Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 24 February 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 24 February 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 24 February, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 25 February, 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 24th FEBRUARY

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list his Department's power to control the conditions under which animals destined for use in experimentation are imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(31098)

2
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 350, on beef imports, when he will be able to provide figures for January 1998.

(30452)

3
N   Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to extend the pasteurisation of milk; what species will be included; and if he will make a statement.

(30729)

4
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the estimated annual cost of the residue testing programme for the United Kingdom poultrymeat sector as required by Directive 96/23/EC; and what estimate he has made of the total cost to the sector of the EU fixed standard charges.

(31101)

5
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what consultations he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with his EU counterparts on his proposal to ban the sale of unpasteurised milk.

(31307)

6
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of medical evidence on the possible transmission of BSE to humans through the milk of infected cows.

(31312)

7
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, from which insurance companies his Department's library has sought the most recent annual report and accounts in the last year.

(31323)

8
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the volumes and nature of equipment and raw materials exported from the United Kingdom to Iraq since 1980 that are likely to have been used in manufacture of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

(30956)

9
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the future land and accommodation requirements for Marchwood Military Port.

(31304)

10
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to dispose of land at Marchwood Military Port.

(31305)

11
N   Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many applications for places were received by grammar schools for 1997-98; and how many places were available.

(30731)

12
N   Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of pupils from (a) grammar schools, (b) independent schools, (c) grant-maintained schools and (d) comprehensive schools went into higher education in 1997-98.

(30732)

13
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many new entrants into teacher training have been recorded since the launch of the publicity campaign, No-one Forgets a Good Teacher; and what proportion of those new entrants had expressed an interest in the profession prior to the launch.

(30986)

14
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people who will benefit from the Welfare to Work scheme for disabled people in its first year of operation.

(31096)

15
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will reassess the budget allocation to Welfare to Work schemes for (i) unemployed (a) disabled people, (b) lone parents, (c) young people and (ii) long-term unemployed people to take account of changes in unemployment levels over the last six months.

(31057)

16
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in the utilities which depend on current investment by those companies; and of these how many are (a) temporary and (b) permanent.

(30615)

17
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will implement the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education recommendations for additional funding for the higher education sector in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

(31246)

18
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer, of 12th February, Official Report, column 318, to the honourable Member for Truro and St. Austell, on strategic environmental assessment, for what reason the Government has decided not to put the proposed Directive to the Council of Ministers.

(30804)

19
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the wild bee population of the introduction of transgenic insect resistant plants; and if he will make a statement.

(30803)

20
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much money will be made available to Chelmsford Borough Council in 1998-99 for the receipts from sale of council houses; and if he will make a statement.

(31059)

21
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many site inspections were made by Health and Safety Excutive factory inspectors in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97.

[R] (30959)

22
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of major injuries were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97.

(30962)

23
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to ensure that best practice is applied by local authorities to manage the risk of asbestos to their building and maintenance workers; and what plans he has to make it a duty for owners to survey and identify asbestos in their property.

(30964)

24
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many Health and Safety Executive inspectors were employed in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97; and how many are currently employed.

[R] (30960)

25
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many prosecutions resulting from a failure to comply with Health and Safety legislation were made in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97; and what was the average level of the fines imposed.

(30961)

26
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of notified asbestos removal operations were inspected by the Health and Safety Executive in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97.

(30963)

27
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) his Department is taking to challenge the decision of the EU Technical Committee on 11th February that white asbestos poses no greater risk than the substitutes replacing it.

(30965)

28
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring is being undertaken of Local Agenda 21 proposals on sustainability; and what account of these is being taken by his Department in formulating policy.

(30769)

29
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for each London borough the capital receipts (a) released in 1997-98 and (b) to be released in 1998-99, giving for each year the proportion used on new building and capital repairs.

(30770)

30
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions his Department has held with the Borough of Islington concerning housing needs and the disbursement of capital receipts; and if he will make a statement.

(30771)

31
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his proposals to control the use of bull bars.

(30989)

32
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if his planned roadside drug driving tests detect the presence of (a) prozac and (b) Benyllin.

(30957)

33
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of occasions where incorrect waste landspreading has taken place during the last five years; and if he will list the relevant sites; and if he will make a statement.

(31303)

34
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what period of notice for the pre-notification requirement for waste landspreading he plans to set; and what plans he has (i) to require the submission of information on (a) the agricultural and ecological impact on the proposed site and (b) the proposed methods and equipment to be used for the landspreading and (ii) to introduce a fee payable for each pre-notification made to fund the Environment Agency's periodic inspections of the landspread sites.

(31301)

35
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers the Environment Agency have to prevent or suspend landspreading; and if he will make a statement.

(31302)

36
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Inland Revenue SA330 forms were issued between 1st and 19th February.

(31097)

37
N   Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax payers are currently entitled to (a) the basic personal allowance, (b) the married couple's allowance, (c) the non-aged married couple's allowance and (d) the additional personal allowance.

(31248)

38
N   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who is the United Kingdom representative on the UN Security Council Ad Hoc Committee Security Council Resolution 661 Committee-Iraq; and how often the committee meets.

(31250)

39
N   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the (a) requests to supply materials and supplies for essential civilian needs, (b) applications and contracts for humanitarian supplies and (c) hospital equipment which the Ad Hoc Committee on Security Council 661 Committee-Iraq has vetoed; and if he will make a statement.

(31251)

40
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what examination he has made of the application of UN General Assembly Resolution No. 1514 to the former residents of Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

(30966)

41
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the situation of former residents of Diego Garcia in Mauritius; if he will take steps to enable them to return to Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

(30794)

42
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Kuwait concerning (a) democratic rights and (b) the rights of non-Kuwaitis legally resident; and if he will make a statement.

(30767)

43
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations relating to human rights were made to his Department's Ministers during visits to Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

(30768)

44
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he held on human rights issues during his visit to Saudi Arabia; and what was the response of the Saudi authorities.

(30772)

45
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the powers the Governor of St. Helena has relating to planning permission and the erection of buildings independently of any resolution passed or act done by the Legislative Council of the island.

(30991)

46
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the (a) numbers and (b) percentage of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that warn users that they may impair their ability to drive.

(30958)

47
N   Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk of acquiring (a) e.coli 0157, (b) salmonella sp or (c) campylobacter infection from the consumption of unpasteurised milk or dairy products; and if he will make a statement.

(30725)

48
N   Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many outbreaks of food poisoning there have been in each year between 1986 and 1996, listed according to the known infective agent; how many of each were linked to the consumption of unpasteurised milk or dairy products; and if he will make a statement.

(30727)

49
N   Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has commissioned on faecal contamination of unpasteurised milk; what were the results; and if he will make a statement.

(30728)

50
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he takes to examine journey plans and transport conditions for animals imported into the United Kingdom for use in experimentation before issuing licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

(31100)

51
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will undertake an urgent assessment of the conditions under which animals destined for use in experimentation are imported into the United Kingdom.

(31099)

52
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions since 1st January 1993 he has required licences applied for under the Animals (Scientific Producers) Act 1986 to be (a) refused and (b) withheld pending amendment because of concern about the transport conditions for animals imported into the United Kingdom for use in experimentation.

(31105)

53
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many representations he has received on the reorganisation of magistrates' courts in North Yorkshire.

(31024)

54
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, how much money has been confirmed in commercial sponsorship for the Millennium Experience.

(31247)

55
N   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will assess the advantages of locating the large-scale figure for the Millennium Experience outside the dome.

(31249)

56
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reasons a civil servant was asked to attend meetings of the Board of the Labour Relations Agency.

(31311)

57
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list sites in Northern Ireland specified in authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to receive low-level radioactive waste.

(31310)

58
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to provide for greater openness and accountability by the Labour Relations Agency.

(31308)

59
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what has been (a) the annual volume, (b) isotopic content and (c) origin of wastes received at each site designated for low-level radioactive waste since 1994.

(31309)

60
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the President of the Council, what are the costs of the (a) salaries, (b) other personal expenses and (c) offices for the United Kingdom Anti-Drug Co-ordinator and his Deputy.

(30990)

61
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the occasions since 1st May 1997 when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with (i) Mr Rupert Murdoch and (ii) senior representatives of News International; and what matters were discussed.

(31109)

62
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he expects to set the budget for the Strategic Communications Unit.

(31104)

63
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what projects have been undertaken by the Strategic Communications Unit since its inception.

(31108)

64
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what proposals he has to (a) modernise and (b) reduce the cost of arrangements for the State opening of Parliament.

(30858)

65
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Prime Minister, by what date he plans to complete his consultation on the advice he will offer on the names of the new (a) Bishop of Liverpool and (b) Bishop of Southwark.

(30411)

66
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the meetings he has held with organisations and individuals concerning the railway industry since 1st October 1997.

(31095)

67
N   Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many outbreaks of food poisoning in each year between 1986 and 1996 were related to the consumption of unpasteurised milk, broken down by infective agent, if known; and if he will make a statement.

(30726)

68
N   Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will assess the advantages of extending the compulsory pasteurisation of milk to milk from (a) goats and (b) sheep; and if he will make a statement.

(30730)

69
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when she intends to publish the results of her review of the habitual residence test.

(30987)

70
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what arrangements are made for payment of benefit to claimants pending appeal following failure under the habitual residence test.

(30988)

71
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will estimate the annual cost of the proposed citizens' juries to evaluate public opinion on issues related to women.

(31094)

72
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will publish the number of people in the Wrexham area who, during the latest six months for which figures are available, have had their award of disability living allowance (a) stopped, (b) decreased and (c) increased; and within the categories (a) and (b) how many people have requested a review and (i) had their awards reinstated, (ii) had partial reinstatement and (iii) been refused reinstatement.

(30857)

73
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been the total level of social security expenditure in each year since 1978-79; and how much of the total in each year would fall under the current classification of cyclical social security expenditure.

(31103)

74
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will assess the advantages of introducing legislation to limit the maximum share of the newspaper market individual proprietors may control.

(31102)

75
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the Government's position in respect of the NUTS review currently underway in the European Commission; and what is the timetable set for this review.

(31320)

76
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the financial assistance offered to LG to invest in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(31014)

77
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proposals he has to encourage the planting of flax; and if he will make a statement.

(30955)

78
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his policy on the role of community hospitals and their relationship to acute hospitals in the same health authority.

[Question Unstarred] (29320)

79
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of road traffic accidents in each of the last 10 years have been due (a) wholly and (b) partly to the consumption of medicinal drugs.

[Transferred] (31058)

80
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of people made ill over the last 10 years by (a) unpasteurised milk and (b) its products.

[Transferred] (31306)

81
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will propose that Staffordshire be classified as a single NUTS II area; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (31321)

82
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give per capita gross domestic product figures for Staffordshire as a proportion of the EU average in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (31322)



© Parliamentary copyright 1998	Revised 24 February 1998