Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 13 January 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 13 January of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 13 January, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 14 January, see Part 2 of this Paper.

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.

TUESDAY 13th JANUARY

1
   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many non-United Kingdom nationals are currently practising in the United Kingdom as official veterinarians in abbatoirs; what assessment he has made of their level of competence in the English language; and what tests are used to ensure that the level of language competence is adequate.

(22829)

2
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications have been made to the National Lottery distributing bodies from organisations in the Basildon constituency; how many have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in their applications; and what has been the total value of successful applications in each year.

(22826)

3
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate his Department has made of the growth of the urban fox population in the United Kingdom over the last 30 years.

(22820)

4
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths caused in each of the last 10 years by drivers who had consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the 12 hours prior to an accident but who had a blood alcohol limit lower than the legal limit at the time of the accident.

(22821)

5
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the public health risks which arise from urban fox populations.

(22822)

6
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of occasions over a five year period on which a driver of an HGV can expect to be stopped for a roadside check by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

(22832)

7
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of vehicles stopped by the Vehicle Inspectorate at roadside checks that were found to be unroadworthy or otherwise in breach of regulations, were registered outside the United Kingdom.

(22834)

8
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to set targets for increasing the proportion of passengers and freight carried by rail.

(22836)

9
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to increase the role of local authorities in delivering an integrated rail service.

(22838)

10
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will revise passenger and freight access charges to stimulate greater use of the rail network.

(22840)

11
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will amend the Building Regulations to comply with section 104 of the Water Industries Act 1991 to ensure that all sewers are built by developers to an adoptable standard.

(22841)

12
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce legislation to impound heavy goods vehicles found at roadside checks to be in unsafe condition.

(22833)

13
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set up a new rail authority to co-ordinate and develop the rail network.

(22835)

14
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to create a national rail development plan to modernise and expand the network.

(22837)

15
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will extend the Passenger Transport Authority Model to London and other areas.

(22839)

16
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of Railtrack's performance in fulfilling its statutory obligations with respect to (a) maintenance of the rail infrastructure and (b) upgrading the system; and if he will list the figures for expenditure on both items.

(22823)

17
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the capability of the undersea telecoms link between the Shetland Islands and the mainland for carrying clear traffic for the purposes of Her Majesty's Coastguard; and when he expects the link to be mended.

(22847)

18
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will seek to negotiate an amendment to the Channel Tunnel Treaty allowing for the annual publication of a comprehensive safety report.

(22825)

19
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will request the Coastguard Agency to publish its five year plan.

(22845)

20
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many consultants were employed by the Coastguard Agency in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; in what capacity; and at what cost.

(22844)

21
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will discuss with Railtrack the present and future access charges to the Railtrack system.

(22824)

22
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the total cost of closing four coastguard stations and merging two stations.

(22843)

23
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the cost of implementation of new digital technology for Her Majesty's Coastguard throughout the United Kingdom stations; and if he will list each station separately and the total costs involved.

(22848)

24
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were (a) the total annual emissions in kilotonnes and (b) the emissions per unit of electricity generated, in g/kWh, of (i) carbon dioxide, (ii) sulphur dioxide, (iii) oxides of nitrogen, (iv) hydrogen chloride, (v) dust and (vi) other substances, for the last 10 years from each of the coal or gas-fired power stations in the United Kingdom.

(22860)

25
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Permanent Secretary received the documentation in support of the assurances made to him by the Paymaster General in respect of the Orion Trust; and what assessment he has made of that documentation.

(22814)

26
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenue the Exchequer received in 1997 from the removal of tax relief on pensioners' private medical insurance.

(22827)

27
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list by overseas post (a) the number of diplomatic staff, (b) the number of British-based non-diplomatic staff and (c) the number of locally recruited staff currently (i) authorised for and (ii) actually based at each overseas post; and if he will indicate in (1) numerical and (2) percentage terms how each of these authorised and actual numbers have changed since (A) five years ago and (B) 10 years ago.

(22819)

28
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list by overseas post (a) the current annual cost and (b) the cost in 1990-91 of employing (i) diplomatic staff, (ii) British-based non-diplomatic staff and (iii) locally recruited staff; and if he will indicate (1) numerically and (2) in percentage terms how each of these costs have changed since 1990-91.

(22817)

29
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many abortions were carried out at the Falloden private hospital, Leeds, during (a) 1995 and (b) 1996.

(21799)

30
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken to establish the number of female patients who did not receive a full dosage of anti-D immunoglobulin during terminations undertaken at the Falloden private hospital, Leeds; what the implications of this are for the patients concerned; what steps have been taken to warn them of the potential risks they face and provide appropriate screening; and if he will make a statement.

(21800)

31
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the relationship between the level of (a) smoking among young people and (b) smuggled tobacco products from other member states of the European Union.

(22793)

32
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the guidelines whereby victims of crimes committed by perpetrators diagnosed as being mentally ill are not informed about the release or rehabilitation of those perpetrators.

(22859)

33
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Prime Minister, how much has been spent on official entertainment at No. 10 Downing Street since 2nd July 1997.

(22828)

34
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Prime Minister, what matters he discussed with President Arap Moi of Kenya during his recent brief meeting.

(22818)

35
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what discussions his officials have had with the Association of Parents of Vaccine Damaged Children; and if he will make a statement.

(22846)

36
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants of family credit there are in the Basildon constituency; and how many people in the Basildon constituency are in receipt of income support.

(22831)

37
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on her Department's export promotion work with South Korea.

(20417)

TUESDAY 13th JANUARY
1	Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many non-United Kingdom nationals are currently practising in the United Kingdom as official veterinarians in abbatoirs; what assessment he has made of their level of competence in the English language; and what tests are used to ensure that the level of language competence is adequate.
	(22829)
2	Angela Smith (Basildon): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications have been made to the National Lottery distributing bodies from organisations in the Basildon constituency; how many have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in their applications; and what has been the total value of successful applications in each year.
	(22826)
3	Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate his Department has made of the growth of the urban fox population in the United Kingdom over the last 30 years.
	(22820)
4	Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths caused in each of the last 10 years by drivers who had consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the 12 hours prior to an accident but who had a blood alcohol limit lower than the legal limit at the time of the accident.
	(22821)
5	Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the public health risks which arise from urban fox populations.
	(22822)
6	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of occasions over a five year period on which a driver of an HGV can expect to be stopped for a roadside check by the Vehicle Inspectorate.
	(22832)
7	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of vehicles stopped by the Vehicle Inspectorate at roadside checks that were found to be unroadworthy or otherwise in breach of regulations, were registered outside the United Kingdom.
	(22834)
8	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to set targets for increasing the proportion of passengers and freight carried by rail.
	(22836)
9	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to increase the role of local authorities in delivering an integrated rail service.
	(22838)
10	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will revise passenger and freight access charges to stimulate greater use of the rail network.
	(22840)
11	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will amend the Building Regulations to comply with section 104 of the Water Industries Act 1991 to ensure that all sewers are built by developers to an adoptable standard.
	(22841)
12	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce legislation to impound heavy goods vehicles found at roadside checks to be in unsafe condition.
	(22833)
13	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set up a new rail authority to co-ordinate and develop the rail network.
	(22835)
14	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to create a national rail development plan to modernise and expand the network.
	(22837)
15	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will extend the Passenger Transport Authority Model to London and other areas.
	(22839)
16	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of Railtrack's performance in fulfilling its statutory obligations with respect to (a) maintenance of the rail infrastructure and (b) upgrading the system; and if he will list the figures for expenditure on both items.
	(22823)
17	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the capability of the undersea telecoms link between the Shetland Islands and the mainland for carrying clear traffic for the purposes of Her Majesty's Coastguard; and when he expects the link to be mended.
	(22847)
18	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will seek to negotiate an amendment to the Channel Tunnel Treaty allowing for the annual publication of a comprehensive safety report.
	(22825)
19	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will request the Coastguard Agency to publish its five year plan.
	(22845)
20	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many consultants were employed by the Coastguard Agency in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; in what capacity; and at what cost.
	(22844)
21	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will discuss with Railtrack the present and future access charges to the Railtrack system.
	(22824)
22	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the total cost of closing four coastguard stations and merging two stations.
	(22843)
23	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the cost of implementation of new digital technology for Her Majesty's Coastguard throughout the United Kingdom stations; and if he will list each station separately and the total costs involved.
	(22848)
24	Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were (a) the total annual emissions in kilotonnes and (b) the emissions per unit of electricity generated, in g/kWh, of (i) carbon dioxide, (ii) sulphur dioxide, (iii) oxides of nitrogen, (iv) hydrogen chloride, (v) dust and (vi) other substances, for the last 10 years from each of the coal or gas-fired power stations in the United Kingdom.
	(22860)
25 N	Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Permanent Secretary received the documentation in support of the assurances made to him by the Paymaster General in respect of the Orion Trust; and what assessment he has made of that documentation.
	(22814)
26	Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenue the Exchequer received in 1997 from the removal of tax relief on pensioners' private medical insurance.
	(22827)
27	Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list by overseas post (a) the number of diplomatic staff, (b) the number of British-based non-diplomatic staff and (c) the number of locally recruited staff currently (i) authorised for and (ii) actually based at each overseas post; and if he will indicate in (1) numerical and (2) percentage terms how each of these authorised and actual numbers have changed since (A) five years ago and (B) 10 years ago.
	(22819)
28	Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list by overseas post (a) the current annual cost and (b) the cost in 1990-91 of employing (i) diplomatic staff, (ii) British-based non-diplomatic staff and (iii) locally recruited staff; and if he will indicate (1) numerically and (2) in percentage terms how each of these costs have changed since 1990-91.
	(22817)
29 N	Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many abortions were carried out at the Falloden private hospital, Leeds, during (a) 1995 and (b) 1996.
	(21799)
30 N	Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken to establish the number of female patients who did not receive a full dosage of anti-D immunoglobulin during terminations undertaken at the Falloden private hospital, Leeds; what the implications of this are for the patients concerned; what steps have been taken to warn them of the potential risks they face and provide appropriate screening; and if he will make a statement.
	(21800)
31 N	Dr John Marek (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the relationship between the level of (a) smoking among young people and (b) smuggled tobacco products from other member states of the European Union.
	(22793)
32	Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the guidelines whereby victims of crimes committed by perpetrators diagnosed as being mentally ill are not informed about the release or rehabilitation of those perpetrators.
	(22859)
33	Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent): To ask the Prime Minister, how much has been spent on official entertainment at No. 10 Downing Street since 2nd July 1997.
	(22828)
34	Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne): To ask the Prime Minister, what matters he discussed with President Arap Moi of Kenya during his recent brief meeting.
	(22818)
35	Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what discussions his officials have had with the Association of Parents of Vaccine Damaged Children; and if he will make a statement.
	(22846)
36	Angela Smith (Basildon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants of family credit there are in the Basildon constituency; and how many people in the Basildon constituency are in receipt of income support.
	(22831)
37 N	Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on her Department's export promotion work with South Korea.
	(20417)



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