Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 22 January 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 22 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 Thursday 22 January, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 23 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.

THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY

1
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what consultation there will be with the farming community in discussions preceding any countryside access legislation.

(22307)

2
N   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research his Department evaluated from other EU countries prior to its decision to ban the sale of beef on the bone.

(22321)

3
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the estimated number of cattle in England and Wales aged over 30 months.

(24874)

4
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy he is seeking to reform.

(24762)

5
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what procedure he will follow to achieve reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

(24712)

6
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what benefits he seeks to achieve for British fishermen by reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

(24761)

7
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his time scale for achieving reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

(24711)

8
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will give a regional breakdown of resources expended on shoreline management and coastal defence work in England in each of the last five years.

(24812)

9
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the current work on compiling shoreline management plans will be completed for England; and how this work will relate to the disbursement of funds for shoreline management and coastal defence works.

(24813)

10
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the name and professional qualifications of those nutritionists who have written to him to support his proposed new restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements.

(24819)

11
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the impact of the current exchange rate on United Kingdom agriculture.

(25117)

12
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what information he has as to the amounts of seaweed used as a fertiliser in the United Kingdom; what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which there has been bio-accumulation of toxic and radiotoxic materials in the seaweed feedstock.

(25064)

13
   Mr John Townend (East Yorkshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the principle of relative stability was established; and by which Article in which Regulation and under which Article in which Regulation the principle is presently established.

(24984)

14
   Mr John Townend (East Yorkshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will define the method of application of the principle of relative stability (a) from 1983 to 2002 and (b) from 2003 onwards.

(24983)

15
N   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what plans he has to reform the operation of the Treasury Solicitor's Office.

(22339)

16
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Hove of 15th January, Official Report, columns 267-68, for which grace and favour residences the new non-departmental public body for the historic royal palaces will be responsible.

(24773)

17
   Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what has been the total value of ticket sales in (a) the constituency of Erewash and (b) the constituency of Westminster since the establishment of the National Lottery.

(24855)

18
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what grants were made available to football clubs in England and Wales to improve their ground facilities for spectators during 1997.

(24873)

19
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the total value of awards made by the Heritage Lotteries Foundation to the borough council areas of Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Darlington and Hartlepool.

(24814)

20
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will discuss with the Chairman of Channel 4 the contents of the episode of TV Dinners relating to the cooking and eating of the human placenta puree.

(25223)

21
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of the Secretary of State for Defence of 15th January, Official Report, column 408, what steps he is taking to assess the historic significance of the surviving structures at RAF Marston Moor.

(25122)

22
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the occasions since 1980 when nuclear reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, indicating in each case the date of shut down, the reason for the shut down and the date on which power generation recommenced.

(24754)

23
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the countries where British peace-keeping forces are currently operating.

(25008)

24
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are employed within the Defence Export Services Organisation; what is the breakdown of their posts; and how many of the staff are employed in London.

(24840)

25
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the overseas offices of the Defence Export Services Organisation are situated; if he will list for each office (a) the date it was established, (b) the number of staff currently employed there and (c) the running cost in the last year for which figures are available.

(24837)

26
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the total administrative cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation in (a) 1994-95 and (b) 1996-97.

(24839)

27
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to establish a defence diversification agency or similar organisation; and if he will make a statement.

(24838)

28
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions have been held with the French authorities on joint strategic submarine patrols; and if he will make a statement.

(24674)

29
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the procurement of (a) food in general and (b) beef.

(25009)

30
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 31st July, Official Report, column 473, which of the types of WE-177 Bomb have been assigned to the Royal Air Force.

(24763)

31
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 12th November, Offical Report, column 580, on Exercise Senator 97, in which part of Lincolnshire and at which MoD sites the exercise took place;how many county councils (a) participated and (b) were invited to participate in the exercise; and what lessons were learnt from this exercise.

(24764)

32
   Mr Martin Bell (Tatton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the Green Paper on special educational provision existed in draft form when he took office.

(24980)

33
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans the Government has to encourage greater labour mobility to ease labour shortages.

(25220)

34
N   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of children in 1996-97, achieved the minimum swimming requirement of the national curriculum at Key Stage II; and on what basis the calculation was made.

(24389)

35
N   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what effect the proposed revision of the curriculum structure for Key Stage II, in respect of literacy and numeracy, will have on the swimming requirement.

(24390)

36
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people in the employer option of the Welfare to Work scheme are in jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector.

(24490)

37
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the (a) private sector companies and (b) public sector departments which have provided jobs for the employer option of the Welfare to Work scheme, indicating the number of jobs each has provided.

(24493)

38
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many complaints have been made to him under section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; what was the subject matter of the complaints; and what was the outcome.

(24978)

39
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to include representatives of local education authorities on the governing bodies of further education colleges.

(24975)

40
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many governors have been removed from the governing bodies of further education colleges as a result of being found unfit to serve; and what were the reasons for these findings.

(24977)

41
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to amend the regulations concerning governing bodies of further education colleges.

(24974)

42
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he proposes to exempt participants on further education teacher training courses from the payment of tuition fees.

(24979)

43
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that staff and students are represented on the governing bodies of further education colleges.

(24976)

44
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of college fees have been paid in accordance with his Department's deadlines by each local education authority in each of the last three years.

(24861)

45
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many enquiries from students and parents concerning student maintenance and fees awards were received by local education authorities in each of the last three years.

(24860)

46
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the resources required by the Student Support Agency to meet the volume of enquiries currently managed by local education authorities and to deal with them to the same standards.

(24859)

47
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of student maintenance awards have been paid on time by each local education authority in each of the last three years.

(24862)

48
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the minimum sum required by the Commission of the European Community when making grants from its (a) Regional and (b) Social Fund for each unit of employment calculated to be created or saved as a qualification for making such grants for (i) the Community and (ii) the United Kingdom.

(25121)

49
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the voluntary sector to training provision for people with learning disabilities.

(24857)

50
   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on progress to date on achieving maximum class sizes of 30 for five to seven year olds; and what steps will be taken over the next six months.

(25026)

51
   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many prosecutions the Health and Safety Executive has carried out under the Manual Handling Regulations since they came into force; and of these how many were against (a) health care employers, (b) local government employers and (c) private residential homes.

(25006)

52
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many complaints were received by the rail users' consultative committees about the services provided by Virgin Trains during (a) the quarter ended 31st December 1997 and (b) the equivalent period in 1996.

(24771)

53
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what additional resources have been allocated in the financial year 1998-99 to the Vehicle Inspectorate to enhance safety regulation in road transport.

(24772)

54
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on where the offices of the Regional Development Agency for the Eastern Region will be sited.

(24497)

55
   Mrs Ann Cryer (Keighley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on the allocation of a large green field site at Silsden for housing development in the Bradford Unitary Development Plan.

(24969)

56
   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authorities have completed large-scale voluntary transfers of their housing stocks; and if he will list (a) those authorities and (b) those other authorities which have now expressed an interest in this process.

(24818)

57
   Ms Jenny Jones (Wolverhampton South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on guidance given by his Department to utility companies which engage in trenching in urban areas, to encourage the preservation of mature street trees; and what monitoring takes place of the impact of trenching activities on mature trees.

(24871)

58
   Ms Jenny Jones (Wolverhampton South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd December, Official Report, column 110, what guidance is given to local authorities to develop strategies for the preservation of mature street trees; and what monitoring takes place as to the effectiveness of the delivery of these strategies.

(25018)

59
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will publish his consultation document for the promotion of greater access to the countryside.

(24816)

60
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many hectares in England are currently zoned as Green Belt.

(24981)

61
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the future of the regional office of the Driving Standards Agency at Haymarket House, Edinburgh.

(24420)

62
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the future of the driving test centres at (a) Edinburgh, Newington, (b) Saltcoats, (c) Hamilton, (d) Aberfeldy, (e) Girvan, (f) Cumnock, (g) Callander, (h) Fort Augustus, (i) Tarbert, (j) Bettyhill, (k) Helmsdale and (l) Duns.

(24421)

63
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were the levels of recorded homelessness over the last 10 years (a) in Hampshire, (b) in Winchester City Council area and (c) nationally.

(24550)

64
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what factors underlay his assessment that a possible five million new homes are required for the next century's housing needs.

(24867)

65
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has carried out into the impact of the completion of the A419 in Gloucestershire on traffic flows.

(24866)

66
N   Ms Sandra Osborne (Ayr):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on (a) the current delay in the development of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick and (b) the implications for the proposed contract for the new Scottish centre at Prestwick.

(24143)

67
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimates he has of the numbers of (a) village stores and (b) sub-post offices in Lancashire which are likely to benefit from the 50 per cent. reduction in business rates.

(24845)

68
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from local authorities about the location of the Regional Development Agency for the East Midlands; what consideration he has given to these; on the basis of what criteria; and when he intends to make a decision.

(24946)

69
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his present estimate of the limit of capacity for storage of intermediate level nuclear waste at Sellafield; and what criteria are used to assess this capacity.

(25065)

70
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to announce the appointment of the next Governor of the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement.

(24545)

71
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the additional cost of tax relief on the individual savings account, for each of the next five years, of altering the proposals as set out in his consultative document of December 1997 so as to allow total individual holdings of PEPs and TESSAs as at 1st December 1997 to be transferred into the new individual savings account without regard to the £50,000 overall investment limit; and if he will make a statement.

(24553)

72
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the HM Treasury reviews which will have been completed in time to inform the Budget Statement on 17th March; and if he will make a statement.

(24544)

73
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the additional cost of the tax relief planned for the individual savings account in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-2001 and (c) 2001-2002, if the overall ISA investment limit of £50,000 is increased to (i) £60,000, (ii) £75,000 and (iii) £100,000, assuming no change in the annual investment limits; and if he will make a statement.

(24570)

74
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many responses he has received to his consultative document, The New Individual Savings Account broken down into (a) letters, (b) trade submissions and (c) other responses; and if he will make a statement.

(24554)

75
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are his estimates for the cost of tax relief under (a) the new individual savings account and (b) the continuation of PEPs and TESSAs, for (i) 2000-2001, (ii) 2001-2002 and (iii) 2002-2003; and if he will make a statement.

(24569)

76
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultation he intends to introduce with respect to future Government plans for public expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

(24718)

77
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to make a statement setting out the Government's response to the recommendations of the public sector pay review bodies; and if he will make a statement.

(24546)

78
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact of a 10 per cent. rise in the trade-weighted value of sterling on (a) real GDP, (b) manufacturing output, (c) manufacturing employment, (d) export volumes and (e) import volumes.

(25232)

79
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the East and South East Asian financial and economic crisis on British GDP growth in 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and on the volumes of United Kingdom exports and imports in those years.

(25225)

80
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to establish the level of savings providers' proposed administrative and selling charges to savers of up to (a) £100, (b) £250 and (c) £1,000 per annum under the ISA scheme.

(25226)

81
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to recruit additional staff in the Inland Revenue to administer the ISA scheme.

(25231)

82
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will calculate the current level of unemployment on (a) a claimant basis and (b) labour force survey basis rebased to the methodology used for calculating unemployment in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985 and (iii) 1990.

(25233)

83
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the Government's policy towards the proposal of the EU Commission that there should be a three year trial period during which member states of the EU can impose a 5 per cent. rate of VAT on repairs to domestic housing; and if he will make a statement.

(24770)

84
N   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many school-aged children died in drowning accidents in the year 1996-97; and what percentage of those children were unable to swim.

(24391)

85
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many married couples would pay higher rate tax if independent married women's tax was withdrawn and they were taxed jointly.

(24957)

86
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what receipts would be generated by (a) taxing child benefit at the basic rate, (b) taxing child benefit at the higher rate and (c) means-testing maternity benefits.

(25007)

87
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Inland Revenue classifies child benefit as a tax relief paid in cash.

(24958)

88
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the administrative cost of changing back to joint taxation of married couples, and taxing child benefit.

(24956)

89
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the estimated amount of tax forgone by the Treasury since the introduction of independent married women's taxation.

(24955)

90
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many landowners who received conditional exemption from inheritance tax in the last three years for (a) land and buildings and (b) works of art were peers.

(24954)

91
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which body is reponsible for supervising and directing the activities of the European Investment Bank; what are the financial obligations of the participant nations; and if all the necessary contributions have been made by participant nations.

(24501)

92
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenue he expects the Government to receive from £100 fines on taxpayers who file their tax return after the 31st January deadline.

(24715)

93
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what he expects to be the effect in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 on Inland Revenue manpower of the move to self-assessment; and if he will estimate the effect of the change on the running costs of the Inland Revenue.

(24714)

94
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer to honourable Member for Daventry of 1st July, Official Report, column 112, what is his current estimate of the cost to the Inland Revenue of publicity in support of the move to self-assessment.

(24739)

95
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the percentages of those in receipt of annual incomes of (i) between (a) £5,000 and £10,000, (b) £10,000 and £15,000, (c) £15,000 and £20,000, (d) £20,000 and £25,000, (e) £25,000 and £30,000, (f) £30,000 and £35,000, (g) £35,000 and £40,000, (h) £40,000 and £45,000, (i) £45,000 and £50,000, (j) £50,000 and £55,000, (k) £55,000 and £60,000, (l) £60,000 and £100,000 and (ii) over £100,000.

(24740)

96
   Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if officials were present at the time agreement was reached at Amsterdam on what voting arrangements will operate for opting into the Schengen area.

(25134)

97
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the dependencies of the United Kingdom that (a) have legislative provision for and (b) carry out the death penalty.

(24875)

98
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will press for an international investigation into (a) massacres and (b) human rights abuses in Algeria.

(24841)

99
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last had discussions with the Algerian authorities about the human rights situation in Algeria.

(24843)

100
   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had on (a) the future of and (b) support to St Helena.

(25028)

101
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what audit of the natural resources of the dependent territories has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

(24970)

102
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to what extent carbon dioxide targets in respect of Kyoto will be applied to dependent territories; and if he will make a statement.

(24971)

103
   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the aims of the Club of Three; what was the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the meeting of September last; and what arrangements have been made for the projected London meeting of mid-1998.

(25129)

104
   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the participants in past Club of Three meetings; and if (a) minutes or (b) conference papers are circulated or deposited.

(25128)

105
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 12th January, Official Report, column 23, if he will list the equivalent figures for the use and cost of VIP facilities at Heathrow Airport for 1996.

(24500)

106
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list by (a) month and (b) minister the number of times each Government minister has used VIP facilities at Heathrow Airport in the course of their official travel since 1st May.

(24494)

107
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 9th December regarding a constituent.

(24519)

108
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter (reference S/J/PSO/11213/97) when he expects to receive the Acheson Report relating to accident involvement.

(22797)

109
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new proposals he has to reduce excessive prescribing of neuroleptic drugs to residents of homes for the elderly.

(24755)

110
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what occasions tests using hormones have been carried out on patients at Broadmoor Hospital since 1968.

(24760)

111
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial allocations have been made to the Redbridge and Waltham Forest District Health Authority in each year since its establishment; and what was the real terms increase in each year compared with the previous year.

(24973)

112
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the public health responsibilities of the Commission for Health Improvement.

(25004)

113
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will ban the drug rohypnol.

(24673)

114
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what health rules govern the use of human placenta for human consumption; what regulations cover the safe storage of human placenta for food purposes; and what advice is given to parents intending to use the placenta of their child for food purposes.

(25222)

115
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with pharmaceutical companies in respect of the British Medical Association's report on the therapeutic uses of cannabis; and if he will make a statement.

(24836)

116
   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional funding, above that planned by the previous Government, the Government has allocated to Leeds Health Authority for the years 1997-98 and 1998-99.

(25027)

117
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in how many regions there have been (a) reductions and (b) increases in school nursing services over the last two years.

(25025)

118
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many school nurses, expressed as whole-time equivalents, were employed by the NHS in England in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 1996, and (d) 1997.

(25012)

119
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on (a) regional and (b) locality variations in school nurse numbers.

(25016)

120
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the ratio of (a) school nurses to schools and (b) school nurses to numbers of children.

(25015)

121
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to (a) purchasers and (b) commissioners of health provision on the employment of school nurses relating to (i) numbers and (ii) job descriptions.

(25014)

122
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses entered school nursing training in (a) 1990-91, (b) 1991-92, (c) 1992-93, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95, (f) 1995-96 and (g) 1996-97.

(25013)

123
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what national standards he has set for school health services.

(25022)

124
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the (i) short-term and (ii) long-term outcome of various patterns of school nursing provision.

(25024)

125
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the benefits of giving each school pupil access to a named school nurse.

(25023)

126
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimates he has made of staffing levels at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices at Croydon on (a) 1st April 1998, (b) 1st April 1999 and (c) 1st April 2000.

(24549)

127
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what timescale he has planned for the implementation of the new computer system at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices at Croydon in respect of (a) initial installation, (b) pilot phase and (c) full operation.

(24548)

128
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what sum is budgeted for the operation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices at Croydon for the years (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000.

(24547)

129
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) legislation and (b) other procedures apply to the disclosure of internal reports commissioned by police authorities into their police forces.

(24856)

130
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the length of time taken between arrest and conviction of criminals.

(22336)

131
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the elements of the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] which will be piloted before wider implementation stating how long each pilot scheme is expected to last and the expected date of wider implementation; and if he will make a statement.

(25052)

132
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours training are given to prison officers and prison custody officers at each of the privately managed prisons prior to taking up their duties; and if he will make a statement.

(25049)

133
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children under the age of 16 years have been prosecuted for offences related to prostitution, by age, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(25050)

134
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what costs have been incurred by the Prison Service in respect of unoccupied prisoner places ordered from the managing contractor at Her Majesty's Prison Parc, Bridgend; when he expects the prison to be fully occupied; and if he will make a statement.

(25048)

135
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the police can carry out a road block.

(25047)

136
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the calculations on which the financial effects of the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] are based; and if he will make a statement.

(25053)

137
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the results of random mandatory drug testing of prisoners for April to June 1997 and July to September 1997, showing for each establishment the number of tests done, the number of prisoners testing positive for opiates and the number of prisoners testing positive for cannabis in the 13 prisons in which an interview based survey about injectable drug use and HIV risk behaviours was carried out in 1994-95.

(25056)

138
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the results from random mandatory drugs testing of prisoners for April to June 1997 and July to September 1997, showing for each establishment the number of tests done, the number of prisoners testing positive for opiates and the number of prisoners testing positive for cannabis, for the eight prisons that are participating in willing anonymous salivary HIV/Hepatitis B surveillance studies.

(25055)

139
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the salary maxima and minima for (a) prison officers, (b) prison custody officers working in the Greater London area and (c) prison custody officers in each of the privately managed prisons; and if he will make a statement.

(25118)

140
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the proportion of his Department's budget spent directly on targeted crime prevention work; and if he will make a statement.

(25046)

141
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce national standards for the supervision of serious sexual offenders; and if he will make a statement.

(25051)

142
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the prisons that are participating in willing anonymous salivary HIV/Hepatitis B surveillance studies conducted under the auspices of the Public Health Laboratory Service at Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, in collaboration with HM Prison Service's Directorate of Healthcare.

(25057)

143
   Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the controls governing air rifles.

(24854)

144
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd December, Official Report, columns 548-550, on immigration cases, how many of the applications for leave to apply for judicial review made in 1996 and 1997, but recorded as having lapsed, were (a) refused on the papers and not renewed, (b) granted leave but no notice of motion was subsequently lodged and (c) withdrawn or otherwise not proceeded with.

(24963)

145
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal in respect of a refusal of asylum were made in 1997; how many such applications were determined in 1997; and how many such applications were (a) granted and (b) dismissed.

(25124)

146
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications were made to and determined by his Department in each month of 1997; and with what result.

(25135)

147
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal in respect of a refusal of asylum were (a) made and (b) determined in 1997; and how many such appeals were (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed and (iii) withdrawn.

(25126)

148
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many appeals against a refusal of asylum were made to and determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appeals Authority in 1997; and how many such appeals were (a) allowed, (b) dismissed, (c) withdrawn and (d) referred to the Secretary of State for further consideration.

(25127)

149
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the current provision of fireboat services on the River Thames; and what plans he has to review it.

(25227)

150
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the Government's guidance to the Metropolitan Police Service on the use of civilians within police stations; and in what circumstances civilians may be given responsibility for the supervision of detainees within police stations.

(25230)

151
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) pumping and (b) special appliances were on operational duty with the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority on 1st January 1998.

(25235)

152
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the criteria for establishing at which emergencies it is appropriate to call on fireboat services.

(25228)

153
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the role of the Metropolitan Police Service in dealing with fires on or close to the Thames.

(25229)

154
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been received from Algerians over the past six months; and what percentage of these have been successful.

(24842)

155
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 433, when the copy of the Home Department circular to chief fire officers will be placed in the Library.

(24495)

156
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to conclude his consideration of Mr Mohammed Fayed's application for British citizenship; and what factors will influence the timing of his decision.

(24776)

157
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will defer making a final decision on Mr Mohammed Fayed's application for British citizenship until the police have concluded their investigation into the theft of items from a Harrod's safe deposit box.

(24777)

158
N   Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research has been undertaken by the Government into the legalisation of cannabis following the report of the Wootton Commission.

(24769)

159
N   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the Merseyside Probation Service has not been contacted to supply the probation input into HMP Altcourse.

(24174)

160
N   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contractual arrangements exist for seconded probation officers at Her Majesty's Prisons at (a) Mold, (b) Doncaster, (c) Blakenhurst and (d) Buckley Hall.

(24175)

161
N   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the contractual arrangements for the secondment of probation officers will be used at (a) Her Majesty's Prison in Altcourse and (b) the new prison at Bridgend.

(24176)

162
N   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the terms and conditions of employment of the private social workers at Her Majesty's Prison, Altcourse.

(24281)

163
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new targets he proposes to set for the performance of the Probation Service.

(24972)

164
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the number of casino licences.

(25005)

165
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce legislation to make cannibalism a criminal offence.

(25221)

166
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 16th January, Official Report, column 326, what steps are taken by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the University of London to ensure that cannabis offered to medical researchers is of a consistent standard and quality.

(25116)

167
   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what training has been provided to the Kenyan military, security and police units in riot control or internal security; and which private companies have been licensed to provide such training in the last three years.

(25130)

168
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what percentage of county courts provide (a) wheelchair access, (b) disabled toilet facilities and (c) facilities for persons with seeing and hearing disabilities.

(24960)

169
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, in what languages small claims leaflets and county court forms are printed.

(24961)

170
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what interpreting facilities are provided in county courts for non-English speaking litigants.

(24962)

171
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment he has made of the Law Society's ability to ensure that when a solicitor acting as a trustee has been negligent, those concerned will be compensated for resulting losses whenever they occur; and if he will make a comment.

(24806)

172
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps have been taken following the National Audit Office report, Handling Small Claims in the County Courts, (HC 271, of Session 1995-96), to make the small claims procedure more accessible for (a) non-English speaking litigants and (b) the disabled.

(24872)

173
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the current status of proposals relating to the moving of the Chelmsford Magistrates' Court to Witham; and when he expects a final decision on this proposal to be taken.

(24496)

174
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will reply to the letters of 18th September, 23rd June and 30th July from the honorourable Member for Twickenham.

(25219)

175
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what representations he has received in respect of the piloting of the fast track regime prior to any introduction of fixed costs; and if he will make a statement.

(25003)

176
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he plans to announce his decision on the issue of fixed costs in personal injuries claims; and if he will make a statement.

(25002)

177
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his Answer of 15th January, Official Report, column 278, what is the share of the cost of the official visit to Trinidad and Tobago attributable to Lady Irvine's attendance.

(24499)

178
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will publish the programme for his visit to Washington in early January.

(24774)

179
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if the accommodation, meals and entrance fees to Disneyland for himself and his accompanying civil servant were paid for entirely out of United Kingdom public funds during his recent visit to Florida.

(24756)

180
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the occasions since 1980 when nuclear reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, indicating in each case the date of shut down, the reason for the shut down and the date on which power generation recommenced.

(24753)

181
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have received a summons in respect of the (a) painting of kerbs and (b) flying of flags and emblems from (i) 1st April 1987 to 31st March 1997 and (ii) 1st April to 31st December 1997.

(24844)

182
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make a statement on Bloody Sunday.

(24858)

183
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which Government buildings in Northern Ireland have had their water supplies artificially fluoridated.

(25115)

184
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in what quantities the fluoride used to artificially fluoridate Tandragee contains (a) arsenic, (b) lead, (c) aluminium and (d) radioactive particles.

(25113)

185
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if HM Prison Maze (a) is or (b) has been artificially fluoridated.

(25114)

186
   Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria are used to measure pollution in rivers; and which rivers fail to meet the standards.

(25020)

187
   Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the number of inspections of plants of manufacturers of animal meal to detect the use of banned bone meal, the results of these inspections and the number of prosecutions.

(25019)

188
   Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria are used in approving the establishment of nursery units to new or existing primary schools.

(25021)

189
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he intends to answer the letter sent to him by Mr Graham Horwood of 66 St. Andrews Road, Shoeburyness on the subject of a solar thermal project on 17th August 1997; and if he will make a statement on the procedures which he adopts in dealing with correspondence from the general public.

(24502)

190
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he received a letter from the honourable Member for Rochford and Southend East about the absence of a reply to his constituent Mr Graham Horwood's letter of 17th August 1997; and what action was taken in consequence.

(24503)

191
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Prime Minister, what factors underlay the decision that Lady Irvine's attendance was clearly in the public interest when granting permission under Rule 83 of the Ministerial Code for her to accompany the Lord Chancellor to Trinidad and Tobago between 4th and 11th January.

(24498)

192
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the occasions since 1980 when nuclear reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, indicating in each case the date of shut down, the reason for the shut down and the date on which power generation recommenced.

(24752)

193
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the results of random mandatory drug testing of prisoners for April to June 1997 and July to September 1997, showing for each establishment the number of tests done, the number of prisoners testing positive for opiates and the number of prisoners testing positive for cannabis for the nine Scottish prisons at which willing anonymous salivary HIV/Hepatitis B surveillance studies were conducted during 1991 to 96.

(25054)

194
N   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has to lift the ban on the sale of raw unpasteurised milk for drinking in Scotland.

(24737)

195
N   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the practice of consumers in Scotland purchasing raw unpasteurised milk for drinking which originated from outlets in England.

(24738)

196
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many patients were ready for discharge from hospitals in Scotland awaiting appropriate accommodation and packages of care in the community and in nursing homes at the most recent date for which figures are available.

(25010)

197
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what resources are allocated by the Scottish Office for (a) monitoring performance regarding children's rights and (b) enabling young people's views to be represented in planning and policy making processes involving (i) the Scottish Office and (ii) local authorities.

(24952)

198
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the expenditure per pupil on (i) text and library books and (ii) educational tools, equipment and materials in each of the present council areas in (1) 1995-96 and (2) 1996-97 in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

(24953)

199
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what grounds the option to house the Scottish Parliament in a separate new building in the Calton Hill, Regent Road area of Edinburgh was rejected.

(24947)

200
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what consideration was given to the area around New Street, Edinburgh, as a possible site for the Scottish Parliament.

(24949)

201
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date the Scottish Office was informed by Scottish and Newcastle that the Holyrood site would be available for the Scottish Parliament.

(24950)

202
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the plans for the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood involve the closure to vehicular traffic of (a) Holyrood Road and (b) Horse Wynd.

(24948)

203
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he took (a) to include other potential sites for the Scottish Parliament and (b) to invite modifications from the proponents of the existing proposals at the time when the Holyrood site was added to the short list of sites.

(24951)

204
   Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the reduction in charges in the case of John Barr Butchers and the E-coli deaths in Wishaw.

(25234)

205
   Mr David Marshall (Glasgow, Shettleston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to assist the Glasgow Regeneration Alliance; and if he will make a statement.

(25131)

206
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many of the 433 lone parents who she announced in October had gained employment through the New Deal for Lone Parents are (a) in the same employment as they were then, (b) have changed to other employment or (c) are no longer in employment.

(24591)

207
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what reduction in expenditure would have resulted from limiting the earnings-related element of statutory maternity pay to the weekly earnings level implied by the upper earnings limit for national insurance in the financial years 1995-96 and 1996-97; and how many claimants of statutory maternity pay would have had their payment limited in each year.

(25001)

208
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Northavon of 15th January, Official Report, column 314, on statutory maternity pay, if she will list the numbers of claimants in each of the bands of income specified.

(25011)

209
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to review the operation of child benefit.

(24492)

210
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 16th December, Official Report, column 140, how many of the 540 lone parents, not currently receiving income support, are currently claiming (a) no benefits, (b) only child benefit and (c) family credit.

(24672)

211
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in what circumstances those individuals who have refused to take up one of the four options under the Welfare to Work scheme and had their jobseeker's allowance removed for four weeks will (a) go back onto jobseeker's allowance for six months and (b) go onto income support.

(24552)

212
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the publication date for the Government Actuary Department's report on upgrading the SERPS rebate; and what are the terms of reference for the report.

(24491)

213
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Vauxhall of 16th January, Official Report, column 344, what is the cost to the Exchequer of the measures announced regarding the level of national insurance contracting-out rebates.

(25123)

214
N   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the level of advice and guidance and staffing available in the pilot projects of the Lone Parent Initiative will be matched when the national rollout takes place.

(24111)

215
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the number of those who have received attendance allowance in each year since 1992.

(24864)

216
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of claims for attendance allowance resulted in (i) an award at (a) the lower rate and (b) the higher rate, and (ii) no award in each year since 1992.

(24815)

217
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the amount spent on disability living allowance for people aged 65 years or over.

(24868)

218
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the amount spent on attendance allowance in each year since 1992.

(24869)

219
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (a) percentage and (b) number of (i) single pensioner and (ii) pensioner couples have a total income of at least (A) £125 per week and (B) £150 per week; and what percentage of pensioner couples have a total income of at least (1) £250 per week and (2) £300 per week in the latest year for which figures are available.

(24808)

220
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of (a) single pensioners, (b) pensioner couples and (c) all pensioner households were dependent on state benefits for at least 75 per cent. of their income in the latest year for which figures are available.

(25119)

221
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion and number of claimants whose claim for attendance allowance had been refused asked for a review; what proportion and number were successful for each year since 1992; and what proportion and number of those who were unsuccessful at review successfully appealed.

(24968)

222
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will publish an analysis for each quintile of pensioner income for single pensioners, pensioner couples and all pensioner households on the same basis as that given in the Answer of 3rd March 1997, Official Report, column 526, for the latest year for which figures are available.

(25125)

223
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (a) number and (b) proportion of pensioners in each region of the United Kingdom received (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) council tax benefit.

(24810)

224
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of attendance allowance claims were dealt with within (a) 30 working days and (b) 55 working days for each year since 1992.

(24870)

225
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the number of those aged 65 years or over who have received disability living allowance for each year since 1992.

(24865)

226
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (i) number and (ii) proportion of pensioners received (a) income support, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit and (d) one or more income related benefits for the last year for which figures are available.

(24945)

227
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (a) number and (b) proportion of pensioners did not claim their state pension at age 60 years for women or age 65 years for men in 1997 because they (i) deferred claiming it or (ii) failed to make their claim.

(24809)

228
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in which years since 1968 the state retirement pension has been uprated by (a) the higher of average earnings or prices, (b) prices and (c) neither.

(25136)

229
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what would be the gross annual cost of increasing the basic state pension by (a) £5, (b) £10 and (c) £20 per week; what would be (i) the annual savings in means-tested benefits and (ii) increased Treasury receipts from income tax if the basic state pension was increased by (1) £5 per week, (2) £10 per week, (3) £20 per week; and what increase in national insurance contributions would be needed to meet the net cost of increasing the basic state pension by (A) £5 per week, (B) £10 per week, and (C) £20 per week.

(24807)

230
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the proportion and number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time carers who are aged (i) 24 years and under, (ii) 25 to 44 years, (iii) 45 years to the state pension age and (iv) over the state pension age.

(24863)

231
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the proportion and number of the population of working age who are (a) full-time carers and (b) part-time carers.

(24846)

232
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list (a) the mean and (b) the median income for (i) single men aged 65 to 74 years, (ii) single men aged 75 years and over, (iii) single women aged 65 to 74 years, (iv) single women aged 75 years and over, (v) pensioner couples aged 65 to 74 years and (vi) pensioner couples aged 75 years and over for (A) 1979 in the prices for the latest year for which figures are available and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

(24811)

233
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations she has had from the National Associations of Citizens Advice Bureau concerning the complexity of the new arrangement in place since last July for those claiming benefit under the disability living allowance.

(25061)

234
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment she has made of the difficulties faced by claimants in filling in the new questionnaire for claiming of disability living allowance.

(25063)

235
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants have had their benefit stopped following the new procedure introduced for claiming disability living allowance.

(25069)

236
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when she expects to make a decision on the review of the eligibility of Mrs E. Otter of 9 Crowder Meadow, South Brent, for disability living allowances; and if she will make a statement as to the delay.

(24717)

237
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will estimate the effect on gross expenditure on the basic state pension in each of the five financial years from 1999-2000 onwards if, with effect from April 1998, employees who paid national insurance contributions on earnings above the national average over the course of a given year after April 1998 were regarded as having satisfied the contribution conditions for half a year instead of a full year in respect of that year.

(24982)

238
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the effect of (a) income from mortgage protection policies and (b) income from other loan insurance policies on entitlement to income-related social security benefits.

(24713)

239
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 15th January, Offical Report, column 314, what proportion of recipients of statutory maternity pay fall within the weekly earnings bands (a) under £100, (b) £100 to £199, (c) £200 to £299, (d) £300 to £399, (e) £400 to £499, (f) £500 to £599 and (g) £600 or more.

(24741)

240
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the occasions since 1980 when nuclear reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, indicating in each case the date of shut down, the reason for the shut down and the date on which power generation recommenced.

(24775)

241
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she expects to publish her Department's response to the Scott consultation documents.

(24959)

242
   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many licences have been granted for the export of military, security or police equipment to Kenya in the last two years.

(25133)

243
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment she has made of the loss of protection afforded by law to copyright holders by computer developments with particular reference to digital copying and Internet Jukebox.

(24805)

244
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what sums have been spent on the provision of renewable energy in the last financial year, giving details of each source of renewable energy.

(24966)

245
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on what parts of the electricity generating industry the fossil fuel levy will apply; and how much will be realised with the new formulas for the fossil fuel levy.

(24967)

246
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the reduction proposed for the fossil fuel levy.

(24964)

247
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to assist the progress of clean coal technology; and if she will make a statement.

(24965)

248
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will review the law of bankruptcy with particular reference to the implications of the Landau case on the sequestration of the pensions of bankrupt people; and if she will make a statement.

(25059)

249
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many discharged bankrupts have had their pensions seized as a result of the judgment in the Landau case.

(25058)

250
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on Government policy on limits to genetic manipulation in human biotechnology research.

(24676)

251
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement setting out the reasons for granting BP permission to build a 1,200MW gas-fired power station.

(24766)

252
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, on what date the Government will submit its evidence to the Low Pay Commission.

(24675)

253
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the likely degree of restoration of differentials following the introduction of a minimum wage.

(24758)

254
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many workers were employed in the coal mining industry in (a) May 1997 and (b) January 1998.

(24768)

255
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, on what evidence the statement by the Minister for Small Businesses that it would soon be as cheap to telephone France or Spain as it currently is to make local calls in London was based.

(24759)

256
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the role of Her Majesty's Treasury in negotiating a recent agreement between a mining company and a generator; and on what previous occasions the Treasury has negotiated similar agreements.

(24767)

257
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when and where the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs last met representatives of Copywatch.

(24765)

258
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans (a) the Government and (b) the DGFT have to refer the copier industry for a competition review.

(24757)

259
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what discussions have taken place with the Indonesian Government about payments for arms sold to them with British government support in relation to the devaluation of their currency; and what assessment he has made of the likely cost to public funds of export credit guarantees needed to cover the agreed purchase price

(25132)

260
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what technical conditioning and packaging specifications have been established as necessary by foreign energy utilities in respect of the consignments of radioactive reprocessing wastes due to be returned to countries of origin following reprocessing of foreign spent fuel.

(25067)

261
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what quantities of spent nuclear fuel, from which (a) countries and (b) utilities, is stockpiled at Sellafield awaiting reprocessing; and what information she has received from British Nuclear Fuels in regard to when it will be reprocessed.

(25062)

262
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what terms of acceptance were agreed upon by (a) British Nuclear Fuels and (b) the UK Atomic Energy Authority for the return of radioactive waste arising from reprocessing.

(25068)

263
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what licences have been issued for the export of seaweed-based fertiliser; and to which countries the licences apply.

(25066)

264
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she intends to announce the decision on the bid by North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce to organise a trade mission to Japan; and if she will make a statement.

(25017)

265
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what will be the cost of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Central Bank's capital.

[Transferred] (24716)

266
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to regulate the sale of human placenta for human consumption.

[Transferred] (25224)

267
   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when Her Majesty's Government expects to ratify Directive Euratom 96/29 passed by the Council of Ministers in 1996; and what measures he plans to prevent the recycling of nuclear waste into consumer goods.

[Transferred] (24817)

268
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received concerning the expected shipment of high-level nuclear waste from Cherbourg to Japan.

[Transferred] (25060)