Order Paper Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 17 December 1997

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 17 December of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

WEDNESDAY 17th DECEMBER

1
   Sir George Young (North West Hampshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received from independent butchers about de-boning costs.

(21376)

2
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to provide additional funding for (a) lowland farming, (b) middle hill farming and (c) steep hill farming.

(21495)

3
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the current cost to the United Kingdom of its contribution to the Common Agricultural Policy.

(21390)

4
   Sir George Young (North West Hampshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to assist farmers with the start-up costs of the cattle traceability scheme.

(21377)

5
   Sir George Young (North West Hampshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the impact of the current crisis facing the livestock industry on its medium-term future.

(21375)

6
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Attorney General, how many of the Crown Prosecution staff in England and Wales are legally qualified; and if he will make a statement.

(21490)

7
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the advantages of the award of sports lottery funds to state primary schools in those areas of social and economic deprivation identified by the Sports Council in its priority areas initiative scheme.

(21392)

8
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of National Lottery funding for sport has been distributed to priority areas as designated by the Rural Development Commission; and how much has been distributed to (a) local public sports clubs with open membership, (b) state secondary schools and colleges, (c) state primary schools, (d) private secondary schools and colleges, (e) private primary schools, (f) Oxford and Cambridge colleges, (g) other universities and colleges, (h) local sports clubs with limited public access, (i) other projects and (j) individuals since November 1994.

(21395)

9
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people living in sheltered housing accommodation benefit from the concessions of the television licensing scheme.

(21388)

10
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of National Lottery funding for sport has been distributed to (a) areas of social and economic deprivation as defined by the Sports Council in its priority areas initiative and (b) severely deprived areas as defined by the Sports Council in its document Eighty Five Priority Area-designated Wards since November 1994.

(21394)

11
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money has been received from the National Lottery for sports funding since November 1994.

(21393)

12
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the current annual running costs of the Atomic Weapons Establishments.

(21215)

13
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if construction has begun on the new refit yard for Trident submarines at Devonport Royal Dockyard; and if he will make a statement.

(21217)

14
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the average running costs of (a) one Royal Navy destroyer and (b) one mine countermeasure vessel.

(21214)

15
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average annual cost of storing spent nuclear submarine nuclear fuel rods at the British Nuclear Fuels plant at Sellafield.

(21216)

16
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the average annual costs of storing decommissioned nuclear powered submarines at Rosyth and Devonport.

(21218)

17
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the annual running costs of a hunter-killer nuclear powered submarine.

(21206)

18
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the annual running costs of (a) the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Coulport and (b) the Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane.

(21207)

19
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the annual running costs of the Nuclear Accident Response Organisation.

(21208)

20
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the annual running costs of nuclear weapons transportation.

(21209)

21
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the primary roles and functions of Commachio Company, Royal Marines; and what are its annual running costs.

(21210)

22
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the primary roles and functions of the Royal Navy establishment at Northwood.

(21211)

23
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the annual running costs of the Royal Navy establishment at Northwood.

(21212)

24
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the average annual running costs of one Nimrod aircraft.

(21213)

25
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Clapham Deep Shelter still exists.

(21398)

26
N   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to assist companies to prevent discrimination against persons with HIV or AIDS in the workplace.

(20716)

27
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of research on the underlying reasons for the increase in statements of special educational need over the last five years.

(21508)

28
   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish an analysis of grades achieved in English Literature in 1997 examinations including a breakdown of each English examining board's modular results.

(21596)

29
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what mechanisms will be put in place to enable grant maintained schools to re-enter the local authority-maintained sector.

(21593)

30
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the types of employment for which overseas domestic workers can seek employment within the United Kingdom.

(21381)

31
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will restrict movements of heavy and wide loads to off-peak periods.

(21494)

32
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what regulations govern the movement of heavy and wide loads on the motorway network.

(21493)

33
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many motor vehicle owners have been charged and convicted of not holding a current road tax licence since 1st January.

(21380)

34
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the limit recommended by the Government for the amount of savings exposed to risk-inherent equities by poorer savers.

[R] (21344)

35
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the impact of the national minimum wage on job levels.

(21046)

36
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has conducted with the authorities of the Channel Islands regarding taxation.

(21328)

37
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the number of people likely to have more than £50,000 in PEPs and TESSAs on (a) 1st April and (b) 1st October 1999.

[R] (21336)

38
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates he has made of the net income to individuals on equity investments up to the maximum permissible annual limit proposed in ISAs based on a current average FT Allshare index yield; and what would be the full taxable amount saved by basic rate saver taking up such a scheme.

[R] (21338)

39
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of market turbulence in the Far East on his Department's projections for gross domestic product growth in the United Kingdom over the next three years.

[R] (21342)

40
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what factors underlay his decision to hold a monthly prize draw for holders of ISAs.

[R] (21507)

41
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons direct gilt holdings are not to be qualifying investments under the ISA proposals.

[R] (21353)

42
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 10th December, Official Report, column 559, if he will commission research to establish (a) the number of jobs in the United Kingdom directly related to the duty free sector and (b) the value of United Kingdom spirit sales in the duty free sector in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the rest of the EU.

(21295)

43
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to change the current scales of tax relief available for pension fund contributions.

[R] (21343)

44
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what regulations will apply to new retailers of financial products in respect of the ISA schemes with particular reference to supermarkets; what additional compliance costs will be involved; and who will bear these costs.

[R] (21352)

45
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the likely loss of tax revenue to the Exchequer from switching out of former PEP investments above the £50,000 ISA ceiling into offshore roll-up funds after October 1999.

[R] (21505)

46
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the total money lost to the Exchequer in (a) income tax on dividends, (b) inheritance tax and (c) capital gains tax by the use of offshore trusts in each of the last five years.

(21048)

47
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total amount of revenue raised from (a) capital gains tax and (b) inheritance tax in each of the last 10 financial years; and what has been the estimated cost to the Inland Revenue of collecting it.

(21329)

48
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has to institute a 'cooling off' period for those taking up new ISAs.

[R] (21337)

49
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the Government's target for the savings ratio by private investors; and by what date.

[R] (21341)

50
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the importance of marketing in support of ISAs.

[R] (21506)

51
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many infringements of Cyprus air-space by Turkish military aircraft have been reported in 1997 to date; and if he will make a statement.

(21397)

52
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what he estimates the cost to be of providing (a) single-sex ward areas and (b) half-spindle locks on doors, in NHS acute psychiatric hospitals.

(21492)

53
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the articles of the European Working Time Directive from which the National Health Service will be exempted.

(21386)

54
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) local authority and (b) private sector care homes there are in each of the London borough council areas.

(21383)

55
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to publish his response to the conclusions of the BMA on the value of medicinal cannabis.

(21047)

56
N   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will prevent the sale of tobacco products by anyone younger than the minimum age at which those products may legally be purchased.

(20410)

57
N   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the terms of reference are for the evaluation being conducted for his Department of residential and village community provision for people with a mental handicap; who is conducting the study; how much it will cost if the work was put out to tender; and when the main findings are expected.

(20411)

58
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for nurses there are in hospitals within the Greater London area.

(21382)

59
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) men and (b) women were in National Health Service long-term care in England and Wales on 1st December.

(21384)

60
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department is taking to redress inequalities in access to infertility services.

(21594)

61
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what sums of money, out of the totals announced in his oral statement of 12th December, Official Report, column 1330, as being allocated to mental health care, will be used for providing (a) single-sex ward areas, (b) half-spindle locks on doors and (c) moves towards safe and therapeutic environments, within NHS acute psychiatric units.

(21491)

62
N   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are his plans to increase the efficacy of HIV/AIDS educational initiatives to young people.

(20717)

63
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of merging NHS trusts serving East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

(21354)

64
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on victims of serious sexual offences of being asked questions by the defendant personally in the course of a trial.

(21515)

65
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures his Department is proposing to tackle antisocial behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

(21396)

66
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many strip-searches have taken place in each of the London prisons since 1st January.

(21379)

67
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the operation of section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in respect of provision for the attendance of witnesses to be dispensed with in certain cases and for evidence to be given by way of a television link; and what plans he has to extend its provisions to cover other classes of proceedings.

(21512)

68
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with chief constables concerning the wearing of body armour by police officers; and if he will make a statement.

(21579)

69
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors underlie his Department's retention of the manuscript of In Excelsis containing writings by Lord Alfred Douglas.

(21334)

70
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Newport East of 21st July, Official Report, column 389, when he expects his Department's research into the process of rape cases to be completed; and if he will publish it.

(21578)

71
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders (a) in total and (b) aged under 21 years convicted of (i) rape and (ii) attempted rape received sentences of more than three months but less than four years' imprisonment in the last year for which figures are available.

(21573)

72
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders aged under 21 years and convicted of offences involving (a) sex and (b) violence were sentenced to detention in a young offenders' institution for periods of more than three months but less than four years in the last year for which figures are available.

(21574)

73
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the willingness of victims of serious sexual offences to come forward with complaints and co-operate in criminal proceedings.

(21510)

74
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many defendants convicted of (a) rape or attempted rape, (b) indecent assault on a woman (c) and other sexual offences to which Part I of the Sexual Offenders Act 1997 applies, personally asked questions of their victim in the course of their trial.

(21514)

75
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure there is parliamentary scrutiny of proposals in respect of the EU Convention on Mutual Assistance In Criminal Matters.

(21335)

76
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders convicted of offences involving (a) sex and (b) violence were sentenced to periods of imprisonment of more than three months but less than four years in the last year for which figures are available.

(21513)

77
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will provide a list of the areas on which he is prepared to answer questions in respect of the Millennium Experience and a list of the areas on which he is not prepared to answer questions.

(21327)

78
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his Answer of 24th November, Official Report, column 388, concerning his meeting with the French Minister for European Affairs on 16th September, if any civil servants were present at the meeting; and if he will list the subjects discussed.

(21351)

79
   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list those incidents evaluated as having potential terrorist organisation involvement which have occurred since 20th July broken down by type of incident; and what assessment the RUC has made as to the organisation involved in respect of each incident.

(21516)

80
   Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry and Armagh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she will take to protect pensioners resident in Northern Ireland who receive their pensions from the Republic of Ireland against the impact of currency fluctuations.

(21385)

81
   Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools has complied with the requirements to provide a neutral working environment.

(21595)

82
   Mr Cecil Walker (Belfast North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans the Department of Education has to end the GCSE provision in colleges of further and higher education.

(21378)

83
   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the RUC investigation into the attempted murder of Mr Jackie Mahood.

(21511)

84
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the President of the Council, what assessment she has made of the demand on IT specialists and systems of the Government's legislative programme other than that caused by preparations for EMU and the year 2000 computer date change problem.

(19612)

85
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what criteria determine who is included on guest lists for Government receptions at 10 Downing Street.

(21339)

86
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what is the Government's estimate for the cost of official hospitality at 10 Downing Street in the current financial year.

(21340)

87
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the number of industrial tribunal decisions which are fully complied with within a period of two months from the tribunal decision.

(21171)

88
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to introduce procedures to allow for easier enforcement of industrial tribunal decisions; and if he will make a statement.

(21173)

89
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what mechanisms are available to ensure the enforcement of industrial tribunal decisions.

(21172)

90
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many individuals received less in benefit under incapacity benefit than they would have done under invalidity benefit in each year since 1995-96.

(21575)

91
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many recipients of invalidity benefit there are in the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency area.

(21589)

92
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the number of people in the age bands of (a) 30 to 40, (b) 40 to 50, (c) 50 to 60 and (d) 60 to 70 years who are in receipt of disability living allowance in the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency area.

(21591)

93
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents are in receipt of the lone parent premium in the Peterlee and Seaham Benefits Agency area.

(21590)

94
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the receipts generated by taxing child benefit at the top rate.

(21587)

95
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many benefit claims have been reviewed under the remit of the Benefits Integrity Unit since its formation; and how many claims have been (a) reduced, (b) left unaltered and (c) up-rated.

(21509)

96
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many appeals are outstanding in respect of disallowment of invalidity benefit; and what is the average length of time for an appeal to be determined in the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency area.

(21588)

97
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many businesses have moved from unassisted to assisted areas in the last three years; and what figures she has collated in respect of the Chorley constituency.

(21496)

98
   Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to review (a) the bankruptcy laws and (b) the way bankruptcy is administered.

(21489)

99
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what mechanisms are available to ensure the enforcement of industrial tribunal decisions.

(21175)

100
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many open cast mines currently operate in the United Kingdom.

(21389)

101
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what estimate she has made of the number of industrial tribunal decisions which are fully complied with within a period of two months from the tribunal decision.

(21174)

102
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to introduce procedures to allow for easier enforcement of industrial tribunal decisions; and if she will make a statement.

(21176)

103
N   Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what steps he is taking to ensure that Government departments resolve the millennium computer compliance problem.

[Question Unstarred] (19605)

104
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what plans he has to promote the Government's policy on freedom of information.

[Question Unstarred] (19615)

105
N   Ms Claire Ward (Watford):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what plans he has to reform the programme of charters.

[Question Unstarred] (19616)

106
   Mr Lembit Opik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was the level of Objective 5b funding in Wales in (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) 1996.

[Transferred] (21592)

107
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement regarding increases in budget provision of the Health and Safety Executive in this Parliament.

[Transferred] (21391)

108
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, by which date she expects to enact the European Working Time Directive.

[Transferred] (21387)



© Parliamentary copyright 1997	Revised 17 December 1997