to fund School Improvement Partners.

      School Leavers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to reduce levels of unemployment among school leavers.

      School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when (a) Lewisham local education authority and (b) schools in Lewisham are expected to receive extra funding to improve school meals.

      School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much will be made available to schools in Leeds to improve school meals over the next three years; and if she will make a statement.

      School Sport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many children received the Government's target of two hours' school sport each week in the last period for which figures are...

      Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new secondary schools have opened in Hertfordshire in each year since 1997; and how many new secondary schools are scheduled to...

      Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities have submitted schemes for removing surplus places in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of...

      Secondary School Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure per secondary school pupil was in (a) each inner London local education authority and (b) Southampton local education...

      Sign Language Courses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to increase theavailability of courses teaching people to use sign language.

      Further Education (Isle of Wight)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she plans to take to reduce the funding differential between pupils on similar courses in Isle of Wight sixth forms and Isle of...

      Student Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to make student loans available to people aged over 54 years; and if she will make a statement.

      Surplus School Places

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policies are on surplus school places in (a) rural and (b) non-rural for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

      Teacher Assaults

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have been assaulted by (a) pupils and (b) parents in each year since 1990.

      Teacher Assaults

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in secondary schools have been assaulted by students since 1997.

      Teacher Assaults

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many prosecutions have been brought against parents for assaulting teachers in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

      EU Presidency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what communication activities are planned in relation to the policy areas covered by her Department during the UK presidency of the EU; and...

      University Departments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many university departments have closed in each year since 1997, broken down by subject.

      Work Force Training (Coventry)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance the Department provides in Coventry to promote a well-trained and skilled work force.

  • Constitutional Affairs

    • Claims Handling

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to regulate the activities of claims handling businesses; and if she will make a statement.

    • Clementi Review

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to take forward the recommendations of the Clementi Review; and if she will make a statement.

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the provision of legal aid for domestic violence cases.

      EU Constitution

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what types of funding from EU institutions for public information on the EU Constitution will be permissible (a) before and (b)...

      EU Constitution

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether UK nationals living outside the United Kingdom but within the European Union will be eligible to vote in a referendum...

      General Election

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many local authorities arranged during the general elections for their presiding officers to record details of those people...

      General Election

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many postal votes were issued for the general elections of (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2005; and how many were counted.

      General Election

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will review the penalties for election offences; and if she will make a statement.

      House of Lords Reform

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent representations she has received on reform of the House of Lords.

      House of Lords Reform

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to reform the powers of the House of Lords.

      Immigration Tribunal

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that the presentation of judgments in Immigration Appeals Tribunal cases is such that, when it...

      Immigration Tribunal

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the current backlog of cases at the Immigration Tribunal is.

      Judicial Appointments

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what appointment procedure will be used to appoint the next Lord Chief Justice.

      Legal Aid

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) how many legal aid firms she has visited since her appointment; (2) what plans she has to visit a law centre.

      North East Regional Assembly Referendum

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what reports the Department has received from the Electoral Commission on the conduct of the north east regional assembly...

      Postal Voting

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) confirmed instances, (b) allegations and (c) estimates of (i) postal votes being delivered to the wrong address,...

      Rape Trials

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether recorders may be ticketed to try rape.

      Voting System

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Government have to change the voting system.

      Voting System

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will commission a review of the conduct of voting in the last general election.

  • Northern Ireland

    • Academic Attainment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken by his Department to close the gap between those achieving the highest and lowest levels of academic attainment in...

    • Antisocial Behaviour Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations took place between his Department and the Equality Commission before the introduction of ASBOs in Northern Ireland.

      Antisocial Behaviour Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent assessment by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission of the legality of the use of antisocial...

      Asthma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will explain what steps he will take to ensure that the Asthma Charter is put into practice so that the health and wellbeing of people...

      Children (Secure Accommodation)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many places in secure accommodation are available for children at risk in Northern Ireland; what estimate he has made of the requirement for...

      Civil Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is the policy of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to ensure a neutral working environment.

      Civil Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is the policy of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to promote equality of opportunity in the awarding of public contracts.

      Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the clear-up rate was for (a) domestic burglaries, (b) vehicle crimes and (c) assaults in (i)North Belfast and (ii) Northern Ireland in...

      Diabetes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact of the extension of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 introduced in October 2004 on addressing...

      Diabetes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Department of Education for Northern Ireland's plans to support children with type 1 diabetes in schools; and...

      Diabetes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on each Health and Social Services Board area's plans for a structural patient education programme for people with...

      Disabled Facilities Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many families in Northern Ireland have benefited from the abolition of the means-testing of parents of disabled children as part of the...

      Education Funding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken by the Department to review funding levels in the education system.

      Emergency Services (Attacks)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks there have been on the emergency services in Northern Ireland, broken down by service, in each of the past 12 months; and (a)...

      English as an Additional Language

      Mrs. Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training will be made available at the beginning of the autumn term for teachers who will be teaching English as an...

      Flag Flying

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to ban the flying of (a) sectarian and (b) national flags from public property.

      Glaucoma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to raise awareness of glaucoma in Northern Ireland; and how many people in Northern Ireland have suffered blindness as a...

      Health Care Trusts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many procedures were cancelled in each health trust in the Province in each of the last five years.

      High Hedges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to consult on the introduction of legislation in Northern Ireland to deal with problems associated with high hedges.

      HIV/AIDS

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were diagnosed as being HIV positive (a) to date in 2005, (b) in 2000, (c) in 1995 and (d) in 1990.

      Home Ownership

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the adult population in Northern Ireland own their own homes; and what the equivalent figures were for each of the last five...

      Home Ownership

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps have been taken by his Department to help first-time home buyers in Northern Ireland.

      Hospital Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what incentives are being provided to attract hospital consultants in Great Britain to work in the Province.

      Hospital Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he expects front line hospital services to be affected as a result of his Department's proposal to reduce overtime by hospital consultants...

      Hospital Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association and other interested parties in relation to his Department's proposal to cut...

      Intensive Care Beds

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of hospital beds within each health trust in the Province are (a) intensive care and (b) high dependency unit beds.

      Local Community Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were used when allocating the recently announced £3 million from the Government's local community fund to aid the...

      Lough Neagh

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the ownership of Lough Neagh.

      MOT Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce the waiting time for MOT testing at driver and vehicle test centres in Northern Ireland.

      MOT Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the current average waiting time is for MOT inspections in each vehicle testing agency site in Northern Ireland.

      MRI Scans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which hospital trusts have bought MRI services from other trusts in each of the last five years.

      National Stadium

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given by his Department to the transport links required to serve the new National Stadium for Northern Ireland.

      NHS Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days were lost through sickness of NHS staff in the Province in each of the last three years, broken down by profession.

      NHS Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many doctors are employed in non-standard or trust grade posts in each NHS trust in Northern Ireland.

      Northern Ireland Police Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been warned about their security as a result of the ongoing investigation into alleged criminal and terrorist activities by...

      Northern Ireland Police Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the investigation into alleged criminal and terrorist activities by two members of staff at the Northern Ireland...

      Paramilitary Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many paramilitary-style attacks were carried out in each month of 2005; how many of these can be attributable to (a) Loyalist and (b)...

      Prostate Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken to raise awareness of prostate cancer among men in Northern Ireland; and how many men were diagnosed with...

      Race Hate Crimes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to tackle race hate crime in Northern Ireland.

      Renewable Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent consultations have been carried out by his Department in relation to the development of renewable energy sources, particularly (a)...

      Security Guards (Crown Insignia)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the composition by community background of security guards whose uniforms bear Crown insignia was on the latest date for which figures are...

      Security Guards (Crown Insignia)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for whom security guards on the Stormont estate with Crown insignia on their uniforms work.

  • Work and Pensions

    • Attendance Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is being taken to ensure that those who may qualify for attendance allowance are aware of the availability of the benefit.

    • Autism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will seek to introduce amending legislation which will ensure that children who suffer from autism are entitled to the high rate of care...

      Benefit Claims

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals claim both council tax benefit and disability benefit in England.

      Carers Benefit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the amount of unclaimed carers' benefit in a year; and what plans he has to improve the uptake of that benefit.

      Departmental Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's latest spending plans are for each year from 2005–06 to 2008–09; and if he will make a statement.

      Disability Living Allowance (Blind Claimants)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many blind people are claiming the lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowance.

      Early Retirement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the proportion of the working age population that has taken early retirement in the latest year for which figures are...

      Financial Assistance Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments (a) have been made and (b) are proposed to be made out of the Financial Assistance Scheme for members of the FII Group pension fund.

      Financial Assistance Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made in attracting contributions to the Financial Assistance Scheme from external sources.

      Incapacity Benefit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the medical reasons were for claims for incapacity benefit in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

      Jobcentre Plus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Jobcentres has been converted to the Jobcentre Plus format in each year since the inception of the programme.

      Local Housing Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evidence his Department has collated of housing benefit recipients moving to different accommodation within the local housing allowance...

      New Deal (FE Colleges)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on New Deal contracts in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) the UK with local further education colleges.

      Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to (a) bring forward legislation to enable and (b) introduce a new long-term pensions system by the end of this Parliament;...

      Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the planned Pensions Commission Experts Conference on 21 June.

      Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had since 5 May with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on future pensions policy; and if he will make a statement.

      Public Service Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current Public Service Agreement targets relating to housing benefit are.

      Social Fund Community Care Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average Social Fund Community Care Grant award was in (a) England and (b) each region in each year since 1997–98.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • African Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial and logistical support has been provided to the African Union in support of its plans to increase the monitoring...

    • China

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the level of textile imports from China since...

      Entry Clearance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that interviews at British high commissions and embassies with applicants for entry clearance to...

      Eritrea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Eritrea about the freedom of Christians to practise their faith.

      European Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives of theGovernment's policy towards the European Union are.

      Madagascar

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the arrangements are for UK diplomatic representation in Madagascar; and what plans he has to change these arrangements.

      Military Equipment Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what mechanisms the new powers to control trafficking and brokering in military equipment by UK citizens will be enforced.

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage the Russian Government to promote and protect human rights; and if he will...

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the Russian Government in relation to (a) Russian involvement in the...

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken since the EU-Russian Summit on 10 May to agree road maps to advance collaboration on the four...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Sudan and (b) the UN concerning arrests and mistreatment of...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Sudan on the incident at Kasab Camp, north of Kutum town, north Darfur,...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Sudanese authorities concerning the encirclement by Sudanese security forces of the town...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Eastern Sudan; and what role the UK Government are playing in reducing...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with his counterparts within the EU regarding support for the African Union mission in Darfur;...

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent meeting in Addis Ababa hosted by the United Nations Secretary General to discuss Darfur.

      Sudan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that refugees from Darfur have been killed, attacked and subject to other violence in...

      Turkey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements the Government, as holders of the EU's presidency, plans to make to mark the beginning of negotiations on...

      Vietnam

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Vietnam about the (a) trials of (i) Reverend Quang and (ii) Mr Thach and...

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the imprisonment of the former Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe, Mr. Roy Bennett; (2) what...

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has received on the level of political intimidation employed by Zanu PF during the March parliamentary...

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospect of achieving sustainable progress towards democracy in Zimbabwe.

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received advocating re-engagement with the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the maintenance and expansion of sanctions against the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.

  • Deputy Prime Minister

    • Affordable Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum price is that the Government deem to be affordable for an affordable home for sale for each of the Government office regions; and what income...

    • Affordable Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many affordable homes have been (a) started and (b) completed in each of the last three years in the (i)Plymouth unitary authority area, (ii) Torbay...

      Business Rates

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much revenue has been raised in business rates in England in each year since 1997; and what the estimated receipts are for 2005–06.

      Cabinet Committees

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Cabinet (a) sub-committees, (b) committees and (c) working groups he sits on.

      Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the implementation of the provisions of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002; and on what date he expects the...

      Council Tax

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to reduce the levels of council tax in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

      Council Tax

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether one-off funding for local authorities to reduce council tax requirements will be continued in financial year 2006–07; and what assessment he...

      East of England Regional Assembly

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will hold a referendum on the future of the east of England regional assembly; and if he will make a statement.

      E-government

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the progress of local government in England in implementing e-government.

      Fire Service

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable for the establishment of regional fire control rooms is.

      Fire Service

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lift rescues were carried out by the Fire Service in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

      Firelink Procurement Competition

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation has been undertaken with (a) individual fire and rescue authorities, (b) fire brigades and (c) the Fire Brigades Union to ascertain their...

      Firelink Procurement Competition

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation has been carried out of the number of additional masts that would be required by the two bids for the Firelink procurement competition; and...

      Government Offices for the Regions

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the estimated (a) total expenditure and (b) administrative costs of each Government office for the region in England in (i) 1996–97 and (ii)...

      Government Offices for the Regions

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to facilitate the production of (a) regional health strategies, (b) regional social strategies and (c) regional environmental...

      Green Belt

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of Hertfordshire's green belt has been released for development in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

      Green Belt

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Green Belt designations the Government Offices of the Regions have consented to be (a) reduced and (b) deleted, since 1997.

      High Hedges

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what he expects will be the maximum fees chargeable by local councils to handle complaints under the high hedges provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003;...

      Home Ownership

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people (a) owned their property outright and (b) were owner-occupiers with a mortgage in (i) England and (ii) the UK in each year since 1979.

      Homebuy Schemes

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households he expects will participate each year in (a) Social Homebuy, (b) New Build Homebuy and (c) Open Market Homebuy.

      Homebuy Schemes

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what steps the Government are taking to prevent speculative buyers from taking advantage of the Social Homebuy scheme; (2) what assessment the Government...

      Homelessness

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of priority homelessness has had in each Government office region in England in each year since 1993.

      Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in England have decided their stock options appraisal in favour of (a) stock transfer, (b) arm's length management organisation, (c)...

      Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on rent restructuring in the social rented housing sector.

      Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether, in setting the housing targets for St. Albans (a) calculations of the volume of water supply available from aquifers, (b) the amount of water needed to...

      Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many people who live within the Swale borough council area have (a) applied for funding and been successful, (b) applied and been refused funding and (c)...

      Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities that have been given an extension to the deadline of July to complete their stock options process.

      Housing

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities which have set up arm's length management organisations; what the performance rating of each is; and how much each has...

      Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) financial allocation and (b) out-turn expenditure of each of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder areas in England was in 2004–05.

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what safeguards his Department (a) recommends to and (b) imposes upon local authorities to ensure probity and transparency when publicly-owned assets are sold.

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) specific grants and ringfenced funding streams, (b) special grants and (c) non-ringfenced grants which the Government (i) allocated to...

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average change in total Government grant per capita for (a) district councils, (b) county councils, (c) metropolitan councils, (d) unitary councils, (e)...

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to increase the level of local taxation.

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to introduce unitary local government in England.

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases reported to the Local Government Standards Board in each of the last three years were disposed of (a) directly and (b) through reference to the...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in how many cases the decision of the Standards Board and adjudication panel has been challenged in the courts (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully in each of...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average length of time was between a complaint being made to the Standards Board and (a) being found proven and fully disposed of and (b) being dismissed...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost to public funds was of the Standards Board and Adjudication Panel case against Westminster City Councillor Mr. Paul Dimoldenberg; how long...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much Westminster City Council has recovered from Dame Shirley Porter as a result of the findings of the District Auditor and House of Lords against her; what...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of the operation of the Local Government Standards Board on individuals' willingness to stand for election as local...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make provision for councillors facing serious complaints to the Standards Board under the Local Government Code of Conduct to receive financial support...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will require the Local Government Standards Board to exercise proportionality, by balancing the likely cost of an inquiry with the seriousness of the...

      Local Government Standards Board

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average cost of a Local Government Standards Board inquiry, including costs of any Adjudication Panel, were in each of the last three years, broken down...

      Lyons Review

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Lyons Review on the balance of funding will publish an interim report.

      New Deal for Communities

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many New Deal for Communities bodies have been created; and how many of these bodies have changed their chief executive in the first year of operation.

      New Localism

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition he uses of the term new localism; and if he will make a statement.

      Referendums and Elections

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role the Department plays in the administration of referendums and elections.

      Regional Control Rooms (Fire/Civil Defence)

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to consult (a) fire authorities and (b) local government organisations prior to determining the locations of the proposed regional control rooms...

      Regional Control Rooms (Fire/Civil Defence)

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made in identifying suitable sites for the proposed new regional fire control centres.

      Regional Government Finance

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to redirect central Government spending away from the north of England to the east of England; and if he will make a statement.

      Safer Stronger Communities Fund

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the forecast spending on the Safer Stronger Communities Fund is for financial years (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08.

      Shared Equity Plans

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the costs to the Exchequer in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07, (c) 2007–08 and (d) 2008–09 of recently announced plans to...

      Solent Gateway

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) which local authority areas fall within the Government's definition of the Solent Gateway; (2) if he will make a statement on plans to make the Solent...

      Solent Gateway

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with councils in Hampshire about Solent Gateway.

      Street Wardens

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the guidance issued to round two street warden schemes whose funding ended in March on how such schemes should be funded once...

  • Health

    • Abortion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government will implement the Science and Technology Recommendation No 77 in its report on human reproductive technologies and the law that...

    • Alzheimer's

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with doctors about the use of Reminyl, Aricept and Exelan for treating Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement.

      Alzheimer's

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drugs are available for prescribing to treat the effects of Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement.

      Alzheimer's

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Reminyl, Aricept and Exelen are available on free prescription for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; what plans she has to change the...

      Audiology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken to provide free hearing tests to those who need them; (2) how many people have received a digital hearing aid on the NHS.

      Breast Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the screening of all women diagnosed with breast cancer for HER2 positivity to be routine across the NHS.

      Cervical Smears

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken for a woman to receive the results of a cervical smear test was in each health authority in the last period for which figures...

      Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans there are to update facilities at Charing Cross hospital; (2) what plans there are to update facilities at Hammersmith hospital.

      Chase Farm Hospital

      To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat measures she is taking to reduce waiting times at Chase Farm Hospital; and if she will make a statement.

      Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what treatment is available for people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis on the NHS; (2) what her most recent...

      Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what referral mechanisms are in place for (a) South West London and St. George's NHS Trust and (b) Kingston Primary Care Trust to access chronic fatigue...

      Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision (a) South West London and St.George's NHS Trust and (b) Kingston Primary Care Trust have for chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic...

      Clinical Staff (Hertfordshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to retain experienced clinical staff in Hertfordshire's NHS trusts; and if she will make a statement.

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants were employed by her Department in each of the last three years; and what their names were.

      Continuing Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been subject to review as part of the NHS continuing care restitution review; how many were found to be eligible for NHS continuing...

      Continuing Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work her Department has undertaken to act on the recommendations of the Health Ombudsman in her two reports on NHS continuing care; and when she...

      Dentistry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to increase the number of NHS dentists in Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

      Dentistry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department will restart negotiations with the British Dental Association on the new general dental services contract.

      Departmental Staffing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in her Department (a) in 2004 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available to undertake policy work as part of...

      Diagnostic and Treatment Centres (Private)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the clinical innovations available in privately run diagnostic and treatment centres which are not to be found in any NHS hospital or...

      Domiciliary Care (West Chelmsford)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in West Chelmsford constituency who were receiving domiciliary care in 1997–98; and how many were receiving domiciliary care in West...

      Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research her Department has commissioned into developing a therapy for Duchennemuscular dystrophy; and if she will make a statement; (2) how...

      End-of life Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to provide further services for end-of-life care.

      End-of life Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of national health service expenditure that was spent on people in the final (a) month, (b) three months and...

      Flixotide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many yellow card reports have been recorded in relation to the drug Flixotide in the treatment of asthma in each of the last five years; (2)...

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in (a) Hertfordshire and (b) England per head of population.

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to increase the number of general practitioners in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioner practices refuse to make advance appointments.

      Health Service Trust Deficits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the financial deficit of York and Selby NHS primary care trust was on the latest date for which figures are available; what assessment she has...

      Hepatitis C

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the rates of hepatitis C infection in prisons; and what measures she is taking to tackle the disease in prisons.

      Herceptin

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to have completed its assessment of the anti-breast cancer drug Herceptin; (2) if...

      Hospitals (Shropshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent administrative staff have been employed at (a) the RJ and AH Orthopaedic hospital, Gobowen, (b) the Princess Royal hospital,...

      Hospitals (Shropshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of MRSA there have been at (a) the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, (b) the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford and (c) the RJ and AH...

      Hospitals (Shropshire)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the budget deficit has been of (a) the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and (b) the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford in each of the last five years;...

      Intensive Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether guidance has been issued on the maximum permissible length of time between a patient being admitted to an intensive care unit and being...

      Levonelle-2

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the drug Levonelle-2 is licensed for women under the age of 16 years.

      London Air Ambulance Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require the Barts and the London NHS Trust to report to her (a) why the London air ambulance service is advertising for charitable donations,...

      Maternity Services (HIV Treatment)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will issue guidance to the NHS that antenatal and maternity services, including HIV treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission,...

      Mental Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total number of people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (a) aged under 16 years and (b) aged between 16 years and 18...

      Multiple Sclerosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with multiple sclerosis therapy centres about the cost of Healthcare Commission inspections; and if she will make a statement.

      Myeloma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of treatments for myeloma; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure equal provision of drugs and...

      National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of the consequences for cancer patients of the delays to the scheduled appraisal programme for 2006 of the National...

      National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans her Department has to introduce a fast track National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisal process to ensure cancer patients no...

      Neonatal Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish the Government's response to the Neonatal Intensive Care Review consultation.

      Neonatal Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average occupancy rate for neonatal units was in each year since 2002.

      NHS Administrators (Pay Rates)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many administrators working in Hertfordshire NHS trusts receive pay in excess of £100,000 per annum; and if she will make a statement.

      Nurses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review the (a) pay and (b) working hours of nurses in the national health service.

      Nursing Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average change in the fees charged by private sector nursing homes was in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005; (2) what her...

      Ophthalmic Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to begin the review of general ophthalmic services.

      Pharmaceuticals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her latest estimate is of the gross (a) gain and (b) loss to the UK economy of parallel trade in pharmaceuticals; and if she will make a statement.

      Primary Care Trusts (Leeds)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change in funding has been determined for Leeds primary care trusts for 2006 to 2008.

      Prisoner Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to screen all prisoners on reception into prison for (a) hepatitis B and (b) hepatitis C.

      Ritalin

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been prescribed Ritalin in each of the past 10 years.

      Ritalin

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued to (a) general practitioners and (b) consultants on the prescribing of Ritalin to children.

      Streptococcus Testing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make it her policy to provide group B streptococcus testing on the NHS near the end of pregnancy; and if she will make a statement; (2)...

      Tuberculosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners were diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis in the last year for which figures are available.

  • House of Lords

    • Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will ascertain and disclose to Parliament the number of children who have been taken into local authority care because their parents were destitute,...

    • Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002: Section 9

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When they intend to bring Section 9 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 into force.

      Service Personnel: Voting Arrangements

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What special postal arrangements were made to ensure that service personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq could receive their ballot forms and return them in time for...

      Reservists: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What arrangements the Ministry of Defence has made for long term monitoring and treatment of post-traumatic stress cases among reservists.

      Joint Combat Aircraft

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the current planned dates for introduction into service of (a) the Royal Air Force variant; and (b) the aircraft carrier variant of the F35/Joint Combat...

      NATO: Force Capability

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which member states of NATO and the Partnership for Peace have complied fully with the requirement to provide NATO with data about capabilities available for NATO...

      NATO: Force Capability

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the United Kingdom has complied fully with the requirement to provide NATO with data about the capabilities for NATO force generation.

      Armed Forces Pension and Compensation Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether their promised review and reform of public sector pensions will include a further assessment of the detailed application of the Armed Forces pensions and...

      Wales: Boundary Commission Review of Parliamentary Constituencies

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the boundary review for revised parliamentary constituencies in Wales has been completed.

      Wales: Boundary Commission Review of Parliamentary Constituencies

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the revised Welsh parliamentary constituencies will come into effect in time for the elections to the National Assembly for Wales in May 2007.

      Stalybridge and Hyde: UKIP Candidate

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the official number of votes cast for the UKIP candidate in the general election at Stalybridge and Hyde.

      Voting: Local Authority Registrations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they are taking to communicate to electoral returning officers their policy as outlined in Lord Rooker's letter to Lord Harrison of 6 April that an...

      General Election: Vote Counting Arrangements

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Why there was a significant difference in time taken to count the votes and declare the results in constituencies of similar electoral sizes during the general...

      Coroners' Inquests

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many times the verdict of a coroner's inquest jury has been overturned by the High Court in each of the past 20 years.

      Electoral Reform

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will establish a special committee of inquiry to look afresh at the arguments involved in electoral reform for national parliamentary elections.

      General Election: Postal Votes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether returning officers in each constituency are being asked to report the number of postal votes that arrived too late to be counted in the general election on...

      Waterways Ireland

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in view of the findings of a recent investigation concerning the appointment of the Director of Marketing and Communication for Waterways Ireland, they...

      Waterways Ireland

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When the investigation into allegations by 20 complainants into staff bullying, harassment and management at Waterways Ireland will be completed and the results...

      Shareholder Executive

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In respect of the Shareholder Executive: (a) what was its cost in 2004–05; (b) what is its budgeted cost in 2005–06; (c) how much its highest paid...

      McKinsey and Co.

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether McKinsey and Company is currently carrying out any work for the Department of Trade and Industry; how many projects the firm has carried out for the...

      Vixen Tor, Dartmoor

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What impact the result of the appeal inquiry relating to the cultivation of land in Vixen Tor, Dartmoor, will have on the effectiveness of the access provisions in...

      Coastal Areas: Access

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to bring into force those provisions of Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 that relate to coastal access; and, if so, when.

      Waste: Definition

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether their definition of waste matter is the same as the definition used within other European Union countries.

      Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When and by what means they intend to introduce an explicit policy for schools, hospitals and government offices to consider local sourcing of fresh food produce,...

      World Climate: Impact of Destruction of Rainforests

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of the long-term consequences for world climatic conditions from the progressive destruction of rainforests.

      Gangmasters Licensing Authority

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Gangmasters (Licensing Authority) Regulations 2005 whether the change of quorum allowed in Section 8(3) (a) is intended to be permanent; (b) could...

      Environmental Stewardship Scheme

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Environmental Stewardship (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/621), which of the regulations "could not have been made under the powers...

      Dermatological Services: National Guidance

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to take action to transfer skin disease management, such as the treatment of actinic keratosis, into primary care; and, if so, what is that action.

      Football Clubs: Ownership

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether there is any government interest in the ownership of football clubs; and whether they propose to take any action in light of recent developments affecting...

      Museums and Galleries: Income Generation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What progress they have made in implementing the recommendations of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report Income Generated by the Museums and...

      Sports Facilities: Availability

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the target in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's five-year plan that "by 2008 almost no one, whether in rural or urban areas, will live more...

      Sports Facilities: Availability

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How they define the phrase "almost no one" as used in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport five-year plan which stated that "by 2008 almost no one, whether...

      Sport Funding

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many men and women currently receive world class performance funding; and what is the total amount of funding broken down by gender.

      House of Lords: Ministerial Salaries

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the difference in salary between that of a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the House of Lords and of a Lord or Baroness in Waiting; and What...

      National Assembly for Wales: Electoral Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any revision of electoral regulations for elections to the National Assembly for Wales will include the prohibition of candidates being nominated for one...

      Equality Bill

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the Equality Bill is intended to require schools to increase their support and funding for girls' sport in order to achieve equality of opportunity.

      Euro Area: GDP Growth

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What estimates they made of growth in the European Union for each of the years 2005 to 2008 for the purposes of their United Kingdom gross domestic product growth...

      Private Finance Initiative Schemes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they plan to make any changes to the way that private finance initiative projects are accounted for in the national accounts.

      Network Rail

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the indebtedness of Network Rail currently counts as public sector borrowing; and whether any changes are anticipated in the future.

      Inheritance Tax

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many estates in the United Kingdom paid inheritance tax in (a) 2003–04, and (b) 2004–05; and what number they estimate will pay inheritance tax...

      Office for National Statistics: Estimates of Public Service Output

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they are satisfied with the latest revisions to public service output measures released by the Office for National Statistics.

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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